Chapter 20: The Shang Family
Reality had proven that speaking human words didn’t necessarily mean they were demon beasts; they might just be parrots.
“How is this a demon bird?!” Lu Yang was furious. A suction power appeared in his palm, pulling the parrot over. It didn’t even have time to react until it was caught.
The village chief could also do the same, but he hadn’t dared to because he thought that it was some kind of demon beast at the Qi Training or Foundation Establishment stage.
“Demon beast! There’s a demon beast!” The parrot screeched non-stop.
Hearing the commotion inside the room, Tao Yaoye hurriedly rushed over. Upon witnessing the actual situation, her mood wasn’t that much different from Lu Yang’s.
Completing the mission is a good thing. Not having to fight is also a good thing. But the problem is that we came all the way from the Dao-Seeking Sect and rode the flying vessel for three days just to capture a parrot?
How are we going to write the mission report? We’ll only be laughing stock if word gets out.
The people in Taiping Village were not knowledgeable enough to recognize birds from the rainforest, but it was basic knowledge for everyone in the Dao-Seeking Sect.
“As expected of you, Daoists! You captured the demon bird so effortlessly!” the village chief and other villagers praised Lu Yang one after another, lauding his high cultivation.
The two of them had no choice but to patiently explain to the people that the bird was actually very ordinary. It was simply not common in the northern region of the continent.
“This parrot, also what all of you call a demon bird, is most proficient in mimicking human speech.”
“Mimicking human speech, mimicking human speech.” The parrot kept screeching until Lu Yang had to pinch its beak close before continuing to explain, “It shouted that Zhang Guanjia is a demon not because it itself wanted to. Tailor Feng had shouted ‘demon,’ and it learned from him. When it bumped into Zhang Guanjia, it simply repeated the term.”
Zhang Guanjia heaved a sigh of relief. As expected of the Dao-Seeking Sect’s disciples. My grievances are cleared right after they arrived.
“By the same logic, when it shouted, ‘Who are you? Where is Zhang Guanjia?’ it also didn’t understand the meaning of the sentence. It had simply learned it from somewhere else and repeated it meaninglessly.”
“This damned bird! Let me kill it.” Zhang Guanjia couldn’t contain his anger.
Lu Yang raised his hand and stopped Zhang Guanjia. “This place is half a continent away from the rainforest. This parrot definitely didn’t fly here by itself but was instead brought here by someone. Unless someone was bored enough to cross half a continent just to bring this rare yet non-useful parrot, only the Luodi Merchant Guild would do such a thing. Is there a Luodi Merchant Guild in this area?”
The village chief shook his head. “A merchant guild wouldn’t set up a branch in a poor, remote, and small place like ours, but there is one in Quhe Commandery. It is located in the most bustling region with an endless flow of traffic. Maybe after someone bought the parrot from the merchant guild, it accidentally escaped.”
It is naturally impossible for the parrot to have directly escaped from the Luodi Merchant Guild.
Lu Yang pressed on, “This bird has been circling around Taiping Village for the past twenty days instead of heading somewhere else. Perhaps its owner is right here. What do you think, Village Chief?”
It took the village chief quite a while before replying, “The villagers all know about the demon bird. If there is really anyone who doesn’t know, it would be the Shang Family to the east. The Shang Family rarely goes out and is reluctant to interact with others. I heard that it’s because the family head is also a cultivator. When he was young, he experienced some setbacks and his cultivation regressed tremendously. Since then, he has lost his will to cultivate and lives here reclusively.
“The Shang Family is also quite wealthy. They are the richest in this place. It is possible for them to have bought the demon bird from the Luodi Merchant Guild.”
“If that’s the case, let’s go and ask the Shang Family.”
Taiping Village wasn’t huge, so the trio and one bird soon arrived at the Shang Family’s entrance. After knocking on the door, someone quickly came to open it for them. It was a middle-aged man with a mustache that stuck out on both ends, and he was dressed in scholarly robes.
“Oh, it’s you, Village Chief. May I know who these two are so that I can report to the patriarch?” the mustached man asked.
Still pinching the parrot’s wings, Lu Yang looked like he was preparing to slaughter a rooster while doing house visits during the New Year. “We found this parrot by chance. After asking around, we thought that it may belong to the Shang Family, so we have specially come to ask.”
The mustached man noticed Tao Yaoye first and was surprised. He had never seen a woman as beautiful as Tao Yaoye.
Then, he turned to the green parrot, showing an elated smile. “I see, many thanks to you two young heroes. This should be our young miss’ parrot. Ever since she lost her parrot, she has been in low spirits, which makes things difficult for us servants. She would be overjoyed if she learns that the parrot has been found.”
The village chief leaned in and whispered, “He’s the Shang Family’s steward and his surname is Zhang. He’s always the one opening the door when I come to the Shang Family.”
Steward Zhang hastily went inside to report, and he soon came back with a response. “The patriarch invites you three inside.”
They entered through the screen door[1], passed through the outer courtyard and walked from the secondary door to the corridor then finally the main room. Only then did they see the Shang Family’s head.
The Shang Family’s head had a plump physique, though his gloomy expression kept others at a distance. However, they could still tell that he was rather happy to see the village chief. “Old Brother Huang, long time no see.” The village chief’s surname was Huang.
The two cupped their fists and greeted each other.
Family Head Shang examined the parrot for a bit and nodded. “Mmm, this is indeed the parrot my daughter bought from the Luodi Merchant Guild in the commandery. At that time, I thought that this bird wouldn’t be worth much, yet the merchant guild demanded an exorbitant price. My daughter insisted on buying it, so I could only follow her wishes.”
“Steward Zhang, take these two young heroes to see Xiaoyuan.”
“Yes, Patriarch.”
Steward Zhang gestured for them to proceed and called a maidservant to serve tea to Family Head Shang and Village Chief Huang.
On the way, Tao Yaoye casually asked, “Steward Zhang, how long have you been with the Shang Family?”
Steward Zhang replied in a respectful tone, “The patriarch saved me when he was on his way to seclusion. Ever since then, I have been serving him. Let me think, it has been twenty years now. Young Miss wasn’t even born then.”
“That means that Young Miss Shang has a rather good relationship with you.”
“To be honest, I watched Young Miss grow up. I have no children, so I treated her as my own daughter. It pains me to see her so dejected every day.”
Lu Yang suddenly asked, “Were you around when the parrot went missing?”
Steward Zhang sighed, his voice laced with reproach. “At the time, I got distracted for a bit and didn’t notice the parrot flying away. If only I had paid more attention then, Young Miss wouldn’t be so sad now. It was a dereliction of duty on my part.”
Lu Yang simply replied, “Oh.”
Steward Zhang knocked three times and calmly said, “Young Miss, your missing parrot has been found by two young heroes wandering the jianghu. They have brought the parrot here.”
A voice answered from within the room. “Let them in then.”
“Understood.”
Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye opened the door. Young Miss Shang was leaning against the window while reading a book quietly. The evening sunlight fell on her hair, painting a picturesque scene where time seemed to have come to a stop.
Countless young men in Taiping Village were infatuated with Young Miss Shang.
Lu Yang reminded kindly, “Reading under the sunlight, especially at sunset, is bad for your eyes. You should light a candle. It’s not like your father is short of money.”
1. Image of a screen door ☜
Rakumon's ThoughtsSometimes, I wonder how many folklores and mythological creatures were born this way xD
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