Chapter 3502: Spreading Out For Information
Chapter 3502: Spreading Out For Information
The streets of Blue City were quiet enough that even a small group like theirs drew glances as they walked, not because they were loud or disruptive, but because they clearly did not belong.
After asking around for a while, the answers they received were limited but consistent. If anyone in this city knew more than surface level rumors, they would be found in one of three places.
A mercenary guild near the city center, small but active.
An old bookstore near the far end of the city, rumored to stock books that were not just for sale but for remembering.
And the City Hall office, which handled administration, land records, old registries, and whatever passed for official documentation in Blue City.
They also asked about Immortal Court outposts, branch offices, or even a minor administrative station.
Every answer was the same.
There was nothing of the sort.
No banners. No seals. No inspectors. No envoys.
Blue City existed quietly, far beneath the notice of the greater Immortal Worlds.
With that, they made a quick decision.
They would split up.
"I’ll take the mercenary guild," Elyon said immediately. His eyes gleamed faintly. "If anyone travels far or deals with dangerous routes, it will be them."
Daoist Chu nodded. "I will check the City Hall. Even if the kingdom fell, records tend to linger."
Lin Mu glanced toward the opposite side of the city. "Then I will go to the bookstore."
Cattaleya crossed her arms. "And we’ll wander."
Meng Bai hesitated. "Are you sure that’s a good idea?"
Cattaleya looked down at him. "Why wouldn’t it be?"
Meng Bai gestured vaguely at her. "Because... you stand out. A lot."
She blinked, then looked around.
Only now did she seem to truly notice the scale difference.
The largest man they had seen so far was a city guard near the gate, broad shouldered and tall by mortal standards. Yet even he barely reached her chest. His thighs were thinner than her wrists.
People glanced at her with a mixture of curiosity and unease, their gazes flickering away quickly whenever she met their eyes.
Lin Mu nodded slightly. "He’s not wrong."
Cattaleya clicked her tongue. "What, should I shrink myself?"
"No," Meng Bai said quickly. "I just mean we might not get honest answers."
She shrugged. "Then we’ll get fast ones."
Lin Mu suppressed a smile.
"I also won’t release the beasts," he added. "This city is too weak for that."
The others agreed. With most people here barely at the Spirit Realm, even a glimpse of Little Shrubby or the twin snakes could cause panic. Ashy would have fit perfectly, but she was still deep in cultivation.
With their roles decided, they split up smoothly.
Lin Mu headed toward the far end of the city in search for the bookstore.
Jeon’s Bookstore was easy to find.
Not because of any sign or grandeur, but because of how quiet it was.
It sat just off the main street, tucked between a pottery shop and a closed tea house. The building itself was old, unmistakably so. Its wooden walls were darkened by time, the grain worn smooth by decades of wind and rain. The signboard above the door was simple, the characters slightly crooked.
Jeon’s Bookstore.
Three floors rose above him, each slightly offset, as if the structure had been expanded over time rather than planned all at once.
Lin Mu extended his Immortal Sense gently.
Two Qi fluctuations.
One was weak, hovering around the Nascent Soul Realm.
The other made him pause.
Immortal Realm.
Third Tribulation Stage.
’One of barely twenty immortals in the entire city.’ Lin Mu raised a brow. ’Interesting.’
Having scanned the city, Lin Mu knew exactly how many immortals were here. And to find one in a bookstore like this was a bit surprising, as all others were either located in the city hall, the guard barracks or some clan mansions.
Lin Mu pushed the door open.
Creeeeak.
The sound was long and loud, echoing through the shop.
The scent of old paper, ink, and dust washed over him. Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, packed tightly with books, scrolls, and jade slips. Some were neatly arranged. Others looked like they had been shoved back into place without much care.
At the front counter, an old man sat slumped forward, eyes closed, chin resting on his chest.
A teapot and cup sat beside him.
Both were cold.
Probably for a few hours already.
On one of the aisles deeper inside the shop stood a young man who looked to be around twenty. He wore simple robes, plain and well maintained. He was currently sorting through a stack of books, placing them back onto the shelves with careful movements.
The moment Lin Mu stepped inside, the young man looked up.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Grandpa," he called out. "There’s a customer."
The old man groaned.
"Ungh..."
It was a sound of pure displeasure, as if waking up was the greatest burden imaginable.
He lifted his head slowly, rubbing his face with one hand.
"I told you," he muttered, voice raspy. "If it’s another person asking for romance novels or Sexual performance enhancing herb catalogues, send them away."
Then his eyes opened fully.
And locked onto Lin Mu.
The change was immediate.
The slouch vanished. His posture straightened. The laziness drained from his gaze, replaced by sharp alertness.
Lin Mu felt it then.
SHUA
A faint Immortal Sense brushed toward him, cautious and controlled.
It did not even reach his body.
Lin Mu’s passive Qi turned it away effortlessly, like mist hitting an invisible wall.
The old man’s pupils contracted.
For the first time since Lin Mu had entered, the man spoke clearly.
"You’re not from here."
Lin Mu inclined his head slightly. "That’s right."
The young man looked between them, confused. "Grandpa?"
The old man raised a hand, silencing him without looking away from Lin Mu.
"I can’t see through you," the old man said slowly. "Which means you’re either a mortal with no cultivation at all, or..."
He did not finish the sentence.