This matter sounded somewhat incredible. Yu Qing asked, “With his strength, why would he wait until now to have you help find his sister?”
Wu Hei: “I suspected as much too. He has a restriction on him, he cannot leave the Golden Ruins.”
Yu Qing made an “oh” sound, then suddenly exclaimed, “Old Hei, if you find the Heavenly Spring, the problem with your and Little Black’s bodies would be solved. Besides, since he asked you, why do you not go look?”
Wu Hei: “His sister does not need to sleep. If she has been alive all this time, what level of cultivation would she be at?”
The three senior brothers drew in a sharp breath. Nan Zhu sighed, “She would definitely be invincible under heaven.”
Wu Hei: “How could someone like that, alive until now, leave no trace whatsoever? It is possible that thousands of years ago she met the same fate as the Nether Sea Immortal Mansion’s mountain guardian beast, killed by those experts. In short, there is no way to search, and no way to find her. Furthermore, if the Heavenly Spring were in the Mirage City, how could it remain undiscovered until now?”
The three senior brothers understood his meaning. There was no point wasting effort.
Yu Qing detected another layer of meaning in his tone and asked, “Do you think there is no Heavenly Spring in the Mirage City at all, and it was merely to lure you into finding a way to locate his sister?”
Wu Hei: “Once you go to the Mirage City, you cannot go around asking everyone about the Heavenly Spring. Even if the Heavenly Spring truly is in the Mirage City, with so many people coming and going, and it remaining undiscovered for so many years, that proves it exists in a very hidden place, accessible only to those who know about it. The basic conditions are laid out here. As long as you want to find the Heavenly Spring, you must go find his sister.”
Yu Qing: “So you gave up?”
Wu Hei: “Not gave up, but understood some truths. Many things cannot be forced. That strongman was right, recklessly prying into immortal secrets is no good thing. You also said to me, running into the Golden Ruins without even knowing if the Human Spring was inside was wrong. Am I to do it all over again? The price of acting recklessly without clarity is heavy. How many people died?”
There was one thing he had never spoken aloud. To preserve his and his son’s lives, his father had sacrificed himself. All of this was because he insisted on searching for some Human Spring.
After leaving the Golden Ruins, he regretted it and no longer wanted to make trouble.
Now, every time he thought of his father, it was endless regret and self-blame. Were his own feelings important? Was his father’s life not important?
Speaking of the dead, Yu Qing could not help but recall the shadow of that woman with whom he had been intimate, and his heart also darkened. But he still said those words, “I want to go look.”
If the problem with his body were only his own, then so be it. It was still the same old saying. Since he had dragged Old Seven and Old Nine into this, how could he not take responsibility?
Wu Hei had to remind him again, “You and I both know, if the Heavenly Spring is in the Mirage City, it is not our turn to go look for it now. Knowing it cannot be done yet doing it is not a wise move.”
Yu Qing: “If the three of us were like you father and son, with no threat to our lives and long lifespans to take our time, we would not be anxious either. But we cannot afford to gamble. If one day we truly lie on a sickbed wailing, it will be too late for regret.”
Wu Hei: “Suit yourselves.”
Yu Qing: “Since that strongman entrusted you to find his sister, he would not have given you no clues at all, would he?”
Wu Hei immediately turned and left, returning to his room, leaving the three senior brothers looking at each other in bewilderment.
Soon, Wu Hei came out again and handed Yu Qing a ring, “This is the ring the strongman gave me. He wore it when he was still normal. There are two rings, divided into yin and yang, identical. Placed together they can fit into one piece. The other one is on his sister’s hand. His sister is called ‘Lady Li.’ This is the clue he gave me. Thousands of years have passed, the Nether Sea Immortal Mansion was long ago occupied by others, and he could provide no more clues.”
Yu Qing took the ring and examined it. Nan and Mu also leaned in to look. They took turns holding it, a black metal ring with a curved swimming fish on the face, exquisitely crafted and lifelike.
“Lady Li…” Yu Qing murmured.
Nan Zhu was somewhat puzzled, “Thousands of years, and only this much of a clue? How do you search? It is no different from fishing a needle from the sea.”
That was no longer Wu Hei’s concern. He saw his son occasionally opening his eyes to sneak peeks this way, and walked over to scold him.
For him, if not for the inexplicable mountain of debt and the immense pressure regarding money, he would feel that living here was quite good. Safe, free, peace and quiet with the door closed, the splendour of the world with the door open. You could see all sorts of demons and monsters, and all kinds of food, drink, and entertainment were available. A rather nice place.
Nice as the place was, Youya was not running a charity. They would not provide this shelter for free, nor let you enjoy these conveniences for nothing. You had to follow their rules, which was also one of the sources of pressure.
Soon, Gao Yunjie and Chong’er learned of the news that Yu Qing and the other two were leaving.
Among fellow disciples, some matters required communication. Exactly how to leave still needed Gao Yunjie to personally arrange.
Having suffered from the previous time, this time they needed to find a way to leave without anyone knowing.
In a room with dim light like bean-sized flames, Yu Qing lay on his side on the couch, propping his head on one arm, resting with eyes closed, carefully going over the details of this departure, terrified of being targeted again.
Fortunately, the interior was safe this time. His own fellow disciples could be completely trusted, and there was no need to worry about Wu Hei’s side either.
Little Dong and Little Xi theoretically would not betray the one-eyed people’s professional ethics, but tomorrow before departure he still needed to send them away just in case.
Chong’er came in from outside, took off his shoes, and gently climbed onto the couch, kneeling beside Yu Qing’s reclining legs. Then he slowly massaged his legs with his fists. In the dim light, his eyes looking at Yu Qing were still bright, even somewhat gentle.
Yu Qing did not even need to open his eyes to know who had come. He was familiar with that touch.
Although he was used to treating Chong’er as a servant, Chong’er taking the initiative to do this still put him on guard. He slightly opened his eyes and glanced back, snorting, “No one shows such diligence without ulterior motives. Speak, what scheme do you have?”
Chong’er immediately giggled and crawled behind him, also leaning slightly to lie on his side, half-propping himself on Yu Qing’s shoulder above him, “Young master, I have not gone outside for a long time to look around. Take me with you this time.”
The address “young master,” he had grown accustomed to calling it. Now, to conceal their identity as fellow disciples, no one corrected him anymore.
Yu Qing, with eyes closed again, snorted once more, “This is going out on business, not going out to play. Stay honestly in the shop.”
Chong’er pleaded, “I have cultivation too. I can also help you with business.”
Yu Qing: “Having cultivation alone is useless. Have you ever killed anyone? I do not know what Little Martial Uncle was thinking, letting you leave the mountain without even basic experience. Be obedient and stay home. Keeping watch over the shop is also helping me with business.”
Seeing he would not agree, Chong’er gently pushed and swayed his shoulder, carrying a hint of coquettishness, “Young master, senior brother, head senior brother, just take me. I promise to listen to you. I will do whatever you ask.”
Yu Qing reacted as if shocked by electricity, shooting up with a jolt. Subconsciously he moved away from him, turning to face the wall, crossing his arms and rubbing them up and down as he sized him up, his eyes full of alarm, “Why are you speaking in such a cloying voice? Are you acting spoiled? I say, Chong’er, you are becoming more and more like a woman. You gave me goosebumps all over.”
Chong’er was momentarily embarrassed, then straightened his expression, “Young master, I have never been to the Mirage City. I want to go see it.”
Yu Qing rolled his eyes, turned over and lay down again, facing away as he said, “You want to go? Old Two wants to go too. This time it is business. Trouble could happen at any moment. Your Youjiao Port identity cannot openly cause trouble outside. Once discovered, Miaoqing Hall will be shut down by Youya. Not this time, next time. Is it not just the Mirage City? When we have money and the travel fare is no concern, you can fly there whenever you want. For now, save what we can.”
Having said this much, Chong’er knew begging was useless. He could not help but secretly pout at Yu Qing’s back to show his resentment.
But shortly after, his bright eyes blinked, and he tried asking, “Young master, was that Miss Qiao very beautiful? Prettier than Lady Tie?”
Hearing this, Yu Qing immediately exploded. He flipped over and grabbed Chong’er’s ear, twisting him up and pushing him out, then delivered a fierce kick to his backside, “Scram!”
Bang! Chong’er, kicked flying, fell off the couch, landing on his bottom. He scrambled up and hurriedly ran off.
Yu Qing’s anger had not subsided. Standing on the couch, he cursed, “Damn it, I knew that fatso’s mouth was not reliable, blabbing everything. Just you wait, there will be a time when you cry.”
The next day, Little Dong and Little Xi were sent away, and preparations before departure were complete.
Five boxes originally used to hold immortal peaches were placed in a room. Yu Qing, Nan Zhu, and Mu Aotie crawled inside one after another.
When the lid was closed, Wu Hei instructed Yu Qing, “Once outside, if you have the chance, remember to bring back more money.”
He himself had not realised how he had unknowingly changed. Before entering the world, it would be no exaggeration to say he viewed money as dirt. Now, money had become his top concern. There was no other way. Without money, life was unsettling, and he could be kicked out of here at any moment.
He was not alone. He still had a child with him. The key point was that he had invested so much money. It would be a total loss.
Yu Qing: “Rest assured, rest assured. You do not need to tell me that.”
Thud, the box lids were closed.
Soon, Gao Yunjie called in several people from outside to have the five boxes here carried out.
Wu Hei saw them off to the shop entrance and did not go further. After watching them leave, he turned back to his own small courtyard.
The small courtyard was completely silent. He looked around and discovered his son, who had been there just now, was gone. He immediately shouted, “Little Black, Little Black…”
He shouted several times, but still received no response. He quickly searched every room, then hurried to other courtyards to call out.
Chong’er, who had come over from the shop upon hearing the commotion, immediately helped search.
The two of them searched the entire Miaoqing Hall but found no trace. There was no need to think much. They could guess that Little Black’s old habit had flared up again. He must have taken advantage of their busyness sending Yu Qing and the other three off, when no one was paying attention, to climb over the wall and run out again. This time, who knew where he had gone to cause trouble.