"Understood, Young Master Yun. This way, please," Pei Jian said after a moment of contemplation, agreeing to Daniel's suggestion. If Yun Tianhe weren't here, Pei Jian likely wouldn't have agreed. But after years of searching for clues about Yun Tianqing, he wasn't about to let this opportunity slip through his fingers now that he had found Yun Tianhe.
"Tianhe," Han Lingsha said, turning her gaze to him. Yun Tianhe looked back at her, trusting her implicitly.
"Go with him. Didn't you want to know more about your father's past? This is a good chance to learn. We'll be staying at the Yangchun Inn. If you need to find us, just have someone guide you there," she said softly, knowing Yun Tianhe well enough to anticipate he might cause trouble if left to his own devices.
"I understand, Lingsha," Yun Tianhe replied. After nodding to both Han Lingsha and Daniel, he followed Pei Jian toward the county magistrate's residence.
"We should go too. Let's not give them a reason to think we're trying to run," Han Lingsha said, glancing at the constables still standing around them. She took the lead toward the city gate, and Daniel followed behind her.
This was Han Lingsha's second visit to Shouyang County—the first was before she went to Qingluan Peak. Even though it was her second time here, she was far more familiar with the area than most. For the sake of her goal, Han Lingsha had worked tirelessly to investigate any relevant legends, no matter how far-fetched they sounded. As long as there was even a sliver of hope, she would chase after it.
"She's quite dedicated," Daniel thought as he observed the constables around them. He nodded subtly in approval before following Han Lingsha into the city. The curious onlookers who had gathered earlier to watch the commotion gradually dispersed.
"Two premium rooms, please," Han Lingsha said at the Yangchun Inn.
The Yangchun Inn was not far from the city gate and was the best and most luxurious inn in Shouyang County. Naturally, it was also the most expensive. However, for someone like Han Lingsha, who had accumulated considerable wealth through her adventures, the cost was nothing.
Though she sometimes had to rough it while traveling through the wilderness, Han Lingsha wasn't one to skimp on comfort when staying in a city. After some negotiation, she managed to secure two adjacent premium rooms on the third floor, offering an excellent view of most of Shouyang County from the windows.
Shouyang County wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't small either. The exact population was uncertain, but it was undoubtedly far greater than what was depicted in the Sword and Fairy games.
"I'm going to stock up on some supplies. I'll be back soon," Han Lingsha said after freshening up in their room. Handing some of her belongings to Daniel for safekeeping, she left the inn. Daniel nodded in acknowledgment, understanding what she was likely going to buy.
Han Lingsha was probably looking for personal items and tools for combat or escape, such as smoke bombs for her signature move, "Misty Rain of Souls." Without a spatial ring, she couldn't carry many supplies, even with her respectable martial skills. Beyond the essentials like clothing, food, and water, she could only afford to carry small, lightweight items.
"Impressive, even for a small county like this. The constables here aren't weak," Daniel mused after Han Lingsha left. By cultivating the spiritual energy of this world, he could already sense its unique qualities.
In the Sword and Fairy universe, not everyone practiced immortality cultivation—martial arts were far more common. Influential families like the Four Great Clans or Linjiabao were renowned martial families with considerable strength. Many of them could even hold their own against certain monsters.
"Li Xiang Grass... Interesting. Maybe I can figure out how to mass-produce it," Daniel thought as he overheard some patrons downstairs chatting about the county. He learned that Shouyang County used to be extremely impoverished. How impoverished? So much so that there wasn't even a single inn in the entire county.
About a decade ago, however, the county magistrate introduced a special incense made from Li Xiang Grass. The incense became popular among the upper class, nobles, and even royalty, dramatically improving the county's fortunes as outsiders flocked to the area. The prosperity of Shouyang County today could be traced back to this single product.
As Daniel connected the dots, he realized the incense must have been created by Liu Mengli. His curiosity was piqued—such a product would undoubtedly be a luxury item in the modern world.
Luxury goods brought exorbitant profits. Although Daniel was already wealthy, he didn't mind adding another revenue stream. Even if he didn't sell the incense, it would make for an excellent gift.
For the people of the Sword and Fairy world, Li Xiang Grass only grew around Shouyang County, which was why the area had prospered. However, with modern technology, Daniel was confident he could cultivate it elsewhere—just like the miracle herbs he was already growing in his laboratory.
"Demons attacking people near Nüluo Rock... Humans and demons, huh?" Daniel sighed as he overheard more conversations. He didn't dwell on the matter, as the relationship between humans and demons was a complicated issue that couldn't be solved easily. He decided to address it when the time came.
Before long, Han Lingsha returned with a bag of items, including clothes and what appeared to be medicinal supplies. Afterward, she locked herself in her room, likely busy preparing her smoke bombs.
"Why do you want to become a Sword Immortal?" Han Lingsha asked during dinner in the inn's hall later that evening, her curiosity evident.
"Because it's cool, I suppose. What about you?" Daniel replied after a brief pause. While his answer wasn't entirely true, it wasn't entirely false either. Flying on a sword was undeniably cool—after all, who wouldn't want to maintain their flair? As the saying goes, "A man's hair may be cut, blood may be spilled, but his dignity must remain intact."
"I'm looking for a way to achieve immortality," Han Lingsha said, her expression darkening momentarily before quickly recovering.
"Oh," Daniel said noncommittally, nodding slightly.
"Aren't you curious why I want immortality?" Han Lingsha asked, clearly intrigued by his lack of follow-up questions. Most people would have pressed for more details—though Yun Tianhe, the wild mountain boy, was an obvious exception.
"Everyone has secrets they'd rather not share. As long as your secret isn't harmful to others, there's no need to ask too many questions," Daniel replied calmly.
"So, you have secrets too?" Han Lingsha asked, her curiosity shifting toward him.
"Of course," Daniel said with a slight nod.
"I wonder how that bumpkin is doing with the county magistrate," Han Lingsha said, changing the subject to Yun Tianhe.
"Worried about him?" Daniel asked with a smile.
"Worried? About that bumpkin? I couldn't be happier if he weren't around! Do you know how many times I've been infuriated since meeting him?" Han Lingsha said, frowning as she recalled Yun Tianhe's past antics.
"Don't worry. He'll be fine. Don't forget—he has the ability to sense killing intent," Daniel reassured her. Although Han Lingsha appeared indifferent toward Yun Tianhe on the surface, her eyes betrayed her concern.
"Who knows if that ability is real," Han Lingsha muttered before pausing. "Anyway, I'm not worried about him. I'm just afraid his situation will delay our trip to Chenzhou. This is the closest I've ever been to meeting a Sword Immortal. Who knows if I'll get another chance?"
"So, what do you plan to do?" Daniel asked.
"We'll find him tonight and leave immediately for Chenzhou," Han Lingsha said decisively.
"Leaving at night? Fine by me," Daniel agreed.
"Good. Let's head back to our rooms and rest. We'll move tonight."
"You rest first. I still need to buy some things, but I'll be back soon," Daniel said.
"Make it quick. I need to prepare a few things too," Han Lingsha replied, clearly planning to stock up on food and water.
"Got it."
"So there's no miraculous 'Heavenly Fragrance Revitalizing Dew,' huh?" Daniel muttered as he glanced over the inventory in the pharmacy. While he had suspected that such overpowered items wouldn't exist in the Sword and Fairy world, he had still hoped for a miracle. Unfortunately, his search came up empty.
Even so, Daniel purchased several other medicinal supplies. The potency of the medicines in this world was undoubtedly superior to that of most other worlds, though the selection in a small county like Shouyang was limited. Perhaps he could find rarer and more valuable ingredients in a larger city.
"The weapons here aren't bad," Daniel noted after visiting a local weapons shop. Though Shouyang County was small, its blacksmiths were skilled. The Jade Waist Bow that Liu Mengli would later gift to Yun Tianhe was forged here.
However, Daniel didn't buy any weapons. While they were decent, they weren't essential for him. After leaving the shop, he bought a considerable amount of incense. It was indeed expensive—something only the wealthy could afford.
"The
Liu residence is quite large," Daniel mused as he wandered through the county and arrived near the magistrate's residence. The Liu family estate was a sprawling compound with three courtyards.
"Hmm?"
Daniel hadn't planned on entering the Liu residence and was about to leave when he noticed a figure sneaking toward the back of the estate.
The sun had already set, and the moon was beginning to rise. With no streetlights in this world, the only illumination came from the moonlight and the occasional lanterns hung outside wealthy homes. Most people avoided going out at night.
"They say the magistrate's daughter is stunningly beautiful, a true heavenly beauty. I've never seen her myself, but this time, I'll find out for sure," the figure muttered under his breath as he prepared to jump into the river that flowed into the Liu residence.
"A voyeur? Or just curious? Either way, tough luck," Daniel thought, shaking his head.
From the chatter at the inn, he had already heard plenty about Liu Mengli. Her talent was undeniable—her use of Li Xiang Grass alone was proof of that. Additionally, her exceptional painting skills had helped capture many thieves. Most of the county's prosperity could be attributed to her efforts.
Still, Liu Mengli's reclusive nature had turned her appearance into a topic of speculation. Some claimed she was stunningly beautiful, while others believed she was hideously ugly. This ongoing debate had attracted numerous "curious" individuals—most of whom ended up in jail.
The Liu residence had guards, not to mention Liu Mengli's ability to transform the estate into a maze of illusions. Ordinary martial artists stood no chance.
"Tough luck," Daniel muttered as he flicked his fingers, immobilizing the intruder. Approaching the man, Daniel used his "Double-Palm Technique" to investigate his intentions.
"So he's just curious—and a repeat offender at that. Bad luck for him," Daniel thought.
Satisfied that the man wasn't a serious threat, Daniel didn't harm him further. However, he did immobilize the intruder by sealing several pressure points, then hung him from a nearby tree. The seal wouldn't release for three days, and the man's position ensured he would be discovered by morning.
Despite the man's slippery nature—he had evaded capture even by Pei Jian—he was no match for Daniel. His attempts to spy on Liu Mengli had finally ended in failure.
"You're still awake?" Daniel asked upon returning to the inn and noticing the light in Han Lingsha's room.
"Can't sleep," Han Lingsha admitted. Whether it was concern for Yun Tianhe or something else, she couldn't relax.
"If you can't sleep, don't force yourself. By the way, have you heard of the Five Spirit Immortal Techniques?" Daniel asked after a brief pause.
In the Sword and Fairy world, while most sects like Shu Mountain and Qionghua focused on swordsmanship, there was another path to immortality: the Five Spirit Immortal Techniques, which revolved around the attributes of Fire, Earth, Wind, Lightning, and Water.
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Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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