Heaven is the shore of mortal dust

Chapter 18

"Going out again?" Dieyun asked, a little disappointed. These past few days, she had practiced martial arts with him every day, and he was so happy. Even though she was practicing her swordplay alone and didn't have time to pay attention to him, he would still sit there watching, completely absorbed. It didn't matter whether she paid attention to him or not; just seeing her filled his heart. But hearing that she was going out, he suddenly felt empty inside, as if he had already started to miss her even before she left.

"What are you going out to do?" he asked sullenly.

"Dieyun, I want to start a business so that Master can live a peaceful life."

"That money is enough, enough to last for several years!"

“Silly boy! That little bit of money is not enough. It won’t be enough if something happens. Besides, what about in a few years? What will Dieyun do? Dieyun still needs to get married and pay the dowry.”

"I don't want to get married!" Dieyun stood up abruptly and walked away without looking back.

Huh? What's wrong with you? Wei Zijun shook her head, puzzled.

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The days of hard training paid off, and even his lightness skill had greatly improved, with no more near-crashing incidents occurring.

The moment Wei Zijun stepped through the city gate, he was grabbed by a guard. "My lord, you've finally arrived!"

She looked up and saw the guard who had stopped her that day.

“Master Wei, our general and the pacification ambassador have been waiting for you here for the past ten days or so. If you don’t come soon, we will be in trouble. The pacification ambassador only said that I was not doing my duty. How would he know that it was you who did not come?”

"An envoy for appeasement? Which one is it?" When did she come to know an envoy for appeasement?

"Oh, how would I know? I dare not ask. It's just that the general always calls him 'Boyuan'."

"It was him? How did he know you recognized me?" That's strange; he didn't know what happened at the city gate.

"Oh my, with your character and integrity, where else in Lucheng can you find another like you? Those who have met you know it's you just by hearing this."

"The garrison has worked hard. Where are they?" Wei Zijun asked, clasping his hands in greeting.

"Unfortunately, the general and his men just went out, but they told us to go inside and wait for you when you arrived, and they would be back soon."

"In that case, I would like to trouble the garrison to tell the general that I will go to the city on business first and will definitely come to visit when I return."

"Alright, Master Wei, go and come back soon."

Upon entering the city, Wei Zijun inquired with passersby and learned that Xuanhua Ward was the most prosperous area, with several incredibly luxurious taverns nearby. So she headed in that direction.

As I strolled over, I realized that this area was precisely where Danhe Tower was located. "That's for the best," I thought to myself.

Looking at the thriving buildings and shops on both sides, with no vacant shops at all, Wei Zijun couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Having no other option, I strolled to a nearby street. Just as I was frowning in worry, a light suddenly appeared in my eyes.

Ahead appeared a three-story building, constructed entirely of wood, with twelve flying eaves on each floor. Its roof was covered with golden glazed tiles, its eaves were gilded and double-layered, with upturned corners, carved screens, and vermilion-lacquered pillars. A wooden plaque hung in the center under the eaves of the top floor, inscribed with "Rain-Watching Pavilion," making it even more magnificent and imposing than the Danyang Tower.

To Wei Zijun's great delight, a large "封" (sealed) character was pasted on the carved and gilded gate. Perhaps due to its age, the black characters had faded.

Finding an empty room in this area is harder than climbing to heaven, let alone such a luxurious and magnificent building. Having worked in the food service industry before, she immediately recognized that although this place wasn't as bustling as that other street, the lack of noise gave it an air of nobility. It would be perfect for opening a shop catering to royalty, nobility, and the wealthy. But whose shop was it? And why was it closed?

Looking around, I saw a money exchange shop nearby, with four large gilded characters on the wooden plaque above the door: "Rongshengchangji". An old man in a blue cloth short shirt sat next to the door.

Wei Zijun stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and asked, "Excuse me, sir, whose house is this Rain-Viewing Pavilion over there? Why is it sealed off?"

"Oh, is this your first time here, young master?"

"Yes, sir. I'm looking for a shop, and I think this place is just right."

"No wonder you didn't know, young master. This restaurant was originally opened by the third son of the Left Valiant Guard General, but it was always managed by others. It was shut down more than two years ago after the third son betrayed the country, and it should have been confiscated by the government."

"It would be troublesome if it were confiscated," Wei Zijun thought to herself. Then she thought again, "It's been sealed off for over two years and no one has occupied it. Maybe there's still a chance. Or maybe I should try to find General Chen who's guarding the city; perhaps he'll have some connections."

"Thank you, sir." Wei Zijun bowed and thanked him, then turned to go back to the city gate to find General Chen.

After all that searching and searching, my legs are a bit tired. Looking up at the sun, it's almost noon; no wonder my stomach is rumbling. I'd better find a place to eat first.

Turning around, she circled back to Xuanhuafang Street, looking around to see what food was available. Before she knew it, she had arrived at "Danhelou". Wei Zijun glanced at it and hesitated whether to go in and greet Liu Lang, but then thought that there was plenty of time in the future, so she decided to give up.

Just as he was about to take a step forward, he suddenly heard someone call out to him loudly.

[Volume 1, Deer City Chapter: Chapter Sixteen, Joint Poems (Part 1)]

"Young Master Wei—" the voice came from above.

When Wei Zijun looked up, she saw General Chen.

"Young Master Wei, please come up and speak."

Wei Zijun thought for a moment, then lifted her long robe and went inside.

Upon reaching the second floor, General Chen was already waiting at the top of the stairs. The two exchanged greetings with clasped hands and walked towards their seats.

Seeing the white-clad man and the black-clad man she had met at the restaurant still sitting in the seats, Wei Zijun was slightly surprised, but remembering what the guard had said, that they should have been together these past few days, she was no longer surprised.

"Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to meet you both," Wei Zijun said, clasping his hands in greeting.

"It's been over ten days, and you've become even more handsome than me." The man in black from that day was now dressed in white. He held his teacup without returning the courtesy, but his phoenix eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at Wei Zijun. "Oh? You look good in that." He reached out and tugged at her sleeve.

Today, Wei Zijun wore that black coarse cloth long gown, with a one-inch-wide gray-blue coarse cloth patterned trim around the long, cross-collar neckline. She wore a gray hair crown and black thin boots.

"How can these coarse cloth clothes look so good? Why don't you take this one? Come on, let's change." As she spoke, she got up and started to pull off Wei Zijun's long robe.

"Young Master! What are you doing? Is Young Master always so shocking?" Wei Zijun frantically tugged at her clothes, her jade-like face flushed pink.