Chapter 160: Reunion with an Old Friend
Liu Sheng shook her head, trying to cast aside those unsettling feelings.
It was better not to think about things that couldn't be resolved for now; at least, there was no immediate sense of danger.
She stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Although she had the door token, it was still polite.
After all, it had been a while since they last met.
Just a few knocks, and her hand met empty air as the door creaked open.
Then, a fiery red figure burst out, embracing Liu Sheng tightly, her braided hair tickling Liu Sheng’s cheek.
“Sheng Sheng! You’re finally here!” The voice was quite enthusiastic.
After a while, Liu Sheng couldn't help but pull her away, just like when they said goodbye.
“Dongdong, are you doing well?” Liu Sheng asked, looking at the much thinner face of the person in front of her.
This was the friend Liu Sheng had arranged to stay with this time, Wang Dongdong, also a candidate for this year’s Imperial Examination.
“It’s alright, but it’s inevitably restrictive being back home,” Wang Dongdong said, pulling Liu Sheng’s hand and walking inside the door.
Upon entering, it suddenly opened up; the seemingly small house from the outside was surprisingly spacious, with a small garden courtyard, two side rooms, and a central reception hall.
Passing through the courtyard, the two sat down in the reception hall.
“This house is really big,” Liu Sheng exclaimed, “Why such an extravagance?”
The two were very familiar, so it was fine to speak directly.
“Don’t worry, because I didn’t want to stay at my relatives’ house in the capital, my parents booked this for me. When they heard you would be staying with me too, they insisted on booking you a Yunxian Residence, saying it was to thank you for saving my life last time.”
“I really don’t deserve it, Uncle and Aunt truly went to great expense,” Liu Sheng quickly thanked her, “You also sent me so many things to eat and use last time, which was already thanks enough.”
“Sheng Sheng, don’t be polite, my parents have plenty of money,” Wang Dongdong said grandly.
【Suddenly, I wonder why all our friends are rich women….】
【Could it be our doing?】
【It’s fate.】
【Actually, it’s normal. How many of our friends from ordinary backgrounds can make it to Chang’an? How many people return to their hometowns for a peaceful life after leaving the academy?】
【Sigh….】
“Sigh, we said we’d meet again in Chang’an, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon,” Wang Dongdong said, very happy.
It had been three months since their farewell in Li County.
Although this time wasn’t long, both of them had undergone many changes.
Especially Liu Sheng.
“Sheng Sheng, I really didn’t expect you to become a Cultivator too.”
Liu Sheng also shook her head and said, “I didn’t expect it either.”
At this thought, her expression became somewhat dazed.
In these three months, Liu Sheng didn't know how much she had experienced along the way.
Perhaps the years in other worlds were truly long, making her feel as if more than just three months had passed.
“In any case, your ability to participate in the Imperial Examination shows extraordinary talent, but the preparation time is too short…” Wang Dongdong said with some concern.
“It’s fine, I’ll do my best,” Liu Sheng decided to keep a low profile and not say anything about being confident.
“That’s good, it’s always worth taking the exam, what if?” Wang Dongdong looked optimistic, “My parents told me the same thing.”
“What I’m most confident about is the martial examination; I’ve trained hard with my Master these past few months, and now I’m at Initial Realm Seventh Stage,” Wang Dongdong couldn’t help but share with Liu Sheng.
“Two stages up! Amazing!”
“But you breaking through the Initial Realm all the way to Sixth Stage is even more amazing.”
“Haha, yes,” Liu Sheng gave a dry laugh.
The two chatted about their recent situations for a while, then Wang Dongdong suddenly slapped her forehead: “Oh no, I almost forgot.”
She took out her spirit message and looked at it, her expression tense: “Oh no, I’m late.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I made plans with some friends to drink at Taibai Restaurant,” Wang Dongdong said with an annoyed expression, “We agreed to meet at You Shi (5-7 PM).”
Liu Sheng checked the time; indeed, a full half-hour had passed.
She had arrived a bit late, and the two of them had been engrossed in catching up, which delayed them a bit.
“Sheng Sheng, let’s go together!”
“I…” Liu Sheng recalled Senior Sister Shu Ying’s instructions.
“Their roasted duck and lamb offal soup are excellent!” Wang Dongdong knew Liu Sheng’s weakness.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Liu Sheng’s eyes sparkled.
“Let’s go together!”
“Let’s go together!” Ling Xiaoshu, who hadn't appeared for a long time, also said weakly.
Forget it, forget it. Just arriving in Chang’an, going out to see the sights, it shouldn’t, shouldn’t anything happen, right?
That’s what Liu Sheng thought.
…
Leaving the room, they activated the door token to summon two immortal cranes.
“Everything here is good, except that getting in and out is a bit inconvenient,” Liu Sheng said, holding Ling Xiaoshu with one arm while riding on an immortal crane, and with the other hand, she spread her five fingers to embrace a handful of pure and spiritual Qi-infused clouds swirling around her.
“Indeed, but you don’t know, this kind of travel is full of ritual, and it’s most favored by people with some spare money who consider themselves elegant,” Wang Dongdong shook her head, the Wang family of Xichuan had many such people, and she understood them best.
Upon reaching the main hall, the shopkeeper thoughtfully summoned a cloud sedan for the two, and the cloud sedan carried them towards Taibai Restaurant.
Taibai Restaurant was in the East Market, not far from Qinglong Temple. Liu Sheng quickly saw a magnificent tall building below from the cloud sedan. Its lights shone brightly, reaching straight into the clouds, illuminating the entire building in dazzling gold. It was uniquely brilliant even in the already colorful East Market.
“Is this Taibai Restaurant the place where the legendary Taibai Sword Immortal Cultivated the Dao?” Liu Sheng had read about this legend in a book describing Chang’an’s scenery.
“Precisely this building!” Wang Dongdong excitedly introduced to Liu Sheng, “It’s said that Taibai Sword Immortal drank here for seven days and seven nights before finally Breaking through to the Shenzang Realm.”
“But back then, this place shouldn’t have been… so prominent, should it?” Liu Sheng hesitated for a moment, choosing an appropriate description.
“I heard from my grandfather that back then, this was just a small tavern, and it wasn’t even called Taibai Restaurant.”
As expected, Liu Sheng fell silent.
Immediately, Wang Dongdong began to speak of her grandfather, who had served as an official in the capital over a hundred years ago and had the good fortune to personally witness Taibai Sword Immortal’s Breakthrough.
“My grandfather said that at that time, Taibai Sword Immortal, who had drunk over a hundred jars of wine, recited poems that no one could understand, but they sounded profound and mysterious, containing the deep meaning of the Dao. Later, everyone said it was probably the language of the Divine Realm!”
“Your grandfather heard it with his own ears?” This was something Liu Sheng hadn’t heard in the gazetteer, and she was very curious.
“Not really, it was what the people in the tavern at the time said, and my grandfather also heard it from them,” This statement was a bit convoluted, and Liu Sheng was confused.
“Then, Taibai Sword Immortal, amidst a terrifying Lightning Tribulation, flew up and drew his Sword towards the sky! At that time, his Sword Qi soared into the sky, straight into the clouds, and everyone in Chang’an City saw it.”
Liu Sheng asked curiously, “Slaying the heavens?”
“Of course not!” Wang Dongdong quickly covered Liu Sheng’s mouth and said, “Slaying the heavens is a great treason, how could Taibai Sword Immortal do such a thing!”
“It is said that when he broke through, he felt a sense of closeness to the Supreme God and wanted to be closer to the Supreme God, drawing his Sword to protect the Divine Might.”
“I see,” Liu Sheng nodded, suddenly understanding.
At this moment, the cloud sedan gently stopped, landing on the ground.
“We’re at Taibai Restaurant!” Wang Dongdong excitedly pulled Liu Sheng out of the cloud sedan.
Ling Xiaoshu held Liu Sheng’s sleeve, following closely behind.
The brightly lit Taibai Restaurant was right before their eyes, its luxurious upturned eaves and painted corners spreading out in the Chang’an night. The sound of music was incessant, and the place was bustling with noise and excitement.
However, that feeling of being watched by countless eyes surged into Liu Sheng’s heart again, so strongly that she couldn’t ignore it, and her heart pounded.
“Sheng Sheng, what’s wrong? Are you listening to me?” Wang Dongdong waved her hand in front of Liu Sheng’s eyes.
“What?” Liu Sheng snapped back to reality.
“I said, my friends are all good-for-nothing rich kids, they might be a bit annoying, but you don’t need to mind them.”
Just as Wang Dongdong was speaking, a large hand with long, slender fingers reached out from behind, directly grabbing her braided hair and pulling her back a few steps.
“Wang Dongdong, you’re late,” a deep male voice said lazily.