Chapter 159: Omnipresent
Liu Sheng first had the cloud sedan take Lu Senior Brother Shen to Tongfu Inn.
Lu Senior Brother Shen’s classmate had already received the message and was waiting at the inn’s entrance.
He was a gaunt, tall, and handsome young man, forming a stark contrast to Lu Senior Brother Shen; his simple robe suggested his family background was likely similar to Lu Senior Brother’s.
As Lu Shen stepped out of the sedan, he called out, “Senior Apprentice Brother Zhang!”
“Junior Brother Lu, you’re finally here!” The young man directly stepped forward and gave Lu Shen a hug, showing how close their relationship was.
Only then did Liu Sheng realize that this young man was actually older than Lu Shen; indeed, Lu Senior Brother looked older than his age.
“Oh, right, Junior Sister Liu.” Lu Shen remembered something, turned his head, and spoke to Liu Sheng through the lifted curtain, “Thank you for giving me a ride. Take this Lingtual.”
He took out several Lingtual and held them up high, offering them to Liu Sheng.
Liu Sheng shook her head and said, “No need, it was just on the way.”
She emphasized that she wasn’t as short on money now.
That Senior Apprentice Brother Zhang then noticed Liu Sheng, who was half-visible in the cloud sedan. His eyes lit up, and while looking at Liu Sheng, he asked Lu Shen, “Junior Brother Lu, who is this?”
“Apologies, I haven’t had a chance to introduce you. This is my Junior Sister from Huaishan Training, Junior Sister Liu Sheng.”
Lu Shen was recommended into Huaishan Training by his academy teachers; otherwise, given his family background, how could he participate in the expensive Huaishan Training?
Therefore, his trip to Huai Mountain was no secret among his academy classmates.
As he spoke, he then introduced to Liu Sheng, “This is my Senior Brother from Luming Academy, Zhang Huaiyi.”
“Hello, Junior Sister Liu.” Zhang Huaiyi naturally addressed her as Junior Sister.
“Greetings, Senior Apprentice Brother Zhang.” Liu Sheng replied politely.
“Where does Junior Sister Liu plan to stay?” Zhang Huaiyi asked. Lu Shen was surprised that his Senior Brother was so concerned about his Junior Sister. He thought it was a case of loving the house and its crow, and couldn’t help but feel a little touched.
“I’m with my friend. She said it’s Yunxian Residence nearby,” Liu Sheng said indifferently.
Upon hearing “Yunxian Residence,” Zhang Huaiyi silently withdrew his subsequent offer to stay together at Tongfu, giving a few dry laughs: “Yunxian Residence is good.”
He also didn’t say anything about asking for Liu Sheng’s spirit message or similar remarks.
“Well, then I’ll be going. Lu Senior Brother, Senior Apprentice Brother Zhang, take care.”
Liu Sheng didn’t say much else, lowered the curtain, and the cloud sedan took off, flying towards Yunxian Residence.
Zhang Huaiyi watched the cloud sedan drift away, letting out a long sigh.
Lu Shen asked, puzzled, “Senior Apprentice Brother Zhang, what’s wrong?”
“Being able to stay at Yunxian Residence means her family background is as different from ours as clouds from mud. One cannot harbor such thoughts…” Zhang Huaiyi said this out of the blue, then turned around dejectedly and entered the inn.
Only then did Lu Shen realize, and he hurried a few steps to catch up with Senior Apprentice Brother Zhang.
…
There’s gossip!
Love at first sight, huh!
So what? He doesn’t understand us. Is this really love after just one meeting?
It’s just an impulse brought on by hormones.
It’s not important. Love and romance are just to relieve loneliness. We have each other, how could we be lonely?
That makes perfect sense!
Extremely reasonable!
Liu Sheng’s mind was discussing these trivial matters, and soon she arrived at Yunxian Residence.
Just now, she hadn’t understood why Senior Apprentice Brother Zhang reacted that way, but seeing Yunxian Residence, she finally understood what “as different as clouds from mud” meant.
Of course, it mainly referred to the vast difference between Yunxian Residence and Tongfu Inn.
Tongfu Inn was an ordinary, commonplace inn, inexpensive, but clean and habitable.
Yunxian Residence, however, was a Fairy’s abode. Its floating structures reached straight into the clouds, surrounded by immortal mist, jade trees, and rare branches, with cranes occasionally resting within.
Its price looked very appealing.
I didn’t expect her to book such an inn…
I originally thought we weren’t that short on money anymore, but now I unilaterally feel like I am.
Since we’re already here, let’s go find her first.
Liu Sheng settled the Lingtual for the cloud sedan and stepped out. Immediately, a well-dressed Shop Assistant in a flowing white robe came forward with a smile and asked, “Esteemed guest, may I ask if you have already booked a room?”
Liu Sheng nodded in affirmation.
“That’s good. Please follow me, esteemed guest.”
The Shop Assistant’s smile became even more sincere. He extended his right hand forward, leading Liu Sheng towards the lowest and largest building.
“Fortunately, you’ve already booked a room. Our Yunxian Residence is now fully booked, with not a single room available,” he said with a cheerful smile while leading the way.
But Liu Sheng didn’t pay attention to what he was saying, because as soon as she got out of the sedan, that omnipresent feeling of being watched reappeared.
She frowned.
There weren’t many people here, only a few Xuezis entering and exiting under the “Yunxian Residence” plaque.
Given the price point, even if it was fully booked, it couldn’t accommodate as many guests as Tongfu Inn.
Liu Sheng looked around, but couldn’t see anyone staring at her. Yet, the chilling sensation of being watched lingered.
“Esteemed guest, is something wrong?” The Shop Assistant saw Liu Sheng stop and asked with a caring smile.
“Nothing.” Liu Sheng shook her head and followed the Shop Assistant.
“Please come this way.”
Upon reaching the counter inside Yunxian Residence, the manager greeted them with a smile, while the Shop Assistant stood by.
“Welcome, young lady, welcome.” The manager of Yunxian Residence was a refined middle-aged man, speaking in a gentle voice, “Please register here.”
In Tang Country, staying at an inn required a permit, especially in Chang’an, where checks were exceptionally strict.
Liu Sheng naturally had no objection and presented her permit for the manager to register.
“Are you a Xuezis, young lady?” The manager confirmed this point and smiled even more brightly, “Yunxian Residence offers additional preferential treatment to Xuezis coming to the capital for exams.”
“Room discount?” Liu Sheng asked.
The manager’s smile stiffened.
“Haha, young lady, you’re truly humorous. For Xuezis, our Yunxian Residence will present a complimentary gift of fresh fruit upon check-in, which will be delivered directly to your room shortly.”
The manager quickly skipped over this topic: “Registration complete. I see your name is already registered under the ‘Spring Day’ room. Is that correct?”
“Wait.” Liu Sheng took out her spirit message to confirm, “Yes… Spring Day.”
“Then there’s no problem. Your friend has already arrived.”
Subsequently, the manager took out an exquisite token with the characters “Spring Day” written on it and an engraved blooming peach blossom: “This is your door token. Please keep it safe. You’ll need this to unlock the Restriction for entry and exit.”
Liu Sheng nodded. She knew about this.
“Alright, please follow me.” The Shop Assistant had been standing by for a long time, and finally, it was his turn again.
The Shop Assistant led Liu Sheng to a small courtyard, where several cranes rested by a pond, each elegantly lost in thought.
He led one of them out and said to Liu Sheng, “Please sit on it.”
Liu Sheng felt very curious. She had only ridden flying paper cranes made of talismans and had never ridden a real crane.
This crane seemed to sense Liu Sheng’s apprehension and let out an impatient cry, but its clear, melodious sound prevented anyone from getting angry.
She carefully climbed onto the cushion on the crane’s back, with Ling Xiaoshu quietly sitting in her arms.
The crane was somewhat puzzled as to why its weight had doubled. It turned its head to look, but there was only one person.
“To the Spring Day room,” the Shop Assistant instructed the crane.
The crane raised its head, indicating it understood, then spread its snow-white wings, rising lightly like a drifting cloud.
The floating small houses of Yunxian Residence flashed past their eyes. Before Liu Sheng could react, the crane had already landed on the porch of a small house, with a sign next to the door that read “Spring Day.”
The crane chirped a few times, signaling Liu Sheng that she could dismount.
As soon as Liu Sheng and Ling Xiaoshu touched the ground, the crane elegantly spread its wings and flew away, its back view showing a distinct eagerness, as if it had been delayed from slacking off.
“What’s wrong, big sister?” Ling Xiaoshu noticed Liu Sheng’s changed expression.
“I don’t know. I keep feeling like someone is watching me, and not just one.”
However, there were only the two of them in the porch. Outside was just misty immortal fog, and in the few closer houses, no one could be seen outside.
Surely no one would be watching her from inside the houses, right?
But Liu Sheng’s intuition told her it wasn’t like that. These gazes didn’t seem human.
Cough, cough, the thoughts about emotions only represent Sheng Sheng and their perspective.