Chapter 17: A Meeting Beyond Status

"Those who seek wisdom must first question their own ignorance. But those who seek power… must first question their own desires."

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the mountains as the warmth of tea seeped through the porcelain cup in my hands, curling delicate wisps of steam into the air. Sitting in Mr. Yan’s courtyard, I let the silence stretch between us, the weight of history settling in. The old biography still lay in my hands, its pages worn and fragile, yet brimming with a story that transcended time. It wasn’t just a tale of revenge; it was a testament to the rise and fall of power, to love that endured through bloodshed, and to friendships that shattered under ambition.

As I traced my fingers over the faded ink, Mr. Yan leaned forward, his voice carrying a hushed reverence.

"It is said that he left his legacy somewhere," he mused, his gaze distant. "But until now, no one has ever found it."

A breeze rustled the leaves, filling the silence between us. I stared at the book. History had a way of leaving behind echoes, and some echoes were worth listening to.

My curiosity sharpened instantly. A historical figure, a hidden legacy, and the thrill of discovery—it was the perfect mystery to chase. I glanced at Mr. Yan, trying to gauge his expression.

"A legacy, huh?" I muttered, my mind already working through the possibilities. "If he truly traveled the entire mortal world, then his legacy could be anywhere. But if no one has found it after all these years, maybe people have been looking in the wrong place."

I leaned back, considering the words. If this story was true, then somewhere in these vast lands lay an inheritance of a man whose path was carved by both vengeance and sorrow. A part of me wanted to know more—not just about his power, but about his mind, his regrets.

Mr. Yan chuckled. "Are you planning to go treasure hunting, Mr. Li?"

"I wouldn’t call it treasure hunting. But if there’s history to uncover, I’d love to see it for myself but what a ordinary person like us can do."

My love for history wasn’t just an excuse to pass time. As someone who had been thrown into an unfamiliar world, history was my way of understanding how things came to be—the politics, the people, the lands beyond these mountains. I already had read many books in my store room where they piled up but it seems those books don't seem to be run out of any time soon.

"Would you mind if I borrowed this book for a while?" I asked. "I’d like to research a bit."

Mr. Yan grinned and waved his hand. "Take it. I know you’ll treat it with more respect than most scholars."

With that, I carefully tucked the book under my robes and bid him farewell, making my way back up the mountain.

Upon reaching the tavern, I let out a sigh.

"Another day, another lack of customers."

Ever since that young lady and that maid girl came, not a single outsider had stepped through my doors. I wasn’t exactly running a bustling business, but still, it was getting eerily quiet.

Mei Yun, as usual, was behind the counter, idly polishing a wooden cup. She glanced at me as I entered, a knowing look in her eyes.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Still no one?" I asked.

She simply shook her head.

I sighed again. "Alright, let’s just close for today."

As she moved to put away the signboard, I remembered something she had told me a few days ago. Something that, frankly, had left me a little baffled.

"By the way," I said casually, "have you really decided to move to the village?"

She stopped for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. I can’t keep leeching off a great person like you."

I frowned. "Great person? Where did you get that idea?"

She smiled. "I don’t know, and I would have to leave one day or another anyways , roundaboutly it's not my house it's yours"

I opened my mouth to argue but quickly shut it. She… wasn’t exactly wrong.

"Anyway," she continued, "I found a place in the village. With the money I make from selling herbs to you, I can afford it. Don’t worry, I’ll still be working here, and it's not much distance between them."

"Well, as long as you’re sure," I said, scratching my head. "It’s not like I can stop you. You’re a cultivator. Even if I wanted to tie you down, I doubt I could."

She laughed. "Exactly. So don’t worry about it."

At least she was staying as an employee. Finding reliable help in a place like this wasn’t easy.

After that, just as I sat in the courtyard, there the air was filled with the gentle hum of insects and the faint rustling of the trees.

Then came the knocking.

I frowned. Visitors? At this hour?

A firm, deliberate rhythm against the wooden gate.

I frowned, rising to my feet.

"Who is it?" I called.

Silence. Then, a voice I recognized.

"It’s me, Lin Yu. May we come in?"

My brows lifted. Lin Yu? What was she doing here again after I closed the tavern?

I unlatched the gate and pulled it open.

And there, standing beneath the lantern’s glow, was Lin Yu—Lin Yu, the girl who had once been my tavern’s first outsider customer, smiled politely. But my eyes drifted to the woman beside her—she was accompanied by a woman whose presence commanded the air around her.

She was dressed in regal silk, her expression unreadable, but her sharp eyes studied me intently.

I knew power when I saw it.

This woman wasn’t just strong—she was dangerous.

A single glance was enough to tell me that she wasn't someone to be triffled with.

"Mr. Li," Lin Yu said with a respectful nod. "I apologize for disturbing you so late."

I waved a hand. "It’s fine. But I’m guessing this isn’t just a casual visit."

She hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"You may have already guessed, but let me formally introduce myself. My real identity is , that of a Princess Lin Dynasty Lin Yun.

Then straightening her posture and gesturing to the person beside her, "allow me to introduce my mother—the Empress."

For a moment, my mind went blank.

Not just a noble.

Not just royalty.

But the Empress.

Her words barely registered as my mind blanked.

What!? Princess? Empress?

My first ever outsider customer was… royalty?

Lin Yun was my tavern’s first outside customer who turned out to be the pricess of dynasty, and now, she had brought her mother the empress. The scale of things had just taken a drastic leap.

Well. That escalated quickly.

I somehow managed to keep my expression neutral. "Oh, I see."

Lin Yun’s eyes gleamed as she studied me. "As expected of an expert. You knew my identity all along."

I did not. But I wasn’t about to admit that.

Meanwhile, the Empress was already surveying the tavern grounds. Her gaze swept over the spiritual pond, the surrounding energy-rich air, and the carefully maintained courtyard.

Then she whispered, "An expert… This is an expert’s domain."

I nearly choked on my own breath.

Expert? What expert? I am just a guy running a tavern!

Maintaining my usual deadpan expression, I turned to Mei Yun. "Bring some fruit for our guests."

After settling them down, I handed them the cut fruits. "As you can see, I’m just an ordinary tavern owner. This is all I can offer."

The Empress and the Princess nodded, though I noticed the subtle way they examined the fruit. The moment they took a bite, their expressions shifted.

Their eyes widened. Their breathing slowed.

It was as if they had been plunged into an ocean of spiritual energy.

Lin Yun, dazed, spoke first. "Mr. Li… if you don’t mind, could we taste your cuisine? We saw the tavern was closed, so—"

Before she could finish, the Empress cut in sharply.

"Lin Yun! How can you be so rude to an expert?"

I rubbed my temples.

Lin Yun cleared her throat. "Mr. Li, don’t mind her."

The atmosphere changed.

Their expressions grew serious, as if they were preparing for a conversation of life-and-death importance.

I sighed internally.

First, a hidden legacy.

Then, a princess and an empress appearing at my doorstep.

What next? Would the heavens themselves descend?

One thing was certain. My quiet life as a mere tavern owner was slipping further and further away.

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