In the rear courtyard of the escort agency, the cook had been worried ever since the leader brought back two women, fearing she might lose her job. However, much to her relief, the two women either stayed quietly in their rooms all day or wandered outside, sometimes not returning until dark. They hadn't once taken over her cooking duties.
So, after Jiang Youfu's brief stay and departure, the cook felt reassured once more that her position was secure.
While Qin Jianghe was meticulously planning the expansion of the escort agency, a young girl was sitting inside a luxuriously decorated carriage, entering the boundaries of Xiushui Village. Opposite her sat a plainly dressed woman who appeared nervous and out of place, her hands and feet fidgeting, as if afraid of dirtying the elegantly furnished carriage.
This woman was none other than Mrs. Liu, the wife of Niu Family's eldest son, and the girl opposite her was her daughter, Niu Xiaoxue.
As she looked at her daughter sitting calmly in the carriage, Mrs. Liu couldn't help but feel that this young girl, who had left home less than a year ago, was now a complete stranger.
"Xue'er, can this immortal sect in Xiushui Village really accept people? I've heard that many nobles have begged to join, only to be turned away," Mrs. Liu asked, her voice filled with apprehension.
Niu Xiaoxue frowned slightly, clearly annoyed by her mother's question, and replied impatiently, "Mother, can you stop comparing me to commoners? Do you know who I am? I'm a twelve-year-old, mutated single spirit root Qi Refining cultivator. When I was at Shangyang Sect, even the immortals treated me with care and respect. How can those mortals compare to me? Just because they cry and beg?"
With a smug tone, she continued, "I was destined to cultivate from birth. What are those mortals? Look, even now that I've returned, these so-called nobles sent a carriage and a driver just for me. Do you know why? It's because they want to curry favor with me."
Mrs. Liu, however, was not convinced by her daughter's words and remained anxious. After all, she thought, how could an ordinary woman like herself have given birth to an immortal?
Outside the carriage, Niu Xiaoxue's father, Niu Dafu, had been chatting flatteringly with the driver. But when he overheard his daughter's words, he cleared his throat awkwardly and stopped talking. His demeanor changed, and he looked straight ahead, ignoring the driver as if the friendly conversation they had just shared hadn't happened.
Earlier, he had thought it wise to befriend the driver, thinking he was a servant of a wealthy household. But after hearing his daughter's comment, he remembered that he was the father of an immortal. How could he possibly lower himself to socialize with a mere driver?
With that in mind, Niu Dafu even shifted slightly away from the driver, though the movement was barely noticeable. His intentions, however, were clear.
The driver, having heard Niu Xiaoxue's words as well, realized the situation. At first, he had been happy that the young cultivator's father had shown interest in talking to him. But now, understanding the hierarchy, he felt a little foolish. Not offended, just embarrassed, the driver fell silent and focused on steering the carriage.
After traveling for a while, they finally arrived at the outskirts of Xiushui Village.
Before they could enter the village proper, their carriage was stopped by a villager. Niu Dafu, with his nose in the air, rudely asked, "What's the matter? Why are you stopping us?"
The villager pointed to a newly cleared piece of land nearby and said, "Carriages aren't allowed into the village. That area over there is for parking. You can leave your carriage there."
The village roads weren't particularly wide, and with the increasing number of visitors—many arriving on horseback or by carriage—Lin Xiao had discussed such logistical issues with the village chief earlier. As a result, several new facilities were being added in and around the village, including a designated parking area.
This parking area was simply a stretch of previously barren land, full of rocks and sand, that had been cleared and flattened. The task of cutting through the stone had been handled by the cultivators of Lingxian Sect, while the villagers had taken care of the remaining details.
Lin Xiao had coined the term "parking area," and from now on, all non-village carriages, carts, and animals—whether horses, oxen, donkeys, or mules—would have to be left in this designated space.
With the village growing busier by the day, the villagers welcomed this arrangement, as it helped to reduce the constant noise of animals in the streets. The parking area was managed on a ten-day rotation by various village families, with families competing for the chance to oversee it. The village chief had announced that whoever managed the parking area could keep all the manure collected from the animals that day, which was a valuable resource for fertilizing their fields.
Niu Dafu, however, was unaware of these new rules, as there had been no such regulations when he last visited the village for marriage negotiations.
Still feeling superior, he scoffed, "Do you know who's sitting in this carriage? Inside is—"
"Father, let's just get out," Niu Xiaoxue interrupted him.
Frustrated, Niu Dafu closed his mouth, feeling deflated. Niu Xiaoxue didn't care about her father's feelings. She lifted the carriage curtain, hopped out, and looked around Xiushui Village without saying a word. Then, without waiting for anyone, she started walking toward the village.
"Hey, wait for me, daughter!" Niu Dafu called, rushing after her.
Mrs. Liu, who had been fumbling to find a safe way to climb out of the carriage, saw her husband chasing after their daughter. She was about to climb down but found herself stuck, unable to get out quickly. The driver, seeing her struggle, kindly fetched a footstool to help her down.
Grateful, Mrs. Liu thanked the driver and hurried to catch up with her husband and daughter.
Watching the family disappear into the village, the driver shook his head and sighed. He then followed the villager's instructions and drove the carriage into the parking area, where he was given a wooden token. After parking the carriage in a shady spot, he sat down to rest and wait for the family to return.
The driver examined the token in his hand. Though it looked like wood, it felt strangely cool and heavy, unlike any ordinary piece of wood he had ever handled.