After Jun Bai finished speaking, he turned and walked out of Fengdeng Lou.
Iron Tongue Tian had the skill, but the story he told still made Jun Bai feel uncomfortable.
It was true that at five years old he vowed to become the greatest swordsman in the world, true that he saved the Sky Phoenix Marshal by the waterfall, true that monster tides attacked Qingce Village…
But the rest of the content was fabricated.
Jun Bai also knew that storytellers, in order to attract listeners, would make certain adaptations based on legends.
The later plays like "The Goddess Splits the View" and storytelling pieces like "The Dragon Creator Dots the Eyes" were all adaptations based on real events—seven parts truth, three parts fiction.
But being adapted to this extent had already exceeded Jun Bai's tolerance. The entire story contained only one part truth. As someone who had personally experienced it, how could Jun Bai accept it?
Jun Bai stood in front of the entrance to Fengdeng Lou, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his emotions.
"Do you need to vent to someone?"
Zhongli came to Jun Bai's side.
"No need. It's just a bit uncomfortable—I'll be fine after calming down a little." Jun Bai gently shook his head.
Then he looked up at the sky and said: "Once the stories of adepti and gods are recorded, they will not change.
"Because in the eyes of the people, adepti and gods are omnipotent—any unimaginable feat they perform is considered reasonable."
"But mortals are different. As beings on the same level, people like to define others using what they consider common sense.
"Once they encounter someone who exceeds common sense, they will come up with all sorts of reasons to pin on that person, defining them as some special existence."
[This passage… it really looks like Iron Tongue Tian's story genuinely made Jun Bai angry.]
[I think I know what this event's plot is actually about now. Running the shop is secondary—the focus is on uncovering the true story of the Qingce Sword Immortal.]
[Why not just ask Jun Bai directly? Others may not know the Qingce Sword Immortal's story, but he definitely does.]
[To the person above, look at Jun Bai's expression right now. A fictional story already did this to him—if it were the real story, I don't even dare imagine whether Jun Bai would cry.]
Zhongli let out a long sigh and said: "For a story to continue being passed down, it needs to be accepted by the masses."
"Compared to an ordinary person with no highlights gravely wounding a god, everyone is more willing to accept that a person born extraordinary gravely wounded a god after undergoing growth."
"Sorry, Jun Bai—even I have to admit that the latter version sounds more like a real story."
"But the truth is not like that." Jun Bai sighed. "Zhongli, tell me—which is more important: the truth, or letting the story continue to spread?"
Zhongli met Jun Bai's gaze and was about to speak.
"Jun Bai, are you okay?" Paimon and Lumine came out after him. "Zhongli's here too? Looks like we don't need to worry."
"I'm fine. Sorry for making you worry." Jun Bai turned around and looked at Lumine and Paimon apologetically.
"The story Iron Tongue Tian told isn't accurate, right?" Lumine asked directly. "We're the managers—we apologize to you on his behalf."
"Sorry—it was because I wanted to hear the story that it ended up bringing up your sad memories, Jun Bai." Paimon apologized as well.
"It's okay. My emotions are actually quite stable."
[Quite stable—indeed. Not only did he not cry in public, he didn't cry even after coming out here.]
[It's fine~ If I hadn't seen someone's expression that looked like he was about to cry, I might have actually believed it.]
At this moment, Zhongli looked toward the entrance of Fengdeng Lou: "Director, why not just come out and join us? Eavesdropping from behind the door is a bit impolite."
A faint sound of Hu Tao's voice could be heard, then Ning Yao pushed open the door, revealing Hu Tao and Xingqiu who had been eavesdropping behind it.
Under the gaze of the four, Hu Tao walked out calmly while Xingqiu covered his face with one hand.
"I felt that little brother Jun Bai's state seemed off, so I thought I'd come take a look. Now it seems this Hall Master was overthinking." Hu Tao naturally walked over to stand beside Zhongli.
"Me too." Xingqiu said somewhat awkwardly.
However, everyone present except Paimon was quite intelligent, so they could all tell that Xingqiu clearly had other business.
He was genuinely concerned about Jun Bai, but he had another purpose.
"The second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild might as well speak plainly. I am not an unreasonable person." Jun Bai said.
Xingqiu hesitated but ultimately shook his head: "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Jun, but I really don't have any other purpose."
"Really none?"
"None."
[You can tell Xingqiu really has something he wants to ask.]
[It's obvious—everyone can see it. But Xingqiu isn't the type without emotional intelligence, so he didn't say it in front of the person himself.]
"Alright then." Jun Bai nodded, then looked toward Lumine and Paimon. "You've been managing Fengdeng Lou very well. Entrusting it to you was indeed the right choice."
"Work inspection complete. I'll head back to Guili Assembly now. Next time I come to inspect, I'll have Ning Yao remind you—remember to prepare properly."
"Just leave it to us with peace of mind." Paimon said with arms crossed and a smile.
Jun Bai nodded to Lumine and Zhongli, then turned and left Fengdeng Lou.
Only after Jun Bai had walked far away did Hu Tao look toward Xingqiu: "So Xingqiu, you followed this Hall Master out earlier because you had a question for little brother Jun Bai, right?"
"Director truly is exceptionally perceptive." Xingqiu praised.
"Flattery, flattery." Hu Tao said proudly with hands on hips.
"Eh? Wait a minute, Xingqiu—you had something to ask Jun Bai? But Jun Bai already left." Paimon said, pointing in the direction Jun Bai had gone.
"I originally wanted to ask, but seeing Brother Jun's expression, I really couldn't bring myself to." Xingqiu said, recalling Jun Bai's blank face.
"Oh? What kind of question requires the second young master of Feiyun Commerce Guild to specially consult the owner of Fengdeng Lou?" Hu Tao smiled slyly.
"Director Hu, please don't tease me." Xingqiu said helplessly. "I saw dissatisfaction on his face during Iron Tongue Tian's storytelling and felt he might have a different view of the Qingce Sword Immortal.
"Even possibly—Brother Jun might know some clues about the Qingce Sword Immortal. So I wanted to discuss it with him."
[Xingqiu unknowingly found the person who knows the Qingce Sword Immortal best.]
[I'm wondering—if Xingqiu had asked, would Jun Bai have told him, and would this plot segment end here?]
"This Hall Master is quite curious too. Too bad little brother Jun Bai already left." Hu Tao turned her gaze to Zhongli. "Consultant, you know ancient and modern matters—do you know about the Qingce Sword Immortal?"
"I know a little." Zhongli nodded.
"Then tell us about it." Hu Tao said expectantly.
However, Zhongli shook his head: "I'm very sorry, Director. On this matter, I have a contract with someone—related affairs cannot be disclosed to others."
"Then you might as well just say you don't know." Hu Tao rolled her eyes.
Zhongli chuckled lightly: "If everyone is truly curious about the Qingce Sword Immortal, why not go directly to Qingce Village and find out for yourselves?"