"Jade?"
Yun Ze frowned, finding the Bu Bu before him noticeably abnormal. She had been extremely indifferent at first, never showing any interest in immortal jade. Yet, after a chance encounter a few nights ago, she had fallen into a coma. Now, barely awake, her first words were to ask for it. This naturally made Yun Ze curious.
"Bu Bu, don't rush. What do you need the jade for?" Yun Ze asked.
The old beggar, who had been feigning sleep nearby, also stirred his eyelids, intrigued by the topic. He increasingly felt his suspicions were correct. This little girl, reincarnated and cultivating anew, must be a contingency left by their master, specifically to ensure the immortal jade wouldn't be found by others or his fellow disciples! Perhaps even his arrival at this remote mountain village was within his master's calculations.
"Never mind that, just give me the jade first!" Bu Bu said, getting up and lunging at Yun Ze, trying to search him for the immortal jade. She tackled him to the ground! Her speed and force were so great that even Yun Ze, who had been cultivating for days, couldn't resist. He could only let her small hands rummage all over him.
"Bu Bu! Stop messing around, I'll show you the immortal jade, just stop!"
Bu Bu was no longer listening. She searched quickly, and soon found the two pieces of immortal jade. Yun Ze tried to take them back, only to find Bu Bu staring at the two pieces of jade, her eyes glazed over.
"Gold, Water... How could it be these two?"
Hearing Bu Bu's words, she seemed to recognize these two pieces of immortal jade. But this immortal jade was clearly passed down from the immortal family to the Yun family. Let alone Bu Bu, even his father had only seen it the night before his grandfather died. How could she possibly know it? Did she have some connection with that immortal family?
Yun Ze quickly asked, "What gold? What water? Bu Bu, what are you talking about?"
"...It's nothing."
Bu Bu's expression gradually returned to normal. Her gaze flickered to the old beggar who was still feigning sleep, and then she handed the two pieces of immortal jade back to Yun Ze. "Keep this safe. Don't let anyone else take it."
"Of course."
Yun Ze tucked the immortal jade back into his embrace and then smiled helplessly. "Well... could you get off me first?"
Bu Bu said nothing more. Her demeanor returned to its usual coldness, as if the person who had suddenly pounced on him wasn't her at all. She stood by the bed, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Her brow furrowed slightly, as if puzzled, but she didn't voice her confusion. Then, she looked at Yun Ze's abdomen, her gaze gradually moving up to his face. "What have you been doing these past few days while I was unconscious?"
"Cultivating."
Yun Ze had no intention of hiding anything from Bu Bu. He sat on the bed and told her about the old beggar being an immortal. He then urged her, "Bu Bu, why don't you ask the senior? If it's possible, you can cultivate with him too."
"Hah~!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the old beggar, who had been sleeping for days, yawned and stretched. "What cultivating or not cultivating? I told you, that's something you figured out yourself, boy. Why can't you understand?"
"Yes."
Yun Ze responded respectfully. Taking advantage of the old beggar's movement, he asked, "Senior, three days have passed, and Weishan Prefecture has been unsealed. Can I continue to cultivate in the lake?"
He wasn't asking the old beggar for everything, but the journey from here to Wanqing Lake was too dangerous. Heisheng Chao, or even that immortal family, might be waiting by the lake, just for Yun Ze to show up again. Preparing to trap him... no, to catch him... no, that's not right! Anyway, without the old beggar's help, he wouldn't dare to take the risk.
"Go, go. Just don't bother this old man." The old beggar waved his hand and then looked at Bu Bu. Their eyes met in the air, neither backing down, but instead scrutinizing each other.
Yun Ze didn't notice this. He was immersed in the joy of being able to cultivate in the lake again. After several days of cultivation, he could already feel the profound energy within him accumulating to a certain level, nearing its limit. Perhaps, when it reached that limit, it would be time for him to exact his revenge.
He casually replied, "Yes, Bu Bu, let's go, I'll teach you how to cultivate!"
As Yun Ze spoke, he pulled Bu Bu away, and the silent exchange between the old man and the young girl ended. Both of them understood, without saying a word.
As Yun Ze walked out of the room, he bumped into a waiter carrying a tray up the stairs, a smile on his face. When he saw Yun Ze, he didn't forget to greet him, "Hey, guest, are you going out?"
"Mm."
Yun Ze maintained his previous demeanor, nodded calmly, and intended to leave. Unexpectedly, the waiter stepped forward, his face full of gossip. "Guest, do you know? It's been several days, and the He family has captured all the young men in the city for a portrait. They still haven't found that young man. They've drawn hundreds of portraits, and today they're going to post them everywhere."
"Is that so?"
Yun Ze asked back, his heart churning. Heisheng Chao was going to post the portraits today. If he were a day late, he wouldn't be able to leave. If he stayed in the inn, the old gentleman could help conceal him, and there would be no problem. But the old gentleman wouldn't be by his side all the time. Unless he was willing to go to the lake with him, Yun Ze wouldn't be able to cultivate in the lake anymore. It was fortunate that this was happening now.
"That's right!"
The waiter, as if a dam had broken, continued, "The yamen runners are already outside, about to start posting them."
They're already here!?
Yun Ze frowned. Just as he was about to turn back to his room to discuss with the old beggar, he heard the waiter continue, "By the way, guest, where are you going? I know the way, shall I take you?"
Yun Ze hesitated for a moment. He had already said he was going out. If he turned back now, it would surely arouse suspicion. It was better to state his destination first, and then say he had something to do and couldn't go.
"Wanqing Lake."
"What a coincidence!"
Just as Yun Ze uttered the place name, the waiter said joyfully, "I happen to know a shortcut to Wanqing Lake. Shall I take you?"
"A shortcut?"
"Yes! A shortcut that hardly anyone knows."
Yun Ze's heart stirred. He didn't want to trouble the old gentleman, so he smiled and said, "That's perfect, young man. Please lead the way." He then slipped a piece of silver into the waiter's hand.
"Got it!"
The waiter flicked his towel, draped it over his shoulder, and turned to walk downstairs. Yun Ze and Bu Bu followed behind him and walked directly out the back door of the inn. However, as soon as they stepped out, they encountered two yamen runners walking towards them! In their hands, they were holding a scroll of drawings!