Chapter 238: Flowing Clouds
Ning Zhuo himself had some skills in tailoring.
He had stored some original materials of floating clouds, intending to use them for practice when he had time.
As for these floating cloud threads, he would first inspect their quality, and once confirmed, he would directly refine them into the floating cloud handkerchief, enhancing the foundation of this magical tool.
What Ning Zhuo didn’t know was that Zhu Xuanji was not far behind him.
The mask Ning Zhuo wore wasn’t particularly powerful.
It could only slightly deceive ordinary cultivators, and many elites in the Foundation Establishment stage could easily detect flaws in Ning Zhuo’s disguise with a small spell.
But this was exactly what Ning Zhuo had intended.
The purpose was to create an impression for cultivators like Zhu Xuanji and other Golden Core cultivators that he wasn’t skilled in disguise.
Since the Golden Core chaotic battle, Ning Zhuo had been performing in his daily actions, assuming that Golden Core cultivators were constantly observing him.
However, Zhu Xuanji hadn’t followed him into the Yunshang residence.
Zhu Xuanji merely glanced at Ning Zhuo before turning and entering an alley.
In a dead-end alley, he walked straight ahead and collided with the wall.
The wall was merely a facade.
In the next moment, Zhu Xuanji entered a small courtyard.
"Brother, it’s been many years, and you seem to be well."
A short young man had been waiting for some time and greeted him with a cheerful smile.
His name was Zhu Zhen, a member of the Southern Dou royal family.
Unlike Zhu Xuanji, Zhu Zhen had been secretly trained by the royal family from an early age, spending years wandering outside, collecting first-hand intelligence for the royal family.
In recent years, Zhu Zhen had been in Feiyun Country, searching for its secrets.
Zhu Xuanji and Zhu Zhen were very close, almost growing up together.
Seeing Zhu Zhen, Zhu Xuanji’s face lit up with joy.
He walked up to Zhu Zhen, extending both hands to clap Zhu Zhen’s arms forcefully, saying, "Little brother, finally, I see you again! How’s the food in Feiyun Country? I remember you can't do without spicy food."
Zhu Zhen nodded, "Actually, it’s not bad. Over in Feiyun Country, because it rains a lot and the weather is humid, the dishes are naturally spicy."
"But their spiciness is somewhat different from the kind we have in Southern Dou Country."
"Hah, it’s a small matter; you get used to it after eating it often."
After saying this, Zhu Zhen led Zhu Xuanji inside, warmly entertaining him.
"This tea is quite special, harvested from tea trees in the Wanxiang Cloud Sea. Have a taste."
Zhu Xuanji looked at the teacup. The floating cloud tea leaves were slender, silver-white in color, and the tea buds were covered with a layer of bluish-green light, like fine fur.
He lightly sniffed the tea.
The fragrance was fresh and unique, like the scent of mountain wilderness in the morning mist.
Zhu Xuanji took a sip. The tea was clear and bright, instantly dissolving in his mouth, giving him a refreshing sensation as if he were in a sea of clouds.
As the tea slowly left a sweet aftertaste in his mouth, the flavor became richer, with a faint sweetness, like the dew hidden within the clouds, layered and full.
Finally, Zhu Xuanji exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling the tea's lingering charm, the sweet aftertaste, and the refreshing scent left in his mouth, like the fresh air after the clouds had dispersed, making him feel invigorated.
Though Zhu Xuanji had traveled far and wide, constantly on the move, he was of royal descent and a noble, skilled in the art of tea appreciation.
"Indeed, this is excellent tea!" Zhu Xuanji praised.
Zhu Zhen laughed heartily, "If my brother likes it, that’s great. Before I leave here and head back to the capital, I’ll send you two pounds."
"Don’t think it’s too little."
"This cloud tea is extremely rare. I only managed to get five pounds in total!"
The two continued drinking tea and chatting, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Although they hadn’t seen each other for many years, the bond they had from growing up together had only deepened over time, like fine wine that had aged.
After chatting for a while, they began discussing future plans.
Zhu Xuanji asked, "Since you’ve returned from Feiyun Country this time, you won’t be going back anytime soon, will you?"
Zhu Zhen nodded, "I’ve already received a secret order to return to the capital. It just so happened that this Yunshang caravan was heading to Southern Dou Country to do business, so I disguised myself as a worker and joined them for a free ride."
"According to my original mission, I still had about half a year left."
"But I think this sudden recall must mean the domestic situation is quite tense. I’ve heard rumors that the Su family has been acting up frequently, and the political situation in the country isn’t stable."
Zhu Xuanji immediately showed an awkward expression and told him how he had uncovered corruption in Xuanlin City, leading to the Su family’s disgrace.
Zhu Zhen laughed heartily, pointing at Zhu Xuanji, "Big brother, you’re still the same as ever."
He raised his teacup, "I can’t drink alcohol right now, so I’ll have to toast with tea."
The two clinked their teacups and drank the tea as if it were wine, both feeling satisfied and happy.
Zhu Zhen then asked about Zhu Xuanji’s recent situation.
Zhu Xuanji briefly explained, then hesitated for a moment before saying, "Since you’re here, I’d like to ask for your help."
Zhu Zhen immediately patted his chest, "Brother, just say the word. Whatever I can do, I’ll give it my all!"
Zhu Xuanji showed a trace of hesitation, opened his mouth, and after a while, finally spoke, "I’d like you to investigate someone for me. After all, your investigative methods are much more thorough than mine."
Zhu Zhen quickly waved his hand, "Brother, don’t say that. You have the Celestial Golden Eyes. Is there any disguise that can fool your eyes? Compared to your natural talent, my methods are just acquired skills."
But Zhu Xuanji shook his head, "To be honest, I’ve been reflecting these past few days on whether I’ve become too reliant on the Celestial Golden Eyes."
"In fact, if I set aside my talent and the ability to see through lies, do I really have the ability to investigate cases?"
Zhu Zhen was surprised because Zhu Xuanji’s current demeanor didn’t match the impression he had.
He had never seen Zhu Xuanji so uncertain before.
Then, when Zhu Xuanji told him who he wanted to investigate, Zhu Zhen’s eyes widened slightly, staring at Zhu Xuanji in disbelief, asking, "Big brother, are you sure?"
"You want someone like me, a Golden Core cultivator, to investigate a junior in the Qi Refining stage?"
"Are you serious?"
Zhu Xuanji nodded slowly, his expression serious, "I’m serious. Go ahead and investigate with all your might."
"Oh, by the way, he’s nearby shopping right now. I’ll take you to him."
At that moment, Ning Zhuo was browsing around in a large shop.
To distinguish the scale of shops in Yunshi, it was actually quite easy—just look at how tall the buildings were.
Feiyun Country seemed to revere height, with the taller the building, the higher the status, and this also applied to the shops.
The large shop Ning Zhuo was in was one of the tallest buildings in the entire Yunshi.
This shop sold only one type of magical tool or treasure, and that was *Xingyun* (Flowing Clouds).
These were practical tools that helped cultivators fly and move quickly.
The shop assistant saw Ning Zhuo and smiled, proactively promoting the goods.
"Young master, what kind of *Xingyun* are you looking to buy?"
Ning Zhuo smiled, "Your store’s selection is so vast, it’s overwhelming. Can you give me a recommendation?"
The assistant said, "If young master is purely seeking the experience of fast flying, then I recommend this classic *Xingyun* magical tool—the Somersault Cloud."
"The Somersault Cloud’s advantage lies in its lightness and agility, making it ideal for beginners. Its turning is very responsive, and it can even somersault freely in the air, making it great for long-distance travel."
Ning Zhuo looked at the Somersault Cloud.
This type of *Xingyun* was generally yellow, ranging from egg yolk yellow to duckling yellow.
He picked up a Somersault Cloud and examined it closely.
The Somersault Cloud wasn’t as thin and soft as a normal cloud. Instead, its surface was quite elastic, like a ball of gluten dough.
Ning Zhuo pressed it slightly, and the Somersault Cloud caved in. When he released his hand, it quickly bounced back, showing its elasticity.
Ning Zhuo returned the Somersault Cloud to the assistant.
The assistant continued, "If you wish to fly slowly and showcase your elegance, then I recommend this one—the Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud."
"This type of magical tool, when flying in the air, is colorful and radiant, emitting a soft glow that’s quite eye-catching."
"Though its flying speed isn’t fast, it’s extremely stable. It’s rumored that the Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud can even bring good luck."
"Imagine this: a beauty encounters danger, and at the moment of crisis, you descend from the sky on this Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud."
"With just a little effort, you solve the beauty’s troubles. By then, wouldn’t she be throwing herself into your arms? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?"
Ning Zhuo chuckled and shook his head again, "I’ll keep looking."
He left the assistant and walked upstairs.
The higher he went, the better the quality and grade of the *Xingyun*.
Soon, Ning Zhuo saw a cloud of greenish-blue.
This green cloud had a jade-like luster, floating quietly in mid-air, its cloud essence not dissipating, but condensed into a cluster.
However, unlike the Somersault Cloud, which was tightly compacted, this green cloud still maintained the ethereal feel of a cloud.
It also wasn’t as ostentatious as the Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud. Its understated green color appealed to Ning Zhuo.
After all, he was also modest and always sought to remain low-key.
A shop assistant saw Ning Zhuo and immediately greeted him with a smile.
But someone was faster than him.
"This is the Stepping Green Cloud. Its flight is very stable and reliable, with no bumps at all. Usually, mid-level and higher-level members of sects use such *Xingyun* to show their status."
"It’s said that using it can also improve one’s official fortune. Of course, I believe that’s just a sales gimmick from the shop."
The person who came up to Ning Zhuo wasn’t anyone else—it was Zhu Xuanji.
Ning Zhuo quickly bowed and greeted him loudly, "Lord Zhu."
"Lord Zhu, you truly live up to your reputation as a detective, even being so knowledgeable about our Feiyun Country’s *Xingyun*."
The shop assistant, seeing a Golden Core cultivator arriving, quickly picked up the pace, his smile growing even wider.
(End of Chapter)