Chi Yantian skidded to an emergency stop and looked doubtful. “Huh? Proprietor, are you sure you can handle him?”
“Hmph!” The proprietor snorted and assumed a fighting stance. “This is Nanzhou. There are far more hidden experts here than you outsiders could ever imagine!”
He raised his voice. “Everyone, grab a weapon!”
At his command, even the head chef and the kitchen hands charged out carrying pots, bowls, ladles, and chopping boards. The entire establishment stood united against a common enemy.
Chi Yantian’s eyes widened. “Huh? You’re all ganging up on him?”
“Who cares about honor when someone comes looking for trouble?” The proprietor led his formidable procession of employees in surrounding Ying Wujue, then personally charged at the front. “Take this, brat!”
He flipped the abacus from the counter. With a furious clatter, the beads shot out, flying straight at Ying Wujue’s face. Nor did he waste the empty frame—he seized it and swung it at the man’s head.
Chi Yantian had no interest in joining a mob, so he stood where he was with his twin blades in hand and waited for them to finish.
The proprietor and his employees varied wildly in cultivation level and were collectively weaker than Ying Wujue, but their coordination was remarkably polished. By using their numbers to suppress him, they actually managed to put up a respectable fight.
Pretty Butterfly flipped back onto the second floor and sat on the railing, swinging her legs as she laughed at his misfortune. “He’s a disciple of the Esoteric Sect, at least. Don’t tell me he’s actually going to lose?”
“Impossible.” Chi Yantian folded his arms and watched with great interest. “He’s obviously holding something back because he doesn’t want a real fight. Whether he strikes depends on how long he can keep his temper.”
“I’ve heard—” Scholar Xiao gently waved his folding fan. “The Esoteric Sect has a rule against fighting without just cause.”
“That’s just something they say.” Pretty Butterfly did not believe it. “Does anyone actually keep their word? If they do, why did they forget that rule when they tried to capture Yu Qingtang?”
“If they acted, then they must be convinced that they are upholding the Heavenly Dao.” A sharp gleam flashed through Scholar Xiao’s eyes. “You must have heard the first half of what he said earlier. He called Brother Yu ‘someone from beyond...’”
Pretty Butterfly narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. “Called him what? I didn’t hear anything.”
Chi Yantian turned around. “Oh, I heard it. He said that ‘beyond—’”
“Ahem.” Pretty Butterfly cut him off. Smiling, she twirled a silver needle between her fingers. “Little scholar, let me give you a warning. Careless words have a way of bringing disaster.”
“Four Books Academy still stands today because it knows which things can be spoken of freely and which cannot.”
Her smile grew sweeter as she threateningly displayed her weapon. “Spout any more nonsense, and I’ll tear out your tongue!”
Then she pointed at Chi Yantian. “You too!”
Chi Yantian’s eyes widened. “Huh?”
Scholar Xiao smiled bitterly. “No, I...”
“Oh—” Pretty Butterfly’s gaze shifted slyly. “I forgot that you can still write. Then I suppose I’ll have to take those hands as well...”
“Miss Butterfly!” Scholar Xiao hurriedly interrupted her and bowed. “Why would I spread such a thing? I only asked what we should do next because I know everyone here can be trusted!”
“The urgent matter isn’t silencing me.” He pointed downstairs. “It’s silencing him.”
“Besides, Brother Yu and I have known each other for quite some time. Naturally, I know what sort of person he is...”
Pretty Butterfly snorted. “Who knows? You righteous sects all look respectable on the surface, but underneath, you’re tangled up in schemes within schemes.”
“As though you people are any better,” Chi Yantian shot back.
“Of course we are!” Pretty Butterfly raised an eyebrow smugly. “No matter where he came from, we’ve accepted him as one of our own. That means no outsider gets to—”
“Wait.” Chi Yantian suddenly remembered something. “You said before that he was only half one of the family!”
Pretty Butterfly choked.
Chi Yantian repeated what she had once said. “You said he wouldn’t truly count as one of your own unless the two of them had already done the deed.”
His pupils slowly contracted. “The two of them...”
Scholar Xiao nearly dropped his fan. He let out a long sigh. “You took the wrong turn.”
His gaze was full of regret. “Brother Chi, it is rare for you to grasp an implication at all. You even reached your conclusion faster than I expected. Unfortunately, your mind took the entirely wrong path.”
Chi Yantian looked puzzled. “Huh?”
Scholar Xiao patiently explained, “Clearly, Little Butterfly now regards Brother Yu as a friend, which is why she considers him one of her own...”
“Hey!” Pretty Butterfly glared at him. “Stop talking nonsense!”
“It’s only because the demon race was once hunted and condemned by everyone too. I simply can’t stand watching the Esoteric Sect chase him down because his origins are unusual.”
“Oh...” Whether Chi Yantian understood or not, he nodded anyway. “Why should it matter if he came from beyond this realm? He’s still himself.”
“It’s just a pity he didn’t bring a few chunks of ore with him when he came...”
Pretty Butterfly: “...”
She muttered, “Why am I wasting my breath on an idiot like you?”
Scholar Xiao smiled. “Brother Chi possesses a pure and guileless heart.”
“As long as he remains himself, what does anything else matter? Unfortunately, some people cannot see past it.”
He looked downstairs. The battle was raging with impressive intensity, yet Ying Wujue continued to do nothing but evade. His brows were faintly furrowed as he moved fluidly among the attacks, making no attempt to break through the encirclement.
Scholar Xiao narrowed his eyes. “Something is strange.”
Chi Yantian leaned closer. “Where?”
“He’s evading them effortlessly. Even if he doesn’t wish to fight back, escaping would not be difficult.” Scholar Xiao looked thoughtful. “Yet all this time, he has neither retaliated nor attempted to leave...”
“The Esoteric Sect excels at divining heavenly secrets. Perhaps he is waiting for something.”
Before Scholar Xiao had even finished speaking, Yu Qingtang came racing back toward the entrance, pushing Senior Sister Tianxin’s wheelchair. He cheerfully shouted at them, “I brought reinforcements!”
“Oh, honestly.” Pretty Butterfly covered her eyes. “So he was waiting for that stupid fish to deliver himself right into the net.”
Yu Qingtang had pushed Senior Sister Tianxin along at breakneck speed. She had no idea what the situation was; he had only told her that someone from the Esoteric Sect had appeared.
Now that they had just barely stopped outside Curiosities Tower, she detected no scent of blood, and the breathing of those inside remained relatively steady. Having formed a rough understanding of the situation, she spoke calmly.
“Both sides, please stop.”
The proprietor seemed to have worked himself into a genuine fury and did not hear her. He raised his abacus and brought it down toward Ying Wujue’s head.
Senior Sister Tianxin sighed and raised a hand.
The armrests of her wheelchair opened, firing several long, pitch-black rods. They shot past the combatants, grazing their bodies before locking them all in place.
Ying Wujue’s expression shifted slightly. He evaded a rod that nearly brushed his body and glanced toward her.
“Star-Fixing Wood.”
“You are Tianxin, a disciple of Starwatch Pavilion.”
Tianxin’s expression did not change. “And who might you be? Starwatch Pavilion is entrusted with managing all affairs in Nanzhou. Someone has accused you of coming here to provoke trouble. Do you admit to it?”
“Ying Wujue of the Esoteric Sect.” Ying Wujue remained reasonably courteous and did not neglect proper manners merely because she was blind. “I did not provoke anyone. I was only attempting to confirm how he rendered these poisonous creatures harmless. I asked him to demonstrate...”
“The Esoteric Sect. No wonder.” Tianxin sighed softly. “You came alone? You have no companion?”
“Members of the Esoteric Sect live in seclusion. Those who also cultivate the Dao of Emotionlessness inevitably lack common sense and become rigidly stubborn. Whenever one descends the mountain, an outer disciple familiar with the world below—or a senior who has traveled through it—would ordinarily accompany them.”
“So why did you come alone?”
Ying Wujue was silent for a moment.
Tianxin seemed to consider something. “Did you sneak away?”
Ying Wujue appeared determined to maintain his silence to the bitter end.
Yu Qingtang stared in shock. “Huh? You ran away from home?”
I knew this guy wasn’t supposed to appear in this part of the story!
The plot has run away from home, and now even the Esoteric Sect’s disciples are doing it!
Tianxin shook her head slightly. “He has operated this establishment for over three hundred years, and Starwatch Pavilion vouches for him...”
Despite still being pinned in place by the pitch-black Star-Fixing Wood, the proprietor craned his neck and gloated, “Exactly! Listen closely, you blind fool!”
“Ahem.” Tianxin shook her head helplessly. “However, this is hardly the first time the proprietor, Golden Leopard, has fought with a customer...”
The proprietor’s expression changed drastically. “This time wasn’t because of my temper! In the past, I even tolerated people saying the food tasted bad, making a fuss over how anyone could enjoy this stuff, or—even worse—saying that I looked frightening and the place seemed shady!”
“But this brat didn’t even come here to eat! He insisted on making trouble and forcing me to prove myself. I...”
“That is enough. I understand.” Tianxin raised a hand. The proprietor immediately closed his mouth, not daring to say another word.
“Members of the Esoteric Sect must still obey Nanzhou’s laws while in Nanzhou,” Tianxin said evenly. “You disrupted his business, so you must compensate him. Do you accept that?”
Ying Wujue slowly nodded. “If Starwatch Pavilion vouches for him, I accept.”
“And...” Tianxin sounded somewhat helpless. “Since you falsely accused the proprietor, you should also apologize.”
Before Ying Wujue could speak, the proprietor thrust out his neck and refused. “I won’t accept it!”
“Everyone makes a few enemies in life. I’ve decided he’s mine! From now on, whenever I meet one of these Esoteric Sect disciples, I’ll beat them on sight!”
“I’m also hanging a sign on the door: ‘Disciples of the Esoteric Sect and anyone prejudiced against demonfolk or demon cultivators are forbidden entry!’”
Tianxin pressed her fingers to her brow, her head beginning to ache.
Yu Qingtang looked thoughtful. “Then how about...you let him taste your food?”
“What?” the proprietor cried. “I wouldn’t feed my food to a pig if the pig were him!”
The head chef scratched his head. “Boss, I’m a pig demon.”
The proprietor immediately corrected himself. “Then I wouldn’t feed it to a dog...”
A waiter innocently looked back. “Boss, I...”
“Oh, you know what I mean!” the proprietor said anxiously.
“You’re angry because he criticized your food without even trying it.” Yu Qingtang pointed at Ying Wujue. “But didn’t he also doubt the safety of your food without any evidence?”
“Shennong tasted a hundred herbs in ancient times. Think of this as an Esoteric Sect disciple tasting a hundred poisons. Surely he has that much resolve?”
Ying Wujue raised his eyes toward the menu on the wall. His brows furrowed slightly, but he still nodded.
“Once you’ve tasted it and confirmed that it’s harmless and delicious, you’ll write a letter of apology,” Yu Qingtang continued. “You’ll say that you were too blind to recognize the truth and offended the establishment, and you’ll praise the food in detail!”
He beckoned to Scholar Xiao. “Does Four Books Academy publish anything that sells well in Nanzhou?”
“You can publicize it for him. Print it in the next issue!”
Scholar Xiao gently waved his folding fan. “Easily done. Provided both parties agree, it can be published tomorrow.”
The proprietor seemed tempted, though he still muttered, “Who—who cares about his apology...”
“This is entirely different.” Scholar Xiao smilingly joined the effort to persuade him. “If he apologizes now, only those of us here will know. But once it is set down in black and white, people will remember it even a thousand years from now—
“‘A foolish Esoteric Sect disciple, too blind to see, threw a tantrum before Curiosities Tower.
“‘Yet the Hundred-Poisons Feast proved tender and divine; though he severed all desire, his appetite survived...’”
Yu Qingtang raised a thumb and interjected, “The inscription across the top: ‘Instant Convert.’”
Ying Wujue: “...”
Pretty Butterfly giggled. “Perhaps he’s too embarrassed and doesn’t dare.”
Ying Wujue closed his eyes. “I agree.”
“However, I severed my seven emotions and six desires long ago and have abstained from food for many years. I fear I may be unable to judge whether something tastes good or bad.”
“Ha!” The proprietor was suddenly seized by a competitive spirit. “Who are you trying to fool? Those of you who cultivate the Dao of Emotionlessness are only forcing yourselves to endure it. It’s not as though you sealed off your five senses!”
He rolled up his sleeves. “Waiter, bring me my knife! Lord Leopard will personally show him what real cooking looks like today! Keep an eye on him. Don’t let him run!”
Ying Wujue was silent for a moment before slowly looking toward Tianxin. “I did not come here to...”
Tianxin interrupted him. “Anyone may enter Nanzhou. I will not drive you out.”
“But your identity is unusual, and your conduct...” She paused. “From now on, please allow a disciple of Starwatch Pavilion to accompany you.”
Ying Wujue silently nodded. “Very well.”
He added, “I previously submitted a formal request for an audience, but Starwatch Pavilion refused to see me.”
Senior Sister Tianxin accepted the tea Yu Qingtang thoughtfully handed her and took a small sip. “The subject of your request was identical to the one Elder Shouque of the Esoteric Sect submitted a month ago. Starwatch Pavilion issues only one response per matter. I ask your understanding.”
Ying Wujue looked at Yu Qingtang. “You also know that he...”
“I do,” Senior Sister Tianxin replied, her expression unchanged. “You will not take him away.”
Standing behind the wheelchair, Yu Qingtang borrowed her authority and nodded along vigorously.
“And it isn’t only Starwatch Pavilion.” Pretty Butterfly floated gracefully down. “You’ll also have to reckon with Pleasure Sect.”
“He’s the one our new sect master carried off to keep at the stronghold—”
Yu Qingtang had been nodding along until realization suddenly struck him. “Huh?”
“How exactly was I carried off?”
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