bookbashuk Chapter 231 First Arrival at Yue Ran Residence
Chapter 231 First Arrival at Yue Ran Residence
Chen Anran and the other three got out of the car. The morning chill had long since faded, and the September sun was warm but not scorching. The service area was filled with the aroma of breakfast stalls, selling steamed buns and soy milk, as well as noodles.
Zhang Nanshan walked over, fanning himself with a fan, followed by Daoist Tianbao and several core disciples.
"Young friend Chen, fellow Daoist Wei, Master Huiming," Zhang Nanshan greeted with a smile, "Was your journey smooth?"
"Everything went well, Master Zhang," Chen Anran replied with a cupped-fist salute. "Are the seniors resting here as well?"
"Yes, let the younger ones stretch their muscles and fill their stomachs at the same time." Zhang Nanshan said, glancing at the ordinary travelers in the service area who were curiously observing their "tour group," and chuckled in a low voice, "Our group does look a bit like an elderly tour group with their families."
Chen Anran and his group chuckled at the amusement. Then Chen Anran said, "Why don't we have breakfast at the Immortal Cuisine Restaurant before setting off? Although we can't say our food is the best, it at least contains some spiritual energy, which is beneficial to us cultivators."
Master Tianbao then looked at the breakfast stall next to him with his hands behind his back: "The food in the service area may not have any spiritual energy, but occasionally experiencing the hustle and bustle of life is still a kind of experience."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Nanshan couldn't help but roll his eyes. This old guy clearly thought the Immortal Cuisine Restaurant was too expensive, and he had too many disciples to take care of, so he was reluctant to spend the money...
Just then, Mo Han and He Qingyun walked over. Mo Han exclaimed excitedly, "Master, Master Tianbao, there's a vendor selling jianbing guozi over there! It smells so good!"
Zhang Nanshan laughed and said, "Go ahead, go ahead, buy whatever you want to eat. Just remember not to eat too much oily food, or you might feel unwell on the way."
The young disciples cheered and scattered to find food.
After finishing their meal, Chen Anran and his companions found a long table and sat down. Not far away, disciples from Longhu Mountain and Maoshan Mountain were also in small groups, eating various breakfast items and chatting and laughing.
Two old Taoist priests were smoking and chatting by a trash can, while Shen Zui sat down at Chen Anran's table.
Shen Zui sullenly lit a cigarette, puffing out smoke. "I don't even know how many cases are piled up on my desk. Xiao Qi has no experience handling them alone, and he hasn't sent anyone over. He promised to support the newcomer, but I haven't seen a single thing since."
"..." Chen Anran wanted to offer some comfort but didn't know where to begin, so she simply said, "There's a bar near us."
"I know, that's why I've been drinking for almost a month." Shen Zui said sadly, "It's just that no one can drink with me, and when I call you, you always say you're at a crucial stage of your cultivation."
"...Where is Fellow Daoist Qi?"
"Her? Forget it, drinking with her will only make me more upset."
Chen Anran was at a loss for words. He looked around but didn't see Qi Lan. "By the way, didn't your Martial Uncle Qi come with you?"
"Hehe, she's having a carefree time there, so why would she want to leave?" Shen Zui said, then thought of the scene when he was chatting with Qi Lan alone at her Meow Fairy Residence.
At that time, Shen Zui told Qi Lan that since the Yunyin Sect had been ruled out as a suspect, they could go back.
Unexpectedly, Qi Lan retorted, "The air here is good and we have spiritual food to eat every day. Only a fool would leave and go back to Maoshan, where there's nothing."
After a few more arguments, and unable to win the argument, his senior uncle insisted on staying at the foot of Yunyin Sect's mountain, citing the reason that the sect leader Su Wan's suspicion had not been completely eliminated and that she still needed to be monitored.
Shen Zui's gloomy and dejected appearance drew a few more glances from Fatty Li. He carefully poured Shen Zui a cup of free hot water provided by the service area and said in a simple and honest manner, "Section Chief Shen, no matter how busy you are with work, you have to take care of your health. Drink some hot water first."
Shen Zui exhaled a long puff of smoke, took the water glass, thanked him, but didn't drink it. He just stared blankly at the steam rising from the rim of the glass.
Seeing that he was indeed depressed, Chen Anran changed the subject: "Has there been any unusual activity in Lincheng lately? Senior Sister Xiaolu has seen a lot of rumors in the group."
Mentioning this, Shen Zui finally perked up a bit. He stubbed out his cigarette. "There was a lot of noise, but it was all jumbled up, and it was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't. The station also received several reports of strange noises and lights in the old woods east of the city at night. We sent people to investigate twice, but apart from finding a few people night fishing and doing outdoor live streaming, we didn't find anything."
Just then, several more vehicles drove into the service area entrance. Leading the way was a black SUV, followed by two vans. After the vehicles stopped, three people got out of the SUV.
The leader was a man in his thirties, tall and thin, wearing a dark gray windbreaker, with a stern face and sharp eyes. After getting off the bus, he scanned the service area, his gaze lingering briefly on Zhang Nanshan's bus and Chen Anran's table, but quickly looked away.
The other two were a man and a woman, both younger, dressed in practical outdoor clothing and carrying bulging backpacks. The woman had her hair tied in a neat ponytail and was looking down at her phone; the man was unloading several boxes from the car with efficient movements.
"Are they cultivators too?" Chen Anran's heart stirred slightly. There were very faint fluctuations of spiritual energy on the three people, which they concealed very well, but they could not escape his perception. Moreover, judging from their equipment and demeanor, they did not seem to be going to celebrate a birthday, but rather... to conduct a field survey.
Zhang Nanshan and Daoist Tianbao obviously noticed it too. They exchanged a glance, their expressions unchanged, and continued smoking.
The tall, thin man led his companion toward the convenience store. As they passed Chen Anran and her group's table, he paused slightly, his gaze seemingly fleetingly sweeping over Wei Qingyi. Wei Qingyi, engrossed in her phone, appeared completely unaware.
After the three entered the convenience store, Shen Zui said leisurely, "It seems that Lincheng will be even more lively in two days than we expected. Judging from their attire, they look like 'wasteland seekers'."
"Searching for the Wasteland?" Chen Anran repeated the unfamiliar word softly.
"They are small groups or independent cultivators who specialize in exploring ancient sites and searching for relics of ancient cultivators," Shen Zui explained. "Since the revival of spiritual energy, ancient sites have occasionally appeared in various places, which has given rise to these kinds of people. Most of them have some kind of inheritance or special skills, are well-informed, and act quickly. However..." He paused, "among them, there is a mixed bag, and some people don't follow the rules."
"..." After listening, Chen Anran suddenly felt that he had heard of this kind of "organization" somewhere before.
It wasn't until Wei Qingyi looked up and said something that Chen Anran realized where this sense of familiarity came from.
Wei Qingyi said, "Isn't this the 'Mutual Help Taoist Group' that Feng Xiaolu joined? It's a 'money-making organization' made up of a bunch of rogue cultivators and a bunch of swindlers."
Upon hearing Wei Qingyi's assessment, Shen Zui's lips twitched slightly. "Fellow Daoist Wei's summary is indeed insightful. However, this group is more professional than those rabble online. At least they have some real skills and dare to venture into those desolate wilderness areas, ancient tombs, and old forests."
Chen Anran wanted to refute Shen Zui's words.
That "Mutual Help Taoist Group" has a much wider range of services than this so-called "Wasteland Searcher".
This Taoist group, regardless of whether the members are real or fake, and regardless of whether the money will actually be used, they can exorcise demons, perform divination, treat illnesses, and even raid tombs to steal treasures—they do it all.
Calling him a "half-immortal" is no exaggeration.
Not long after, the door of the convenience store in the service area was pushed open again, and the three "scavengers" came out carrying several bags of instant food and bottled water.
The tall, thin man's gaze swept over Chen Anran's table again, lingering for a moment longer on Wei Qingyi's aloof face, before casually looking away and leading his companions straight to his SUV.
"They're quite vigilant." Shen Zui looked away and stubbed out his cigarette in the portable ashtray he carried with him. "Judging from their equipment and that aura of keeping strangers at bay, this 'search for the wilderness' is probably going to be quite a big deal."
Chen Anran watched as the three men deftly loaded the supplies onto the vehicle. The SUV engine gave a deep roar and drove away from the service area first, followed closely by two vans. The wheels kicked up a thin layer of dust, and they quickly merged into the traffic on the national highway, disappearing behind the rolling hills ahead.
"It's none of our business." Wei Qingyi put down her phone, her tone indifferent. "Attending the banquet, celebrating a birthday, and then returning to the mountain."
Huiming chanted a Buddhist mantra in a low voice, and the fingers that were turning the prayer beads resumed their usual slow and steady rhythm.
Zhang Nanshan and Daoist Tianbao had just finished their cigarettes and strolled back. Zhang Nanshan asked with a smile, "What were you chatting about? Those young men seemed to be walking on air, with cunning eyes; they didn't look like they were going to a birthday celebration."
Shen Zui briefly explained his guess about the "Wilderness Seekers." Zhang Nanshan listened, fanning himself, unconcerned: "The Lin City area has been too peaceful these past few years; it's normal for some disturbances to arise. As long as they don't cause trouble at the birthday banquet or disturb the world, let them do what they want. If they find anything good, that's their fate."
Master Tianbao nodded slightly and added, "Since the Han family has chosen to hold a banquet in Lincheng at this time, they must have heard about it. Han Bailian is a steady and discreet person."
After resting for about twenty minutes, both groups called their disciples to get into the vehicles. The young people from Longhu Mountain and Maoshan, having eaten and drunk their fill, were even more energetic. The bus was soon filled with laughter and conversation again.
Fatty Li started his van and followed the bus again.
…………
In the afternoon, the vehicle entered the urban area of Lincheng. The streets were bustling with traffic and pedestrians, and the hustle and bustle of the city was overwhelming.
Because we arrived two days early, we had plenty of time.
Zhang Nanshan's bus led the way, skillfully navigating several main roads and gradually leaving the bustling city center, heading towards the eastern suburbs. The further east they went, the fewer tall buildings there were, the denser greenery became, and patches of shady trees and the faint outlines of sloping hills began to appear on both sides of the road.
About twenty minutes later, the vehicle turned onto a quiet asphalt road. A rustic wooden sign stood by the roadside, bearing the three large characters "Yueranju" in regular script. The road meandered into the depths of a meticulously maintained garden, isolating it from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
Fatty Li slowed down and followed the bus into the manor gate.
Inside the gate lies a hidden world, with pavilions and towers nestled among the pines and cypresses, and artificial hills and flowing water adding to the ambiance.
Several cars were already parked in the parking lot, including some expensive luxury cars, but Zhang Nanshan's custom-made bus was the only one that stood out so much.
As everyone disembarked, service staff in traditional Chinese uniforms came to greet them. A middle-aged man who appeared to be a manager walked quickly to Zhang Nanshan and Daoist Tianbao, bowing deeply: "Master Zhang, True Man Tianbao, and all Daoists, you have had a long journey. Mr. Han has already instructed that the rooms are ready. Please follow me."
Zhang Nanshan waved his fan and nodded with a smile: "Thank you for your trouble."
Chen Anran and his three companions followed behind the people from Longhu Mountain and Maoshan, surveying their surroundings.
Yue Ran Ju is a typical antique garden-style hotel. The main building has only three floors, and the rest are mostly independent courtyards scattered in the garden, offering excellent privacy. The garden paths are paved with bluestone slabs and pebbles, with swaying bamboo shadows and the babbling of springs on both sides, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.
The manager led them through a moon gate to a more concentrated area of guest rooms.
"Master Zhang, Master Tianbao and their disciples' rooms are arranged in the East Garden's 'Pine Wave Courtyard' and 'Bamboo Rhyme Courtyard,' which are two connected courtyards for easy look-alike support." The manager said, then turned to Chen Anran and the others, "Mr. Chen, Mr. Han specifically instructed that the 'Listening to the Spring Pavilion' in the West Garden be reserved for the Yunyin Sect members. It is a separate courtyard and is much quieter."
The arrangements were quite thoughtful, clearly showing that Han Bailian had put in the effort to understand the situation and preferences of all the guests.
Upon hearing this, Daoist Tianbao smiled at Chen Anran and said, "Han Bailian certainly knows how to handle people. Tingquan Xiaozhu has the best environment, right next to a spring that draws water from the back mountain. I've stayed here twice before, and it's truly excellent."
Chen Anran cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your trouble, Fellow Daoist Han, and thank you for your graciousness, Senior."
"Hey, what's with all this talk about giving way? There are only a few of you, so the small courtyard is just right for you. But for our whole family, it's more convenient to stay in the connected courtyards." Master Tianbao waved his hand and then said to the manager, "Alright, lead the way and let the younger ones settle in first."
The two groups then separated. The manager assigned two waiters to guide them separately.
Following a young waiter along the winding garden path, Fatty Li couldn't help but exclaim softly, "Master, this place is truly magnificent, just like the garden of an ancient royal palace."
"After all, it's the birthday banquet of the Han family matriarch. Arranging it here shows sincerity and cultural depth," Chen Anran said. He noticed other guests occasionally moving around in the garden, all of them with extraordinary bearing. Some had spiritual energy emanating from their bodies, while others had bright eyes. Clearly, many people from the cultivation world had come to this birthday banquet.
Tingquan Xiaozhu is located on the west side of the garden, near a small hillside. A clear spring gushes out from the cracks in the rocks, forming a narrow stream that flows around the courtyard, hence the name "Tingquan" (Listening to the Spring). The Xiaozhu is a small courtyard with three main rooms and one wing room on each side, enclosing a small courtyard. An old plum tree grows in the courtyard, its branches and leaves currently lush and green.
The waiter unlocked the main room door and explained, "The main room is a suite, with an inner bedroom and an outer room that can be used as a living room. The left and right wing rooms also each have beds. There is a separate hot water and kitchenette in the courtyard. If you would like to dine, you can call room service at any time, or go to the main building restaurant. Here is an explanation of the key card and the facilities in the courtyard. Please rest well, and press the call button if you need anything."
After giving his instructions, the waiter politely withdrew.