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Chapter 110: The Deng Family of Yong'an City
Chapter 110: The Deng Family of Yong'an City
In Tingyang County lies Yong'an City, encircled by walls bearing a slightly mottled appearance, yet adorned with splashes of lush green. Though it lacked the solemn grandeur of Qingzhou City, the bustling crowds added a lively atmosphere.
Amidst the sea of people, a horse-drawn carriage blended seamlessly, slowly entering the city and coming to a halt before the most prosperous residence within its walls.
The Deng family had firmly established their dominance over Yong'an City for countless centuries, and none dared to challenge their authority.
Within their grand estate resided the only Condensation Realm cultivator in the city, protecting the entire populace from the threat of demons and evil creatures. Their status was akin to that of revered deities.
And at this very moment, the young master of the Deng family, an unusually patient individual, awaited at the entrance, his countenance devoid of any hint of impatience.
The reason for his unusual behavior was none other than the graceful and poised young lady standing by his side.
"Miss Lin, I've made arrangements for your uncle to stay in the courtyard facing the morning sun, and a welcoming banquet is also prepared. Is there anything else that needs to be taken care of in advance?" Deng Mingxu inquired, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Upon hearing this, Lin Rou's fair cheeks flushed with a hint of shyness as she gently replied, "There's no need to go to so much trouble, Master Deng. My uncle and I can share a courtyard."
As Deng Mingxu beheld the delicate pink hue that graced her porcelain-like skin, a tingling sensation washed over him. He listened intently to her words, nodding as if he had just gained a newfound understanding.
Who was she referring to as her uncle? Most likely, it was a guardian her family had sent along to put her at ease.
Soon enough, an approaching carriage came to a steady stop, and a broad-shouldered figure emerged. Deng Mingxu's eyes narrowed as he took in the honest countenance of the middle-aged man before him, his gaze then drifting to the coarse cloth robe he wore, further confirming his suspicions.
However, he refrained from revealing his insight and instead greeted him with enthusiasm. "My name is Deng Mingxu. It's an honor to meet you, Uncle."
Jiang Chengyun casually returned the greeting with a broad gesture. "How could I possibly forget where I've seen you before?"
"You jest, Uncle," Deng Mingxu replied, his smile stiffening slightly. Just then, he heard movement from within the carriage and quickly turned back. "Oh, and here's another uncle."
Before he could finish his sentence, a dignified young man in ink-colored robes descended from the carriage and offered a polite nod in his direction.
"Is... is this gentleman also your uncle?" Deng Mingxu found himself asking, his eyes fixed on the youth's handsome features. He turned to Lin Rou, a look of astonishment on his face. "And... and will he be staying in the same courtyard as well?"
It was evident that Lin Rou, too, was taken aback by this unexpected development.
Fortunately, Jiang Chengyun quickly stepped forward with a wide stride toward the main gate. "This is my... our clan's young master... I mean, a junior of mine. Please prepare some hot water; we're all exhausted from the journey."
Upon hearing the middle-aged man's accidental slip of the tongue, Deng Mingxu immediately realized the true identity of the ink-robed youth. He graciously welcomed them into the Deng family residence.
He even took it upon himself to escort them to their quarters and instructed two servants to prepare hot water for them. Only then did he bid them farewell with a smile. "I've prepared some wine and refreshments for this evening. I hope you'll do me the honor of joining me."
Deng Mingxu's heart leaped with joy as he witnessed Jiang Chengyun's affirmative nod.
It was true that the Deng family held a prestigious position in Yong'an City, but their reputation rested largely on the shoulders of their elderly ancestor, who had once stumbled upon a fortuitous opportunity, enabling him to break through to the Condensation Realm.
Now, with their patriarch well advanced in years, the decline of the Deng family seemed all but inevitable. While they might not face a dire fate, maintaining their current lofty and detached status was next to impossible.
Who could have anticipated that he would serendipitously encounter a young lady from a prominent clan in Yuhshan County?
Despite Lin Rou's attempts to downplay her status, Deng Mingxu's discerning eye had instantly recognized the aura of nobility that clung to her. He had gone to great lengths, employing various tactics, just to strike up a conversation with her.
It was clear that Miss Lin was an innocent and inexperienced young lady, her thoughts veiled and subtle. He had barely begun to express his interest when she seemed to grow flustered, going so far as to invite her future brother-in-law along, no doubt as a means of assessing his character.
As Deng Mingxu recalled the ink-robed youth's impressive demeanor, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of inadequacy. Nervousness gripped him, and he berated himself inwardly for his earlier blunders, wishing he could slap himself across the face.
"Please excuse me while I take my leave. I trust you'll enjoy catching up.
Seeing Jiang Chengyun and the unfamiliar young man enter, she closed the door behind them and leaned back in her chair, propping her legs up. 'Big Brother Jiang, you owe me a favor. Remember to repay me next time,' she said.
'How about I repay it now?' Jiang Chengyun took out the aura of a mid-stage Jade Liquid-level demon and casually tossed it over. Lin Rou giggled as she caught it and stored it in her small copper bell.
'In the future, if you find it troublesome to repay a favor, you can also use this item as a token of gratitude,' he said, looking at Shen Yi.
'A newcomer?' Lin Rou asked curiously.
'Mhm,' Shen Yi nodded slightly, not wanting to miss any opportunity to learn. 'What do we do next?'
'What else can we do? We finally got that fool Deng Mingxu to take the bait. We'll use his ancestor as bait to lure out the demon,' Lin Rou stretched lazily.
Jiang Chengyun twisted his wrist and found himself a chair to sit on. 'If it were a hunt like last time, we wouldn't let this sole Condensation Realm cultivator slip away. That's why I asked her to come here first and lay the groundwork to ensure the news doesn't leak and prevent this Condensation Realm cultivator from escaping Yong'an City.'
'The demon's target is him. In his desire to protect his life, he can also become my ally,' Shen Yi said.
Jiang Chengyun remained silent, listening intently and committing all this experience to memory.
Indeed, once outside, the methods of those in the imperial court were indeed decisive.
If they had informed the Deng family's ancestor in advance and let him prepare, the likelihood of casualties would be greatly reduced. However, inevitably, the whole situation would undergo many changes.
To ensure the success of this mission, this ancestor must die within Yong'an City, even if it costs him his life.
This was probably the difference between demon catchers and the Demon Suppression Division.
'How many demon catchers have come to the city?' Jiang Chengyun asked, glancing to the side.
'About thirty, most of them are here to take advantage of the situation,' Lin Rou propped her chin up with her hand, her other hand outstretched, 'There are those who coincidentally save the lives of young masters and form a brotherly bond, those who deliver vegetables to the aristocratic families' kitchens, and even one who dressed as a courtesan. She had her eyes on Deng Mingxu, but I beat her to it, hehe.'
'In front of such a young master, how could a flirtatious woman compare to the allure of a pure and innocent young lady from an aristocratic family?'
In just a few words, almost every notable power in Yong'an City had been hooked by these demon catchers.
The most tempting bait, of course, was the Deng family.
But to dare to target this juicy morsel, one would need to be at least at the Condensation Realm stage.
Jiang Chengyun quickly guessed, 'Is it Xiao Qiangwei?'
'She returned to Qingzhou City. If she causes me trouble, Big Brother Jiang, you have to stand up for me,' Lin Rou blinked innocently, then moved on from the topic, looking at the young man beside her.
She took the aura she had just obtained and twirled it around her index finger.
'Little brother, after this is over, are you interested in accompanying your sister to kill a demon?' she asked.
'We'll see,' Shen Yi replied, adjusting his aura and withdrawing his gaze noncommittally.
Compared to a mid-stage Jade Liquid-level demon, he was more interested in the tiger demons that would soon arrive in Yong'an City.
'Oh, you're quite aloof,' Lin Rou said, somewhat surprised.
'I advise you not to provoke him,' Jiang Chengyun said, closing his eyes to rest. The demon he intended to slay was beyond Shen Yi's ability to compete for, but if Lin Rou's demon truly took him along, it might not remain hers for long.
(End of Chapter)
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