Chapter Text
For the first time in years Zhang Ji, a fellow rogue cultivator, would fly on his sword again. The restrictions on night hunting imposed by the Wen Sect have disappeared with the sect’s defeat but even years later Zhang Ji is still passing his days in Yi City. However, the monotony of being an assistant butcher for his friend, landlord, and boss has finally gotten to him and he starts to miss travelling. After counting his savings which was a decent sum of money, he decides to restart his life as a rogue cultivator.
“Make sure to bring back some souvenirs!” Cui Hanying called out before giving him tips on eating the freshest cuts of meat from vendors as if he were a tourist and not restarting his career. Cui Rong stood beside his wife letting her do all the talking and after listening to her chatter his ear off, Zhang Ji left his home of 6 years to a new beginning.
His first stop is Gusu. Zhang Ji got on a cart from the local merchant transporting some paper mannequins and funeral goods to Gusu for sale and starts to take a nap for the long ride. He was out of the loop on most things about the cultivation world, and wonders how much has changed since that Sunshot campaign has ended and the extermination of the last Wens and the Yiling Laozu, what was his name again….. Wei Wuqian? His slumber was interrupted with the jolt of the cart and the bustling chatter of the city folk.
Rubbing his eyes, he glances over the edge of the cart to see the vendor’s booths full of silks and patterned fabrics while the other side has glossy pottery for sale. Zhang Ji’s stomach growls and he decides getting lunch should be his priority. Once the cart stops, he makes his way over to one of the food stalls to purchase a bag of steam buns before starting his day. He takes a bite from the first fresh food he has in days. After eating rations for a few days, the greasy juices of pork, garlic, chili oil, chives, and other ingredients he doesn’t care to identify spill onto his tongue with the steam of the bun leaking still leaking out. He took a swig of his remaining water and began to look for news of hauntings and hopefully work.
After several hours of talking with the locals about the steamy love affair between a seamstress’ husband and fisherman’s daughter and getting into a fight with a scammer for spirit repelling Yiling Laozu portraits because clearly those are fake and why would anyone want to pay money for these hideous drawings Zhang Ji came with several conclusions.
1. Gusu is peaceful and no work is available for him here.
2. Lan Wangji is very handsome to the point where some of the local men would not mind becoming concubines for him but has been absent from the public eye for a few years. Some have claimed the Yiling Laozu has grievously injured him or spirited him away.
3. Apparently, all the sect leaders of the great clans have been replaced within the past 6 to 7 years by their successors and the new position of chief cultivator is also the current Jin Sect Leader, Jin Guangyao.
4. Merchants from Yunmeng have been reluctant to go back due to an abundance of local hauntings.
Despite wasting a few days, Zhang Ji was still optimistic. With this newfound information, he arranges a trip to Yunmeng to see if he can grab a few jobs. He mentally prepares the talismans for spirit repulsion and wonders what kind of spirit or corpse he will be dealing with, that and sleeping on a cart again. At least he had some steam buns to last him the trip and some local alcohol, Emperor’s smile or was it happiness, he couldn’t quite remember as he takes another swig from the fragrant jar. It was worth the price at least.
By the time he reaches Yunmeng, his entire stock of food is depleted and his jar sadly empty. Zhang Ji hops out of the cart, making sure to thank the merchant for the ride and began to do some investigation of local hauntings.
The scenery in Yunmeng is quite lovely, and from where Zhang Ji is standing he can see the lakes are a sight to see. However the city despite is natural scenery seemed to be missing something. There are vendors, merchants, livestock and people in the streets but it seems to lack the liveliness present in Gusu. Perhaps they are bothered by the hauntings?
Satisfied by his conclusion he strolls up to one of the vendors selling some spicy fish and vegetable snacks.
“Beautiful day isn’t it?” Zhang Ji trails off looking into empty space as if he were talking to nothing rather than the vendor dipping the fish pieces into red spicy sauce. The older man grunts in agreement.
Taking that as a signal to continue Zhang Ji continues.
“You might not know this but I actually a cultivator. Not from any fancy sect, but I have the skills mind you. See my sword here? It’s quite useful in night hunts.”
Zhang Ji pats his sheathe of his spiritual sword to prove that he’s a cultivator. The vendor pulls out a bowl of chili flakes and seasoning.
“I was wondering if you had anything unusual happening, seen strange sights, or unnatural occurrences such as missing cats or noises in the night….”
An abnormally large pile of chili flakes is coated around the fish.
“Or any local rumors of hauntings”
The man stabs the fish with a wooden stick.
“I have quite an experience with those in fact one time in Qinghe I was alone with-”
A piece of bright chili coated meat was hanging in front of his face. Zhang Ji turns to the vendor, who is looking at him expectantly. He takes the skewer takes out a few copper coins for the vendor and bites into it.
Zhang Ji regrets it immediately.
He feels the burn into his mouth and on top of the excessive sauce, the fish itself has been clearly been sitting in another spicy marinade. His tongue felt nothing but the heat from the spice alone and he reaches out for some water. The man holds out the cup of water with one hand and palm open in another.
This scammer! Poisoning the victim and then charging for a cure! What a profitable business.
Reaching into his pouch he slaps several copper coins onto the counter and snatches the cup of water. He chugs contents finding relief from that hellish experience. He spends a minute recovering. His mouth is still burning to a tolerable pain level.
“Old man, are you trying to poison me!?”
Said old man clicked his tongue at him.
“Tsk. Kids these days are weak. I’ll have you know back in the day I had a client that ate several of these at once and said that the spice was lacking.”
The audacity to lie to his face. Even if you needed to promote your business, there are limits! Zhang Ji internally screamed.
However, from his remark it is clear the old man had no interest in conversing with him. He decided to try his luck with a different vendor. Luckily the lotus pod seller was more receptive and readily gave him information of several haunts in the area. He thanked her with a bag of seeds in his hand before asking about some cultivation news.
“I wouldn’t know too much about the immortals, but the closest cultivation sect would be the Yunmeng Jiang sect in Lotus Pier across the docks from here. I believe the leader, Jiang Wanyin is the current sect leader after his father passed away a few years ago.”
Considering the news that all the great sect leaders were placed within the past 7 years this doesn’t come off a surprise.
“What’s he like have you seen him?”
The woman deliberated for a few seconds before saying,
“I have seen him; he is handsome I suppose. I prefer the muscular type though. As a sect leader he is naturally stronger than us civilians. Although that applies to all cultivators. He’s also quite wealthy. Also, ever since he became sect leader, I haven’t seen any orphans on the street?”
This perks his interest.
“Does he make shelter for them?”
She shook her head.
“He takes them into lotus pier, possibly as his disciples.”
What an interesting guy. He must really like children to take in so many. Considering how nearly every city has some homeless individuals inside the fact that he managed this is amazing.
Zhang Ji grins, “He sounds like an amazing guy! It would be nice to meet him. You say his lives in lotus pier over there? Do you think it is possible look around and have a chat?”
The old snack seller stepped in before the lady can responds.
“I wouldn’t do that. Sect Leader Jiang is a busy man. There are lots of things to do in Yunmeng. I suggest you visiting some of the lotus ponds. I heard the seeds with the stem attached taste better than those without.”
The lady rolled her eyes at this statement.
“You know this is the second time I heard that. Where do people even hear that from? I once met someone who travelled all the way to Gusu for that rumor alone! I can assure you both taste equally delicious with and without the stem.”
The old man chuckles, “Of course you would say so. It wouldn’t be good for business if they weren’t. How about you bring a few here and we can compare them?”
Zhang Ji decides to leave the two to their conversation. While the old man’s business leaves much to be desired it is not like he is wrong on the sect leader’s availability. Even if he couldn’t meet with Sect Leader Jiang, a visit to Lotus Pier for sightseeing purposes wouldn’t hurt. How to get there is another question.