Mortal: Traveling Between Two Realms with Mei Ning to Pick Up Trash

The next morning, when Zhou Yu got up, he could still hear Mei Feng snoring.

He quietly put on his clothes, pushed open the door, and went out.

Passing by Mei Ning's room, I hesitated for a moment but still didn't knock. She must be tired after shopping all day yesterday.

When I went downstairs, the proprietress was already sitting behind the counter.

Zhou Yu greeted her and then left.

I walked out of the inn and along the main street for a while before turning into a familiar alley. The alley was very quiet.

The shop without a sign is already open.

Zhou Yu went inside. The middle-aged man behind the counter was still the same as before, holding a jade slip in his hand without looking up.

"You're here?" he said.

"You're here," Zhou Yu said, walking to the counter. "Any work today?"

The middle-aged man put down the jade slip, glanced at Zhou Yu without saying a word, and walked towards the back hall.

Zhou Yu wasn't in a hurry and sat down to wait.

A moment later, two sets of footsteps approached.

Zhou Yu looked up and squinted.

Wen Siyue.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou," she began.

Zhou Yu hesitated for only a moment before standing up, cupping his hands in greeting, and saying, "Miss Wen."

Wen Siyue found a seat and sat down, and Zhou Yu sat down as well.

"I think Fellow Daoist Zhou has some doubts now?" Wen Siyue said.

Zhou Yu smiled. "Indeed, there are some."

Wen Siyue cleared her throat slightly, "Our Miaoyin Sect hopes that Fellow Daoist Zhou can do something for us. Of course, it's not about joining us, but just helping us investigate some intelligence and deliver some goods."

Zhou Yu didn't speak immediately, but after a while, he said, "Does Miss Wen trust me that much?"

Wen Siyue smiled, stood up and poured a cup of tea. "A cultivator who can help mortals is at least trustworthy in terms of character."

Zhou Yu looked at the other person without saying anything.

"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Zhou," Wen Siyue took a sip of tea, "Our investigation of you is not intended to harm you, but simply to determine whether you are worth cooperating with."

Zhou Yu shook his head. "Since we've already investigated, there's nothing more to say."

He paused, then asked, "So what are the conditions? No pay for the work?"

Wen Siyue put down her teacup. "Foundation Building Pill."

Zhou Yu's pupils contracted.

"Since we've already said it, there's no point in hiding it," she said. "We found out that Fellow Daoist Zhou is buying materials for Foundation Establishment Pills, which is probably in preparation for Foundation Establishment."

Zhou Yu thought for a moment.

It seems that the situation of Miaoyin Sect is not optimistic. Their own disciples are no longer suitable to run around outside and they have to rely on outsiders to help them cover their tracks. However, as for Foundation Establishment Pills, there doesn't seem to be any reason to refuse them.

"Okay." Zhou Yu looked up.

Wen Siyue smiled and said, "Then it'll be a pleasure to work together."

Zhou Yu nodded without saying anything more.

Wen Siyue took out a light purple token and a pill from her sleeve and pushed them in front of Zhou Yu.

"This is a token from the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Myriad Sounds Sect. It doesn't grant any special privileges, but if you encounter trouble, you can seek help at the contact point." She paused. "In addition, the reward for each delivery will be calculated at seven to nine spirit stones, with intelligence-related deliveries calculated separately based on their value."

Zhou Yu picked up the Foundation Establishment Pill and the token.

"What do you need me to do?"

"For now, we'll continue with delivery services. Since you're new here, take some time to familiarize yourself with Tianxing City. We'll help you get a permanent residency ring."

She stood up, walked behind the counter, took out a package and a jade talisman, and placed them on the counter.

"This batch of goods is being delivered to three locations in the west of the city. The addresses are on the slip of paper. The reward is eight spirit stones, plus a contact jade talisman. If I need you to do anything, I will contact you."

Zhou Yu took the items.

"OK."

As he turned to leave, Wen Siyue called him back.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou."

Zhou Yu turned around.

"Elder Wan from the Giant Shark Sect yesterday, from now on, avoid him. He holds a grudge."

Zhou Yu nodded, pushed open the door, and went out.

……

Once out of the alley, Zhou Yu glanced down at the addresses on the slip of paper. All three locations were in the west of the city, a half-hour walk away. He quickened his pace and blended into the morning rush hour crowd.

The delivery process was similar to yesterday: knock on the door, exchange the code, hand over the package, and get a receipt. After running around to three places, it was almost noon. Zhou Yu found a roadside stall, spent a few coins to buy a bowl of noodles, ate it, rested for a while, and then headed back.

When they returned to the shop, Wen Siyue was no longer there. The middle-aged man was still sitting behind the counter, checking the receipt and taking out a small cloth bag from under the counter.

"Eight spirit stones, count them."

Zhou Yu poured them out and counted them; eight pieces, that's right.

He turned and left the shop.

On his way back to the inn, Zhou Yu was reflecting on the events of the day.

Wen Siyue was a very well-behaved girl in front of Han Li, speaking softly and handling things properly. But why was she so cunning and calculating when it came to him? Investigating his background, testing his character, one thing after another.

Zhou Yu sighed. It all comes down to strength. It seems he needs to speed up his cultivation.

Wen Siyue gave the Foundation Establishment Pill so readily today. It was less a sign of trust and more an investment. For Miaoyin Sect, a Foundation Establishment Pill is nothing. Keeping an outsider is a deal that is profitable no matter how you look at it.

It would be best to tell Mei Ning and Mei Feng about the Miaoyin Sect matter, so as not to worry them. Also, I should find an opportunity to talk to Mei Ning about the calligraphy brush.

Otherwise, it would be really... if I couldn't use my spiritual power inside.

Forget it, now's not the right time.

……

When we returned to Haifeng Residence, it was already past noon.

The aroma of food wafted through the lobby of the inn. The proprietress was dozing behind the counter when she heard Zhou Yu's footsteps. She jolted awake, opened her eyes, saw that it was Zhou Yu, and greeted him with a smile.

"You're back? Your two friends are upstairs, saying they're waiting for you to come back so they can have dinner together."

Zhou Yu responded and went upstairs.

Mei Feng's room door was open. He was lying on the bed with his legs crossed, looking at the jade slip. Mei Ning was sitting at the table, drawing something on a talisman. When she saw Zhou Yu come in, Mei Feng sat up abruptly.

"You're back? Come on, let's go downstairs for dinner, I'm starving."

"You haven't eaten yet?" Zhou Yu asked, somewhat surprised.

"I've been waiting for you." Mei Ning put away the talisman and stood up. "You said you were going out for a walk, and you've been wandering around all morning. Where have you been?"

Zhou Yu was silent for a moment.

"Let's eat first," Zhou Yu said. "After we finish eating, I have something to tell you."

Mei Feng glanced at him, then at Mei Ning, and nodded without asking any further questions.

……

After dinner, the three returned to their room. Mei Feng closed the door, Mei Ning sat down at the table, and Zhou Yu sat opposite her.

"Speak," Mei Ning said, looking at him.

Zhou Yu took a deep breath.

"I accepted the commission from Miaoyin Sect."

Mei Feng's expression didn't change much, nor did Mei Ning's.

"The day before yesterday and today, I was delivering goods to them." Zhou Yu took out the light purple token from his storage bag and placed it on the table. "Today, the people from Miaoyin Sect met with me in person and gave me this token, as well as a Foundation Establishment Pill."

Mei Feng's eyes widened in surprise.

"Foundation Building Pill? She gave you a Foundation Building Pill?"

"Hmm." Zhou Yu nodded. "The condition is that I do things for them, deliver goods, gather intelligence, run errands, either join the Miaoyin Sect or... be an outside agent."

Mei Feng opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back. He turned to look at Mei Ning.

Mei Ning's gaze fell on the purple token.

"You agreed?" she asked.

"I agree," Zhou Yu said. "I do need the Foundation Establishment Pill, and the Chaotic Star Sea has become increasingly turbulent recently. Relying solely on my status as a rogue cultivator won't suffice. Although the Myriad Sounds Sect is in a difficult situation, at least it's a reliable backer."

Mei Ning did not respond immediately. She reached out and picked up the token, examined it in her hand, and then put it back on the table.

"Do you know anything about the Myriad Sounds Sect?" she asked.

"I know some of it," Zhou Yu said. "The Golden Core elder of the Star Palace is dead. The Giant Shark Sect and the Tide Pavilion are both keeping an eye on them. They are short-handed right now, especially short of people who can travel outside."

Mei Ning nodded.

Mei Feng scratched his head, hesitated for a long time, and finally managed to ask, "So... when are you planning to take that Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"At least at the twelfth level of Qi Refining," Zhou Yu said. "Eating it now would be useless."

Mei Feng nodded, then frowned. "But you still need to be careful about the Miaoyin Sect. The person I saw earlier looked gentle and kind, but she's more shrewd than anyone else."

Zhou Yu smiled.

"I know that in her eyes, I'm just a gofer."

Mei Ning stood up and pushed the token back in front of Zhou Yu.

"Keep it safe," she said. "If anything happens, don't shoulder it all alone. Although my brother and I aren't very powerful, we can at least offer you some advice."

Zhou Yu put the token into his storage bag.

"Thanks."

Mei Feng patted him on the shoulder and chuckled twice: "No need to thank me, we're in the same boat. By the way, are we still going to the monster material market?"

"Let's go," Zhou Yu said. "The delivery can be taken care of this morning, we can go together this afternoon."

"Alright!" Mei Feng slapped his thigh. "It's settled then!"

……

As usual, Mei Feng's snoring started at night.

Zhou Yu lay on the bed by the window, staring at the ceiling, his mind still replaying the events of the day.

Mei Ning is right, I just need to be careful.

As for the calligraphy brush...

Zhou Yu touched the calligraphy brush in his pocket, hesitated for a moment, but still didn't take it out.

Let's talk about it after we reach the Foundation Establishment stage.