Wait a minute, where is my master?

After learning the young Taoist's age, Xia Yunzhao couldn't help but feel there were truly greater talents in the world beyond herself.

At twenty-five, she had attained the Nascent Soul, already a once-in-a-millennium genius.

Yet the young Taoist before her was only eighteen and had already reached "Refining Void."

She had heard Jin Xu mention that he could handle someone in the Void Refinement Realm, and she assumed that meant he was also at that level.

"But I..."

Xia Yunzhao's Communication Jade Token lit up, showing a message from Li Mi.

She quickly probed it with her Spiritual Sense to read the message.

"Seventh Princess, the person from the Demon Sect has been driven away by me. I am not sure of your whereabouts, are you safe?"

Seeing the message, delight sprang up in Xia Yunzhao's eyes. The Fourth Grade night patroller of Gusu City was quite impressive after all.

After considering for a moment, she replied, "Mr. Li, there is no need for concern, I am safe. However, I've encountered something else and will not be able to visit Gusu City until tomorrow."

As soon as the message was sent, Li Mi replied in seconds, "Your subject understands."

Only then did Xia Yunzhao let a smile show, looking up at Jin Xu, she said, "Taoist, the evildoer has been expelled, so I will impose upon you for the night and head to Gusu City tomorrow."

Observing her sudden change of plans, Jin Xu nodded in agreement.

After all, if she said she would help find his master, what harm was there in letting her stay for one night? It wasn't as if there were no spare rooms.

He arranged for Xia Yunzhao's room, right next to the young Taoist's.

The three women and one man prepared to retire for the night.

When the Seventh Princess returned to her room, she passed by the ancient well and curiously peered into it.

She felt like she had been hauled up from this very spot just earlier.

The sight that met her when she looked caused her pupils to constrict, the spiritual energy turned to liquid, and the well was brimming with it!

Such extravagance was a rarity even in the palace.

Who exactly was this mysterious young Taoist?

...

In Gusu City, at the Yingchun House.

On the second floor, in a private room, wafts of fragrance drifted through the air.

The interior was serene and elegant, yet without lacking in luxury. Dozens of Luminous Pearls were embedded in the ceiling, covered with crystal and jade, making the room as bright as daylight. The walls around were made of sandalwood. The calligraphy and paintings hanging on them were clearly the work of masters.

To the right, there was a small platform with a guqin placed on it for playing music. Next to the guqin, sandalwood incense was lit, presumably the source of the pervading fragrance.

The floor was also covered with a thick carpet made of some unknown silky material, giving the sensation of stepping on clouds, incredibly soft to the touch.

In the center of the room, there was a large round table, laden with all sorts of exquisite delicacies and fine wines.

Unfortunately, there were only two men seated at the table.

Xu Qian and Zhao Dabao had been there for a while, wanting to know what exactly young Taoist Jin Xu did at the old Zheng family mansion.

Fatty Zhao had spared no expense, inviting several top-class girls, ordering the best meals, and booking the priciest private room.

Finally, as Xu Qian was well-fed and had had his fill, he prepared to give Zhao Dabao a thorough account of the events at the old Zheng family mansion.

They cleared out the girls and even asked the musician to leave.

"Brother Zhao, I'm not bragging to you!"

Xu Qian, slightly intoxicated, draped his arm around Zhao Dabao's neck and said.

"Hmm, go on," Zhao Dabao urged.

Fatty Zhao knew that after someone uttered that sentence, they were about to start bragging big time.

"That old Zheng family mansion has been left untouched for so many years, and yet, burp~ how did it collapse as soon as I went in!"

"Is it because Taoist Jin Xu went in with you?"

Zhao Dabao picked up where he left off.

"Burp~ Ah yes, mainly it's because of Taoist Jin Xu, but I also made quite an effort!"

Xu Qian continued to say.

Looking at his opponent who was flush with alcohol, Zhao Dabao somewhat regretted ordering that pot of Spring Brew.

The liquor was too strong; God knows what they put in it, even a cultivator at the Golden Core Stage got drunk like this.

Of course, being a mortal, he didn't dare to touch a drop of it.

"We... burp~ just a moment." In the middle of speaking, Xu Qian felt something and took out his Communication Jade Token, on which were just four words.

"Return to base immediately."

The message was from Li Mi.

"Brother Zhao, official duties, official duties, burp~ I need to make a trip back, we can talk about the Zheng family mansion some other time."

Afterward, Xu Qian staggered out of the private room.

Watching him leave, Zhao Dabao wondered whether his money had been wasted.

"Young Master, if you want to know what happened inside, why not ask Taoist Jin Xu directly?"

Zhao Qian emerged from a corner.

"Grandpa Qian, I was merely curious, really. My main goal was to make friends with him."

Zhao Qian didn't understand—what was there to gain from befriending a Golden Core Realm cultivator who was also a seventh-grade night patrolman?

Zhao Dabao saw the confusion on his face and explained, "I've always believed that, aside from toiling, whether one is a commoner or a cultivator, a lot also comes down to one's fate, which is essentially luck. 'It's rare for mortals to live past seventy years; ten years spent in youth, ten in old age, that leaves only fifty years when one divides day and night, you get twenty-five years left. If you subtract the time for illness, natural disasters, and bad weather, the few years when you actually strike it big, which define how well you can live your life, are very limited indeed."

Seeing Zhao Qian still in doubt, he continued, "For cultivators who vie with the heavens for fate, the role of luck is even more significant. Taoist Jin Xu mysteriously appeared, and the first cultivator in the vast Gusu City to encounter him was this Xu Qian."

"So, Young Master, do you think that this fellow is blessed with great fortune?"

Fatty Zhao smiled and didn't speak further. He summoned someone to pack the leftover food, ready to take it home.

He should be frugal where necessary and spend where needed—he probably could be considered a role model in this regard.

In fact, Zhao Dabao's thoughts weren't complicated. Although the concept of destiny was elusive, there were signs to follow. The most apparent was the fate of the Great Xia Dynasty. Officials and generals who held important positions within the dynasty could harness a portion of the country's destiny, which could temporarily enhance their strength and accelerate their cultivation speed.

Being the first among the cultivators in Gusu City to meet Taoist Jin Xu, if you say Xu Qian is unlucky, then he definitely wouldn't believe it.

But merely being lucky wasn't enough. The real reason he decided to befriend Xu Qian was his integrity—as Zhao Dabao had inquired about the Da An Village case through his own channels.

People, whether good or bad, all want their friends to be upright and kind. Besides, Fatty Zhao himself wasn't a bad person.

As for Taoist Jin Xu, well, no need to think too much; holding onto his coattails was all that mattered.

On the street.

Xu Qian stepped out of Yingchun House's gate, his spiritual power circulating within him, dispelling the drunkenness, and his eyes regained their clarity.

This Mr. Zhao wanted to befriend him—the reason was unclear. He was just a minor cultivator in the Golden Core Stage, nothing worthy of the other's scheming.

Could it be that Fatty covets my dashing looks?

Hiss~ Chilled by that thought, Xu Qian hastened towards the patroller's quarters. He had to ask his superior, just in case a scion of a Cultivation Family took a liking to him, whether a night patroller could protect him.

Right, and there was also the matter at Yuhua Temple from last time that Mr. Li hadn't told him about yet.

He needed to get that cleared up upon his return.