Chapter 262: Surnamed Aisin Gioro

"A letter for Yi Ji."

"Yi Ji, I'm sorry. When the letter arrived, Big Sister Rose was right beside me. She already saw it."

Late at night on the train, Yan Jing looked at the letter he had received. He chuckled after reading just the first two lines.

It wasn't a big deal, though. The only reason he hadn't wanted anyone else to see the letter was that he simply wanted to hear Mantou's advice from her own perspective. Given her personality, he worried that anyone else who saw the letter might influence her and lead her astray.

As for Rose, her way of thinking was probably much the same as Mantou's anyway.

"When I was little, I was really scared of bugs. Then one day, the bad birdie told me that bugs were delicious."

"I was always too scared to try them, until one time, the bad birdie sneaked a bug into a piece of bread I'd scavenged while I was sleeping. He waited until I finished eating to tell me there was a bug inside."

"That was when I found out that the slightly bitter, meaty taste from earlier was actually a bug. I haven't been scared of bugs since then, all though—crossed out—although I still don't like eating them. I don't know if this will help you, Yi Ji."

"Yi Ji, make sure to get plenty of rest and eat well."

At the very end of the message was a small heart. He knew without thinking that Rose had added it; a heart drawn by Mantou wouldn't have been so perfectly shaped.

But Mantou hadn't crossed it out, so she must have tacitly agreed to it.

Yan Jing smiled. Mantou's advice was indeed a great method for someone like her, because she never held grudges.

Deception never left a lasting mark on her heart. Afterward, she only remembered the good side of things.

But things were different for the Old Man. If he couldn't untie the knot in his heart, the situation might only get worse.

However, the personal experience Rose had penned at the bottom of the letter gave him a new idea.

Early the next morning in the sightseeing car, he handed a new painting scroll to Bi Jie.

"Lord Bi, I painted this yesterday. Please accept it as well."

"Alright."

Bi Jie nodded, assuming Yan Jing was simply worried about the Old Man.

Then he spoke to Yan Jing in a hushed voice.

"County Magistrate Luo, when you said yesterday that you wouldn't return, did you mean—"

"It's just one possibility."

Yan Jing smiled.

"After all, no one can say for sure what will happen."

"Oh, I see."

Bi Jie wiped a sheen of cold sweat from his forehead, breathing a sigh of relief.

It was roughly what he had figured last night.

Soon, a train attendant brought over their food. The meals on the train were heated by steam power, and the attendants would head out to purchase local delicacies whenever the train stopped.

This morning's breakfast consisted of various fresh river catches bought yesterday in Nanyu County.

Nanyu County lived up to its name; it had an abundance of fishing cultivators.

After taking a few bites, the man who had entered the VIP car yesterday—dressed in a sharp suit with a shiny mustache resting above his lip—set down his chopsticks.

He spoke his first words to the group since boarding the VIP carriage.

"This fish isn't fresh anymore."

"This fish was brought on board yesterday. How could it still be fresh?"

Yan Jing asked with a smile.

The man shook his head.

"You don't understand. The fish from Nanyu County are different from the fish anywhere else."

"Nanyu County has the most fishing cultivators. A hook is dropped into the river, a fish bites, and the fishing cultivator applies force. Before the fish can even react, it lands right in a water basin. If you cut the line at that moment without removing the hook, the fish thinks it's still being reeled in and will keep struggling."

"A fishing cultivator's hook doesn't hurt the fish when it bites. Fish caught this way can live in a basin for three days without dying, and they taste even better than freshly bought ones."

Yan Jing cupped his hands in respect.

"I've learned something new. Judging by your attire, I assumed you were a prominent figure who frequented banquets and dance halls. I never expected you to have such a deep understanding of fishing."

The man waved a hand dismissively.

"I'm no prominent figure. I'm just a player. I'm top-tier when it comes to fishing, raising birds, arranging animal fights, hunting, horseback riding, and listening to operas. But if you ask me to do any actual work, I'm sorry to say I couldn't get a single thing done."

Yan Jing cupped his hands once more.

"Knowing how to play is a skill in itself. Many people go from birth to death without accomplishing a single practical thing, and they don't even manage to enjoy themselves along the way."

These words instantly won the man's favor. His eyes lit up as he looked at Yan Jing.

"May I ask your esteemed surname?"

"My surname is Luo."

Yan Jing replied.

"Mr. Luo, I think you're absolutely right! A lot of people haven't even figured out how to have fun!"

The man pulled out a cigar and offered it to Yan Jing.

"My surname is Aisin Gioro."

Clatter! Clink! Smash!

Yan Jing looked back to see that everyone except Xiao Yu and Tiger had dropped their bowls and chopsticks on the floor.

He smiled, wiped his hands with a wet towel from the table, and extended his hand to the man.

"I couldn't tell you had such a lineage."

During the Imperial Era, five of the nine emperors were surnamed Aisin Gioro. After the Imperial Era declined, however, the vast majority of people surnamed Aisin Gioro had changed their names. They went by all sorts of different surnames now.

In this day and age, anyone who still called themselves Aisin Gioro was either a madman who hadn't woken up from his Imperial Era dreams, or a figure with enough status to integrate into the new era while retaining his original surname without anyone daring to say a word.

The man looked at Yan Jing's extended hand, particularly noting that he had just wiped it with a wet towel. His eyes brightened even more as he reached out and shook Yan Jing's hand.

"Mr. Luo, you truly aren't a pedantic man."

"Of course not."

Yan Jing smiled.

"I used to have a friend from your lineage as well."

"Oh?"

The man asked, "What was his name? Tell me, I might know him."

"I won't mention his name."

Yan Jing chuckled. "My friend doesn't like others mentioning his name."

"I see."

The man nodded and laughed. "True, true. Many people from our lineage have indeed abandoned the past."

Yan Jing kept smiling and changed the subject.

"Since Mr. Aisin Gioro knows so much about Nanyu County, I imagine you must be familiar with Cotton City as well."

"Of course."

The man nodded proudly.

"Cotton City is called Cotton City because its cotton is the best in all of Minhu. The cotton cultivators who grow it are top-notch experts. Crucially, they possess many abilities to improve the cotton's quality. One ability makes objects fluffier, which disperses the cotton more evenly so the quilts made from it won't collapse. Another ability makes objects lighter—"

The man rambled on endlessly.

Yan Jing listened attentively, then smiled and nodded.

"This is fascinating, sir. It's a great pleasure meeting you. I hope to hear more of your insights at lunch."

"I'll take my leave for now, then."

"Alright, take care."

Aisin Gioro Teluoshan nodded happily.

Yan Jing stood up and walked over to sit by Xiao Yu, a sharp gleam flickering beneath his lowered eyelids.

He immediately called the Old Man over.

"Master Liu, Mr. Yi Ji asked me to look into something a while ago, and I hadn't gotten around to it. Since we've just happened upon the subject, could you go ask around?"

"What is it, Young Master? Just say the word."

The Old Man instantly perked up upon hearing it was about Yi Ji.

Yan Jing smiled.

"Mr. Yi Ji wanted to know if there were any cultivators who could make objects lighter. He also asked if the method these cultivators use for entering the ranks could be applied elsewhere. I have no idea what he's planning, but since cotton cultivators can do this, go ask around once we arrive in Cotton City later."

"If anyone is willing to sell the method for a cotton cultivator entering the ranks, buy it. We aren't short on money right now."

"You got it."

The Old Man braced himself with total focus.

Yan Jing nodded.

If this attempt succeeded, the connection between the two places would be completely established.

He turned his head to look out the window.

Patches of white vegetation had already appeared on the once deathly still soil. The cotton here was different from the outside world; each cotton boll was larger than a wagon wheel, completely obscuring the green plants beneath. They looked like clouds suspended just above the ground.

Calculating the days, the next Dungeon would probably be announced in two days.

At the same time, they were only two days away from reaching Luohe County.

Teluoshan walked back to his room, smacking his lips in satisfaction.

Today's breakfast hadn't been great. Steam-Cooked Fish ultimately lacked that seared-wok flavor, and the fish soup—which didn't need that seared flavor—was made with subpar ingredients. Aside from the fish not being very fresh, there had been too many scallions, which overpowered the taste of the broth.

However, getting to know that Mr. Luo was a pleasant surprise.

Look at him—he was a respectable man.

Even though he hadn't wanted to get too close, he at least hadn't shown any aversion.

As for the others who had dropped their chopsticks on the floor, heh, if this were hundreds of years ago when the Imperial Era still reigned, people like them would have been beheaded!

Just as he lay on his bed letting his imagination run wild, he suddenly felt a heat at his waist.

He hurriedly rolled over and brought the Jade Token from his waist up to his face.

A few seconds later, the Jade Token burst with light, projecting the figure of a person wearing a Tang suit and sitting on a Dragon Throne.

"Teluoshan, where are you?"

Li Qinghe asked.

"This lowly one is on the way to Sparrow City. I'm almost at Cotton City, My Lord."

Teluoshan knelt on one knee, not daring to lift his head.

"Mm. Yu'er calculated three times in a row yesterday and has determined that the divine bird will appear in Sparrow City. This is the first time Yu'er has deduced an exact location. You must stay in constant contact and bring the divine bird back."

Li Qinghe said in a deep voice.

"This lowly one understands."

Teluoshan nodded, then smiled and spoke up.

"My Lord, I met someone on the road today who is particularly interesting."

"...Does he have anything to do with the divine bird?"

Li Qinghe remained expressionless.

"No, but the man is truly interesting. He—" Teluoshan didn't get to finish.

The light from the Jade Token had already vanished.

"What a pity."

Teluoshan looked at the dimmed Jade Token with a regretful expression.

"That man is one of the rare few who doesn't reject the Imperial Era. If My Lord met him, the two of them might have even become friends. Doesn't My Lord like people around his own age the most?"

"A pity, truly a pity."

After sighing with a few more words of lament, he lay back on his bed and began fantasizing about the events of the Imperial Era.

"Wow! Look at this! East Lake Prefecture and West Lake Prefecture are at a deadlock! Multiple cooperative projects might fall apart!"

Fei Yu poked her head out from under Yan Jing's arm, pointing at the headline on the newspaper in his hands.

"Xiao Yu, do you know what this means?"

Yan Jing smiled.

"I have no idea."

Fei Yu replied naturally, then handed Yan Jing a handful of sunflower seeds.

"Care for some sunflower seeds?"

Yan Jing smiled and shook his head.

This newspaper was the one Bi Jie had just obtained from the reporter cultivator named Kan Deyuan. Ever since the two of them ran into each other, Bi Jie had been having secret chats with Que Deyuan from time to time. They must have known each other previously.

Tiger was sitting all by himself near his seat, staring at the scenery outside the window. He was likely still pondering the question of whether to stay or leave.

The Old Man had gone to ask around for news about cotton cultivators, and Liu Ye had returned to his room to sleep. That left only him and Fei Yu sitting there reading the newspaper.

This newspaper, called the Lake Prefecture Leisure News, probably wasn't a very famous publication. Although it covered various events from the Lake Prefecture, none of them had any real focus.

The only genuinely useful piece of news was the deadlock in cooperation between the two Lake Prefectures.

Suddenly, however, Yan Jing's gaze stopped at a corner of the newspaper.

There was a very small column there titled Lake Prefecture Fun Photos.

Above it was a frontal photograph of the Sixth Lake Prefecture.

As Yan Jing looked at the dignified, imposing main gate and towering city walls of the Sixth Lake Prefecture in the photo, his eyes suddenly narrowed. He turned to Fei Yu beside him and spoke.

"Xiao Yu, do you know why the symbol above the Lake Prefecture's gate is a number?"

"A number?"

Xiao Yu leaned over and looked at the '6' carved into the stone directly above the Lake Prefecture's main gate in the photograph. She asked in confusion, "I don't know. I think it's always been a number. Is there something wrong with that?"

Something was wrong. Something was far too wrong about this.

Yan Jing fell silent.

He thought he finally knew how Eldest Young Master Luo and Li Qinghe had crossed paths back then.