Soon, Ling Feng and his group checked into the finest inn in Luohe City, where they ordered some local delicacies for dinner before settling in for the night. They planned to set out for Qingtian Fortress at dawn.
Just then, a man and woman entered the inn. The girl wore coarse hemp clothes and a tattered cloth cap, her disheveled appearance failing to mask her delicate features—lovely yet mischievous.
Beside her stood a similarly dressed man, though his robust build suggested he was no ordinary beggar.
"Get out of here, you stinking beggars! Don't ruin our business!"
The waiter wrinkled his nose, waving them away dismissively.
"Hmph! Is this how you treat customers?" The girl glared, hands on hips. "I'm here to meet someone!"
"Meet someone? More like freeloaders!" The waiter pinched his nose in disgust. "You reek! Scram!"
The girl was about to explode when the man pulled her back, shaking his head.
"Ugh! Why must you follow me everywhere? So annoying!" She huffed but reluctantly fell silent.
"Apologies. My younger sister is impulsive—probably just hungry. Could you spare some food?"
The man bowed politely, slightly mollifying the waiter, who still sneered, "Go beg at the back door then!"
As the man tried leading the girl away, she violently shook him off. "I told you I'm meeting someone here!"
She then wiggled her right pinky finger, pouting. "Strange... that scoundrel should be nearby..."
Upstairs in a private room, Ling Feng was eating when his own pinky suddenly twitched uncontrollably.
His eyelids jumped as Jiang Biyi's face flashed through his mind.
Ling Feng froze for a moment, quickly getting up and heading for the door.
"Big Brother Ling, what's wrong?" Mu Qianxue asked, startled.
Rushing downstairs, Ling Feng immediately spotted Jiang Biyi vigorously shaking her pinky in the lobby. He couldn't help but laugh wryly.
As for the man beside her—though disguised, it could only be her ever-present bodyguard, Ye Xingnan.
This girl's personas changed more frequently than the weather—first a thief, then a noble lady, now a beggar!
Remembering how she'd dragged him into trouble every time they met, Ling Feng shook his head with a smile and approached the waiter.
"These two are my guests."
"Hah! Knew you were here!" Jiang Biyi stopped wiggling her finger triumphantly. "You can't escape me, bad guy!"
Ignoring her, Ling Feng clasped his hands toward Ye Xingnan. "Brother Ye."
"Ahem!" Ye Xingnan stiffened. "You're mistaken—I'm Brother Li!"
"Right, whatever. Come upstairs."
Ling Feng arched an eyebrow. Their disguises and Ye Xingnan's nervousness suggested serious trouble.
Back in the private room, Li Bufan and the others stared curiously as Ling Feng returned with the two "beggars."
Tuoba Yan recognized Jiang Biyi from the Tianyang Empire envoy banquet, though Li Bufan and Mu Qianxue were meeting her for the first time.
After brief introductions, Ling Feng smiled. "Brother Ye, what brings you to Luohe City? And where's Steward Wei?"
Ye Xingnan's eye twitched as he quickly erected a soundproof barrier. "Steward Wei returned to the sacred land on urgent business. As for... 'young ancestor' and I, we have unfinished tasks. Details are confidential."
Ling Feng couldn't help but curl his lips as he watched Ye Xingnan and Jiang Biyi behave so mysteriously, their every move cautious and deliberate. This mission of theirs was clearly no small matter.
But that wasn't his concern. His focus was on the Ancient Tower Grove, where he'd be delving into the Three Thousand Great Daos, seeking a breakthrough. As for Jiang Biyi, the so-called "little witch," it was none of his business.
"Humph! Why only ask him?" Jiang Biyi pouted. "Don't I have a mouth? And we haven't seen each other in so long—you didn't even ask how I've been! I... I hate you!"
Ling Feng rubbed his temples, dodging her gaze. "Miss Jiang, are we that close? Every encounter leaves me cleaning up your messes. Distance is healthier."
"You peeked at my naked body! Solving my problems is the least you could do!"
Li Bufan raised an eyebrow, his surprise evident. He looks so refined, but underneath it all...?
Meanwhile, Mu Qianxue and Tuoba Yan's expressions soured, and they turned their attention away from Ling Feng, giving him the cold shoulder.
Ling Feng spat out his tea. "I was saving your life! And you were cross-dressing—how was I to know you're a girl?"
"I never blamed you!"
Jiang Biyi instantly brightened, clinging to his arm with dizzying mood swings.
"Little witch!" Ling Feng shook her off angrily. She's framing me!
As expected—nothing good ever came from encountering her.
Truthfully, Jiang Biyi had been overjoyed to find Ling Feng. But seeing the two stunning beauties beside him—neither inferior to her in looks—sparked irrational jealousy. Hence the deliberate "peeking" remark, leaving Ling Feng no way to clear his name.