Chapter 207: Finally Discovered

At dawn, few people were on the streets, the light was dim, and a faint mist seemed to linger in the air.

A group emerged from the mist; the soldiers at the front held signs reading "Silence" and "Make Way," accompanied by the clanging of gongs and chanting.

This mode of procession is called "Lu Bu."

It is an ancient ritual originally reserved only for emperors, but as time passed and dynasties changed, this ceremony was also delegated downward, known as the "Small Carriage Lu Bu."

Now, officials of the Third Rank and above, as well as those of prince level, may also use it.

Naturally, the scale is much reduced; three hundred people is the limit, while a hundred or so is normal.

But no matter how small the scale, anyone who travels using the "Lu Bu" method is undoubtedly a noble person.

Seeing such a procession, let alone ordinary people who would view it as encountering ghosts, even martial artists are unwilling to approach.

Zhou Qingqing sat in the paper sedan chair, looking through the window at the guards and maids surrounding her, and at the envious glances occasionally cast from afar; she sighed lightly and said:

"For an ordinary woman, the most glorious and proud moment of life is nothing more than this. It is just a pity that it is fake."

Tears glistened in the woman's eyes; her face held both longing and loss.

Li Lin did not reply... because this was not his responsibility.

If Huang Qi or Hong Luan had said this, he might have pondered for a moment whether it could be done; but for Zhou Qingqing to say it... it had nothing to do with him.

Zhou Qingqing instinctively turned her head to glance at Li Lin; seeing him as indifferent as water, she lost all thought, and merely instinctively stroked her son's head.

On the other side, Ji Feng and An Xin had already made contact.

At this moment, both stood on the roof of the highest inn in the city, looking around while chatting casually.

"I did not expect your Tian Yi Sect to be interested in such news," Ji Feng said with a smile, his face still somewhat pale.

An Xin looked at the surroundings and said, "We had no prior contact, so naturally we did not believe it nor were we interested; now that we have made contact, let it be."

"You have encountered immortals?"

"No, we merely encountered a cultivation family."

"The Ding family?"

An Xin smiled and said, "To be honest, the Ding family is quite ordinary; everyone knows they have been trying to cultivate for a hundred years, yet who truly looks up to them?"

Ji Feng could not help but laugh heartily.

Because An Xin spoke the truth.

The Ding family is indeed considered a century-old family, but the problem is... they have truly achieved nothing.

Their most famous thing is actually the Dual Cultivation Art!

Then comes the protective barrier powder, and only lastly is the "cultivation" label they claim for themselves.

After laughing, Ji Feng asked again, "Then who is the cultivation figure you encountered...?"

"The Li family."

Ji Feng paused, asking, "Which Li family?"

"The Li family related to cultivation, which other one is there!"

Ji Feng could not help but inhale sharply: "Impossible, did the Jin Commandery Li family not disappear decades ago?"

"A centipede, even when dead, does not stiffen; moreover, with such a large family, there will surely be a legacy left behind."

Ji Feng nodded lightly.

Our Qingcheng Sect is not considered a great sect, but truly speaking, it has a history of two or three hundred years; how much more so a true great clan, which certainly would not perish so quickly.

"How did it feel to make contact with the Li family?"

An Xin pondered for a moment and said, "I can only say, as expected of one of the former Three Great Families; the one I know truly deserves the title of noble young master."

"Such a high evaluation?"

"When you meet him and associate with him for a while, you will understand; that person is truly unique."

Ji Feng pondered slightly, then said, "Speaking of unique young men, I have indeed seen one these past few days; he looks truly..."

Just as he was about to continue speaking, he heard a strange sound coming from afar.

"Noble person traveling, commoners make way."

Following that was the clanging sound of bronze gongs.

Both turned their gazes to look.

Across two streets, they saw a procession moving forward in the dim environment, with faint mist swirling around.

"So early and a noble person is out?" An Xin looked at that place in disbelief: "Is today some special day?"

Ji Feng also shook his head: "I do not know."

The two watched for a while, then shifted their gaze.

Commoners do not fight officials... and people of the Jianghu also dislike fighting officials, especially a procession with such an obviously high-ranking official's demeanor; there is no guarantee that some people are not hidden nearby to protect the noble person in the sedan chair.

This procession continued forward, heading toward the city gate.

They stopped briefly at the city gate, then all went out.

At this moment, An Xin turned his head back again, looking at the place where that Lu Bu procession disappeared; he felt there was something wrong, yet he could not tell what.

He simply could not see it.

Ji Feng felt the same.

They remained on the roof, waiting for their own people to continue searching Yuecheng.

Time quickly reached noon.

They still had not found that "Flower Queen" and her only son within the city.

An Xin looked at the scorching sun hanging overhead and said, "It is already noon; shall we go eat a bowl of rice noodles? I will treat."

"Rice noodles?"

"Add an extra plate of white-cut chicken."

"Agreed."

As the two were about to descend from the roof, a young man wearing Tianyi Gate attire jumped down.

"Eldest Senior Brother, do we have new findings?"

"Found that courtesan?" An Xin asked.

The young man shook his head: "No, it was Little Junior Sister who discovered some clues."

"What?"

The man spread his hand; inside was a white sheet of paper, but strange patterns seemed to be on it, and the paper was also stained with some green-gray ash.

"What is this?"

The young man said: "Little Junior Sister said this is debris left by a paper man?"

"Correct!"

Tianyi Gate's Little Junior Sister has learned Thunder Arts and has now entered the path of Paper Man Crafting; she is considered an inner sect disciple highly valued by Tianyi Gate.

Paper man debris?

An Xin asked: "Where was it found?"

"On that street over there." The young man pointed forward.

Hmm?

At this moment, both An Xin and Ji Feng felt something was amiss.

The young man continued: "Moreover, at dawn, Little Junior Sister smelled the scent of burning talisman paper, which led straight out of the city."

At this moment, a flash of inspiration struck An Xin's mind.

"The Small Processional Carriage!"

An Xin and Ji Feng shouted simultaneously.

"Pursue!"

An Xin said: "You notify everyone immediately to pursue toward Chengxi; I will leave markers along the way and catch up with you right away."

Meanwhile, Ji Feng flipped down from the inn, crossed the main hall, returned to his room, and said: "Wife, notify all disciples immediately to depart westward. I have spotted the target; I will pursue first."

"Good!"

Having said this, Ji Feng descended the stairs and arrived at the main hall, but here he slowed his pace, appearing as usual.

Only after walking several dozen zhang outside the inn did he begin using the Lightness Art to travel quickly.

Even so, behind him, many other martial artists from the Jianghu quietly followed.

(End of this chapter)