Chapter 1358: Under the Son of Heaven's Feet, No Clean Water; Friends Come from Afar

When he emerged from Yougui Ge again, it was already a day later.

The flow of time in Xingjie was slower than in Shengshen Dalu, so Xu Xiaoshou deliberately waited for half a day, until dawn, to finish grooming and changing before coming out.

“Young Master.”

As soon as he left the elegant pavilion, Yingying and Que’er curtsied with a smile. They were charming and clearly had been waiting for a long time. The two women had changed their outfits, now wearing wide-sleeved palace dresses, one in green and one in purple. They were no longer as revealing as the day before and were much more appropriate. Even their makeup had been carefully adjusted, with only light powder applied, no longer heavily made up, which made them shed some vulgarity and gain a fresh and elegant air.

“How are you two?”

The sick young master fanned himself, quickly slipping into his role, and found Yingying and Que’er’s new appearance quite novel. In this "elegant pavilion," only Xiang Yi and A Yao had the status to wear such proper dresses, as far as he could see. Of course, now these two women could be added to that list.

“Xiang Yi ordered us to attend to you, Young Master. That is our only task from now on,” Yingying chimed in quickly, her tone laced with curiosity. After a day apart, this Xu Gusheng looked even more refined, with a scholarly air about him. In other words, he seemed even more like an ordinary mortal... Even though both women knew that this young master from the Eastern Domain was no simple figure, facing him always felt easygoing, as if they were dealing with a regular person, and they could smile naturally. This was far more relaxing than facing Xiang Yi, who always felt like a suppressed active volcano, ready to erupt with a sudden change of expression.

“I see...”

Xu Xiaoshou nodded, not surprised by Xiang Yi’s arrangements. He didn’t have time to find new companions for chatter; instead, he needed them along the way to discuss all sorts of things about the Central Domain and gather some intelligence. Xiang Yi’s choices would surely have clean backgrounds, and that was all that mattered.

“Come with me, then. I’m heading out today, so you can show me the way.”

The sick young master beckoned, and Yingying and Que’er happily followed. Step one accomplished! At least Xu Xiaoshou didn’t dislike them, so everything else would be easier to handle.

“What about A Yao?”

As the three descended the stairs, Xu Xiaoshou asked casually, remembering the delicate woman who couldn’t hold her liquor. After all, Xiang Yi had mentioned A Yao non-stop yesterday, insisting on sending her to his bed.

Xu Xiaoshou didn’t say it aloud, but he kept it in mind. Of course, it was mostly because Xiang Yi had brought it up so many times that it was impossible to forget. He was just assuming A Yao would be receiving him today, nothing more.

“A Yao is still resting. She drank too much yesterday.”

“Just three cups? That’s too much?” Xu Xiaoshou was puzzled. “It’s been a whole day—even a pig would have woken up by now!”

“... A Yao isn’t a Lianling Shi, after all, and her body is quite delicate.”

“Then she’s really too delicate!”

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, feeling like he’d turned into some kind of villain, forcing the top girl of Yougui Ge to drink herself into a stupor on his first visit. But he wasn’t aiming to play the good guy, so with the two women supporting him down the stairs, he shook his head and said:

“Once A Yao wakes up, make sure to let me know.”

“Of course.” Yingying and Que’er’s eyes showed a hint of envy. As expected, no man could resist A Yao’s charm—this sick young master had acted so proper yesterday, but today he was clearly interested.

Little did they know, the sick young master in their eyes snapped his fan shut with a click and grinned wickedly:

“Once A Yao wakes up, I’ll make sure to force a few more cups on her. I want to see if she’s really drunk or just faking it!”

“A tolerance like that needs to be built up...”

Yingying and Que’er froze, stopping in their tracks and exchanging stunned glances, speechless.

Is this a man?

More like a devil!

“Suspected, Passive Value +2.”

“Feared, Passive Value +2.”

As they left Yougui Ge, it just so happened that Li Laohan, with dark circles under his eyes, shuffled out from the side door. He was fastening his belt while leaning against the wall, shaking his head as if regretting something, his steps unsteady and his frame looking even more gaunt.

“Old Li!”

Xu Xiaoshou couldn’t help but laugh at the sight and called out loudly. What a coincidence—with Li Laohan here, there was no need for Yougui Ge to arrange a carriage. And this old Li was quite something, managing to stay in Yougui Ge for over a day despite his age. Seeing how frail he looked, Xu Xiaoshou wondered if he’d collapse the moment he stepped away from the wall.

“Xu Xiaoshou?”

Li Laohan looked up in surprise. But he quickly straightened his back, mustering some energy, and hurried over. “What a coincidence, Young Master. Do you need a carriage?”

“We have one.” Yingying caught up from behind, eyeing Li Laohan up and down, her expression neutral without any overt disdain.

Que’er stepped forward, subtly positioning herself between the sick young master and Li Laohan. They were tasked with serving Xu Xiaoshou, which included ensuring his safety on outings. No one else’s carriage could compare to their own, even if it was from Yougui Ge.

“Oh, I see.” Li Laohan didn’t press further—he was used to being humble—and forced an awkward apologetic smile toward the noble Xu Xiaoshou before stepping back.

“Fate brings us together, so you’ll take me today!” Xu Xiaoshou said, not even glancing back as he headed toward the carriage.

Yingying and Que’er were taken aback.

Li Laohan reacted quickly, knowing who was in charge here. “Alright!” he said, rushing to the carriage to set up the steps. He knew this young master had a weak constitution and couldn’t afford any bumps.

Yingying and Que’er exchanged glances but said nothing, hurrying after him.

“Young Master.”

After helping the sick young master into the carriage, Que’er tilted her head as if receiving a message. She glanced at Li Laohan standing by the carriage, hesitated, then lowered her voice: “Gui Shen Bang’s Gui Mian requests an audience.”

“Let him wait!” Xu Xiaoshou flicked his fan, too lazy to get out. A noble young master had to maintain his demeanor. Gui Shen Bang was here to apologize, after all—he needed to make them stew a bit to squeeze out more benefits later. Though he coveted the Eight Gates and Seven Mansions, he knew the difference between benefits delivered passively and those hunted actively.

“You two, hurry up and get in. Li Laohan is waiting to drive!”

Li Laohan thus invited the two women aboard. As he drove, he remarked, “Young Master, that Gui Mian from yesterday—he’s a big figure in Yujing Cheng’s dark underbelly!”

Que’er’s eyes flashed with irritation. How could this driver be so indiscreet, blabbering about everything?

She pressed the soundproof barrier button on the Yougui Ge carriage, trying to isolate the inside from the outside for a proper chat with Xu Xiaoshou about lighter topics.

But the soundproof barrier was broken!

Que’er nearly lost her temper.

Just then, the sick young master smiled and spoke, warm and refined, humbly asking: “You know about Gui Mian, so what do you know about Gui Shen Bang? Tell me about it.”

Que’er held back.

Xu Xiaoshou tapped the broken soundproof barrier in the carriage with his finger, and it activated again.

Small folk had their own channels of information. Just from yesterday, when Li Laohan had dished on the new Seven Sword Immortals, Xu Xiaoshou knew he was useful. Meanwhile, Yingying and Que’er, cooped up in the elegant pavilion, only dealt with refined crowds. Their sources of intelligence were completely different from Li Laohan’s. In fact, under Xiang Yi’s influence, they might only know what she allowed them to know.

Xu Xiaoshou trusted Xiang Yi, but he didn’t like getting information from a single source. In the vast Yujing Cheng, who could guarantee that what Gui Shen Bang’s boss or Xiang Yi knew was everything Dao Qiong Cang wanted them to know?

“Young Master, where to?”

Li Laohan steered the carriage onto the main street, asking instead of answering.

“San Cuzhu Xiang.”

“Oh.”

Li Laohan paused briefly, then turned the carriage around without further questions.

Yingying and Que’er subconsciously thought San Cuzhu Xiang was some well-known legitimate place, but realizing what it was, their faces paled.

“Young Master, you’re going to San Cuzhu Xiang?”

“Yes.”

“The one that’s...”

“Yes.”

The two women felt like something was stuck in their chests, leaving them speechless. If Xu Xiaoshou wasn’t joking or mistaken, there was only one San Cuzhu Xiang in Yujing Cheng—the Killer Sanctuary! But that was the ruler of the dark world. People going there didn’t do so openly—they disguised themselves. Besides, everyone suspected San Cuzhu Xiang had ties to Shengshen Hall, though it was never admitted publicly. So, visiting there was a serious offense if caught by the Shengshen Guards.

Most importantly... what was Xu Gusheng going there for? And Li Laohan knew the way?

“Any problem?”

The sick young master fanned himself, glancing at the two women. Today, he was baiting a hook—himself as the lure, to draw out all the major figures in and around Yujing Cheng. He wanted to see, after a day’s fermentation, if Dao Qiong Cang had noticed Xu Gusheng, if others had recognized Xu Xiaoshou, and how they would respond. All of this would directly affect his plans for the Si Xiang Secret Realm.

Yingying and Que’er didn’t know all that, but after exchanging looks, they suddenly felt at ease. It probably wasn’t a big issue. This sick young master might look frail and weak, but he was important enough for Xiang Yi to receive personally. Going to San Cuzhu Xiang seemed fitting—with his wealth, he might even be a regular patron or a client hiring killers!

“How strange...”

Yingying and Que’er both felt this way in their hearts. They already knew Xu Gusheng was formidable, but they kept unconsciously forgetting his achievements, as if he were just an ordinary mortal. Even if they looked away for a moment, his presence faded so much that it felt like there were only two people in the carriage.

Returning to simplicity?

Yingying and Que’er didn’t understand, but it felt incredibly powerful.

As the carriage got underway, the driving Li Laohan started chattering:

“Young Master, I’m not one to lecture, but in my view, the only ones who can really make it in Yujing Cheng’s dark world these days are San Cuzhu Xiang and Gui Shen Bang. The rest don’t even rank.”

“But that’s not counting the overt Dark Division and Hidden Division. If those two got involved, everyone else would have to step aside, including those two big players.”

Yingying and Que’er fell silent. Even though Yougui Ge had considerable influence in their eyes, if Li Laohan wanted to discuss what interested Xu Xiaoshou, there was no point in arguing.

“You know a lot.” Xu Xiaoshou gently fanned himself. “I’ve heard San Cuzhu Xiang is backed by Shengshen Hall. What do you think?”

“That’s obvious. Under the emperor’s feet, how could any filth be tolerated? So, they’re squeaky-clean black—even ghosts wouldn’t believe it.”

“Coarse opinion.” Que’er muttered under her breath, not having much evidence to counter, just purely thinking that a carriage driver’s words weren’t very credible.

Xu Xiaoshou was surprised. Li Laohan saw more than most people. It was a simple truth—how could anyone snore next to a sleeping lion? Shengshen Hall might tolerate it, but Dark Division and Hidden Division wouldn’t. Xu Xiaoshou hadn’t understood it before, but now, even thinking with his toes, he knew San Cuzhu Xiang was probably a channel for talent in Dark Division and Hidden Division, another blade Shengshen Hall wielded in the shadows.

“So, what about Gui Shen Bang? Do they have people from Shengshen Hall?”

Yingying and Que’er felt a sudden chill in their hearts. They knew Gui Shen Bang belonged to Shen Yi, and Shen Yi belonged to Xiang Yi. In other words, Gui Shen Bang was Yougui Ge’s loyal enforcer, a sword that would never turn on its master. What did Xu Xiaoshou mean by this question?

The driving Li Laohan replied, “Young Master, you’re joking. If San Cuzhu Xiang couldn’t escape it, how could Gui Shen Bang defy heaven?”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Now Yingying couldn’t hold back and cursed.

“Pfft—”

A sound came from outside the Yougui Ge carriage curtain, followed by Li Laohan’s sheepish voice: “You heard that? Sorry...”

“Ruffian!”

“Vulgar!”

Yingying and Que’er both erupted in anger and tried to stand.

But an invisible force seemed to press down on their legs in the carriage, holding them in place. They couldn’t move an inch!

The sick young master continued fanning himself, smiling amiably: “When power grows, corruption follows. Li Laohan, your insight is sharp.”

“Heh, just life experiences. In this line of work, you have to know all sorts of odds and ends to earn a living.”

The old driver laughed, completely ignoring the women’s anger and focusing only on his employer, Xu Xiaoshou.

The Yougui Ge carriage rolled on. After about a quarter of an hour, Li Laohan suddenly spoke:

“Young Master, there’s a woman blocking the road. She looks like she’s here for us...”

After a pause, he added, puzzled: “She seems familiar. I saw her when we entered the city that day? And she was waiting outside the pavilion all night?”

Xu Xiaoshou’s heart stirred. He’d spotted the blocking Liu Fuyu earlier, of course. But Li Laohan’s eyes were sharp—he could remember a fleeting face from the city entry line?

“Do you know her?”

“I saw her while relieving myself. I even greeted her, thinking of inviting her over for a chat, but she nearly ‘greeted’ me back!”

“Who is she?”

“Young Master, her outfit isn’t for fun—she’s a real swordswoman, named... Liu Fuyu?”

Xu Xiaoshou was baffled, unsure if Li Laohan was pretending or not. Had he really not recognized what “Liu Fuyu” represented, or did he think it was just a namesake with no connection to the new Seven Sword Immortals?

“Go around her.”

“Oh.”

Li Laohan turned the carriage without a word. He’d seen this before—the person blocking the road would soon lose sight of the carriage, just like when they entered the city and Xu Xiaoshou made the city guards overlook them.

The blocking Liu Fuyu’s eyes showed a trace of confusion. She’d clearly seen her target board the carriage and followed, confirming the aura along the way. Under her watch, the carriage vanished.

On the bustling street, Liu Fuyu gripped her slender sword and bowed her fist, declaring:

“Sword Tower, Liu Fuyu!”

“Would the esteemed one show themselves?”

The street’s noise died instantly, falling silent. Some stopped eating, some turned their heads, some halted their bargaining... All eyes fixed on the slender female swordswoman.

Who was she speaking to?

Liu Fuyu said nothing, her gaze unfocused, not glancing sideways. She wasn’t embarrassed, but everyone felt it for her.

In reality, in such situations, no one would dare ask, “What are you doing?” They only feared whatever “illness” she had might spread, so after a pause, everyone went back to their own business.

Liu Fuyu lost her target again.

In the Yougui Ge carriage, where Xu Xiaoshou had used Shengdi Longlin to create a forgetting effect, he still didn’t want to engage with this sword immortal. He’d thought about it the whole way and still couldn’t figure out why Liu Fuyu was seeking him. But one thing was clear: this woman was truly straightforward, not one of the fish he was trying to hook.

“Sev—Seven Sword Immortals?” Yingying and Que’er had been silent the whole ride, only speaking uncertainly when the carriage stopped.

“Yes.” Xu Xiaoshou didn’t hide it. Using his “Perception,” he saw the two women’s stunned expressions, and Li Laohan up front, still relaxed as if nothing in the world concerned him, as long as he got his employer to the destination.

Even hearing about the Seven Sword Immortals didn’t ruffle him. Was that more life experience?

Xu Xiaoshou furrowed his brow slightly, got down from the carriage with the two women’s help, and looked up at a rundown miscellaneous shop.

“That’s the entrance.” Li Laohan said, “Go in, don’t say anything, just light three incense sticks, and the shopkeeper will lead you to the black market, wherever you want to go.”

Yingying and Que’er suddenly felt anxious—it was their first time in a place like this. Killer Sanctuary sounded terrifying.

“What about you?” Xu Xiaoshou turned back.

“I’ll wait here for you all to come out.” Li Laohan gestured toward the carriage.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded and stepped into the small shop. But once inside, he paused, with Yingying on his left arm and Que’er on his right, turning back with a smile:

“Next, I’ll have many friends arriving.”

“Li Laohan, since you know so much, do you think they’ve come?”

Li Laohan had already sat back in the driver’s seat and scratched his head at the words: “Young Master, how would I know where your friends are?”

“But you have so much life experience, don’t you?”

“Uh, well, Young Master, where are your friends from?”

“Eastern Domain.”

“Eastern Domain? That far? Maybe they’re still miles away!”