Chapter 522: Going to the Capital

Chapter 522: Shangjing

All eyes were dazzled. Rare treasures that were seldom seen even at the great market were everywhere here.

Gouwa bought a delicately crafted red wooden rattle from a stall, shook it left and right, and immediately beamed with joy.

"Are you already grown? Still playing with such toys? How embarrassing," said Lü Xiucai, arms crossed in disdain beside him.

"You mind your own business! At least I'm not like you—your soul's nearly been lured away by those courtesans. You don't even notice the drool on the ground!" Gouwa shoved the rattle into his chest as he retorted.

Lü Xiucai was about to speak again when the leading Lü ZHUANGYUAN spoke up, "Since we're all here, let’s find a place to stay first."

Lü ZHUANGYUAN felt he hadn’t done anything wrong—he had merely looked around and two hours had passed.

Seeing Gouwa didn’t say anything, Lü ZHUANGYUAN led everyone to look for an inn. After searching east and west, they entered the smallest inn they could find.

Though it was the smallest inn available, Lü ZHUANGYUAN’s face twitched when he asked about the price of dishes—this was far too expensive.

"Sixteen bowls of yangchun noodles..."

After the waiter left with a sneer, Lü ZHUANGYUAN cleared his throat and said, "Actually, the noodles aren’t bad. How long has it been since we last had noodles? Let’s try something new."

Lü Xiucai wasn’t paying attention to the noodles at all. Frowning slightly, he leaned over to ask Gouwa, "What now? We’re in Shangjing. It’s so huge. How do we find our master and mistress?"

Gouwa picked up two chopsticks from the bamboo tube and sucked them before replying, "Why the rush? You can’t eat hot tofu in a hurry. Do you know what that means? Let’s finish eating first. I, Cao Cao, am smart enough to figure this out."

"Hmph, you're smart? If you're so clever, there wouldn’t be any fools in the world." Though he said this, Lü Xiucai didn’t press further. He reached into his chest and pulled out a half-sword hilt bound with hemp rope, carefully adding each coin one by one.

Soon, the yangchun noodles arrived. Though they were the cheapest, to these travelers who lived outdoors, they were still a feast.

As the entire Lü family slurped their noodles, several people dressed in silk and brocade walked into the inn. They greeted a middle-aged man inside.

"Oh! Manager Wu, pleased to meet you!"

"Haha, Old Wang, how’s your theater been lately?"

"Oh my! Isn’t this our Mr. Zhao? Why do you look so grim? Did your pharmacy go bankrupt?"

Lü ZHUANGYUAN, who was buried in his meal, suddenly stretched his neck out, excitedly looking toward them.

After listening closely for a while, he no longer cared about the noodles. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, he shook off the dust and moved closer.

"What did your father go off to do?" Gouwa asked Lü Xiucai.

"Hmph! What else would he go do? That old fool went to buy a coffin!" Lü Xiucai said irritably. Just as he finished speaking, loud laughter erupted from Lü ZHUANGYUAN’s direction.

"Where are we? This is Shangjing! Do you think you’re a Ji? Just because you have that surname, you think you can afford a theater here? Even if you had money, you couldn’t buy one!"

"This little bit of silver, and you still dream of buying a theater in Shangjing?! Hahaha!! The reward I get from my garden alone in one night is more than this!"

Lü ZHUANGYUAN returned with a gloomy face, sat silently back down, and resumed eating.

After gulping it down, he stood up fiercely, "Let’s go! Find another inn. Even if it’s cheaper, we won’t stay here!"

"Oh my, actors from the lower ranks still have some pride!"

"Your mother!" Lü Xiucai cursed and raised the half-sword hilt, but was immediately grabbed by his elder brother, Lü Juren. "Xiucai! Don’t cause trouble!"

Once outside the inn, Lü Juren let go, only to be kicked hard by Lü Xiucai.

"Fine! I give up! I’m not an actor anyway! I’m cursing you, not me! I’m now a high person with supernatural powers!! Gouwa, let’s go! Find our master!"

After a few quiet words with Lü Juren, Gouwa quickened his pace and followed. "Hey, slow down! Why are you running so fast? Do you know where Brother Li is now?"

Gouwa’s words made Lü Xiucai stop at the stone bridge, staring at the distant pleasure boats with disgust. "Look at them! They’ve got supernatural power right in front of them and act like fools, not learning anything! All they care about is that low-class theater troupe! They’re so arrogant to family, but can’t even stand up to outsiders!"

"Heh, weren’t you going to kill your father? Now you’re all heartbroken over him?"

"I definitely want to kill him!! Do you think I’m joking? I’ll go back and kill that old bastard right now!!"

"Alright, alright. Are we still looking for Brother Li? You don’t think we came all this way just for a spring outing?" Gouwa’s words made Lü Xiucai turn around, angry. "You said you had a way to find our master. Where’s your method?"

"Just follow me. Xiucai, treat me politely. Your master is my senior brother, so you should call me uncle."

Lü Xiucai followed Gouwa through the bustling streets of Shangjing. Gouwa didn’t go anywhere else; he specifically went to the entrances of inns and restaurants.

Not long after, he found the people he wanted—a group of beggars eating leftover food.

"Shhhshhh~" A copper coin was tossed in Gouwa’s hand, flipping up and down as he walked around the beggars.

When their eyes were drawn to him, Gouwa chuckled and said, "I need to find someone. Whoever finds them gets this coin."

"So this is your method?"

"Ssssh! Don’t interrupt." Gouwa waved the coin in front of the beggars. "I’m looking for two people—one is a male Taoist in a red robe, carrying two swords. The other is a woman with very pale skin, like a dead pig."

"I know! Six days ago, Xiao Youzi said he delivered a letter to someone in southern city!! That guy probably wears a red robe!"

"Oh? What about Xiao Youzi? Is he here? Where did he deliver the letter?"

"He never came back. Southern city is taken by other beggars. I dare not go look for him."

When a dirty hand reached for the coin, it lifted itself. "You talk nonsense! What kind of nonsense is that? What do I care? I want to know where they are now."

"See them, bring me to them, then this coin will be yours."

Under the influence of the coin, the beggars scattered to search.

"Xiucai, let’s go back. We just wait now," Gouwa said proudly.

"Can you really find our master?" Lü Xiucai doubted.

There’s one more chapter from the leader’s bonus, but it will come later.

(End of Chapter)