Chapter 274: This Point Is Not at All Shenmo Xingzou!

After purifying Shi Zhenhai, killing the snake demon, and completing the task, Tang Luo and the three others naturally finished their mission.

The reward for completing the task was also significantly increased.

For Tang Luo, there was also the power of merit.

He pondered that, by accumulating a bit more, a single healing session could restore his injuries to a higher level.

Jin Gang said: "It's not that we can take advantage of our ability to return and go around indulging."

When Tang Luo and the others accepted the task earlier, information had appeared, and the original "can return" notice had vanished without a trace.

Now that the task is completed, Tang Luo and the others have regained the hint that they can return.

That is to say, if Tang Luo and the others take on another task, they cannot return unless they complete it.

Moreover, taking on this task has nothing to do with the original intention of Shenmo Xingzou.

After delving deeply into certain matters, one naturally accepts the task and cannot refuse.

The situation of "since I can return immediately, I might as well seek wealth in danger, worst case I return and stand invincible" is impossible to occur.

The next day.

Riding in the carriage prepared by the Wang family, joining the convoy that the Wang family happened to be departing—or actually not so happen to be departing—Tang Luo and the three, along with one cat, headed toward Zhongdu.

The mess at the garrison was naturally to be handled by the Wang family and the repentant Shi Zhenhai.

How they would finally resolve it was not within Tang Luo and the others' concern.

The task was completed, merit was also gained somewhat, and spending this day in Ancheng could be called perfect.

After traveling together for a while, Tang Luo and the others parted ways with the convoy, and the journey ahead remained equally calm and peaceful.

They encountered nothing, no bandits blocked the road, no demons or monsters appeared, and it was so peaceful it didn't seem like they were in a task world.

"What a prosperous capital city."

As time passed, Tang Luo and the others finally set foot in the center of Dayou, known as Zhongdu.

The city walls of Zhongdu in Dayou were not as tall and grand as those of Ancheng, but its prosperity far surpassed.

Zhongdu is vast in scale, strictly laid out, overall rectangular, with twelve gates on four sides, internal rivers and waterways, and lakes.

The resident population exceeds one million, and with the floating population, it totals over two million people gathering in this prosperous capital.

If one only looked at Zhongdu, they would not see that Dayou is on the verge of collapse, but only see the prosperous era of a dynasty.

"Such a large Zhongdu, how am I to find Kong Xuan and the others?" Jin Gang asked, walking down the street, gazing out at the crowds like woven threads.

The cries of street vendors, the silk and bamboo music from roadside taverns, the "striking of the astonishment block" from storytellers in tea houses—none failed to speak of this being a bustling human world.

It made one feel as if they had wandered into the Along the River During the Qingming Festival.

However, Jin Gang was obviously a burn-the-lute-and-boil-the-crane type, with no sense of emotion, instead disliking Zhongdu for being too prosperous, thinking it would not be easy to meet up with Kong Xuan and the others.

There are no mobile phones here.

Tang Yuhan, on the other hand, was enjoying the prosperity; even as a Shenmo Xingzou, being able to walk in such a prosperous ancient capital was a rare opportunity.

Hearing Jin Gang's words, she said: "You forgot?"

"Ah?" Jin Gang slapped his head hard, startling nearby pedestrians into unconsciously distancing themselves from this fierce man, "It seems we said something about how to contact after arriving in Zhongdu?"

Even if others couldn't think of it, Kong Ming would surely have told Tang Luo and the others how to meet up after arriving in Zhongdu.

The method is also very simple: go to the most luxurious inn in Zhongdu, tell the owner you're looking for "Kong Xuan," and that's it.

Tang Yuhan helped Jin Gang recall, and Jin Gang then suddenly realized: "I forgot." He then walked to the roadside stall, bought several strings of candied haws, and incidentally inquired where the most luxurious inn in Zhongdu was located.

Hmm, it should be the other way around—buying candied haws was just incidental.

Soon, Jin Gang obtained the information he wanted: the best place to eat in Zhongdu is called "Lao Yang Chu," said to be an inn opened by a former imperial chef.

Ordinary people basically can't eat there, but it's not considered the most luxurious.

The most luxurious, most expensive inn is named Zhai Xing Lou.

Leaving aside the taste, just looking at the main building's height, far surpassing surrounding structures, one knows this inn is extraordinary.

There are many legends about Zhai Xing Lou—what the behind-the-scenes big boss is none other than the current emperor, or at least a member of the imperial family if not the emperor himself.

There are tales of arrogant young masters from noble families causing trouble at Zhai Xing Lou and being thrown out, then coming the next day with bowed heads to apologize.

A manager and innkeeper chatting and laughing with XX adult.

Anyway, it's all just various after-dinner tea and meal gossip—if Jin Gang hadn't left, the vendor could have talked to him for a whole day and night.

Moreover, Zhai Xing Lou is not merely a simple inn; it is also a place of romance and pleasure.

After all, in ancient times this was legal and could become a beautiful tale—limited to the kind of beautiful tale between talented scholars and beautiful ladies.

Bringing one's mother tiger from home here, finally running away with a pair of dark circles under the eyes, does not belong to this category.

A mere eating house, wanting to become Zhongdu's most luxurious "inn" is impossible.

Zhai Xing Lou is located on the edge of Yuehu Lake in Zhongdu, with pleasure boats and painted barges scattered around.

This layout is somewhat similar to the Fengyun Di of Ancheng.

"Are you sure this is Zhai Xing Lou?" Tang Yuhan asked, holding the candied haws Jin Gang bought.

Less icy beauty, more liveliness added.

But speaking honestly, she had no interest in eating this, merely holding it to give Jin Gang face.

What rich young lady, upon seeing "commoner food," is amazed to heaven, being invited by the protagonist to eat and instantly developing affection?

Such a thing does not exist—what wealthy person doesn't have something they want to eat? Their happiness is beyond ordinary imagination.

"Probably, anyway, the biggest and most luxurious den of squandering gold is there. Even if not, going to see it is still good." Jin Gang laughed, "Such a place might just have fox spirits and the like—also counts as a basic trope."

Things like courtesan beauties or madams being demons, or some sect's female disciples refining their hearts in the mortal world, are also fairly standard tropes.

"This place, finding the owner isn't that easy, is it?" Tang Yuhan looked at Jin Gang's male smile, suspecting this guy wanted to use public affairs for private gain.

Besides, the monk Xuanzang beside them is again a "fake monk" who doesn't avoid cold or heat, the kind who eats meat in big mouthfuls.

One can imagine they might just directly move in.

Tang Yuhan still needed to find another place… she was a woman, and even if she didn't reject it, she couldn't possibly like that kind of place.

"Why not dress as a man?" Tang Luo suddenly said, seeing Tang Yuhan's concerns, and sincerely suggested.

Tang Yuhan glanced at Tang Luo somewhat speechlessly; the suggestion was sincere, but its purpose and starting point were just too terrible.

Purely thought it was quite fun.

After getting along for so long, Tang Yuhan still had some understanding of this Master Xuanzang.

If he were truly regarded as a genuine enlightened monk, one might even have nowhere to cry.

Tang Yuhan certainly did not cross-dress as a man; although she discarded her weapons before entering the city—otherwise she couldn't get in—she could still be considered dressed in military attire.

Her bearing was rather imposing, and she wouldn't be approached by some clueless person for teasing.

Most importantly, the Vajra beside her was clearly someone not to be provoked at a glance.

Along the way, they had indeed encountered frivolous young nobles loitering on the street; upon seeing Tang Yuhan, their eyes lit up immediately.

Then, seeing the Vajra beside her with a fierce grin and a "come on if you dare" expression, their eyes dimmed instantly.

Can't afford to provoke, can't afford to provoke.

Nowadays, Dayou is not what it used to be; cultivators wandering the mortal world, those who appear extraordinary, might truly be extraordinary.

Although it was only afternoon, the area near Zhai Xing Lou was already unusually lively.

As they approached, faint sounds of unrestrained laughter could be heard.

Outside the open doors of Zhai Xing Lou, several strong and sturdy guards stood.

"These few have even more vigorous qi and blood than the city gate guards," Tang Yuhan whispered.

"Zhongdu is so prosperous, there must be plenty of parasitic worms," Tang Luo chuckled, his tone gloomy.

"Master, are you planning to liberate them all?" Tang Yuhan said with a hint of persuasion.

Can't liberate recklessly; after all, Zhongdu is the central region of Dayou. Random liberation, if it truly caused Dayou to collapse, would be disastrous.

Tang Yuhan is not someone without ties in the real world, nor does she wish to remain forever in this mission world.

Moreover, she has heard of gods and demons walking the earth to avoid missions, trying every means to stay in the mission world.

Their final fate can be described as extremely disastrous.

"Don't worry," Tang Luo said, "the poor monk is not one who cannot distinguish priorities; of course, it's impossible to liberate them all."

"Cough." Tang Yuhan coughed once, and the result was merely not "liberating all"?

Master, your sense of priority really differs from ordinary people!

The three entered the wine tower; inside Zhai Xing Lou, the one greeting guests at the door was not a waiter.

But rather a series of beauties, making it hard to tell whether these were service-providing young ladies or already ashore madams who rarely provide services anymore.

"Are you three visiting my Zhai Xing Lou for the first time?" a woman with a slightly round face and a plump lower body walked over to greet.

The Vajra's look of looking around left and right made it obvious at a glance that this was his first time.

Yet he showed no panic, merely appearing enthusiastic, which also revealed he was an experienced hand.

"We're here to find someone," the Vajra said, of course needing to attend to business first.

"I don't know which young lady you three wish to find?" the plump woman asked with a smile.

"Not a young lady, but a man," the Vajra said, "Have you heard of Kong Xuan?"

The woman froze, then laughed, saying: "What the guest says—throughout Zhongdu, who doesn't know the great name of Mr. Kong Xuan?"

"That impressive?" the Vajra froze.

I never expected Kong Xuan (Kong Ming) to have already made such a great name in Zhongdu.

Scholars are just different, huh.

"Hehe," the woman laughed, her laugh carrying a sense of shared honor, "If you three are here to find Mr. Kong, then you've come too late; Mr. Kong did stay here for a while, but now he's already left."

"Where is he then?" the Vajra asked.

It turned out they were made to come to this most luxurious wine tower for no other reason than that Kong Ming had already made a name in Zhongdu, and asking around here could lead to finding him.

This method clearly showed great confidence in oneself.

"Is this poem written by Mr. Kong?" Tang Luo suddenly asked, looking at a poem on the screen not far away.

The Vajra's gaze shifted over, and he couldn't help but exclaim: "Damn!"

That poem was none other than Su Shi's "Water Melody Ode: When Will the Bright Moon Appear?" which carries the praise: "Since Dongpo's 'Water Melody Ode' appeared, my verses are all obsolete," and "a work of rising inspiration, lofty for all ages."

No wonder this fellow has such great fame in Zhongdu!

The Vajra swore he had never seen a god or demon walking the earth behave in such a shameless way.

What happened to the promise of a pair of iron fists conquering the world? Are we gods and demons walking the earth not supposed to live by martial prowess?

Actually copying poems and lyrics?

This is utterly not like a god or demon walking the earth!