Chapter Sixty-Nine: Another Encounter
Seeing the young girl walk away, Liang Yan, though inwardly longing for that calligraphy copybook, could only give up in resignation. To trail an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl, or even go so far as to kill for treasure—such base acts, he told himself, were beyond him.
He sighed quietly, no longer sparing the shopkeeper a glance, and swept out of Jade Affinity Pavilion with a flick of his sleeve.
Twisting and turning through the city, he made his way toward the west. Before long, he left the main road, slipping into a secluded alleyway. Though the lane wound on endlessly and seemed deserted, its emptiness suggested it was likely a dead end.
Nevertheless, Liang Yan did not pause, unhurriedly making his way deeper into the alley. Rounding a corner, he came upon a large black dog, half as tall as a man, sprawled across the path and snoring soundly.
Liang Yan smiled faintly, stepped over the dog, and continued on as if nothing were amiss. The black dog appeared not to stir, remaining fast asleep. Anyone familiar with the area would have been astonished by the sight, for whenever anyone passed this way, the beast would always leap up, barking furiously. No one believed it ever truly slept. Several people had attempted to slip by while it dozed, only to be attacked, and so, over time, the alley had become deserted.
Yet as Liang Yan passed, the black dog merely twitched its nose and rolled over, continuing its slumber.
After walking further along the winding alley, Liang Yan finally halted before a dilapidated courtyard at the very end. The house was in a sorry state; even the wooden gate hung loosely ajar, so battered it could not be closed.
He paused at the threshold for a moment, then pushed the door open with a creak.
Within the courtyard stood a wooden table, and behind it, an official’s chair upon which a middle-aged scholar reclined, leisurely sipping from a clay teapot.
At the sound of the door, the scholar immediately rose, scrutinizing Liang Yan from head to toe.
“Strange,” he thought, “This youth emits not the slightest hint of cultivation—he seems like a mere mortal. Still, to have passed the black dog, he cannot be ordinary. Perhaps he possesses a technique to mask his abilities.”
With this in mind, the scholar nodded politely and said, “I am Lu Quan, the steward of this place. Might I ask the esteemed Daoist’s name?”
Liang Yan returned the smile. “I am Liang Yan, a disciple of Chess Star Pavilion.” With that, he tossed his sect’s servant disciple token from his storage pouch to the man.
Lu Quan caught it and glanced over it. “No wonder!” he thought. “So he is a disciple of Chess Star Pavilion—no wonder his abilities are so profound, even I cannot discern his depths.”
He looked at Liang Yan more respectfully. “So it is a disciple of the Upper Sect who graces us—my apologies for not greeting you sooner. Fellow Daoist Liang, have you come regarding the invitation pass?”
“Indeed,” Liang Yan confirmed with a nod.
“Please wait here a moment, Fellow Daoist Liang. I shall fetch it for you at once.” Lu Quan returned the token, then turned and disappeared inside.
Liang Yan did not wait long before Lu Quan reemerged, holding a talisman in his hand.
“Forgive the delay, Fellow Daoist Liang. This is the pass for the upcoming Screen Mountain Gathering. Each person may claim only one. Please keep it safe.”
Liang Yan thanked him and accepted the talisman, then asked casually, “Do you know what treasures will be up for auction at this gathering?”
Lu Quan looked slightly awkward. “I am only in charge of distributing the passes, and truly have no knowledge of the auction list. Such information is not usually disclosed beforehand.”
“I see.” Liang Yan nodded. “Then, might you know if the ‘Enthralling Incense’ will be among the auction items?”
Lu Quan pondered for a moment, uncertainty in his tone. “I have heard mention of the ‘Enthralling Incense.’ There’s a good chance it will be on the auction list. Besides, it’s a secret creation of the Scented Fragrance Sect, and they have sent representatives to the gathering. You’d do well to inquire on the mountain itself—perhaps you’ll get firmer news there.”
“Thank you for the advice.” Liang Yan smiled, thanked Lu Quan, and left the courtyard.
...
Strolling down the main street of Screen City, Liang Yan mused, “There are still three days until the gathering. I should search for people from the Scented Fragrance Sect. If I can buy the ‘Enthralling Incense’ before the auction, I might avoid unnecessary trouble.”
His last journey with Tang Diexian to Yongle Town had netted him a trove of spoils. Though he hadn’t yet found time to sell everything, he already possessed over a thousand spirit stones—more than enough, he reckoned, to purchase the ‘Enthralling Incense’ at auction. Yet auctions always carried risks, and no one could guarantee the outcome.
After much thought, Liang Yan decided it was best to negotiate with the Scented Fragrance Sect in advance—even if it cost him everything, he had to secure the item, for his very life depended on it.
With this resolve, Liang Yan entered a rather grand restaurant on the street. His cultivation was still insufficient for fasting rituals; he needed to tend to his physical needs before heading to the gathering.
As it was not yet noon, the restaurant was sparsely populated, lending it a rare tranquility.
Liang Yan headed straight to the second floor, where there were even fewer patrons—only two or three tables were occupied in the spacious hall. He chose a quiet corner, ordered a few dishes and a pot of tea, and settled in.
He had not been seated long when the sound of footsteps on the stairs caught his ear, and a figure in bright green ascended.
“It’s her!” Liang Yan’s heart stirred.
It was none other than the little girl from Jade Affinity Pavilion, the one who had “snatched the prize from under his nose.”
She seemed not to notice him, heading straight for an empty table. After whispering her order to the waiter, she fell silent, though her sly eyes frequently darted toward another table.
Following her gaze, Liang Yan saw three men drinking together. All three wore blue robes of identical cut, and each bore the aura of a second-level Qi cultivator—likely disciples of the same sect or organization.
With the summit on Screen Mountain about to begin, it was hardly surprising to encounter cultivators in the city below.
The three men toasted one another, occasionally leaning in to murmur in low voices. Liang Yan strained his hearing with all his skill, yet could only catch fragments—nothing intelligible.
Just as he was about to give up, he suddenly heard one of them utter, “Scented Fragrance Sect...”
Liang Yan’s heart leapt, and he forced himself to remain calm, straining to hear more. Yet the men’s voices sank ever lower, until they were barely audible.
“Could these three be disciples of the Scented Fragrance Sect?” the thought flashed through Liang Yan’s mind.
“It’s said that some sects’ highest cultivation methods are only suitable for women, and so such sects are mostly female, but that doesn’t mean they have no male disciples at all. Not everyone can achieve mastery—some men spend their whole lives at the lowest ranks and are kept as servants.”
The more Liang Yan considered it, the more plausible it seemed. He could not help but rejoice; as the saying goes, one may search the world in vain, only for fortune to fall into one’s lap unbidden. He had just set out to seek the Scented Fragrance Sect, and here they were before him.
Pleased, Liang Yan poured himself a cup of fragrant tea and savored a sip.
But before he could swallow, his brow twitched and his gaze flicked forward. The girl in green, without waiting for her food, had already risen from her seat. As she brushed past the table of blue-robed men, her right sleeve seemed to twitch ever so slightly. Then, as if nothing had happened, she descended the stairs and was gone.
Such a subtle movement could not escape Liang Yan’s keen senses. Yet even he could not say for certain what she had done. Frowning in puzzlement, he gazed after her, lost in thought.