I am a swordsman in a strange city

Chapter 81 Traces of Freedom in the Urban Jungle
The evening breeze rustled through the neon lights and swirled through the treetops, making a soft, rustling sound, as if shaking off the dust that had accumulated on our clothes during the day.

Shi Nanfeng had a keen sense of perception, and she keenly felt that something deep within Pei Ju's heart seemed to have been touched.

Liu Yijia put her mask back on because if she were recognized, she would be surrounded by onlookers on the street.

Fortunately, Pei Ju led them through alleys and managed to hail Shi Nanfeng's car. After the three of them got in the car, they were supposed to go to Shi Nanfeng's memorial hall, but Liu Yijia's phone rang.

Her agent called, and the conversation was simply about how she went to meet someone without permission and was photographed, which is now trending on social media with the hashtag "[Rising star Liu Yijia's relationship exposed]".

[Liu Yijia's Fangirling at the Theater]

Who is Pei Ju?

In this world where the supernatural exists, the most talked-about topics are not celebrities, but the leaks of various mysterious events, and the people who have made significant contributions and played a major role in those events.

Of course, the people who handle these incidents will be different.

This includes both official and non-official personnel.

The identities of officials are usually kept secret. Even if they are not kept secret, they will not publicize their personal achievements, but will instead publicize the collective credit, internal rewards, and promotions.

Non-official personnel are mostly those who cooperate with the government. For example, those who are listed in the professional mission hall. Due to their personality, some like the feeling of being famous. Once they are famous, they will be privately hired to teach the younger generation of their families, or directly open private spiritual courses, or directly become a guardian in a large family, or become a teacher in some extraordinary schools.

After all, some schools hire well-known and capable professionals every year to teach, both to provide students with combat experience.

Some governments may hire well-known extraordinary individuals to settle in their cities, granting them the status of consultants to relevant government departments. They often collaborate with local schools specializing in extraordinary talents to invite such individuals.

Non-governmental professionals involved in handling mysterious events have a professional title in the Republic of Longxiang: Spirit Catchers.

The practice of spirit catchers originated long ago. Due to the revelation of mysterious events, it was believed that spirits existed. These spirits often broke away from their original dimensional space and entered our world. At this time, the spirits were in an extremely unstable state, which was dangerous and terrifying. However, if one had the ability, it was possible to capture them.

'Spirits' have always been in high demand in the market. They can be bought and used as consumables in professional training. Of course, some spirit shops also buy them as 'spirits' for a semi-entertainment, semi-service purpose.

For example, the harp in Shi Nanfeng's Nanfeng Spirit Hall is her prized possession. More than half of the business in the entire spirit hall comes from it. Some people come to her shop to listen to the music, some just to relax, and others to heal their spiritual ailments.

With the development of the internet in recent years, some spirit catchers have become increasingly famous, and sometimes even a single emotional remark made online can cause a huge uproar.

Of course, it also depends on individual personality. Some people are naturally averse to being the center of attention, while others really enjoy it.

Artists like Liu Yijia, regardless of gender, are all handsome men and beautiful women in the entertainment industry, naturally attracting attention. In addition, they have companies managing and packaging them, so they are naturally easy to get attention and generate topics. Furthermore, there are actually many professionals who also like to participate in acting or singing performances.

Liu Yijia is an artist with a contract. She is a young idol, and her manager wants her to go back. She doesn't want to go back, but Pei Ju said, "Go back first. Just add each other's contact information and keep in touch."

Liu Yijia paused for a moment, then said, "Today is the day we reunite, and it is something to celebrate."

"There's plenty of time in the future, let's go back first," Pei Ju said with a faint smile.

Liu Yijia paused for a moment, then said, "Let me add your contact information first. I'll take care of things as soon as possible and then come see you."

“It’s alright,” Pei Ju said again.

In the end, they parted ways. Pei Ju asked Shi Nanfeng to drive Liu Yijia back to the company, while he chose to walk in the night, wandering through the streets and alleys towards the direction where he went to sleep.

In his mind, it really was just a place to sleep.

Walking in the dark brought him peace of mind. No one paid attention to him, and he didn't need to pay attention to anyone else. He was simply himself, lost in aimless reverie, or perhaps thinking of nothing at all.

However, today, the idea of ​​revitalizing the Sword Hall arose in his mind, and he felt an urgent urge to find the people of the Suspended Mirror Division to take revenge. If possible, he would like to find his grandfather again with Senior Sister Yu and see where his grandfather had gone in his spiritual journey.

He didn't know whether his mind wandered on its own initiative or he was forced into it.

He knew from Senior Sister Yu that his grandfather must be powerful. Such a powerful person had been hiding in that small room of the Taoist temple for so many years. After appearing in the world of the temple across thousands of miles, he only made one move before hurriedly returning to the Xionglan Peak Taoist Temple, where he entered meditation and then departed in spirit.

In his view, his grandfather was hiding a big secret.

But Senior Sister Yu didn't tell me.

He thought to himself, perhaps Senior Sister Yu felt that he was not qualified to know, or perhaps Senior Sister Yu felt it was dangerous and did not want him to know at all.

During the five years he spent on that mountain, it was always Senior Sister Yu who taught him.

The senior sister teaches the disciples on behalf of the master.

……

After Pei Ju got out of the car, Shi Nanfeng took Liu Yijia to her company, while Liu Yijia was looking at her own news.

The focus of public opinion is just a few photos and videos.

One of the videos shows someone filming Pei Ju playing the flute, capturing her back view and her waving at Pei Ju in the darkness.

You can't tell anything from this video; you can't recognize her.

Then another video appeared. After the theater lights came on, the person on the second floor wearing a mask was about to leave when a female voice stopped them.

The name 'Pei Ju' could be heard clearly.

The masked man playing the flute on the second floor stopped, looked down, and stared at the people below. At that moment, the theater lights came on, and everyone could clearly see the girl below, with blonde hair, waving her hand and even jumping slightly, looking very excited.

This video shows that the two people know each other.

Although both of them were wearing masks and face coverings, they seemed to be able to recognize each other just like that.

The next video is a backstage video. Pei Ju came down from the stage and then asked the security guards to let two women into the backstage area. This video confirmed Liu Yijia's identity because Liu Yijia took off her mask here, and the people around her exclaimed her name.

However, because the person filming the video was behind Pei Ju, even though Pei Ju removed his mask, they only managed to film the back of his head until he turned around and left. Since he turned to the other side, they didn't film his face.

However, it must be quite something to be noticed by a popular young actress like Liu Yijia.

There are many people talking about it, saying all sorts of things. Her loyal fans all know that she once said her idol is 'Pei Ju'. Before, they didn't know this name, and everyone was guessing. Now that this person has actually appeared, everyone is shouting that they want to go and see what he is like.

At the same time, more people became aware of Pei Ju's performance of playing the xiao (a type of vertical bamboo flute).

Of course, some people said unpleasant things, such as, "He's just an actor, not focusing on acting, but only on hype; I suggest he be blacklisted." Shi Nanfeng suddenly spoke up, "Jiajia, I don't remember you've really known him for very long, so why do you like him so much? Have you been thinking about him for so many years?"

"You're not feeling sorry for him because you know about his upbringing, are you? Let me tell you, even if it's admiration, it's not love. It's just that some factor in your heart has been touched, like maternal instincts. Also, the way you see him in his past, his youthful vigor and his rebellious spirit, are not reasons for you to love him."

Liu Yijia closed her phone and looked out the window, where the neon lights cast rainbows in her eyes and on the car window.

She seemed to be pondering Shi Nanfeng's words, and Shi Nanfeng didn't say anything more.

A moment later, soft music began to play, gentle and soothing, like a feather falling on one's heart.

At this moment, Liu Yijia spoke up, saying, "Nothing unforgettable happened between him and me. It was just that I was attracted to him, and then a misunderstanding brought us together. I have always regarded that misunderstanding as a destiny arranged for us by God."

"After about two months, we stopped seeing each other. I thought it was a misunderstanding that brought us together, and that it could only last that long. We didn't even say goodbye."

"And today, when we met again, he just said that there's plenty of time in the future. I'm actually scared because I don't think there's plenty of time in the future. I'm afraid that five or ten years will pass in the blink of an eye. I won't be able to spend the best years of my youth with him. When I'm old, will I still be able to see him again?"

“You said we haven’t experienced anything unforgettable, so why is it that he can make me feel like I’m in love? And he doesn’t even seem to like me that much. To be honest, I really don’t know. Some people are together every day and don’t feel anything, while others fall in love after just one meeting.”

"Perhaps, when I was fourteen, I shouldn't have looked back at that person in the crowd." Liu Yijia's voice was filled with nostalgia and uncertainty.

She looked down and opened the video again.

The joy in her eyes as she looked at Pei Ju after taking off her mask in the video was something she could watch endlessly.

There was a comment that was pushed to the top of the screen below the video.

"Jiajia's eyes, a glance that seems to span a thousand years!"

"If she could convey such emotions through her eyes in her acting, then the Best Newcomer award would undoubtedly be hers."

……

Pei Ju was walking down the street when his phone rang in his lonely pocket.

The caller was Chen Sheng.

She wasn't at the theater today; the play was on track and no longer needed her, the director, to be present all the time.

"Pei Ju, where are you now?" Chen Sheng asked in a low voice on the other end of the phone.

“On the street!” Pei Ju said frankly.

"On the street? How could he be on the street?" Chen Sheng was a little incredulous. She had only just learned that Pei Ju actually knew Liu Yijia.

In her view, if the two had been separated for a long time, they must be having dinner together now, or even in a room.

But the answer she received was on the street.

"What are you doing on the road?" Chen Sheng asked curiously.

“I’m on the street, walking towards the residential area,” Pei Ju said.

"Didn't you two have a candlelight dinner together or something?" Chen Sheng asked again.

“No,” Pei Ju said.

"So, what exactly is your relationship?" Chen Sheng finally couldn't help but ask.

"Classmate, high school classmate." Pei Ju hesitated for a moment, then said, "And good friends too."

"Oh, so you didn't date during high school?" Chen Sheng asked again.

"Director Chen, you're asking too many questions," Pei Ju said before hanging up.

On the other end, Director Chen was stunned to hear the dial tone on her phone. Someone was actually speaking to her in such a tone. She was a little angry. So many young actors fawned over her, asking her to introduce them to film crews and begging her for opportunities.

She took a deep breath and picked up her phone to send a message.

"Pei Ju, don't be angry. I'm just concerned about you. In the future, if you invite your classmates to dinner, tell me and I'll help you book a discreet and delicious restaurant."

Click Send.

After a long silence, she checked her phone repeatedly, then finally tossed it aside, took out her laptop, and started reading the news, focusing on entertainment news and a few videos.

……

Pei Ju did not head towards Jinxiu Residential Area, but instead walked in another direction.

He's going to visit the Suspended Mirror Research Institute.

He strolled along, but his steps were quick.

He used his lightness skills in the city streets and alleys, stepping on walls and leaping over railings. At that moment, he felt incredibly free, just like when he was practicing lightness skills in the mountains.

This is a city, but it used to be in the mountains.

A forest of steel and a forest of trees are different, yet they also have similarities.

A cat suddenly appeared out of nowhere and ran alongside him, as if it wanted to race Pei Ju to see who could run faster. Wherever Pei Ju ran, it ran too.

Pei Ju was running on the overpass when he suddenly leaped onto the railing and ran along it. The tabby cat was stunned by this sight; it could only run on the ground. Suddenly, the person running on the railing turned and leaped off the overpass.

Pei Ju spread his arms like a bird spreading its wings, gliding through the air like a bird, and landed on a big tree under the overpass. The cat paused for a moment, then stuck its head out from the edge of the railing. It bent down and jumped off the bridge in the same way.

It leaped very far, but unlike that person, it couldn't glide and fly. Instead, it fell towards the ground. At a height of over ten meters, even a cat might fall to its death. Just as it was about to hit the ground, its body suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a wisp of smoke in the void.

When it reappeared, it was already on the ground. It quickly scurried up a tree, leaping between the trunk and the leaves, while a person was running on the leaves.

The wind whistled in my ears, like a sob, or perhaps a cheer as someone chased after the traces of freedom it left behind.

(End of this chapter)