Caught in the middle of the drama.
Tao Mian stood still, and under everyone's gaze, suddenly turned halfway and clapped for Shen Bozhou.
"Little Six, what great news! Congratulations!"
"......"
Shen Bozhou remained silent, sighing. His master had taken the fall for this.
"Miss Li, we can talk openly."
"No, no, not you, the one next to you, he's handsome."
Li Fengchan's finger curved and pointed back at Tao Mian.
Realizing he couldn't avoid it, Tao Mian sighed.
"Little Fengchan," he said with a face of disappointment, "how could you develop such inappropriate feelings for your godfather?"
"......"
Li Fengchan hadn't expected someone would rather be a father than pursue romance.
Tao Mian understood Li Fengchan's predicament. He didn't want to get too involved, but his habit of getting into the thick of things got the better of him.
The golden-nosed beetle on his left wrist kept tapping against its cage.
The little bug's reaction suggested that the Water of Heaven was with someone present.
With his extensive reading in his past life, Tao Mian guessed that the Water of Heaven might be connected to Li Fengchan.
It seemed everything was destined; he had to help today whether he wanted to or not.
He stepped forward.
"Brother Xun, may I ask how much silver Fengchan owes your Tongshan Sect?"
Xun San eyed Tao Mian up and down, seeing his simple attire, he couldn't help but look down on him.
"Ten thousand taels of silver, do you have it?"
Tao Mian turned to Shen Bozhou.
"How much is ten thousand taels of silver?"
Shen Bozhou, familiar with Tao Mian's various properties, had learned specifically for this.
"It's the monthly income from one of your pawnshops."
"Oh," Tao Mian nodded, "I'm not sure if I have a shop in Beilu Prefecture. If you're not in a hurry, let me check first. Or you could wait half a month, and I'll have someone bring it from elsewhere."
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Xun San didn't expect the person opposite to actually have money, but he also suspected they were bluffing.
"Li Fengchan," he called out to the woman, "your godfather is unreliable. If you don't have the money, don't pretend! You should come back to Tongshan Sect with me!"
Li Fengchan ignored his provocation and turned to Tao Mian.
"Do you really have the money?"
"Really do."
"Not lying?"
"Your house is already emptied, what good would it do me to lie to you?"
"......"
Li Fengchan was silent for a moment, then suddenly produced a bundle from nowhere and slung it over her shoulder.
"Can I work at your pawnshop? Just food and lodging will do. If you pay me enough, I can even recognize you as my father."
"......"
What was this, a matchmaking ceremony turned job recruitment?
Tao Mian was a bit bewildered by the turn of events, and Xun San was not only confused but also angry.
"I see what's going on!" His finger pointed at Li Fengchan, then slid to Tao Mian, "Li Fengchan, you brought this guy to trick me, didn't you?"
Tao Mian smirked.
"You're overestimating yourself. My appearance fee is quite high."
"......"
Once, twice, but not thrice. This time Xun San was truly enraged, drawing his sword.
"Enough talk! Today, the belongings of the Li family, and you, Li Fengchan, must return to Tongshan Sect! Let's see who dares to stop—"
"Xun San."
A voice came from behind Xun San. As soon as the person spoke, Xun San's expression froze, and his arrogance dissipated.
"Senior Brother."
The newcomer was none other than Huang Lianyu, the senior brother of Tongshan Sect.
Huang Lianyu was also dressed in a blue robe, which seemed to be the uniform of their sect. However, his fabric was noticeably more refined and adorned with dark patterns, and the jade pendant at his waist was equally valuable.
Brother Huang's features were not striking individually, but together they formed a harmonious appearance. His gaze first fell on Tao Mian and Shen Bozhou in the distance, then on Xun San nearby, and finally on Li Fengchan in the middle.
"Sister Li, it's been years, are you... well?"
When he said this, Huang Lianyu didn't move his lips, and his eyes returned to Tao Mian, who was amusing himself with his own lines.
Tao Mian closed his mouth tightly.
He couldn't help but whisper to his disciple.
"What's wrong, did I mess up the line? Isn't this what childhood sweethearts usually say when they meet?"
"Little Taoist Tao, you should... read fewer scripts."
Huang Lianyu seemed to have prepared his own lines, but Tao Mian's interruption made him give up.
"Let's go, Junior Brother Xun. If we're late, the supervising master will blame us."
"Yes, yes..."
The cultivators of Tongshan Sect left in a grand procession, walking down the main street, and no one dared to criticize them.
As they left, Xun San glared at Tao Mian.
Tao Mian didn't hold back, returning the glare with a roll of his eyes.
The excitement ended, and the crowd slowly dispersed, everyone returning to their own business.
Li Fengchan breathed a sigh of relief, and only then did Tao Mian notice that her composure was mostly a facade.
"My apologies to both of you," she bowed to Tao Mian and Shen Bozhou, "I was rude and offensive earlier, please forgive me."
Tao Mian wasn't one to hold grudges.
Besides, he still needed to ask Li Fengchan about the Water of Heaven.
"Miss Li, don't worry about it, you have your difficulties."
"It's inconvenient to talk outside, please come inside for a cup of tea."
Shen Bozhou glanced at Tao Mian, who nodded slightly.
"Then we'll trouble Miss Li."
The master and disciple followed Li Fengchan to the Li residence.
The Li family's ancestors were once prosperous, and the residence was spacious. The courtyard's layout and feng shui were carefully considered, indicating that the previous owner had a refined taste.
Unfortunately, since Li Fengchan's father took over, the Li family had been in decline, and the glory of the past was gone.
The cultivators of Tongshan Sect were like bandits, leaving the once beautiful courtyard in disarray. The inside of the house was even worse, with everything that could be moved taken away, even the curtains on the bed were stripped bare.
Li Fengchan led the two guests into the guest hall, where there were no teapots or cups, only two cracked bowls.
"The conditions are simple, I'll treat you to a proper meal at a restaurant another day."
Tao Mian didn't mind, lifting the bowl to take a sip.
Li Fengchan sat in the only empty seat, which wobbled, forcing her to brace her feet against the floor.
"I can't thank you enough for helping me out earlier. If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask."
Since she offered, Tao Mian didn't hold back.
"To be honest, there is something we hope to obtain from you."
"What is it? Please, feel free to ask."
Li Fengchan was a bit surprised, not expecting such a coincidence that the two people from another prefecture sitting across from her actually had a request.
"The Water of Heaven."
"......The Water of Heaven?"
Li Fengchan fell into thought, while Tao Mian and Shen Bozhou waited quietly.
After a long while, she looked at Tao Mian with some confusion.
"Is it edible?"
"......"
Tao Mian didn't know how to answer that question, as he had never seen the true form of the Water of Heaven, relying only on the bug in his bracelet.
Li Fengchan told him not to worry.
"Everything in the house was taken by the people from Tongshan Sect, maybe you can find it there."
"Alright, then we won't disturb you any longer, we'll head to Tongshan Sect."
"Hey, don't rush," Li Fengchan stopped them, "wait until it's dark, I'll guide you. I also have things to retrieve.
We'll sneak in over the wall."
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