Chapter 145: What Does Senior Brother Think?

Dongfang Lei had assumed they would demand some form of reward or ask him to perform a favor. After all, even though he was a mortal, he was still the lord of a city; while he couldn't procure heavenly treasures, obtaining items useful for cultivation was not entirely beyond his reach. Yet, he never imagined that this was the request the two individuals before him would make.

Dongfang Lei gave a bitter laugh. "The Immortals are too cautious. I can still distinguish right from wrong, and furthermore, they are my women. It is precisely because of me that they have suffered this ordeal; how could I abandon their lives for the sake of such petty thoughts?"

"Please rest assured, Immortals. Once I leave, I will keep this matter strictly under wraps and treat them well. I shall simply say that I encountered bandits and was saved by two Immortals."

Unexpectedly, he was so reasonable. Just as Yan Shu was about to speak, she heard Xiao Jihan say, "City Lord, there is no need to mention us. Once you are out, someone will discuss a suitable cover story with you."

Dongfang Lei was stunned. "May I ask who you are referring to?"

Xiao Jihan replied indifferently, "Once you leave the city, you will know."

Hearing this, the suspicion that had previously flickered in Yan Shu’s mind returned. She thought she likely knew who Xiao Jihan was talking about. As expected, upon exiting the secret passage, they saw Liu Zhiqing waiting inside the room.

In front of outsiders, Liu Zhiqing always maintained the demeanor of an ethereal, sage-like Immortal. It was clear that he not only knew the ins and outs of the situation but was also aware of the current identities of Yan Shu and Xiao Jihan, for upon seeing them, he greeted, "Daoist Xiao, Daoist Yan, City Lord Dongfang."

Seeing Liu Zhiqing, Dongfang Lei became visibly excited and quickly stepped forward. "So it was Master Liu that the Immortals were referring to!"

Liu Zhiqing nodded. "This is not the place for a long conversation. Let us go to the main hall to discuss the details."

Dongfang Lei readily agreed. Liu Zhiqing handed a porcelain bottle to Xiao Jihan and said, "I must trouble you, Daoist Xiao, to handle the bodies in the secret passage." Xiao Jihan took the bottle and returned to the tunnel.

Liu Zhiqing placed a shielding barrier around Dongfang Lei, and after suppressing their auras, he and Yan Shu left the courtyard silently and returned to the main hall. As he left the room, Dongfang Lei glanced at the woman lying on the small daybed and sighed almost inaudibly.

Inside the main hall, the shopkeeper who had exchanged the spirit stones was still in a deep sleep. Liu Zhiqing was clearly aware of this man, but seeing him, he acted as if he were invisible. He invited Dongfang Lei and Yan Shu to sit at the table to discuss how to handle the aftermath. Yan Shu looked at his demeanor—acting as if he were not particularly close to her—and slightly raised an eyebrow. Well, it would not be too late to ask him after the official business was concluded.

***

After a while, Xiao Jihan returned. He sat beside Yan Shu and joined the conversation between Liu Zhiqing and Dongfang Lei. Naturally, he spoke very little; the vast majority of the talking was done by Dongfang Lei and Liu Zhiqing.

As dawn began to break and movement stirred in the courtyard, Liu Zhiqing and the others had reached a consensus. It did not differ much from what had been discussed earlier, settling mainly on three points:

First, the incident of the four men impersonating Dongfang Lei would be treated as if it never happened. It would be claimed that the four men had suddenly arrived last night and killed Dongfang Lei’s protectors. Liu Zhiqing, while investigating the loss of spirit stones in Xuantian City, had discovered the anomaly, executed the four men, and rescued the City Lord.

Second, Liu Zhiqing would take the sleeping shopkeeper away and have him confess that it was his own greed that drove the plot. Once that was done, Liu Zhiqing would erase the man's memory of the past three months, cripple his hands, and keep him at the Xuantian Sect as a servant for cleaning.

Third, because Dongfang Lei's protectors had been killed, and to protect him and prevent such accidents from recurring, the Xuantian Sect would send three disciples annually to serve as his guards, starting today. Naturally, Dongfang Lei would have to pay the Xuantian Sect the standard compensation for such guards.

Both Dongfang Lei and Liu Zhiqing were satisfied with these three terms. Dongfang Lei, in particular, was moved to tears; the royal family relied on the protection of the Xuantian Sect, and now that the sect was willing to provide him with personal guards, his treatment would be on par with the royal family! As for why Liu Zhiqing was satisfied... well, those who understand, understand.

After leaving the City Lord’s Mansion, Liu Zhiqing remarked with lingering enthusiasm, "If only we could take over the position of protectors for every city lord!" He then reached out toward Xiao Jihan. "What about the storage bags of those four? Don't let them go to waste."

Yan Shu: "..." She finally understood why Xiao Jihan hadn't taken an extra spirit stone—the one even greedier for wealth was waiting right here!

Liu Zhiqing took the four storage bags, inspected their contents, and immediately beamed. He tucked the bags away and said with high spirits, "The matter here is settled, so I shall be off." He then took out an Earth-Escaping Talisman to leave, but no sooner had he produced it than it was snatched away by a slender, jade-like hand.

Yan Shu looked at him and said, "Senior Brother, you had better explain to me how you went about selling me out." Hearing this, Liu Zhiqing instinctively glanced at Xiao Jihan.

***

Yan Shu gave a light huff. "Looking at him won't help. If the two of you don't give me a clear explanation today, I’m not going anywhere!"

Liu Zhiqing noticed Xiao Jihan’s expression and nodded. "Fine, let us leave the city to talk."

Liu Zhiqing, carrying the unconscious shopkeeper, used a Earth-Shrinking Talisman with Xiao Jihan and Yan Shu to reach a secluded spot outside the city. The moment they landed, Yan Shu demanded, "Speak. What is going on between the two of you?"

In truth, Xiao Jihan and Liu Zhiqing had merely reached a deal, a consensus. During the time Yan Shu was soaking in the mountain spring, Xiao Jihan had taken the initiative to seek out Liu Zhiqing, and the very first thing he said had left Liu Zhiqing severely shaken:

"When Shu'er and I were at the Medicine King Valley, Master presided over our union, and we became Daoist partners."

Seeing Liu Zhiqing’s shocked and then furious expression, Xiao Jihan continued unhurriedly: "But Shu'er is unaware of it; she did not see the wedding candles."

The anger on Liu Zhiqing’s face faded instantly, only to surge again the next second, as Xiao Jihan added: "I have shared a bed with her for ten years, even while at the Wushang Peak. Therefore, even if she is unaware, the feelings she holds for me are real."

Liu Zhiqing was so angry he wanted to strike him!

"Although we shared a bed, I have not practiced dual cultivation with her. Shu'er cares deeply for you senior brothers; until I have earned your approval, I will not commit any act that oversteps the bounds."

Liu Zhiqing’s tightly clenched fists loosened slightly. He even looked at Xiao Jihan with a hint of pity. If there was no consummation, no formal pact, and the little junior sister didn't even know, what kind of Daoist partnership was this? No! The little junior sister had shared a bed with him for so many years—she had likely already accepted it by default!

Xiao Jihan’s voice sounded again: "The Sect Master and the other senior brothers harbor deep prejudices against me. I fear they will not agree to me becoming Shu'er's Daoist partner. Therefore, I intend to take Shu'er to pay respects to my mother first and leave the Xuantian Sect for a period of time, so that the senior brothers may calm their minds and accept reality."

Liu Zhiqing’s fists tightened again. He glared at Xiao Jihan and snapped, "Is there anything else you haven't finished saying?" If not, he was going to start throwing punches!