I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

"How does the shopkeeper know?"

Bai Shiyu was suddenly startled and almost ran away in terror.

Ever since the Red Alliance had launched a surprise attack on the royal workshop, transforming from an illegal organization into a band of rebels, if exposed, his entire family would face calamity.

With the rise of machinery, the Imperial Court seldom executed the Nine Clans anymore, opting instead to send them to toil in the mines until death.

"A secret divination technique passed down through my family."

Zhou Yi said, "You two are entangled by karma, and today that blind musician is fated to die. Following the trail, it will also implicate you and your family members!"

"Is it really that mystical?"

Bai Shiyu looked half in doubt, knowing from speaking less with Chen Jiye and others that the shopkeeper's martial arts were uncommonly powerful, at least within the realm of what could be understood.

Divination, karma...

As the machines roared, an era of great tides surged forth, to the point where even Daoists and monks scarcely believed anymore!

"What, you don't believe?"

Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow, his fingers moving nimbly, envy and jealousy flashing in his eyes, and he snorted coldly, "Like the matter of that princess from the Imperial Clan you inevitably have to deal with and the Deputy Commander of the Red Alliance..."

"Please, shopkeeper, don't divine any further, I believe you!"

Bai Shiyu's face turned red, feeling as if his secrets had been laid bare, and he whispered, "If the blind man turns up at the tavern, could there be an accident? Shouldn't we go somewhere else? We have many hiding places in the capital!"

"After tonight, your hideout will be gone."

Zhou Yi reminded him, "The Imperial Court used to be too lazy to intervene, not that they didn't know where you were hiding. You won't be able to escape a city-wide manhunt."

Bai Shiyu said anxiously, "Then what will you do, shopkeeper?"

"This place is safe for me."

Zhou Yi took out a Gold Coin in a practiced move, and with a palm-press from a foot away, the coin turned to golden paper while the counter remained unscathed.

Bai Shiyu watched, dumbstruck, checking repeatedly to confirm it wasn't some trick, truly a realm of martial arts so powerful it was beyond belief. Thinking back to the description in the Bai family's classical texts, he declared it incomprehensible.

"Is the shopkeeper an Innate Grandmaster?"

True Qi leaves the body, Inner Strength

Zhou Yi nodded, "I have been for a long time."

Bai Shiyu's mind lingered on the Red Alliance, but he couldn't help asking, "Do you know if the Imperial Clan have any Martial Arts Grandmasters?"

The presence of a Martial Arts Grandmaster could pressure an entire nation, capable of seizing the head of an enemy general amidst tens of thousands of troops.

Since the allied forces of various countries failed in their attack on Great Zhou, no grandmasters had appeared in the world. Now, after more than a hundred years, they had almost become legend.

"Of course, there are some; they've never ceased to exist from generation to generation."

Zhou Yi had long since swept his Divine Sense across the capital and identified two familiar Cultivation Technique auras, their strength just entering the Innate Realm.

"No wonder the Royal Family does not care about the Red Alliance..."

Bai Shiyu's expression turned somewhat despondent, and he bowed in gratitude before hastily leaving the tavern.

"How could I never divine, that a script of the Devouring Heaven Demonic Technique would still be circulating today, subtly guiding the turnover of dynasties in some respects..."

Zhou Yi recited from the 'Annals of Ancestor Zhou'; the text focused on describing the decisive battle at Qing, with the natural outcome being the Great Zhou army breaking through the capital.

Infantry and cannons were certainly important reasons, but it also mentioned a grandmaster battle; in just thirty years, Ancestor Zhou had managed to recruit four grandmasters to help him fight, eventually sacrificing two and injuring two to defeat the Great Qing National Defense Grandmaster!

It was originally thought to be a matter of destiny, but now it seemed Ancestor Zhou had accidentally obtained the Devouring Heaven Demonic Technique.

"The affairs of the world are like a game of chess, unpredictable, yet as one who seeks everlasting immortality, I can laugh at all the heroes between heaven and earth!"

Zhou Yi took out a bamboo scroll from beneath the counter, his fingertips glowing as he continued to carve and write. He began by engraving the ancient seal characters 'Datong Book', followed by thousands upon thousands of words flowing freely.

At that moment,

A customer entered: "Shopkeeper, a jug of wine, please."

"Right away."

Zhou Yi waved his hand and the bamboo scroll disappeared into his sleeve.

...

That night,

For the first time in seventy years, Great Zhou once again imposed military control.

The last martial law was enforced when Ancestor Zhou passed away; certain noble families unwilling to accept this tried to strike back, vainly attempting to elevate the second prince to the throne. The result was inevitably a river of blood, the Nine Clans exterminated.

Squads of soldiers patrolled the streets, the sound of their leather boots hitting the ground resounding ominously.

The southwest corner of the capital was ablaze, the sounds of fighting continuous and unending, the fire gun reports popping like beans, which lasted most of the night before finally dying down.

During the day, any commoner who didn't go to work for no apparent reason, or discussed the Imperial Court's policies only to be noted by spies was struck by disaster. Soldiers smashed down doors and stuffed people into prison carts to be taken to the mines.

The new noble families and the Imperial Court's workshops were always short of hands!

...

Tavern.

A light like a bean.

Zhou Yi stood behind the counter, flipping through storybooks.

The Imperial Court's suppression of the Red Alliance was just the beginning, in the future speech would likely be controlled, and any radical thoughts would be suppressed, even among city dwellers.

Either work to death in the mines or drink and dream in brothels until death.

"There won't be such interesting books to read in the future."

Zhou Yi put away the illustrated storybook of the workshop owner's wife and the machine repair worker, shaking his head, "When the tides of thought rise, what can human strength do to stop it?"

At that moment.

Three shadows appeared and expertly closed the door and windows after entering the tavern.

"This is the blind Zhang Li, who excels at playing the zither, lute and pipa. This is the scullion Li Chao, who can make some homely dishes."

Bai Shiyu, with two knife wounds, bowed and said, "The Red Alliance in the capital has suffered a catastrophe, and we have nowhere to hide. Please, shopkeeper, take us in!"

Zhou Yi scanned them, a blind man with a zither, and a broad-shouldered, thick-necked knife wielder.

"You were sent to invite a musician and even brought along a cook, not bad at all!"

"Thank you, shopkeeper."

Bai Shiyu bowed his thanks, Zhang Li and Li Chao relaxed and also bowed, calling him shopkeeper.

...

The next day.

A wooden sign hung at the entrance of the tavern, stating no discussions of state affairs.

After the previous night's city-wide roundup, the capital's residents were on edge and no one dared to talk about state matters.

Morning.

Not a single customer in sight, with everyone hiding at home, afraid of being snatched by soldiers and spies.

A table was emptied on the east side of the first floor, displaying more than a dozen types of musical instruments, zithers, lutes, xuns, shengs, flutes and pipes. The blind man claimed to be a descendant of the Xianyin Sect, and there wasn't a tune in the world he couldn't play.

Zhou Yi, puzzled, said, "How did a musician like you join the Red Alliance?"

"My granddaughter went to work and was accidentally crushed to death by a machine."

The blind man briefly shared his past, a tale of a survivor where the entire family had died, leaving him alone in the world.

With no customers in the shop, the cook was writing a menu and asked, "Shopkeeper, how should we price the dishes?" Enjoy new tales from empire

Zhou Yi replied, "Whatever you think your culinary skills are worth, set that as the price!"

The cook hesitated, "My ancestors managed the Imperial Kitchen of Qing Kingdom. If I set the prices based on that, wouldn't it be too expensive?"

"It's cheap and still no one buys!"

As Zhou Yi spoke, a carriage happened to pull up at the entrance, and he smiled, "There, a customer has come, hang up the menu quick."

The cook hung up the menu, which indeed listed homely dishes, with the cheapest starting at ten taels each.

Chen Jiye walked in and upon seeing the prices, waved his servants out, saying, "No wonder magpies were chirping today, hitting it lucky with a tavern opening. Bring one of each dish, let's see whose cooking can impress Shopkeeper Sun!"

An hour later.

Chen Jiye kept praising and called the cook out to ask him some questions, learning that he was a descendant of the former Imperial Chef.

"To have such a figure, Shopkeeper Sun must have extraordinary family learning!"

Approaching noon.

The soldiers returned to the barracks and lifted the military control, causing a slight resurgence of activity in the streets.

Head Liu arrived at the tavern and showed several portrait sketches, reminding Zhou Yi, "Shopkeeper, you must be careful with strangers, don't let any remnants of the Red Alliance stay in your guest rooms."

Zhou Yi's expression remained unchanged as he replied with a smile.

"Don't worry, I would never shelter any remnants of the Red Alliance!"