Liu Piaopiao explained the reason, “What is so strange about this? I just happen to be on duty in the Sea Market.”
Yu Qing was surprised, “Are you helping Qianliu Mountain manage the Sea Market?”
Liu Piaopiao smiled, “You think too highly of me. With my strength at the Initial Xuan level, how could I possibly manage such a vast Sea Market? Not long after returning to Qianliu Mountain from the Little Cloud Realm, the situation here with Tianyu went south. Everyone in the Third Cave had to keep their tails between their legs. In short, the situation is quite complicated and hard to explain in a moment. It is probably because there are many interests involved here, and people’s minds are quite restless. Tianyu sent me here to help keep an eye on things and report to him whenever there is any situation.”
Yu Qing tried asking again, “Did only your Third Cave discover me?”
Liu Piaopiao knew what he was hoping for and directly poured cold water on his expectations, “Those keeping an eye on the Sea Market are not just from the Third Cave. Several cave masters have people here making arrangements, and there are also those directly under the Great Sage. Which faction in the entire Qianliu Mountain has not reached out a hand in the Sea Market? Do you think that besides Qianliu Mountain, other forces could resist setting up spies here? You killed a merman of the Sea Clan and dragged him ashore, then went straight to the Nether Temple. With such a loud commotion, who knows how many people are watching you.”
Yu Qing was immediately speechless. After secretly sighing in his heart, he asked, “Did the other forces also recognise my identity?”
Liu Piaopiao was silent for a moment and said, “I cannot be sure if those who have never seen you would recognise you so quickly. After I recognised it was you, I informed my superiors immediately and sent a secret report to Tianyu…” Speaking of this, her expression showed a hint of apology, “I have no choice. Tianyu knows I know you. If I concealed it or delayed reporting, it would definitely arouse suspicion.”
Yu Qing sighed, “It is fine. If you encounter this kind of thing in the future, do not worry about me. Protect yourself first.”
Liu Piaopiao pursed her lips for a moment and continued, “I do not know if Tianyu will inform the others in Qianliu Mountain about your arrival. But one thing is certain. Those who can build a certain amount of power here are not simple characters. Even if they do not figure out who you are for a while, they will see through your identity sooner or later. Who told you that you are no nameless person, and you made such a big commotion? All parties will definitely find out your background.”
Yu Qing sighed again, “These various forces are truly annoying. What I do is none of their damn business. These people wish they could keep everything under their control to be satisfied. What a bad habit.”
Liu Piaopiao smiled gently, “If you were in their position, I am afraid you would not be able to avoid it either. By the way, what exactly do you want to do by bringing a child all the way here?”
Yu Qing continued to sigh, “Do not mention the child’s matter. This time I have really fallen into the hands of this naughty kid, and I have bitterness that I cannot speak of. We came here to treat an illness.”
“Treat an illness?” Liu Piaopiao was surprised, “Treat what illness, find who to treat it, find the Nether Monk?”
Yu Qing said, “Some things involve secrets, so it is not good for me to tell you. In short, all three of us have been afflicted. We do not even know how long we can live. It is like a sword hanging over our heads, ready to fall at any time, leaving us in constant fear day and night.”
Liu Piaopiao immediately reached out, grabbed his wrist, and took his pulse.
Yu Qing did not dodge either, letting her grab it, and gave a bitter smile, “Do not take it anymore. You will not find anything out. It is definitely an illness you have never seen before.”
Liu Piaopiao just said one sentence, “Shut up and do not speak.”
Fine, Yu Qing shut up and let her investigate, which could also be considered as letting his guard down around her.
After a good while, Liu Piaopiao withdrew her hand and said in confusion, “It is very normal. There is no illness at all. Should I congratulate you on your cultivation breaking through to the Xuan level? It seems that immortal peach is indeed extraordinary.”
Yu Qing knew she had incidentally checked his cultivation level. “Speaking of the immortal peaches, I have to say, transporting that stuff here is really inconvenient. Once discovered, the relationship between you and me would be hard to conceal. I have paid a heavy price to keep those immortal peaches safe now, and there is not much left. If you want to eat them, you can only find a way to go over there yourself, and you must do it early. If you are late, they will definitely be eaten up.”
Liu Piaopiao shook her head, “I have already told you the reason. It is truly inconvenient for me to go over there. Besides, my cultivation was already stuck at the peak of Initial Xuan when I was at Jianyuan Mountain. If I cannot break through to Upper Xuan, the immortal peaches are of no use to me either. This is also one of the reasons I am not in a hurry.”
Yu Qing said, “Then what to do? You also know I am in deep debt. Now, just to cope with the annual interest, I am like a dog, so poor that I am jingling. I really cannot raise the money to offset your debt.”
Liu Piaopiao smiled gently, “I know you are poor. You ran from one inn to another, each one cheaper than the last, but you still could not afford to stay and ended up staying at someone else’s house. If you have no money, then you have no money. Why let that fat man pretend to be a rich man…” Speaking of this, she could not help but laugh out loud, seemingly having seen the other party’s embarrassed appearance.
Yu Qing looked at her with some surprise. From their first meeting at Jianyuan Mountain, when she was still the Grand Commander of Jianyuan Mountain, the image of her in his eyes was a combination of valiant and heroic, beautiful face, and cold eyes. In the end, she was a cold person who never smiled.
It was the first time he had seen her laugh like this. He discovered that this woman had a different kind of charm when she smiled, just like a beautiful flower blooming, looking even more charming.
This caused a thought to murmur in his heart, wondering if it was his illusion, feeling that this woman seemed quite happy that he could come to find her.
It was obvious that this woman was in a rather good mood at the moment.
Of course, hearing these words, Yu Qing immediately understood that the other party must have sent someone to that inn to investigate what Nan Zhu went in to do. He immediately said in a muffled voice, “What is wrong with being poor? Is it that funny? I am at least someone who has done big business, someone who has earned over a hundred million taels of silver in a day. It is just that I am temporarily pressed for time and cannot turn the funds around.”
“I am not laughing at you, I am laughing at that fat man.” Liu Piaopiao waved her hands repeatedly to deny it. After forcing herself to stop laughing, she could not help but look him up and down. “Actually, there is one thing I have never understood about you. With your talent, it should be very easy for you to pay back that money. Writing poems and essays is no difficulty for you at all. As long as you are willing to write a few poems or something, what is that little bit of money? As far as I know, many people are holding handfuls of money waiting for you to earn it.
Taking a step back, even if you cannot write any good poems now, your calligraphy is also valuable. You cannot be unable to write well now, can you? There is clearly a way to pay back the money, yet you insist on making yourself so poor. Is it necessary?”
Yu Qing turned his head and looked at the light outside the crack in the stone. He murmured to himself with melancholy in his heart. If I had the ability to write poems and essays, would I have ended up abandoning my post and fleeing the capital, being chased like a dog? With the support of the Duke of Xuan’s faction, would it not be great to continue being my official? Would I need to engage in risky business?
Speaking of making money by writing, no one could understand his feelings.
In short, he was very reluctant to let “A Shiheng” produce any new works again.
He still remembered the way that woman cried and begged him, her face covered in tears like pear blossoms.
He also remembered the tears he shed after resolutely rejecting her and leaving.
Now, he did not expect to renew any past relationship with that woman. He just wanted to let her know openly and uprightly one day that he was truly Yu Qing and that everything he said was true.
He wanted to prove to her openly and uprightly that he did not lie to her back then!
He just wanted to give her an explanation one day.
Actually, this did not conflict with making money by writing, but he just wanted to maintain a sense of dignity. He did not want that woman to know that he was making money under the guise of A Shiheng, or rather, scamming money. He wanted to stand in front of her with dignity one day, a kind of stubborn and inexplicable dignity belonging to a young person.
He actually did not know himself how long he could uphold this dignity.
Perhaps he would give up one day, perhaps he would reach that step one day and not be able to hold on. Forget it, making money is the most important thing. As for that person, it is better to never see her again in the future.
Seeing him silent and not making a sound, Liu Piaopiao muttered again, “You clearly have no money, you cannot even afford an inn, yet you still pretend to be a rich man to ask about room prices, but you can actually give all the money on you to the refugees. I really do not understand what you are thinking.”
As for the matter of the refugees, it was purely because the human trafficking failed and he lost all his capital. How could Yu Qing explain it? His good reputation was already out, so why defile himself? He could only respond with a chuckle, “A true man has promised to abandon literature for martial arts, so he must keep his word! Alright, let us talk about serious matters. Help me inquire about one thing.”
Liu Piaopiao said, “You speak first.”
Yu Qing said, “I want to know if those experts killed a woman when they broke into the Nether Sea Immortal Mansion back then. See if you can find out the situation of the battle back then from Qianliu Mountain.”
Liu Piaopiao was immediately full of suspicion, “When the Nether Sea Immortal Mansion was broken into, that must have been thousands of years ago. What woman?”
Yu Qing said, “A maid in the Nether Sea Immortal Mansion, known as the ‘Sea Woman’, was responsible for welcoming and seeing off guests for the Nether Sea Immortal Mansion in this sea area. The Sea Woman oversaw the Sea Clan to carry out this matter. According to the news I inquired from the Nether Temple, the people of the Sea Clan can prove that when the Nether Sea Immortal Mansion was broken into, the last Sea Woman was still there, and later her whereabouts were unknown. I now want to confirm whether she is dead or alive, so I need to confirm if she was killed back then.”
Liu Piaopiao was confused, “A person from thousands of years ago must have been dead long ago. Is there any meaning in proving whether she is dead or alive?”
Yu Qing said, “I have learned some information. This Sea Woman should have obtained an immortal fate and achieved longevity. If she was not killed back then, she might still be alive today!”
“Ah!” Liu Piaopiao was greatly surprised, “How is this possible? If there is truly such a figure who has lived for thousands of years, I am afraid that even if she has not cultivated to become an immortal, she is already invincible in the world. How is it possible that I have never heard of her?”
Yu Qing said, “I am also unclear about how many things actually happened. I can only follow the clues and investigate bit by bit.”
Liu Piaopiao was surprised and suspicious, “Why are you investigating her?”
Yu Qing said, “To cure an illness. The Sea Woman is very likely to have a cure for the affliction on the three of us.”
Liu Piaopiao asked again, “What kind of illness did you three catch exactly, that you actually need to find such an unimaginable person to treat it?”
Yu Qing said, “Sigh, do not ask. It is an illness you cannot understand.”
Liu Piaopiao immediately stood up, “Since you are unwilling to say, then I have no way to help with this. I do not want to be a fool!”