Chapter 473: Chapter 305: Nianjun Enters the City, the Lady Sets Her Scheme, Leshang’s Charity, An Impending Encounter? (3)

Gu Nianjun and Zhou Shijie placed their hands together over their hearts, bowed slightly, performing the student ceremony, and said, "Master Fu!" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

City Lord He asked, "These two are..."

Fu Haoran laughed and said, "Haha, City Lord He, let me introduce you. This is Gu Nianjun, a young lady from the Gu Family. And this is Zhou Shijie, talented in both literature and martial arts."

City Lord He held a very high position but showed no airs. He conversed openly and warmly with the younger generation, displaying a great sense of decorum. The group chatted in the courtyard, suffused with an elegant atmosphere. Not until evening did they part ways. Gu Nianjun and Zhou Shijie stayed at the "Cui Zhu Residence."

...

...

Meanwhile on the other side.

Li Xian accidentally encountered Gu Nianjun. Using his keen senses, he followed her secretly. Though Gu Nianjun sensed something, the distance was too great, and with the throng of people and traffic acting as layers of barriers, she couldn’t truly detect it.

He watched as Gu Nianjun and Zhou Shijie approached the residence.

Li Xian overheard their conversation and learned that Xiaofan was also in Flying Dragon City, residing in a house. He felt quite relieved. Knowing Xiaofan was doing well, he was very happy. He silently noted the location and temporarily retreated, leading Jin Yi, Huo Er, and the rest to find an inn for lodging.

Flying Dragon City was vast, with luxurious and extravagant buildings like golden towers, jade mansions, and fragrant pavilions to be seen everywhere.

Some structures towered into the clouds, brightly lit inside. Shadows moved against the windows, and the pavilions were lined up, interconnected, with ropes stretched between them. Those skilled in lightweight skills could traverse these ropes, moving swiftly through the air.

Only then did Li Xian take note of the grandeur of Flying Dragon City. In an instant, he was engulfed by the busy, bustling market streets. Countless details poured into his view. Though in his two lifetimes his vision was somewhat limited, it was indeed deeper. Yet, this prosperity was unprecedented in his two lifetimes!

None of the places he had visited—Qingning, Qiong Heavenly Mansion, Brocade City, Water Altar Peach Blossom Town—could compare.

Mu Wu, being rather timid, stammered, "Ma...Master Flower, where are we going?" The remaining four brothers scratched their heads, at a loss of what to do.

Though the Flower Cage Sect was a major sect, its disciples came from impoverished backgrounds and had narrow horizons. Li Xian said, "Let’s find an inn to stay in, then plan our next steps."

Li Xian suddenly paused and asked, "Do any of you have any silver?" The five all shook their heads in unison.

All the silver Li Xian had was spent on the "Kianne Pulse Hand." Along the journey, all the expenses had been covered by Tang Feng. In random bits and pieces, he had managed to save up a few taels of silver.

He had to accept reality, saying, "Well, after all, I’m used to poverty." The luxurious inns of Flying Dragon City, with their ornate decorations, were places he dared not step into with his meager funds. So, he specifically walked through dark alleys.

Along the way, when he saw an inn, he would inquire about the price. After walking through several alleys, he barely found a suitable place to stay. It was a rather narrow and cramped attic, but the room was at least clean.

Li Xian rented two rooms for a tael of silver, for seven days, which was already very expensive. He said, "Just book two rooms. I’ll take one myself, and the five of you can share the other. If you don’t agree, we’ll go our separate ways."

The five exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison, saying, "Master Flower, we’ve got nowhere else to go but with you. Even if you told us to live in a pigsty, we would."

Li Xian said, "Alright!" He paid the rent and led everyone upstairs to settle in.

After settling down, Huo Er asked, "Master Flower, do we have a goal? It seemed to me that you were following someone."

Li Xian shook his head, saying, "We are isolated without support. Let’s forget our Flower Cage Sect identity for now and quietly observe the situation in the city. From what I see, Flying Dragon City is a gathering place for many experts. Exposing ourselves too early might lead to a siege and capture, which would be disastrous."

Jin Yi, Huo Er, and the others all agreed it was reasonable.

Li Xian wasn’t aware of how skilled Gu Nianjun was in martial arts, so to be cautious, he didn’t approach the Cui Zhu Residence recklessly. He thought to himself, "Xiaofan is doing better than me, so I needn’t worry about him. I’ll find a way to meet him later. For now, let’s search for clues about the Dew of Dawn. If there’s an opportunity, I’ll go for it; if not, best to avoid these troubled waters and leave early."

He rested, and had some simple congee.

Then he went out wandering the streets, looking for clues.

Flying Dragon City was a mix of fish and dragons, with many Jianghu guests gathering. Occasionally on the streets, you could spot those with an imposing aura. Li Xian acted low-key, first finding a restaurant to sit in, listening to storytellers discuss Jianghu affairs.

The storytellers spoke passionately and eloquently, narrating tales of enmity and love, but most were intentionally crafted tales. There were seldom any useful clues. Being new to the city, Li Xian was quite unfamiliar with the local situation, so he used the storyteller’s words to glean some information about the city’s recent events. Although it was mostly hearsay, there were still some clues.

He paid fifteen wen coins for a cup of tea and sat there for the entire day. It wasn’t until evening, when the restaurant staff were closing, that Li Xian had formed some vague outlines. He then began verifying the rumors and followed the leads, tracing them step by step.

As night fell,

lanterns were hung by the roadside. Each was palm-sized and bright with candlelight. The many lanterns illuminated the street as if it were daytime; there were surprisingly no fewer pedestrians.

For the next two days consecutively, Li Xian went out early and returned late, interacting with various people. He gradually pinpointed the source of the "Dew of Dawn" information.

Currently, the Dew of Dawn was in the hands of a "Ms. Wang." Her background was mysterious, and she had a decade-old residence in Flying Dragon City. It was rumored that she was someone from "Longxiong Dao."

Ms. Wang claimed, "In these chaotic times, heroes emerge in great numbers. She seeks to find and befriend like-minded friends. Although the Dew of Dawn is hers, it is of no use to her. Therefore, she offers it in friendship, under three conditions, if one fulfills them, the Dew of Dawn will be handed over willingly."

The first condition: Must be under twenty years of age.

The second condition: Must have pure skill in archery, must hunt the snow mountain spirit fox near Flying Dragon City. Cannot use "Inner Qi" or "Martial Arts," "Magic Dao"...