When Jian Zhen’s words fell, the whole table was enveloped in an unusual quiet.
Even Wang Can, who usually liked to mock others the most, was somewhat silent. He almost couldn’t believe it as he swallowed the wine in his mouth. “You, you’re an overlord flower that became a spirit?”
Jian Zhen didn’t understand why he was reacting like this. “What’s wrong?”
Wang Can and his brothers exchanged looks. Even Yu, who sat beside them and was usually inscrutable, let out a light laugh.
The overlord flower’s other name in the three realms was “man-eating flower.” It was indeed one of the few carnivorous plants, but after transforming into human form, members of the overlord flower clan were generally extremely rough-looking. Someone like Jian Zhen, with slender arms and legs and such a tender, delicate appearance, absolutely did not exist!
Yu said, “Then did you never eat meat before transforming?”
Jian Zhen was a bit surprised. “How did you know?”
Wang Can and the others suddenly realized. “I knew you didn’t look like an overlord flower. You’re so skinny, could it be from being malnourished from hunger?”
Jian Zhen: “……”
There’s no way for me to explain this kind of thing to you.
Wang Can’s younger brother, Wang Man, smiled and said, “Big brother, look at this bumpkin, no money and no experience. Who knows how poor the place he grew up in was. It’s normal he’s never eaten good things. Now I really believe he has nothing to do with the search order!”
Jian Zhen bit into the meat in his mouth. His fair cheeks puffed out as he said a little angrily, “I’m not skinny because I was hungry.”
I drank dew for nourishment!
In the future, I’ll definitely grow strong!
Wang Can: “……”
Is that the point?
Unable to keep up with Jian Zhen’s line of thinking, Wang Can could only stuff food into his mouth while saying, “You tell me, why would the Demon Venerable and the Immortal Venerable both be looking for that immortal grass? Could it be that the grass really has some extraordinary effect?”
Jian Zhen’s hand holding his chopsticks paused slightly.
Wang Man said, “Could it be that eating that immortal grass grants immortality, or that eating it greatly increases one’s cultivation?”
This line of analysis was well-reasoned.
Yu, who was usually the more steady one, said, “The Demon Venerable and the Immortal Venerable are the supreme rulers of the three realms. Issuing search orders at the same time is unprecedented, there may be something hidden here.”
Jian Zhen buried his head in his bowl, not daring to lift it.
What hidden reason was there, really? Although he wasn’t very smart, just thinking a little made it clear: precisely because Fu Changhuan and Ye Jisheng were both big shots, the supreme rulers of the three realms, they actually didn’t have many friends. Though they were surrounded by attendants who served them, rulers were by nature suspicious, and even more unlikely to share their true thoughts with subordinates.
So…
This clueless little grass had actually become the confidant of two big shots.
By day, Jian Zhen listened to the Immortal Venerable talk about gossip from the various cultivation families and all kinds of interesting news from the Immortal Realm; at night, he listened to the Demon Venerable talk about what evils demons and monsters had committed in different places, and where the Demon Realm’s rare treasures were hidden…
In short, he knew far too much!!
Wang Man’s laughter came from across the table. He said, “If you ask me, you’re all wrong.”
Jian Zhen’s movements paused.
“Think about it, even if that immortal grass really had some miraculous effect, what kind of figure is the Demon Venerable? He’s a divine body. And the Immortal Venerable is the supreme ruler of the Immortal Realm. What good things have these two big shots not seen over tens of thousands of years?” Wang Man’s rather plump body leaned against the table as his gaze swept over everyone. “I guess it’s definitely not because of the medicinal properties of that grass that they’re looking for it!”
Everyone looked at him.
Jian Zhen grew even more nervous subconsciously, afraid something would be seen through, afraid they’d boil him and eat him on the spot.
Yu raised his head and asked Wang Man, “Then what do you say is the reason?”
A hint of arrogance appeared on Wang Man’s face, his double chin especially prominent. “My family has some connections, after all. I’ve heard some secret news…”
Everyone, including Jian Zhen, was hooked with curiosity.
Wang Can mysteriously lowered his voice. “I heard that actually, looking for that immortal grass is just a cover. The real reason is that the Demon Venerable and the Immortal Venerable each have a beloved lover. That little lover is usually kept in the sleeping hall, and apart from close personal attendants, ordinary people can’t see them…”
Jian Zhen let out a “pfft,” nearly choking on his food.
Wang Can shot him an annoyed, disdainful look. “What kind of reaction is that?”
Jian Zhen’s little face turned bright red from choking. He took a few heavy breaths. “Sorry, I couldn’t hold it in.”
Wang Can: “……”
Yu, who was sitting beside Jian Zhen, said, “Your guess is pretty good, but there’s no evidence.”
“Who says there’s no evidence!” As the younger brother, Wang Man immediately stepped in to build momentum for his brother, saying with some disdain, “Do you know Ghost City? Some time ago at the Ghost Tower Market auction, the Immortal Venerable and the Demon Venerable fought fiercely over a spiritual treasure. I heard the thing they were competing for was to take back and use to coax their little lover!”
“Cough… pff…”
Wang Man frowned as he looked at Jian Zhen, who was choking again, tears even welling up in his eyes this time. “Why are you coughing again?”
Jian Zhen picked up the handkerchief beside him and wiped his eyes. His voice was clear and soft. “Sorry, I couldn’t hold it in again.”
Wang Can angrily hammered the table. “Can’t you just hold it in?!”
Jian Zhen obediently nodded. “Oh.”
Wang Can said disdainfully, “You bumpkin, don’t tell me you don’t even know what the ghost market is and got scared?”
After hearing this, Jian Zhen put the handkerchief down on the table, raised his head, and asked, “Did you see them fighting with your own eyes at the Ghost Tower Market?”
Wang Can was caught off guard. In truth, they’d only heard rumors too, but of course he didn’t want to be looked down on by some country bumpkin grass, so he stiffened his neck and said, “Yeah, so what?”
Jian Zhen’s eyes sparkled as he said, “Wow, I heard that the lantern festival at the ghost market that day was colorful and very beautiful. I really envy you for being able to see it.”
Wang Can snorted lightly, a bit proudly. “What’s there to envy? We see that kind of thing all the time!”
The two brothers began boasting to each other.
After the people at the table resumed eating, Jian Zhen glanced sideways and noticed Yu was looking at him. He leaned over and whispered, “They didn’t go. Don’t believe them.”
Yu was a little surprised. “How do you know?”
A slightly mischievous smile appeared on Jian Zhen’s fair little face. “Because there are no lanterns at the ghost market at all. I made that up.”
Yu was momentarily stunned, then laughed softly and gave Jian Zhen a thumbs-up.
The night in Tianshui City was long.
Because of the disturbance at Wanmie Mountain the day before, the number of outsiders had increased. Inns and taverns with people coming and going were not places to linger long. Not long after finishing their meal, everyone returned to their own guest rooms.
Behind the curtain was a bathing tub.
When Jian Zhen bathed himself, he could see the injuries on his body more clearly, blue and purple patches, but they seemed to have faded somewhat compared to the morning. After coming out of the tub, he changed into fresh clothes.
Yu was tidying up his belongings by the table and said as he did so, “Brother Jian, I threw away the inner garment you were wearing. You can wear my clothes for now!”
Jian Zhen nodded and said, “Okay.”
Yu turned to look at him and smiled somewhat helplessly. “How did you manage to wear your clothes like this?”
Jian Zhen’s clothes were worn loosely, with some ties not even fastened properly. He had actually never worn clothes from this world at all, when he woke up, he was already a little grass.
Yu walked over to help him straighten his clothes. “Just like a little kid.”
Jian Zhen said in confusion, “Aren’t they already on?”
Yu came over and retied the outer garment properly with the cords before saying, “If you go out dressed like you were just now tomorrow, people are going to say you’re being a hooligan.”
Only then did Jian Zhen realize that his ability to dress himself wasn’t up to par. He watched Yu’s hands very seriously as he tied the cords, then said earnestly, “I remember it.”
Yu asked in confusion, “Remember what?”
Jian Zhen lifted his head to look at him. Under the lamplight in the room, the fair-skinned youth had a pair of clean, beautiful eyes without any impurities. “I remember how to wear these clothes. Tomorrow when I go out, people won’t say I’m being a hooligan.”
Yu hadn’t expected him to say that. He paused for a moment, then laughed out loud.
Jian Zhen actually saw Yu smile often, but this was the first time he’d seen him laugh so loudly, lively and cheerful, full of youthful spirit, no longer gray and dull, as if no longer covered in a layer of ash.
Yu looked at him. The distance between the two seemed to close invisibly. He said, “When I was little, I was clumsy with my hands too. My older brother often taught me like this.”
Jian Zhen nodded, offering the highest level of affirmation a little grass could give. “Your brother is very smart.”
Yu froze for a moment, then smiled lightly. “Mm, he was very smart. He was the smartest among several brothers. It’s just a pity he died.”
Jian Zhen was a bit taken aback. His eyes were full of regret and pity. “Ah?”
By the lamplight, Jian Zhen then noticed that black scars spread from Yu’s face down to his neck, making his originally delicate features look somewhat frightening. Yu had his head lowered, so Jian Zhen couldn’t see his expression.
Yu’s voice was very low. “My brother was killed by bad people while protecting me.”
The room fell completely silent.
Jian Zhen breathed lightly, not having expected things to turn out like this.
Only then did Yu raise his head to look at him, his gaze firm. “That’s why I want to go to the yao clan’s Spirit Sect to take a master and learn skills. If I have real abilities, I can protect myself and also avenge my brother!”
Jian Zhen nodded and said, “I believe you can.”
Yu smiled gently. “I’m fine. I decided all this a long time ago. But you, what do you plan to do in the future? We might set off tomorrow to leave Tianshui City and head to yao clan’s Fuling Mountain to take a master and seek the Dao. What about you? Are you going to stay behind to look for that heartless man?”
Jian Zhen was stumped by the question.
Before he transformed into human form, all he wanted was to transform and gain freedom.
But after gaining freedom, he became wanted. Now the immortal clan and the demon clan would surely have search orders everywhere. If he were to accidentally reveal his original form in either of those places, the outcome would definitely be miserable.
Then that left only…
Jian Zhen shook his head. “I won’t look for him.”
Yu then said, “Then what are your plans for the future? Since you also cultivated into human form as a member of the yao clan, that itself is a stroke of fate. If you’re willing, you can come with us to the yao clan. This gathering is very large, the once-in-a-century disciple acceptance ceremony at my Fuling Mountain. If you miss this opportunity, who knows when the next one will be.”
At this moment, apart from going to the yao clan, there seemed to be nowhere else to go.
Jian Zhen nodded and said, “Okay!”
Yu smiled and said, “Then rest up. You still have injuries, so sleep on the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Jian Zhen hurriedly said, “It’s fine, I’ll sleep on the floor…”
He wasn’t some delicate grass, he used to be able to sleep in a flowerpot!
Yu stopped him and said, “If it weren’t for you last night, we probably wouldn’t have found the passage into the city. You already helped me a great deal. At a time like this, don’t refuse anymore.”
Jian Zhen hadn’t expected him to say that, so he could only agree.
The night in Tianshui City was extremely quiet.
Perhaps because the day had been too tiring, Jian Zhen slept very soundly. He didn’t wake until the sun was already high the next day. Fortunately, the others were also quite tired and got up a bit late.
Everyone packed their belongings and prepared to set off.
Downstairs, the Wang brothers were saying, “Have you heard? It’s really something new. The yao clan’s Fifth Prince died last month, and now their Ninth Prince is also missing. The yao clan’s royal family is in complete chaos right now.”
Jian Zhen happened to be coming down from upstairs together with Yu. When he heard this, Yu’s steps paused slightly, and Jian Zhen lifted his head in some surprise.
Wang Can looked at Jian Zhen’s clear, jet-black eyes and thought he was about to say something; an odd sense of anticipation actually rose in his heart.
Jian Zhen gently shook his head. “Haven’t heard.”
Wang Can: “……”
Why did he even think of asking him?
Yu was still wearing his gray, dull clothes as he spoke, “It’s getting late. Let’s all leave the city first.”
Everyone agreed.
When they reached the city gate, however, they discovered something unusual there.
Because of yesterday’s three-realm search order, the Tianshui City gate checkpoint, which usually didn’t involve itself much with worldly affairs, had actually set up an inspection. Everyone entering or leaving had to pass before a Water Mirror. The Water Mirror could reveal a person’s original form; no matter what shape they had transformed into, once they passed the Water Mirror, their original form would appear.
Everyone lined up to leave the city.
The people ahead passed through the Water Mirror one by one. Those who passed revealed their true forms in the mirror. Most members of the immortal clan were originally human cultivators, while the demon clan mostly consisted of demons with wings and horns, and the yao clan’s bodies were even more bizarre and varied.
Wang Can and the others had already passed through first.
The guard stopped Jian Zhen and the others behind them. “Stand over there.”
The others unconsciously turned back to look at Jian Zhen and Yu. From the moment they met until now, what everyone had been curious about was exactly what these two’s original forms looked like.
Jian Zhen’s palms were a little sweaty.
He was a bit afraid of what would happen if his original form appeared, and also worried that if he ran now, whether he would be caught and dragged back.
The guard urged, “Hurry up, what are you spacing out for?”
Jian Zhen stepped forward and walked to the Water Mirror. The mirror swayed slightly. When the image spread out, the surrounding eyes instantly widened, even the person standing in front of the mirror was startled.
The guard froze for a moment.
Jian Zhen looked at him, somewhat uneasy. “Um, I…”
