Chapter 340: Entering the Heaven and Earth Illusion Realm for Cleaning Duty
However, Tian Shu’s father, Tian Rong, held a different opinion.
"No way, we’re not leaving. What if that guy is petty and holds a grudge?"
Tian Rong asked cautiously, "Miss Yu, would it be alright if we stayed here a while longer?"
"Of course," Yu An said with a smile. "Uncle Tian, having you here to help me manage them is exactly what I was hoping for."
She was referring to the subordinates of Tian Fu she had captured earlier, who were now undergoing labor reform in her space.
Keeping them locked up would be a waste of food; it was better to use them as a labor force.
The daily routine for the Cloud Beast and Tian Shu’s family was to supervise that group of people as they worked.
"Then we’ll keep staying," Tian Rong said with a cheerful laugh. "This is the least we can do. We can’t just live here and do nothing."
Tian Shu’s mother, Guo Min, also chimed in, "Miss Yu, this space of yours is a rare and beautiful place, with its clear waters, green mountains, and the songs of birds and the scent of flowers."
"We’re quite familiar with the Tian Family. If you need anything from us in the future, Miss Yu, please don’t hesitate to ask."
Speaking of which, Yu An did have a few questions she wanted to ask about Tian Pingyue. Oh, and about Meng Fanxin, too.
They weren’t too surprised to hear Tian Pingyue’s name and told Yu An a bit about him.
But when they heard Meng Fanxin’s name, Tian Rong was a little lost. "Who’s that?"
"She was the Second Madam," Guo Min explained, knowing more than him. "The Second Master’s original wife and Tian Fu’s biological mother."
Tian Rong remembered. "Oh, the one who had an affair..."
Guo Min stomped on his foot. "Watch your mouth! It was obvious there was something fishy about that whole incident!"
Seeing that Yu An was interested, Guo Min told her the story, which was nearly identical to what Meng Fanxin had said in the Illusion Realm.
However, Guo Min only knew that something was suspicious; she didn’t know who had framed Meng Fanxin.
"It was a scandal for the Tian Family. The Family Head even had many servants beaten to death with rods and ordered all clan members who had witnessed it to keep their mouths shut. That’s how it was kept from spreading outside the Tian Family."
"Then why do you say it was suspicious?"
Guo Min pursed her lips. "Anyone could see something was wrong, okay? The Second Master was handsome, refined, and gentle. He and the Second Madam were childhood sweethearts, and their relationship as husband and wife was excellent."
"Why would she lose her mind and have an affair with a plain-looking servant... Anyway, any discerning person could tell something was off."
Guo Min sighed. "Unfortunately, they were caught in the act. The adulterer was even able to produce a lot of evidence. The Second Master couldn’t face it and kept avoiding the matter. The Family Head and the Meng Family took charge and had the Second Madam confined to a small courtyard to fend for herself."
"After the Second Madam passed away, the Second Master seemed to be filled with regret and wanted to die. It was only after the Family Head said something to him that he gave up on the idea."
Yu An went to check on Meng Fanxin and He’er. They were still deep in slumber.
Only after Yu An had left did Tian Shu speak up.
"Dad, Mom, why do we have to keep living here? Tian Fu won’t remember small-time people like us for long. Why don’t we go out and live our own lives?"
He didn’t understand. No matter how nice this place was, it wasn’t their own home.
Although he himself had once entertained the thought of staying in the space, he later decided that being outside was better.
Guo Min had missed her son, talking about him every day when he was away. But now that he was back, the novelty wore off after two days.
She shot a glance at Tian Rong. "You talk to your son. I’m going to tend to my vegetables."
She had been pampered her whole life, never having to lift a finger, but recently she had fallen in love with gardening and was having a grand time.
She didn’t want to deal with her husband, Tian Rong, let alone her son, Tian Shu.
"You silly boy," Tian Rong said, looking at Tian Shu as if he were a block of wood. "You’ve been here for so long. Haven’t you noticed anything different about this place?"
Tian Shu was bewildered. "Different how?"
’Isn’t it just that the sky is a little bluer, the water a little clearer, and the plants a little lusher?’
’Oh, and the food is delicious. Even simple stir-fried vegetables are exceptionally tasty. It’s made me gain ten pounds.’
"We have a powerful backer!"
Tian Rong was exasperated with his son’s denseness. "Miss Yu is an incredibly powerful person! She’s... never mind. Anyway, your mother and I are staying here. If you want to leave, you can go by yourself."
’Why does my dad always stop halfway through a sentence?’
With both his parents here, Tian Shu couldn’t possibly leave on his own, so he had no choice but to stay as well.
Tian Shu went off to supervise the group of prisoners. Tian Rong sidled up to his wife and muttered in a low voice, "My dear, do you think our son was switched at birth?"
"He’s not smart at all. He didn’t inherit your intelligence, nor did he get my quick-wittedness."
Guo Min picked a tomato and stuffed it in his mouth. "Oh, you’re the quick-witted one, are you? Our Shu’er never saw that ’little highness’ burn down the ancestral hall, so of course he doesn’t know that Miss Yu is that very same ’little highness’."
There was a dragon and a phoenix by the side of the Heaven and Earth Stone. "Little highness" was what the world called them.
"Forget it. It’s enough that we know. We can just guide Shu’er a bit more later. Running errands for Miss Yu is much better than trying to make it on his own out there."
’This place we’re living in now is wonderful, so much better than the outside world!’
Han Li and the other two were deft and quick, washing and chopping the vegetables in no time. When Yu An came out, she took over as the head chef.
They could handle some simple home-style dishes, but the more technically demanding, elaborate ones required Yu An.
Squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, four-joy meatballs, Dongpo pork... Dish after dish was brought to the table. The aroma wafted outside, intoxicating passersby.
Following the scent, they thought they’d find a restaurant, only to end up in someone’s private courtyard. The passersby were left on the verge of tears, forced to retreat in disappointment.
While Yu An’s group was feasting, over in the White Tiger Divine Hall, Feng Xuan was woodenly eating boiled meat.
Some spices had been added, so it wasn’t exactly terrible, but after being used to delicacies, he found this stuff hard to swallow.
"Hey," he began, trying to negotiate with the Divine Hall Spirit. "Can you really not let someone go buy some cooking utensils and ingredients?"
His own cooking skills weren’t great, but after spending so much time around Yu An, he had picked up enough to make a few simple dishes.
The Divine Hall Spirit didn’t eat. The tigers in the Divine Hall ate their food raw. Only Feng Xuan required cooked meals.
"No," the Divine Hall Spirit refused mercilessly. "No one can leave the Divine Hall."
"Eat quickly. You have to go to the Heaven and Earth Illusion Realm when you’re done."
’Right,’ Feng Xuan thought. ’Neither I nor the Divine Hall Spirit can leave the Divine Hall, and it’s not realistic to send a White Tiger that can’t shapeshift to go shopping.’
Feng Xuan sighed, forced himself to eat his fill, and went back to his room to change clothes.
Only when the door closed did the Divine Hall Spirit look away and vanish.
Inside Feng Xuan’s room, a White Tiger leaped in through the window, a used Blood Crystal in its mouth.
"So, there really is a problem."
Feng Xuan toyed with the Blood Crystal, his expression icy. "Keep an eye on it. If it goes out or makes any other moves, report to me immediately."
The White Tiger nodded and exited through the window again. Feng Xuan finished changing and went to meet the Divine Hall Spirit at the entrance to the Heaven and Earth Illusion Realm.
Seeing him arrive, the Divine Hall Spirit made a few complex hand signs, then lightly tapped Feng Xuan’s forehead.
"Alright, you may enter. Come out immediately after you’re done cleaning. Do not linger, lest you disturb the Heaven and Earth Stone’s rest."
After a pause, the Divine Hall Spirit warned him again, "Don’t touch anything. If you anger the Heaven and Earth Stone, no one will be able to save you."