Love & Redemption
Chapter 65 - 22: The Gao Family’s Daughter

Chapter 65: Chapter 22: The Gao Family’s Daughter

This text generally updates twice a day. Occasionally there will be three to four updates. This is to clarify.

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Just as Ruo Yu had said, Zhongli City was indeed a large city, and its prosperity and style were incomparable to the likes of Lutai Town and Wangxian Town encountered earlier. Just looking at those lofty city towers was to witness magnificence, all built from huge blocks of bluestone. A spacious boulevard stretched out from behind the city gate, flanked by various residential structures, their eaves arching into the air like unfolding wings.

The city was bustling with throngs of people, presenting a distinct scene of worldly hustle and bustle. Linglong and Zhong Minyan were seeing such a sight for the first time; everything was novel, and everything interested them. They couldn’t stay still, and had long since run off, only for Ruo Yu to spend half the day digging them out from a crowd watching street performances.

"That person is so skilled! What kind of martial arts is he practicing?" Linglong was still excited, pointing at the performer ascending the blade mountain and repeatedly asking Ruo Yu.

Ruo Yu just smiled, "It’s merely juggling, nothing genuine."

"That’s not entirely true," Zhong Minyan, stroking his chin, watched the man scale the blade mountain intently, seeing the knives glisten with a cold light—not seeming fake at all, "Master said there are many abnormal people among commoners, and here indeed lies one. If we can learn such fearlessness of blades and spears, it surely would be greatly beneficial."

Ruo Yu simply smiled wryly, which even Yu Sifeng, standing next to him, joined in with a chuckle. By coincidence, the troupe of performers was wrapping up their act, and the lean man who had climbed the blade mountain was clanging his gong—both to collect money and to sell his so-called traditional family remedies, like the Vajra Pill.

Zhong Minyan and Linglong took it for truth, and one of them paid a sum of money to buy quite a few, while inquiring with the man about the secret to being impervious to blades, discussing it animatedly.

Yu Sifeng turned his head and suddenly noticed Xuanji standing in front of a two-story residential building, staring blankly at its soaring eaves. She had changed into a white spring garment that day, with silver embroidery, and had swept her hair diagonally into a bun at the back of her head, where a pair of tender yellow beaded flowers had been tucked in. This made her complexion appear even more translucently white, and her beauty outshone the flowers. Passersby couldn’t help but stop and look back at her, but unfortunately, she was utterly unaware of her own beauty.

"What are you looking at?" Yu Sifeng walked over and asked her softly.

Xuanji came back to her senses, playing with the braid hanging over her chest, "I feel like... I’ve seen this kind of house before."

Those upturned eaves seemed as though there should be several more levels extending layer upon layer, cresting like green waves. Copper wind chimes hung underneath them, which would make a clear, ringing sound when the wind blew. The Chao Feng Beasts crouched on the eaves with their mouths wide open, would occasionally get tired and sneak down to be lazy.

For some reason, she found this sight familiar, yet couldn’t remember where she had seen it before.

She probably didn’t realize how charming her deeply thoughtful expression was, and someone nearby with ill intentions soon sought the opportunity to start a conversation.

"Miss, is this your first time visiting Zhongli City?" As expected, someone approached, and when Xuanji turned her head, she saw a young man in white, likely around twenty years old, with clear and handsome features. His hands held a fan despite the cold weather, projecting an image of dashing elegance as he smiled at her.

She blinked innocently, "Yes... Ah."

Seeing her willingness to engage, the man’s face lit up with joy, and he snapped his fan closed before bowing, "In that case, may I have the honor to guide and show you around, Miss? Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I am..."

Before he could finish, Xuanji interrupted with a furrowed brow, "Do I know you?"

The man was taken aback, "Well... We could just..."

"So you don’t know me either." Xuanji looked at him steadily, "Then... do you need something from me?"

"Uh... Miss..."

He was dumbstruck as Xuanji simply turned and walked away, without sparing him another glance. As a scion accustomed to wandering the floral boulevards of the city, unaccustomed to being snubbed by women, he hurried after her, pleading, "Please wait, Miss, I am sincere..."

"Oh, so you did that on purpose?" A terrifying Shura mask appeared in his line of sight, half crying and half smiling, indescribably eerie. The man was startled and stumbled back several steps, only to bump into someone else. Turning around, he saw a handsome face smirking at him, it was none other than Zhong Minyan.

"Did you intentionally plan to do something to my little junior sister?" Zhong Minyan toyed with the Vajra Strongman Pills he had just purchased, tossing them back and forth in his hand, while Linglong, standing beside him, crossed her arms and glared at the man menacingly.

Seeing that she was accompanied by such bizarre and fiercely-looking companions, the man thought it best to just touch his nose and remain silent. Glancing at his entourage who were said to be highly skilled in martial arts, they were all squeezed outside, blocked by Ruo Yu with just one hand, unable to get through at all.

He could only make a bow with his hands clasped in front and said anxiously, "I am Fang Yizhen from Zhongli City, and I pay my respect to all the valiant heroes here."

Upon hearing him introduce himself, the onlookers who were enjoying the commotion burst into an uproar, with some busybodies exclaiming, "So it’s the second son of Mr. Fang! No wonder he’s accosting the young lady in the street..."

Fang Yizhen’s face turned red then green, and he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into and never come out. Ruo Yu, being rather composed, handed over the followers to Zhong Minyan and the others to stop them, stepping forward to make a bow, and said politely, "Since Young Master Fang comes from a prestigious family and has treated us with such politeness and deference, we would be ungracious to decline. Thus, please lead the way, Young Master, and allow us to appreciate the scenery of Zhongli."

He had decided to take advantage of the situation by brazenly attaching themselves to this wealthy young master. Since this man liked to take the lead in flattering young girls, why not let him flatter to his heart’s content?

Indeed, Fang Yizhen’s face turned more bitter than a bitter gourd. He was reluctant to agree but dared not refuse and could only nod his head and bow, saying, "Then... please follow me..."

Indeed, a scion of the wealthy was a scion of the wealthy; even the carriage he rode in gave off an air of extravagant arrogance from top to bottom. One carriage comfortably accommodated all six of them.

Linglong and Xuanji didn’t care about such matters, leaving the unpleasant tasks like threats and pleasantries to the men, while they simply helped themselves to the fresh fruits and pastries on the small table. Linglong seemed to know her way around perfectly, pouring herself a drink from the large white porcelain teapot nearby.

Fang Yizhen could only lament in his heart that he had inexplicably provoked a band of demons, eating and drinking at his expense, and he didn’t dare utter a word of objection.

Ruo Yu noticed his anxious expression and chuckled, "Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Fang. We are immensely grateful. Could you please show us the way, where are we headed now?"

Fang Yizhen saw that though he wore a frightening mask, his words were gentle and he seemed to bear no ill will, which made him somewhat relieved, saying, "The month of February is approaching, and those who come to Zhongli City during this time are here to pray for blessings at the Gao’s Ancestral Hall. It is located by the mountain and beside the water, offering the finest views."

Linglong, hearing of a place by the mountain and beside the water, asked, "Is it near Hongze Lake?"

Fang Yizhen, captivated by her vibrant and outstanding beauty, couldn’t help but be charmed and responded with a smile, "The young lady is correct, truly knowledgeable and well-informed."

Linglong, unaware that he was trying to flatter her with old tricks of seduction, took the compliment at face value and beamed with pride.

Yu Sifeng suddenly asked, "I’ve heard that the deity worshiped at Gao’s Ancestral Hall is not an imaginary Heavenly God, but a real immortal. Is that true?"

Fang Yizhen nodded and said, "This hero truly understands. The Gao’s Ancestral Hall indeed worships a lady, surnamed Gao. People in the city facing tribulations only need to sincerely pray at the temple, and often by the next day, their wishes come true, so the temple’s incense offerings never cease. People from a thousand miles around hear of these miracles and come, attracted by the reputation. Since this lady surnamed Gao’s birthday is in February, every year at this time, Zhongli City will gather for a grand offering ceremony."

Ruo Yu, curious, asked, "Why not worship on her death anniversary? Could it really be that every place has its own customs?"

Having conversed this much with them, Fang Yizhen gradually felt less afraid and smiled, "The hero is unaware, the lady surnamed Gao has not ascended to immortality yet; she simply resides on Gao Mountain. During the grand offering ceremony in February every year, they also select a few young men with a predestined connection to serve her!"

"Wow, that must be quite the enjoyment..." Linglong’s words were only half-spoken when she quickly swallowed them back. She had meant to say that the female immortal invited several young men over each year, truly enjoying "male" fortune, but discussing such things in a place where beliefs were strong could be offensive, so she hurriedly stopped herself.

Ruo Yu and Yu Sifeng exchanged a glance, clearly, they too had never heard of an "immortal" inviting people to serve them. This spectacle was something they definitely wanted to see. (To be continued. If you wish to learn what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com. The story continues with more Chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)