Lu Jiangxian sat down before the stone table, retrieved a jade pot and a few jade cups from beneath it, condensed a pot of shimmering tea from Taiyin moon essence, and slowly drank it without any particular purpose.
He had taken only a few sips when his ears twitched. The void before him suddenly tore open, and a spinning white orb flew out—plump, round, and brightly radiant. White light flickered from it, illuminating the mountain peak in a vast sheet of white.
"A talisman seed... Whose is it?"
Lu Jiangxian frowned slightly as the talisman seed settled into his hand. Examining it closely for a moment, he said in a low voice, "Foundation Establishment cultivation. It seems it is Li Chijing... Of the four Li brothers of that generation, only the last one remains now."
Bringing the gleaming white talisman seed closer, Lu Jiangxian gently inhaled. Wisps of smoky white light flowed into his body through his nose and throat, conjuring myriad scenes before his eyes: Qingsui Peak, Mount Qingchi, Yishan City, Nanjiang...
"It really is this boy. What a pity... But this Chi Wei—the name sounds so familiar."
Thinking back carefully, realization struck Lu Jiangxian. When they had explored the cave abode on Meichi Mountain years ago, there had been a secret letter. It was this Chi Wei who had written to that unknown Foundation Establishment cultivator, requesting his aid to besiege Li Jiangqun.
"If you died, that would be clean and simple. But if you survived, this score—both old debts and new grudges—will be settled with you sooner or later."
Lu Jiangxian sighed softly. His internal magic power and divine sense surged. Having integrated the mirror shard and now consumed the talisman seed, the power of his Taiyin moon essence also rose to the Foundation Establishment stage, and the number of Xuanzhu talisman seeds reached nine.
Gently raising a somewhat illusory hand, Lu Jiangxian grasped at empty air, condensing a pale-cyan halo out of the void.
"Li Chijing's lifetime of experience and sword path cultivation..."
Taiyin moon essence gushed forth, coalescing with the halo into a pale-cyan sword. Lu Jiangxian admired it for a moment, then casually drove it into a nearby boulder.
"Waiting for one fated to have it."
Magic power rose from his hands, condensing into formations and talisman arts one after another. Lu Jiangxian took up once more the shamanic art he had studied years ago, using it to pass the time.
***
Li Xuanfeng and Jiang Yunu had dallied more than a dozen times, each bout more leisurely and indulgent than the last. Li Xuanfeng was still not fully sated, but Jiang Yunu's round face was pale, fine beads of sweat dotting the wings of her nose as she pleaded, "My sweet tormentor, please spare me!"
Li Xuanfeng paused slightly and gave an awkward chuckle. Kissing her on the brow, he smiled and asked, "How many taels of silver does it take to redeem you?"
Seeing Jiang Yunu's look of disbelief, Li Xuanfeng mused to himself, *I don't have much worldly money in my storage bag, only a thousand taels brought from home. I wonder if that will be enough.*
The Li family did not keep large reserves of silver; after all, cultivators rarely needed it, using at most a bit of silver powder in alchemy, artifact crafting, or talisman drawing. Thus, he had not stored much in his storage bag and now worried it might not be enough to buy her freedom.
Jiang Yunu's curved eyebrows lifted. Her cute, round face was taut with nervous tension. Pale-faced, she murmured, "I am only... an entertainer girl... It takes twenty taels of silver."
"Very well."
Li Xuanfeng nodded. Sitting naked on her knees upon the bed, Jiang Yunu's face was filled with incredulous joy, yet she thought he was merely teasing her, stammering, "Young Master... do not toy with me."
Li Xuanfeng tied his trouser belt, took down the pitch-black longbow from the wall, and slung it across his back. Shaking his head, he replied, "Gather your clothes and belongings. We leave right now."
Jiang Yunu froze for a second, then hurriedly scooped up her clothes. Gleefully dressing herself, she pulled him downstairs, skipping and laughing ahead with quick pattering steps, finally showing the innocent, endearing demeanor of a teenage girl.
Li Xuanfeng followed her with a smile. When the two reached the front counter, they saw a plump woman dressed in gaudy red and green sitting there picking at her fingernails. She glanced at Jiang Yunu and turned her head away with contempt.
"I'm here to redeem her."
Only when Li Xuanfeng spoke did the woman look up in surprise. Turning to Jiang Yunu, she sneered coldly, "I wondered why you were looking so pleased with yourself. So you've latched onto a wealthy patron! Leaving without even telling Mama—did you think you could just walk out like that?"
Jiang Yunu's round face instantly drained of color, her hands fidgeting awkwardly. Li Xuanfeng furrowed his brows and said in a heavy voice, "Redemption!"
The woman raised her chin and glanced at Li Xuanfeng. Seeing that he was only fifteen or sixteen yet carried an extraordinary bearing, likely the son of some prominent household, her attitude grew far more respectful. She said, "Young Master... do you know that this Zuichun Tower is the property of the county magistrate? Ordinary folk cannot simply redeem someone here at will. If you have friends from the prominent clans, you must have them handle the redemption."
The woman spoke politely enough. The "prominent clans" she referred to were not the four Foundation Establishment clans—Xiao, Wu, Ma, and Chang—but rather their branch families in the mortal realm.
Li Xuanfeng could not be bothered to waste time on her. With a flick of his finger, a blast of true essence struck the massive wooden table before them, disintegrating it into flying ash that coated the woman from head to toe. Only then did he reply, "Do not make me repeat myself a third time!"
Both Jiang Yunu and the woman were stunned. The woman's legs gave out, and she sank to her knees, slapping herself across the face twice. She struck with such force that two teeth went flying and blood splattered across her face. Stammering, she cried, "Immortal, please, just take her! Just take her! Blind fool that I am, I failed to recognize an immortal! I failed to recognize..."
Li Xuanfeng tossed out two ingots of silver, grabbed the shocked Jiang Yunu, and walked out. The young girl was trembling all over, not daring to look up at him.
Not until Li Xuanfeng had bought a residence, led her into the courtyard, and set her down upon the couch did Jiang Yunu say in a daze, "You're an immortal?!"
"A cultivator," Li Xuanfeng corrected. He reached to undo her sash, but though Jiang Yunu did not dare stop him, her face flushed red as she said, "I... can't... I really can't..."
Li Xuanfeng had no choice but to stop. Looking at the girl's cute, round face, he suddenly realized things had become tricky.
*How do I handle this woman from now on? Am I really going to return to town in a dozen days and tell my second uncle that I went out and bought back a courtesan?! Second Uncle has always regarded me as the hope of the clan's next generation. How could I make him worry?*
Fearless of heaven and earth, Li Xuanfeng was by nature uninhibited, fond of pleasure and indulgence. Yet he feared only two things: disappointing Li Tongya, and neglecting the clan's affairs. For a moment, he hesitated and frowned.
Watching his expression, Jiang Yunu asked timidly, "Immortal Master... what is wrong?"
"Call me Xuanfeng."
Li Xuanfeng shook his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He kissed her on the brow and said, "My clan's rules are very strict. I'm afraid... I cannot bring you home. You will have to bear with this grievance..."
Hearing this, Jiang Yunu was stunned, then deeply moved. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she choked out, "I only know my status is humble, while Young Master must be from an exalted immortal clan. How could I dare ask for anything! Young Master, you need not think like that. If you return to the heavens to cultivate immortality, I will wait here in this courtyard—wait five years, wait ten years, wait until you come back to see me."
Li Xuanfeng frowned, unable to stomach such tearful talk. He thought to himself, *Never mind all that. I'll let her stay here. It's only a few hours' journey back and forth, so it won't delay anything.*
So he undid Jiang Yunu's buttons and caressed her attentively, holding up her tender white hand to gaze at it. Jiang Yunu nestled quietly in his embrace, murmuring, "Ge! Even if I die tonight or tomorrow, my life has been well worth living. I have no more regrets!"
Chapter 122