Chapter 337: Flying Dragon in the Heavens

"Jiang Miss."

"Yao Miss."

Li Rui walked to the door and saw two exquisite maidens standing there, fresh and lively.

"It really is Senior Li."

Jiang Yan's eyes sparkled with delight: "Just now, I heard Sister Yao say she saw Senior Li in the imperial palace—I didn't believe it, but now you've truly come to the capital."

Li Rui smiled and nodded.

"I was escorting the Third Princess of Wu State and happened to arrive in the capital by chance."

Jiang Yan blinked her large eyes, studying Li Rui.

Her heart startled.

"Nine Five, Flying Dragon in the Heavens, Auspicious for the Noble."

To her eyes now, Li Rui was no longer the reserved man of before—he had become a divine dragon soaring through the nine heavens, overwhelming her with boundless pressure.

Too fast.

The speed at which Li Rui's destiny pattern had changed utterly surpassed her imagination: from the initial "Hidden Dragon, Do Not Act" to now "Flying Dragon in the Heavens," his destiny had fully matured in barely more than a decade.

What ordinary people took a hundred years to walk, Li Rui had covered in ten.

Ten times faster.

How could she not be astonished?

Li Rui's expression subtly shifted.

As expected.

His destiny pattern had changed again.

Jiang Yan steadied her composure, finally understanding why her father always held Li Rui in such high regard—extraordinary people must be dealt with by extraordinary means.

Li Rui was a true genius.

Even after decades of stagnation, nothing could halt his rise to greatness.

A remarkable man!

As Jiang Yan lost herself in thought,

Yao Xue smiled sweetly and spoke: "Senior Li, we've finally met again."

She had been Li Rui's pen pal for many years.

Since their parting in Qinghe, they had never seen each other again, yet their letters had never ceased.

"Did you enjoy the books I sent you, Senior Li?"

She called him "Senior Li," clearly aware he had become a guest minister of the Wenxian Tower.

Li Rui: "Yao Miss, it's been a long time. Those books were very useful to me."

As for Yao Xue and Jiang Yan appearing together, he felt no surprise at all—Jiang Lin was Deputy Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, and Gu Changsheng was its Director; one was his own father, the other his own master's junior, so it was perfectly natural they knew each other.

Yao Xue wore a pale yellow long dress, playful and lively; she stood with her hands behind her back, two faint dimples on her cheeks:

"Senior Li, how long do you plan to stay in the capital?"

Li Rui sighed: "Duty calls—I'll likely return to Qinghe in three or five days."

"That's truly a pity—the capital has many fine places."

"Indeed, a pity."

Yao Xue suddenly proposed:

"The Eastern Market has plenty of fun spots, Little Sister Jiang—why don't we take Senior Li for a stroll?"

Jiang Yan nodded: "Sister Yao is right. Senior Li has come to the capital, and Father is away—we should properly fulfill our duty as hosts."

Li Rui nodded, gladly accepting: "Then I'm in your debt."

Immediately,

Li Rui took on the role of coachman, driving the carriage with the two girls toward the Eastern Market.

They passed through the wide streets and soon arrived at the Eastern Market.

It was the hour of Shen.

The busiest time of day—the streets were packed with people.

The sudden appearance of two stunning maidens drew many glances.

Li Rui was promptly dismissed as the coachman.

Li Rui didn't mind at all.

Coachman? Good.

Wasn't he just a coachman?

The capital was a place teeming with hidden talents and beauties; Jiang Yan and Yao Xue's arrival caused no uproar like in novels, no arrogant young ruffians came to harass them, no clichéd hero-rescues-beauty scene.

They walked, they browsed—no one paid them any attention.

At most, they could haggle a little easier.

"Senior Li, these Miaokong Pills are unique to the capital—you'll find them useful."

"Shopkeeper, bring one bottle."

"Senior Li, these boots are excellent—made from black You Deer hide. Take a pair."

Li Rui's entire outfit was nearly outfitted by the two girls.

'Is this what it feels like to live off a woman's wealth??'

He suddenly felt a pang of understanding toward Liu Tong.

Unconsciously,

A fragrant scent reached his nose—he looked up and saw a large sign above him: "Tianxiang Fang."

The famed cosmetics shop.

He glanced at the sky—it was nearly dusk.

Li Rui: "I've long heard of Tianxiang Fang's cosmetics—I've heard of them for years but never had the chance to visit. Since you two accompanied me here, let this be my thanks."

The two girls wanted to refuse.

But when Li Rui offered a gift, he never gave anyone room to refuse.

He strode straight into Tianxiang Fang.

Seeing this, the two girls had no choice but to follow him in.

Inside Tianxiang Fang, nearly everyone was young men and women; Li Rui, an old man accompanied by two breathtaking maidens, was an oddity, drawing quiet whispers.

Li Rui didn't care.

He told Jiang Yan and Yao Xue: "I don't understand cosmetics—you choose for me."

Then he stepped aside, giving them ample time to select.

As the two girls chose cosmetics,

He silently moved through the crowd toward the entrance to Tianxiang Fang's back courtyard.

Just as he reached the doorway,

A burly man with a full beard blocked his path.

"No outsiders allowed in the back courtyard. Leave at once." A menacing aura surged forth.

Li Rui wasn't angered—he merely smiled slightly, and his jade token slipped slightly into view from his waist.

When the man saw the token,

His expression changed instantly; his body subtly shifted aside.

"Please."

Li Rui's smile widened.

He had guessed right.

Since the day Gu Changsheng first approached him, he had been subtly guiding Li Rui toward Tianxiang Fang.

That day, Gu Changsheng had spoken at length, seemingly aimlessly.

But Li Rui had keenly caught the hidden message within those words—Tianxiang Fang.

Every word, every phrase, every hint—none were random!

Gu Changsheng was no ordinary man; his words carried meaning. Besides, why would an eighty-year-old elder care about a cosmetics shop?

He didn't believe Gu Changsheng was a man who spoke nonsense.

The only possibility:

Gu Changsheng had deliberately steered him toward Tianxiang Fang.

He had visited Tianxiang Fang before, which allowed him to sense its uniqueness—he had quietly kept watch, and later, upon joining the Shadow Guards, obtained the token.

Everything had been arranged as if by design.

It was meant to draw him here.

But he had come.

Not because he was led here—but because he chose to come.

That distinction mattered greatly.

The back courtyard of Tianxiang Fang looked no different from any ordinary shop's rear yard. The bearded man led Li Rui into an unremarkable room and pushed open the door.

He saw the man lift a floor tile.

A dark, gaping hole appeared before Li Rui.

Li Rui raised an eyebrow slightly.

He stepped Haobuyouyu into the tunnel.

It began narrow, barely wide enough for one person to pass, then gradually widened until three could walk side by side.

Faint flickers of firelight appeared ahead.

A few breaths later.

The space opened suddenly before him.

Before Li Rui stood a bright, opulent chamber, where two people sat in the center.

Both were familiar faces.

One was Gu Changsheng, the other Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin, seeing Li Rui appear, smirked at Gu Changsheng: "I told you—Old Brother Li would come."

Gu Changsheng quickly waved his hands.

"Watch your words—I never said a word against Old Brother Li."

Li Rui's expression remained calm: "Lord Gu, Young Brother Jiang, we meet again."

Saying this,

he casually sat down on the vacant stone bench between them.

Jiang Lin chuckled: "Old Brother Li, I made it clear from the start—Lord Gu insisted on testing you. I had complete faith in you, and I truly had business elsewhere—no deception intended."

Gu Changsheng realized he'd been betrayed by Jiang Lin.

He let out a dry laugh.

Then he pursed his lips and pulled another elixir from his sleeve.

"Old Brother Li, I'm an honest man."

Li Rui looked and broke into a wide smile: "Lord Gu, we're family—why so formal?"

His words were polite, but his hands were anything but.

He swiftly tucked the elixir into his robe.

Jiang Lin: "Old Brother Li has received His Majesty's approval and become a Mountain Seeker?"

Li Rui nodded.

"I did not fail the task."

These two had gone to great lengths to make him a Mountain Seeker of the Shadow Guard.

He even suspected his arrival in Jingcheng was their doing.

First, Gu Changsheng came to him; then came the martial examination, the Nine Yin Jiao in the training ground bearing Gu Changsheng's qi signature, prompting him to act—so he made himself conspicuous, catching the Emperor's attention, and earned his Shadow Guard status.

Every step linked perfectly.

Almost each stage was a test—if he had failed even once, he could never now sit here laughing with them.

Since he earned his place through merit, taking this elixir brought him no guilt.

Jiang Lin studied Li Rui beside him.

He knew well Li Rui's strength; Li Rui's arrival here meant he demanded an explanation.

"Old Brother Li, this was all my idea—Brother Gu was only helping me. Blame me, not him."

Li Rui said nothing, simply waited.

Jiang Lin continued: "Old Brother Li, you're a man of great ability—I need your help."

"Help?"

Jiang Lin nodded: "I want you to kill someone."

Li Rui was startled.

"Who?"

"An Exiled Immortal."

"Where?"

"I don't know," Jiang Lin shook his head, a rare look of melancholy crossing his face. "The Mountain Seekers have certain privileges—I hope you can help me find him."

Jiang Lin's expression grew heavier than ever, even unusually tense:

"If you help me, I will repay you with everything I have."

At that moment, Gu Changsheng's gaze also settled on Li Rui.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

Yet Li Rui suddenly smiled carefree:

"That's it?"

Now it was Jiang Lin's turn to freeze.

Li Rui spoke with easy ease:

"It's just killing someone—just say it outright. With us two, you didn't need all these roundabout steps."

(End of Chapter)