Chapter 76: Autumn Rain in Xiaoxiang
Su Yanjun, as expected of someone with both well-informed news and ultimate foodie attributes, never recommended anything that disappointed Liu Sheng.
This time, the lamb soup she took Liu Sheng to drink was indeed exquisitely delicious, so much so that Liu Sheng wasn't satisfied after just the soup, and ordered braised lamb, grilled lamb kidneys, and cold lamb tripe, eating three flatbreads before finally returning content under the moonlight.
Then, as soon as she entered the hall, she saw Miss Wen's extremely mournful face. Liu Sheng was so startled she took half a step back, stepping over the threshold.
"You finally decided to come back?" Wen Weilan said coolly.
"We agreed to meet when the moon was at the willow branch, but now, the moon has passed the willow branch."
Liu Sheng quickly apologized. It was indeed her gluttony that delayed them by a quarter of an hour. She quickly took out the lamb buns she had specially bought for Wen Weilan and Cui Cui to divert her attention.
Fortunately, the meat buns were indeed enticingly fragrant, and Wen Weilan immediately forgot about scolding Liu Sheng, taking them to eat on her own.
"Oh dear, it's getting late, let's go, let's go." Wen Weilan reluctantly placed the two buns reserved for Cui Cui on the flower hall table, took out a Talismanic Incantation of disguise, and handed it to Liu Sheng, "First, change your face."
It was Liu Sheng's first time using a Talismanic Incantation of disguise, and she found it quite novel. She looked it over from left to right before activating the Talismanic Incantation with Lingtual.
Immediately, a cool sensation flowed out from the Talismanic Incantation, attaching itself to Liu Sheng's face.
Wen Weilan placed a mirror in front of Liu Sheng. Liu Sheng looked at the mirror, subtly adjusted her facial features with Lingtual, transforming into a mature and ordinary-looking woman, and nodded in satisfaction.
People always desire what they don't have, just as the baby-faced Liu Sheng always wanted a mature face.
Now she no longer needed a Talismanic Incantation activator, but Wen Weilan, on the other hand, needed this item. She took out her Talismanic Incantation activator without any psychological burden and, with a few swift movements, disguised herself as a round-faced woman with slightly dark skin.
Originally, Liu Sheng had mentioned to Wen Weilan that she had another method of cultivation and asked if she wanted to try it.
Since Wen Weilan had lost her Lingtual, she could no longer communicate with the Supreme God.
And her resilience was also sufficient.
If Wen Weilan hadn't been highly resilient, she would have lost her sanity during those repeated torments in the illusions, as evidenced by the reactions of those who first fell into illusions at that time.
Therefore, Liu Sheng wondered, why not give it a try?
But after Wen Weilan understood the details, she actually refused Liu Sheng's kind offer.
"Although I don't know where you obtained this method, it sounds like it requires communicating with Lingtual from an outer domain, which feels very strange. This can only mean that the Lingtual of this realm cannot be used by you, and Lingtual comes from the grace of the Supreme God. So, can we infer that the Supreme God does not approve of this cultivation method?"
Wen Weilan's deeply ingrained beliefs from childhood made her unprepared to deviate from the Supreme God.
For some reason, Liu Sheng, however, so readily chose this path, diverging from the Supreme God. Perhaps it was because Wen Weilan had never experienced the fear and doubt towards the Supreme God as she had? She wasn't sure.
"You also be careful. Don't casually tell others about your cultivation method, or you will surely bring trouble upon yourself," Wen Weilan also advised Liu Sheng.
Liu Sheng knew Wen Weilan was giving a kind reminder, and she understood this principle.
If it weren't for Wen Weilan and her deep affection and mutual trust, she wouldn't have easily revealed this matter.
"I have already decided on my path, so you don't need to worry," Wen Weilan said with a firm expression.
Since Miss Wen already had her own ideas, Liu Sheng naturally stopped worrying.
...
With their appearances changed, they could set off.
The night was clear and bright. Stepping on the divine radiance filling the streets, Liu Sheng followed Wen Weilan through alleys and streets, all the way to the Qinghe Wine Street.
This was also the most bustling place in Qinghe at night.
Seeing the throngs of people here, Liu Sheng looked at Wen Weilan with some doubt: "Is this the place you mentioned? It doesn't look like it at all? Don't storybooks say it's always in desolate wilderness, pitch-black places?"
Wen Weilan smiled calmly: "Just follow me."
Then, she led Liu Sheng through the crowd like a swimming fish, all the way to the entrance of a small two-story wine shop that wasn't very big and looked a bit grimy and greasy.
Hanging at the entrance of the small wine shop was a yellowed, oil-splattered wine banner with the crooked characters "Xiao Xiang House" written on it.
Perhaps because of the storefront and the hygiene conditions, which might deter customers, there were only a few people sitting inside, just one or two elderly individuals, half-buried in the earth, tremblingly drinking in the dim light of the shop.
But Liu Sheng noticed that people still occasionally entered, either in groups or alone, and seemed to go up to the second floor.
So she whispered to Wen Weilan: "This time it looks a bit more like it."
The wine shop attendant sat by a table. Seeing the two walk in, he didn't even lift his eyelids, leaning back and lazily asking, "Drinking?"
Wen Weilan said: "Not drinking, here to take a boat."
Liu Sheng listened, full of questions.
"Do you have a card?"
"I do, she doesn't yet," Wen Weilan pointed to Liu Sheng.
The attendant heard this and extended his palm towards Liu Sheng.
Liu Sheng was puzzled.
"Give him three Lingtual," Wen Weilan quietly reminded her.
Hiss, robbing money!
Liu Sheng reluctantly took out three Lingtual and placed them in his hand.
The attendant took the money, then lazily stood up, walked behind the counter, rummaged for a long time, and took out a greasy wooden token for Liu Sheng.
Liu Sheng took the token, quietly wiped it with her sleeve, and then saw the words "Autumn Rain in Xiaoxiang, No. 387" engraved on it. The other side read "No Jumping High," which she didn't understand.
Then, the attendant slumped back onto the table, pointed his index finger upwards, indicating the upstairs.
Although the man's attitude was poor, Wen Weilan still thanked him and led Liu Sheng up the narrow stairs to the second floor.
Surprisingly, there was no furniture on the second floor, only a person-height ink landscape scroll hanging on the wall.
Even the two people Liu Sheng had clearly seen go upstairs were nowhere to be found.
"This painting looks too deliberate," Liu Sheng complained, looking at the rather elegant painting: a scene of lakes and mountains, misty rain, with a small boat drifting freely, and the elegant inscription "Autumn Rain in Xiaoxiang Painting." She felt it was completely out of place with this dingy little wine shop.
"The Xiaoxiang House Master... indeed has some peculiar tastes..." Wen Weilan had long felt the same way.
"Let's go."
Wen Weilan led Liu Sheng towards the painting.
The ink shimmered, and the ink on the Autumn Rain in Xiaoxiang Painting immediately flowed, spreading outwards to the four corners, slowly forming a circular opening just large enough for one person to enter.
Liu Sheng and Wen Weilan stepped in one after another. The ink behind them slowly receded, returning to its original rustic Autumn Rain in Xiaoxiang Painting.
Upon entering the painting, their eyes brightened. Liu Sheng found herself and Wen Weilan standing on a small boat drifting on the river, with a layer of ink covering both their faces. At the stern of the boat was a sculler in a straw cape, his face as dark as ink.
The sky was dim and yellowish, beyond the small boat was a wide river, and in the distance, continuous, bluish-green mountains were hazy like a painting amidst the misty rain.
No, they were indeed in a painting.
Regarding Miss Wen's path of cultivation, it has already been planned. She will have her own path. Thank you all for your suggestions and ideas!