A five-day deadline was truly outrageous.
Zhou Jiannan couldn’t help but speak up: “Lian Qiao, isn’t this a bit much? I remember you used to…”
Lian Qiao immediately covered his mouth: “What, do you think I was too formidable before, and five days is still too generous? Ah, what can I do? This time, I’m working with someone else. I have to give them some leeway, so let’s tentatively set it at five days. Otherwise, they’d lose too much face later on.”
Zhou Jiannan: .
After all, although Lian Qiao was smiling on the surface, beneath her sleeve, she was pinching his arm.
If he dared say another word, Lian Qiao could very well wrench his entire arm off.
So crude!
So brutal!
Lu Wujiu, however, showed little reaction. He merely glanced faintly at their arms entwined beneath their wide sleeves. As he turned to leave, his gaze paused briefly, carrying a hint of mockery.
Lian Qiao: How could she tolerate this?
Originally, she had just said it offhand, but now she was determined to uncover the truth within five days and thoroughly humiliate Lu Wujiu.
But before that, she still needed to handle some minor matters. For instance, now that the two groups had dispersed, this elderly woman was left unattended.
Judging by her appearance—hair gray and filthy beyond recognition, trouser cuffs stained with greasy black soot—she had likely been wandering the city for many days. Her daughter-in-law refused to let her return home, and her son had only tossed her half a bag of steamed buns. The buns were already dried and cracked, crumbling when picked up.
Lian Qiao couldn’t bear to watch any longer and helped the woman up.
Since they were the ones who had sealed off the town, they naturally had to take responsibility for the safety of those with nowhere to go.
Hah, see how kind and considerate she was? And then there was that cold, heartless bastard Lu Wujiu, who just left without a second thought?
So, while helping the elderly woman gather her buns, Lian Qiao deliberately called out to Lu Wujiu in the distance: “Don’t worry, auntie. We’ll take care of you these seven days, ensuring you have food, drink, and stay safe until this passes.”
The elderly woman, tears welling in her eyes, murmured: “Immortals are truly good. You’re all so kind.”
Once the words were spoken, payment naturally had to follow.
But at this critical moment, the three of them suddenly fell into collective silence.
After a while, the awkwardness became too much, so Lian Qiao silently turned her gaze toward Zhou Jiannan beside her.
Zhou Jiannan stared straight ahead, avoiding eye contact.
Lian Qiao nudged him with her elbow, and only then did he react, pointing at his own nose: “Me?”
Lian Qiao lowered her voice: “Of course. Zhou Jiannan, if I recall correctly, although your family is a branch line, you’re still the wealthiest in Qiaoming. I’m a bit short on funds lately, but this small amount shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?”
Zhou Jiannan’s voice dropped even lower: “That was true three days ago. But on that very day, I refused the arranged marriage my mother set up, and in her fury, she kicked me out, leaving me penniless. To be honest, one reason I agreed to come along was to solve my food and lodging issues. Speaking of which, for such a daunting task, they don’t even cover meals and accommodation?”
Lian Qiao instantly grew deeply somber: “…Theoretically, they should. But, there was a slight mishap.”
The mishap was that damned Love Gu, which forced her to pay the medicine cultivator the last one million spirit stones she had. Her father assumed she still had money, so naturally, he didn’t mention it. As for her own family, they were barely making ends meet—forget about asking them.
Lian Qiao had sought out Zhou Jiannan precisely because she valued the wealth beneath his talent—ahem, his substance.
Who would have thought men could be so unreliable?
Lian Qiao slowly turned her gaze to Yan Wushuang.
Yan Wushuang spread her hands, lowering her voice even further: "You know I'm poorer than all of you. I still have over a hundred mouths to feed back at my stronghold…"
It turned out that after Yan Wushuang began cultivating immortality, her family's ancestral bandit enterprise was deemed damaging to the image of an immortal and was strictly forbidden to continue.
But in that godforsaken place, it was truly difficult to survive without robbing unscrupulous merchants.
Thus, Yan Wushuang had no choice but to convert the spirit stones she earned each month into money to support her family.
Lian Qiao let out a heavy sigh.
She had thought she had found two wealthy patrons from established families, but instead, they turned out to be two paupers even poorer than herself!
But Lu Wujiu was still watching from ahead. They might lose the battle, but they couldn't lose face.
With a pang of regret, Lian Qiao fished out the meager amount of money converted from spirit stones from her nearly empty purse—a full five taels of broken silver—and handed it to the old woman with feigned generosity.
Yet the old woman didn't accept it.
Lian Qiao thought their conversation had been overheard and felt a bit embarrassed: "Auntie, don't worry. We're new here and have run into some unexpected difficulties, but rest assured, we won't abandon you. Even if Zhou Jiannan has to perform on the streets or work like a beast of burden, he'll be able to support you."
Zhou Jiannan initially nodded along but grew increasingly uneasy as he listened. The logic made sense, but why was he the one performing on the streets? Why was he the one working like a beast of burden?
The old woman also looked bewildered: "Haven't you already paid?"
Lian Qiao: "Huh?"
The old woman pulled out a silver ingot from her pocket: "This, that rather handsome immortal gentleman gave it to me earlier. Isn't he with you? An old woman like me doesn't eat much. It's enough, enough. You don't need to give me more."
Only then did Lian Qiao realize—though she was reluctant to admit it—that the "rather handsome immortal gentleman" the old woman mentioned seemed, perhaps, to be Lu Wujiu…
But when did he give it?
Wait, would someone with Lu Wujiu's temperament actually give money to a homeless old woman? Shouldn't he have cast a disdainful glance and coldly walked away?
Lian Qiao was puzzled.
Zhou Jiannan, on the other hand, was so excited he nearly jumped up: "See, I told you! You've all misunderstood him. Truly worthy of the Crown Prince I've silently admired for so long!"
Lian Qiao: "…"
Were they talking about the same Lu Wujiu?
To her, Lu Wujiu was clearly someone who would nitpick over a single cup of water she had drunk from him, making her go collect it all over again.
Yes, collect.
Because this pampered Crown Prince only drank Rootless Water.
And this Rootless Water wasn't just any rain or mist that hadn't touched the ground—it had to be Bamboo Dew.
A tiny cup of water, barely deep enough to cover a pinky finger, required a full five hundred bamboo stalks to collect.
Even more demanding was that the bamboo couldn't be ordinary bamboo—it had to be mottled bamboo.
Back in the day, when Lian Qiao was young and naive, she was caught red-handed after sneaking a drink of Lu Wujiu's water. She was forced to stay up all night scouring the entire Penglai Peak to find five hundred mottled bamboo stalks, then spent the entire next morning finally collecting a cup of Bamboo Dew, which she carefully presented to this Crown Prince.
At the time, exhausted and sprawled on the ground, she gritted her teeth in resentment, adding another harsh label to her impression of Lu Wujiu beyond arrogance, conceit, and pamperedness—petty.
So, Lu Wujiu must have had a screw loose today.
She refused to believe he could suddenly be so kind and generous.
Just as Lian Qiao was puzzling over why Lu Wujiu would do this, a portly, middle-aged man wearing a scholar's cap approached and also began praising Lu Wujiu's charitable act.
Lian Qiao: Got it—he’s just putting on a show!
Lu Wujiu must have known all along that someone was watching them.
Lian Qiao cursed him in her heart for being so cunning. At that moment, after the wealthy merchant finished his praise, he respectfully gestured toward a nearby rosewood carriage, as if asking for a favor. But Lu Wujiu frowned slightly and glanced back.
Only then did the merchant seem to notice Lian Qiao and her companions. Following Lu Wujiu’s gaze, he suddenly understood and said, “Is the immortal concerned about your companions? Rest assured, all the immortals are welcome to stay as well.”
Then, the merchant waddled over to Lian Qiao and the others, clasped his hands, and bowed.
Lian Qiao finally understood: this was Squire He, a wealthy man in the town. From him, she learned that this demon not only loved to dig out hearts but had a particular fondness for the hearts of brides.
Coincidentally, Squire He had a beloved daughter who was about to be married. The invitations had already been sent out—meaning she was next in line to have her heart dug out.
They had originally planned to leave, but the town was now sealed off. Seeing that Lian Qiao’s group possessed exceptional Daoist arts and pure hearts, Squire He invited them to stay in his mansion to protect his daughter and ensure her wedding went smoothly. In return, he promised to give them half of his family’s wealth.
Lian Qiao ignored the part where he praised Lu Wujiu, her eyes gleaming at the mention of half the family fortune. That was beyond generous.
So she agreed with unusual speed and gentleness, afraid the squire might change his mind.
And so, the group followed the wealthy Squire He to the He residence.
The He family truly was rich—a sprawling three-courtyard compound, each courtyard with several side rooms. Their assigned rooms were in the main courtyard, very close to both the squire and his daughter, likely for close protection.
On the way, Lian Qiao noticed that even the pebble paths on the ground were meticulously laid with alternating colors to form intricate bird-and-flower patterns, each one unique. Even someone like Lian Qiao, who was accustomed to luxury, was slightly impressed.
The old steward leading the way explained, “These are all based on paintings by the eldest young lady. She was frail and unfortunately passed away from illness. The master was heartbroken, so he had these paths relaid according to her designs.”
Lian Qiao was moved—Squire He truly loved his daughter.
“But if the eldest young lady is no longer here, who is getting married now?”
The steward replied, “The second young lady. The master has only this one child left.”
Lian Qiao understood. No wonder Squire He was willing to give up half his wealth to protect his daughter—not only did he love her, but she was also his only child now. Still, one thing puzzled her—
Since they already knew there was a demon in town that dug out hearts, and this demon specifically targeted brides, why was Squire He so insistent on having his daughter marry in such a hurry?
She tried asking the steward, but he was evasive: “You’ll find out in due time, honored immortals. Ah, by the way, the master has prepared a welcoming banquet for you tonight. Perhaps you’ll learn then.”
Lian Qiao was left confused.
But after a brief rest, at the banquet, when she finally met the belatedly arriving bride-to-be, Miss He, Lian Qiao finally understood why.
The reason was that Miss He was subtly supporting her lower back as she walked…
Though she tried her best to appear elegant and dignified, and her ruqun was quite loose-fitting, when she placed her hand on her waist, Lian Qiao inevitably caught a glimpse of a slightly protruding curve from the side.
Case solved! So Squire He’s urgency was all because his daughter was pregnant before marriage!
Moreover, even such a loose ruqun couldn’t conceal it—the pregnancy must be quite advanced, leaving no room for further delay.
Lian Qiao and Yan Wushuang exchanged glances, silently picked up their wine cups, and took a sip.
Lu Wujiu, however, remained composed, holding his cup without moving, likely having guessed some of it already.
Squire He instantly flushed with shame and scolded his daughter, "You disgraceful thing! Hurry and greet the esteemed immortals!"
Miss He seemed to have quite a temper as well, retorting in front of Lian Qiao and the others, "Yes, that’s right, I’m a disgrace. I know you look down on me. If that’s the case, why bother with a wedding banquet? I might as well just die!"
With that, she covered her face and began to weep pitifully, making as if to rush toward the door to throw herself into the lake.
Squire He hurriedly stepped forward to stop her. "I only said a few words to you! After committing such an indecent act, am I not even allowed to say anything?"
Miss He shook off her father’s hand, still throwing a tantrum, when suddenly she clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.
Squire He was terrified, his face turning deathly pale as he pleaded for help. "Esteemed immortals, my unfilial daughter seems to have agitated the fetus. Could you lend a hand?"
Lian Qiao had never encountered such a situation before. She vaguely recalled that Lu Wujiu had some knowledge of medicine, so she pointed at him and said, "He can!"
A chorus of pleading eyes instantly turned toward the indifferent Lu Wujiu.
Under such circumstances, Lu Wujiu could no longer stand idly by and had to rise gracefully.
However, as he passed by Lian Qiao, she distinctly felt a sharp glare from him. She quickly pretended to be thirsty and lowered her head to take a sip of wine.
Yet Lu Wujiu was a man of great fastidiousness—it was nearly impossible for him to make physical contact with strangers, even in matters of life and death.
With a slight frown, a thin thread suddenly emerged from between his fingers, hovering delicately over Miss He’s wrist.
Lian Qiao: "…"
To avoid touching Miss He, he actually resorted to Suspended-Thread Pulse Diagnosis. Was that really necessary?
Miss He also seemed somewhat embarrassed.
Still, saving a life took precedence.
After taking her pulse, Lu Wujiu concentrated his fingertips and channeled a stream of Spiritual Power into Miss He’s forehead. Instantly, all her symptoms vanished, and she was lively and energetic once more.
Turning to Lu Wujiu, her eyes sparkled brightly as she gave a slight bow. "Thank you, esteemed immortal, for your great kindness. May I ask your honored name?"
However, within that bright gaze, aside from gratitude and admiration, there seemed to be a hint of infatuation.
Lian Qiao snickered to herself, "Now there’s some drama to watch."
Yan Wushuang looked shocked. "N-no way… right?"
Lian Qiao snorted. "Absolutely."
Based on her years of sharp observation of young girls handing love letters to Lu Wujiu, she couldn’t be mistaken—Miss He’s gaze was identical to those girls’.
Yan Wushuang, who had only ever known fighting and killing, had never encountered such a melodramatic situation. He stared wide-eyed. "Then what do we do? Her belly… doesn’t seem appropriate, does it?"
Lian Qiao whispered back, "Why wouldn’t it be appropriate? Buy one, get one free—what a bargain."
At that moment, she suddenly felt a chill brush past her nose. Looking up, she realized it was Lu Wujiu staring at her.
She stared back, deliberately curling the corner of her mouth.
Lu Wujiu's gaze remained cold, but he didn't say anything in front of the crowd.
However, Squire He suddenly looked terrified, and Miss He also nervously glanced at Lian Qiao.
The smile on Lian Qiao's lips instantly froze, leaving her somewhat embarrassed.
Yes, yes, it wasn't very nice of her to secretly mock others, but she hadn't actually said anything. Was it really necessary to look at her with such fear?
Lian Qiao forced a gentle smile, trying to explain, "Um—"
But as soon as she took a step forward, Squire He and his daughter took another step back.
Lian Qiao finally realized something was off. They didn't seem angry—they were scared…
Strange, what were they afraid of?
Lian Qiao quickly turned around to check. Thankfully, there was nothing behind her.
Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Squire He looked as if he had seen a ghost. "Immortal Lian, were you just… smiling?"
Lian Qiao felt a pang of shame. She had actually been caught. She awkwardly tried to smooth things over with a smile. "I'm sorry, I meant no harm. I was just…"
Before she could finish, Squire He took another step back, trembling. "Immortal, whatever the reason, you… you mustn't smile again."
Lian Qiao realized they weren't talking about the same thing.
She was worried about being caught mocking others, but Squire He and his daughter seemed concerned about the act of smiling itself.
Perplexed, Lian Qiao asked, "Squire, are you saying I can't smile?"
Squire He immediately nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. "Exactly, you must not smile!"
Lian Qiao: "…Why?"
Though it was a relief not to have been caught, wasn't this rule a bit too strange?
Squire He also found it odd. "Immortal, didn't you see the boundary marker when you arrived? This town is called No-Smile Town, so naturally, smiling is forbidden."
Lian Qiao: ?
Well, well, well! So it turns out the "No-Filial Town" isn't about filial piety—it's about laughter!
Haha, seems like no one noticed the little trick in the previous chapter's title.