Chapter 4: Serendipity {One}

When Feng Yi heard that Weng Li agreed to go to Bajun City for a meal, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy in her heart. She thought this would be a perfect opportunity to stroll around the city.

Without further delay, the master and servant used Sword Kinesis to travel to Bajun City. While still some distance from the city gates, they slowly withdrew their swords and landed. The two then leisurely entered the city on foot. Bajun was the most important town on the route from Shu Capital to Yelang, making it exceptionally bustling. Most merchants traveling between the Central Plains and Yelang for business would stop here to rest. Additionally, many rogue cultivators from the Central Plains gathered here, primarily for night hunts in the Bajun area. Some bold cultivators would even venture into Yelang, though most avoided it due to the intimidating reputation of Witchcraft alone, not to mention Yelang’s unique Gu Technique, which often left people pale at the mere mention.

The master and servant wandered around Bajun City for about half an hour before finally deciding to enter a tavern called “The Traveler’s Lodge.” Upon entering, Weng Li found the interior clean and elegant. They chose a relatively quiet spot and sat down. A waiter promptly came to take their order. After ordering, Weng Li observed the other patrons with interest. After scanning the room, she found nothing particularly noteworthy just ordinary diners. Just as she was about to lose interest, her gaze fell on a table not far from theirs, where the patrons stood out remarkably. At a glance, almost all of them were cultivators with Spirit Energy.

There were about seven or eight of them, all around her age and all young men. They wore white robes and forehead ribbons, each quite handsome. The one seated in the middle, slightly older perhaps in his twenties stood out the most. He was taller and more slender than the others, with fair skin, a straight nose, and thin lips. His light colored eyes held a clear, cold gaze, making him appear almost ethereal, like an immortal who had descended to the mortal realm. He was extraordinarily handsome, and Weng Li couldn’t help but steal a few more glances. After a moment, she noticed that the man showed almost no change in expression, his face perpetually cold and impassive, as if life held no joy for him. Gazing at his expressionless yet exquisite face, Weng Li sighed softly and murmured, “What a pity. Such a beautiful person, yet he wears a bitter face. Such a waste of those fine features!”

Hearing this, Feng Yi asked in confusion, “Young Master, what did you say?”

Weng Li glanced subtly at the group of white robed youths and whispered into Feng Yi’s ear, “See the most handsome one sitting in the middle of those white robed boys?”

Feng Yi turned to look at the youths and whispered back, “They all look quite handsome to me, Young Master. Which one do you mean?”

Weng Li nearly pressed her lips to Feng Yi’s ear and said, “The one sitting upright, with light colored eyes, slightly older and the most handsome of them all.”

Feng Yi looked again and replied softly, “Oh, I see him. He is indeed better looking than the others. But he seems rather unhappy.”

Weng Li whispered again, “That’s exactly why I called him a bitter face. He looks as if he’s mourning his wife’s death.”

Feng Yi burst into laughter and said, “Young Mistress, he’s probably just in a bad mood. How did you end up calling him a bitter gourd face? That young master looks so detached from worldly affairs I doubt he’s even married yet! Where would he get a wife? Actually, our own mistress isn’t particularly fond of smiling either, is she?”

Weng Li retorted, “Pfft that’s only with outsiders. Elder Sister always beams with smiles when she’s with me and Mother.”
Feng Yi blinked and said, “Really? Now that you mention it, she does!” This talent for self questioning and self answering was unique to the silly girl Feng Yi.

While the mistress and her maid were happily chatting and critiquing the group of white robed young men, their ordered dishes arrived. Without any pretense, the two started eating as soon as the food was served. They were enjoying their meal when they overheard the white robed youths beginning to speak. Unlike Weng Li and Feng Yi, who had been whispering too softly for others to hear, these young men spoke at a normal volume. Being cultivators with heightened senses, Weng Li and Feng Yi caught every word.

A handsome youth said to another fair faced youth beside him, “Si Zhui, did you know? I heard that Ba County often attracts Heretical Devils who practice Witchcraft and Gu methods. They frequently bully our loose cultivators from the Central Plains.”

The fair faced youth named Si Zhui replied, “Jing Yi, who’s been feeding you nonsense again? Han Guang Jun is here! Don’t spout wild claims.”

Another youth chimed in, “Yes, yes! I’ve heard it too. They say there’s even a dedicated clan that studies Witchcraft and Gu methods, located in a place called the Venom Gu Office in Yelang. Rumor has it they have a Witchcraft Saintess there who wields the Witch Gu Token and kills without batting an eye. They say she’s hideously ugly, with a blue face and fangs terrifying!” This sparked a lively discussion among the youths.

“Is she really that ugly? Who’s seen her?”

“Of course, the loose cultivators who went to Yelang have!”

“A woman that ugly would never get married in her lifetime.”

“Absolutely! Who would marry someone both ugly and fierce? And a Heretical Devil at that.”

Hearing these youths spouting nonsense about her, Weng Li nearly dropped her chopsticks. She felt both amused and furious angry that these Mystic cultivators from the Central Plains always looked down on them, labeling anyone who practiced Witchcraft and Gu methods as Heretical Devils without fail. Amused because someone actually claimed that Weng Li was ugly, with a blue face and fangs. Suddenly, Weng Li turned and stood up, intending to confront the youths and argue with them. But just then, the exceptionally handsome young man who had remained silent and aloof swept a cold gaze over the group. As if spellbound, the chattering youths immediately fell silent and began eating their meals obediently.

Weng Li saw that the young men had all fallen silent and had no choice but to sit back down. It wouldn’t be right to confront them when they had already stopped talking. Yet, she couldn’t just let it go her anger still simmered inside. No one had ever dared call her, the Witchcraft Saintess, an ugly monster before. So, she shot Feng Yi a meaningful glance. Feng Yi, already fuming from what she had heard, understood her young mistress’s command immediately. She rose to her feet and cheerfully strode over toward the group of young men in white robes. Just as she neared them, Feng Yi pretended to lose her footing, stumbling toward the youth named Jing Yi. With a subtle, almost imperceptible movement, she swiftly plucked a few strands of hair from his head.

Thinking Feng Yi had genuinely tripped, Jing Yi quickly stepped forward to steady her. “Are you all right, miss?” he asked. “Be careful the floor in this shop is a bit slippery.”

Feng Yi smiled faintly at him. “It’s nothing, nothing at all. Thank you for your help, young master.” With that, she turned and returned to her seat, exchanging a knowing look with her young mistress before triumphantly handing the strands of hair to Weng Li.

Weng Li accepted the hairs with a smile. She carefully selected one with two fingers, then retrieved an Inscribed Talisman from her Rune Pouch. Wrapping the hair around the talisman, she placed it on the table. Silently forming a hand seal, she focused her gaze on the talisman, which then trembled slightly. The moment it moved

A sharp cry of “Ah!” erupted from among the young men in white. Jing Yi was clutching his head, his eyes darting around warily as he demanded, “Who… who hit me?”

At this, all the white robed youths sprang to their feet at once. Swords drawn, they scanned their surroundings as if facing a formidable enemy.

Jing Yi, having felt a blow to his head, initially thought it was a fellow disciple playing a prank. But seeing his companions rise with weapons ready, he realized someone was secretly targeting him.

Then came another “Ah!” of pain as Jing Yi clutched his head again, his eyes still searching the area furiously. “Whoever is behind this, show yourself!” he shouted.

Yet, there were no other diners around them. Their seating area was quiet and isolated, far from the other customers. His outburst drew puzzled stares from patrons eating nearby, who wondered what commotion had broken out.

The youth named Si Zhui quickly apologized to the other diners, “Sorry for disturbing your meal. It’s nothing serious just some fooling around.”

Hearing this, the other customers shook their heads in confusion before resuming their meals, paying the group no further mind.

At that moment, the strikingly handsome man who had remained silent and aloof until now spoke up. “Step back, all of you. It seems Jing Yi has fallen victim to someone’s trick.”