Chapter 149: The Spirit Treasure Pavilion

"Who is this?"

Liu Qianchou shifted his gaze, looked at Liang Yan, and asked with some confusion.

"This is Ziching's friend, he is a... a martial artist from the pugilistic world. He possesses extraordinary martial arts skills, and thanks to his help along the way, we were able to arrive so smoothly." Lin Ziching hesitated for a brief moment before answering for Liang Yan.

"My name is Liang Yan, greetings to the Third Prince!" Liang Yan slightly cupped his fists toward Liu Qianchou.

Liu Qianchou narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself: "This person is merely an ordinary martial arts vagrant, yet he dares to be so arrogant before me. However, judging by his extraordinary temperament, he must be someone with genuine skills. I cannot afford to treat him too dismissively."

With these thoughts in mind, he cast aside his initial contempt, cupped his fists, and returned the greeting: "So it is Young Hero Liang! Haha, heroes have always emerged from the youth since ancient times. Now seeing Young Hero Liang's heroic bearing, I finally know the ancients did not deceive me!"

Liang Yan found this exceedingly tedious to listen to. Having already stepped onto the path of cultivation, he felt a deep annoyance toward such mundane social pleasantries.

To Liu Qianchou's flattery, he merely smiled noncommittally, then turned to Lin Ziching and said: "Now that my task is completed, I have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave here."

"Wait, Liang Yan!"

Lin Ziching suddenly called out to stop him: "You are originally a man of the Yue State, what business could you possibly have in the Zhao State? Once matters here are settled, why not return to the Yue State with us?"

"Return to the Yue State?" Liang Yan was slightly startled, then shook his axe—er, shook his head and said, "Liang has no such plans for the time being."

"Very well..."

Lin Ziching looked somewhat disappointed, but immediately added: "We will still be lingering here for a dozen days or so. If you change your mind by then, you can still return to the Yue State with us. Besides, Wan'er has also been missing you all these years. If you have some leisure time, we still hope you can visit the capital of the Yue State."

Hearing her words, the image of a young girl surfaced in Liang Yan's mind, and a faint smile involuntarily curled the corner of his lips.

"Rest assured, Aunt Qing. If I have leisure time, Liang will naturally make a trip to the capital. After all, the capital appointment from back then is still not forgotten by me!"

Hearing him say this, Lin Ziching finally blossomed into a smile.

"Good, by then Aunt Qing will surely show you the sights of the capital!"

"Haha, then many thanks! Since I have matters at hand, I shall take my leave now."

Liang Yan bade farewell to Lin Ziching, without even glancing at Liu Qianchou, and turned to walk away just like that.

"General Lin, this kid is truly quite arrogant!" Liu Qianchou watched Liang Yan's retreating figure and said indifferently.

Lin Ziching glanced back at him, smiled faintly, and said nothing more.

Liang Yan strolled along the alleys of Luocheng. It was the spring equinox of March, and Luocheng was blooming with fireworks and flowers. The three-mile-long street was dreamlike, illusory, and breathtakingly beautiful.

He walked at leisure, appearing quite lazy with no particular destination in mind. However, after wandering through more than half of Luocheng, his footsteps suddenly paused, and he stopped in front of a shop named the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

"Come to think of it, it's rather comical. After making the half-year Luoshui appointment with Li Xiran back then, I was solely preoccupied with the hidden affliction in my body, leading to a hasty departure and completely forgetting to ask for specific contact methods. Now I only know she must be somewhere near Luocheng, but have no idea where to search for them..."

Liang Yan sighed inwardly, looked up again at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion before him, and pondered secretly:

"However, the Fragrance-Sensing Sect is a sect that engages in commerce, so they surely have liaison points in this mortal realm as well. The few firms I checked out earlier were all incorrect, and now only this last one remains."

With these thoughts, he lifted his foot and crossed the threshold of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

The interior of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion was quite spacious. On the counters inside, various jade, jewelry, and antiques were displayed, looking radiant and utterly luxurious.

A plump old man dressed in a purple large-sleeved robe was seated right behind the counter, a pair of small eyes sizing Liang Yan up and down.

"A distinguished guest arrives, and I have failed to welcome you from afar! I wonder what this young brother wishes to purchase?" The old man did not look down on Liang Yan because of his youth, but instead asked very politely.

"Hehe, nothing else, I want a Spirit-Refining Pill!"

Upon hearing this, the old man's expression changed noticeably, and he asked suspiciously, "What did the customer just say? This old man doesn't quite understand."

Liang Yan saw his expression clearly and thought to himself that there was hope!

"Let me speak plainly. Does the storekeeper happen to know a person named Li Xiran?"

The old man's pupils contracted, and after a long moment, he nodded and asked, "May I ask the young master's honorable surname and full name?"

"This humble one bears the surname Liang, with the single given name Yan!"

"So it is Young Master Liang, a disrespect indeed!" Upon hearing this, the old man immediately changed his expression, looking respectful as he said, "People from the sect gave instructions long ago: if Young Master Liang Yan arrives, he must be treated with utmost courtesy."

Liang Yan waved his hand dismissively, saying indifferently, "Spare me those worldly formalities. I only wish to know whether Daoist Friend Li and the others have already arrived in Luocheng?"

"This... Immortal Li did arrive long ago, but she is currently not in the city. As for her specific whereabouts, this humble person does not know."

"Is there anyone in charge currently in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion?" Liang Yan asked again.

"Yes, yes! Currently, Immortal Nangong is presiding over the Spirit Treasure Pavilion," the old man nodded repeatedly, "It's just that she currently has a guest visiting, so I'm afraid she cannot entertain Young Master Liang for the moment."

"Nangong Xiaomei..." Liang Yan muttered to himself, then nodded and said, "No matter. Lead me to the inner hall to wait first. Once she finishes meeting her guest, I will come to pay my respects."

"Very well, Young Master Liang, please this way." The purple-robed old man extended a hand, making a gesture of invitation, and then led Liang Yan toward the inner hall.

Following the purple-robed old man through a series of twists and turns, Liang Yan finally stopped before a large hall.

"Young Master Liang, please have a cup of tea inside. Once Immortal Nangong finishes handling her affairs, she will naturally come to meet you."

"Good! Go tend to your own matters; I can wait here by myself," Liang Yan nodded and said.

"Hehe, our humble shop lacks hands, please forgive any inadequate hospitality!" The purple-robed old man offered an apology, then turned and left as instructed.

Liang Yan stepped alone into the spacious hall, casually seated himself on a rattan chair, and closed his eyes to rest and collect his thoughts.

A moment later, however, his sharp ears twitched slightly. He suddenly opened his eyes and said in confusion, "Strange? Why is such an intense argument coming from the back of this hall?"

Finding it bizarre in his heart, he inclined his head to listen closer. Perhaps the distance was too great to catch the specific content clearly, but a wave of spiritual power fluctuations was genuinely transmitting across.

"Could it be that Nangong Xiaomei has gotten into a dispute with the visitor?"

Normally, he would not wish to meddle in such affairs, but now that he had requests to make of others and wished to obtain the Spirit-Refining Pill, he naturally could not turn a blind eye.

Thinking thus, Liang Yan stood up, passed through the hall, and walked toward a garden situated in the rear.