Sixth Master Huang was always generous to his subordinate, and the Eldest Young Madam from the Sun Family was known for her lavish spending. As long as the silver was in their hands, Sixth Master would never treat them poorly!
Old Lady Gu had many sons and grandsons at home, and had it not been for the lucrative reward for this trip as an escort, she wouldn't have followed Sixth Master Huang to travel thousands of miles through such a hassle!
Middle-aged and elder women loved gossiping most of all. Their information network spanned ten miles from their homes. Shiyi only had to make a casual inquiry, and Old Lady Gu would divulge all the rumors and scandals she knew about Blue Moon City to Shiyi.
They talked for an entire day, until their boat docked at the pier outside Blue Moon City,
"Disembark! We're home! We're home!"
Liu Er bellowed with all his might on the boat, prompting everyone to spring into action. They moved the carriage off the boat, packed their belongings, and disembarked. Shiyi didn't have much with her—just the two sets of clothes Old Lady Gu made for her. She quickly wrapped them into a bundle, and one of Sixth Master Huang's attendants approached her,
"Miss Gu, our Sixth Master said that now that you've arrived here, he wishes to extend the hospitality of a landlord. So, please, after you disembark, come with us to visit Sixth Master's home!"
Shiyi nodded and offered a fist-and-palm salute,
"Many thanks to Sixth Master for his generous hospitality!"
Old Lady Gu, hearing this, was also delighted,
"Shiyi, being looked upon so favorably by Sixth Master is indeed a good thing!"
She then winked and gestured, leaving Shiyi perplexed, yet she nodded and joined in with a silly smile.
After the attendant left, Old Lady Gu added,
"Having done this escort trip, Sixth Master will surely give us some time off to return home and rest. I'll head to my house first, and if you ever feel overwhelmed staying at Sixth Master's place, just come to my home. Even though it's humble, the advantage is the lively atmosphere with all the family members. We have many young lads at home, and I will treat you as my own niece!"
However, though she said as much, these were merely courteous words. Old Lady Gu was already convinced that Shiyi and Sixth Master Huang had an affair and that she would become a mistress. Therefore, Shiyi wasn't likely to step through the door of a humble family like theirs again!
Shiyi outwardly nodded, but inwardly she was smiling wryly,
"Auntie, rest assured, I will not stand on ceremony with you. I must pay a visit to my uncle and my cousins!"
"As long as I finish what I need to do, and I'm still alive, I will surely visit!"
After disembarking the ship, Shiyi was invited to board a carriage and followed behind Sixth Master Huang into Blue Moon City.
Blue Moon City had some similarities to Twin Sages City, yet some differences. Both cities were named after their geography. Twin Sages City had the Twin Sages Mountain, while Blue Moon City was known for the Blue Moon Lake located ten miles outside of the city. The reason for the word "Blue" in Blue Moon Lake is due to a special kind of crystal stone abundantly found at the bottom of the lake, useful to Great cultivators for Artifact Refining. Even a small amount added would make a Magic Artifact exceptionally hard. Since this crystal stone was deep blue and settled at the bottom, it made the entire lake take on a blue color. Plus, the lake was crescent-shaped, hence the name Blue Moon Lake.
The Great Cultivation World and the Mortal World weren't so different after all; in both, people fought over resources with strong fists. Blue Moon Stones from Blue Moon Lake were useful to Great cultivators, which naturally led to strife. Six hundred years ago, various Great Cultivation Sects fought over it, each taking control for dozens or hundreds of years, which led to continuous conflict in the area. A hundred years ago, the Gu Family had a cultivator who reached the Nascent Soul Stage. He seized control of Blue Moon Lake from a sect, and since then, the Gu Family had been in charge up to the current day.
Blue Moon City was prosperous for thousands of years partly due to the Blue Moon Stones and also because it was a vital trade route between the north and south. Sitting inside the carriage and peering through the curtains at the streets, Shiyi was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of familiarity mixed with strangeness,
"Shiyi..."
Li Yaner leaned over the window, also peering outside stealthily. Blue Moon City was quite large with broad streets that allowed for three carriages to drive side by side. Shops lined both sides of the street, bustling with people,
"Shiyi, is this your hometown?"
Shiyi nodded, her expression complex as she looked outside,
"This is the South City... The houses on both sides haven't changed... There used to be a candy shop around the corner... Their maple sugar was the best... Oh... it's turned into a cloth shop now?"
Shiyi felt a sense of melancholy. She had left twenty-five years ago, and everything here had changed. The few people and things from her memory were no longer there, leaving her with only faint memories!
As Shiyi silently contemplated, looking out at the street view...
The Dragon-Tiger Escort Agency owned a series of houses in the South City, the main one being used as their storefront, with houses on both sides where the escorts lived. Sixth Master Huang's family lived in the backyard of the large house in the middle. Shiyi's carriage entered through the back entrance, and a stewardess sent by the Huang family's ladies was already there to welcome Shiyi.