The wind is gushing gently through the bustling street of the town.
Numerous stalls were being set up by the side of the road, food, toys, antiques, beast cores, and many other things.
Their variety was endless.
The clothes worn by the townspeople were also very uniques and mixed, like hanfu, robes, dresses, kimono, leather, and iron armor...
Overall, their fashions were varied but still maintained the essence of classical ancient theme cultivator possesses.
Zhu Dingxiang's long silky hair and foxtails swaying accompanying the breeze; their light green color is as jubilant as a vibrant forest of life.
With his ethereal appearance and refined aura, he was passively seizing attention wherever he went.
After walking for a while, Zhu Dingxiang and Qiao Qiuyue soon appeared before the Qiao Family estate.
Wow~ 'This style exceeded my expectations!' Zhu Dingxiang thought in his mind as he looks at the grand entrance. He compared this sight to the dilapidated house in the village he visits before; the difference was extreme.
The front gate was enormous and grand, probably due to the commerce business that they control. There are two majestic lion statues made of stone on the two sides of the wooden gate.
'Huge~ 4 meters tall, maybe? Such lifelike too, I wonder if stone sculptures of this caliber are typical.' Zhu Dingxiang lamented in his heart. He felt like a bumpkin from the countryside who just arrived in the city for the first time.
"Mother!" Qiao Qiuyue suddenly cries out as she gets off from her horse.
Standing in front of the gate of the Qiao Family estate was a group of people. Roughly around a hundred or so people dressing like servants, at the head of the crow were a beautiful mature woman with a voluptuous figure.
"Yue'er!" The middle-aged woman then hugs Qiao Qiuyue into her embrace.
...
'Who am I, and Why am I here?' That was what he was thinking at this moment.
（☉∀☉）
"Greeting Sir, I'm Xue Yuying, the matriarch of the Qiao Family." Letting go of her daughter, holding a fan, Xue Yuying bowed to Zhu Dingxiang and introducing herself.
Her pupils constricted when she noticed Little White; while feeling startled inwardly, her countenance still remains calm, and her voice was filled with confidence.
When Zhu Dingxiang entered the town with Qiao Qiuyue and the caravan group, the servant already reported to her, while Xue Yuying doesn't know Zhu Dingxiang, his exceptional Cultivation and demeanor still require to be treated with respect.
[Name: Xue Yuying.]
[Age: 42.]
[Gender: Female.]
[Martial Spirit: (Peak-stage) Mortal Rank, Black Fan.]
[Cultivation: (Initial) Stage 9 Body refining.]
[Cultivation technique: Fleeting Shadow cultivation method.]
[Description: Matriarch of the Qiao Family.]
"Hello, I'm Zhu Dingxiang; you can call me Doctor Zhu." Cupping his fist, Zhu Dingxiang replied with a polite gesture. His humbleness left a good impression on her mind.
"It's my honor to meet you, doctor Zhu."
"Let's go inside; this is not a good place to talk." Xue Yuying spoke with a smile before leading her daughter and Zhu Dingxiang inside the Qiao estate.
__________
'This tea is nice, like... hmm... anyway; I like it!' Zhu Dingxiang took a sip from the teacup served by the maid and curiously looking around every now and then.
(▰˘◡˘▰)
He was currently sitting alone inside a spacious room.
Besides the host's main seat in the center, there are two rows of wood-carved chairs opposite each other. The shelf was decorated with a few expensive-looking vases. There are flowers beside the pillars and some paintings on the wall.
The room's overall design was simple but full of elegance.
__________
In another room.
"Yue'er, tell mother what happens." Holding her daughter's hand, Xue Yuying said in a gentle voice full of maternal affection.
"Mother, grandpa Feng he..." Qiao Qiuyue sits next to her mother then start narrating the series of event happened during her trip.
...
"Sighs~ It's unfortunate, but since you are fine, then that is all it matters to me." Xue Yuying heaved a sigh of relief.
Xue Yuying heaved a long sigh, "It must have been hard on you..." she then said with a slight smile.
"Mother, I'm sorry..."
"Everything will be okay, Yue'er."
...
"Yue'er, let's go; I have to thank Doctor Zhu for his help. We can't have your savior wait for long."
__________
Zhu Dingxiang could hear clatter* Clatter* Sounds of footsteps from outside the corridor.
Soon Xue Yuying and Qiao Qiuyue arrived in the guest room.
"Doctor Zhu, sorry for keeping you waiting. You have my sincere thank you for saving my daughter's life." Xue Yuying walked toward Zhu Dingxiang and bowed. Her voice was full of sincerity.
"Eh?... Please, don't be too formal, Matriarch Qiao. I only did what I would normally do." Zhu Dingxiang got up from his seat and stopped her.
Taking a closer look, Xue Yuying was indeed a beautiful mature woman with a seductive figure. She dressed in a black kimono, and her hair was styled in a bun holding together with many exquisite wooden hair-sticks.
In her inky hair, there are a few strands of grey lines.
As a cultivator at the 9-stages of Body Refining, 42 is still considered young because they could live up to around 170 years old. Their lifespan would only increase even more if they were to make a breakthrough to Qi Condensation Realm.
For Xue Yuying to have grey hair so early, stress and works have evidently taken a toll on her body.
...
Zhu Dingxiang stayed there and chatted for a while on miscellaneous things.
...
"Doctor Zhu, are you planning to stay in Blue Lake-Town?"
"Yes, I do plan on staying for a while." Rubbing his chin, Zhu Dingxiang replies while pretending to be thinking seriously.
◤(¬‿¬)◥
"You probably not looked for a place to stay yet, have you? How about staying here? There are still a few empty courtyards in my Qiao family." Xue Yuying suggested after pondering for a moment.
"Sure." He replied immediately.
ヽ( ´ ∇ ｀ )ノ