8: Chapter 8 News about Tie Ruyun

Hearing a knock at the door, Meng Li withdrew his thoughts, tidied up a bit, and rose to open it.

When the door opened, he found Jiang Yuyan standing there.

She performed a formal bow and said in a crisp voice, "Young Master, it is time for lunch. Would you like to eat downstairs, or shall I have someone bring it to your room?"

Only then did Meng Li notice that it was already noon.

"Have someone bring it to the room," he said, then added, "Have you and your mother eaten yet?"

As for Zhang Shan, Li Shi, and Wang Wu...

They had been by Meng Li's side for quite some time and knew his ways; when circumstances allowed, they would time their own meals without needing to be asked.

Jiang Yuyan shook her head. "My mother took her medicine and is sleeping soundly. She will eat later."

"This servant will eat after serving the Young Master's meal."

"Fine, then have them bring the food here. Bring two sets of bowls and chopsticks."

"Yes."

A moment later, the waiter brought the food. After setting it out, he said, "Please enjoy your meal, guest," and departed.

"Sit down and eat with me," Meng Li said to Jiang Yuyan.

Jiang Yuyan shook her head. "This servant will attend to the Young Master first and eat later."

Meng Li said, "There is no one else here, and I don't have the habit of being served while I eat."

Jiang Yuyan wanted to refuse again, but before she could speak, her stomach let out a loud growl.

She couldn't help but look embarrassed and lowered her head.

Meng Li gave a soft laugh. "Sit down."

Jiang Yuyan glanced at him. Seeing that although he was smiling, there was no disdain or mockery, the embarrassment in her heart dissipated slightly, replaced by a touch of warmth. Thus, she said, "This servant is overstepping," and plucked up the courage to take a seat as told.

Meng Li said no more and began eating on his own.

At first, Jiang Yuyan was a bit cautious, but after a while, seeing that Meng Li's demeanor was natural and that he truly didn't mind her eating with him, she gradually relaxed.

But as she ate, her eyes reddened, and tears began to fall one by one.

Meng Li stopped eating, reached into his robe for the handkerchief he carried, and handed it over.

Jiang Yuyan subconsciously took it. Only after wiping her tears did she realize she wasn't using her own coarse cloth sleeve, but a soft handkerchief.

For a moment, she felt overwhelmed by the favor. "Young Master..."

Meng Li understood her meaning and said nonchalantly, "It's just a handkerchief; it was meant for you to wipe your tears."

He then changed the subject. "Why the sudden tears? Is the food not to your taste, or did it remind you of something sad?"

Jiang Yuyan shook her head repeatedly and explained, "No, it's just that the Young Master is too kind to this servant! I have never met someone as good as the Young Master, nor have I ever eaten such a fine meal."

After saying this, her tears began to fall again.

Meng Li remained silent.

From Jiang Yuyan's own account in the original story and Xiao Baiyan's earlier narration, Jiang Yuyan's previous life had indeed been quite miserable, worse even than the children of ordinary commoners.

After a short while, he said gently, "Then eat more."

"When you're finished, come out with me to handle some business."

"Yes."

...

Once the meal was over, Meng Li gave some instructions to the now-awake Xiao Baiyan and then left the Inn with Jiang Yuyan and his two followers.

After walking for a while, the group arrived at a Bookstore.

This Bookstore was a property Meng Li had established in this area, specializing in novel storybookss.

The source of these storybookss was, naturally, Meng Li, the literary plagiarist.

His main purpose for coming was to check the accounts, deliver newly written chapters, and incidentally collect the latest news from the Martial Forest.

Therefore, as soon as they arrived at the shop, Meng Li went inside to speak with the Bookstore manager.

The two followers and Jiang Yuyan waited outside.

Jiang Yuyan was somewhat surprised to learn that the Bookstore was Meng Li's property, and she soon became curious about the storybookss the shop featured. She had vaguely heard others mention the names of some of them and had heard snippets of the plots, but she didn't know the specific details.

Previously, her very survival had been an issue; she had no energy or inclination to read storybookss or listen to tales.

The titles and fragments of the stories were things she had only overheard while doing odd jobs in restaurants and teahouses.

Her curiosity now was because they were connected to Meng Li.

On the other side, after checking the accounts and handing over the new chapters, Meng Li confirmed everything was in order and asked the Bookstore manager for news of the Jianghu.

The manager knew that his young master was a member of the Jianghu and was interested in such news, so he had naturally kept an eye out.

Being asked now, he smiled and said, "If we're talking about the most talked-about event in the Jianghu lately, it would be the 'Mad Lion' Tie Ruyun overpowering the experts of the eight great Schools at this year's Heroes Convention to be elected as the Wulin Alliance Leader..."

The 'Mad Lion' Tie Ruyun overpowered the masses to be elected Wulin Alliance Leader?

Meng Li's gaze sharpened as he pondered.

This event was mentioned in the original story, and Tie Ruyun was the father of one of the heroines, Tie Xinlan.

According to the original plot, not long after Tie Ruyun became the Wulin Alliance Leader, he was ambushed by mysterious experts while traveling and went missing. About half a year later, the various Sect Heads and Jiang Biehe convened another Heroes Convention, intending to elect a new Wulin Alliance Leader.

To find her father's whereabouts, Tie Xinlan took her maid, Xiao Xiao, to Mount Huang, where the Heroes Convention was held, and there she encountered Xiao Yuer and Hua Wuchuan.

Now that Tie Ruyun has been elected Wulin Alliance Leader, it means the official plot is about to begin.

Furthermore, in this life, Meng Li had long since crossed paths with Tie Ruyun and Tie Xinlan.

The Meng family he was born into in this life belonged to the landowning class, and the place they occupied was called Meng Family Village.

The place where Tie Ruyun and Tie Xinlan lived was called Tie Family Village.

The two places were not far apart and could be called "neighbors"; moreover, both families were part of the Jianghu, so some interaction was inevitable.

Meng Li's father in this life was considered a good friend of Tie Ruyun.

Meng Li himself had also received favors from Tie Ruyun.

When his parents died in this life, he was only ten years old, having just broken through the 'Mystery of the Womb' and regained his memories of his past life.

At that time, many people saw his youth and coveted the inheritance left by his parents; it was Tie Ruyun who stepped in to help stabilize the situation.

Because of this, Meng Li was able to develop steadily for a period and eventually took over Meng Family Village smoothly.

With this debt of gratitude, he naturally could not let Tie Ruyun have his cultivation drained by Liu Xi and die as in the original story.

However, Meng Li did not remember the exact time of Tie Ruyun's disappearance very clearly, only that it happened during a trip and was related to the Eastern Depot. But as a man of the Jianghu, it was common for Tie Ruyun to travel. Not to mention he was now the Wulin Alliance Leader and had to preside over the affairs of the Martial Forest; his travels would only increase.

With current travel conditions, it was common for people of the Jianghu to spend ten days to half a month on a long journey, and it wasn't rare for them not to return for several months.

Otherwise, in the original story, Tie Xinlan wouldn't have waited until Tie Ruyun had been missing for half a year before going out to look for him.

So, how could he ensure Tie Ruyun escaped that disaster?

This was a question worth considering.

The most direct way would be to kill Liu Xi, the person creating the problem.

But that fellow was the director of the Eastern Depot and a close official of the Emperor; he spent most of his time in the Imperial Palace.

Storming or infiltrating the Imperial Palace was no easy feat.

In the original story, Xiao Yuer and the others could enter the Imperial Palace as if it were nothing because Jiang Yuyan had become the Emperor's favored consort.

Furthermore, Liu Xi was incredibly slippery; in the original story, he would retreat or flee the moment things looked bad.

To use a phrase Meng Li knew well from his previous life, this guy was an "Eastern Depot Jerry."

Thinking of this, Meng Li sighed inwardly.

He could only have people pay more attention to Tie Ruyun's movements.

Additionally, he had to find opportunities to increase his own strength.

...