Chapter 167: Master Yu

After exploring the bookstore, Jiang Yan and his companions continued strolling through the streets, reveling in the bustle and splendor of the busy metropolis, until dusk fell and they finally returned to the inn with a lingering sense of enjoyment.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Jiang Yan eagerly rose early and headed out alone to stake out the area near the bookstore.

To his surprise, people were already lined up at such an early hour.

To avoid attracting unwanted attention, Jiang Yan purposely put on an ordinary mask purchased from a roadside stall, concealing the lower half of his face.

"Fellow cultivator, I never expected that you'd also enjoy reading... those vernacular novels."

A plump female disciple struck up a conversation with Jiang Yan with easy familiarity, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

Jiang Yan was slightly taken aback, then replied, "I came here on behalf of my Senior Sister. Miss, why are you queuing up so early? Could it be that these books sell out the moment they are restocked today?"

A fanatical gleam flashed in the female disciple's eyes. "I'm here to wait for Master Yu! Who knows, I might catch a glimpse of his true demeanor today. I want his autograph..."

The more she spoke, the more excited she became, as if she were about to meet Master Yu immediately.

Jiang Yan understood instantly. Eighty or ninety percent of the people waiting in line were here for the exact same purpose as him—to ambush that Master Yu, or rather, that wretched author!

After about the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, a figure silently appeared at the entrance of the bookstore.

The person was draped in a plain white robe and wore a wide-brimmed hat that concealed the upper half of his face, making it impossible to discern his true appearance.

The moment the bookstore proprietor spotted him, he enthusiastically welcomed him inside.

Jiang Yan mused to himself that this fellow was ten to one that "wretched author" who had been dragging his reputation through the mud!

Before long, the figure emerged from the bookstore once more and was instantly surrounded by the crowd that had been waiting for so long.

"Master Yu, you are Master Yu, aren't you?"

"Master Yu, I love your books so much..."

"Could you please give me an autograph?"

"When is the second volume going to be published?"

……

"That's right, I am Master Yu. Thank you all for your support! The second volume is expected to meet everyone in two months. Do you need an autograph? Tell me, where should I sign it?"

Master Yu's voice was that of a young man, polite and refined. It was truly hard to imagine that someone like this would write those saucy stories favored by young women and draw such alluring, provocative illustrations.

Jiang Yan scrutinized this Master Yu. Surely he didn't know him, did he?

It seemed this wasn't the work of an acquaintance.

The atmosphere at the scene was lively, resembling a fan meeting with an author. Jiang Yan waited and waited, his patience nearly wearing thin.

……

"Kind sir, do you also need an autograph?" Master Yu asked.

Jiang Yan started in surprise, realizing that at some point he had made his way to the very front of the crowd.

Their gazes locked. In that split second, each saw a familiar shadow in the other's eyes.

Master Yu thought to himself: *Oh no, if I don't run now, when will I!*

"I have urgent business to attend to and cannot stay long. I shall sign for everyone next time. Farewell, friends!"

Before the words had even faded, he bolted, even executing a movement spell to accelerate his escape!

Jiang Yan, however, stepped leisurely out of the crowd, then employed a flight technique, agile as a leopard, and materialized directly in front of Master Yu in an instant.

"Y-y-you, what do you want? Let me tell you, private brawling is strictly prohibited here."

Master Yu lowered his voice, a hint of tremor lacing his tone.

Gritting his teeth, Jiang Yan bit out every single word: "Cut the act, Mo... Shiyu."

"Sir, you have mistaken me for someone else!"

Mo Shiyu denied it resolutely, though her eyes darted about evasively.

Watching the person before him stubbornly persist with the stubbornness of a cooked duck, Jiang Yan snapped his fingers.

With a sudden gust of wind, Master Yu's hat was blown off, revealing her face.

It was the very same round face, merely adorned with a fake mustache.

"Hehe, c-cousin, long time no see." Mo Shiyu had no choice but to surrender.

"It certainly has been a long time. I never expected you to become Master Yu, with your vernacular novels selling so wildly."

"You read them?"

"As a man, why on earth would I ever read such vernacular novels?!"

"Oh, that's good then."

Mo Shiyu let out a sigh of relief.

However, her relief came far too soon. Jiang Yan continued:

"However, I happened to overhear some discussions—descriptions that were utterly unprintable—and my own name! Why did you have to write my name into your stories?"

"Cousin, you have to believe me, the character simply shares the exact same name as you by coincidence."

Seeing that Mo Shiyu still refused to admit fault, Jiang Yan dropped another blockbuster.

"Then why does the male protagonist in the illustrations you drew look so much like me?!"

This left Mo Shiyu completely speechless. She cautiously stole a glance at Jiang Yan and hesitatingly asked:

"Cousin, y-you couldn't possibly have... peeked at it secretly, could you?"