The time returned to half a day ago.
Xu Fangqian's bones were finally buried, whether he was "at peace" or not remained unknown, but Jiang Chen's worries were indeed somewhat relieved.
Causality, retribution, karma... all these spoke of the entanglement between cultivators and the human world. This was something unavoidable from birth to death.
Many hermit cultivators chose to endure solitary cultivation in order to escape these things.
But the path of cultivation was indispensable for resources, and cultivation resources had to be sought in the world. Therefore, hermit recluses, except for those masters who had already transcended worldly resources, were ultimately few.
A predecessor who had mastered the Confucian path, was knowledgeable and highly skilled in divination once said—"How can one always have one's way? One only seeks to have a clear conscience."
This described a great realm for cultivators entering the world.
No matter how difficult and arduous worldly matters were, it all came down to this: one could be at peace after giving one's best effort.
With this realm of mind to enter the world and cultivate, one could maintain one's original intention.
The young men who carried the coffin departed respectfully. For the day's hard work, Xu Xiangqian had told them to collect their payment together from Old Zhang at the coffin shop.
Looking at their admiring gazes, Jiang Chen knew that they would never imagine that their coffin-carrying wages were actually in imminent danger—entirely dependent on the mood of the old dean of Qingya Academy.
Jiang Chen looked at Xu Xiangqian with disdain and said: "Brother Xu, let's part ways here."
"Don't be like that." Xu Xiangqian followed step by step: "The Ganma Mountain Double Pride have shown their might today, shouldn't we go celebrate? That Three-Scent Pavilion isn't bad, it has branches in many countries..."
He also knew that Jiang Chen wasn't as wealthy as Yan Fu, so he had already lowered the standard.
Jiang Chen sighed: "I really don't have the mood... Are you treating?"
"Ah haha. Treating and all that, we'll see, easy to discuss, easy to discuss." At the crucial point, Xu Xiangqian was vague and passed over it.
Anyway, when the bill came, he wouldn't have the money. Jiang Chen wouldn't be embarrassed to stay with him, would he?
"I really don't have the mood." Jiang Chen instantly became cold and turned to leave.
Indeed, who could have imagined that the majestic "Ganma Mountain Double Pride," who would become the envy of Linzi's streets for a long time to come, were actually goods that had to buy on credit even funeral expenses?
The two returned to Linzi city together. Jiang Chen went straight to Xia Mountain, while Xu Xiangqian also didn't change his route.
After walking for a while, Jiang Chen couldn't help but look at him: "Brother Xu, what are you doing?"
Xu Xiangqian wasn't embarrassed at all, laughing loudly: "By a brief calculation, I haven't seen Chongxuan Fat for quite some time, I'll accompany you back to see him!"
If he returned to Qingya Academy now, he would definitely be chased and beaten by the old dean. The weapon might be a ruler, or perhaps a broom.
So taking shelter at a friend's house was a very good choice.
What? Chongxuan Fat wasn't a friend yet?
What did it matter, they had met so many times already!
Xu Xiangqian was the kind of guy who, upon first meeting in the State of You, would drag Jiang Chen along to get beaten together. He could be described as extremely unfamiliar with strangers, especially familiar with himself.
Jiang Chen was silent for a moment, but still took him back.
——Anyway, it was Chongxuan Sheng's residence, he didn't have to spend money.
"Oh my, Brother Chongxuan! Not having seen you for a few days feels like several autumns!"
"Brother Xu's demeanor is even more impressive than before, truly making this humble abode shine. I was wondering why there were magpies singing all morning, it turns out an honored guest is coming!"
The two smiled at each other, shook hands and expressed their joy, then held them again.
This extremely intimate scene looked like long-lost brothers reuniting.
In any case, Jiang Chen noticed that even the Fourteenth, who had always been silent as a statue in front of people, couldn't help but move a few steps away, obviously even heavy armor couldn't block this embarrassment.
Of course, the two parties involved, whether the high-foreheaded one or the chubby one, had no awareness of embarrassment at all. They were still complimenting each other, as if lifelong dear friends and relatives, showing half a lifetime of enthusiasm and friendliness.
"Cough!" To ease the embarrassment, Jiang Chen took the initiative to change the subject, picking and choosing to tell the story of the "porter" named Zheng before Ganma Mountain.
There was no need to hide this from Xu Xiangqian, because when the "porter" named Zheng was exposed, Xu Xiangqian was also present.
At the same time, Jiang Chen believed that it was necessary to inform Chongxuan Sheng immediately. Because this matter was suspicious both inside and out, he judged that the "porter" surnamed Zheng had been deliberately sent to his death by Wang Yi. With Chongxuan Sheng's wisdom, perhaps he could do something in this matter.
Then he saw Chongxuan Sheng's expression become serious.
"This is too immoral," Xu Xiangqian said with dissatisfaction from the side. "Even if sending someone to their death, they should send someone willing to die for him."
He also only heard Jiang Chen recount the details at this moment, obviously his judgment was consistent with Jiang Chen's.
"Surnamed Zheng, around twenty years old, Soaring Dragon realm cultivation, his appearance alone could scare people of some status in the streets into pissing and shitting themselves, and could catch Wang Yi's eye..."
Chongxuan Sheng almost immediately made a judgment: "That person is Zheng Shizhi's son from the Northern Office, Zheng Shangming."
He pointed out Zheng Shangming's background in one sentence.
Allowing Jiang Chen and Xu Xiangqian, who were actually not very familiar with Linzi, to quickly understand.
"Tsk." Xu Xiangqian glanced at Jiang Chen: "If you had been a bit heavier-handed then, you would have caused a major disaster. Fortunately, you've been influenced by me, your brain is still quite clever, and you didn't fall for Horse-Face Wang's malicious trap!"
Wang Yi was indeed a long-faced man, and this didn't affect his handsomeness. Those deep facial features were uniquely charming. In Linzi city, there was no shortage of women who were infatuated with him.
But if one had to give him a nickname, saying he was "Horse-Face Wang"...
It actually seemed quite fitting.
So why had no one ever given Wang Yi such a nickname before?
Jiang Chen thought silently.
Finally, he came to a conclusion—perhaps everyone else knew to fear death.
Thus, looking at Xu Xiangqian, his gaze couldn't help but show a bit more admiration for a warrior.
Xu Xiangqian, however, was completely unaware of Jiang Chen's psychological changes. Back in the Celestial Residence Secret Realm, he had already looked down on Wang Yi, and they had even exchanged words then.
Now witnessing Wang Yi's "despicable" side, he couldn't hold back his sense of justice.
"Did you make the entanglement clear with that Zheng fellow? Let Horse-Face Wang lose both his wife and his soldiers!"
Jiang Chen said: "Naturally, I know this."
"People like this, you just can't give them a good face. Don't think having a long face makes you special, washing it takes more time than anyone else's!"
They were chatting enthusiastically on this side.
Over there, Chongxuan Sheng was frowning in deep thought, muttering to himself: "Zheng Shangming, Zheng Shangming..."
"I know what Wen Lianmu's hidden move is!" Chongxuan Sheng stood up abruptly at the next moment: "I must go to the Northern Office immediately!"
After speaking, there was no time to explain, and he directly hurried out the door.
In his haste, he even thought to leave a sentence behind: "Jiang Chen, help me entertain Brother Xu, I'll be right back!"
The Fourteenth also silently followed and left.
Leaving the "Ganma Mountain Double Pride," who had been unilaterally dissolved by Jiang Chen, looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Who is Wen Lianmu?" Xu Xiangqian asked.
Jiang Chen spread his hands: "Who am I supposed to ask?"