55: Strange rules

Early the next morning, Yan Qingning was already waiting in the courtyard.

Today, she had changed into a light blue casual robe, its cuffs embroidered with a faint silver silk cloud pattern.

Her hair was loosely pinned behind her head with a simple jade hairpin, with a few stray strands hanging by her ears.

She looked very much like a charming wife.

Jiang Xun came out of the front hall and paused in his tracks.

Today's Yan Qingning was very gentle and elegant.

She turned to look at him, a faint smile in her eyes. "Let's go."

Jiang Xun hummed in response and walked to her side.

"The Secret Realm is to the northwest, about thirty thousand li from here, at the edge of the Southern Region."

This was the approximate location he had calculated; it wasn't precise.

"Knowing the general location is enough." Yan Qingning raised her hand, her five fingers making a grasping motion in the air.

There was no warning.

No surge of spiritual power, no worldly phenomenon, not even a breath of wind was disturbed.

With just that simple grasp, the air in front of her was torn open like a piece of cloth.

A crack appeared.

The edges shimmered with an icy blue light, and inside was a twisting, swirling turbulence of the Void Realm.

The crack wasn't large, just enough for two people to pass through side-by-side.

"Dongxu Realm..." Jiang Xun sighed inwardly.

This was the power that stood at the pinnacle of the cultivation world.

Tens of thousands of li of mountains and rivers reached in an instant.

A Void Penetration Cultivator could go anywhere in their memory.

Yan Qingning's gaze fell on the crack.

"This should be the place in my memory closest to the target."

Yan Qingning had never been to the place Jiang Xun described, so she could only find a nearby location first and then make further plans.

"It's fine, just think of it as a journey for us."

Jiang Xun added, "As we agreed last night, for this trip out, the itinerary is up to me."

Yan Qingning chuckled softly.

She was more than happy to agree to this condition. In the past, Jiang Xun used to take her everywhere to act as heroes, though he always claimed he was completing some 'daily tasks.'

But Yan Qingning had enjoyed it immensely.

Now that they could relive those days, she naturally deferred to Jiang Xun.

She reached out and naturally took Jiang Xun's arm, leaning closer to him. "Alright, I'll listen to everything you say."

Her voice was soft and gentle.

Jiang Xun's body stiffened for a moment, but he quickly relaxed.

He let her hold his arm as they walked side-by-side into the crack.

The moment they stepped in, the world spun.

It wasn't the unpleasant kind of spinning; she kept the spatial transit extremely stable.

It was just a visual distortion, like diving into a rushing river and watching the scenery on both banks recede at high speed, moving so fast it became mere blurs of color.

When they stepped out again, the two were suspended in mid-air, about a dozen zhang off the ground.

Yan Qingning reacted instantly, a flick of her sleeve supporting Jiang Xun as they landed steadily on the ground.

However, she was somewhat stunned.

Before them was a... wasteland?

The soil was scorched black and barren, with only a few scattered withered trees standing, their trunks twisted like the struggling hands of the dying.

In the distance, the wind swirled with dust, blowing with a mournful, sobbing sound.

"That's not right!" Yan Qingning frowned, looking around. "There should be a city here."

She remembered clearly that three hundred years ago, the largest trade hub on the northwestern border was White River City.

The city walls were towering, merchant caravans were endless, and at night, the lights could illuminate half the sky.

But now, there was nothing.

Only scorched earth and wind.

Jiang Xun wasn't too surprised.

Although Dongxu Realm Cultivators could traverse ten thousand li of space in an instant, if their memories didn't match the reality of the scene, it could lead to spatial transit disorders.

And since Dongxu Realm Cultivators lived for a very long time, many places in their memories would be changed by time.

He looked around and started walking toward the east.

There was a sparse forest over there, and in the forest, a hunched figure could be vaguely seen—very thin and withered, wearing tattered clothes.

It was an old woodcutter.

The old man was laboriously swinging an axe, chopping at a tree that had long since died.

Jiang Xun walked over, stopped five paces away, and cupped his hands. "Old man, I'd like to ask for directions."

The old man jumped in fright, the axe nearly slipping from his hand.

Once he saw that the newcomer was a decent-looking young man with a beautiful woman following behind, he panted and lowered his axe.

"Ask... ask what directions?"

"This place," Jiang Xun pointed at the ground beneath his feet, "was there a city here before?"

"A city?" The old man blinked. "You mean White River City? It's been gone a long time!"

"Gone?"

"It's been gone for over a hundred years!"

The old man gestured. "I heard from my grandfather that back then, a Devil Head came. Hey, quite a fellow, said he wanted to refine some treasure and refined the whole city—people, houses, and all! It burned for three days and three nights, and in the end, all that was left was this patch of black soil!"

Jiang Xun couldn't help but gain a clearer understanding of the Demonic Path Cultivators in the game.

Truly brutal!

"Is there another city nearby?" Jiang Xun asked.

"Head east for about twenty or thirty li, and there's Black Sand City." After the old man finished speaking, he picked up his axe again and muttered under his breath.

"You Cultivators, flying here and there, why bother asking for directions..."

Jiang Xun didn't listen to the rest.

Before leaving, he left the old man some loose silver.

It was all broken off from some artifacts in the Jade Void Grotto-Heaven.

He turned and walked back to Yan Qingning's side. "Fly over?"

"Mhm." Yan Qingning responded, taking another look at the scorched earth and gently shaking her head. "Things remain, but people change."

This time, she didn't tear a crack.

They traveled through the air.

Yan Qingning carried Jiang Xun as they flew.

She held Jiang Xun's hand, leading him along like a kite.

They flew for about half a quarter of an hour.

The outline of Black Sand City appeared on the horizon, and Jiang Xun narrowed his eyes.

The city was indeed majestic.

The city walls were dark gray, and the stone used for the walls was mixed with fine black crystalline sand, giving off a matte sheen in the sunlight.

People were coming and going at the city gate—merchant caravans, Loose Cultivators, and ordinary citizens. It looked more prosperous than imagined.

Yan Qingning landed three li away from the city.

"Walk in?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of novelty.

Jiang Xun nodded. "Let's keep a low profile."

The two walked side-by-side toward the city gate.

Yan Qingning was indeed very obedient, walking slowly and occasionally turning her head to look at the wildflowers by the roadside, as if on a spring outing.

A small situation occurred when they entered the city.

The guard at the gate had been dozing off, but when Yan Qingning passed by, he suddenly opened his eyes, and his gaze went blank.

Not just him; the dozen or so people entering and leaving the city gate all stopped in their tracks and stared in unison.

Jiang Xun quickened his pace slightly.

Once they passed the city gate area and turned into the main street, he lowered his voice.

"Could you... use a veil to cover your face a bit?"

Yan Qingning turned to look at him. "Why?"

"I don't want others to see you," Jiang Xun said without blinking. "Your beauty should only be seen by me."

"If other men look at you, I'll be jealous!"

These words were so cheesy that even he almost choked on them.

Jiang Xun knew well the saying that a beautiful woman is a source of calamity, and he didn't want those ordinary people to lose their lives for nothing.

Yan Qingning was stunned for a moment, then she let out a shallow laugh.

Her eyes crinkled, and with a flick of her finger, a light veil appeared, covering most of her face.

Only her eyes were left.

But those eyes alone were enough to be fatal.

"Are you satisfied now?" she said.

Jiang Xun looked away, the tension in his heart finally easing slightly.

Yan Qingning had been in seclusion for many years and likely didn't realize how much of an impact her appearance had on ordinary people.

It wasn't a question of beauty; it was that sense of distance that said 'this person is not from our world,' yet it carried a fatal attraction nonetheless.

People were coming and going on the main street.

Jiang Xun had originally prepared himself to encounter some profligate young masters looking for trouble, as that's how it was always written in novels and TV shows.

Although Yan Qingning had covered her face, her figure was still alluring.

But after walking for a while, it was actually calm and peaceful.

People looked, but no one approached.

People whispered, but no one blocked their path.

Just as he was thinking about this, Yan Qingning suddenly spoke. "Let's go eat something."

Jiang Xun was taken aback. "You... need to eat?"

"I don't." Yan Qingning's hand holding his arm tightened slightly. "But you want to eat."

Jiang Xun was speechless.

She wasn't wrong.

He indeed hadn't had a proper meal; one could fast after Foundation Establishment, and since there was no one to cook in the Jade Void Grotto-Heaven, he had relied entirely on spiritual food and Medicinal Pills this past year.

Occasionally, he would miss the steaming, life-filled food of his past life.

"That inn ahead looks decent." Yan Qingning pointed to a three-story wooden building at the corner of the street.

The building was indeed grand, with a plaque that read 'Guest Cloud Inn.'

The waiter at the door had sharp eyes; seeing the two from afar, he ran over to welcome them.

"Honored guests, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

"Eat first," Jiang Xun said. "We'd like a seat by the window."

"Right away! Elegant seating on the second floor."

The waiter led the two upstairs.

The stairs were wooden and creaked when stepped on, but they were very clean.

The side of the second floor facing the street was all windows. They chose a seat in the farthest corner, which offered a wide view while avoiding most gazes.

"Bring one of each of your best dishes," Jiang Xun said to the waiter waiting by the side.

"Understood! Please wait a moment, honored guest!"

The waiter hurried down excitedly.

Jiang Xun turned to look out the window. Black Sand City was indeed prosperous, with shops lining the streets selling everything imaginable.

In the distance, the outline of a mining mountain could be seen; that was likely the place that produced 'Black Sand Spiritual Materials.'

The dishes were served quickly.

Eight dishes and one soup filled the entire table.

The presentation wasn't particularly refined, but the portions were large and the aroma was enticing.

There was tenderly stewed beast meat, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, golden-fried pastries, and a large pot of steaming soup.

Jiang Xun picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of meat.

The taste... was surprisingly good.

After a few bites, he looked up at Yan Qingning.

She just sat there, not touching her chopsticks, simply watching him eat.

The white veil covered her face, so he couldn't see her expression, but there was a very soft light in her eyes.

"You're not eating?" Jiang Xun asked.

"Watching you eat is enough," she said.

Jiang Xun didn't try to persuade her further and buried his head in his meal.

Although his body didn't need it, the psychological craving for food, having been suppressed for so long, had become even stronger.

While he was eating, the waiter from before returned, carrying a pot of tea.

"Honored guest, let me add some tea for you." As the waiter spoke, his eyes couldn't help but glance toward Yan Qingning.

Jiang Xun put down his chopsticks. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing!" The waiter quickly looked away, but after hesitating for a moment, he lowered his voice. "Honored guest... you're from out of town, right?"

"Yes," Jiang Xun's tone was cold.

Yan Qingning propped up her head and looked at him with a smile.

"Then it's no wonder." The waiter looked left and right, his voice dropping even lower.

"Honored guest, I think compared to your friend here, you're the one who needs to wear something to cover up."

Jiang Xun raised an eyebrow. "Huh!?"

"Why?"

"This..." The waiter scratched his head. "The rules here are just like that. Those who look too outstanding have to cover up a bit to avoid trouble."

Jiang Xun became interested.

"What kind of trouble?"

"I can't say, I can't say." The waiter waved his hands repeatedly. "In short, if you listen to me, you won't go wrong.

If you're not prepared, our shop's backyard sells masks for ten copper coins each..."

After he finished speaking, he didn't wait for Jiang Xun to ask more and scurried away.

Jiang Xun murmured:

"Strange rules."

Yan Qingning didn't speak. She picked up her teacup, took a light sip, then set it down and looked at Jiang Xun.

She looked at him for a long time.

So long that even Jiang Xun felt something was off, before she finally spoke slowly:

"He's right."

"What?"

"I don't want others to see Brother Jiang's handsome looks either," Yan Qingning said, her voice carrying a certain pleasant, almost mischievous smile.

"Only I can see them."

She reached out and made a slight pointing motion in front of Jiang Xun's eyes.

A white veil, the same style as the one on her face, appeared out of thin air and drifted lightly onto the table in front of Jiang Xun.

"So," her eyes curved into crescents, "Brother Jiang must wear one too."