Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Lands of Linqing Prefecture

Although Duo’er no longer dared to openly contradict Ding Ning, she kept muttering under her breath, which made Ding Ning frown. “Duo’er, that’s enough. We’re in Linqing Prefecture now—be careful with your words. Speaking carelessly will only bring us trouble.”

“Hmph.” Duo’er’s round eyes glanced at her Sixth Senior Sister, finally falling silent. Yet, her gaze kept flickering toward Jiang Yan, her mind turning over the thought: could this scoundrel really bring us trouble?

Jiang Yan couldn't help but smile. This little girl was truly endearing—chattering non-stop, yet as soon as she feared causing trouble for her sisters, she instantly clammed up.

Zisu gazed at Jiang Yan, her brows suddenly knitting together. Duo’er, glancing fearfully at her Sixth Senior Sister beside her, finally mumbled, “That boy from Golden Flame Sect is here again.”

Jiang Yan turned his head in confusion and saw a young man in yellow walking toward the group of Purple Gown Sect women, his face full of joy. As he walked, he called out, “Junior Sister Zisu, Junior Sister Ding Ning, when did you arrive? Why didn’t you let me know, so I could greet you properly?”

A fleeting expression passed over Zisu’s cold, beautiful face—whether it was dislike or fondness, it was hard to tell. Still, she answered his eager greeting, “Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Xu. As the senior disciple of the Purple Gown Sect, I am quite familiar with the way to Linqing Prefecture.”

Jiang Yan’s gaze focused on the delighted Senior Brother Xu, and the transparent information panel surfaced before him. This time, Jiang Yan didn’t bother to be discreet—after all, Xu Shi was no beauty, so staring should be fine.

Name: Xu Shi
Sect: Golden Flame Sect
Position: Seventh-generation disciple
Cultivation: Qi Refining, Sixth Layer
Weapon: Blazing Fire Wheel
Techniques: Golden Flame Technique, Grade One—High Rank; Heaven Scorching Fire, Grade One—High Rank
Merit Points: —

Negative merit points—Xu Shi was the first cultivator Jiang Yan had met whose merit points fell below zero. With his cultivation at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, he was also the most advanced among those Jiang Yan had encountered. Yet, from Xu Shi’s demeanor, there seemed nothing extraordinary—just another young master from a major sect pursuing beautiful women.

Utterly unfazed by Zisu’s distant tone, Xu Shi continued ardently, “Junior Sister Zisu, fellow sisters, the auction house opens tomorrow. Why don’t you all stay at the Golden Flame Sect tonight?”

Zisu was about to refuse when her Sixth Senior Sister suddenly stepped forward and replied warmly, “In that case, thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother Xu.”

Xu Shi’s face lit up with excitement. “No need to be so polite, Junior Sister Ding, Junior Sister Zisu—all of you, please.”

Turning, Xu Shi spotted Jiang Yan standing by the roadside. He immediately scowled with impatience. “Are you blind? The Golden Flame Sect has matters to handle. Get lost, now.”

Jiang Yan frowned but, considering Xu Shi’s background and cultivation, could only sigh helplessly and move further aside, nearly stepping off the main road altogether.

Seeing Jiang Yan frown as if about to protest, Xu Shi snorted coldly. “Know your place, boy. Scram, or you’ll regret it.” With that, he took a step forward, red light flickering in his palm as if ready to act.

Duo’er’s brow creased ever so slightly, her impression of Xu Shi worsening further. Seeing Xu Shi about to make trouble for Jiang Yan, she spoke up without hesitation, “Senior Brother Xu, the road is plenty wide. There’s no need for that scoundrel to move any further.”

Faced with the women of the Purple Gown Sect, Xu Shi’s expression instantly shifted to a smile. “Alright, since Duo’er asks, I’ll let this boy off. Now, ladies, please.”

Led by Xu Shi, the disciples of the Purple Gown Sect prepared to enter the city. As Zisu passed by Jiang Yan, her chilly face betrayed a touch of concern, though she inwardly disdained Jiang Yan’s lack of self-awareness. Before a Qi Refining sixth-layer expert, all one could do was keep a low profile—no room for dissatisfaction.

When Ding Ning passed by, she spared Jiang Yan not a single glance; her attention was wholly fixed on Xu Shi.

As Duo’er walked past Jiang Yan, she quietly admonished him, “Scoundrel, don’t go staring at people like that. You saw what that guy was like—next time you might not have someone as kind as me to help you. Don’t go blocking other people’s way again.”

Jiang Yan smiled wryly. Whatever anger Xu Shi had provoked in him melted away at this little girl’s kindness. Seeing her lecture him with such righteous earnestness, he replied, “Thank you for your help, miss. Thank you for your advice—I’ll remember it.”

Xu Shi, seeing most of the Purple Gown Sect disciples had passed by and that Duo’er was still lingering, felt a surge of irritation and cursed her inwardly. If not for Zisu, he wouldn’t bother with this troublesome brat.

“Junior Sister Duo’er, we should go. Junior Sister Zisu and the others are already ahead,” Xu Shi finally called, though inwardly he cursed Duo’er a dozen times over.

Duo’er was still chattering at Jiang Yan, but at Xu Shi’s summons, she could only sigh and say, “Scoundrel, I have to go. Be careful in the future—don’t provoke people like that. Live quietly...”

Jiang Yan could only smile helplessly. This girl could really talk, but since she claimed it was for his own good, he couldn’t object. However, Xu Shi’s gaze was already frosty, so Jiang Yan gently prompted, “Miss Duo’er, your senior sisters have gone on ahead.”

Duo’er glanced back and saw even the last crane in their entourage had gone far ahead; reluctantly, she said, “My senior sisters have left, so I must go. Remember, don’t get into trouble again—”

Jiang Yan’s knees nearly buckled—this girl could repeat herself four or five times with different words.

Under Xu Shi’s icy stare, Zisu’s annoyed glances, and Ding Ning’s impatient calls, Duo’er finally departed, albeit regretfully halting her earnest admonishments.

Watching the Purple Gown Sect group recede under Xu Shi’s guidance, Jiang Yan finally let out a long breath and walked toward the Linqing Prefecture city gate. Arriving beneath the gate, he looked up in surprise at the three glowing characters above: Linqing Prefecture.

Night had already fallen, but the three large characters shone with a gentle radiance, making them especially distinct in the darkness.

After paying a spirit stone at the gate, Jiang Yan was granted entry to Linqing Prefecture.

Passing through the shadowy gateway, Jiang Yan stepped onto the city’s streets and was taken aback—had he returned to his previous world once more?

Under the night sky, Linqing Prefecture’s streets blazed with light. Shop signs flickered with red and green glows. Standing beneath the city gate, Jiang Yan gazed around—he seemed transported back to the city streets of his former world, wandering alone through the illuminated night.

He strolled leisurely, taking in the sights on either side of the street. The paving stones were blue slate, the street more than ten yards wide. Shops lined both sides in dazzling variety, restaurants and taverns stood in clusters, and the thoroughfare bustled with traffic. Here and there, cultivators passed by bearing long swords, spears, green vines, or other strange weapons on their backs.

On either side of the road stood pillars inscribed with runes, casting gentle blue, red, and other colored lights into the darkness, illuminating the city’s broad avenues.

The construction of rune-lamps was simple—an apprentice rune master could make one, and a single lower-grade spirit stone could power an entire street’s lamps for a year. Hence, in many large cities, rune-lamps remained quite popular.

Above the shop doors on both sides of the street, rune-crafted signboards glowed blue, green, or red against the night. Larger stores even displayed rune images of their wares, suspended high above their entrances, flickering in the darkness and drawing many curious onlookers.

Jiang Yan followed the street westward. The Golden Flame Sect was built atop Golden Flame Mountain, around which the entire city of Linqing Prefecture had grown. Once he reached the bustling West Gate within the city, he would be at the Golden Flame Sect.

Leaving through the West Gate, he was confronted by a towering green mountain. Its peak soared into the clouds, stretching so far north and south that the end could not be seen.

Directly opposite the West Gate stood a grand archway, hung with several bright rune-lamps that made the area as bright as day. On the white jade surface of the arch were carved three large characters: Golden Flame Sect.

Beneath the arch, two Golden Flame Sect disciples in yellow robes lounged idly behind a table, backs to the arch, chatting absentmindedly.

“Excuse me, brothers,” Jiang Yan said respectfully as he approached, “I’d like to report a sect advancement. Whom should I seek in your esteemed sect?”

The fat disciple seated on the left glanced at Jiang Yan and replied impatiently, “It’s late. If you want to report a sect advancement, come back tomorrow.”

The Golden Flame Sect was the only third-grade sect in Linqing Prefecture, with authority over a dozen or so sects large and small. As a result, its disciples could be rather arrogant, paying little heed to other sects.

Jiang Yan wasn’t surprised in the least. Since ancient times, it’s said that Yama is easy to face, but the little devils are hard to deal with; perhaps the Yama of the Golden Flame Sect was not so approachable, but the gatekeepers were certainly difficult.

He continued politely, “Brother, may I ask what I’ll need to bring when I come to report tomorrow?”

(A note of thanks here to “Yipiao Qingcheng” for another generous reward—Hong Yan is deeply grateful and will do his utmost to ensure the quality of future updates. As for requests regarding a single heroine, no heroine, or collecting all beauties—why so many demands for no heroine or collecting them all? Has it become fashionable to be an emperor or a monk nowadays?)