Chapter Twelve: In Qingyang Town

The main street of Qingyang Town was paved with bluestone, about three meters wide. At the entrance stood an ancient and simple archway, three meters tall, with the characters "Qingyang Town" carved upon it. Passing through the archway, Jiang Yan walked straight towards the home of Ning, the local official at the center of town.

Ning was the appointed local official, responsible for handling the daily affairs of Qingyang Town. Whenever Jiang Yan visited with his master, they would always stay at Ning’s residence. The position of local official was granted by imperial appointment, but with it came an edict to pay tribute to Mount Hua. All the daily necessities for the cultivators of Mount Hua were provided by Qingyang Town. As Jiang Yan needed some hoes and three sacrificial animals this time, he headed directly to Ning’s house.

Arriving at the gate, the old servant, Ning Cantou, saw Jiang Yan and immediately stood up, trembling. He bowed deeply and greeted him, "Immortal Master—ah, no, Young Master Jiang, you’ve arrived. The master is at home. Please, come in."

In the past, Jiang Yan always came with his master. Not only Ning Cantou, but many in the town recognized Jiang Yan, addressing his master as "Immortal Master" and calling Jiang Yan "Young Master Jiang." Usually, Ning Cantou would first address his master, then Jiang Yan. Now, with only Jiang Yan present, the old servant was momentarily at a loss.

Jiang Yan followed Ning Cantou into the Ning residence. As they ascended the steps, Jiang Yan glanced back and saw Yun Ying standing with her hands on her hips in front of a candied fruit stall, a few copper coins in her little hand, pointing and choosing among the skewers. At her feet, the Skyhowl Dog gazed longingly at the treats, a string of bright drool hanging from its mouth.

Jiang Yan considered that while Yun Ying had only just begun cultivating, the Skyhowl Dog at her side was a first-class upper-rank spirit beast, and the Golden-eyed Hawk was a first-class lower-rank spirit beast. Judging by the hawk’s formidable appearance, even the most timid townsfolk would not dare trouble Yun Ying.

Relieved, Jiang Yan followed Ning Cantou through the main gate and into the rear courtyard. As they walked, Ning Cantou chattered about strange happenings in town, hoping the young immortal master might provide some answers. He recounted how many of Li Si's pigs had gone missing, and how Zhang San's wife was bitten on the hand while trying to stop a weasel from stealing chickens. Ning Cantou relayed every detail to Jiang Yan.

The Ning household was a large compound with two main courtyards. After passing through the corridor, they arrived at the rear courtyard. Standing at the door, Ning Cantou called out loudly, "Ning Er, Ning Er, Young Master Jiang is here!"

A short, plump man hurried out from the main hall in the rear, wiping sweat from his brow as he ran. His round face blossomed into a broad smile. "Quickly, take Young Master Jiang to the front hall. We have matters to discuss with him."

Qingyang Town was a small, honest place, not overly bound by etiquette. The local official was known as Ning Er, being second in his family. Even the old servant at the gate called him by this familiar name.

Jiang Yan stopped Ning Cantou from dragging him to the front hall and smiled at Ning. "I'm here today to trouble you for a few things. I won’t stay long, so there’s no need to sit."

Ning’s face shone with delight as he wiped his brow again. "Very well, Young Master Jiang, tell me what you need. I’ll order it to be bought at once. Please, have a seat for a moment while I fetch it for you."

Jiang Yan named his requirements. Before Ning could reply, Ning Cantou slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "No need to buy those. We have them at home! Just slaughter a pig, a cow, and a horse, and hand over a hoe!"

Ning shot a glare at the old servant, annoyed at having his moment to show off stolen. Then he turned to Jiang Yan with a flowery smile. "Indeed, there’s no need to purchase these things. I’ll have the servants take care of it right away. But, Young Master, there’s something troubling the town lately. I was hoping you could help us."

Jiang Yan frowned. "There’s been trouble in town?"

Qingyang was a small town of about five thousand people. Usually, life was peaceful, with scarcely a case of missing livestock or tools. But since a few outsiders arrived last month, there had been a spate of poultry thefts and villagers bitten by wild animals.

To the west, Li Si had several sows. In a single night, they were all bitten to death, and one piglet vanished without a trace. In the north, at Zhang San's house, after repeated livestock thefts in the neighborhood, Zhang San's wife began keeping watch at night. When a chicken thief crept in, she tried to stop him, only to be bitten on the hand by a weasel.

Despite every household being on guard, livestock continued to disappear. Several people had also been bitten while trying to stop the thief. The weasel that bit people had thrown the whole town into a panic.

Jiang Yan looked at Ning in puzzlement. If it was just a chicken-stealing weasel, organizing a few able-bodied men should suffice to catch it. Why would Ning trouble him with such a matter?

A bitter smile flashed across Ning’s round face. "Young Master, I’ve organized the villagers to catch it several times, but this weasel is strange. Every time we come back empty-handed, and a few of the young men have been bitten as well. That’s why I hoped you could help. If you hadn’t come today, I would have gone up the mountain to seek you out."

Jiang Yan agreed offhand. Not to mention a mere weasel—even a lower-rank first-class spirit beast was within his grasp. He had brought the Skyhowl Dog, who had already stunned a dog-shaped monster on the way. As for this weasel, he could have the Skyhowl Dog stun and capture it easily.

However, the weasel only appeared at night. That meant Jiang Yan would not be able to return to Mount Hua today and would have to stay in Qingyang Town. He nodded and said to Ning, "Very well, I’ll stay tonight. I will rid the town of this menace before I return to the mountain."

Ning's round face lit up with joy, but before he could speak further, a dog’s bark suddenly sounded from the gate, followed by Yun Ying’s clear voice, "Skinny monkey, if you keep following me, I’ll let the dog…"

A youthful voice, tinged with childishness, shouted from the entrance, "Little brat, I only followed you because you’re cute and I wanted to pinch your cheek. Why make such a fuss? Honestly!"

Jiang Yan started in surprise. Who was this brash youth, daring to say he wanted to pinch Yun Ying’s cheek so openly? Worried Yun Ying might order the Skyhowl Dog to attack, he hurried towards the gate, with Ning following in confusion.

Outside the Ning residence, Yun Ying’s delicate face was flushed with anger as she glared at a richly dressed boy. The Skyhowl Dog crouched in front of her, barking at the boy, though it refrained from using its soul-shaking howl, making clear whose side it was on. Behind Yun Ying, the Golden-eyed Hawk twisted its massive head, pacing back and forth among the onlookers.

Behind the richly dressed boy stood several black-clad, crooked-hatted servants. Around them, townsfolk had gathered to watch the commotion, most of their attention fixed on the imposing hawk.

"The Sun family’s notorious brat is up to mischief again. Whose poor child is this?"
"What a huge hawk! Is it that little girl’s pet?"
"That damn Sun family's eldest is bullying a little girl again. She’s awfully cute, poor thing."

The boy sneered at the crowd and stepped forward, pointing at Yun Ying’s nose. "Listen up, brat. I’m Sun Yang, eldest son of the Sun family. If I want to pinch your cheek, you should be honored. These bumpkins around here wish I’d pinch their cheeks, but I’d never bother. Hmph! Make me angry, and I’ll have your parents strung up!"

As he spoke, he stepped closer to Yun Ying.

Yun Ying’s little face scrunched up, her big eyes glaring at Sun Yang, cheeks puffed out in anger. "You, you—don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll have my dog bite you!" With that, she signaled the Skyhowl Dog to attack Sun Yang.