Chapter 626: Then She Didn't Feel Reluctant

The female escort looked slightly taken aback. "Dongyu City is a tremendous distance from here, and it looks like you made the journey alone, little sister?"

Ruyi held Lihua in her arms and smiled. "Don't I have a cat with me?"

The woman's gaze flicked to the cloth-wrapped Long Spear resting behind Ruyi, and understanding dawned on her.

"To travel such a distance, you must have some martial arts skills to rely on. No wonder."

The woman cupped her hands in a martial salute. "Longshan Escort Agency, Long Rong."

Ruyi returned the gesture. "Wang Kouxin, unaffiliated."

Long Rong smiled. "Have you just arrived in Shangjing, Miss?"

"Yes, I just got here. I took a stroll through the city but couldn't find a place to stay, so I decided to come outside the walls."

"There has been an influx of people entering the Capital lately. The inns in the city and the temples in the surrounding areas are mostly full. Give it another two days, and there won't be a single spot left to rest your feet."

"Are there really that many people?"

Long Rong nodded. "Opportunities like this are rare, after all."

The martial artists of the jianghu hadn't gathered simply to watch the spectacle. Most were here to connect with others. Many hoped to cross paths with old jianghu friends they had met by chance years ago, or perhaps to settle old grudges that still lingered.

Ruyi nodded slightly, then asked, "Did Sister Long come to Shangjing to escort a shipment?"

Long Rong nodded. "The timing just happened to line up, so I figured I'd drop by and join the excitement."

In Ruyi's arms, Lihua turned to look at the strange woman.

Lihua blinked but didn't make a sound.

Her tail draped over Ruyi's elbow, as if giving a subtle warning.

Ruyi picked up on the cue and glanced down at the cat.

The girl and the cat exchanged a look.

Keeping quiet, Ruyi gently stroked Lihua's head.

It was a secret signal between them.

Lihua was telling her that this woman named Long Rong was no ordinary person.

Seeing this, Long Rong smiled. "That's a very well-behaved cat you have."

Ruyi smiled back. "She's usually just lazy and loves lounging in my arms."

"Are you fond of feline slaves, Miss Wang?"

"What's a cat slave?"

"There's a poem that goes, 'Wrapped salt welcomes the little feline slave, to guard the ten thousand scrolls in my mountain study.' It refers to those who are fond of cats."

Ruyi blinked. "I wouldn't quite say that. Lihua is my family."

"Family..."

Long Rong nodded. "That's certainly something to envy."

Ruyi offered a warm smile, leaving it at that.

Long Rong changed the subject. "And what brings you to Shangjing, Miss Wang?"

"I'm looking for my younger brother," Ruyi said. "And to see the Investiture of Immortals Assembly while I'm at it."

"Your brother?"

"Yes. He hasn't been home in several years."

"Then I hope you reunite with your family on this trip."

"Thank you."

Their brief conversation faded, and the temple grew quiet again.

Aside from the two of them, the escorts in the temple were all resting against the walls. Hardly anyone spoke. They all looked exhausted.

Ruyi actually found it a bit strange. With so many men gathered here in broad daylight, how could every single one of them be resting? It didn't feel right.

She stroked Lihua's fur, deciding that she needed to find an excuse to leave before it got too dark.

She couldn't stay here.

As evening approached, someone gathered dry firewood and started a fire inside the temple.

The group sat around it, soaking in the light.

There was a practical reason for it. People in the jianghu believed that fire kept wild beasts and unclean things at bay. A roaring fire always brought a sense of security.

Seeing that it was getting late, Ruyi stood up. "Sister Long, I just remembered that I left something in the city. I need to go get it."

Long Rong glanced at her but made no move to stop her. She simply said, "Hurry on, then."

Ruyi nodded and walked out of the temple, holding Lihua.

Mounting her donkey, she headed toward Shangjing City.

Long Rong stepped out of the temple.

She watched Ruyi's departing figure, falling into deep thought.

"I wonder which branch of the Buddhist Dao took a liking to such a talented disciple..."

Long Rong muttered to herself.

A mere mortal, yet secretly harboring immense fortune and even a streak of golden Magical Power protecting her. And that cat she carried around was a shapeshifting cat demon.

It was hard not to suspect she was connected to the Buddhist Dao.

This Investiture of Immortals Assembly was getting more and more interesting.

Ruyi didn't look back. Only when she was a good distance away did she lightly pat Lihua and ask, "What exactly was in that temple back there?"

"That woman is a snake demon," Lihua answered. "She's very strong. Even I couldn't see through her completely."

Ruyi paused. "A snake demon..."

"How strange. Are there really that many demons in Shangjing City? The closer we get to Shangjing, the more demons we run into."

They had seen quite a few along the way.

Fortunately, none of them had given them any trouble.

Lihua thought for a moment. "Maybe they're after something."

Ruyi let out a soft exclamation. "The Investiture of Immortals Assembly is about conferring titles to Immortals. What are demons doing here?"

Lihua blinked. "Can't demons be called Immortals?"

"Demons are demons, and Immortals are Immortals."

"Is that so? I don't really get it."

Lihua muttered, though she didn't dwell on it.

Ruyi then asked, "And what about those men in the temple? I thought they looked off, too."

"They aren't human," Lihua said. "They looked like they were conjured out of something, just illusions used to trick people."

"So you're saying Sister Long was the only actual person in that temple?"

"Right."

Ruyi let out a breath. "Well, this is going to be fun..."

"This Investiture of Immortals Assembly really has drawn everything out of the woodwork. Demons, monsters, ghosts, Immortals, and Buddhas... I can't even imagine what kind of spectacle it'll be when the day finally arrives."

Lihua, however, didn't care about any of that. "Ruyi."

"Hmm?"

"I haven't eaten properly in days, and I'm hungry. Besides, now that we've left the temple, where are we going to stay?"

Ruyi dug into her robes. After a long moment, she fished out four copper coins.

"Four copper coins. That's enough for two fish."

"Then what will you eat?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Why are you lying to me, Ruyi?"

"I'm not."

Ruyi ignored whatever else Lihua had to say. Once they entered the city, she began looking for a fishmonger.

These four copper coins were her entire life savings right now.

If it were for her own food, she would have been too stingy to spend them. But if Lihua was hungry, she didn't feel reluctant at all.

Prices in Shangjing were steep. Ruyi thought she would be able to buy one decent-sized fish, but in the end, her four copper coins only got her a few tiny fish that weren't even the width of her palm, and they weren't very fresh, either.

"You're the best, Ruyi," Lihua said.

Ruyi couldn't help but laugh. "You and your sweet talk."

"I'm not sweet-talking."

"Yes, you are."

"Hmph..."

Lihua muttered, "Whatever you say, Ruyi."

Ruyi gave a warm smile and stroked her head, humming softly in agreement.

Lihua had accompanied her across thousands of miles. How could she bear to let her go hungry?

Ruyi watched her for a moment, then suddenly asked a question.

"Lihua."

"Hmm?"

"Do you think Uncle Chen will come to the Investiture of Immortals Assembly?"

"I don't know either..."

"Mhm."