After detecting their presence, Wen Jiu kept his distance, always maintaining a range of two to three hundred miles from them. As for the origins of these cultivators, Wen Jiu could guess roughly, as there was relevant information in the Yin Yang Cultivatorās soul memory.
There was a ninety percent chance they were from the Hidden Kill Sect, as cultivators from this sect excel at assassination and are adept at stealth techniques.
Since he sensed Hidden Kill Sect cultivators, upon reaching Wind and Cloud Immortal City, Wen Jiu immediately entered the city, preparing to settle Li Mu and the others before heading back to the Little Demon Realm with his sister Wen Ya.
The outside world canāt be stayed in for long.
Better not to encounter Old Six.
After entering the city, the vastness of Wind and Cloud Immortal City, as well as the strength of cultivators coming and going, left Li Mu and the others with many thoughts, temporarily dispelling the gloom in their hearts. As for the arrival of Li Mu and the others, it did not attract any attention.
This was because there were far too many loose cultivators coming and going, entering and exiting Wind and Cloud Immortal City. Cultivators like Li Mu, who are at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, are everywhere. As for low-level Qi Cultivation cultivators like Wang Nian and Chen Daoqing, even less attention is paid.
Regarding their place of stay, Wen Jiu secretly contacted Fang Qian, having him arrange for them to be situated around the Fang Mansion. At the same time, Wen Jiu hinted at his special nature to them, intentionally or unintentionally.
Fang Qian caught on immediately, arranging for Li Mu, Yanyue, Shan Yue Ru, and the others to be accommodated in the Fang Family Trading House that very day. In Wind and Cloud Immortal City, or rather in the entire Divine Fall Mountain Range, the Fang Family Trading House holds considerable power. Otherwise, Fang Qian wouldnāt go out of his way to help people solve all sorts of matters while also becoming the named disciple of Master Pei.
He certainly wouldnāt stay in Wind and Cloud Immortal City, so with Fang Qian covertly assisting, Li Mu and the others had no major issues in the city. But what surprised Wen Jiu was that Fang Qian didnāt charge any Spirit Stones this time.
"Fellow Daoist Li, thereās no need to be so polite," Fang Qian communicated with Divine Sense, tentatively revealing Wen Jiuās alias.
Wen Jiu feigned confusion, not acknowledging his alias, "Is Fellow Daoist Fang speaking to Han Mou?"
Although Wen Jiu didnāt know the meaning behind Fang Qianās actions, and even if Li Muās alias was exposed it didnāt matter much, but Wen Jiu became a bit more vigilant.
Fang Qian seemed certain that Han Li was Li Mu, and he communicated again, "Rest assured, fellow Daoist, Iāve cast a five-year Silencing Spell on this matter, and besides me, no one else knows your identity.
"If youāre still worried, Iāll cast it for another five years!"
After the communication, Fang Qian actually cast a Silencing Spell on himself. This made Wen Jiu suspect whether Fang Qian truly had ill intentions. If Fang Qian wanted to exploit Li Muās alias, he wouldnāt actively cast a Silencing Spell on himself, even if it was just the five-year kind.
At the same time, Wen Jiu was very curious about how Fang Qian guessed that Han Li was Li Mu. Could it be that this guy has extended his influence into the Little Demon Realm?
However, Wen Jiu still didnāt admit it, "Fellow Daoist Fang, you might have mistaken me for someone else, Iām not Li Mu, nor do I know anyone named Li Mu."
Fang Qian smiled helplessly, his voice notably resigned during the Divine Sense communication, "Rest assured, fellow Daoist, only I know about this. To be honest, the Tier Two Top-Grade Artifact Refiner in the Little Demon Realm who helped you advance your Corpse Eye is actually a family uncle, who often provides me intelligence from the Little Demon Realm, including information about the Corpse Eye.
The Corpse Eye, such a Magical Artifact, is rare even if you look across the entire Divine Fall Mountain Range, and itās even more rare if itās a Tier Two Lower Grade. So if Fellow Daoist Han isnāt Li Mu, I truly canāt imagine who else would be."
"The reason you suddenly brought this up today, your purpose isnāt simple, is it?" Wen Jiu didnāt respond directly, instead counter-questioning.
Fang Qian grinned, and seeing that Wen Jiu didnāt deny it again, he was overjoyed and hurriedly explained through communication, "Thereās no particular purpose, just hoping to form a good connection with Fellow Daoist Han. Iāll ensure the people you brought are well-arranged, and tomorrow I will assign them identities as the descendants of a steward from the Fang Family Trading House.
"To avoid drawing attention, I wonāt openly contact them, nor will I probe into their origins. If they have any issues, Iāll resolve them immediately or report to you right away."
After hearing Fang Qianās explanation, Wen Jiu didnāt speculate much further, because Fang Qianās reason indeed had no loopholes. People like Fang Qian, who are adept at solving problems for others and thus avoiding trouble, must have a wide circle of friends. Without many friends, one wouldnāt dare to take money to do things for others.
Since Fang Qian was willing to form a good connection, Wen Jiu naturally had no reason to refuse. Having someone assist Li Mu and the others from the shadows was also beneficial, and Fang Qian had a good reputation for being dependable.
"Then thank you, Fellow Daoist Fang." Wen Jiu cupped his hands, no longer denying that Li Mu was his alias.
Of course.
Nor did he directly admit it.
Leaving everything to Fang Qianās own assumptions.
Fang Qian laughed, "Fellow Daoist Han, no need to be so polite."
After speaking.
Fang Qian was endlessly elated internally.
Being able to befriend such a formidable person, who could kill someone as dangerous as Shen Tu at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, was proof of his strength.
Now that Han Li had also become an Honored Guest Elder of Wind and Cloud Immortal City, once he advanced to the Middle or Late Stage of Foundation Establishment he would definitely be at the core of Wind and Cloud Immortal City, making this bond and friendship invaluable.
The most daunting part is that Han Li has an unusually close relationship with Feng Jue, the newly accepted True Disciple of Master Pei.
...
After leaving the Fang Mansion, Wen Jiu headed straight for the courtyard Fang Qian rented for Li Mu and his peers. Yanyue and Shan Yue Ru shared one room, Li Mu and Chen Daoqing shared another, while Wang Nian and his wife had their own.
Despite being small, these three courtyard rooms were located in the inner city, and thus the rent was not cheap, yet Fang Qian didnāt charge anything.
Wen Jiu wasnāt reserved either, because Fang Qianās background indeed made him worth befriending. As for how to deepen this relationship, it surely depended on mutually burdensome favor exchanges. Fortunately, he also needed someone to provide him with intelligence, so that he wouldnāt be ignorant or unaware while cultivating in the Little Demon Realm.
"Senior Brother Li Mu, Senior Sister Yanyue, Senior Sister Shan Yue Ru, you can cultivate at ease in Wind and Cloud Immortal City from now on. The Fang Family people will keep an eye on you." Wen Jiuās visit also served as a farewell, as the demon corpse had already taken his sister Wen Ya and Mu Changāan to the small courtyard he previously rented, with the intent of preparing to leave Wind and Cloud Immortal City.
Li Mu rushed up and gave Wen Jiu a big hug, encouragingly saying, "Follow Elder Han diligently in your cultivation and stay safe."
"Take care, Junior Brother Wen."
Shan Yue Ru faintly revealed a trace of reluctance.
Yanyue patted Wen Jiu on the shoulder, "Junior Brother, remember to come back from time to time. Weāll always be your family."
Wang Nian and his wife bowed deeply to Wen Jiu as a gesture of gratitude. After entering Wind and Cloud Immortal City, they deeply sensed their own insignificance. After learning the identities of their companions these days, they had even more to reflect upon.
How could the small favors from years ago afford them such a grand opportunity as entering Wind and Cloud Immortal City?
Wen Jiu cupped his fist to the group, then turned and strolled away. He could only do so much, how Li Mu, Wang Nian, and the others would fare in the future, and how far they could go, depended entirely on their own fortunes.
Upon returning to his cultivation residence, his sister Wen Ya had been waiting for some time, with Mu Changāan still awkwardly standing aside. At barely a little over ten years old, he understood that he was already in āanother worldā, without his parentsā pampering, so he didnāt dare speak much, doing whatever Wen Ya instructed.
"Changāan, Sister, letās go." Wen Jiu decided to take Mu Changāan to the Little Demon Realm, not out of fear that Li Mu and the others couldnāt care for Mu Changāan well, but because Mu Changāanās Spirit Root was quite good.
Top-Grade Spirit Root.
And just starting in cultivation, making him quite moldable.
He also carefully observed that Mu Changāanās body was rather unique, naturally possessing some affinity with Yin Evil Qi, making him quite suitable for cultivating the Heterodox Dao. Therefore, Wen Jiu planned to occasionally guide him until he advanced to the Middle or Late Stage of Qi Cultivation, and then send him to Li Mu and the others in Wind and Cloud Immortal City.
"Yes!"
Mu Changāan quickly nodded in response, quietly following Wen Jiuās steps.
Wen Ya subtly moved beside Mu Changāan, holding his hand and smiling lovingly, "Changāan, we are all your family, no need to be so restrained."
"Hmm." Mu Changāan nodded, forcing a smile, but it was clear from his expression that he hadnāt taken the words to heart.
Seeing this, Wen Jiu chuckled silently, just as he was preparing to leave with the demon corpse, when a familiar female cultivatorās voice called out from behind. Without turning around, Wen Jiu extended his Divine Sense, discovering that the person approaching was a Foundation Establishment Stage female cultivator.
He had encountered her twice before, once at Fang Qianās mansion and once at his own doorstep.
[Two Chapters completed.
See you tomorrow.
Asking for monthly tickets!
Hehe.]