At a quarter to six, Cloud City emerged from the morning mist. Its ancient blue-gray walls towered like iron cliffs, its watchtowers looming above them. They looked ready to withstand an army, but were really a display of the builders’ skill: the Qingyuan Sect forbade wars between mortal kingdoms.
The bronze-nailed iron gates rumbled open, and the crowd outside surged in. The morning drumbeats echoed through the city, rousing the inhabitants from their dreams.
Looking south along Vermilion Bird Avenue, two streams of people gradually converged and intermingled until they could no longer be distinguished. The shops lining both sides of the street awakened one after another, as if suddenly infused with life.
At this moment, in the Fortune Cloud Pavilion, guests were arriving in twos and threes.
By a window on the second floor, a young man in a green robe sat on a bench, gazing out at the bustling street teeming with people, lost in thought.
Several small dishes on the table remained untouched; only half a bowl of the Fortune Cloud Pavilion’s signature yellow millet porridge had been consumed, as if it did not suit his taste.
This green-robed young man was none other than Gu An. He had entered the city yesterday afternoon and, seeing that evening was approaching, had not gone to visit Senior Sister Yun but instead found an inn to stay the night.
Now, as he ate his morning porridge, he suddenly realized that Senior Sister Yun had not told him her location, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit dazed.
Gu An found the situation somewhat amusing and shook his head, deciding to inquire at the mortal government office later. He picked up the porcelain bowl again and took a slurp of porridge.
A middle-aged man in gray approached, apparently the innkeeper. “Is something not to your liking, sir? If the food isn’t properly cooked, we’ll gladly replace it.”
“You’re too kind, innkeeper. There’s nothing wrong with the dishes; I simply have no appetite,” Gu An replied with a gentle smile, noticing the innkeeper’s obsequious expression and excellent attitude, which reminded him of his own family’s restaurant.
“Very well. If you need anything, honored guest, feel free to call the attendants downstairs. They are familiar with the city’s layout and know which medical clinics are both affordable and effective.”
Gu An acknowledged him, then paused. They knew the city well? “Wait. Do you know my senior sister, Yun Xiuyan?”
The innkeeper considered the name. “Yun? That would make her royalty. Are you an immortal master from the Qingyuan Sect, sir?”
“Indeed. My senior sister is also in Cloud City now, but her letter did not mention her residence,” Gu An confirmed.
Upon hearing that Gu An was an immortal master from the Qingyuan Sect, the innkeeper immediately knelt and prostrated himself, begging forgiveness.
Gu An frowned slightly. He had no particular objection to mortals revering cultivators, but having them kneel every time they spoke was far too inefficient.
“Innkeeper, please rise and speak.”
The innkeeper rose shakily. “If her surname is Yun, she must be one of the royals who entered your honored sect. Only three have joined in the past dozen years or so, and two were women.”
“The eldest princess joined twelve years ago. The emperor marked the occasion by waiving a whole year’s taxes. The youngest princess joined last year, but for some reason there was no tax exemption that time.”
“To answer the immortal master, I know a little. They say there is a Tianyun Garden in Cloud City where all the immortal masters live!”
“Where is Tianyun Garden?”
“Follow Vermilion Bird Avenue to the palace. They say Tianyun Garden is just south of it. According to the storytellers, its flowers never fade and its grounds stay green all year round. A beautiful place!”
Gu An nodded in satisfaction. This saved him a trip to the mortal government office and some time. He casually tossed out a silver ingot and left.
..
Gu An strolled to Tianyun Garden. The garden’s walls were high, obscuring the view within, but he could faintly sense spiritual qi seeping out.
Two armored guards flanked an arched gate. They barred his way as he approached. “This is Tianyun Garden. Please halt.”
A token flew out from Gu An’s storage bag, ringing in the air and emitting spiritual light.
The guards hurried aside. “Forgive us, Immortal Master. We failed to recognize you.”
Gu An smiled. “You were only doing your duty. There’s nothing to forgive. I’m here to see Senior Sister Yun Xiuyan. Where can I find her?”
The guard on the left rumbled, “Follow this white jade path all the way. Near the end, there are several small courtyards. The one with two trees planted inside is hers.”
These guards were specially trained by the Yun family to receive visitors and had a rough understanding of Tianyun Garden.
Walking along the white jade path, Gu An was surrounded by the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers. He even spotted several spirit herbs growing, with a large area cordoned off around them, clearly carefully tended.
Near the end, he finally saw the small courtyard. Two Jade Spirit Fruit trees stood gracefully, extending a branch of white blossoms.
“As expected of a disciple of True Person Qingxiao. Two first-grade lower-tier Jade Spirit Fruit trees-I wonder how many spirit stones they bring in each year,” Gu An remarked as he gazed at the trees.
“They were a birthday gift from my third uncle, not worth much. If you like them, Junior Brother, you can take a couple of fruits later.” A clear, ethereal voice came from behind him.
Gu An quickly turned around. A female cultivator had somehow appeared behind him, her voice like ice striking jade.
Her face was like exquisitely crafted porcelain, her skin like moonlight on freshly fallen snow. Her brow bones were like winter branches slanting in the wind, and the bridge of her nose like a blade cutting through light.
Her eyes were as deep as a winter night’s cold pool, their gaze shifting like shards of ice colliding under the moon, her long lashes drooping like crow feathers. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping dot com.
She wore a plain green, wide-sleeved flowing cloud dharma robe with faintly visible spirit patterns. Her crow-black hair was pinned with a jade hairpin, and she was staring at him.
Her countenance outshone autumn chrysanthemums; her beauty rivaled spring pines!
Yun Xiuyan looked puzzled. “Are you going in? You’re blocking my way.”
Only then did Gu An realize he was blocking the way. He gave an awkward smile and stepped aside. “I’ll go in with you, Senior Sister.”
Yun Xiuyan pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard, with Gu An following closely behind.
The courtyard stretched about half a li. More than a dozen fruits hung from its two Jade Spirit Fruit trees. Intersecting jade paths divided the open grounds into squares of lush grass, all visible at a glance.
In front of the house was a small pond, with jagged rockeries by its edge and a pavilion with upturned eaves and arched corners. Spiritual qi was bubbling out from the pond-it was actually a spirit spring eye. Gu An once again felt what true luxury meant.
“Honk!”
A purple shape honked beside the pond, struggling to gulp down a fish caught in its broad, flat beak. They watched the fish bulge awkwardly in the goose’s throat before it finally slid down.
Yun Xiuyan fell silent, staring coldly at this foolish bird.
Gu An gave a dry laugh as the silence grew awkward. “Your spirit beast is certainly… true to its nature, Senior Sister.”
Indeed, this foolish bird was the Purple Cloud Goose. Gu An had thought it was a bit dim-witted when it delivered the letter that day, but he never imagined it had such a side to it.
Yun Xiuyan secretly observed Gu An. Seeing that his expression remained normal, with no hint of disapproval, she breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
Stupid bird, she thought fiercely. Stealing my Ice Crystal Fish was bad enough, but embarrassing me in front of a guest? Just wait until I deal with you.
Outwardly, she remained perfectly composed. “You flatter it, Junior Brother.”
The Purple Cloud Goose had no idea that disaster was about to befall it. It only felt a chill running down its back and instinctively tightened its feathers.
Seeing its owner staring at it, it waddled over eagerly and rubbed against Yun Xiuyan’s leg, looking utterly innocent.