Chapter 38: Hiding in the Bustling Streets

She thought herself romantic and uninhibited, but in truth she was vulgar and filthy.

She seized Lily, who was already flushed scarlet and too embarrassed to meet Moon Wuqing’s gaze, then turned and walked away. After two steps, she suddenly stopped.

“Moon Wuqing, let us never meet again. Even if we happen to run into each other on the street, please do not greet me. We are not acquainted. Thank you!”

Zhao Erdong pulled Lily along and left like the wind.

Moon Wuqing chuckled, his eyes bright with amusement. He pushed away the two wanton women clinging to him, his expression inscrutable.

“Little girl, I’m afraid I cannot grant your wish.”

The two seductresses had long since been inflamed with desire, wishing only that they could throw themselves upon Moon Wuqing and have their way with him. Now that he had pushed them away, they were naturally unwilling to give up. They twisted back against him, employing every alluring trick at their disposal in an attempt to make him yield.

Moon Wuqing’s face turned cold, his eyes sharp as blades. The tenderness and affection he had shown moments before vanished without a trace.

“Get out. Do not make me say it twice.”

If Moon Wuqing had previously been a handsome gentleman, gentle and refined as jade, he was now a murderous demon from the depths of hell.

The two women shuddered and hastily retreated. All traces of lust had vanished from them, and they no longer dared remain for even another moment. Like a gust of dying wind, they fled from the private room.

Zhao Erdong and Lily were desperately hungry. After leaving the Immortal Guesthouse, they found a nearby steamed-bun shop and wolfed down a haphazard meal, finally filling their stomachs.

“Miss, if Madam were still alive, she would never let you suffer like this.” The more Lily thought about it, the more pitiful she found her mistress. Born to wealth and privilege, she should have enjoyed a life of comfort, yet she had been forced to endure such hardships and look down upon by others. Even eating a meal meant suffering their contemptuous stares.

Zhao Erdong waved her hand and smiled.

“Silly girl, have you never heard the saying: only those who endure the greatest hardships can rise above others? One must weather the trials of the world before accomplishing anything truly great. Even the Monkey King had to pass through eighty-one tribulations before attaining enlightenment. What are we insignificant humans compared with him? If we cannot endure even this little hardship, how are we supposed to survive?”

“Miss, Lily does not understand anything about great achievements or attaining enlightenment. Lily only wishes for you to be well—to suffer no hardship and endure no calamity.” Lily took Zhao Erdong’s hand. Remembering Madam’s dying charge, she felt even more useless.

“Lily, remember this: if you do not wish to suffer hardship or calamity, you must make yourself stronger. Only by becoming an unrivaled powerhouse can you earn the respect of the world—and gain the means to protect yourself. Do you understand?”

Lily nodded. How could she not understand? It was only that becoming strong was far easier said than done. Embarking upon the path of martial cultivation did not depend solely on diligent practice. One needed opportunity, and one needed a solid foundation.

For thousands of years, why had the great clans produced gifted talents generation after generation? Even a child born to an ordinary family might possess extraordinary talent, but without the support of a great clan, there was no guarantee that they would achieve much.

The great clans possessed deep reserves and powerful foundations. They had secret martial arts, as well as vast stores of spirit essence crystals to aid their younger cultivators. The resources required to nurture a single powerhouse were enormous—far beyond what an ordinary person could bear.

And now, she and her mistress were alone in the outside world, struggling even to stay alive. To speak of increasing their strength and becoming powerful was truly nothing more than a fool’s dream.

Zhao Erdong knew Lily did not believe her, so she said no more. A thousand words were worth less than a single deed.

This was Spirit Stone Street, where every shop dealt in spirit stones. Most of the businesses belonged to the great clans.

To avoid the eyes and ears of the Zhao residence, Zhao Erdong and Lily had disguised themselves in men’s clothing, taking on the appearance of two young gentlemen. Every day, they lingered along Spirit Stone Street, occasionally purchasing stones. They never cut them open in public; instead, they bought them and had servants deliver them together to the inn where they were staying.

She thought herself romantic and uninhibited, but in truth she was vulgar and filthy.

She seized Lily, who was already flushed scarlet and too embarrassed to meet Moon Wuqing’s gaze, then turned and walked away. After two steps, she suddenly stopped.

“Moon Wuqing, let us never meet again. Even if we happen to run into each other on the street, please do not greet me. We are not acquainted. Thank you!”

Zhao Erdong pulled Lily along and left like the wind.

Moon Wuqing chuckled, his eyes bright with amusement. He pushed away the two wanton women clinging to him, his expression inscrutable.

“Little girl, I’m afraid I cannot grant your wish.”

The two seductresses had long since been inflamed with desire, wishing only that they could throw themselves upon Moon Wuqing and have their way with him. Now that he had pushed them away, they were naturally unwilling to give up. They twisted back against him, employing every alluring trick at their disposal in an attempt to make him yield.

Moon Wuqing’s face turned cold, his eyes sharp as blades. The tenderness and affection he had shown moments before vanished without a trace.

“Get out. Do not make me say it twice.”

If Moon Wuqing had previously been a handsome gentleman, gentle and refined as jade, he was now a murderous demon from the depths of hell.

The two women shuddered and hastily retreated. All traces of lust had vanished from them, and they no longer dared remain for even another moment. Like a gust of dying wind, they fled from the private room.

Zhao Erdong and Lily were desperately hungry. After leaving the Immortal Guesthouse, they found a nearby steamed-bun shop and wolfed down a haphazard meal, finally filling their stomachs.

“Miss, if Madam were still alive, she would never let you suffer like this.” The more Lily thought about it, the more pitiful she found her mistress. Born to wealth and privilege, she should have enjoyed a life of comfort, yet she had been forced to endure such hardships and look down upon by others. Even eating a meal meant suffering their contemptuous stares.

Zhao Erdong waved her hand and smiled.

“Silly girl, have you never heard the saying: only those who endure the greatest hardships can rise above others? One must weather the trials of the world before accomplishing anything truly great. Even the Monkey King had to pass through eighty-one tribulations before attaining enlightenment. What are we insignificant humans compared with him? If we cannot endure even this little hardship, how are we supposed to survive?”

“Miss, Lily does not understand anything about great achievements or attaining enlightenment. Lily only wishes for you to be well—to suffer no hardship and endure no calamity.” Lily took Zhao Erdong’s hand. Remembering Madam’s dying charge, she felt even more useless.

“Lily, remember this: if you do not wish to suffer hardship or calamity, you must make yourself stronger. Only by becoming an unrivaled powerhouse can you earn the respect of the world—and gain the means to protect yourself. Do you understand?”

Lily nodded. How could she not understand? It was only that becoming strong was far easier said than done. Embarking upon the path of martial cultivation did not depend solely on diligent practice. One needed opportunity, and one needed a solid foundation.

For thousands of years, why had the great clans produced gifted talents generation after generation? Even a child born to an ordinary family might possess extraordinary talent, but without the support of a great clan, there was no guarantee that they would achieve much.

The great clans possessed deep reserves and powerful foundations. They had secret martial arts, as well as vast stores of spirit essence crystals to aid their younger cultivators. The resources required to nurture a single powerhouse were enormous—far beyond what an ordinary person could bear.

And now, she and her mistress were alone in the outside world, struggling even to stay alive. To speak of increasing their strength and becoming powerful was truly nothing more than a fool’s dream.

Zhao Erdong knew Lily did not believe her, so she said no more. A thousand words were worth less than a single deed.

This was Spirit Stone Street, where every shop dealt in spirit stones. Most of the businesses belonged to the great clans.

To avoid the eyes and ears of the Zhao residence, Zhao Erdong and Lily had disguised themselves in men’s clothing, taking on the appearance of two young gentlemen. Every day, they lingered along Spirit Stone Street, occasionally purchasing stones. They never cut them open in public; instead, they bought them and had servants deliver them together to the inn where they were staying.