Inner Demons

Chapter 151: Little Ancestor

Shi Quanyong seemed to have already understood some of Miss Lili's meaning. But he glanced back through the window at the still-sleeping Yu Meng and said, "This... after the residence inspected the dishes, I returned to the main shop, so I really don't know. But... did you enjoy the meal?"

Lili smiled faintly and said unhurriedly, "That evening, the master was the first to try a bite at the head of the table. He said the taste was quite fresh and even praised Wood South Residence. But who would have thought someone would come to ruin things—a retainer told the master that roe deer meat is warm in nature, but since it was a white roe deer caught in winter, it had become cold. My master was worried that our young master's body couldn't handle the cold, so he had the feast removed—and bestowed it upon us senior servants for a reunion dinner."

"Although the master meant well, the weather was freezing at that time. By the time the feast was sent to us, the food was already cold, so how could we eat it? We also prefer lighter food, so we each had a few bites so as not to disrespect the master's good intentions, and then it was distributed further down."

By now, any quick-witted person would probably know what Miss Lili was about to say. Only a few simpletons were still smacking their lips in amazement—"Heavens, that's the Yu Family for you... A five-hundred-tael feast was just given away to the servants!"

Lili waited for their exclamations to die down before smiling gracefully again. "The silver and timber given to you all today to repair your houses, added up... is nothing more than the cost of a single white roe deer feast. My Yu Family does not lack this kind of money. It is only because we are all old neighbors in Weicheng, and because our young master is kind-hearted and cannot bear to turn down anyone who comes to ask for help, that he stepped forward to do this."

"If any of you shopkeepers are worried that my Yu Family has any intention of swallowing up your properties through this opportunity, you may leave now. However, since you hold such prejudice against the Yu Family, it would be best not to have any dealings in the future—to avoid hurting the harmony between us. Shopkeeper Shi—"

Shi Quanyong quickly said, "Ah... I am here."

"I'll have to trouble Shopkeeper Shi to do me a favor and act as a witness here—our young master's actions this time are purely out of goodwill, with absolutely no other intentions. If there is anyone who still doesn't know what's good for them and insists on measuring our young master's intentions with a petty heart, humph, you can help me take note of them. I, Lili, will not swallow this insult!"

Shi Quanyong was the shopkeeper of a Wood South Residence branch. If he were ordered around like this by a maid from an ordinary family, he would have long since become angry and stormed off. But this Lili was no ordinary maid. Anyone with discerning eyes knew that she and the one inside the room were the Yu Family's young master's personal maids, both with first-class looks and figures. Once the young master of the Yu Family got married, these two would no longer be maids, but concubines.

A concubine from such a family, and one so favored, was more influential than the official wife of an ordinary family.So, he didn't dare to put on airs. He quickly cupped his hands in respect. "Miss Lili, what are you saying? How could we be such undiscerning people? It's just that... if the money and timber are used without any need for a written pledge... I would like to be so bold as to ask—who exactly has such great influence to be able to persuade Young Master Yu?"

"Hmm, there's no need for you to sign any pledge. Just take it and use it." Lili slightly raised her head to scan the people at the door, then added, "As for the person who asked my young master for help, it's not convenient for Lili to say their name. But it is a distinguished person from the Divine Dragon Cult, one who can use immortal techniques. Have you all heard of the Divine Dragon Cult?"

Some people looked at each other in confusion, while others frowned in thought for a moment before letting out a sound of recognition. Although the Divine Dragon Cult had only recently gained power near White Heron Island, there were always people in Weicheng who went to White Heron Island to enjoy the scenery, and some had relatives there. Therefore, at least four or five among them had heard of the Divine Dragon Cult's name.

Only Shopkeeper Shi had a strange expression on his face. After pondering for a moment, he said, "I have heard of it..."

"It was that distinguished person from the Divine Dragon Cult who sought my young master's help, which is why my young master came to do this." Lili smiled sweetly. "We don't want your shops, and we don't want your written pledges. We only ask that in the future, you remember this favor from my Yu Family and the Divine Dragon Cult."

After saying this, she fanned her face with the small handkerchief in her hand and squinted at the bright sunlight on the street. "It's such a hot day. If you shopkeepers have no other business, you should all go about your work. If there's anything you're short of, come back and let us know. My Yu Family and the Divine Dragon Cult will see this matter through to the end."

Having finished, she turned with a twist of her slender waist and went back into the room.

But no one complained about her demeanor. Even the talkative ones merely sighed that the young girl had a good fate—other maids got beaten and scolded, yet this girl was more imposing than a young lady from an ordinary family.

After standing on the street and mulling it over for a while, the people finally dispersed. At first, they were worried that the Yu Family was plotting to take their properties. After hearing Miss Lili's words, although they couldn't fully believe her, they had at least witnessed the Yu Family's extravagance. For such a great family to say such things in front of all these people today, it would be difficult for them to go back on their word in the future.

So, they temporarily set their minds at ease, wondering about the origins of the Divine Dragon Cult as they hurried home to make arrangements.

Shi Quanyong also cupped his hands, frowning as he lowered his head and started to walk away. But after four or five steps, he suddenly heard a soft voice from the tea house window cry out, "Shopkeeper Shi, please wait."

Shi Quanyong glanced towards the window—it was the girl who had been holding the sword and silent all along, calling to him in a low voice from the window.

He slowed his pace slightly, falling behind the crowd, then turned and walked to the door.

He saw the girl beckoning to him. "It's hot outside, Shopkeeper Shi. Come in for a cup of tea to cool off."

Shi Quanyong smiled, looked at the servants by the door, and stepped inside.

As soon as he entered, a wave of coolness washed over him, as if he had stepped from summer back into spring. Shi Quanyong was slightly stunned. His eyes swept around the room before he noticed a talisman affixed to the wall by the door.

So the Yu Family uses Daoist Orthodoxy Talismans to escape the summer heat...

Wusu had already put down her sword and poured Shi Quanyong a cup of plum tea, placing it before his seat. Only then did Shi Quanyong sit down, diagonally facing the lightly snoring Yu Meng. "Miss Wusu, this is..."

Wusu also sat down opposite him and asked with a smile, "Shopkeeper Shi just said that you've heard of it. But from your expression, it seems to be more than just that. Shopkeeper Shi, have you... seen someone?"

Shi Quanyong then knew that of the two girls, this Wusu was likely the elder sister, her mind more delicate and steady. His slight hesitation just now had been caught by her.

Although she was just a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, she could already handle matters on her own, even more composed and dignified than many of the young masters he had met. She was truly a person of the Yu Family.

But he was no dandy who would lose his head upon seeing a pretty young lady. He pondered for a moment before saying, "To be honest, I did see someone last night. That person was drinking in my shop. Late at night, he suddenly told me he was here to catch a demon and that we should leave quickly. At first, I thought he was just drunk, but then I saw him display his supernatural powers—he drew a little general on horseback, then scattered a handful of peanuts, which transformed into a troop of soldiers in red helmets and red armor... Uh, does Miss Wusu not believe me?"

Wusu blinked. "Shopkeeper, please continue."

It wasn't that she didn't believe him. It was just that she found it... a bit interesting. It was the first time she had truly heard someone speak of these things with such conviction, and judging by the other party's identity and tone, he probably wasn't trying to deceive her.

Shi Quanyong coughed again. "...transformed into a troop of soldiers in red helmets and red armor, and ran out the door. Seeing this, we naturally understood that we had encountered an expert, so we ran out too. And then... just last night, we saw that strange phenomenon and heard that thunder."

He looked at Wusu's expression and added, "It wasn't just me; others saw that strange phenomenon too. Almost all the people who came here just now saw a little man in a red helmet and red armor run to their homes and tell them to leave quickly, saying that a demon had appeared nearby. There had already been a great disaster in the city a few days ago, and now encountering this in the middle of the night, who would dare not to believe it? So everyone fled—and it's a good thing we left early!"

After he finished, Wusu smiled gracefully. "That's it. The person you spoke of is precisely that expert from the Divine Dragon Cult. I imagine he was exorcising a demon on the street last night and damaged the houses, which is why he sought my young master's help. You see, this expert also has a chivalrous style and a benevolent heart!"

Then, before Shi Quanyong could say anything else, she said, "We've delayed Shopkeeper Shi for so long; you must be anxious. We won't keep you any longer. Please go and attend to your business. Another day—Wusu and Lili will have to visit your home to express our thanks."

Shi Quanyong was stunned for a moment, then understood the young girl's meaning.

He gave a wry smile inwardly, stood up, and cupped his hands. "In that case, I'll take my leave."

After stepping out into the sun, he sighed. If his own son had even thirty percent of the skill in dealing with people that this Wusu or Lili had, he would have no more worries.

They were clearly two bed-chamber maids, yet their presence was managed with such perfect measure. They neither allowed people to look down on them nor made them feel arrogant. They were truly not to be underestimated.

Calling him inside just now to say all that was to have him go back and spread the word among the neighbors. That was a small matter—people were already in a state of panic, and this wasn't anything harmful.

It was just that the Yu Family's master kept two such women by the side of his simple-minded son...

A bright pearl cast into darkness...

But what Shopkeeper Shi didn't see was that after he had walked far away, the two young maids, who he considered so demure and steady, suddenly huddled together and hurriedly woke Yu Meng up. Then, like two little magpies, they began chirping and telling him everything that had just happened, all their previous composure completely gone.

Yu Meng must have been extremely tired from the night before; he hadn't woken up at all. Now, opening his eyes in a daze and hearing the two girls recount the events like popping beans, he only felt dizzy, his mouth and throat parched.

He yawned, smacked his lips, and said, "I'm thirsty."

Lili went to the ice bucket at the side, took out a chilled pear, carefully peeled and cored it with a small silver knife from the table, and arranged it on a plate to serve him—but her mouth never stopped talking.

The drowsy Yu Meng ate two slices of pear. The coolness spreading from his throat to his stomach made him feel a little more refreshed, and he sat up from the soft chair. "Ah... so. It wasn't a dream?"

"The master was right, it really wasn't a dream." Wusu frowned with her delicate eyebrows. "According to what that Shopkeeper Shi said, it should be that the person first fought with someone on this Little Hun Street, and after winning, was injured. That's why he came to our residence, pretending to be a wronged soul to scare you, Young Master. If you ask me what he's plotting..."

Yu Meng sat on the chair, listening blankly. After a while, he sighed, ate two more slices of pear, and sighed again. After finishing the entire plate of iced pear, he seemed to have finally regained his spirits. He stood up and clapped his hands—the Great Qing Dynasty Escort Agency Guild Dragon Head that Li Yunxin had first seen on the roadside was back.

"So that's it—" He walked around the tea house with his hands behind his back. The moment he spoke, the two maids fell silent. "That person isn't a ghost, but a real person, and he even knew that I saved that youth. The reason he wanted to scare me was that he was afraid I wouldn't be willing to pay for this matter—and doing this, is actually just spreading the faith for their Divine Dragon Cult!"

Wusu and Lili nodded quickly. "Yes, Young Master is absolutely right!"

"But, after I told Father about this, he said this was also a good thing." Yu Meng paced around the room with a frown. "The way I see it, Father wants to, hmm..."

"The master said he has heard of that Divine Dragon Cult. It's very powerful and indeed has some skills. He's afraid it will spread to the city sooner or later. The master also said that although our family still has the title of the richest in Weicheng these years, we are merely the richest. In fact, we can't get a hand in many businesses anymore." Wusu blinked at Yu Meng and said slowly, "So he wants to use this momentum to do them a favor, so that when the Divine Dragon Cult really comes to the city in the future, it can be used by us. Those who create these things are after nothing but money. And money is something our Yu Family has plenty of. And that Divine Dragon Cult has followers from all walks of life... it will be much more convenient to get things done in the future."

"It's just..." Wusu frowned slightly. "I always feel that something isn't quite right..."

"Ah, who cares!" Hearing this, Yu Meng seemed to finally remember what his father had said and waved his hand. "Helping people is a good thing! Humph, even if that person hadn't come to me, I would have helped. I am the Great Qing Dynasty Escort Agency Guild Dragon Head. Helping those in peril, aiding those in need, and acting chivalrously are my duties!"

Lili quickly said, "The young master is so kind-hearted!"

Yu Meng chuckled. "But, I must go to White Heron Island to see—who exactly pretended to be a ghost to scare me, and how did they know I saved someone!"

Wusu and Lili were stunned for a moment, then their faces turned pale with fright. "Young Master, Young Master, listen to me, for this matter we must—"

But before they could finish, the excited Yu Meng had already grabbed the ornate long sword from the table and, with a leap, was out the door. His feet tapped the ground lightly as he flew straight onto the nearby roof, disappearing into the alley after a few more bounds.

The servants at the door were surprised... but not overly so.

This sort of thing... their young master did it far too often.

Wusu and Lili also ran out the door, standing in the scorching sunlight on the street, stomping their feet in anxiety. They shouted at the servants, "Chase him! Go and chase him!"

The servant said with a troubled look, "My two little mistresses, this isn't the first time this has happened. How could we possibly catch up to him!"

"A bunch of good-for-nothings! What's the use of having you!" Lili stomped her foot again in anger. "What are you standing there for? Prepare the horses!"

Hearing this, the servants felt as if they had been granted amnesty. They hurried to the side to lead over two spare horses and fumbled to put on the saddles and harnesses.

The two young girls didn't even use the stirrups. They vaulted onto the horses and gave a sharp cry. The two large, glossy-coated horses immediately galloped away like lightning—

The servant watched the two riders disappearing in a cloud of dust and muttered to himself, "One great ancestor, two little ancestors... our lives are truly bitter..." (To be continued.)

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