Chapter 271

Qixiazi's face was grim: "You're absolutely right; Qingwei is a disciple taken in by Xuanyu, so his character must be just as wicked."

Since that's the case, I, the humble Taoist, will immediately purge the sect and send all disciples of Xuanyu to the authorities! Please, Prefect, investigate thoroughly so they reap what they sow and can never do evil again!

The crowd hearing this broke into even louder praise.

Even the prefectural magistrate nodded repeatedly: "Taoist Priest Qixiazi, your righteousness is admirable! Men, take Xuanyu to the great prison! After investigation, we will pass sentence!"

Tuan Tuan took Xiao Ningxun's hand: "Third Brother, let's go back; Xiao Ran is still waiting for us."

Xiao Ningxun nodded, and the group was just about to leave.

"Please stay." Qixiazi called out to them, "You've come from afar and helped my Qingyunguan remove the traitorous disciple; I, the humble Taoist, would like to invite you to come to Qingyunguan sometime for a pot of clear tea, if you would be so kind."

Xiao Ningxun hesitated for a moment.

Qixiazi looked at Tuan Tuan: "I have a snow-white four-legged cat with pure black fur, the Snow-Treading Spirit Cat, which understands human nature and is utterly adorable; if you little friend come, you can play with it."

Upon hearing about the adorable cat, Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up instantly and he nodded eagerly: "Great! Great! Then let's go!"

Qixiazi smiled faintly: "I, the humble Taoist, will await good news in Qingyunguan." He then bade farewell and left.

The group returned to the inn.

Xiao Ningxun frowned slightly: "This Qixiazi is not simple."

Xiao Er nodded: "In today's situation, Qixiazi with just a few words singled out Qingyunguan; indeed impressive."

Lu Qi asked: "Should I go scout Qingyunguan tonight?"

Xiao Ningxun shook his head: "We've only just met; it's not appropriate to act now. You've all worked hard on this journey—let's rest first."

They slept soundly through the night.

The next day, Madame Ding brought Miss Ding to the inn to thank Tuan Tuan.

Miss Ding's complexion was rosy, her eyes clear—she was a completely different person from her previous mad state.

Upon seeing Tuan Tuan, she bowed deeply, her gratitude overflowing.

Tuan Tuan pulled her to sit: "Miss Ding, how did you suddenly fall ill?"

Miss Ding pondered a moment: "I'm not entirely sure either; those few days had nothing special, just one small matter—I don't know if it's related."

Tuan Tuan looked curious: "What is it?"

Miss Ding recalled: "The day before I fell ill, I had gone to Qingyunguan to offer incense. I accidentally got my clothes wet, so I went to the back courtyard to change. Unintentionally, I overheard two Daoists saying a few words."

Xiao Ran hurriedly asked: "What did they say?"

"They said they had made less than two thousand, it's far too little, the superiors are urging them urgently, and they also said these people are no good, wasting so much material. Their voices weren't loud, so I didn't hear them very clearly either."

Xiao Ningxun, Lu Qi, and Xiao Er exchanged a glance, each seeing shock in the other's eyes.

Tuan Tuan didn't take it to heart at all: "Never mind what they said; as long as you're better now, that's all that matters!"

Miss Ding smiled: "Yes, thanks to you."

After chatting a bit more, the two took their leave.

Tuan Tuan, full of energy: "Where should we go play today?"

Lu Qi suggested: "Lord Master, there is actually a Tianji Pavilion tavern in Qingzhou Prefecture as well; you could go have a look. And incidentally, sample their cooking."

Upon hearing that, Tuan Tuan said: "Let's all go together; let's not take a carriage, we'll walk."

As the group walked and sightseeing, Tuan Tuan and Xiao Ran had the most fun; the various snacks and amusements of Xibei, different from Jingcheng, opened their eyes.

Walking along, a tavern called "Yunke Lai" came into view.

Lu Qi stopped: "Lord Master, this is the place."

Everyone looked over; the tavern's façade was not small, but it appeared to be somewhat aged, the paint on the eaves mottled, and everywhere showed signs of wind and sand erosion.

Upon entering, it was lunchtime, yet there were few customers, very quiet.

The proprietor was a capable-looking middle-aged man, sitting behind the counter, currently lowering his head to fiddle with an abacus.

Tuan Tuan ran up to the counter on his short legs, tiptoed, produced his token, and slapped it onto the counter with a "pa": "Shopkeeper! I'm here! I'm the Lord Master!"

The proprietor was first startled, but upon seeing the token, his expression changed abruptly; he hurriedly came out from behind the counter, bowed, and said: "I didn't know the Lord Master was arriving; my subordinates were rude."

After saying that, he turned and led the way, bringing everyone to a private room on the second floor.

Everyone sat down, and the proprietor personally brought over some delicate pastries and a pot of fragrant tea: "These pastries and tea leaves were all sent by express horse from Jingcheng."

"The Vice Pavilion Master specially ordered his subordinates to prepare these for you, lest you find the local food disagreeable."

Xiao Ran gulped a mouthful of tea and let out a long sigh: "It's the flavor of Jingcheng! Finally I can drink something that suits my palate!"

Several people ate the familiar pastries and drank their hometown tea, instantly feeling much refreshed.

Tuan Tuan ate his fill, then recalled the emptiness upon entering: "Uncle shopkeeper, why aren't there any customers coming to eat here?"

The proprietor gave a wry smile: "Our tavern is old, and the wind and sand here are strong; ordinary repairs tend to look shabby within two years, lacking luster, and we can't retain distinguished guests."

"Then let's fix it up better!" Tuan Tuan slipped down from his chair: "I'll go take a look!"

"Wait for me!" Xiao Ningxun hastily rose, and the proprietor hurriedly followed.

Tuan Tuan walked back and forth twice with his hands behind his back, his little head shaking like a rattle drum: "This place is too small! There's nothing, it's not fun at all! It should be remodeled like Suijin Pavilion!"

Hearing that, the proprietor stared dumbfounded: "Suijin Pavilion? Lord Master, when I went to Jingcheng I saw it; it's so luxurious, our little establishment..."

"What's there to fear!" Tuan Tuan waved his small hand: "I'll pay! Let's remodel this place! Just model it after Suijin Pavilion!"

The proprietor's eyes instantly crinkled with joy, his wrinkles smoothing out: "Lord Master, you're wise! If we truly remodel it like Suijin Pavilion, our Yunke Lai will become the foremost establishment in Qingzhou Prefecture!"

Tuan Tuan nodded satisfactorily: "Then let's start tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow?" The proprietor blinked again: "This little Lord Master is really impatient, saying he'll do it and doing it."

"What's wrong? Can't we start tomorrow?"

"Such a large project requires many skilled artisans; the craftsmen around here basically gather near the City God Temple, waiting for jobs. If we were to start work tomorrow, we'd need to round up the artisans right now."

"City God Temple? Great! I'll go fetch the best craftsmen right now!" Tuan Tuan, enthusiastic, ran back to the private room, called everyone, and followed the proprietor to the City God Temple.

All that could be seen was an open space crowded with people, black with multitudes.

Xiao Ran exclaimed in surprise, "So many people?"

The shopkeeper replied, "Indeed, the patrons hiring craftsmen and the craftsmen looking for work are all here bargaining. But today there are unusually more people."

He asked a burly man, "Brother, why are there so many people today?"

The burly man laughed heartily, pointing at a surrounding group of dust‑covered craftsmen, "We're not locals; we heard this place needs workers, so we came together to take a look, hoping to find good jobs!"

In the center of the crowd, several people in Taoist robes were shouting loudly, "Listen up! Qingyunguan is renovating the Sanqing Hall and repairing the Patriarch's statue!"

"We urgently need master carpenters and blacksmiths! Pay is double the normal rate! But one thing—if your skill is subpar, don't come to pretend you belong!"

"Double pay!" The craftsmen immediately stirred, each showing delight, crowding forward, chattering and displaying their skills.

"Taoist Priest, look at me! The furniture I make lasts decades without breaking!"

"The swords and knives I forge are razor‑sharp!"

"I specialize in fine mortise‑and‑tenon work!"

Xiao Ningxun watched the bustling scene, his brows tightly knit.

He whispered to Lu Qi and Xiao Erdao, "Why recruit both carpenters and blacksmiths for a hall renovation? And demand the finest craftsmen? Clearly this is to forge precise objects, not ordinary repairs."

Lu Qi nodded, "So urgent, and they even offer double wages."

Xiao Er thought of the Ding family mother and daughter, "Could it be that Miss Ding heard something related to this, and that's why she met a poisonous end?"

Tuan Tuan doesn't care about that; she only knows that someone is competing with her for craftsmen!

"You've all been asked to leave; what will happen to my cloud guests who are coming?"

She ran—thump thump thump—to a nearby abandoned stone pedestal, struggled up, her tiny hands clasped near her mouth, and shouted loudly, "Craftsmen uncles! My family needs many people! Come to my house, okay?"