Chapter 149: Rivermist City

Following the passing of Mother Qiu, Su Ye and Ji Mo assisted the Qiu siblings in burying her according to the customary burial rites of the mortal realm. They then had the children observe a three-month period of mourning. Three months later, the two adults, two children, and two beasts set off in a grand procession from Luowu Town, making their way toward River Mist City.

The distance from Luowu Town to River Mist City spanned several thousand miles. Wishing to experience mortal life to the fullest, Ji Mo and Su Ye neither purchased horses nor traveled by flight. Instead, they relied entirely on their own two feet, leisurely strolling toward their destination. Covering thousands of miles over more than twenty days, stopping and going at a relaxed and carefree pace, the group of four and two beasts finally entered River Mist City.

River Mist City was the principal city of Jiangling Commandery, boasting a population of tens of millions, abundant resources, and thriving commerce. By the time Ji Mo reached over a hundred years of age, apart from the Flame Phoenix City of the Flame Descendant Tribe, this was her very first encounter with such a bustling metropolis. Back in Flame Phoenix City, everyone had been entirely consumed with preparations for the martial arena, leaving no leisure to wander about and sightsee.

As a commandery capital in the mortal realm, River Mist City lacked the ethereal spiritual resonance characteristic of cultivation realm cities, and the wares on its streets were vastly different from those found in the realm of immortality. Yet, it possessed a much stronger flavor of human life, with denser crowds and an even greater variety of goods. Although Ji Mo was well over a hundred years old, she still retained the heart of a young maiden. She examined the dazzling array of merchandise before her with keen interest, occasionally letting out murmurs of wonder like a country bumpkin.

In contrast to Ji Mo's unseemly and embarrassing behavior as a master, the young Qiu Hanyun and Qiu Li appeared far more composed. This was also their first time entering River Mist City, and while hints of wonder and longing frequently flashed across their eyes as they gazed upon the bustling market, their conduct remained impeccably proper.

"Hanyun, Xiao Li, you two are so young; there's no need to always keep such solemn and stiff expressions. Isn't this your first time in River Mist City as well? If there is anything you fancy, just buy it. Your master will pay the bill," Su Ye said, casting a sideways glance at the two children.

"Get lost!" Qiu Hanshan and Qiu Li felt their faces flush red at Su Ye's words, and just as they were about to reply, a sudden, explosive roar rolled past their ears. Immediately following, two giant red-furred lions charged forward, pulling a luxurious carriage. Reacting on instinct, Ji Mo and Su Ye each pulled Qiu Li and Qiu Hanyun aside just in time to narrowly dodge the careening vehicle.

"Truly blind, walking without even looking where you're going! You lot are lucky you weren't crushed to death today!" came the crude and abusive curses from within the speeding carriage.

"You're courting death!" Perched on Ji Mo's shoulder and looking around, Xiao Jin's fur bristled the instant it heard the voice. A pair of golden eyes flashed with a fierce light as it glared at the carriage.

Before the beast could make a move, however, retribution had already caught up with the carriage. The vehicle, which had been racing recklessly through the street and causing pedestrians to pale with fright and scatter in panic, suddenly went haywire. The lions pulling the carriage let out a sudden, frantic roar, rearing high up on their front hooves and howling toward the sky. Caught by the sudden inertia, the carriage behind them gave a deafening crash, and the occupants tumbled head over heels out of the vehicle.

"Ha!" Upon seeing this, Xiao Jin was about to burst into roaring laughter, but Ji Mo quickly clapped a hand over its mouth with lightning speed.

"Shut up. How many times have I told you? In the mortal realm, you are not allowed to stir up trouble or speak carelessly," Ji Mo scolded in a low voice, glaring fiercely at Xiao Jin.

"Hmph! You always say we can't casually take action in the mortal realm, but look at you. Isn't this carriage your handiwork?" With its mouth covered and unable to speak, Xiao Jin felt thoroughly aggrieved and could only use telepathy to show its contempt for Ji Mo.

"Could that possibly be the same? Judging by the arrogance of the driver and the way pedestrians reacted to them, this person is clearly a scourge to the city. Coupled with their disrespectful language, I merely made them take a tumble. That is already the height of compassion," Ji Mo replied calmly, casting a faint glance at Xiao Jin as she eloquently defended herself.

"Hmph! Anyway, everything you do is right, and everything I do is wrong." Enraged, Xiao Jin leaped straight into Jiang Li's arms.

"Little Junior Sister, are you bullying Xiao Jin again?" Su Ye glanced indifferently at the overturned carriage up ahead, a faint smile curling the corners of his lips. Withdrawing his gaze, he looked at Xiao Jin's disgruntled posture and couldn't help offering a teasing remark with a chuckle. Although he could not hear the mental conversation between Ji Mo and Xiao Jin, it was not hard to guess from their expressions that Ji Mo must have been lecturing the creature once more.

"Master, the people in that carriage were so arrogant and overbearing just a moment ago. I never expected them to face retribution so quickly—it's truly gratifying!" Hugging Xiao Jin, who had jumped into her arms, Qiu Li couldn't help casting another glance at the figures groaning and rolling on the ground after falling out of the carriage, saying with a gloating expression.

"Mm, this incident serves to prove that it is always best to keep a low profile in life and avoid making trouble everywhere without reason. The two of you must keep this firmly in mind," Ji Mo seized the opportunity to instruct her disciples, whom she had only taken in three months prior. Although Qiu Li and Qiu Hanshan had been initiated for merely three months, their bodies had long since been thoroughly conditioned by their mother. Coupled with their astonishing innate talent, they were already First-Tier Qi Refiners, and Qiu Hanshan's body-tempering had even broken through to the Mortal-Shedding Realm.

The two honest children, Qiu Li and Qiu Hanshan, nodded repeatedly to show they had taken the lesson to heart. Meanwhile, Xiao Jin, nestled in Qiu Li's arms, curled its lips in disdain. *What retribution? Clearly you were the one who played dirty!*

"Eh? Why are so many people queuing up in front of that restaurant?" Ji Mo ignored Xiao Jin's scorn, her attention having been drawn to a restaurant not far away where a long line had formed.

"Let's go over and take a look," Su Ye chimed in. Along their journey, whenever they wandered about and spotted good food or entertaining sights, they would invariably go and try them out.

"The Five Flavors Pavilion only does this once a month. Master Lan personally handles the cooking himself, and the dishes Master Lan prepares are simply so delicious, tsk tsk..." Just as Ji Mo and her group approached the end of the queue, they overheard people in line discussing the place.

Could it truly be that delicious? If so, they certainly couldn't miss it. Upon hearing this, Ji Mo and Su Ye didn't say another word, leading the two children to join the queue. Because the foot traffic was immense and seating inside was limited, they had to wait for nearly an hour before the four people and two beasts finally gained entry into the Five Flavors Pavilion.

Although it was a restaurant in the mortal realm, this was a commandery capital. To the people of the Lihao cultivation world—who respected martial prowess and were well aware of the existence of immortal sects—it was entirely normal for masters to travel with two spirit beasts. Ji Mo and Su Ye each having a beast companion did not arouse any curiosity. Instead, their striking appearances and extraordinary bearing far surpassed ordinary mortals; the moment they stepped into the restaurant, they immediately drew countless gazes.

Neither of them was thin-skinned, however, and they naturally paid no heed to the stares of others. Upon entering the dining hall, they swept their gazes across the establishment and discovered that this restaurant was indeed quite different from others. Divided into upper and lower tiers with no private rooms, each floor accommodated thirty seating areas. At that moment, every table in the hall was filled with guests. Guided by a wait-person, Ji Mo's party of four found a table in a secluded corner.