Drunken Sword Immortal shook his head. "I don't know either. I just had a strange feeling in my heart and couldn't wait to descend the mountain."
"Kid, is this the girl you mentioned?"
Chu Yang smacked his lips and said meaningfully, "Martial Uncle, shouldn't you already know the answer? Why ask me?"
Drunken Sword Immortal turned and glared at him fiercely.
Chu Yang was surprised. "Martial Uncle, are you crying?!"
Drunken Sword Immortal wiped his tears and roared, "How should I know?! Damn it, I must have rubbed my eyes after handling green onions this morning…"
Chu Yang nodded in agreement. "That must be it. It couldn't possibly be some strange sorcery, like bursting into tears upon seeing one's own daughter…"
Drunken Sword Immortal's body trembled.
At that moment, Zhao Ling'er approached and asked softly, "Senior Drunken Sword Immortal, do you know A'nu?"
Drunken Sword Immortal immediately denied it. "Never met her before. This is our first meeting. I just have an emotional nature. Seeing others suffer makes me tear up easily."
Zhao Ling'er sighed. "Senior, you're truly kindhearted."
Drunken Sword Immortal wept bitterly. "I think so too."
---
In the pawnshop, Jing Tian sat sighing in frustration.
Yong'an Pawnshop had been in turmoil lately. A red-haired man had torn down the door some time ago and insisted on pawning a strangely shaped sword.
The sword was appraised at only one copper coin, and as a result, Jing Tian had been scolded harshly by Manager Zhao. Afterward, a horde of monsters had appeared in Yuzhou City, rampaging everywhere. No one dared to go outside, and business plummeted.
"At this rate, when will I ever become the shopkeeper and open my own inn?"
Jing Tian slumped in his chair, frowning.
Creak—
The pawnshop's door was pushed open.
Startled by a sound he hadn't heard in a long time, Jing Tian tumbled backward, landing painfully on the floor.
He looked up to see three people entering the shop. The man leading them had sword-like eyebrows, a dignified demeanor, and an air of nobility.
The other two, a man and a woman, exuded a heroic aura, clearly martial artists of the jianghu.
As a skilled appraiser, Jing Tian was adept at reading people—keenly observant of their words and actions.
"They don't seem like troublemakers…"
Given Yuzhou City's recent unrest, Jing Tian remained cautious.
Once he determined they were not a threat, he scrambled to his feet.
"Welcome to Yong'an Pawnshop! If you have anything to pawn, leave it to me! I guarantee you'll get a fair price!"
Jing Tian, ever the smooth talker, patted his chest confidently as he greeted them with a grin.
Xu Changqing glanced around. The large shop was empty except for Jing Tian. He asked, "What's your name?"
Jing Tian chuckled. "I'm Jing Tian—Jing as in 'scenery,' Tian as in 'heaven.'"
Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru exchanged glances and whispered among themselves.
"Brother Chu sent us to find this guy? He doesn't seem reliable."
"He looks like an ordinary person. Are we sure it's safe to take him with us?"
"Don't judge a book by its cover. Maybe he's just pretending to be weak."
"Who cares? I just want to know why the Demon Lord is interested in him…"
Jing Tian, hearing their hushed conversation, felt even more confused. These people didn't seem like they were here to pawn anything.
Xu Changqing cupped his hands. "Brother Jing, I am Xu Changqing of Shu Mountain Sect. We came here specifically to find you."
"Shu Mountain Sect?" Jing Tian was startled. The Shu Mountain Sect held more authority in Yuzhou than even the emperor.
Did I somehow offend them?
Sweating profusely, he panicked.
Xu Changqing noticed Jing Tian's distress and quickly reassured him. "Not long ago, the Demon Lord Chonglou broke Shu Mountain's Demon-Sealing Tower. After descending the mountain, he only met you. We want to know why."
"Demon Lord Chonglou? Demon-Sealing Tower?"
Jing Tian was utterly baffled but sensed that he had become entangled in something monumental. Considering the recent monster outbreaks, his legs began to tremble.
"This Daoist Xu, I have no idea who this Demon Lord Chonglou is..."
Jing Tian's facial features scrunched together as if he was about to cry the next second.
"With someone like him," Li Xiaoyao shook his head and said, "there's no way I'd believe he could be of any help to us."
Lin Yueru silently nodded in agreement.
Since entering, Xu Changqing had been probing Jing Tian's spiritual energy, repeatedly confirming that he was just an ordinary person.
Perhaps he really didn't know who the Demon Lord was.
Xu Changqing tentatively asked, "Has Yong'an Pawnshop ever had any strange guests? Someone who spoke or dressed differently from normal people?"
At his words, an image suddenly flashed through Jing Tian's mind, and he exclaimed, "I remember now! Not long ago, a red-haired weirdo came by! He threw down a sword, pawned it for a single coin, and left!"
"Manager Zhao scolded me for ages over that, saying I'd taken in a piece of junk..."
Xu Changqing took a deep breath. His instincts told him that the red-haired weirdo Jing Tian mentioned was most likely the Demon Lord Chonglou.
"He pawned a sword for you? Besides that, did he say anything else?"
Overcome with excitement, Xu Changqing's speech quickened.
Jing Tian tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, "That red-haired... guest said one thing to me—"
'You've fallen to such a state?'
"I don't know what he meant. I've worked at Yong'an Pawnshop since I was a kid. How does 'fallen' even apply to me? He made it sound like he knew me or something..."
Jing Tian scratched his head, his expression one of clear and innocent confusion.
Xu Changqing and the others exchanged glances.
Li Xiaoyao muttered under his breath, "What's going on here?"
Xu Changqing shook his head. "Only my junior brother would know. We'll have to ask him later."
Seeing that these three kept asking questions without any intention of pawning anything, Jing Tian quietly began retreating toward the back room.
Lin Yueru, who had been watching him closely, noticed his attempt and immediately grabbed him by the collar. "Trying to run? Hand over that sword and let us see it first!"
Jing Tian nodded rapidly like a pecking chick. "As long as you all spare my life, I'll give you whatever you want!"
Lin Yueru glared at him and huffed, "Who are you calling bandits? We just want to see the sword that Demon Lord gave you!"
Jing Tian pulled a long face. "Miss Hero, with the way you're acting, it's hard not to make that connection..."
Lin Yueru's face flushed red. Flustered and annoyed, she threw Jing Tian to the ground.
"Hahaha! Vicious woman! See? I'm not the only one who thinks you're fierce!"
Li Xiaoyao laughed gleefully from the sidelines.
"Say one more word, and I'll cut you down with my sword!"
Lin Yueru finally snapped, drawing her sword and charging at Li Xiaoyao.
The two of them leaped and dashed around the pawnshop, chasing each other.
Xu Changqing felt a headache coming on. Without Zhao Ling'er around to keep him in check, Li Xiaoyao's troublesome nature was unbearable. And Lin Yueru, with her explosive temper, was like a powder keg ready to blow.
"Brother Jing, this concerns the fate of the world. I need you to leave Yuzhou with me to find the Five Spirit Orbs."
Xu Changqing placed his hands on Jing Tian's shoulders, speaking earnestly.
Jing Tian was convinced that these people were insane—one moment they were looking for some Demon Lord, the next they wanted to see a sword, and now, out of nowhere, they wanted him to save the world.
This guy was definitely not a disciple of Shu Mountain. More likely, he'd stolen that outfit from somewhere...
"Hahaha! Master Xu, I'm just an ordinary guy with no big ambitions. Saving the world is way too serious for me. You should find someone else!"
"I got up early today and I'm feeling sleepy. I think I'll go take a nap now."
Jing Tian cheerfully brushed off Xu Changqing's hands, bowed, and then quickly turned to flee.
Xu Changqing froze.
Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru stopped their fight and immediately gave chase.
"Why are you running?!"
"You guys don't look like good people at all—why wouldn't I run?"
"Stand right there! Who are you calling bad guys?!"
(Support me and read ahead on Patreøn: patreøn.com/craxxtranslation. Thanks for your support! Don't forget to send Power Stones—300 Power Stones = +1 bonus chapter!)