Upon entering Shanggu Town, Yun Qingxue immediately found an inn. Jin Lin had placed some human currency in the storage ring he gave her, so she didn’t have to worry about money.
After traveling all day and settling into her lodging, she ordered some food in the inn’s dining hall and sat quietly by the window to eat.
This was her first interaction with normal humans since her transmigration. Given her current appearance, she wasn’t too concerned about attracting trouble while dining downstairs.
Besides, crowded places were always ripe with gossip, and listening in would help her learn more about this world.
“Hey, have you heard? The former Flower King, Lan Xuechen, just reincarnated—and now she’s dead again!”
Yun Qingxue had barely taken a few bites when she overheard a group of tipsy diners nearby start chatting. And what they were discussing was related to her—or rather, her race.
“Exactly!” someone immediately chimed in. “I heard she died horribly this time! They say her soul was shattered beyond repair!”
“That poor former Flower King… Why did she have to fall for a demon? The first time, the Heavenly Emperor struck her down with divine lightning. And now, after finally reincarnating, the other races destroyed her soul!”
“Hmph! If you ask me, the Demon King is just useless. Rumor has it Lan Xuechen reincarnated near his territory this time. And what happened? The first time, he couldn’t protect her from the Heavenly Emperor’s lightning. This time, he just stood by and watched as she was obliterated right under his nose! Pathetic!”
“Come now, you lot—you’re talking as if you witnessed it yourselves!” A scholarly man in blue robes at their table scoffed.
“Scholar, I don’t like your tone. Sure, we mortals rarely get to see gods, demons, or immortals, but there’s no smoke without fire!” a burly man retorted indignantly.
“And how do you know there’s any fire at all?” The scholar shot him a disdainful look. “It’s all just hearsay, exaggerated to sound real. Forget how Lan Xuechen died a thousand years ago—has anyone actually seen her reincarnation now? Or witnessed her soul scattering?”
“Oi, are you just looking for a fight, bookworm? If you’re so clever, why haven’t you passed the imperial exams?” the burly man sneered.
“Niu Erbiao!” The scholar slammed the table and stood up, drawing the attention of nearby diners. Clearly, the jab had struck a nerve.
“What? Did I lie?!” Niu Erbiao also stood, glaring at the scholar.
The tension between them was palpable.
“What’s gotten into you two?” An older man at the table frowned. “We’re all friends here. No need to ruin a good gathering over idle gossip!”
“Hmph!”
The scholar and Niu Erbiao both snorted but grudgingly sat back down, sparing the elder further embarrassment.
Yun Qingxue had caught every word of their conversation. She didn’t think it was all baseless—at the very least, the former Flower King Lan Xuechen had indeed reincarnated.
As for whether Lan Xuechen was alive or dead, Yun Qingxue didn’t particularly care. Since Tongyun had already revealed her ambitions, it didn’t matter—Tongyun wouldn’t spare Yun Qingxue either way.
Of course, if Lan Xuechen was dead, Tongyun would have one less problem. If she was alive, Tongyun would have to divert some attention to dealing with her.
After all, every race valued bloodline inheritance, and Tongyun’s greatest weakness was her lack of royal Flower Clan lineage.
As long as a single Star Blue Peony existed, Tongyun’s usurpation would always be illegitimate.
This made Yun Qingxue wonder—if Lan Xuechen was alive, could they join forces against Tongyun? Lan Xuechen had the Demon King’s backing and had once ruled the Flower Clan. She was undoubtedly stronger. As for the throne…
If Tongyun and her followers paid for Qiandai’s death, Lan Xuechen could reclaim it. Then Yun Qingxue wouldn’t even need to seek a master.
Free from the dangers of her identity, she could retire to some scenic place and live peacefully. Maybe even start a business like the heroines in those transmigration novels she’d read, thriving in this ancient world.
The thought made her chuckle. How naïve and unrealistic.
Teaming up with Lan Xuechen to overthrow Tongyun…
Hah. What a foolish fantasy.
Where would she even find Lan Xuechen?
And even if she did, Lan Xuechen had just reincarnated—her power was unknown. Worse, her past love affair with the Demon King, Yun Ye, had made her an enemy of nearly every race in the Xuanling Continent!
A woman who had offended even the almighty Celestial Clan? Yun Qingxue must have been out of her mind to entertain such a reckless idea.
“Hey, did any of you see the notice posted in town the other day?”
As Yun Qingxue lost herself in thought, the table that had fallen silent after the scholar and Niu Erbiao’s spat resumed conversation—this time on a more concrete topic.
“I did!” Niu Erbiao eagerly jumped in.
“Pfft. You can read?” Scholar Zhao muttered sarcastically.
Niu Erbiao flushed. “I may not know many characters, but not everyone’s as illiterate as you think, Zhao!”
“Plenty of people can read, but the illiterate only parrot rumors and follow the crowd!” Zhao retorted smugly.
“You—” Niu Erbiao bristled.
“Enough!” the elder snapped. “Must you two ruin every gathering?”
Niu Erbiao swallowed his retort but continued glaring at Scholar Zhao.
“We’ve been friends for years. Everyone knows each other’s temper. Just let it go,” another at the table interjected, playing peacemaker.
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