Chapter 56 — Changhe City
劍問蒼天 · Page 4 of 6
Zhou Yixuan smiled and looked around. "From the look of things, business has been good these years, I take it?"
Manager Wang said respectfully, "Yes, thanks to your blessing, old sir."
Zhou Yixuan cleared his throat. "I have come here this time because I wish to cross the East Sea and visit a fellow cultivator. I recalled that you and I share a bond from years past, so I thought I would look in on you. Tonight I shall stay here at your establishment."
Manager Wang nodded again and again. "Of course, of course—you must do me this honor. I was thinking of having my wife and family come and pay their respects to you as well!"
Zhou Yixuan chuckled and reached into his robe. "Then how much for a night's lodging..."
Manager Wang shook his head at once. "What are you saying! When you come to my door, it's all I can do to wish you'd come—how could I take your money?"
Zhou Yixuan's hand still in his robe, he shook his head. "Ah, Manager Wang, I know I gave you a few words of guidance back then, but you are running a business—I would not want to break your rules..."
Manager Wang grew a little agitated. "Old immortal, what kind of talk is this? If not for your guidance back then, and your having me—" Here he suddenly glanced around, then lowered his voice. "If not for your having me plant the Tree of Wealth in the East Sea Dragon Den, how could I have... for thirty years? If I took your money for a room, I'd deserve to be struck by lightning!"
Zhou Yixuan smiled and drew his hand out. "In that case, I shall not decline."
Manager Wang nodded without ceasing, and they chatted a while longer. A servant came to say the best room was ready, and Manager Wang rose and personally escorted Zhou Yixuan and his granddaughter there. Along the way to the rear hall, they saw the building was oddly constructed—three stories tall yet hexagonal in shape, with a large courtyard open in the middle, all paved with bluestone.
Perhaps from long years, green grass sprouted everywhere from the cracks between the stones. Only in the very center stood a lone white birch, its branches and leaves withered, gaunt and bony.
Manager Wang brought them to a quiet room on the third floor, sat with them a while, then tactfully took his leave, saying as he went that he would certainly come that evening to invite the old immortal to a great feast, and so on.
The "old immortal" naturally declined in every way, saying he had attained the Way many years ago and had long since touched nothing of the mortal world. But Manager Wang's hospitality was earnest and his sincerity profound, and in the end the old immortal, for the sake of his granddaughter Xiaowan, reluctantly agreed.
After Manager Wang left, Xiaowan shut the door, and only Zhou Yixuan and she remained in the room. Zhou Yixuan chuckled. "Well?"
Xiaowan countered, "Were you really going to pay him just now? What if he had actually taken your money?"
Zhou Yixuan looked stern and righteous. "What of it? I, Zhou Yixuan, am a sage who has attained the Way—why would I care for such trifles of the world?"
Xiaowan snorted. "Cut the act. Think I don't know? You don't have any money in your robe at all!"
Zhou Yixuan started. "What did you say?"
Xiaowan said, "You split your money into three parts—one hidden in your belt, one in your boot, and one in that 'Immortal Points the Way' banner of yours. Think I don't know? There isn't a single copper in your robe."
Zhou Yixuan froze, then flushed. "You little imp—how do you know everything?"
Xiaowan glared at him. "And what did you swindle out of him thirty years ago?"
Zhou Yixuan said angrily, "Nonsense! When did I ever swindle him?"
Xiaowan snorted and said crossly, "Don't give me that. The East Sea Dragon Den is the source of the vast sea, a spiritual realm of heaven and earth—it must lie beneath the misty deep sea. How could it be here in the mortal world? That tale of yours could only fool an honest man like Manager Wang."