From Reed City?
This stunned him. Lin Jin didn’t remember having acquaintances from Reed City. Suddenly, he remembered the group of armed escorts from a few nights ago.
Didn’t they come from Reed City?
Back then, he had instructed Escort Zhang to explain the incident to the Ganoderma’s owner, the Qiao family.
Has Escort Zhang returned to Reed City?
‘Judging by the time that has passed, he should have reached home by now.’
After sending the man from the relay station away, Lin Jin opened the letter and read its contents. Upon returning to Reed City, Escort Zhang had gone to see the Qiao family immediately. In the letter, Escort Zhang stated clearly that the Qiao family didn’t plan on pursuing matters regarding the Ganoderma.
This Qiao family didn’t seem half bad.
However, the letter also mentioned that the Qiao family was in trouble. Although specifics weren’t mentioned, it seemed pretty serious, which was the only explanation for why they were hiring experts to assist them.
The letter also mentioned how the Qiao family planned to host a banquet for their guests in the middle of the month, on the fifteenth. Lin Jin gave it some thought and realized that was tomorrow noon. The sun was currently setting and even if Lin Jin departed now, he would probably reach by midnight. If the journey was unexpectedly tough, he might even arrive tomorrow morning.
Although Lin Jin wasn’t acquainted with the Qiao family, he had made them a promise. Escort Zhang even deliberately wrote him a letter so there was an obligation of sorts for him to visit Reed City to assess the situation there.
“Let’s make a trip over,” Lin Jin decided.
As he didn’t have a transportation eagle, he would have to ride another pet beast. The shadow wolf would do since he was Rank 3 and quite speedy.
If he were to go, he could take White Ape along too. He would leave Zombie Cthulhu at home for Shang’er and the rest to watch over.
After forming a mental plan, Lin Jin planned to go home and pass on his instructions.
At that moment, someone came in reporting that a man named Lu Bin was requesting an audience.
“Mr. Lu is here!”
Lin Jin smiled. Ever since parting at the royal capital, it had been a while since they last met. Lin Jin had left in a hurry back then, but based on Lu Bin’s character, he would surely come for Lin Jin so he wasn’t surprised to learn of his arrival
“Send Mr. Lu in,” Lin Jin instructed. His subordinate went to have it done. Soon, Lu Bin entered through the door. Unlike the last time they met, Lu Bin’s complexion was so much better. He immediately bowed at the sight of Lin Jin.
“Mr. Lu, you can’t do this.” Lin Jin quickly helped him up.
Both their personalities were pretty compatible. Lin Jin obviously knew why Lu Bin was honoring him with such a serious greeting.
“It’s all in the past now. Though, I must inform you that you’ve come at the wrong time, Mr. Lu. I should be treating you to a drink but it just so happens that I have to travel out of town tonight,” Lin Jin said.
He was being honest because he planned to travel to Reed City.
“Out of town?” Lu Bin was stunned. Had he not known Lin Jin’s character, he might have assumed that Lin Jin was intentionally avoiding him.
Lin Jin was honest and told him how he owed the Qiao family of Reed City a favor. After hearing that the Qiao family was in trouble, he planned to visit them and to help them out so as to return their favor.
“I see,” Lu Bin responded before grinning. “If you only need to arrive by tomorrow afternoon, there’s no need to rush. We have to drink till we’re drunk tonight.”
Lin Jin shook his head. “As much as I’d love to, Reed City is quite a distance away so I have to make haste.”
Lu Bin chuckled. “Appraiser Lin, have you forgotten what I promised you back at the royal capital?”
Stunned, Lin Jin was immediately delighted after that.
“An eagle?”
Lu Bin nodded, “That’s right. I rode one over this time. Other than to thank you on behalf of my lord, the other purpose is to honor my promise to you.”
Having said that, Lu Bin blew on a specially made whistle. Sure enough, they could see an eagle crying in the sky as it soared around.
“With this, it’ll only take you an hour to get there. So, what’s the rush?” Lu Bin asked, and Lin Jin nodded in agreement.
Lu Bin was right. Walking definitely couldn’t compare to traveling by air. Since that was the case, Lin Jin chuckled. “Then let’s drink until we’re drunk tonight.”
After getting some takeaway and liquor, Lin Jin and Lu Bin enjoyed themselves at Lin Jin’s new home. In between, they talked about the imperial city, but since the issue there had already been resolved, Lin Jin and Lu Bin were able to discuss the dangers back then with peace in their hearts.
As the drinking session went on until midnight, Lin Jin let Lu Bin stay over at his house. His place was so much bigger now, unlike his old house where the floor space was limited.
After gaining the horn whistle used to control transportation eagles, Lin Jin got to experience flying again by taking the eagle out for a spin at night.
Eagle beasts were usually of low ranks and unskilled in combat. However, they were good for riding and the best part was that no blood contract was needed. They could be summoned with just a whistle. How convenient!
The next day, after having breakfast together with Lu Bin, the latter took his leave, who said he would give Ye Yuzhou a visit. Lin Jin knew he was being polite and didn’t want to disturb Lin Jin any further.
Before he left, Lu Bin told Lin Jin that if he didn’t have time to pay the imperial city a visit, the Sixth Princess would personally visit him at Maple City some other day to give her thanks.
Lin Jin knew he couldn’t advise them against it so he left it be. They could come as they please because Lin Jin preferred not to visit the imperial city anymore for the time being.
After Lu Bin left, Lin Jin checked the time. Without further delay, he informed Shang’er about his departure before bringing White Ape along to Reed City.
Lin Jin had never been to that place before so it was a bumpy ride. He had to constantly descend and ask for directions, wasting quite a bit of time in the process. Fortunately, he managed to arrive at Reed City before noon.
With the many lakes and rivers around the city, from up above, the place looked like an exquisite painting. Lin Jin descended outside the city walls and let the eagle soar above while he and White Ape entered the city on foot.
As for why he only brought White Ape along, Lin Jin didn’t have to think too much about it. White Ape was very capable in combat and after having his hyoid bone refined in a chance encounter, enabling him to speak the human language, White Ape now had the most potential to cultivate Transfiguration after Shang’er and Little Five.
Hence, Lin Jin constantly had him tag along so he could teach him new lessons. It couldn’t have been any more obvious that Lin Jin had high hopes for this little primate.
Apart from that, outsiders would undoubtedly mistake the bite-sized white ape to be Lin Jin’s pet beast so that was another benefit.
Reed City was a gorgeous place with boats and reeds complementing each other. There were also canals everywhere with boats streaming by. In the Jade Dragon Kingdom, Reed City was also known as the City of Water. For leisure, one could even ride a small boat and paddle along the river to comfortably enjoy the city’s beautiful view. In addition, most of the city’s logistics relied on boats, which made this place even livelier.
Besides local citizens, Reed City also had many foreign tourists. Many of them were like Lin Jin, strolling around the city with their pet beast by their side.