Chapter 85: Into a Martial Arts Novel, Day 7

Chapter 85: Day 7 in a Wuxia World

Seeing this, An Yi's eyes flickered with a faint hint of mischief. The corners of his lips curled into a faint, graceful arc as he smiled at him: "But suddenly, I don't feel like calling you that anymore."

He paused, and under Ling Fengyao's puzzled gaze, slowly added: "How about... I call you 'Little Lingzi' instead."

Ling Fengyao: ......

The smile on his face instantly froze, then he made a wry, helpless face: "Ayi, this... probably isn't quite appropriate, is it?"

That totally sounds like a palace eunuch's name.

An Yi curled his lips, clearly in a good mood: "What's inappropriate? I think it's perfect."

Ling Fengyao looked at his expression, was taken aback for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh along, shaking his head: "Alright, alright, Little Lingzi it is."

"??????"

"?????? What kind of flirting is this???"

"I still feel something's off. Really? Are they really just friends traveling together?"

"Something's off! Extremely off, twelve out of ten off!"

"Ahhh they're calling each other's names! A big step forward in their relationship!"

["Ayi"!!! Ling-ge, you're so smooth!]

"An Yi actually agreed! Even though he was cold about it, he still said yes!"

"kswlkswl! This hidden sweetness!"

"Walking side by side at night, calling each other's names—basically a wedding ceremony! (not really)"

"Can you shippers just get lost?!"

"This is a guys' novel!"

"Guys' novels don't allow shipping? So controlling?"

"I'll ship them! Ship!"

......

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The night was fading, and the sky was turning pale with the first light of dawn. Carts and pedestrians on the main road gradually increased.

An Yi lazily turned over on the inn's bed and sat up slowly.

He washed up unhurriedly, then after a simple breakfast with Ling Fengyao, the two of them set off again at a leisurely pace.

All along the way, the two were not in a hurry to reach their destination; it was more like a spontaneous road trip.

Stopping here and there, enjoying the scenery, tasting the local cuisine everywhere, they traveled and played as they went. By the time they reached Xunyang City, three months had passed.

Months on the road hadn't left either of them looking ragged or tired.

Ling Fengyao was still the same uninhibited and unrestrained figure. As for An Yi, aside from his complexion seeming a little less pale under the warmth of the spring sun, his bearing was undiminished—if anything, even more at ease.

In the distance, the ancient outline of Xunyang City's walls emerged in the morning light. The city gate was already bustling with people, and the clamor of voices drifted over faintly.

Ling Fengyao stretched and turned to look at An Yi beside him. A lazy grin spread across his face:

"We've finally arrived. Xunyang City is a hub of waterways and land routes, full of all kinds of people—the best place for gossip. Maybe we can really dig up some interesting leads."

An Yi nodded slightly. A gentle smile naturally curved his lips as he responded: "Mm, it seems indeed lively."

His tone was polite and relaxed. Coupled with his handsome, ethereal face and slightly pale complexion, he looked like a refined young gentleman—maybe a bit frail, but impeccably bred.

Ling Fengyao looked at him. After three months of constant companionship, his earlier suspicions had long been confirmed—the person before him was definitely not the infamous former young master of the demon cult.

Moreover, this guy now had stopped bothering to put up a front. The quiet composure within him was impossible to hide.

The two entered the city with the flow of people.

Inside the city, it was buzzing and noisy, sounds and smells all hitting them at once.

Ling Fengyao was in his element, completely at ease. His eyes swept across the shops and passersby on both sides of the street cheerfully, as if soaking in the lively street scene.

An Yi walked quietly half a step beside him. His gaze also drifted over the rows of shops and various pedestrians.

To him, everything was genuinely interesting.

He had lived in an ancient world before, but this one was completely different.

The martial artists here were much more direct and flashy. Almost everyone carried a blade, and their manner had a raw, unruly edge that set them apart from commoners.

In his previous world, anyone doing that would've been thrown in jail ages ago.

With his sharp hearing, bits of unconcealed conversation drifted into his ears:

"...Master Li's place on the west side has been having trouble again. I heard they've hired someone to check it out. The price is sky-high..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! That thing is cursed—don't get tangled up in it!"

"See that? A lot of new faces lately. Looks like that rumor has drawn every shady character around..."

"Better to be safe than sorry..."

"Don't get nosy, just keep walking..."

An Yi's face remained impassive, but inwardly he found it somewhat amusing.

How come everyone on the street was talking about the same matter? Like NPCs in a game giving out quests, both commoners and martial artists alike.

Is this what you get in a wuxia world?

He'd thought he'd have to go to taverns or teahouses—the kind with set NPCs—to find clues.

He stored away these bits of conversation as he caught them.

He tapped Ling Fengyao's forearm with the back of his hand: "Hey, hear that?"

Ling Fengyao naturally leaned in, lowering his voice, his breath warm against An Yi's ear: "Seems like there are undercurrents in Xunyang City after all. So, Ayi, feel like stirring things up?"

An Yi nodded: "Sounds like fun."

Ling Fengyao then smiled: "Alright, let's find a place to crash first, then figure things out."

An Yi subconsciously tilted his head slightly, his smile unchanged, and responded compliantly: "Alright, I'll follow your arrangements."

The two found a clean-looking inn called "Yuelai Inn" and took two adjacent superior rooms.

The inn attendant, with a white towel over his shoulder, courteously led them upstairs.

As the attendant led them upstairs, Ling Fengyao casually struck up a conversation, asking with a smile: "Young man, has there been anything new in Xunyang City recently? We brothers are new here, so we'd like to see the sights."

The attendant, a clever one, his eyes darted around at the question and immediately lowered his voice, speaking with a hint of mystery: "You two guests have asked the right person! Nothing much, but Lord Li's mansion in the west of the city has been encountering strange happenings lately!"

"They say something sinister got into the house, but it's not an ordinary thief! No gold or silver missing, but instead... he hissed!"

He took an exaggerated breath: "Instead, some creepy things keep appearing from time to time! They hired several groups of renowned martial artists and Buddhist and Taoist monks to check, but none could find the cause! Now the entire household is on edge!"

"Everyone is whispering that the mansion is probably haunted by ghosts!"

"That thing is really scary!"