Cultivating in Different Professions

Chapter 150: Chapter 115: Ambush

Wuling City, East City District.

An exquisitely decorated carriage pulled up to the entrance of the East City Government Office.

After the carriage stopped, a cute and clever little handmaiden stepped out. She walked to the entrance of the Government Office and gave a curtsy to the constable on duty.

”Big brother, could I trouble you to announce me? Please say that Xiang Xiaoyuan, on behalf of the Xiang Family, requests to see Lord Su.”

The constable at the gate was a little dazed from being called ”big brother” by such a delicate handmaiden. When he heard that the famous Xiang Family was in the carriage, he was even more flattered and flustered.

”Um... Lord Su is not in his office. Perhaps the Xiang Family could come back another day?”

The constable said, scratching his head.

”Not here again?”

The handmaiden froze for a moment, then mumbled with a hint of resignation.

It was like this back in the South City District, and now it’s the same in the East City District. How can he always be so busy that no one can find him?

’He’s truly a man like the wind.’

”Lord Su is out of the city on orders to exterminate the remnants of the Fragrance Sect. He should be back in a few days. When he returns, I will be sure to inform him of the Xiang Family’s visit.”

The constable said, inwardly impressed. ’As expected of Lord Su,’ he thought. ’Even the Xiang Family, who they say is harder to see than a thousand gold pieces, has come to our door of their own accord.’

”Xiaoping, come back. Since Lord Su is not here, we will visit another day.”

A voice drifted from the carriage, as clear and pleasant as an oriole’s morning song.

The constable at the gate felt his bones melt at the sound. He sighed inwardly. ’If her voice is this beautiful, I can’t imagine how gorgeous the lady of the Xiang Family must be.’

The little handmaiden answered with an ”Okay,” hopped back onto the carriage, and waved to the constable. ”Goodbye, big brother.”

The constable waved back instinctively. He watched until the carriage vanished at the end of the long street, then reluctantly pulled his gaze away.

He would probably never get the chance to see the lady of the Xiang Family in his life, but just hearing her voice was enough for him to brag about for days.

...

”Miss, are we returning to the Inner City?”

Inside the carriage, the little handmaiden asked Xiang Xiaoyuan.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was meticulously dressed in a white gown, a simple jade hairpin adorning her hair. She looked as pure and elegant as a lotus flower emerging from the water.

She frowned slightly and shook her head. ”We’re not going back to the Inner City yet. We’re going somewhere else.”

She gave an address. Although the handmaiden was a bit confused, she went out and gave the coachman his instructions.

Not long after, in the private room of a restaurant, a figure slipped silently through the window.

”Miss, why were you in such a hurry to see me? It’s dangerous for you to come to the Outer City during the day. If someone were to notice our connection, it would cause huge trouble.”

Shi Ziran scanned the private room warily before approaching Xiang Xiaoyuan and speaking in a low voice.

”You should have left a signal. I would have found a way to meet you tonight.”

”Uncle Shi, I have something urgent.”

Xiang Xiaoyuan said, ”I have a legitimate reason for coming to the Outer City. No one will be suspicious of me having a meal here.”

”Alright. Miss, what was so urgent that you had to find me?”

Shi Ziran said with a hint of resignation. ’The child has grown up and has her own ideas. I can’t control her anymore.’

”I heard that remnants of the Fragrance Sect have appeared outside the city. Do you know about this, Uncle Shi?”

Xiang Xiaoyuan asked, her tone laced with worry.

”I’ve heard. It’s the branch from the Execution Hall.”

Shi Ziran said in a grave voice.

The Fragrance Sect originally had six halls: Guan Hall, Execution Hall, Ritual Hall, Punishment Hall, Guardian Seal, and Sword Guardian.

The Execution Hall was the main force of the Fragrance Sect and also its largest hall, primarily responsible for carrying out various missions.

Guan Hall was in charge of recruiting personnel, training new members, and handling rewards, punishments, and promotions.

The Ritual Hall was mainly responsible for proselytizing, while the Punishment Hall administered the sect’s laws.

The Guardian Seal and the Sword Guardian were extremely mysterious existences within the Fragrance Sect. They had only one duty: to ensure the continuation of the Fragrance Sect’s legacy.

”If the Execution Hall hadn’t betrayed us back then, the Sect Leader and the Saintess would not have died. Everyone in the Execution Hall is a traitor. If I wasn’t worried about exposing myself, I’d go kill them myself.”

Shi Ziran said, hatred and killing intent glinting in his eyes.

”Uncle Shi, why would people from the Execution Hall suddenly appear in Wuling? Could this be part of some conspiracy?”

Xiang Xiaoyuan asked worriedly.

”The Execution Hall betrayed the Sect Leader and the Saintess back then, hoping to profit from the conflict. In the end, they didn’t gain anything and were completely shattered by the Da Xuan Court.”

Shi Ziran sneered. ”But they haven’t given up over the years, searching everywhere for the Fragrance Sect’s hidden treasures. They must have heard some rumor this time, which is why they’ve come to Wuling.”

”Hmph. A bunch of treacherous villains who betrayed their master. They think they can find the treasure? What a pipe dream!”

Shi Ziran said coldly, his face full of scorn.

”So, it should just be a coincidence?”

Xiang Xiaoyuan mused.

”It’s a coincidence.”

Shi Ziran nodded and said, ”They’re not here for us. If they were really after us, they wouldn’t have sent such a paltry number of people.

They can’t take me down with just these few. The Execution Hall isn’t that stupid.”

As he spoke, a proud look appeared on Shi Ziran’s face.

At that moment, he was no longer the leader of a small sect tucked away in a district of the Outer City, but the formidable Sword Guardian of the Fragrance Sect!

Xiang Xiaoyuan nodded, not doubting Shi Ziran’s words in the slightest.

”Don’t worry, Miss. Our current identities are completely clean. No one can find out anything. Those people from the Execution Hall can’t affect us.”

Shi Ziran said, ”If there’s nothing else, you should return to the Inner City as soon as possible, Miss. The Outer City isn’t very safe, after all.”

Xiang Xiaoyuan acknowledged his point.

The two spoke for a while longer, and then Shi Ziran once again slipped out through the window.