Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 899: Which Family’s Young Miss Are You?

Upon hearing this, the child seated beside Lu Yang lit up with an intrigued smile. “A murder case? I’ve cracked several difficult cases back in my hometown. I wonder if I can solve this one too.”

Considering that the problem could not just be with this cabin’s feng shui but the entire flying vessel’s, Lu Yang decided to disembark and fly to the Sword Tower instead, treating the remaining fare as money down the drain.

However, during the flight, several unexpected incidents occurred, such as stumbling upon a secret domain that only opened once in a millennium, encountering an aristocratic family’s young miss who was dissatisfied with an arranged marriage and dragged Lu Yang in as a shield, and other miscellaneous matters. The journey that should have been half a month took a full month instead.

Lu Yang arrived at the Sword Tower just in time.

Sensing the dense humidity of Shu Province, Lu Yang couldn’t help but remark, “Good thing I set out early. Otherwise, I might have missed the Sword-Seeking Grand Ceremony.”

"Is it possible that if you’d set out a day later, you wouldn’t have encountered any of these matters?” the Everlasting Immortal Fairy couldn’t help but ask.

“That makes sense. When the Sword Tower holds the next Sword-Seeking Grand Ceremony in a hundred years, I’ll set out a day later.” Lu Yang was meticulous, understanding that experiments required controlled variables—only one condition should be changed at a time.

The Sword-Seeking Grand Ceremony was an event of the highest order in the cultivation world, attracting many cultivators from beyond Great Xia. The Shu Province authorities placed great importance on it. If they could leverage this opportunity to persuade some sword cultivators to remain in Shu Province, that would be ideal, for it would be considered a genuine political achievement.

Since flying carriages became popular, many sword cultivators had switched from flying with swords to carriages. After entering Shu Province, Lu Yang saw many flying carriages accompanying him in the air.

Many sword cultivators frequently glanced sideways, even turning back for another look at Lu Yang after passing.

After all, they had never seen anyone fly with a Sword-Cleansing Pond; it was quite the novel sight.

Lu Yang paid no heed to these rude behaviors. The flying carriage patent was in his name. These cultivators have essentially paid me spirit stones, making them customers.

I’ve always maintained a good attitude toward customers, evident since my barbeque shop days.

“Time for hotpot.”

Since I’ve already arrived, there’s no need to rush. I should savor the local cuisine calmly; otherwise, my trip to Shu Province would be wasted.

This was a habit Lu Yang had picked up from Yun Zhi.

Hotpot eateries were ubiquitous in Shu Province, each touting itself as authentic and boasting exquisite flavor, claiming to be a local establishment with a time-honored reputation.

Amidst a hotpot street, the Once More Time Barbeque Shop stood firm, a testament to how delicious the Barbarian Tribe’s recipe combined with the Three Flavor True Fire and the Pure Yang True Fire was, carving out its own path here.

Tripe, yellow beef, filefish, duck blood, fuzhu beancurd sticks...ingredients on small dishes piled high on the table. Lu Yang placed them into the nine-grid (jiugongge) hotpot[1], and a spicy aroma assailed his nostrils.

“Hello, I see you've ordered a lot. Would you be able to finish them all? Could I have some?” A rather casually dressed woman stood before Lu Yang's table, her tone hesitant. She gazed eagerly at the bubbling hotpot.

Looking up, Lu Yang saw an exceptionally beautiful woman speaking to him. Her looks rivaled Tao Yaoye’s, and she had an excellent figure. The only issue was that he didn't know her.

Lu Yang initially wanted to say that he was a cultivator, but his heart softened upon seeing her pitiful expression, and his original words died on his lips.

“Well, sit down and eat then.”

Lu Yang waved to the waiter. “Shopkeer, give us another pair of chopsticks and prepare another bowl of dipping sauce!”

Lu Yang sighed in relief. Good thing Old Meng didn't come; my luck has changed.

“Thank you, thank you.” The peerless woman repeatedly expressed her gratitude.

“Which family’s young miss are you? Did you run away from home and forget to bring money?” Lu Yang asked with a smile.

Although the woman appeared penniless, her clothing was expensive, signifying that she was from a wealthy background, probably a young miss from some noble family who slipped out and forgot her money.

It wasn't Lu Yang's first time encountering someone like this. On previous flying vessels, he had seen young ladies disguised as beggars and smudged with grime. After sneaking aboard, they would get discovered by people from merchant guilds, and some kind-hearted youths would help the young ladies pay their fares.

Realizing that Lu Yang had misunderstood, the woman hurriedly explained, “Forgot to bring money? No, no, I simply forgot that money is needed outside. Where I'm from, we don't use money.”

“Looks like your family has protected you well; you never had to spend money,” Lu Yang teased offhandedly.

“Ready to eat.”

Hearing the food was ready, the woman mimicked Lu Yang's movements. She skilfully picked up a slice of chili-covered yellow beef, dipped it in the sauce, and placed it in her mouth, revealing an expression of bliss.

Lu Yang chuckled. “Come on, you've never eaten this before?”

He admitted that the hotpot in Shu Province was delicious, but not enough to warrant such an exaggerated expression.

The woman blushed at his teasing and smiled sheepishly. “Indeed, I've never eaten anything like this before. I came out just to eat this. Truly delicious.”

The woman genuinely loved the hotpot. Her expression made Lu Yang momentarily wonder whether they were eating the same thing. The passers-by saw a beauty enjoying herself, and they found it a pleasant sight to behold. They involuntarily entered the shop, making the already-packed restaurant even more crowded.

The two wolfed everything down and finished with two bowls of bingfen ice jelly,[2] completely satisfied.

“Waiter, the bill please, and also two pieces of hotpot base.”[3]

“What is a hotpot base? Can you eat it?” the woman asked in puzzlement.

Lu Yang shook his head and smiled. “You can't eat it directly. I'm buying two pieces back for my Big Senior Sister to have a taste.”

Yun Zhi made it a habit to sample local specialities whenever she visited an unfamiliar place, and if circumstances allowed, she would bring some back.

“I’m heading to the Sword Tower in a bit. What are your plans, miss?”

Lu Yang was somewhat worried about the woman. How did her family protect her? And how did she manage to slip out? She looks naive and lacks common sense, yet she's so beautiful. If I leave her here alone, and something happens... The woman pondered. I indeed know little about the outside world, and he seems like a good person, too.

Since I have no urgent matters, I might as well follow him and learn about the outside world.

“Can I follow you?” she asked hesitantly.

“Yes, but once the Sword-Seeking Grand Ceremony ends, I'll have to send you home.” Lu Yang couldn't possibly let her keep following him.

I already have a silly ornament in my mental space; I can't have another one.

“Then thank you, Fellow Daoist,” the woman said earnestly.

“By the way, we've been chatting for so long, yet I still don't know how I should address you. I'm Lu Yang.” Lu Yang introduced himself. His name now rang far and wide; there wasn't a cultivator who didn't recognize it.

The woman showed none of the surprise or shock he expected, as if she hadn't heard of his name. She smiled sweetly. “So it's Fellow Daoist Lu Yang. I'm Yun Mengmeng.”

“So it's Miss Yun... Wait, what did you say your name was?”

1. This is how a jiugongge huoguo looks like. ☜

2. Bingfen is a dessert popular in the summer. There are many variations, and this is one of them. ☜

3. You can buy some and make your own hotpot at home! ☜