Chapter 2229: Wanting to Change Jobs

Another spring has arrived.

Jùlù Harbor has undergone great changes, but the dockside tavern remains, though its area has more than doubled, and several square tables have been set up in the open space behind it for people to drink and gaze at the sea.

The tavern is bustling, nearly full. Someone in a cloak walks over and sees that the seaside tables are almost all empty, with only one person facing the sea, arms resting behind on the table, and even crossing their legs with their back to her.

This posture is far too relaxed.

Sunlight filters through the leaves onto this person's face; he has his eyes closed, looking very content.

The cloaked person smiles and walks to his table.

This person only says two words:

"Please sit."

The cloaked person does not sit, but leans forward, lowers their head, and reaches out to rub his temples.

To their surprise, the hand does not touch him, as if hitting an invisible qi wall, and is firmly blocked.

She does not believe it, and pushes forward with force.

The qi wall is elastic, but if she pushes harder, she will be bounced into the sea.

She can only reluctantly pull back her hands, pout her lips: "I'm just trying to massage your head, help you relax—what's wrong with that?"

"I appreciate it." This person lowers their arms, sits upright, presses on their neck bones, and immediately a series of crackling sounds ring out, sharp as firecrackers: "Your 'Breaking the Cocoon' heart method is practiced quite well."

Earlier, when she pressed his temples, she had used true strength.

"These two years, I have also not been lax." She lifts her cloak, revealing a face that can be both pleasing and vexing, her eyes like lotuses holding water, "But I still have many questions I wish to ask the elders of the Phantom Sect."

These two years she has been in Mù State, with no chance to ask in person.

"Go ahead."

"Does the Sage also master this heart method?" Since the other is in private attire on an inspection, she does not address them as "Emperor," but uses an equally shocking title.

"The Phantom Sect is still under my charge—have you forgotten?" This person is of course Hé Lingchuān.

Méi Wǔniáng then raises her cultivation doubts one by one, and Hé Lingchuān answers patiently.

He always uses plain language to explain profound Dao principles for Méi Wǔniáng to hear.

After a few questions, Méi Wǔniáng only feels her mind suddenly opened.

At this moment, the waiter also comes over with a tray:

"Two bowls of yellow fish noodles, two plates of crispy small silver fish!"

The specialty of the dockside tavern is the super-large sea bowl.

The yellow fish inside has been stewed until tender and falling apart, the broth is milky white, and the fresh, fragrant aroma rushes straight into the nose.

Hé Lingchuān does not rush to pick up his chopsticks, first taking out a wine flask from his bosom and dripping a few drops of wine into the hot soup.

Amazing—the wine aroma is stirred by the hot soup, fragrance spreading for ten li.

Méi Wǔniáng has already taken a sip of soup, sees this, and immediately says: "I want some too!"

Hé Lingchuān smiles and drips some wine onto her bowl.

This is a gift sent from Mù State, a high-proof liquor that is fiery when drunk straight, but when placed in the noodle soup it enhances fragrance and flavor—truly another realm.

Méi Wǔniáng sips the noodles, closes her eyes, and says: "Good heavens, how I miss this flavor! I haven't tasted it in two years."

She then looks at the man similarly slurping noodles: "The Sage and I sharing a table to eat noodles—if word got out, no one would believe it."

Hé Lingchuān takes a sip of soup: "How did you come back?"

Two days ago, he suddenly received a secret message from Méi Wǔniáng—she had already returned to Jùlù Harbor.

This "return" is used quite strangely, for Hé Lingchuān never issued her a withdrawal order. With nothing to do, he personally made the trip, regarding it as a seaside outing to clear his mind.

"I have nothing to do." Méi Wǔniáng sighs, "Staying in Mù Capital is boring."

She also understands the principle that prominence invites trouble, and being a spy herself, she did not rely on Yóu Huán's authority to make a show. These years, although she has taken over many businesses and earned much money, she has had others manage them, while she remains hidden behind the scenes.

Unassuming and unhurried, Yóu Huán still appreciates this quality of hers.

"Does Chief Minister Yóu treat you poorly?"

"Good." Méi Wǔniáng picks up a small silver fish to eat, "So that's why it's boring."

"The latest intelligence, all kinds of rumors and gossip from Mù Capital over the past month, are in here." Méi Wǔniáng hands Hé Lingchuān a jade slip, but immediately adds: "The work in Mù Capital is already on track, led by me, with everyone assigned. Even without me, your intelligence network in Mù State will continue to operate normally."

Hé Lingchuān takes the jade slip, smiles faintly, and says: "Forget it—your work in Mù Capital is already complete."

Initially, when Cāng Yàn just founded the state and retook Bàiliè and Dāofēng Harbor, he deeply offended Mù State, which is why he sent Méi Wǔniáng to infiltrate Mù Capital to observe movements and gather intelligence.

Now Mù and Bèi States are locked in fierce combat, the threat to Cāng Yàn greatly reduced, and Méi Wǔniáng has established an intelligence network in Mù Capital for Cāng Yàn—she can now retire with merit.

However, Méi Wǔniáng slipped back secretly; for spies and covert agents, this is defying orders, a serious crime.

No faction likes disobedient agents.

But she herself exists outside Cāng Yàn's official system, a standard fringe figure. Hé Lingchuān punishing her would be meaningless. She also clearly understands this, which is why she dares to appear so openly.

This is what is called: talent is useless if not used well. She has never been a docile, obedient role.

"You won't blame me, will you?" Méi Wǔniáng tilts her head

and looks at him: "Staying in Mù Capital is useless to me—it's truly boring there. Find me a better place to go."

She gathers intelligence for the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu, but does not work entirely for him.

She is a wheat sprout, uncontrolled by anyone.

"If you leave Mù State, does Yóu Huán know?"

"He only knows I went out on business. These two years, I often leave Mù Capital." Méi Wǔniáng shrugs, her identity in Mù Capital is also that of a female merchant—traveling abroad for business is nothing unusual. "But he doesn't know I won't be returning this time."

Hé Lingchuān mentally lights a candle for Yóu Huán.

"Where do you want to go?"

Méi Wǔniáng scoops a mouthful of soup, blows on the heat: "How about Língxū City?"

Hé Lingchuān is not surprised; he had already guessed she would give him a challenge: "That place is full of monsters, far more dangerous than Mù Capital. I myself once got caught up in the capital's turmoil, witnessed the surging undercurrents there. The National Preceptor of Qīngyáng held power in Língxū City for over a hundred years, yet could still capsize there with a single misstep."

He knew best, for the boat of the State Preceptor of Qingyang was the one he had overturned, at least on the surface.

Mei Wuniang blinked: "So, where is the problem?"

He Lingchuan didn't embellish, and that was fine, but once he said it, she became even more enthusiastic.

The mission in Mu State had lost its challenge, becoming dull and routine. But if her life lacked turbulence and intrigue, how dull would it be?

"Alright." Since she clearly knew there were tigers in the mountain yet headed straight for Tiger Mountain, He Lingchuan didn't stop her. After all, she herself was a female Bodhisattva who devoured people without spitting out bones, "I can arrange your identity and route to Lingxu City, but your face has already been seen by many notables in Mu Du, hasn't it?"

Mei Wuniang nodded: "Many people in the Mu State palace have seen me, as have Huan You's allies and enemies."