377: Chapter 309 377: Chapter 309 At least by his side, he wouldn’t have to pinch pennies and skimp on meals, loathe to take on tasks, wasting his days within the Immortal Sect.
Mo Wen readily agreed to Ding Ling’s invitation, as he had nothing else to bring except for the items in his Storage Bag, which he always carried on him.
First, they checked with Lai Jianlin and learned that he was indeed at home and welcoming their visit.
When Mo Wen heard that Lai Jianlin welcomed them, joy surged in his heart, he thought that even if there were no other cultivation resources, there would be good food and drink by his side.
Even if it meant following Lai Jianlin and working within the family, that would be much better than wandering like a restless ghost or a wild crane within the Immortal Sect.
Mo Wen conveyed to Ding Ling the news that Lai Jianlin welcomed their visit.
Ding Ling then said to him, “Let’s meet at the main gate of the Immortal Sect and hurry over there!”
Mo Wen agreed with Ding Ling’s words, and the two met at the main gate of the Immortal Sect, then they took to the skies on their respective Flying Artifacts.
After an unknown amount of time, Ding Ling felt hungry and looked down at the ground from the high altitude, where there was a bustling marketplace.
“Brother Mo, let’s land and grab something to eat, and also buy some dry food on the side.
We still don’t know how far away the Lai Family is, and we will have to rely on dry food to hasten our journey later on, saving money on accommodations.”
Having received money from her master, Ding Ling dared not to spend it recklessly.
Accustomed to living frugally, she disliked squandering and knew the journey of life still stretched long ahead.
Mo Wen agreed with Ding Ling’s proposal, and as a man, he was reluctant to let a woman pay; it was a matter of male pride.
However, if they were to spend lavishly, he wouldn’t be able to accept it either.
With a thin wallet, Mo Wen, in front of Ding Ling who had a master, felt profoundly impoverished as a man.
The two descended outside the city and entered a small county town, walking on the busiest street.
It seemed there was a festival today—many people were bustling about, and besides the shops, there were numerous street vendors setting up stalls.
Ding Ling glanced around, consumed with thoughts of her own concerns, she did not set her mind to finding out why the place was so lively.
They found a small restaurant and took a seat at a table.
It was mealtime, and there were people eating in the shop, along with some vendors who came in to buy snacks.
It appeared that the marketplace did not disperse even at noon; some people continued to run their stalls after eating.
On the streets, some vendors also sold snacks, and people crowded around to buy.
As guests came in and sat down, the owner asked what they would like to eat.
“Boss, we’d like two bowls of beef and two baskets of meat buns, and pack four more plates of meat buns to go.”
“Junior sister, buying so much…”
As Mo Wen spoke, he touched his wallet.
He had initially thought of ordering just a bowl of vegetarian noodles, but hearing Ding Ling ordering so much meat and buns, he certainly wanted to eat too.
Yet, he knew that if he were to pay for it, he might wager all he had.
Mo Wen was not stingy; he was genuinely poor.
Before Lai Jianlin came into his life, he was just as impoverished.
Then there was a period when he knew Lai Jianlin, and his days were glorious and carefree.
But it had been some time since he left Lai Jianlin’s side.
He had no tasks to undertake, no master, and no stronger cultivation; without special treatment in the Immortal Sect, he had to pay for everything he ate.
He was nearly at his wit’s end.
He had hastily agreed to Ding Ling’s proposition because he truly missed the days by Lai Jianlin’s side, where he could indulge in sumptuous feasts without playing the pauper within the Immortal Sect.
“Senior brother, no need to worry.
Before leaving, master gave me some travel funds.
We can afford this bit of food,” Ding Ling reassured.
Of course, Ding Ling wouldn’t reveal to others how much money she had.
Her senior brother wasn’t a bad person, but the outside world was complicated, and she worried about encountering villains.
“Oh, alright then.
In that case, senior brother won’t stand on ceremony,” he said.
The shopkeeper, standing to the side and listening to their conversation, looked at Mo Wen with a disdainful gaze, finding his shameless behavior contemptible.
The shopkeeper felt that the man was too disgraceful, relying on his junior sister—and a woman no less—to pay for a meal, lacking any semblance of manliness.
“Immortal maiden, is that all you wish to order?
We have a specialty mutton dish here,” the owner inquired.
Mo Wen, upon hearing the owner’s offer, nearly drooled but held back from saying anything.
Ding Ling paused for a moment, then nodded, “Owner, please pack a dish of mutton for us as well!”
“Alright…” The shopkeeper hadn’t expected to encounter such a big spender and was delighted at the prospect of a decent profit.
“Junior Sister, have some tea.” Mo Wen courteously poured the tea.
While the shopkeeper went to prepare the food, Ding Ling took the teacup, took a sip, and observed the street outside.
In her spare moments, she paid attention to the outdoors due merely to curiosity.
Their conversation, so generously ordering dishes, among the several tables of patrons eating in the restaurant, two people exchanged sneaky glances.
They had almost finished their meal but didn’t leave right away, perhaps wanting to secretly listen in on what they were saying?
These two didn’t speak loudly, they communicated in whispers and with gestures.
One couldn’t understand what they were saying unless they were insiders.
Ding Ling and Mo Wen were cultivators, and although they had seen a bit of the world, they were unaware that in this small place, they were being watched and that someone wanted to rob them of their wealth and beauty.
How could they ever imagine that ruffians and bullies, ordinary people, would dare to covet what was theirs?
Ding Ling did not specifically pay attention to the other patrons because they believed that everyone here was a commoner.
If a commoner dared to target them, it would be like “the God of Longevity growing tired of living.”
Ding Ling and Mo Wen looked outside, the woman’s beautiful eyes gazing out, when at that moment, a carriage passed by, its window open, revealing a young man with oiled hair and a powdered face peering out.
He observed the women, particularly the ones selling goods or strolling on both sides of the street, looking intently at the faces of those who were beautiful.
Suddenly, the young noble spotted a very beautiful woman in a shop, just as their carriage was about to pass by.
The oil-haired, powder-faced gentleman, upon seeing the woman in the shop, felt as if he had seen a Heavenly Immortal; he had never in his life seen such a beautiful lady.
Her figure and appearance were as if a Heavenly Immortal had descended to earth.
“Stop the carriage, stop the carriage!”
“Young Master, what’s wrong?” Beside the oil-haired, powder-faced young man, one of his servants hadn’t seen the beautiful woman, and certainly wasn’t as lecherous or daring as the young master.
“Xiaozhi, look, is that a Heavenly Immortal?
An immortal beauty has descended to earth.”
“Young Master, where would there be any Heavenly Immortal here?
And immortal beauties must be few, right?”
The one called Xiaozhi, serving beside the young master, also reveled in his small slice of fortune.
The young master’s family was part of the cultivator lineage, and though his Spiritual Root was modest and his cultivation skills were not high, he could still act with impunity in this small county.
The family of the oil-haired, powder-faced young master was not just wealthy but also a Cultivator Family with some cultivation resources.
In this small county, they could be considered overbearingly influential; strolling down this bustling street was for the sole purpose of chancing upon a beauty.
“Isn’t that an Immortal descended to earth?
What kind of eyesight do you have?
You’re so blind…”
The oil-haired, powder-faced young man smacked Xiaozhi on the head.
“Ow, that hurts…”
Xiaozhi, though hit, didn’t dare get angry.
He glanced toward the window the young master had indicated and indeed saw a very beautiful woman inside a shop.
He felt like salivating just looking at her; no wonder the young master had already drooled while speaking.
“Heavenly Immortal…”
The oil-haired, powder-faced young man ordered the carriage to be stopped, and he and Xiaozhi disembarked, instructing the carriage driver to go and call for help.
Upon hearing the young master’s command, the carriage driver had no choice but to agree and go for reinforcements, feeling that the young master was about to forcefully abduct another commoner girl.
The oil-haired, powder-faced young man, fanning himself with a fan, led Xiaozhi into the small eatery.
Seeing the oil-haired, powder-faced gentleman, the owner of the snack shop was taken aback for a moment.
The local bully of the county was entering their shop today?
What misfortune…
Could it be that he came to eat a meal for free?
Of course, the shop owner recognized the young gentleman, who usually dined at grand restaurants and would not patronize a small snack shop like this.
Without his presence, there would be no bad luck.
Then he saw that the young gentleman only had eyes for Ding Ling.
The gentleman entered the snack shop, sat down, and continued to gaze at the beautiful woman.
The shopkeeper understood; it looked like the bully of the county was set on kidnapping another commoner girl.