第四卷 江湖路远 第040章 张臣典故 - Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

The two of them walked out of Qingyun Tavern and onto the main street, shedding their robes only after passing through several streets. Just as they were about to find an inn to settle in, they heard a commotion nearby. A crowd surged in one direction, with many people shouting: "Hurry over there to see!" "Don't let him escape!" "Ahhhh!" ... Curious, the two approached a roadside melon vendor and asked, "Sir, what’s happening here?" The melon vendor chuckled, "Oh, I've heard that Zhang Chen, the chief disciple of Shenglong Academy, is here. Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of him." "Zhang Chen?" Chu Liang looked towards the growing crowd in the distance. "I didn't realize he was so popular." Indeed, this reflected the limitations of being a disciple in the world of cultivation. In the realm of immortality, Zhang Chen's fame couldn't compare to the top prodigies. However, among the citizens of the Yu Dynasty, Zhang Chen had a broad base of popular support. Shenglong Academy is rooted in the civilian world, drawing ambitious students from all over the dynasty. Many of its graduates return to serve as officials, benefiting the common people. While the celestial prodigies remain distant figures to the populace, Shenglong Academy's students directly impact their future welfare, naturally garnering more attention. And Zhang Chen, among recent academy chiefs, had the best rapport with the people. "Absolutely," the melon vendor responded eagerly. "Chu Liang is not only talented but also kind-hearted. We all hope that when he retires from court duties, he'll work for our benefit. You'd want to see him too if you were free." "Wow." Observing the seven gathering, the melon vendor added curiously, "Do they know my story?" "My story?" Zhang Chen and Yun Chaoxian exchanged curious glances. "Have they heard of 'Seeking Sheep on a Muddy Path’?” The vendor theatrically recounted, "It’s about Chief Miao Ying. On hearing about an old man losing a sheep, she waded through mud to return it, heedless of the filth." "And 'Walking in the Rain in Plain Clothes’?" he continued. "Once on a rainy day, Chu Liang saw a woman struggling without cover and offered his inner garment for protection, leaving himself to walk drenched." Zhang Chen nodded in understanding. "That chief certainly seems like a noble, moral individual with simple tastes," Yun Chaoxian remarked with a smile. "No wonder he's surrounded by so many; it's hard to get anything done here." "So, you say..." Zhang Chen smiled, "Did I really spread the news of my visit to Donghuai City myself?" ... Miao Ying sat heavily in the inn chair, massaging her temples, her face showing a trace of helpless laughter. She had just spent considerable effort speaking with the aloof townsfolk, ensuring a group of them returned home quietly. Yet, more and more Donghuai City residents kept appearing, eager to see her. If she had to pacify them all, she'd have no time for anything else in the coming days. "If your arrival in Donghuai City wasn’t leaked by an insider to delay us," Chu Liang reasoned, "it's likely a suggestion from those few fellow disciples of yours... as assistance." "What now?" Li Fuji sat nearby and asked. "Since they're here for you, don't disappoint them. Show yourself briefly, then announce you're heading to another city. Let's proceed carefully and avoid being too conspicuous," Ren Hongdao suggested calmly. "I didn’t expect his popularity to be so overwhelming," Li Fuji admitted, surprised by the noise outside. "It's largely meaningless fame," Chu Liang confessed with a bitter smile. "The academy inadvertently built this reputation, and now I’m burdened by it." "So are these stories true or not?" Li Fuji wondered. "They are true," Ren Hongdao explained, "but exaggerated in some instances. For instance, helping the old man find his sheep..." The stories were indeed real, but in reality, the "old man" was the academy's dean, and the "sheep" was his spiritual pet that wandered into a marsh outside. Helping reunite it with its owner was an honor, not a chore, Ren elaborated. The incident morphed into the 'Seeking Sheep on a Muddy Path' tale once it spread. "Huh?" Li Fuji blinked, then inquired about the other tale, "What about the one where you gave a woman your clothes to shield her from the rain?" "That was true too, except that 'woman' was the dean's wife," Ren continued. "She was waiting in the rain after learning her husband had gone to a brothel for social reasons. We couldn’t say anything, so I gave her my outer garment and rushed to inform the dean." "The dean's wife quickly went inside, but I ended up kneeling in the rain outside until the dean returned. That’s how it turned into 'Walking in the Rain in Plain Clothes'," Chu Liang laughed. "Ah, I see," Li Fuji nodded. Evidently, it's always best to verify rumors. Even if they're rooted in truth, they’re not entirely factual. Distorting small details or hiding certain facts can completely change the narrative. ... "Are we really doing the right thing?” Miao Ying asked with concern, glancing at Zhuge Guanxing. "We only leaked Chu Liang’s location to delay them a bit," Zhuge Guanxing assured, "No harm done, so what’s wrong?" "Well…" Zhang Chen scratched his head. "I still respect my senior brother a lot." "In competition and trials, when we’re all in the same situation, it’s important to win with everything at your disposal," Zhuge Guanxing said with a smile. "His group is the weakest in strength; Chu Liang may have some strategy, but we’re up against a weaker team, so we must rely on cleverness to win." "True enough," Zhang Chen agreed. “Can we locate Li Feiyu?” Even though they had identified Donghuai City, pinpointing the exact location was proving difficult. Divination was not omnipotent. "Give me a moment." Zhuge Guanxing took a deep breath, his right hand forming a decision seal while he tossed eight platinum copper coins into the air, catching and releasing them repeatedly. Finally, he opened his eyes and said, "Fire." "Fire?" Zhang Chen looked puzzled. “The omen indicates fire; tonight, the person we’re seeking will appear near something related to fire.”