Chapter 30 - Is It Funny That the Reincarnated Senior Sister Is Also Being Pursued?

A couple seeking a child arrived in Suzhou City. For the citizens of Suzhou, who habitually visited the Joy Temple to pray and offer incense, this wasn't particularly noteworthy news. Countless couples, including affluent merchants, made similar pilgrimages every year. However, this couple stood out. The husband was remarkably handsome, and as soon as he settled in Suzhou, his portrait swiftly adorned the quarters of young maidens throughout the city. His wife was even more extraordinary, her ethereal beauty leaving onlookers feeling as if they were basking in the warmth of a spring breeze or returning to their mother’s embrace. The couple was a perfect match, captivating everyone’s attention upon their arrival. Curiosity about their reason for coming to Suzhou piqued across the city. After some investigation by the curious, it was discovered that they hailed from a wealthy family in the central plains. They fell in love during a temple fair a few years ago and soon married. Unfortunately, three years into their marriage, they had not produced any offspring, causing increasing tensions within the family. This prompted them to elope. On their journey, they sought medical advice wholeheartedly, which eventually led them to Suzhou City and the famed Joy Temple. After settling down, their quest to find a solution for childbirth continued. To cover medical costs, the husband took a job at a nearby book house run by Taixu Manor as a transcriber. His wife, demonstrating her wifely diligence, helped alleviate financial burdens by selling tofu at their doorstep every morning. Her beauty earned her the nickname the "Tofu Beauty." Daily, people crowded around her tofu stand, not only for the bean curd, but perhaps for a glimpse of her. Everyone sang the praises of the "Tofu Beauty," commending not just her looks but her gentle personality, akin to the tofu she sold – soft and tender. Alas, she was spoken for. In private gatherings, many speculated when the lord of the nearby Taixu Manor, known for his unruly nature, would make a move on her. After all, his reputed fondness for married women was infamous… "Sis, this storyline seems awfully cliché, doesn’t it? Even mortal tales from a decade ago weren’t this predictable," Mu Jianli remarked, watching Bai Lian being examined by an old physician, her voice laden with helplessness. Initially, they grappled with drawing the attention of Taixu Manor. But upon learning of the young master's interest in married women, Bai Lian whimsically decided to sell tofu, calling it a clever bait. Yet, judging by the turnout, she caught the hearts of not only half the men in Suzhou but women as well. It was a common occurrence, reminiscent of Bai Lian's popularity back in the Taihua Sword Sect, rivaling her presence in Suzhou. Still, Mu Jianli couldn't help but taste bitterness whenever imagining Bai Lian's smiles shared with irrelevant strangers. She desperately wished to lock her senior in a basement where smiles were for her eyes alone... Bai Lian shivered suddenly. How odd; why was there a tang of jealousy in the air? Did her freshly made tofu spoil overnight? Shaking her head, she dismissed the thoughts and replied, "Cliché? No, it's a well-loved classic, don’t you think?" "Taixu Manor, as a minion of evil, engages in countless wicked deeds, which makes them inherently guilty," Bai Lian explained. "If we approached them directly, it might raise their suspicions. It’s better to have them come to us and save us the trouble." "But when will they approach? We need to expose the Tang family's traitor and gain their aid quickly; otherwise, we won’t be able to protect Suzhou's citizens," Mu Jianli pointed out, furrowing her brow. Cultivators were indeed powerful, but their numbers were few, and they were not omniscient. If they were, there'd be no such thing as conspiracy. In her previous life, failing to detect the spy Joy Temple planted in the Tang family led to the family's annihilation and Suzhou’s fall, a tragedy that haunted her for long. Reborn, she was determined to avoid repeating past mistakes. Joy Temple's practitioners made up less than one-tenth of the threat, and Taihua Sword Sect could handle them, but the remaining rogue cultists scattered about required the city guards and constables. And the city lord of Suzhou… was none other than Tang Mingli, head of the Tang family. The Tang mansion had been deeply infiltrated by the Joy Temple. No one knew how many spies were within, and Suzhou's political landscape was complex, with the temple holding significant sway. Even if there was intent to eradicate the cult, a pretext couldn’t easily be found. "Don’t worry; it won’t be long," Bai Lian assured. From what she knew, the young master of Taixu Manor, despite his refined façade, was a notorious scoundrel, targeting married women. He had leveraged Joy Temple’s influence over the years, seizing many women. In the past, Tang Chuhuan often grumbled to her about it, but Taixu Manor had become an untouchable local tyrant, and the Tang family was powerless against them. Such a lawless young master was unlikely to leave a defenseless "Tofu Beauty" alone. As they conversed through whispers, the old physician withdrew his hand, a troubled look on his face. "This... this..." "I'm sorry, my skills are insufficient to determine why the couple cannot conceive." "What?!" Bai Lian immediately rose, her voice bristling with annoyance, "You boasted about having a solution before coming, yet now you find nothing?!" The old physician, crestfallen but unable to argue, had promised results he couldn’t deliver, which was certainly embarrassing. "Forget it," Bai Lian feigned frustration, waving her hand dismissively, "I never expected much from you doctors anyway. Consider this money for your trouble; take it and leave quickly." She tossed some coins on the table. Truth be told, she hadn’t lied; no matter how they examined the situation, these mortal physicians could never find the true reason for her inability to conceive. After all, how could two girls possibly have children? They couldn’t even discern that Mu Jianli wasn't a man. The money was just a performance fee for the doctors. Selling tofu had turned her quite wealthy. However, to cultivators, spirit stones were the true currency, while gold and silver were worthless as scrap iron. The old physician snatched up the silver coins quickly, nodding and bowing as he retreated. Tofu Beauty’s generous spending on medical consultations was why doctors continued to flock. In truth, her "Tofu Beauty" moniker was mostly spread by these physicians. After all, money had a way of making people talk… Yet, before the elderly physician had gone far, a commotion arose outside. It seemed he had inadvertently collided with someone. "You old fool, can't you see where you’re going? Dare to bump into our young master; are you courting death?!" "Y-Young Master Xie Cai! It's my blindness that offended you, please forgive my transgression..." "Forgive? Bumping into our young master and then asking for forgiveness, where’s the law in Suzhou?!" "Beat him!" Hearing the clamor outside, Bai Lian and Mu Jianli exchanged a glance. It was the young master of Taixu Manor, Xie Cai. The fish had finally taken the bait.