The on - looking civilians in Haiyou City stood there with their mouths agape, their faces full of disbelief.
In their memories, the city lord was smart, wise, kind - hearted and humble. He never had an argument with others, let alone beat someone with his own hands.
Of course, there were people who had once been unconvinced by Song Zhiyi. They thought he was weak, unable to cultivate spiritual power by nature and had no spiritual roots. For such a man, just being able to support himself was already a feat, so how could he be capable of being the city lord of Haiyou City?
When the empress handed over the famine - stricken Haiyou City to Song Zhiyi all those years ago, he was questioned by countless people. At that time, there were quite a few people who came to challenge him. Insults, blame and beatings were not uncommon. Even when people insulted him so harshly, Song Zhiyi never retaliated.
Today, Chu Wen hadn't even said anything overly offensive, yet Song Zhiyi was provoked into retorting. What was more, the city lord actually picked up a wooden stick and chased Chu Wen all over the street.
Fortunately, after getting tired from chasing, the two stopped for a while. But even during this short break, Chu Wen's mouth didn't stop.
"Don't be like this. After all, we've slept in the same bed."
A murmur of surprise rose from the crowd.
Song Zhiyi gave Chu Wen a vicious look.
Thinking that Song Zhiyi didn't remember that incident and was doubting his words, Chu Wen continued, "Song Zhiyi, have you forgotten? When you were a kid, you were scared of thunder and would shrink into the corner whenever it thundered. On the eve of Chinese New Year's Eve, the master had something to attend to on Qingyun Peak. It was me who went to your room and held you while you slept."
"Bang!"
Song Zhiyi directly threw the wooden stick in his hand.
Chu Wen nimbly dodged it.
"Chu Wen, those were just childhood things. Do you really have to bring them up?"
When he was a kid, Song Zhiyi was indeed afraid of thunder, and he had a good relationship with the Chu siblings. But as he grew older, he wasn't so afraid of the dark anymore. He considered his childhood fear of thunder to be a stain on his life. Now this stain was being brought up in broad daylight by Chu Wen.
"Are you angry?"
"No."
"Then I—"
"Someone, drive this hooligan out of the city!"
Before Chu Wen could finish speaking, he was grabbed by the arms by the swarming guards and dragged out of the city.
Zhao Shuning was mingling in the crowd. Watching this scene, she couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Song Zhiyi looked at the crowd and said, "Today's incident is an accident. Everyone, please disperse."
"We obey the city lord's order."
The civilians bowed and then dispersed.
Zhao Shuning turned around. After the crowd dispersed, Xie An was still tightly holding Ye Xingchen's hand. When they noticed Zhao Shuning turning around, they suddenly realized how strange their behavior was and quickly let go of each other's hands.
Zhao Shuning pretended not to notice.
Distracted by this incident, when Zhao Shuning turned back to call Song Zhiyi, he had already entered the city lord's mansion.
"Xingchen, you take Xiao An to find Chu Wen first, explain the situation to him, and then find an inn to stay in."
"Sister, what about you?"
"I'm going into the city lord's mansion to see Song Zhiyi. He was a child I took care of before. I haven't seen him for a long time, and I have a lot of things to ask him."
Du She said with lingering fear, "Senior, although the city lord Song has no spiritual power, the guards around him are extremely skilled. I tried several times to enter the city lord's mansion but failed. It was only in the ancestral hall that I finally had a chance to meet him."
Although he was finally driven out.
"Don't worry. I have my own way."
"Senior, please be careful."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
"I remember there's a good inn called Carp Inn in Haiyou City. The owner's name is Li Yu. You can go find him in the south of the city now. Oh, Xiao An, you know Li Yu's daughter."
"Do I?"
Zhao Shuning nodded.
"She's Shuang'er, the girl who lived with me in Yanyu Tower. Her original surname is Li."
She wondered if this little girl was already betrothed in Haiyou City.
Du She nodded.
"Senior, shall we wait for you at the Carp Inn?"
"Yeah."
Hearing this, Xie An and Ye Xingchen walked towards the south of the city together.
Zhao Shuning looked at the high - walled compound. Then she looked at the bricks and tiles on the street. The street surface was very clean.
When she handed over Haiyou City to that little brat Song Zhiyi back then, it was a desolate place with overgrown weeds inside the city. Haiyou City lacked water, and it was extremely difficult for the civilians living here to survive. But Zhao Shuning knew that Song Zhiyi had the ability. Even the most dilapidated things could be made brand - new in his hands.
Song Zhiyi was not only smart, but also good at setting up mechanisms and could make weapons with great attack power. Here, what the spiritual alchemists solved with spiritual power, he could solve with his brain.
Red bricks and pear trees. This was really Song Zhiyi's favorite style.
Zhao Shuning walked around the city lord's mansion and found a place without any guards. With a light leap, she was on the high wall.
Just as she was about to jump down, she found a barrier in front of her.
"Invisible silk net?" The invisible silk net was also called the silver silk net.
Zhao Shuning reached out her hand and indeed felt the impact from the silver silk net. She quickly withdrew her hand.
It seemed that the security work in the city lord's mansion was really well - done. No wonder Xiao An had said such things before.
Zhao Shuning jumped down and returned the way she came.
She arrived at the main entrance of the city lord's mansion. Taking a step forward, just as she was about to knock on the door, she was stopped.
She originally wanted to enter quietly, but there was no other way. This main entrance was the only one without the silver silk net.
"Miss, this is the city lord's mansion. Idlers are not allowed to enter or exit."
Zhao Shuning said, "I have something to see City Lord Song. Could you please inform him for me?"
"Miss, do you have a grievance?"
Zhao Shuning shook her head.
"Then, Miss, are you here to take revenge on our city lord?"
Zhao Shuning shook her head again.
"Then it must be to repay a kindness."
"No."
Zhao Shuning felt that the mid - day sun was really making her feel flustered.
"Then you must be a woman who admires our city lord?"
Zhao Shuning widened her eyes. Then she asked, "If I say yes, can I go in?"
The guards looked at each other, then looked at Zhao Shuning seriously and shook their heads in unison.
"Then what's the point of asking?"
"Miss, please watch your language. Our city lord hates such women the most."
Zhao Shuning covered her mouth.
"Alright, Miss. If you have anything to say to the city lord, just tell us. We'll go and inform the city lord."
Zhao Shuning rolled her eyes.
She said, "Can you pass a few words to him for me?"
Zhao Shuning whispered a few words into the guard's ear. The guard's expression became more and more confused.
"Miss, are you sure this will work? You only have one chance."
"Go, go. If it doesn't work, I'll leave. I won't make things difficult for you, okay?"