“Take this jade pendant to Qihuang Valley, and someone will bring you inside. Also, what happened today won’t just be let go. Just you wait—I’ll make you understand how much trouble you’ve caused with those few strikes.”

Ryan Bennett took the jade pendant. On the round pendant was carved a green bamboo, and on the back was the character ‘吴’, likely an identity token, still warm from being carried. He rubbed it twice, then cupped his hands with a smile:

“Thank you, Senior Brother Taylor. If Senior Brother really can’t let go of your anger, I’ll stand here and let Senior Brother Taylor hit me back. We’re all family—no need to be so worked up.”

Hit back?

The woman in black, enduring the pain behind her, recalled how she had struck Ryan Bennett...

She couldn’t bear to think about it!

“Pah—shameless little thief, you’re dead, I’m telling you…”

The woman in black spat back at him, then stomped heavily away to the end of the alley.

Ryan Bennett’s lips curled up slightly. After weighing the jade pendant in his hand, he walked contentedly toward the distant tavern.

As for how the woman in black would take her revenge, Ryan Bennett wasn’t worried. The fact that she gave him the jade pendant showed she still played by the rules, just had a bit of a temper. At worst, when he entered Qihuang Valley in the future, he’d be bullied by Senior Sister and sent to clean toilets.

A real man can bend and stretch, enduring hardship to rise above others. As long as he could walk the path to immortality, what did a little bullying matter?

However, thinking of the consort selection the day after tomorrow, Ryan Bennett sighed inwardly.

If he really got chosen, his dream of cultivating freely would be dashed.

At this moment, all he could do was hope the princess was blind and wouldn’t fancy him—otherwise, today’s great opportunity would be wasted for nothing...

...

Night had fallen deeply, and even the gambling dens on the small street had quieted down, leaving only the pleasure alleys still filled with laughter and merriment.

The The Foster Family tavern’s doors were tightly shut. Ryan Bennett arrived at the entrance, picked up the oil-paper umbrella leaning by the door, knowing that Emily Foster wouldn’t dare sleep yet, and knocked on the door.

Knock, knock—

Behind the door, there was a bit of noise, as if someone was stealthily picking up a kitchen knife.

Seeing this, Ryan Bennett half-joked:

“Miss Foster, the beast has already been driven away, no need to worry.”

Hearing Ryan Bennett’s voice, hurried footsteps sounded in the hall. Soon, the door opened, and Emily Foster peeked out cautiously through the crack, her eyes a bit anxious:

“Mr. Bennett, you’re not hurt, are you?”

“I’m fine. Miss Foster, you should get some rest early. Remember to lock the doors and windows. I’ll head home now, goodbye.”

With that, he handed the wine money to Emily Foster.

Emily Foster was still shaken by what happened during the day, not to mention the ‘beast’ incident just now. The beast appeared and disappeared unpredictably—who knew when it might come again? As a woman living here alone, what good was just locking the door?

Looking at the hundred tael silver note Ryan Bennett handed over, Emily Foster looked a bit anxious, too embarrassed to ask Ryan Bennett to stay the night for her protection. After hesitating, she stammered:

“You helped the neighborhood get rid of trouble—how could I not even offer you a cup of tea? Um... why don’t you come in and rest for a bit, wait until the rain lets up before leaving?”

From Emily Foster’s expression, Ryan Bennett could tell she was afraid to be alone. He thought for a moment, then stepped into the tavern:

“Then I’ll trouble Miss Foster. It’s so late, Miss Foster should go rest first. When the rain eases, I’ll leave on my own and lock up for you.”

With a guest in the shop, Emily Foster naturally felt awkward about going to sleep in the back, and didn’t dare to anyway.

She fetched a pot of wine and set it on the table, then brought a towel for Ryan Bennett.

Ryan Bennett dried himself off, sat by the window drinking, not staring at Emily Foster, but gazing out toward the distant imperial city, pondering his future plans.

Emily Foster sat by the stove warming the wine, glancing around, not knowing what to say, yet afraid Ryan Bennett would leave, her expression rather awkward.

Ryan Bennett had nothing to say either. The two sat in silence for a long time, until Ryan Bennett suddenly heard birds chirping in the backyard, and the sound of wings fluttering in a cage.

Chirp chirp—

Ryan Bennett glanced over, but with a curtain blocking the view, he couldn’t see anything, so he asked:

“Miss Foster, do you keep birds?”

Emily Foster, glad for something to talk about, quickly smiled and replied:

“Yes, when I used to dry rice, a silly bird would come every day to steal some. Over time, it wouldn’t leave, so I kept it. It helps pass the time when I’m bored. It’s probably awake now, noticed I’m not there, and is calling for me.”

Ryan Bennett nodded. “Living alone is tough. Having a pet for company isn’t bad.”

“Actually, being alone isn’t so bad. The neighbors are all nice, no one meddles, and I’m free. As long as there aren’t any beasts causing trouble, life’s pretty good.”

Though Emily Foster said this, her expression was clearly uneasy, her eyes reflecting the faint glow of the small stove, tinged with sadness. Not wanting to dwell on the topic, she changed the subject:

“I heard the consort selection is the day after tomorrow. How do they pick the consort? Is it like choosing a courtesan, with everyone standing on stage for the princess to pick?”

Holding his wine bowl, Ryan Bennett thought about it and realized it was pretty much like that:

“More or less. A bunch of people gather and compete, and the most outstanding one becomes the consort.”

“Compete in what? Playing music and singing?”

“Horseback riding, archery, martial arts, things like that.”

“It’s not like it’s the imperial martial exam—what’s the point of competing in riding, archery, and martial skills?”