Chapter 897: Waiting for Someone Forced to Make a Move

When the vendor looked up again, two people were already seated at the table in front of his stall. One was the scholarly gentleman from before, and the other was a rugged, heroic-looking figure, sitting next to the gentleman.

"Well, well... so you, scholar, brought a bodyguard with you. I didn't see him earlier. No wonder you dared to wander around this Duikuifeng market at night. But finding a vigorous jianghu person might not be enough! Here you go, gentlemen, your pork bone tofu soup!"

As the vendor spoke, he handed out two bowls of the prepared pork bone tofu soup. He remained standing behind the cooking cart while Ji Yuan and Xie Zhi both stood up to receive their bowls.

The two bowls were not large, typical soup bowls, but they contained several large bones with meat still on them, and a big, intact piece of old tofu. The tofu was full of small pores, indicating it had absorbed all the rich broth.

"It smells wonderful!"

Ji Yuan couldn't help but exclaim. Xie Zhi, beside him, was also sniffing the contents of his bowl. He scooped a bit of the old tofu with a wooden spoon and tasted it. It was savory and delicious, and warming to the stomach as he swallowed.

Seeing Ji Yuan and Xie Zhi's expressions, the vendor chuckled again.

"So, how is it? Pretty good, right?"

"Mmm, delicious!" "It's excellent, very well made!"

The vendor chuckled again. Just then, other customers arrived, and he quickly invited them to sit down.

"Big pig head, a bowl of tofu soup!" "Me too, one bowl."

"Don't forget me!"

"Alright, coming right up. How will you gentlemen be paying today?"

"Put it on my tab. We'll call you when we have something good."

"Alright, alright..."

The vendor quickly began serving soup again. The others nearby were clearly not human, or rather, in Duikuifeng market, "humans" were a rarity. They all looked at Ji Yuan and Xie Zhi with smiles that weren't particularly friendly, but not malicious either, more like an expression of curiosity or anticipating a show.

"Stop staring, stop staring! You'll scare away my customers. Are you going to pay for those two bowls of tofu?"

"Oh no, we can't do that..." "Alright, alright, eat up!"

While the commotion continued around them, Ji Yuan and Xie Zhi were largely unaffected. Xie Zhi, savoring the tofu in his bowl, chuckled and whispered to Ji Yuan.

"It seems Du Gangzong has brought quite a few pig spirits to Duikuifeng. And this pork bone tofu soup, hehe, the pig bones are stewed really well."

Ji Yuan picked up a large pork bone, used his chopsticks to extract the marrow, and slurped it into his mouth.

"This flavor is indeed good. I should try making it myself, especially how this old tofu absorbs the broth, it's quite excellent."

Xie Zhi watched Ji Yuan eat the old tofu and gnaw on the large bone, then paused and said.

"That Zhu Yan..."

Seeing Ji Yuan look at him, Xie Zhi quickly added.

"I'm not encouraging you to confront him, but rather explaining the situation. Zhu Yan is a beast that brings disaster; he's not a good sort..."

"Yes, I'm well aware of that. But as I said before, it's not suitable for me to go looking for him in the Southern Wild Mountains..."

Xie Zhi furrowed his brow slightly, but Ji Yuan continued.

"However, if Zhu Yan seeks trouble and happens to encounter me, then I'll be forced to act!"

Xie Zhi's eyes lit up.

"Do you have a plan?"

"No specific plan, just a hunch that Li Feng's matter can't be kept secret."

"Are you referring to Du Gangzong?"

Ji Yuan looked at Xie Zhi and shook his head slightly.

"I'm not sure about that. However, this wild boar spirit is cunning, and bound by your oath, he shouldn't dare. But if Zhu Yan is truly one of those vying for the Way of Heaven and Earth, he'll find out sooner or later, especially now that trouble has arisen. He'll sense it."

Xie Zhi chuckled beside him.

"Perhaps Zhu Yan isn't as powerful as you think. But if we truly clash with him, we still need to be cautious. We might not be able to hold him. However, we can't just keep waiting here indefinitely, can we?"

As Xie Zhi spoke, he looked at Ji Yuan's soup bowl. He saw Ji Yuan holding chopsticks in one hand and covering a side with the other. Peering closer, he realized the little paper crane had appeared in front of the bowl at some point. Ji Yuan was picking up a small piece of old tofu, fully soaked in broth, and the little paper crane experimentally pecked at it, its tiny white eyes narrowing in delight.

"You little fellow, you should have tried eating sooner. Is it tasty?"

"Chirp."

Ji Yuan looked up at Xie Zhi, whose demeanor seemed friendlier than before.

"Sooner or later, I have my arrangements."

While Ji Yuan and Xie Zhi were enjoying pork bone tofu soup at the Duikuifeng market, Zuo Wuji and Li Feng were feasting at the Li Residence. Zuo Wuji's appetite was truly enormous when he let loose, and Li Feng's wasn't small either. With Ji Yuan absent, they, along with two servants who joined them at the table, cleared an entire spread of dishes, most of it consumed by Zuo Wuji and Li Feng.

"Burp."

Zuo Wuji let out a satisfied burp, taking a contented sip from a pot of wine.

"Ah, this is comfortable. As expected of a prominent family, the dishes are as good as those from a large restaurant!"

"Hehe, if you like it, Sir Zuo, you can come often in the future. I'll have the kitchen prepare all sorts of dishes to ensure you're satisfied!"

Zuo Wuji glanced at Li Feng and shook his head slightly.

"I think I'd better not. Your grandmother already dislikes me after just one visit. If I came often, she might report me to the authorities. No, wait, your father is a high official. She might just have him send troops to arrest me."

"But you're not afraid, are you? A thousand soldiers and ten thousand horses are nothing to you!"

Li Feng said with a grin. The two servants, whom Li Feng had asked to join them, secretly gasped, thinking their young master was truly bold to say such things. They suspected the martial artist beside them must have enchanted their young master.

Zuo Wuji chuckled as well.

"That's true. A thousand soldiers and ten thousand horses certainly can't run as fast as I can. If I decide to make a run for it, they'll never catch me."

Two days later, outside the gates of the Li Residence, several carriages were parked. Servants were continuously loading items onto the carriages, while Li Feng stood by, watching.

About half an hour later, Old Madam Li arrived at the main gate, supported by a maid. Upon seeing her, Li Feng quickly bowed.

"Your grandson greets you, Grandmother!"

"Yes, Feng'er. Once you're in the capital, get along well with your father, and study diligently under the Immortal Master. Don't worry about what others say behind your back. In the capital, no one knows you, and you are simply the young master of my Li family."

Li Feng looked up at his grandmother, feeling a touch of emotion.

"Grandmother, may I hug you?"

Old Madam Li looked at her grandson and, without a word, extended her hand. Li Feng immediately threw himself into her embrace. It was the first time he had felt his grandmother's hug.

"Elder Brother..."

While Li Feng was hugging his grandmother, a childish voice came from inside the residence. He looked up and saw his young brother being carried over by Madam Li.

As Li Feng's birth mother, Madam Li seemed hesitant to meet his gaze, though the young child in her arms was waving at Li Feng.

Li Feng stepped back from his grandmother's embrace and respectfully bowed towards the entrance.

"Greetings, Mother!"

Madam Li's expression was slightly awkward. She wanted to appear affectionate, but every time she saw Li Feng, a shiver ran down her spine. During her three-year pregnancy, she had awoken from countless nightmares, sensing the terrifying presence within her. So, for now, she merely nodded with a faint smile.

"Feng'er, when you go to the capital, listen to your father and study hard..."

Her words were similar to his grandmother's, but Li Feng felt no warmth from them. He simply nodded in reply.

"Your son understands!"

Outside, the servants who had finished preparing the carriages called out.

"Young Master, the carriages are ready!"

Old Madam Li reached out, then hesitated before speaking.

"Perhaps you should wait and have lunch before you leave?"

Li Feng shook his head.

"No need, Grandmother. It's still early. Lunch is at least an hour and a half away. Besides, if we have lunch, it will be too late to cover much distance."

"Hmm..."

Old Madam Li nodded. She then saw Li Feng already by the carriage, standing there and bowing once more towards the mansion gate.

"Grandmother, Mother, Li Feng is leaving now!"

With that, Li Feng didn't wait for the servants to place the step-stool. He jumped directly into the carriage and sat next to the driver. The carriages then began to move, one after another.

"This child, so boisterous..."

Old Madam Li sighed and turned to look at Madam Li, but seeing her seemingly letting out a breath of relief, she glared at her.

Meanwhile, Li Feng's carriage was heading out of the city. Once they were a little further from home, Li Feng repeatedly urged the driver to speed up.

"Faster, faster! The city gate is right there, hurry..."

"Uh, Young Master, we can't go faster. We're still in the city. Going too fast might hit pedestrians."

"Alright, alright, just go as fast as you can!"

"Yes, yes..."

The carriage driver muttered to himself, wondering why the young master was so eager to leave. He had seemed quite reluctant to go to the capital before. However, he could only conclude it was because an immortal was to be his master, stirring his youthful spirit.

The caravan soon left Kuinan City. Outside the city walls, the pace noticeably quickened. Li Feng sat in the carriage, looking around, his body bouncing with the jolts of the ride.

About five *li* outside the city, Li Feng finally saw what he was looking for. He immediately became so excited he nearly jumped up, pointing towards a large tree by the roadside in the distance.

"There! Over there! Quick, quick, stop! I said stop!"

"Yes, Young Master! Whoa..."

Li Feng's carriage gradually came to a halt, and the other carriages also stopped one after another. Li Feng then jumped directly out of the carriage.

"Mister Ji, Sir Zuo, quickly get in!"

It turned out that Ji Yuan and Zuo Wuji were waiting by the tree nearby.