"Little friend, we've arrived. I won't charge you," the Old Boatman said, pulling the boat to the shore.
"Why?" Tang Li asked, standing up and looking at him in puzzlement.
"Because you're my sixty-sixth guest," the Old Boatman replied, retreating into the boat's canopy as if half-asleep.
Tang Li kept her gaze fixed on him and continued, "I don't understand."
"Because sixes bring good fortune," the Old Boatman replied with his eyes closed, sounding as though he were sleepwalking.
Comprehending his meaning, Tang Li left a silver ingot on the table, stepped ashore, and entered the city.
Azure Dragon City was a secondary city of Central Prefecture. Because of its remote location, its wealth and prosperity ranked dead last among all the secondary cities. Still, a city was a city, and it was certainly much livelier than a small town.
The moment Tang Li entered the city, she was targeted. Pretending not to notice, she casually began to stroll around.
When she reached a sugar figurine stall, a sudden wave of dazed nostalgia washed over her. Cries of astonishment erupted around her. Following the crowd's gaze upward, she saw a few cultivators in black robes soaring through the sky above the city on flying swords.
Although this was an immortal-cultivation world, the vast majority of people were ordinary mortals who couldn't even touch the threshold of cultivation, so naturally they stared in wonder and envy at cultivators who could fly.
The lead cultivator seemed to have spotted something. After saying a few words to his companions, he flew down, landed a few paces away from Tang Li, and with a swift kick of his long leg, knocked her stalker flat on the ground.
The surrounding townspeople showed no surprise, clapping and cheering instead. Tang Li heard someone address the cultivator as "Young Miss."
People from the City Lord's Mansion quickly rushed over and hauled the stalker away for interrogation.
Not wishing to court trouble, Tang Li quietly slipped out of the crowd and left. But she was soon caught up by that same cultivator.
The cultivator's voice was bright and lively. She first trailed behind Tang Li, then moved to her right, and finally stepped directly in front of her, blocking her path. She lowered her head, trying to look into Tang Li's eyes, but they were covered by a headband.
"Miss, someone helped you, and you aren't even going to show a bit of gratitude?"
"I didn't ask for your help," Tang Li replied, her tone icy and impatient.
Rebuffed, the cultivator argued indignantly and with puffed-out cheeks, "But I *did* help you! Whether you needed it or not, let me ask you: did I help you or not? Isn't my helping you an established fact?"
Tang Li found her every bit as annoying as the egg. "Thanks," she said perfunctorily.
"Is that it?" the cultivator said, looking crestfallen.
"Only a petty person demands repayment for a minor favor," Tang Li said impatiently.
"Well, I don't want to be any noble person." The cultivator suddenly conjured a sugar figurine out of nowhere and held it out right in front of Tang Li. "A gift for you."
She shoved the sugar figurine into Tang Li's hand and flew off.
Speechless, Tang Li tossed the sugar figurine into her Mustard Seed Pouch for the egg to eat.
She continued walking. After a while, she pretended to lose her way and wandered into a narrow alleyway, retrieving her "fishing" money pouch.
One of the "fish" had been caught, but fortunately, she had cast enough "bait" to lure in even more.
"Hand over your money, and we promise not to hurt you."
Hearing the voice, Tang Li whirled around and struck with blinding speed using her blind cane. Within minutes, the three men who had threatened her were beaten flat onto the ground.
"You—you know spells! That shouldn't be. If you were a cultivator, I should have been able to sense it!" The leader knelt on the ground, questioning his own perception.
Tang Li silently rolled her eyes. Wasn't it obvious? She had intentionally suppressed her cultivation, lowering it until it was practically indistinguishable from an ordinary mortal's.
The man finally realized they had been fished for. He wanted to run, but didn't dare, because her movements had been too fast, and they weren't sure if running would get their legs broken.
"Who are you? What do you want with us?"
Weighing the money pouch in her hand, Tang Li said coolly, "I want to see your Workshop Master."
She was referring to Jiufang, with Liu Yiyi as its Workshop Master. Knowing that Liu Yiyi was already gone, she said this merely to bluff them. After all, she wasn't certain what kind of organization Jiufang was; she had simply deduced from Liu Yiyi's beggar-like appearance when they first met that Jiufang was made up of a bunch of beggars.
In times of chaos, beggars were the most abundant, and since Liu Yiyi had been able to rattle off so many secrets of the Four Young Masters of Devil City that day, it was highly likely that Jiufang operated as an intelligence network.
"Grandmother, that... might be a bit difficult." The three men stared fixedly at the money pouch in her hand.
"Oh?" Tang Li's ambiguous inquiry carried a heavy sense of oppression.
"No, please don't misunderstand! It's just that our Workshop Master doesn't see people. Only the Deputy Workshop Master knows the Workshop Master's whereabouts," the leader stammered in a panic.
Tang Li pondered in silence. The only useful thing she had left in her possession was that sachet, though she had no idea if it would yield even the slightest clue.
"I want to buy information."
The three men exchanged glances. After a moment, the leader said to her, "Only members can buy information. That's a rule set by the Workshop Master."
Tang Li silently rolled her eyes. Just how terrified was Liu Yiyi of people not knowing she was an otherworldly traveler? She even had to set up a membership system.
"How much?"
"A thousand taels."
"Hmph." Tang Li raised her cane.
The three men instantly scrambled to grovel and beg for mercy: "There's another way! Barter! The information you want has to be traded for another piece of information."
"Where do I trade?"
"Bookshops, wine shops, painting shops, grain shops, artifact shops, beast shops, food shops, embroidery shops, theater shops—any place with the character 'Jiu' carved on its sign can trade information, because all our intelligence is interconnected."
Tang Li hadn't expected Liu Yiyi to be quite so capable, managing to absorb so many industries. This further convinced her that Liu Yiyi must have reset many times.
"Take me to the embroidery shop."
"We can't." All three shook their heads in unison.
"Hmm?"
"The embroidery shop is closed today. If you want to go, you'll have to come back another day."
Speechless, Tang Li tossed them a silver ingot. "Take me to the closest one, then."
Ecstatic, the three men scrambled to their feet to lead the way.
"The closest one is the bookshop. Follow us."
Arriving at the bookshop, the leader led her inside while the other two squatted watch outside.
"Uncle Liu, a big spender wants to buy three volumes."
Uncle Liu, who was clicking away on an abacus, looked up. The moment he saw Tang Li, he froze in place.
Tang Li recognized him as the bookshop manager from Devil City.
"Little Ma, tend to the books," he instructed heavily, speaking in code.
"Got it, sure!" The man who had brought Tang Li in hastily replied.
"Customer, please follow me." Uncle Liu walked into the back room and lifted the curtain for her.
Tang Li followed him inside.
Uncle Liu opened yet another layer of mechanism-operated secret chambers, looking at her with an inscrutable expression.
Tang Li stepped inside and took a seat at the reception table within the secret room.
Uncle Liu followed behind her, remaining silent in deep thought.
"I want to buy information," Tang Li initiated.
"Where is the Workshop Master?" Uncle Liu countered.
"Barter," Tang Li suggested.
"Very well, but you must tell me first where the Workshop Master is." Uncle Liu's voice held a strained forbearance, as if he already suspected something. After all, the Workshop Master had been missing for over three years, yet he lacked the courage to face the truth and desperately wanted a definitive answer from her.
"She is dead. She perished together with the Four Young Masters in Devil City."
Uncle Liu covered his face with his sleeve to hide his tears, filled with bitter regret that he hadn't dragged the Workshop Master away with him that day.
Before Uncle Liu could even steady his emotions, Tang Li added, "Your Workshop Master will return."
Uncle Liu started, looking at her in uncomprehending bewilderment.
Tang Li repeated herself.
Knowing that Liu Yiyi was a cultivator—and realizing the person before him was one as well—Uncle Liu recalled stories he had read in books about cultivators using spells to nourish souls and reconstruct human bodies. Consequently, he believed Tang Li's words instantly.
Wiping away his tears, he nodded with deep emotion. "That's good, that's good. While the Workshop Master is away, I will surely manage Jiufang well and wait for her return."
"You're the Deputy Workshop Master?"
Uncle Liu waved his hand. "Everyone in Jiufang is a Deputy Workshop Master. This is a grace bestowed upon us by the Workshop Master. Back when the great war broke out between Yunzhou and Central Prefecture and countless people died, it was the Workshop Master who saved us."
Realizing she had been tricked by the three men outside, Tang Li dropped the subject.
"I want to trade for information."
"Please go ahead. If it's information Jiufang possesses, I can tell you. If Jiufang doesn't have it, you will have to wait a few days."
Tang Li took out the sachet. "Where is this embroidery technique most commonly used?"
Uncle Liu took the sachet and examined it closely. "This embroidery technique originates from Jiangyang City and is known as Su embroidery. In recent years, it has also become popular in the towns around Jiangyang City. If you're hoping to find someone through this, I'm afraid it's like finding a needle in a haystack."
"Does Jiufang also have records of cultivator secrets?"
"The original meaning of Jiufang is the 'Nine Streams,' divided into the upper three streams, middle three streams, and lower three streams. We collect intelligence across all nine streams."
Tang Li nodded. "Who are the people that keep a red ape as a spirit pet?"
"Please wait a moment."
Uncle Liu moved a book on the bookshelf, and the shelf spun around to reveal scrolls upon scrolls of guarded secrets.
He retrieved a scroll and handed it to Tang Li.
Tang Li unrolled it; the names recorded within numbered around twenty.
"With the Workshop Master away, some intelligence hasn't been updated or replaced in a while. What you hold in your hand is the current record."
"Has there been anything out of the ordinary in the city lately?"
"What do you mean?"
"Everything."
Uncle Liu had only just received the news that the entire town of Liuye Town had been slaughtered. Through Tang Li's inquiry, he instantly understood what kind of person she was looking for.
The Jiufang operatives previously stationed in Liuye Town had also met their deaths. The subordinates below had been clamoring to see the Workshop Master, demanding that she lead them out for revenge. He hadn't told them of the Workshop Master's departure, only instructing them to gather intelligence first.
He produced a map of Central Prefecture and began recounting the recent events of each city in Central Prefecture to Tang Li one by one.
"In the main city of Central Prefecture, Flying Dragon City, a major event recently occurred: the Sovereign who ruled the entire Central Prefecture passed away. The Sovereign was barely past thirty and in good health, yet he suddenly died—most peculiar indeed. Because the Sovereign left no heir before his death, a palace coup ensued. The Prince of Huainan became the Prince Regent, and the newly born Sixth Imperial Prince was enthroned to inherit the grand succession."
"In Jiangyang City, a secondary city of Central Prefecture, a courtesan surnamed Su fell gravely ill and suddenly underwent a complete facial transformation. Her looks, which were previously only three parts more beautiful than others, became ten parts more stunning. Many wealthy young masters and young ladies of Jiangyang City threw away small fortunes just to catch a glimpse of her, yet she remained completely unmoved. Oh, and by the way, the prevalence of Su embroidery sachets is likely connected to her as well."
"In Xunlong City, another secondary city of Central Prefecture, a rebellion broke out within the Beast Taming Sect. The sect leader's eldest son broke ties with the sect, left with his own people, and his whereabouts are currently unknown. He possesses a mysterious spirit pet that is never shown in public, and rumors say this spirit pet is neither human nor beast."
"In Meicheng, a secondary city of Central Prefecture, a Man-eating Ogre appeared, though no news has been heard of it lately. It's unclear whether the nearby Chengcai Sect has already dealt with it."
He paused, carefully observing Tang Li's expression before continuing. "In the last secondary city of Central Prefecture, Azure Dragon City, three major events have occurred. Half a month from now, the City Lord is celebrating his birthday and hosting guests from all directions."
"Another matter also concerns the City Lord, though this is a guarded secret and the intelligence may not be entirely accurate: the City Lord and his wife had a daughter who was sent to the Sword Hanging Sect for cultivation at a very young age. To keep his wife from grieving, the City Lord adopted a child, and rumors say this child is actually the City Lord's illegitimate offspring."
"The final matter," Uncle Liu sighed, "is that the entire town of Liuye Town in Azure Dragon City was massacred, and the murderer remains unknown."
He asked anxiously, "You're looking for the killer, aren't you?"
"Yes." Tang Li's expression was calm, though her mind felt somewhat dazed.
"Jiufang places itself entirely at your command." Uncle Liu pulled a token from his sleeve, knelt, and offered it up with both hands.