Chapter 6: Treasure Hunting (Part 2)

◎And I am that gust of wind that will make you utterly burn.◎

Whether Cultivators seek treasures, hunt Demons and Ghosts, hold grand assemblies, or exchange visits between disciples of various Immortal Sects, they inevitably must tread the mortal world.

Cultivators provided a certain degree of safety protection for mortals. Correspondingly, mortals also set up some reception venues for immortals to rest during their journeys.

Such reception places were generally established in the homes of relatively well-known wealthy merchants or local officials within the area.

According to rules set by the Imperial Family, a separate space was created outside the family head’s personal living quarters. Based on the visiting immortal’s rank, meals, lodging, a certain amount of travel funds, and so on were provided.

They could also appropriately increase or decrease the reception procedures according to their own family’s financial situation.

The attitudes of mortals towards Cultivators could be broadly classified into two major categories.

Extremely enthusiastic, or intensely disgusted; both factions were rather extreme.

If a Cultivator-detesting family was assigned a reception quota but couldn’t refuse it, the provided conditions naturally would only be the most basic.

But if it was a Cultivator-worshipping family, it was the complete opposite. The expenditure could even surpass their own daily living costs, solely to foster more connections and relationships with Cultivators.

Such families would also often generously host various passing Rogue Cultivators, feasting and enjoying themselves alongside the hosts.

With guests filling the seats, immortals and mortals in harmony, eloquent conversations full of sound and color, it indeed produced many celebrated tales.

This kind of space, specially opened to receive passing immortals, was uniformly called the Immortal Reception Garden.

Immortals merely needed to confirm at the public notice board outside the city gate, or on the special documents in front of the government office, which local family had an Immortal Reception Garden. There was no need for prior notification; they could simply visit directly.

From the Divine Zenith Sect to the Nether Prefecture Ghost City, the journey was long and distant. The two of them had indeed stayed at quite a few households along the way.

With the title of the Divine Zenith Sect’s Senior Sister, the courtesies they received at Immortal Reception Gardens in different towns were practically the highest standard. They even unrefusably accepted a fair number of gifts.

Over the course of the journey, their travel funds were even more plentiful than when they started.

Yun Jinxue weighed the pouch in her hand; it was very hefty. She then glanced a few times at the girl opposite her.

Mm, having earned money, it’s time to change the little one into some good clothes.

The final stop before reaching Nether Prefecture was a small village town. Not wealthy, and not particularly large, called Spring Crossing.

Standing before the stone gate marking the town entrance, Yun Jinxue discovered with surprise that such a small place could actually have an Immortal Reception Garden.

Truly convenient. That the mortal and immortal realms could coexist so harmoniously was a wondrous sight indeed.

But then again, no matter how powerful a Cultivator was, they also had a phase where they were just an ordinary person.

According to the map’s directions, the Ye family residence, which housed the Immortal Reception Garden, seemed to be not far off.

Yun Jinxue simply tied up the carriage curtain, sitting sideways in the front seat. Smiling gently into the interior, she said, “We’ve reached the final stop, Yanyu.”

Leaning against the carriage side, arms wrapped around herself, Jiang Yanyu slowly opened her eyes upon hearing this and turned her head to look.

Outside, a dense fog hung heavy. The jade-crowned immortal sat upon the carriage, speaking to her with a soft, gentle smile.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Yanyu nodded, indicating she understood, then closed her eyes again.

Yun Jinxue looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before turning back to steer the carriage forward.

Ever since learning that the purpose of this trip was the Awakening Orifice, she has seemed very quiet.

Was she nervous about stepping into the cultivation world?

Or was she afraid of the name “Nether Prefecture Ghost City”?

That was reasonable; it didn’t sound like a pleasant place at all.

Honestly, Yun Jinxue wasn’t very confident either that she could find that fruit in this ghostly place barely mentioned in the original book.

But she had to try, right? If by chance they succeeded, she could help the little one avoid the pain of reshaping her meridians.

However, if she was truly very afraid of the Ghost City, she’d just leave her at the Immortal Reception Garden and go inside by herself.

Having made up her mind internally, she happened to see the dark, gloomy residence emerging through the breaking fog.

A whole family stood beneath the Ye family plaque, as if they had been waiting here for a long time.

At the very front stood a middle-aged man in purple-black robes. His beard was meticulously groomed, as silvery-white and tidy as his sideburns.

Behind him stood two middle-aged beauties, a little boy, and three household servants, all bowing and saluting with utmost respect.

Sometimes, Immortal Reception Gardens communicated among themselves about an immortal’s whereabouts.

Yun Jinxue had early on made clear where she was heading. Coupled with her exceedingly conspicuous identity, it wasn’t strange that these people knew she’d arrive.

But such a formation, practically the entire family coming out to welcome her, was even more disconcerting than being heaped with gold, silver, and precious artifacts.

Yun Jinxue’s heart lurched. She descended from the carriage, stopped the horse, and bowed to the family. “I’ve come uninvited, imposing upon you greatly. May I ask if the Immortal Reception Garden of Spring Crossing Town is here?”

The leading man returned the bow. “Please follow this Ye.”

Jiang Yanyu crawled out of the carriage, bracing against the wooden frame, narrowing her eyes. Her gaze swept over the family members, then moved to the plaque.

The fog flowing in the air seemed to have a tangible quality. She raised her hand and turned her wrist, as if feeling the cold, damp air slipping through her fingers.

She brought it near her nose and sniffed, then immediately shook her hand with an expression of disgust.

She turned her head to look in other directions, but her gaze couldn’t penetrate the fog.

This place…

Yun Jinxue, about to step forward and follow into the residence, noticed the Little Villain staring off somewhere. She called, “Yanyu, let’s head inside.”

As she called the person back, following her gaze into the deep fog,

Yun Jinxue only just realized: since entering the village town, she hadn’t seen many people at all.

Was it because it was still early, and they hadn’t come out yet?

Suppressing her strange feeling for now, she followed the Ye Family Head towards the Immortal Reception Garden.

A standalone large room in the middle of the lake. The meal was already prepared. Several servants attended nearby, all with heads lowered, their features indistinct.

Once the guests were seated, chatting about stories from the road, everything seemed perfectly proper. Yet Yun Jinxue noticed quite a few oddities.

This family’s actions and conduct were extremely polite, courteous, and thorough enough.

But what was strange was that when they spoke, they either looked elsewhere or fixated on other parts of a person’s face, as if deliberately avoiding eye contact.

Since entering the Ye residence, she hadn’t yet met anyone’s gaze directly.

Even though she already knew this world was full of strange people and bizarre events, Yun Jinxue still found it somewhat hard to understand. What strange custom was this?

And when she picked up her chopsticks and ate a mouthful of what seemed like perfectly fine hot food, the weird sensation grew even more pronounced.

Her appetite had been poor this whole period. She only managed to eat a bit to humor the overwhelming enthusiasm of the Immortal Reception Garden hosts in each place.

But this family’s cooking was so awful it made one doubt if this was the mortal realm.

Yun Jinxue thought she had picked up the wrong thing. Could some little bug have crawled under her chopsticks?

But trapped between the ends of her chopsticks, bitten in half, was clearly a piece of carrot.

Normal color, nothing wrong with its appearance.

How could it be this BITTER???

Having finally swallowed it, Yun Jinxue tried the other dishes and instantly sealed off her own heart and stomach.

She stole a glance at the Ye family members; they were all eating heartily.

It seems the abilities of mortals were indeed unfathomable.

But the Little Villain was also drinking water sip after sip, barely touching her chopsticks.

This was clearly a problem with the food. The little one was never a picky eater.

The Ye Family Head noticed Jiang Yanyu hadn’t really eaten and asked with concern.

Yun Jinxue thought: This silly child won’t just directly say it’s awful, will she? It would be better to be a bit tactful, since they were so sincere, after all.

Jiang Yanyu said, “All the dishes have a bitter taste.”

Yun Jinxue’s hand trembled as she reached for more food, her heart also filling with bitterness.

Who knew, the Ye Family Head actually laughed and explained that this bitterness was a local specialty. Due to the area’s heavy dampness, adding this special ingredient could induce sweating.

So it was a local specialty. She’d thought something was wrong with her own sense of taste.

Enduring it, she ate a little more. After the meal concluded, using cultivation practice as an excuse, Yun Jinxue slipped out of the Ye residence with the little one.

Walking along the street, Yun Jinxue said, “You didn’t eat much during that meal either.”

Jiang Yanyu nodded. “A little bitter.”

A little?!

That bitterness was enough to cause outrage in both heaven and humans!

However, she was gradually confirming one thing.

That was, this body of Yun Jinxue’s seemed innately more sensitive to sensations.

Especially the three senses of smell, taste, and touch, all markedly sharper compared to others.

The first two were manageable. When eating or entering an unfamiliar space, they could help her detect potential dangers early, serving a self-protective function.

But touch—that was purely detrimental in every way.

Heaven knew, a few nights ago, when her toe knocked against the bedpost, the pain was excruciating beyond words.

To the point where the dignified Number One Immortal Sect’s Head Senior Disciple curled up under the covers holding her foot and crying for quite a while.

She absolutely had to be careful not to get injured. Otherwise, this life would truly be unlivable.

Walking through the fog, Yun Jinxue scrutinized the storefronts along the street, hoping to find a small restaurant to fill their bellies.

Unfortunately, most shops weren’t open. Occasionally there was an open door. Going inside to look, there was no one there; even the owner was absent.

Yun Jinxue thought: This small town is called Spring Crossing, yet it’s even colder and more desolate than a mountain sealed by heavy winter snow.

After walking half a street like this, she finally spotted a small wonton shop still in business.

The shop owner, with his hands tucked in his sleeves, leaned against the pot, eyes half-closed, seemingly asleep.

Yun Jinxue went over and ordered two bowls of wontons.

The owner opened his eyes, yawned as he lifted the pot lid, and a huge cloud of steam billowed out.

“Take a seat inside.”

Despite the open-air storefront, the tables and chairs were wiped completely clean, gleaming with a smooth wooden hue.

Yun Jinxue asked, “Does Yanyu like eating wontons?”

Jiang Yanyu split her chopsticks apart. “Senior Sister, this is my first time eating these.”

Yun Jinxue was startled. Her brows furrowed, then relaxed. Smiling, she said, “Then from now on, whatever you want to eat, just tell your Senior Sister. I’ll buy it for you, alright? Yanyu.”

Jiang Yanyu lowered her eyes. “Senior Sister doesn’t always need to call me Yanyu either.”

Yun Jinxue asked, “Do you have any childhood nickname?”

Jiang Yanyu said, “Before, my family called me Dead Pig.”

“Mm…” Yun Jinxue curled a finger and rubbed her temple. “Let me think of something else.”

Speaking of nicknames, she couldn’t help but think of her given name.

Jiang Yanyu—Flame Jade, brilliant jade burning fiercely like a flame.

With the Jiang family’s complete lack of virtue, having already made their daughter live in a pigsty, they certainly wouldn’t have given her this kind of name.

Yun Jinxue asked curiously, “Who gave you your name?”

Jiang Yanyu’s gaze went distant. “My eldest sister gave it to me.”

Indeed, before her, other girls had been born.

There was no need to ask; that eldest sister had likely already met a tragic fate.

No wonder she harbored such intense hatred.

She recalled again that night surging with blood, the young girl with firelight dancing on her face, laughing so hard she doubled over. In Yun Jinxue’s heart, three words surfaced involuntarily.

Crazy Kid.

It seemed suitable as a nickname, but if she really called her that, the little one would probably get angry.

She removed the sickness radical from the first character, keeping only the “wind” inside. [T/N: The Chinese character for “Crazy” (疯 – fēng) minus the sickness radical (疒) becomes the character for “Wind” (风 – fēng).]

Yun Jinxue said, “Then I’ll call you Windy. The wind of smooth sailing, the wind that sweeps the clouds.”

Jiang Yanyu was somewhat stunned, like she didn’t understand what this character had to do with herself.

This expression was truly rare to see. Yun Jinxue couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s nothing, just suddenly thought of it.”

But within her heart, turbulent waves surged.

The young girl sitting across from her, fiddling with chopsticks and pondering over the meaning of the character “wind,” seemed so docile right now, just like a sheltered young lady from a noble family who knew nothing.

But you are destined to become a great fire linking the heavens.

And I am that gust of wind that will make you utterly burn.