The few cultivators merely glanced at Ye Fan and the two of them, paying them no mind.
Though their method of flying on beds was somewhat peculiar, it was considered normal within the cultivation world. It was common knowledge that cultivators below the Golden Core stage could not fly on their own accord. And cultivators below the Golden Core stage made up the vast majority of all cultivators.
Naturally, someone would tap into this vast market.
What? You say cultivators are all busy seeking immortality and enlightenment, how could they possibly engage in business? Don't be ridiculous! Cultivators need to eat too! Aren't all those heavenly treasures and elixirs expensive? In a sense, most low-level cultivators were even poorer than ordinary mortals...
This led to the emergence of various flying magical treasures specifically designed for cultivators below the Golden Core stage in the market. After all, cultivators were still people. And where there were many people, there would always be all sorts of strange demands and eccentricities.
Thus, many sellers very thoughtfully offered custom appearance services. Flying swords were merely basic models, with countless bizarre shapes and forms. For example, a cultivator who once kept a mosquito as a pet might commission a mosquito-shaped flying tool after the pet died. They would then fly on their "mosquito" daily, as a way to express their grief for their deceased companion.
Or perhaps a filial son, excessively missing his deceased father, might have one custom-made to resemble his father. He would then fly on his "father" daily, to express his longing for his father's spirit in heaven.
Then there were female cultivators who would ask merchants to shape their flying artifacts into the form of a stick, even requesting specific vibration frequencies. This was nothing strange. If people could keep mosquitoes as pets, why couldn't others keep tree branches?
Compared to all this, Ye Fan's large bed seemed quite ordinary.
Ye Fan and Liang Rujing didn't think much of the cultivators who passed them by on their swords. They were merely fellow travelers, nothing more. Soon, both parties had passed each other.
"Hmm?" The leading cultivator opposite them paused.
In that brief moment, he had seen the jade pendant at Ye Fan's waist. The cultivator seemed to have realized something, and his expression changed!
"Fellow Daoist!" The group turned their swords and caught up with Ye Fan.
"Do you need something?" Ye Fan looked at them, puzzled.
The leading cultivator didn't speak, but instead stared intently at the jade pendant at Ye Fan's waist. Seeing this, Ye Fan raised an eyebrow.
What a coincidence? Judging by their demeanor, they seemed to recognize this jade pendant? Or perhaps... they were the family of the deceased?
Thinking this, Ye Fan felt a slight thrill. The deceased had clutched this jade pendant tightly when he died, proving it was something of great importance! If it was important, it wouldn't be given away casually, right? Seeing such an important item on someone else, what would their reaction be? They would surely assume the person had killed their kin and attack them!
Come on, I'm ready! Don't disappoint me!
However, the subsequent reaction of the other party exceeded Ye Fan's expectations...
The leading cultivator first scanned the surroundings, ensuring no one else was present, and then grabbed Ye Fan's arm! Ye Fan blinked in confusion, feeling a bit flustered.
"Stop looking at me with such an existential gaze. I'm terrified..."
The cultivator realized he had lost his composure and quickly withdrew his hand.
"No need to be nervous," the cultivator whispered, then took out half of an identical jade pendant from his neck: "One of us." As he spoke, he brought the jade pendant in his hand together with Ye Fan's.
The two jade pendants merged, emitting a faint glow, and an ancient symbol appeared. The cultivator nodded heavily.
That's right! The jade pendants the Emperor bestowed upon us were all the left halves. The only right half was in the hands of the spy planted in the Liang Kingdom!
"This isn't a place to talk, let's go!" the cultivator whispered, then took out a flying boat.
And so, the bewildered Ye Fan and Liang Rujing were taken aboard the flying boat. Once inside a room on the flying boat, the leading cultivator activated some of the formations on the vessel. After ensuring their secrecy, the cultivators, in unison, knelt on one knee.
"The Fang family, Fang Li, along with his subordinates, welcome the special envoy back to Da Ling!"
Ye Fan and Liang Rujing were stunned!
"I think you might have made a mistake," Ye Fan said with a headache. "I'm not some special envoy, I found this jade pendant. I found it on a dead person."
Ye Fan deliberately emphasized the last part: "I found it on a dead person." Clearly, these people had mistaken him for some kind of special envoy. Now, if he told them he got this from their special envoy, they would understand what to do! His implication was that he had killed their special envoy! Therefore, they should kill him immediately! Utterly! Now!
"Special Envoy, please rest assured, we understand the rules." Fang Li stood up, his expression conveying understanding.
"Look at my face." Ye Fan pointed to his own face. "I look nothing like your special envoy! And, I'm from the Liang Kingdom, do you understand the Liang Kingdom?!" Since the deceased was a special envoy from Da Ling, and Da Ling and Liang were hostile nations, he was likely a spy. Even if they were face-blind, now that he had declared his identity as from an enemy nation, they should know what to do! Hurry up! Don't let me look down on you!
"Special Envoy, please rest assured, we understand!" Fang Li replied respectfully. "To maintain secrecy, the Special Envoy naturally cannot show his true face, and even we are not privy to it!" To be honest, Fang Li had never seen the spy's face. Moreover, the spy had been sent away since childhood, so even if he had seen him, he wouldn't recognize him now. But the jade pendant personally bestowed by the Emperor of Da Ling was irrefutable! And the Special Envoy's loyalty to His Majesty was absolutely reliable; even in death, the jade pendant must not fall into the hands of others. Therefore, in his eyes, Ye Fan was the Special Envoy!
"No, listen to me..."
"Understood, understood, it's for secrecy."
"Let me finish speaking first, I..."
"Yes, yes, yes, you are not a special envoy, you are just a passerby we encountered. I understand!"
Ye Fan: ... You understand a mountain of eggs?! I'm going to...
"Rujing, let's go." Ye Fan decided to ignore these imbeciles and pulled Liang Rujing towards the exit.
"Special Envoy, you cannot leave now!" Fang Li grabbed Ye Fan's shoulder. Perhaps due to excessive excitement, he used a bit too much force. The pain made Ye Fan's mouth twitch.
[Detected... hmm?]
[The other party bears no ill will, continuing energy-saving mode.]
Ye Fan: ???
Damn it! Are you guys in cahoots to trick me?!