Chapter 342 149: Summoning the Emperor with a Single Word

'I just need to convince the Little Emperor that as a reclusive figure who has left the secular world, I won't meddle in his affairs. That should be fine.'

These craftsmen were on death row; they were destined to die anyway.

Xu Lei was saving them and giving them a few more years of life.

If they could truly help him build what he needs...

...Xu Lei could even provide some benefits to their families and descendants.

'This way,' Xu Lei thought, 'I won't have to feel any guilt.'

'After all, I'm letting men condemned to die live longer, allowing them to continue creating value, and ensuring their parents, wives, concubines, and children can live better lives.'

'It could even be considered a good deed, right?'

'In any case, it's a win-win.'

And so, Xu Lei had to make a trip to the Capital City.

Qing Lian didn't ask many questions, simply following Xu Lei obediently toward the Capital City.

「Two days later.」

On this day, Xu Lei and Qing Lian had yet to reach the Capital City.

But he was surprised to find they were passing the Daoist Temple where Zhao Xin had spent her final days in his previous life.

Xu Lei's expression couldn't help but shift.

For a moment, he hesitated. 'Should I go up to the Daoist Temple and see Zhao Xin?'

'I wonder if she's gone through the Tribulation and Ascended yet?'

'If she hasn't, she must be much older now than she was back then, right?'

After some thought, Xu Lei decided to go up and have a look.

As he climbed the path to the Daoist Temple, Xu Lei felt a bittersweet apprehension, like someone returning home after a long absence.

After all, he had been reincarnated into a new body and was still just a child, yet here he was, about to see the Dao Companion from his past life.

A Dao Companion who was very likely now an old woman.

The feelings stirring in Xu Lei's heart were undeniably complex.

However, upon reaching the Daoist Temple, Xu Lei learned that Zhao Xin had been transferred to another temple over a decade ago.

Fortunately, the other Daoist Temple was also on the way to the Capital City.

So Xu Lei, with Qing Lian in tow, continued on his journey to the Capital City.

「Another two days later.」

Xu Lei arrived at the Daoist Temple where Zhao Xin had supposedly been transferred.

Once again, Xu Lei led Qing Lian up the mountain path.

But in the end, he did not find Zhao Xin.

Because a Little Daoist at the temple told him that Daoist Jin Xin had left to wander the world five or six years ago. Her whereabouts were unknown, and she had never returned nor sent any word.

Xu Lei was stunned to hear this.

He quickly realized it was now highly unlikely he would be able to see Zhao Xin.

'I don't even know if I'll ever have the chance to see her again.'

'Perhaps Zhao Xin truly is wandering, cultivating somewhere unknown.'

'Or maybe she has already found a remote mountain peak, completed her Tribulation, and Ascended.'

'After all, when Xiang Jingchun was preparing for his Ascension, he only told a few trusted Cultivators who were close to him.'

'He just asked them to act as his Dharma Protectors.'

'It's not something you announce to everyone.'

Shaking off the thoughts, Xu Lei didn't dwell on it any longer.

He led Qing Lian back down from the Daoist Temple and continued on the road to the Capital City.

Another few days passed in the blink of an eye.

The rest of the journey was uneventful, and Xu Lei and Qing Lian finally arrived at the Capital City.

As he walked along the bustling streets of the Capital City, Xu Lei found himself overcome with a sense of nostalgia.

He remembered the first time he had come to the Capital City, back in his first life.

He was standing on the same street, in the very same spot, yet the surrounding buildings were completely unrecognizable.

Moreover, there were quite a lot of street vendors lining the roads.

Just then, he saw people in uniforms arrive to drive the vendors off the streets.

The vendors scrambled, scattering in every direction.

'This is the Capital City, after all. You can't just set up a stall wherever you want.'

'But some common folk have to find a way to earn a living, so they sometimes do it secretly.'

'It's a bit like it is on Earth.'

'So, even in an ancient world like this, they still have the equivalent of city code enforcement.'

Xu Lei watched these common city-dwellers bustling about, working hard to make a living.

He felt a sense of warmth and familiarity in his heart.

It was the vibrant energy of mortal life, the feeling of a world teeming with everyday struggles and joys!

'When you're practicing Cultivation in a Daoist Temple or a monastery, you can sometimes feel so detached from the lives of ordinary people.'

'Especially when you see other Cultivators whose Cultivation is higher than your own.'

'It's easy to feel inadequate, to feel like you're too weak.'

But now, watching these ordinary people struggling to make a living...

...Xu Lei was suddenly filled with a deep sense of satisfaction for all he had achieved.

'He had, after all, arrived in this world with nothing to his name.'

'Aside from his ability to resurrect and reincarnate with his myriad lives...'

'...everything else he had, he'd fought for, bit by bit.'

'He might not have achieved Ascension yet, but he was still far better off than these ordinary folk.'

With these thoughts in mind, Xu Lei led Qing Lian to a small noodle shop by the side of the street.

Those with actual storefronts wouldn't be chased off by the city guards.

Even though Xu Lei had money, he didn't indulge in lavish feasts at grand restaurants every day.

Sometimes, he still enjoyed the simple fare of a small, streetside eatery like this.

Qing Lian had no objections; whatever Xu Lei did, she followed.

The middle-aged couple who ran the shop were quite friendly.

"First time here, you two?"

"You sound like you're from out of town."

"Here, have some of our homemade pickled vegetables! On the house!"

"No charge!"

Xu Lei was reluctant to accept their generosity for free.

But they insisted, so in the end, he had no choice but to accept.

The couple didn't say anything more after that.

They quickly returned to the back kitchen to continue their work.

Xu Lei and Qing Lian sat facing each other at the table.

Qing Lian had just started to ask Xu Lei how he planned to acquire the craftsmen when...

...suddenly, the sound of many people shouting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live!" echoed from the street up ahead.

Xu Lei and Qing Lian craned their necks to look.

It was a procession for the Emperor and Empress.

The two of them were seated upon an imperial palanquin.

It was being carried by a team of professional bearers.

They were surrounded by squads of heavily armed guards.

The procession was a magnificent sight.

No wonder the city guards were clearing the street vendors earlier.