Chapter 16: Shang Family

Reality proved that something that speaks is not necessarily a demon beast; it could also be a parrot.

"What kind of demon bird is this?!" Lu Yang was furious. A suction force appeared in his palm, pulling the parrot toward him instantly. The parrot was captured before it even had a chance to react.

The village chief could have done the same, but he had assumed it was some kind of demon beast in the Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment stage and thus hadn't dared to act.

"Demon beast! There's a demon beast!" the parrot squawked incessantly.

Hearing the commotion from the room, Tao Yaoye rushed over to check, her mood mirroring Lu Yang's. Completing the task was good, and avoiding a battle was also good. But the problem was that they had traveled all the way from the Dao-Seeking Sect, spending three days on a flying boat, just to catch a parrot? How were they supposed to write a mission report about this? It would be a laughingstock.

The people of Taiping Village were unworldly and didn't recognize this bird from the depths of the rainforest, but Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye did. This was considered basic knowledge at the Dao-Seeking Sect.

"As expected of the Daoist priest, he easily apprehended the demon bird!" The village chief and others, upon learning the parrot had been caught, praised Lu Yang, commending his profound cultivation. Both of them, feeling helpless, patiently explained to everyone that it was just an ordinary bird, uncommon only in the northern part of the continent.

"This parrot—what you refer to as a demon bird—is simply very good at imitating human speech."

"Imitating human speech, imitating human speech," the parrot squawked non-stop. Lu Yang gently pinched the parrot's beak and continued to explain to the crowd. "It called Zhang Guanjia a monster not because it intended to, but because it had heard Feng Tailor shout 'monster' before and simply mimicked the sound. When it encountered Zhang Guanjia, it coincidentally repeated it."

Zhang Guanjia let out a sigh of relief. As expected of a Dao-Seeking Sect disciple, his injustice had been cleared the moment they arrived.

"Similarly, when it called out, 'Who are you? Where is Zhang Guanjia?', it didn't understand the meaning of the words. It had simply heard them somewhere and repeated them without comprehension."

"Damn this useless bird! Watch me slaughter it!" Zhang Guanjia was furious at the sight of the parrot.

Lu Yang raised a hand, stopping Zhang Guanjia. "This place is half a continent away from the rainforest. This bird certainly didn't fly here on its own; it must have been brought by someone. Aside from someone being incredibly bored and willing to cross half a continent just to bring a parrot that is exotic but otherwise useless, only the Falling Money Merchant Guild would specifically go to such lengths. Is there a Falling Money Merchant Guild branch here?"

The village chief shook his head. "A merchant guild wouldn't open a branch in our poor, remote village. However, there's one in Quhe Commandery, located in the busiest area, always bustling with customers. It's possible someone bought the parrot from the guild, and it accidentally escaped afterward." As for the parrot directly escaping from the Falling Money Merchant Guild itself, that would be absolutely impossible.

Lu Yang then asked, "This bird has been circling Taiping Village for twenty days and hasn't gone anywhere else. Perhaps its owner is still here. Village Chief, do you have any thoughts on this?"

The village chief pondered for a long time before replying, "Everyone in our village knows about the 'demon bird.' If there's anyone who might not know, it would be the Shang family to the east. The Shang family rarely leaves their home and doesn't like to socialize. I've heard it's because the head of the Shang family was once a cultivator who suffered a great setback in his youth, causing his cultivation to plummet. Since then, he lost his will to cultivate and has lived in seclusion here. The Shang family is also quite wealthy, the richest family in the area. So, it would be plausible if they had purchased the 'demon bird' from the Falling Money Merchant Guild."

"In that case, let's go inquire with the Shang family."

Taiping Village wasn't large, so the three individuals and the bird quickly arrived at the Shang family's gate. After a few knocks, the door was quickly opened by a middle-aged man with a walrus mustache, looking refined in his Confucian robe.

"Ah, Village Chief, it's you. May I ask who these two are so I can inform my master?" the mustached man asked.

Lu Yang, holding the parrot by its wings as one might carry a rooster to be slaughtered for the New Year, said, "We stumbled upon this parrot by chance. After making inquiries, we suspected it might belong to the Shang family, so we've come specifically to ask."

The mustached man first noticed Tao Yaoye, a hint of surprise on his face. He had never seen a woman as beautiful as she was. Then he looked at the green parrot and smiled with delight. "So it is! Thank you, young heroes. This must be my young lady's parrot. Ever since it went missing, she's been downhearted all day, making things very difficult for us servants. My lady will be so happy when she learns her parrot has been found."

The village chief leaned in and whispered, "He's the Shang family's steward, Manager Zhang. He always opens the door when I come here."

Manager Zhang hurried off to inform his master and quickly returned with a reply. "My master invites the three of you in."

They passed through a screen door, crossed the outer courtyard, went from the second gate down a corridor, and finally reached the main house where they met the head of the Shang family. The head of the Shang family was portly, and the gloom on his face seemed to keep people at a distance; he didn't like to talk much. However, upon seeing the village chief, it was clear he was quite pleased.

"Old Brother Huang, it's been too long."

The village chief's surname was Huang.

They exchanged respectful bows.

The head of the Shang family examined the parrot for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, there's no mistake. This is the parrot my daughter bought from the Falling Money Merchant Guild in the commandery. At the time, I thought this useless bird wasn't worth much, and the guild was asking an outrageous price, but my daughter insisted on buying it, so I had to give in to her wishes. Manager Zhang, please take these two young heroes to see Xiaoyuan."

"Yes, Master."

Manager Zhang made an inviting gesture, then signaled a maid to serve tea and water to the head of the Shang family and Village Chief Huang.

On the way, Tao Yaoye casually asked, "Manager Zhang, how long have you been with the Shang family?"

Manager Zhang replied respectfully, "My master rescued me on his journey into seclusion, and I've been serving him ever since. If I calculate the time, it's been twenty years already. The young lady wasn't even born yet back then."

"So, it seems Miss Shang must have a very good relationship with you."

"To be frank with you two young heroes, I watched the young lady grow up. I have no children of my own, so I treat her as my own daughter. Seeing her so dejected all day pains me deeply as her steward."

Lu Yang suddenly asked, "Were you present when the parrot went missing?"

Manager Zhang sighed, and a hint of self-reproach was discernible in his voice. "I was distracted for a moment and didn't notice the parrot flying away. If I had been more attentive, my young lady wouldn't have been so sad. It was my dereliction of duty."

Lu Yang simply murmured "Oh" and said nothing more.

Manager Zhang knocked three times gently and spoke unhurriedly, "Miss, your escaped parrot has been found. Two young heroes, who roam the jianghu, have brought it here."

A voice from within the room replied, "Then let them in."

"Yes."

Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye opened the door to find Miss Shang leaning by the window, quietly reading. The evening sun cast a glow on her hair, creating a sense of frozen time and a serene, static beauty. Countless young men in Taiping Village were infatuated with Miss Shang.

Lu Yang kindly reminded her, "Reading by sunlight is bad for your eyes, especially during sunset. Light a lamp; your father isn't short on money."