Volume 1, Chapter 85 – The Scholar

Shi Lan and her group’s attire stood out quite a bit in Purple Flame City, and before they had gone far, their path was blocked.

The people blocking Shi Lan’s group numbered seven or eight, all wearing jackets of dark green and black.

At their head was a sturdy man who looked not yet forty, of medium height, his arms thick and rounded. He wore a short jacket, his bare forearms knotted with muscle.

“Everyone, my master has something he wishes to ask. Please come with me to the City Lord’s manor.”

The leader stepped forward, cupped his fists to the riders, and spoke. His tone was still reasonably courteous.

Shi Lan gave them a brief once-over and said, “Lead the way.”

Before long, the group stopped before a gate tower nearly five zhang high. The courtyard walls were snow white, and the gate itself was almost three zhang wide.

“Please dismount.”

“Wang Ning, come in with me. The rest of you stay here.”

Shi Lan turned her head and spoke, then swung lightly down from her horse.

The rest of the Demon-Suppressing Army dismounted at the same time. Their perfectly synchronized movement made the leading man’s pupils contract slightly.

“Please follow me,” the man said, then turned to lead the way.

Following the man into the courtyard, Shi Lan could not help a flicker of surprise at the carved beams and painted rafters, the rockeries and flowing water along the way. Whatever else might be said about it, this Purple Flame City Lord’s manor, in terms of sheer opulence, was among the finest she had ever seen.

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After walking for about half a quarter of an hour, Shi Lan followed the man into a somewhat secluded courtyard. In it grew a huge tree of some unknown species, its branches already stretching out beyond the courtyard wall. Even though it was winter, it was still lush and green, its canopy like an umbrella of shade.

“Please, both of you,” the man said, pushing open the gate and gesturing for Shi Lan and Wang Ning to enter.

Shi Lan stepped through and immediately saw a jet-black desk under the tree, with a gray-robed figure seated before it brewing tea.

It was an elderly man of about sixty, with gentle eyes and a calm expression, his whole person carrying an air of scholarly refinement.

Hearing the sound of their arrival, the old man raised his head. When he saw Shi Lan, he gave a small smile, lifted his hand to indicate the chair opposite him, and said in a mild voice, “Please sit.”

Shi Lan walked over and sat down across from him. Wang Ning stood behind her with his hands at his sides.

For some reason, the moment she stepped into this courtyard, Shi Lan felt her mood relax. The baleful energy she had accumulated from long days in the saddle and blood on her hands also faded quite a bit.

“How should I address you, young lady?”

“Shi Lan.”

The old man poured a cup of hot tea and slowly pushed it in front of her.

“How long have you been in the Demon-Suppressing Army, young lady?”

At his words, Shi Lan’s hand, which had been reaching for the cup, paused slightly.

“Not long.”

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Shi Lan picked up the teacup as she answered.

“With your age and such strength, your talent is truly outstanding. Why not seek the protection of a strong sect and devote yourself to cultivation? Why endure the hardships of marching and battlefields?”

“Simply to stay alive.”

Shi Lan had no wish to talk more about this. She changed the subject and asked, “Sir, are you the City Lord here?”

“The City Lord of Purple Flame City is my worthless son. This old man is merely a reader of books.” The old man shook his head slightly and took a light sip of tea. “To be honest, this old man would rather not see members of the Demon-Suppressing Army appear in Purple Flame City.”

“Why?”

Shi Lan unconsciously tightened her grip on the teacup.

“The Demon-Suppressing Army has never stood for peace.” The old man’s tone was even as he refilled her cup.

“How much do you know about the Demon-Suppressing Army, sir? What do you think the Demon-Suppressing Army stands for?” Shi Lan felt a bit uncomfortable. It was true that places where the Demon-Suppressing Army appeared were rarely peaceful, but that was not something the Army caused.

“I know a few things about the Demon-Suppressing Army. Many years ago I crossed paths several times with a few of its generals. As for what the Demon-Suppressing Army represents, that is not something this old man can sum up in a few words. Forgive me, but I cannot resolve that doubt for you, young lady.”

As he spoke, the old man raised his hand and smiled. “These tender buds of Hidden Snow tea are only available at this time of year. You may as well have a taste.”

“Then why did you invite me here today, sir?” Shi Lan frowned slightly. She did not want to keep circling around the topic and chose to speak plainly.

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“The reason I invited you here is simply to ask that, when your men walk the streets, they remove their armor so as not to disturb the common folk. Also, please do not loudly proclaim the disasters caused by demonic beasts in the city. If it is convenient, it would be best if you leave as soon as you can.”

The old man set down his hand and raised his cup again, speaking slowly.

Shi Lan was silent for a moment, then put the teacup back on the desk and looked up. “May I ask your honored surname, sir?”

“This old man’s humble surname is Lin, given name Yusheng,” the old man answered slowly.

“Elder Lin, we will not stay long in Purple Flame City. Once we have handled a few matters, we will take our leave.”

Shi Lan rose to her feet and walked straight out of the courtyard. She did not care much for this Lin Yusheng who called himself a reader. There were too many twists and turns in his words.

Moreover, since Lin Yusheng had made it quite clear that they were not welcome, Shi Lan had no desire to waste time trying to cozy up to him. It would be a lot of effort for little gain.

“Go well, young lady.”

Lin Yusheng’s farewell came from within the courtyard.

Shi Lan’s steps did not falter in the slightest as she headed toward the City Lord’s manor gate.

Not long after Shi Lan left, the sturdy man who had led the way earlier entered the courtyard. He approached the old man and bowed. “Old Master, shall we send people to keep an eye on them?”

Lin Yusheng shook his head slightly. “Let them be. This Shi Lan should know what to do.”

With that, Lin Yusheng sighed a little regretfully. If Shi Lan had not been a member of the Demon-Suppressing Army, he would indeed have liked to make friends with her.

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……

Shi Lan returned to the City Lord’s manor gate, mounted her horse, and led the Demon-Suppressing Army to an inn where they could rest and recover.

After washing away the dust of the road, Shi Lan had Wang Ning and the others remove their armor, and the flood-dragon horses were left in the inn’s stable. She then took the captured bandits and wandered the city, seeing whether anyone in Purple Flame City recognized them.

An hour later, Wang Ning and the others returned with news that did not please Shi Lan much. The people of Purple Flame City all knew about that gorge and that a bandit gang occupied the heights above it.

However, because the bandits had been warned by the City Lord of Purple Flame City, they had never dared to rob caravans bound for the city. As a result, the common folk here had no direct impression of them at all.

Shi Lan paraded the bandits through the city to make them known, but her reputation only rose by a little over ten points.

Faced with this result, Shi Lan could only accept it. All she could do was see whether things improved in the next city.

She gave Wang Ning and the others half a day off to enjoy the rare peaceful days in Purple Flame City, then began searching the city for a map of the Chengtian Domain.

Continuing to wander aimlessly as before was not going to work. Leaving aside the risk of running into demonic beasts, there were surely dangerous places in the Chengtian Domain itself where people should not tread.

Thinking of this, Shi Lan could not help a self-mocking smile. She had been in the Lingyang Realm for so long, yet it seemed she had never had the time to truly understand this place.

Leaving aside the demon and monster races, leaving aside the other domains of the human race, even in the Chengtian Domain, the only major power Shi Lan knew of was the Sacred Martial Immortal Sect. She knew very little about the rest.