210: Chapter 210 Congratulatory Gift

The walls of Qingshan City glowed with a warm luster in the setting sun, and the city gates were bustling with traffic, even more lively than Yunzhou Prefecture.

As soon as Lin Tian and Su Xiaoyue's carriage entered the city gate, they saw a row of colorful reception tents set up along the street, under which stood several young men dressed in Mu Family Disciple robes, welcoming guests with beaming smiles.

Su Xiaoyue poked her head out of the carriage, and an observant Mu Family Disciple immediately stepped forward, cupping his hands in a salute, his voice carrying the hearty tone unique to the locals of Qingshan City.

The two reported their identities—Personal Disciples of Zixia Peak of the Qixia Sect, sent on orders to offer birthday congratulations to the Old Master of the Mu Family.

The attitude of that Mu Family Disciple immediately became several degrees more respectful; while ordering a companion to help lead the horses, he personally guided the two inside.

His gaze lingered on Su Xiaoyue's face for a moment, his earlobes turning slightly red, and his tone softened unconsciously: "Senior Sister Su, you have had a tiring journey. Please, come inside, come inside; the guest rooms have long been prepared."

Su Xiaoyue tucked the loose hair at her temples behind her ears and nodded slightly, a perfectly poised, reserved smile hanging on the corners of her lips.

The Mu Family Disciple was so dazzled by her smile that he nearly tripped over the threshold, quickly grabbing the doorframe to steady himself, and continued to lead the way with even greater attentiveness.

Su Xiaoyue followed behind him, glancing at Lin Tian walking beside her from the corner of her eye, and gave a soft huff in her heart.

This was the attitude others should have toward her.

This Lin Tian was simply a block of wood, completely unreasonable.

The main street of Qingshan City was several yards wider than the markets of Yunzhou Prefecture, and the bluestone pavement had been polished smooth as a mirror by the passage of time.

Shops stood in rows along both sides of the street, and the banners of teahouses and taverns fluttered gently in the evening breeze.

Because of the Old Master of the Mu Family's birthday, the street was several times more crowded than usual, filled with Martial Artists from outside in all sorts of robes; some carried swords, others rode Spirit Beasts, gathering in small groups by the roadside to discuss the scale of the Mu Family's birthday banquet.

Su Xiaoyue looked around as she walked, her almond-shaped eyes filled with wonder.

The Mu Family estate was situated on the north side of Qingshan City, built against the mountain, with layers of pavilions lighting up with strings of lanterns in the twilight.

The stone lions in front of the main gate of the estate were a full ten feet tall, looking imposing with their bared fangs and claws.

The steward led Lin Tian and Su Xiaoyue to the guest rooms in the east wing; their rooms were right next to each other, separated only by a carved wooden wall.

Su Xiaoyue pushed open the window of her room and glanced out; the garden in the estate was brightly lit, with rockeries, flowing water, and pavilions, making it even more impressive than her residence in the Sect.

She put down her luggage, washed her face, and then impatiently grabbed a Mu Family female Disciple, begging her to take her out to stroll through the night market of Qingshan City.

Lin Tian, however, went to attend to official business first.

He took the brocade-wrapped sandalwood box from his luggage, carried it with both hands, and found the Mu Family's steward Elder, handing over the five-jin, ten-year-old Treasure Fish in person.

The Mu Family Elder lifted the lid to take a look; the silver-white Treasure Fish was slowly flicking its tail in the Spirit Spring water, and the luster shimmering on its scales made the wrinkles on his face smooth out.

He thanked him repeatedly, personally recording it in the gift registry, and then engaged Lin Tian in a long string of polite pleasantries.

When Lin Tian came out of the steward's hall, the sky had completely darkened, and all the lanterns in the estate were lit, casting a colorful glow everywhere.

The mission was complete; all that was left was to attend the birthday banquet and then he could leave.

However, the birthday banquet would not officially begin for another two days, so he decided to take advantage of this interval to go out and look around.

The night market in Qingshan City was even livelier than he had imagined.

The long street was hung with colorful lanterns on both sides, street food vendors were shouting at the top of their lungs, and stalls selling Spirit Beast Materials were lined up in a row, with Martial Artists occasionally crouching down to sift through piles of animal bones.

Lin Tian had walked halfway down the street aimlessly and was just about to turn into a side alley to see if there were any medicinal herb shops when he suddenly heard a tentative greeting from behind him.

"Lin Tian? Is that you, Lin Tian?"

The voice was somewhat familiar, carrying a hint of uncertain hesitation.

Lin Tian turned around and saw a young man in a green robe standing under a lantern across the street, holding an account book in his hand.

The moment the young man saw his face clearly, the hesitation on his face turned into undisguised excitement; he crossed the flow of people on the street in a few strides and grabbed his arm: "It really is you! I thought I had mistaken you for someone else! What are you doing in Qingshan City?"

Liu Yunfeng.

A friend Lin Tian had known back in Heishan City; when he was still an ordinary Disciple at a martial arts school, the Liu Family had provided him with Cultivate resources for a period of time.

He kept this kindness in his heart, but he had not expected to meet an old acquaintance here.

He smiled and patted Liu Yunfeng on the shoulder: "It's a long story; I'm here to deliver a congratulatory gift to the Mu Family. What about you? Why are you here?"

Liu Yunfeng pointed to a shop not far behind him with a sign that read "Liu's Medicinal Herbs," the smile on his face stalling slightly: "Our Liu Family opened a branch here, and I came over to manage it. Business is passable, it's just that—"

He hesitated, leaving his sentence unfinished, a bitter expression appearing at the corners of his mouth.

Lin Tian took a look but did not continue to press him on the street; he pulled Liu Yunfeng into a private room in a nearby teahouse, sat down, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it in front of him: "What is it? If you have any difficulties, just tell me straight."

"You helped me back in Heishan City; if there is anything I can help with now, I will certainly do it."

Liu Yunfeng looked down at the steam rising from the teacup and remained silent for a good while; unable to withstand Lin Tian's repeated inquiries, he finally revealed the truth.

The Liu Family was an outside merchant Family with no Foundation in Qingshan City, and from the very first day they opened, they had been ostracized by local competitors.

Recently, someone had even set their sights on their shop, coming to cause trouble every few days—

Liu Yunfeng had reported it to the authorities, but when the City Patrol came, they only smoothed things over, and the troublemakers became even more unscrupulous afterward.

Lin Tian set down his teacup, his eyebrows raising slightly: "Who is it?"

Liu Yunfeng gave a bitter smile and lowered his voice: "It's a Disciple of the Mu Family. His name is Mu Yuanqing. He doesn't count as a core figure in the Mu Family, but he is a member of the Mu Family after all."

"The Mu Family is the local tyrant in Qingshan City; let alone ordinary merchants, even those reputable martial arts schools dare not provoke the Mu Family."

He reached out to press Lin Tian's wrist, his tone becoming more earnest: "Lin Tian, forget it. I appreciate your good intentions, but this is Qingshan City, not our Heishan City."

"You cannot imagine the influence the Mu Family has here; I don't want you to provoke the Mu Family because of my affairs."

After listening, Lin Tian did not show the grave or retreating expression that Liu Yunfeng had expected.

He leaned back in his chair, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.

A regular Disciple of the Mu Family.

If Liu Yunfeng had offended a Young Master of the Mu Family or a core descendant, he would indeed need to weigh things carefully.

But a peripheral Disciple? He really wasn't afraid of that.

He was a Personal Disciple of Peak Master Su Hanyan of Zixia Peak of the Qixia Sect, an Elder of the Yunhai Fishery, and he had just personally handed a ten-year-old Treasure Fish to the Mu Family Elder.

When the Mu Family Elder spoke to him, he was polite, calling him "Young Master Lin" every other sentence.

For a peripheral Mu Family Disciple to use the Family's name to bully outside merchants, such a matter could likely be resolved just by saying a word to the Mu Family's steward Elder.

He pushed the teacup toward Liu Yunfeng again, his tone calm but firm: "Alright, you don't need to worry about this anymore. Tomorrow I will go to the Mu Family and have a word; for a small matter like this, there shouldn't be any problem."