Who Brought Him into the Cultivation World?

Chapter 447: Chapter 389: Old Ye Sells Rice

”You really don’t need to be so sneaky.”

Just as Han Yu emerged from the ground, the Artifact Spirit couldn’t help but roll its eyes.

Once bitten by a snake, you’re afraid of ropes for ten years; that’s understandable.

But sneaking all the way from Minzhou City to the Southern Border using Earth Escape is just ridiculous.

This stop-and-go journey wasted an extra two days for no reason.

Han Yu pouted, didn’t you hear what the puppet said before leaving?

Next time, you won’t be so lucky; listen here! There might be a next time.

Doesn’t he know that bastard has his eyes on me?

”But hiding underground won’t help! If they really can find you, digging deeper won’t do any good.”

The Artifact Spirit sighed helplessly.

This is a completely crushing posture; hiding is pointless.

”I suggest you go all out with the pills, believe me, we’ll get strong enough to turn that deadpan face into a normal person eventually.”

The Artifact Spirit waved its hand to cheer him on, speaking words it wasn’t even sure of itself.

Going all out with pills, what nonsense, only one every three days.

Han Yu sorely missed the days when Ping tormented him nearly to death.

Though it was tragically miserable being chased everywhere, at least the progress was astonishingly fast.

Now it’s one every three days, which is just frustrating.

Even yesterday’s freshly made pill, even if given away, still requires waiting two more days.

Youzhou Prefecture, the most remote area of the Southern Border.

Since ancient times, the region has been vast and sparsely populated, with poor natural resources; it’s all mountains and valleys, just mountains wherever you look.

Don’t even mention outsiders; even ordinary merchant routes rarely tread here.

When Han Yu arrived at Youzhou City, looking at the rows of crumbling bricks and tiles on the city wall, he could hardly believe such a barren city existed without seeing the words ”Youzhou City” with his own eyes.

Of course, had the Celestial Secret Tower’s list not stated this address, he wouldn’t believe such a place could produce a Qi Fortune Cultivator.

”There really is.”

Upon standing at the city gate, the Artifact Spirit began to stir.

Han Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, which proved the Celestial Secret Tower’s list was indeed accurate.

Finding this one, the subsequent nine, if nothing unexpected occurs, could all fall into his hands.

As he entered the city, he noticed it was unusually deserted inside.

The dazzling array of shops common in other cities was nowhere to be found here.

Besides a few stores selling grains and rice, there was nothing else along the street.

However, there were plenty of stalls selling various animal furs, and butcher shops, where different beasts were on display throughout the city.

Following protocol, Han Yu visited the Guardian Mansion first; there might be messages any time from the Mo Family or the Celestial Secret Tower; if he leaves no trace, the Inspectorate might be at a loss.

But before the Inspectorate got lost, he already was.

He walked around but couldn’t find the Guardian Mansion, which was utterly ridiculous.

”Could it be so poor here that there isn’t even a Guardian Mansion?”

It’s not impossible; what could cultivators even want in this godforsaken place?

No food.

No entertainment.

No buzz.

These three things alone could keep out ninety percent of street-roaming cultivators.

Probably only those truly seeking worldly training and hardship would choose to come here.

After searching for another half a round, Han Yu had to finally ask someone.

”There’s a Guardian Mansion?”

Han Yu’s expression was odd. Not because of the existence of a Guardian Mansion, but its location.

Moments later, Han Yu appeared back at the city gate, looking up to confirm the sign of a rice and grain shop before stepping in.

A servant quickly greeted him, but after locking eyes with Han Yu, he turned and fled.

What’s going on?

Han Yu was baffled, faintly hearing the servant’s shouts.

”Boss, the guy you hate to the bones is here.”

Soon after, a middle-aged man in a dark cultivator uniform emerged from the shop’s rear courtyard, and upon looking up, met eyes with Han Yu.

Uh!

Han Yu was also stunned.

Old Ye!

...

”You weren’t demoted here because of my pills, were you?”

Damn, these days I keep running into familiar faces.

Han Yu hadn’t expected the former guardian of Yujin Prefecture, Ye Zhiqiu, would be transferred here.

Could it be because a single pill back then left half the city’s people only able to laugh, not cry?

Ye Zhiqiu’s face was complicated, feeling a sudden toothache; if Han Yu had any of his former strength, he’d have someone throw him out of the city.

He glared at Han Yu, helplessly saying, ”I was transferred here just two days ago. Who would’ve thought I’d be unlucky enough to run into you.”

Two days? Then it couldn’t have been my fault.

But Han Yu still found it odd, ”You turned a Guardian Mansion into a rice shop; wouldn’t Che Dapao wring your neck for that.”

”I’m part of the Inspectorate, and besides, it’s an imperial policy. The Southern Border is too poor and lacks grain, so many merchants refuse to trade here. Hence, the court must supply grains to the Southern Border itself.”

Explaining this, Ye Zhiqiu also felt a bit helpless; the Fifth Tower wanted to make things easy, directly having the local guardians take on this duty as well.

The Guardian Mansion became a rice shop; not only did Han Yu find it ridiculous, so did Ye Zhiqiu upon arrival.

”But it’s a beneficial thing for the people, so let’s just leave it be!”

Ye Zhiqiu was rather open-minded, speaking nonchalantly.

After speaking, he eyed Han Yu warily; he knew from the very start about Han Yu’s knack for causing trouble, not to mention the later legends.

It was a fact that even when he left, Han Yu’s wanted poster at Yujin City’s gates hadn’t been torn down.

”Though you’re now much stronger than me, don’t cause any trouble, alright!”

”I’m not here to cause trouble, just delivering a pill and will leave.”

Han Yu didn’t hide his intent, chuckling as he spoke. After that, he suddenly shifted his gaze and quickly turned away, waving his hand.

”We’ll catch up later.”

Immediately after speaking, he vanished without a trace.

...

The Artifact Spirit’s detection failed?

Just as Han Yu was joking around earlier, the sensing of the Qi Fortune Cultivator suddenly vanished from the city.

Han Yu trusted the Artifact Spirit’s ability in this regard, so if it said the signal disappeared, it truly meant they lost the trace.

After leaving the rice shop, he immediately rushed to the last sensed position of the cultivator without stopping.

But upon arrival, the surrounding empty area left him dumbfounded.

This was just an open space.

Could the guy actually disappear here?

...

At the city gate, a young man in a cyan cultivator robe tugged at the animal skin cloak on his shoulders, quickly passing by the rice shop outside.

The peculiar cloak composed of various animal skins attracted no attention from anyone.

After leaving the city, the young man finally pulled down his hood, revealing a clear and bright face.

Reaching a deserted area, the young man controlled his sword, soaring into the sky and shooting off.

Traversing over mountains and valleys, eventually, the young man zipped into the depths of a forest.

It was a valley area, and pushing through waist-high weeds, he went straight ahead.

A narrow crack appeared on the mountain wall, resembling a scar.

Halting here, the young man carefully removed his cloak, folded it, and tossed it inside, then took off a small knapsack from his back, sized it against the crack, barely managing to stuff it in.

Once all external belongings were tossed in, he squeezed himself along the crack.