The two of them walked into the Elegant Gathering Pavilion, noticing that the light inside the shop was slightly dim, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and the aroma of old books and ink.
On a few rows of shelves made from pear wood, there were various old porcelains, jade artifacts, calligraphy, and paintings randomly placed. They were all mundane items, without any trace of Spiritual Light.
A middle-aged man with a thin, gaunt face, wearing a long robe made of blue cloth that had been washed until it was faded, was sitting behind the counter. He was engrossed in reading a volume of yellowed ancient text, not even raising his head to glance at the two who entered.
"Uncle Zhao." Li Qiuyun stepped forward, her voice clear and crisp, "We wish to inquire about some news."
Only then did the middle-aged man slowly put down the book, lazily casting a glance at them: "The Elegant Gathering Pavilion sells only antiques, not information. If you wish to find antique calligraphy and paintings, you are welcome to look around. If you are here to gather information, you may have come to the wrong place."
Li Qiuyun’s brows slightly furrowed, and she took out a small silver token, gently placing it on the counter: "My father, Li Yanfeng."
The middle-aged man’s gaze slightly tightened when he saw the token, and the lazy expression on his face subsided slightly.
He picked up the token and examined it carefully for a moment before looking again at Li Qiuyun, his tone becoming slightly more courteous: "So, you are Instructor Li’s daughter; I apologize for not recognizing you. In the past, I owe my life to Instructor Li’s kindness... What would Miss Li and this Taoist friend like to inquire about?"
"We want to know something about the Xu family at Moon Rhinoceros Lake." Li Qiuyun directly stated her purpose.
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man’s eyebrows slightly twitched: "The Xu family? The Xu family at Moon Rhinoceros Lake is a prestigious family in Guang’an County, with considerable influence. I wonder what aspect of the Xu family you wish to inquire about? Is it business dealings or the family’s secrets?"
Chen Ye took a step forward and said solemnly, "We want to know if the Xu family has some kind of... unique bloodline illness that causes a person to become irritable when it flares up?"
The middle-aged man pondered, his fingers slightly bent, tapping on the table:
"Yes, but also no."
After saying this, the man fell silent.
What does this mean?
Chen Ye’s eyelid twitched; was he playing some kind of mind game?
Fortunately,
He didn’t play too many games, fiddled with the token for a while, and then slowly continued:
"The Xu family has a long heritage, they are a branch of the Xu family from the Ruins Country, who migrated here three hundred years ago. But the Xu family from the Ruins Country did not have any bloodline illness... which means the Xu family at Moon Rhinoceros might have an ailment, but it’s not necessarily hereditary; it might be due to some external influence..."
The middle-aged man’s words were extremely vague, sometimes saying perhaps, sometimes saying not necessarily.
But after hearing what he said, Chen Ye was startled.
The Xu family doesn’t have a bloodline illness!
But they indeed have an ailment that causes moodiness when it flares up.
There are too many secrets hidden behind this issue, especially for Chen Ye, who knows Qing Jun’s true identity.
Chen Ye remembered very clearly that the more Qing Jun used the power from her bloodline, the more frenzied she became. Her madness was undoubtedly related to her bloodline.
But the problem is, the Xu family’s bloodline has no issues...
Could it be... Qing Jun is actually not of the Xu family bloodline?
And the Xu family is actually influenced by the True Dragon bloodline?
"What could possibly influence them?" Chen Ye closely watched the middle-aged man, continuing his questioning.
The middle-aged man scrutinized Chen Ye for a moment, seemingly evaluating something, and then spoke:
"Perhaps it’s the Xu family’s Cultivation Technique, or maybe some curse... As for deeper reasons, it’s likely only the ancestors of the Moon Rhinoceros Xu family know; even today’s Xu family may not fully understand, let alone the Listening Wind Pavilion?"
Chen Ye’s brows furrowed tightly; one of his main purposes for this trip was Qing Jun’s "illness."
The words Xu Qingsong said had always left a thorn in his heart.
Now, the remarks from the Listening Wind Pavilion made him even more suspicious.
He pondered for a moment, then changed the topic: "Then... has there been any news of Mao Qingzhu, Taoist Friend Mao, lately? If one were to find her, how should they go about it?"
Chen Ye came to Moon Rhinoceros District to find Mao Qingzhu.
However, what surprised Chen Ye was that in the Moon Rhinoceros District, not to mention Mao Qingzhu, even the presence of the Mao family was extremely low.
Even Li Qiuyun from the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District had hardly any impression of the Mao family!
The middle-aged man replied, "Indeed, she returned to the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District with the Xu family caravan a month ago and should now be with the Mao family. However... Madam Mao is a recluse, making it difficult to visit her, and similarly, the Mao family is a withdrawn family, located in the Divine Mist Valley, not in contact with the outside world, making it hard to find."
Divine Mist Valley!
This place is near the Mist Forest, enveloped in clouds and fog all year round, with an Illusion Array; it’s where the Mao family resides.
According to the middle-aged man, the Mao family is secluded, and with this Illusion Array, it may be difficult to find Mao Qingzhu, and he has only a month, while also unable to alarm the Xu family...
Just as Chen Ye’s heart sank,
The middle-aged man faintly smiled again:
"But for the Listening Wind Pavilion, it is not a problem. However... Taoist Friend Li, Instructor Li once saved my life, so I owe him a favor..."
As he spoke, he suddenly looked at Li Qiuyun, his implication very evident.
If he were to help Chen Ye, it would mean spending this favor.
Li Qiuyun did not hesitate; bringing Chen Ye to the Listening Wind Pavilion, she was already mentally prepared.
Although this was an emergency lifesaving item left to her by her father...
Before Chen Ye could object, Li Qiuyun reached out her delicate hand to hold Chen Ye’s, then looked at the middle-aged man:
"Uncle Zhao, let’s use this favor in exchange."
The middle-aged man nodded: "Although the Mao family is secluded, the Listening Wind Pavilion has painstakingly placed a person in the Mao family, who is exactly Mao Qingzhu’s maid. By using the Secret Technique of the Listening Wind Pavilion, Taoist Friend Chen can disguise himself as a woman and infiltrate the Divine Mist Valley."