Despite some twists and turns along the way, Yu Yi still managed to arrive safely at Yinzhou Prefecture after a day's journey.
This grand city, where immortals and mortals coexisted, was far larger than Rounan County. Nestled among green mountains and clear waters, it emerged gradually on the horizon with a kind of magnificent and prosperous beauty.
Just from the densely packed buildings with their glazed tile roofs and the colorful banners of various merchants, one could sense the bustling energy of the city's inhabitants.
Yinzhou Prefecture also had air traffic control. Before Yu Yi could even approach the city gates, two golden beams shot up from below, forming a barrier right in front of her. The beams transformed into the ethereal figures of two imposing armored generals, their long halberds crossed. A voice came from behind the apparitions, "Flying is prohibited above the prefecture. Please land."
Yu Yi apologetically clasped her hands in greeting, and Crane Senior Brother folded his wings to descend.
Another cultivator riding a flying carpet was intercepted along with her. He appeared to be about her age, dressed casually with his hair tied back with a cloth strip. His eyes were dark and bright, with two thick, long eyebrows, and his skin was tanned dark. He exuded a vigorous youthful spirit.
If not for the mismatched setting, he would have looked just like Aladdin from "One Thousand and One Nights" riding his magic carpet.
The two country bumpkins who had been forced to land caught each other's eye and shared an awkward laugh. "It's my first time here, ah, I don't know the rules," he said.
Yu Yi replied, "It's my first time too, I'm not very familiar either."
They landed one after the other. The young man jumped off his flying carpet and ran over to Crane Senior Brother in a few quick steps.
Circling around the crane, he exclaimed in admiration, "A celestial crane, wow! Its feathers are so white, and the feathers on its wings and tail are so black. The cinnabar on its head is so bright. This is the first time I've seen such a tall and beautiful celestial crane up close."
Crane Senior Brother was delighted by his praise, spreading its wings and letting out a long, proud cry.
"Aladdin" joined in with his own series of "wow" sounds. "That's amazing! Its call is so powerful too. I saw you from far away! Fellow Daoist, with your flowing robes and extraordinary appearance, riding such a beautiful celestial crane, you're simply overflowing with immortal energy. You look just like a divine consort or immortal maiden descending to the mortal realm."
Yu Yi was at a loss for how to respond to this barrage of flattery. Then she heard him ask, "It must be expensive to raise such a celestial crane, right, Immortal Maiden?"
Yu Yi nodded. It was indeed not cheap.
She treated Crane Senior Brother better than herself. Back in Rounan County, most of the money she earned from selling talismans and catching ghosts and monsters was spent on him.
The item Yu Yi carried the most of in her storage pouch was Crane Senior Brother's food. She would starve herself before letting him go hungry.
Now, seeing someone praise Crane Senior Brother so highly, Yu Yi felt a sense of pride by association.
Of course, it would be impolite not to return the gesture, so she tilted her head to look at "Aladdin's" flying carpet, intending to return the compliment. Only then did she realize it was actually a talisman woven from cotton yarn and wool – a reusable flying talisman.
"Did you weave the flying talisman directly into the carpet? I never thought talismans could be made this way," Yu Yi said in surprise.
Seeing the curiosity in her eyes, Aladdin explained with a hint of pride, "This is a method I came up with. When the spiritual energy in the talisman runs low, you can just inject more spiritual power with cinnabar and trace over the talisman lines. One of these talisman carpets can be reused for several years. Isn't that much more cost-effective than burning a paper talisman each time?"
Yu Yi nodded and gave him a thumbs up in appreciation. "Fellow Daoist, you indeed have quite the creative mind."
He chuckled and grabbed the storage pouch at his waist, showing it to Yu Yi. "I have many more talisman carpets made using this method. Besides flying carpets, there are also spirit-gathering mats for meditation, healing mats that can speed up wound recovery when you sit on them, all sorts of talisman carpets. Would you like to buy some, Fellow Daoist?"
Oh, so that's why he was so talkative – he was trying to make a sale.
However, Yu Yi was genuinely interested in his talisman carpets. She asked, "So how much do you sell these for?"
Aladdin held up five fingers. "Five spirit stones each. Very cheap!"
Before Yu Yi could respond, a voice suddenly interjected between them, saying, "I'll take all the flying carpets you have."
They both turned their heads towards the voice and saw a handsome young man approaching slowly. He wore a eye-catching light yellow spring robe embroidered with a hundred flower patterns, covered with a thin gauze. His long hair was styled high and tied with a matching yellow ribbon.
His attire harmonized perfectly with the brilliant spring colors, giving the impression at first glance that he was some noble young master out on a spring outing.
Yu Yi blinked once, then twice, before confirming it was indeed that fellow Xue Chenjing.
But then she immediately remembered that it might not be Xue Chenjing? Judging by his demeanor, it could also be Xue Mingyuan?
As she silently observed him, the newcomer had already walked up to them. He curved his lips in a smile at her and said, "I'm very pleased to see you again, my master."
Yu Yi was taken aback for a moment and asked, "Are you Xue Chenjing?"
Xue Chenjing noticed her hesitation, and the smile on his lips seemed to freeze, not reaching his pitch-black eyes. His tone was innocent, yet somehow tinged with sarcasm: "Of course it's me. Who else could it be?"
Yu Yi: "..." Don't you know about your own multiple personality disorder?
The "Aladdin" beside them enthusiastically approached Xue Chenjing, promoting his talisman carpets: "I have twenty flying carpets here, absolutely guaranteed for speed. Fellow Daoist, do you really want them all?"
Xue Chenjing finally shifted his gaze from Yu Yi's face to look at the talisman carpets in the other man's hands. He declared generously, "Mm, I'll take them all."
Demons were ultimately not accepted by the general public, and Xue Chenjing couldn't always command demonic creatures, especially when heading to this city teeming with cultivators.
His current cultivation level was lacking, and just to keep up with the speed of the red-crowned crane, he had rushed non-stop from the Ghost City to here, nearly depleting all the spiritual energy in his dantian.
Xue Chenjing had chased after them relentlessly, barely managing not to be left behind completely. When he finally caught up at the city gates, he had to hide in the bushes and consume a spirit pill, recovering for quite a while before he had the strength to walk out presentably like this.
However, now he had composed himself to appear completely at ease. He reached out to take a flying carpet and turned to ask Yu Yi, "Master, what kind of talisman carpet would you like? I'll pay for it along with these."
Yu Yi caught a glimpse of Aladdin's eyes darting back and forth between them, his face clearly expressing thoughts like "Wow, master" and "Playing it big."
The tips of her ears began to burn secretly, and her toes curled tight, but she feigned calmness and said, "If you're so rich, why don't you just buy them all?"
As it turned out, Xue Chenjing really was that wealthy.
He actually listened and bought the entire bag of talisman carpets, useful or not!
Aladdin, having encountered such a rich and foolish big customer before even entering the city, was immediately overjoyed. His face lit up with a toothy grin as he swiftly brought out all his woolen carpets, continuously praising Xue Chenjing for being beautiful, kind-hearted, and discerning.
The flattery flowed endlessly, without a single repetition.
Yu Yi watched as Xue Chenjing took out a heavy bag of spirit stones and handed it over. The only words that could express her feelings were "utterly speechless." She rolled her eyes and turned her head, leading Crane Senior Brother towards the city gate, intending to enter.
Xue Chenjing completed the transaction with Aladdin, stuffing the pile of woolen carpets into his storage pouch. He quickly caught up with Yu Yi, calling out loudly, "Master, wait for me—"
People around them turned to look. Yu Yi stopped in her tracks, unable to bear it any longer. "Don't call me that." You might not care about face, but I do!
Xue Chenjing asked in confusion, "Then what should I call you?" He had always called her that before, and she hadn't reacted so strongly. Now he couldn't use it anymore. She was really fickle.
Yu Yi said, "If you have something to say, just call me by my name. If not, then don't call out for no reason."
"Alright," Xue Chenjing nodded obediently and immediately tried it out, "Yu Yi."
Yu Yi glanced up at him, then turned and continued walking.
The system let out a sigh: "Master, at times like this, you should take the initiative to change how you address her, like calling her 'A-Yi' or 'Yi-yi'. Using her full name sounds so distant."
Xue Chenjing still had no patience for this system that had betrayed him. He asked, pretending not to know, "Is that so? Don't tell me Xue Mingyuan called her 'A-Yi' or 'Yi-yi'?"
System: "..." Your brother isn't as brazen as you. He wouldn't be like you, shoving your tentacles into someone's mouth on only your third meeting!
Not far ahead, Yu Yi could clearly hear the system's sickly sweet voice. She chose to ignore such pointless chatter.
The city gate of Yinzhou Prefecture was far more magnificent than that of Rounan County. The gate itself was several zhang taller, with two enormous stone statues flanking each side. These statues, clad in armor and wielding weapons, exuded an awe-inspiring presence. Red silk draped over their arms, reminiscent of the martial figures that had earlier obstructed her path in the sky.
Yu Yi's astonished gaze was drawn to these two stone statues. As her eyes traveled downward, she noticed the words "Gate Guardian" carved into the base at the warriors' feet.
Before each Gate Guardian stood an incense burner, wisps of fragrant smoke curling upwards.
In front of this city gate, ordinary people and cultivators followed different paths. Common folk had their travel documents checked by gate guards before being allowed to pass.
Cultivators didn't need such paperwork, but they had to undergo scrutiny from these two Gate Guardians. Only those without suspicion were permitted to enter the city. Furthermore, demons and monsters were strictly forbidden from setting foot in Yinzhou.
Yu Yi stood at the foot of the right Gate Guardian. A beam of light, like an X-ray, shot out from the red pearl on its forehead, scanning her and Crane Senior Brother from head to toe. The spirit beast contract on Crane Senior Brother's ankle glowed briefly, confirming his identity.
The Gate Guardian raised its halberd, granting them passage. Yu Yi led Crane Senior Brother through the towering archway. Ten zhang beyond, at the end of the passage, dazzling sunlight awaited them. The clamor of a bustling city already reached their ears.
Crane Senior Brother caught the scent of delicious food wafting from the city and eagerly bounded forward on his slender legs.
Yu Yi quickened her pace, chasing after him as they both ran into the brilliant sunlight.
Behind her, Xue Chenjing had employed some method to evade the Gate Guardians' gaze. Just as Yu Yi's silhouette melted into the sunlight, he stepped into the shadow of the gate tower.
Suddenly, a familiar "ding" sounded in his ears.
[System: Ding— Main quest phase two "Love Knows No Beginning" has been activated. Please raise the favorability of the target to 50%. The side quests and main quest are interconnected and mutually beneficial. Please proceed with caution.]
Xue Chenjing paused briefly before continuing forward as if nothing had happened.
He no longer found these tedious quests so objectionable. The activation of the main quest meant progress in the side quests as well. Everything he desired would soon come to light.
"Love Knows No Beginning." Xue Chenjing rolled these words on his tongue, chuckling softly. He was more concerned about another question, "Is there no time limit?"
The system replied, "Correct, there is no time limit for this phase of the quest." It paused for a moment before continuing, "Master, you should be grateful there's no time limit for this phase."
Given the current gravity of the situation, the system's analysis concluded that this phase of the quest would be a long-term campaign.
Xue Chenjing, however, was far more optimistic than the system. With inexplicable blind confidence, he inquired inwardly, "What is her current favorability towards me?"
The system answered truthfully, "The current favorability of the target towards the host is 12%."
Xue Chenjing halted his steps. He stood at the threshold of the gate tower, where light met shadow. Raising his gloomy eyes, he precisely located the figure nearly lost in the crowd ahead.
That figure was bright and lively, dressed in a sky-blue upper garment and a hibiscus-colored skirt. The strings of pearls in her hair swayed and collided as she eagerly looked around, and Xue Chenjing could almost imagine the cheerful tinkling they made—a sound more jubilant than ever before.
Twelve percent? It had increased so much. The favorability that he couldn't raise despite his painstaking efforts and humble pandering had suddenly doubled.
Did she like Xue Mingyuan? Did she prefer that kind of person? She actually liked someone like Xue Mingyuan!
Xue Chenjing felt a nauseating sensation, as if he had swallowed a fly. The color drained from his face at a visible rate. Though his eyes were fixed on the brightest spot, they seemed to absorb no light at all, as dark and bottomless as two sunless wells. His features remained motionless, yet they exuded an indescribable twisted ferocity.
Yu Yi, Yu Yi, Yu Yi—
She could like anyone, but not Xue Mingyuan.
Passersby at the city gate noticed his strange behavior. A kind-hearted person approached, concernedly asking if he was alright or feeling unwell.
Xue Chenjing brusquely swatted away the handkerchief offered to him, retreating a step into the shadows of the gate. He leaned against the corner wall, one hand digging deeply into the bricks of the tower, the other covering his mouth.
It was truly sickening enough to induce vomiting.
