580: Lu Xueqi (57)

Although Cultivators could abstain from grains, they did not completely forgo eating. Especially after great exertion, food was an important way to replenish vital energy.

"Let's go down and eat something, and while we're at it, see if there's any news," Su Han said, standing up.

"Great!" Bi Yao joyfully hopped off the bed.

Su Han walked to the next room and lightly knocked on the door.

A moment later, the door opened, and Lu Xueqi was already standing behind it.

She had also bathed and changed clothes, still wearing her white robes with a veil covering her face, but her hair tips were slightly damp, and a faint fragrance emanated from her, indicating she had just finished regulating her Qi.

"Senior Sister Lu, shall we go down for some vegetarian meal?" Su Han asked.

Lu Xueqi nodded.

The three descended the stairs and found a quiet table in a corner of the inn's main hall.

They ordered a few light side dishes and a pot of clear tea.

There were quite a few guests in the hall. Several tables of Jianghu heroes were loudly discussing matters, their voices quite high.

Su Han, Lu Xueqi, and Bi Yao listened intently, hoping to glean some useful information from their conversation.

Initially, most of the talk was about trivial Jianghu matters, sect grievances, or merchant gossip.

It wasn't until a group of people dressed like traveling merchants at a nearby table lowered their voices to discuss a strange occurrence.

"Did you hear? Old Man Wang's place in the west of the city had a ghost haunting a few days ago!"

"Really? Even in Heyang City, under the Emperor's nose, such things happen?"

"Absolutely true! Old Man Wang told me himself. He said when he got up at night to relieve himself, he saw a white shadow floating around the courtyard—it had no feet! It scared him sick for several days!"

"Alas, this world is not peaceful. I came from the south a few days ago and heard that several villages over there experienced strange things. Some entire villages had the same nightmare, and some livestock died suddenly for no reason. It's extremely bizarre!"

"Isn't that right! I also heard that in some desolate wilderness areas, people can hear the sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling at night, and some even claim to have seen ghost soldiers passing by!"

"Shh! Keep it down! This kind of thing is not to be spoken of lightly!"

...

Su Han, Lu Xueqi, and Bi Yao exchanged a look.

Although these folk rumors were often exaggerated and embellished, they were not entirely without cause.

The turmoil from the journey to the Underworld and the imbalance in the Netherworld's order seemed to have begun seeping into the Human Realm.

Just then, they heard another table of burly men carrying weapons discussing matters.

"What do you think caused that celestial phenomenon in the northwest direction a few days ago? I heard experts from several sects went to investigate."

"Who knows? There was thunder and lightning. Some people even said they saw the Ghost Gate Pass open! Perhaps some great expert was Undergoing Tribulation, right?"

"Undergoing Tribulation? I don't think so. Both the Qingyun Sect and the Tianyin Temple seem to have sent Elders over. The matter is probably not simple."

"Heyang City hasn't been peaceful lately either. I heard quite a few unfamiliar faces have arrived—some monks, some Daoists, and people in strange clothing. Something big might be about to happen."

...

Upon hearing 'Qingyun Sect' and 'Tianyin Temple,' Lu Xueqi's gaze tightened slightly.

Su Han whispered, "It seems the commotion at the Underworld entrance has indeed drawn attention from all sides."

Bi Yao pouted, "They came fast. Good thing we slipped away early."

As they were speaking, a commotion suddenly arose from the entrance of the inn.

Several young Disciples wearing Qingyun Sect attire entered, surrounding a handsome young man with extraordinary bearing and a hint of arrogance in his features.

The young man's gaze swept across the hall, and when he spotted Lu Xueqi in the corner, his eyes immediately lit up, and a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face. He strode quickly toward them.

"Junior Sister Lu! It really is you! I heard at the detached residence just now that you were in Heyang City, and I didn't believe it. I never expected to run into you here!"

The young man's voice was gentle, carrying a hint of eagerness.

Su Han and Bi Yao both looked toward Lu Xueqi.

When Lu Xueqi saw who had arrived, her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. She stood up, performed a slight bow, and said in a flat tone, "Senior Brother Qi."

The person who arrived was none other than Qi Hao, the favored Disciple of Cang Song, the Chief of Dragon Head Peak of the Qingyun Sect.

He was also widely recognized within the Qingyun Sect as one of the most talented young Cultivators with a favorable impression of Lu Xueqi.

Qi Hao smiled, "Junior Sister Lu, no need for such formalities. You must be tired from your journey. Why didn't you stay at the detached residence and instead come to this inn?" His gaze swept past Su Han and Bi Yao sitting opposite Lu Xueqi.

When he saw Su Han, a flicker of scrutiny and doubt crossed his eyes.

And when he saw Bi Yao, although Bi Yao made a slight attempt to conceal herself, Qi Hao's cultivation was not weak, and his perception was extraordinary. He vaguely sensed that this woman's aura was unusual, not like someone from the Righteous Path, and his brow immediately furrowed.

"Junior Sister Lu, who are these two...?" Qi Hao's tone carried a hint of inquiry and a subtle wariness.

The atmosphere in the inn's main hall instantly became somewhat delicate due to the arrival of these Qingyun Sect Disciples and Qi Hao's clearly scrutinizing question.

Su Han remained calm, but his heart tensed, knowing trouble had arrived.

Bi Yao, however, curled her lips slightly, revealing an expression of someone enjoying a good show, and sized up Qi Hao and the cool-faced Lu Xueqi with interest.

How Lu Xueqi introduced them would directly determine the subsequent development of the situation.

All eyes were focused on Lu Xueqi.

Lu Xueqi felt Qi Hao's gaze and the faint surrounding attention, yet her cold features showed no emotional fluctuation.

She glanced at Su Han, then glanced at Bi Yao, who appeared unconcerned with the matter, paused briefly in thought, and then spoke clearly, "Senior Brother Qi, this is Fellow Daoist Su Han, who rendered me aid."

She did not mention the matter of the Underworld, only stating 'rendered aid.' This both clarified that Su Han was not an enemy and avoided unnecessary explanations.

Upon hearing this, Qi Hao's gaze toward Su Han softened considerably, even carrying a trace of politeness. He cupped his hands and said, "So it is Fellow Daoist Su. I am Qi Hao of the Qingyun Sect's Dragon Head Peak. Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for assisting Junior Sister Lu."

Su Han rose to return the courtesy, "Senior Brother Qi is too kind. It was just a small effort, not worth mentioning."

Qi Hao nodded, his gaze shifting back to Bi Yao, but the doubt and scrutiny in his eyes had not lessened: "Then this young lady is...?"

Lu Xueqi paused, her tone still flat, "This is Miss Bi Yao, also someone traveling with me."

This introduction was very vague. 'Someone traveling with me' indicated neither their relationship nor clarified her identity.

Bi Yao, however, proactively stood up, smiled, and curtsied to Qi Hao, her voice crisp and sweet, "This humble girl is Bi Yao, greetings to Senior Brother Qi. I often hear Sister Xue Qi mention that Senior Brother Qi is a leading figure among the younger generation of the Qingyun Sect. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation."

Her words were cleverly phrased. She picked up where Lu Xueqi left off, deliberately acted very familiar with Lu Xueqi, and gave Qi Hao a compliment in passing.

Lu Xueqi's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this, but under everyone's gaze, it was inconvenient for her to retort.

Qi Hao was stunned by Bi Yao's words, especially the phrase 'Sister Xue Qi,' which filled his heart with immense astonishment.

Lu Xueqi had a cold disposition and rarely associated closely with Disciples of her generation within the sect, let alone allowing an unidentified woman to address her so intimately.