Chapter 16 - Local Elder Trapped Grandson-in-Law in Garage to Fix His Electric Car. He Didn't Own a Car.
In the story, Jin Yanxiong entrusted the city to his granddaughter and brought his trusted men to the immortal realm to avenge Jin Yu's parents, who had been killed by the Starlight Taming Guild. He didn't return to the Celestial Fox City until the fourth chapter.
Fu Tong had no idea if his meddling or the wedding caused the fox grandpa to return early. Whatever the case, this was a pleasant surprise. After all, Jin Yanxiong was a peak immortal, whose strength was superior to Xiao Han Ce, Yuemei Xie, and Yuemei Wuxin.
Having a fourth chapter's NPC on his side was assuring. However, like any man meeting a grandfather-in-law for the first time, Fu Tong got nervous.
Jin Yanxiong could sense Fu Tong's anxiety. He chuckled and adjusted his dialect, but he couldn't defeat his habit.
"At ease, boy. I judge thee not. I heard thy summon, so here I am."
One of the elderly military personnel coughed and corrected his lord. "Ahem! We hurried here after we heard about thy wedding. We've just arrived and rushed here."
Jin Yanxiong frowned at his aide, Huli Jiubai, but he didn't argue with the old general. Maintaining his smile, he changed the topic. "And this king is also in charge of the treasure! Is there something you need?"
Fu Tong wiped the sweat on his face with a handkerchief. But as he pulled it out of his sleeves, he discovered that it was the used underwear of his wife. He put it away and cleared his throat.
"Um. Ahem! So… because of the incident yesterday, we end up provoking the Yuemei Clan, and they're threatening to excommunicate us from the demonic alliance. I'm planning to take the initiative before the boycott is officially announced. I hope to bring the entire city to a mortal continent. Therefore, I need the master of the city's artifact to help navigate the city northeast."
Jin Yanxiong raised an eyebrow. Although he had no issues with cooperating, he voiced his disagreement.
"Relocation is unnecessary. If they bring an army, I'll crush them myself!"
From Jin Yanxiong's perspective, a peak immortal like him alone was enough to repel greedy cultivators from the immortal realm. However, Fu Tong knew that he would fail due to the existence of saints, whose strength was a major realm higher than that of immortals.
Fu Tong warned Jin Yanxiong. "You overlook the backers behind the Starlight Taming Guild, Yuemei Clan, and their allies. Some of them are small branches or outposts, working for people from the Saint Realm. Imagine yourself being a mortal while the enemies bring immortal backers into a fight. That's the overall picture of the situation."
Jin Yanxiong paused and nodded. He was also aware of that. Earlier, he was just testing Fu Tong's insight and wisdom.
"I hear thee. I know the taming guild houses a saint. Here staying, suicide it be."
"Then?"
"Dost thou knowst the Ji Clan controls the mainland? They art Yuemei Clan's allies, dost they not?"
Fu Tong sighed. He was aware of the Ji Immortal Clan's influence. However, this family only came into play in the fourth and fifth chapters as they were more cunning than the Starlight Taming Guild or the Yuemei Clan. Moreover, they never joined a conflict as a vanguard or a spearhead. He doubted that they would directly interfere with them.
"The Ji Clan's men are merchants at heart. They might be in charge of minting coins, but that's about it. They aren't interested in wars, conflicts, or direct skirmishes unless their clansmen get involved or there's some hidden benefits."
"I see." Jin Yanxiong was satisfied with the answers. He smirked and turned to the ministers and officials. "Anybody wisheth to comment?"
Nobody volunteered as they didn't dare to argue with the former city lord. Jin Yanxiong snorted at the cowardly foxes and turned to Fu Tong, who bravely debated with him.
Fu Tong also seized the chance to push the meeting agenda forward. "Since nobody objects, could Senior Jin manage the artifact for everybody in the city?"
Jin Yanxiong teased Fu Tong. "Thou and I art not yet family. I approve thee not."
Fu Tong broke a sweat. The others also murmured, surprised by the sudden family disagreement. However, the next moment, Jin Yanxiong burst into laughter.
"Dowry first. Give me 1,000 karma coins and share drinks with me! Defeat me in libation, and thou be my son!"
"Libation?" Tong had never heard of this word.
Huli Jiubai explained. "It's a drinking contest. Our military tradition."
Fu Tong facepalmed. The others also let out a long sigh of resignation. On the other hand, many military officers dryly laughed as they got used to their master's eccentric behavior.
Still, with this, Fu Tong managed to get Jin Yanxiong's cooperation and his people's support. As if a new custom had been implemented, the new military officers and servants of Jin Yanxiong queued to receive Tong's gold coins after the meeting, as they hadn't received the 10 karma coins yet.
Jin Yanxiong, on the other hand, extorted 1,000 gold coins from Fu Tong and dragged him along after the meeting. He brought his grandson-in-law to where the treasure was hidden while he interrogated Fu Tong how he won granddaughter's heart and killed Yuemei Xie.
—
At late morning, Jin Yanxiong, Huli Jiubai, and Fu Tong arrived at a suspicious abandoned wooden storehouse, which was located at the corner of the city, surrounded by other tall buildings. They had to get through a maze of multiple fully-furnished ownerless houses to get there.
The tall fox opened the storehouse's door. Inside the wooden building was a portal to another world.
Fu Tong wryly smiled as this place always amazed him, regardless of how many times he had visited it in the game. Moreover, the hidden world inside the storehouse was always procedurally generated. The entrance and exit also changed every 10 minutes, making this place difficult to navigate.
However, with the owner of this strange place, they could safely enter and leave without triggering the traps set by this old fox.
The mystic realm transformed into a desert as they entered the storeroom. The door automatically closed behind them.
"There." Jin Yanxiong pointed at the sky. Everybody looked up.
In the middle of the sky was a massive cloud mass similar to the plateau that they were staying on. Fu Tong nodded, understanding the hint.
That was where the artifact was hidden. The desert was just a decoy to trap clueless infiltrators within.
Jin Yanxiong grabbed Fu Tong by the waist like he was holding a baggage. He took flight, flying toward the cloud. The elder aide sighed and followed them.
They arrived at the hidden place. On the cloud, there was nothing.
The group entered the clouds. A minute later, they came across a floating orb. Jin Yanxiong smirked and stroked it.
"There it is, the artifact."
Fu Tong nodded and inspected it. However, it seemed dimmer and darker than what he had seen in the game. He asked Jin Yanxiong.
"Is it out of energy?"
"Indeed." Jin Yanxiong grinned from ear to ear. He opened his palm and extorted Fu Tong again. "Flying big clouds need big gold coins. Thy coins, hand me."
"…"
Huli Jiubai sighed once more. He reminded his master. "Thou hast enough coins. Use those."
Jin Yanxiong scoffed. "Nay! These coins, my next seclusion needs! My son-in-law art rich. By the ethic laid down by our ancestors, the young must contribute and pay for the seniors!"
"…"
Both Fu Tong and Huli Jiubai looked at each other. The latter gave him an apologetic look while the former shrugged.
"We're sorry." Huli Jiubai laughed.
"I don't mind."
Fu Tong brought out more karma coins and brought them closer to the dimmed orb. Jin Yanxiong gleefully injected his Qi into it, and the artifact hummed.
Hidden energy within Fu Tong's coins was drawn into the orb. In seconds, the gold coins turned black, transferring all energy into the artifact.
The orb trembled, so did the entire realm. The artifact was activated and was ready to move.
Jin Yanxiong took the helm, holding the orb in his hand.
"Ji Clan's mortal land, we go."
And thus, they began their journey.