Gu Sanqiu vigorously shook his arm, pulling the fishing line out of the vortex.
"Yo, let's see what we've got this time."
But when Gu Sanqiu saw the familiar blue glow emanating from the vortex, his excited expression instantly collapsed.
Hmm, maybe I should send the bill to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor again tomorrow.
Without any surprises, Gu Sanqiu felt the familiar resistance on the fishing rod. With skillful movements, he quickly reeled in the object emitting the blue light.
Item: Hundred Forged Water-patterned Dark Iron
Origin: North Sea
Description: Hidden deep underwater, this ore has been repeatedly hammered by the water pressure and manipulated by the currents of sea monsters, making it an excellent material for crafting sharp weapons.
"It's this again."
Gu Sanqiu looked disgusted. "I'm tired of blacksmithing lately."
"Growing up indeed means you can't do whatever you want anymore."
If Fang Pan heard this, he would probably be infuriated. What does growing up have to do with this? Hey!
The night passed without a word. After waking up, Gu Sanqiu bathed, lit incense as usual, and walked out of the door with a hint of fragrance on him. With the scent, anyone would believe he was out doing mischief last night, if not for the reputation of the Gu family in Feiyun Slope.
"Morning, Master Mao, same as usual for me."
"Hahaha, Gu lad, it's not morning anymore. You're probably the latest riser in Liyue Harbor."
Inside the Wanyou Hall, Master Mao laughed heartily as he wrapped up two portions of Mora meat and a steamed bun for Gu Sanqiu.
"Young people in Liyue Harbor all wake up early to make big money, so they have something to brag about when they go home. You, on the other hand, are the opposite."
"Well, as long as I'm full and my family isn't hungry, making money isn't so urgent."
Gu Sanqiu took a big bite of the Mora meat, savoring the sun and flame aroma of the bun and the juicy, hearty meat filling. The craftsmanship of Wanyou Hall made Gu Sanqiu temporarily forget about today's work.
"Take care, Master Mao, may your business thrive."
Gu Sanqiu left without paying, as since Wanyou Hall became his canteen, Master Mao generously allowed Gu Sanqiu to settle his bill monthly, making it convenient for the habitual mobile pay user.
Of course, Master Mao wasn't naive. He allowed this because of Gu Sanqiu's status as an incense bearer.
Face was given mutually, and Gu Sanqiu wasn't someone who urgently needed to boost his emotional intelligence. The monthly meal bill was always sent to Wanyou Hall on time.
Unless he was locked in a holding cell.
"Phew."
Gu Sanqiu lightly blew a breath. A piece of paper with a gold border appeared in his left hand, which he handed to the waiter outside the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Take this to your master, or anyone will do. They'll know what it means."
"Sure thing, Mr. Gu."
The male attendant, smiling, took the white paper and tossed it into the nearby burning brazier in front of Gu Sanqiu.
"?"
"Sorry, Mr. Gu, but the master said before leaving for Wumeng Peak today that any paper you hand over should be burned in front of you. Please don't make it difficult for me."
Is this a new procedure? Running away to Wumeng Peak just to avoid debts.
Gu Sanqiu's mouth twitched. While the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor seemed to have little business on the surface, there was also the huge cemetery of Wumeng Peak waiting for Hutao to clean up.
But some things weren't suitable to be exposed to the public eye.
"Fine, she's got guts."
Gu Sanqiu shook his head. "When she comes back, tell her that what I asked for last time is almost done. Ask your master to find a time to come over herself."
"Sure thing, Mr. Gu."
At the Jade Pavilion, an old woman with a stooped figure watched the bustling scene with a smile. After a while, she frowned slightly, flicked her wrist lightly, and a small porcelain cup flew towards the stone railing to her right.
Ding—
After a light sound, instead of shattering on the railing, the porcelain cup drew a perfect arc in the air and landed back on the table in front of the old woman.
In less than a minute, a figure that seemed sneaky poked its head out from behind the railing. His once sleek hair was slightly disheveled from climbing.
"I say, little Gu, can't you come to see this old lady for tea properly? The Jade Pavilion has been properly built, you know."
"Hehe, Granny Ping, I just came back from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Besides, that route isn't as fast as climbing straight up."
Gu Sanqiu brushed off the dust from his clothes. "Seems like the Jade Pavilion isn't cleaned thoroughly. Pity for my outfit."
"Quit your complaining. Cleaning the Jade Pavilion isn't easy, and the area you climbed up from isn't part of the cleaning zone anyway."
Granny Ping poured Gu Sanqiu a cup of tea. "As a descendant of the incense bearers, I've seen my fair share of folks like you, but you're the most leisurely one I've met."
"Ah, it's not about the surface work, it's what's inside that matters."
Gu Sanqiu tapped his conscience. "Undoubtedly, I've done well."
"Haha, including being detained by the Qixing a few times?"
"Uh, isn't that widely known already?"
"Whether it's widely known or not, you should know best."
Granny Ping refilled Gu Sanqiu's cup. "Also, it seems like someone has been inquiring about your information lately."
"Huh?"
Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow, a hint of sharpness hidden in his eyes.
"How did you know about this, Granny?"
Granny Ping, one of the big shots who only showed her strength in the battle against the Archon Osial, was preliminarily confirmed to control some spatial power. Yet, she still appeared as an old lady soaking up the sun at the Jade Pavilion.
Well, it's probably like a vendor chatting with friends at a scenic spot.
Just like he didn't tell Hutao that their guest was the Geo Archon, since they both didn't intend to reveal their identities, Gu Sanqiu naturally wouldn't bother to attract trouble to himself.
So, the question was, why did Granny Ping specifically mention this to him?
As a descendant of the incense bearers, it was uncertain whether there were any covert messages circulating within the Gu family. Why would Granny Ping, in the guise of an "ordinary old lady," tell him these things?
"The little one asking about your information has a bit of a connection with me. She's not a bad person, just giving you a heads-up."
A connection with Granny Ping?
As a member of the immortal realm, there were plenty of people with connections to her. Gu Sanqiu couldn't guess who it might be.
Granny Ping smiled as she took Gu Sanqiu's tea cup back. "Off to work, young man. Young people should strive hard."
"Hehe, Master Mao told me the same thing today."
Gu Sanqiu smiled helplessly. "Well, since you say so, it wouldn't be right for me not to go to work."