Whispers of a Lonely City Beyond the Heavens – Chapter 36

Ch 36: Leaving a Note

From a distance, the cry of a Sky Howling Falcon echoed again. Long Yang glanced back and saw those two figures hurriedly dashing into the mountains. Without pausing, he continued running.

When they reached the edge of Shadowless Pool, Wei Wei suddenly sat down on the ground, clutching her head and bursting into tears. “The Rain Spirit Grass… they took it! Grandfather… what do we do?” She sobbed uncontrollably, her back heaving violently.

“Good Wei Wei, don’t cry.” Long Yang crouched beside her, gently patting her back. “Didn’t I tell you? I still have a way. I wasn’t lying to you.”

“Really?” Wei Wei stopped crying, her wide eyes fixed on Long Yang. “Big Brother, what else can you do?”

“The Long Family Mansion—now the Restricted Mountain Commissioner’s Office—will definitely have Rain Spirit Grass. Wei Wei, we’ll sneak in tonight while it’s late. There’s still just enough time.”

“Ah! That’s great… but will they really have Rain Spirit Grass there? Besides, that place is huge, with so many buildings. Even if they have it, how could we possibly find it?”

“They will. Wei Wei, didn’t that person just say they’d already gathered Rain Spirit Grass? And Rain Spirit Grass has to be stored in the Long Family’s storage box, which only Tian Weihu has.”

“Yes, yes,” Wei Wei nodded, recalling what the person had said earlier.

“Also, tonight a small group of people headed to the mansion. I’m guessing they’re delivering the Rain Spirit Grass. Another group is still patrolling the streets—probably to throw off anyone following them…”

He suddenly stood up. “Wei Wei, we can’t waste time explaining more. We need to act fast. Let’s go check on your grandfather first.”

They ran south. As they neared the old house, Wei Wei suddenly let out an “Ah!” and stopped, pointing at a mound of earth—it was a grave, one she hadn’t noticed before.

“Wei Wei, that’s a grave,” Long Yang said, stopping too. He looked at the mound in front of the abandoned sheep pen, his heart heavy with emotion. “Buried inside is a dog named Da Hei. It was killed by a Mountain Jiaolong.”

Despite the urgency, Long Yang walked to Da Hei’s grave and stood there for a moment.

“Xiao Hei, a very brave dog lies here. I named you after it.”

Xiao Hei let out a soft “woo woo…” and sniffed the grave with its nose.

Long Yang thought to himself: He was about to leave this place, unsure if he’d ever return. Lin Yuan had a deep bond with Da Hei and would surely come here.

Thinking of Lin Yuan, a wave of guilt surged in his heart—how had he not considered Lin Yuan and Zhu Mei?

No matter how many excuses he had today, he shouldn’t have forgotten them. If he stole the medicine and left, would they be implicated? He had to find a way to protect them.

“Wei Wei, let’s go see your grandfather.” Another task had been added. Though it was only a few steps, Long Yang ran into the old house.

Zhang Tianxun’s condition wasn’t too bad. The third level of the Xuanwu Divine Skill was sustaining his vitality. But once dawn broke, this place would no longer be safe. After all, the Emperor’s Heavenly Soldiers were here, and Zhang Tianxun had escaped from Shenlong Mountain.

“Grandfather…” Wei Wei gently rested her head on Zhang Tianxun’s shoulder, on the verge of tears again.

Long Yang pulled paper and a pen from his knapsack and quickly wrote a note, placing it in Zhang Tianxun’s hand. It read: *Wait for us!*

If Zhang Tianxun woke up early, or if he and Wei Wei were delayed, this note would keep him from worrying too much or risking a search for them outside.

“Wei Wei, do you have anything valuable?” he asked.

“We brought a lot of money and a few gold bars. Big Brother, why are you asking?”

“Wei Wei, I have a sworn brother and a godmother. They used to live here and saved my life. After I leave this time, they might get dragged into trouble because of me. I need to give them some money to handle things. Wei Wei, can you spare two gold bars?”

“Of course!” Wei Wei opened her knapsack and pulled out a few gold bars. “Big Brother, we only have five in total. If you need them, take them all.”

Long Yang took the gold bars, tucking them into his robe, then checked his pocket watch. “Wei Wei, it’s 2:10 already. If you’re not tired, let’s hurry.”

“I’m not tired.” Wei Wei stood, grabbed her Flying Frost Sword, and led the way out.

As they entered the city, raindrops began to fall. Though light, the drizzle was cold against their skin.

Long Yang looked up. The large, bright moon that had shone in the mountains earlier was now gone, hidden by dark, rain-heavy clouds drifting over Zifu City’s sky.

Not far from the city gate, a carriage stood. The kerosene lamp in front illuminated the fine rain. The coachman, wearing a cloak, was dozing in his seat.

“Wei Wei, want to take the carriage?”

“Yes, I do.”

Long Yang woke the coachman. Without haggling, he pulled out two bills and said, “I’m renting this carriage. No questions—just go where I tell you.”

The coachman glanced at the bills under the lamp. “Alright, it’s all up to you.”

After boarding, Long Yang lifted the leather curtain and gave the coachman clear directions.

“Wei Wei, it’s safer in the carriage. Zifu City is big, and some people have business at night. We’ll head to the Li family estate first to find Lin Yuan. I need to say a few words to him—it won’t take long. Then we’ll go to the mansion…” He lowered the curtain, muffling the sound, but still spoke quietly.

The carriage stopped at the side gate of Master Li’s estate. Long Yang knocked, waking the gatekeeper. The man, roused in the middle of the night, was about to snap when Long Yang handed him a silver yuan. After inspecting it, the man broke into a grin. “Young sir, coming here this late—are you looking for someone?” His face darkened suddenly, as if struck by a thought. “You’re not here for the young miss, are you? I can’t allow that…”

“Old man, I’m here for Lin Yuan. Please call him for me. Just say his little brother’s here with something urgent.”

“Easy, easy, leave it to me.” The gatekeeper’s smile returned. He half-closed the door and went inside.

After a short wait, Lin Yuan emerged.

“In the dead of night…” he grumbled loudly as he stepped out.

“Shh…” Long Yang grabbed him, pulling him aside and whispering, “Brother Lin Yuan, after tonight, I’m leaving for a long trip. Take care of Mother from now on.”

“Huh? Why… so sudden?” Lin Yuan scratched his head furiously. He’d been drinking earlier and, woken in the night, wasn’t fully alert.

Long Yang glanced around, then slipped the gold bars into Lin Yuan’s robe. “Here are five gold bars. Keep them safe—don’t let anyone see.” Before Lin Yuan could react, he stuffed a wad of bills into his pocket.

“Little Brother, what’s this about?” Lin Yuan’s face was full of shock.

“Brother, don’t ask too much. Just listen.” Long Yang gripped his shoulders, looking into his eyes. “Keep the money for yourself. The five gold bars—go to the authorities and say I stole them…”

“What?” Lin Yuan was stunned. “Slow down—I don’t understand.”