Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’ Chapter 3: Entering the City, Living Together

Activity filled the courier station early that morning. Outside, several young men and women from various clans were already engrossed in their martial arts drills, while others were busy eating breakfast with great enthusiasm.

A variety of morning dishes sat spread across the central table. Li Mo reached for a meat bun, his attention secretly shifting toward the girl sitting beside him.

She had nothing but a bowl of plain rice porridge in front of her, a meal as modest as her own delicate features.

"You can't get through the morning on just that," Li Mo noted, sliding a plate of boiled eggs in her direction.

Ying Bing didn't speak; she simply looked up to meet his gaze.

She looked somewhat sickly, her lips pale, yet this frail appearance only served to highlight her beauty, giving her an aura of soft vulnerability.

However, anyone who found themselves caught in the stare of those mesmerizing eyes would likely feel a sudden, involuntary sense of guilt.

"Ahem."

A light sweat broke out on Li Mo’s brow.

Thinking back on his past behavior made him feel deeply embarrassed. Offering an apology was the very least he could do now.

"I want to apologize for my past actions. I know words alone won't fix what happened. If you are still angry, then—"

"It doesn't matter."

Ying Bing began peeling an egg, her voice so soft it was nearly indifferent.

Li Mo blinked, caught off guard.

Her expression showed no signs of hidden resentment. It wasn't that she had truly forgiven him; she simply didn't care. Those past incidents were so trivial to her that they weren't even worth being upset over.

Since she had never truly cared, there was nothing to forgive.

"Well... I suppose that's fair."

Li Mo gave a self-deprecating smile.

He realized he had been overthinking things, perhaps influenced by too many stories. In truth, Ying Bing’s reaction was perfectly in line with what the Heavenly Destiny Eyes had once seen in her.

Those who remain unmoved by either praise or insults are the ones who achieve the greatest heights. History had already confirmed this to be true.

Ying Bing continued to eat in silence, giving Li Mo no more of her attention.

She had witnessed grander sights and experienced brilliance far beyond this. Aside from her family, her memories of her early life didn't even occupy a single page of her history—they had long since been cast into a forgotten corner.

In those old memories, Li Mo was just a mediocre talent who had barely managed to enter the Clear Abyss Sect. After a year of failing to progress in the outer sect, he had been kicked out. By that time, she had already become the most brilliant star of their generation.

Li Mo seemed different now, but it didn't change anything.

His name would likely never grace the ranking boards of the Eastern Wasteland Domain. They were destined to be nothing more than passing shadows in each other's lives. She never wasted her focus on things that were inconsequential.

Across from her, Li Mo stopped chewing.

[Investment successful. Investment: One boiled egg, one bowl of plain porridge.] [Reward calculation in progress...] [Congratulations, Host. Reward: One thousand taels of silver notes.] [One thousand taels of silver notes]: "Issued by the Flourishing Fortune Bank, universally accepted at major financial institutions."

Li Mo gave a silent sigh.

If only she would eat more. Three meals a day like this could make him a wealthy man. He decided he definitely had to prepare some midnight snacks for her tonight!

---

Two days passed.

A massive city appeared in the distance, stretching out like a giant beast under the open sky.

Purple Sun Prefecture was among the twelve major prefectures of the Eastern Wasteland Domain, overseeing a vast territory of nine counties and thirty-six districts. Legends said that before the Great Yu Dynasty rose to power, this land was the capital of an ancient, fallen empire—a place of great heroes and wealth.

Then, a massive wave of calamity beasts had arrived, terrorizing the Eastern Wasteland for centuries and nearly extinguishing its glory. It wasn't until the Martial Emperor took the throne and brought peace to the nine heavens and ten earths that order returned. The founding patriarch of the Clear Abyss Sect was granted Purple Sun as a reward for helping the empire rise.

After thousands of years of rule, the land had finally recovered its strength and beauty. Ziyang Prefecture City, built on the ruins of the old capital at the base of Qingyuan Mountain, was a magnificent sight to behold.

The famous Qingyuan Mountain Range was located just fifty miles past the city walls.

"We've finally arrived!" "Is that the prefectural city? It's so big—I feel like an ant standing near those gates!" "It's so lively! A prefecture's heart is truly full of life." "Of course it's packed; the Clear Abyss Sect is about to start recruiting disciples."

---

Caravans poured through the gates like an unrestrained flood, accompanied by the constant noise of hooves and wagon wheels. Many people looked toward Qingyuan Mountain with eyes full of desire.

The Great Yu Dynasty was built on martial power, and its authority was tied closely to the great sects. In the skies above Purple Sun Prefecture, the Clear Abyss Sect was the only name that mattered.

The young people from the outlying districts were buzzing with excitement, their voices filled with joy. The locals ignored them, having seen this many times before.

"Truly remarkable," Li Mo whispered, feeling a sense of wonder.

Even though he had seen modern cities in his previous life, he was still stunned. Compared to buildings of steel and glass, this ancient city of decorated pillars and carved wood was on a completely different level of beauty. A modern city of five million was impressive, but an ancient city of that size was incomparable.

"Show your travel permits."

The guards at the gate stood as tall as iron towers, their silver armor shining in the sun as they held their weapons ready. The steward quickly presented an iron token and paid the required coins for their entry.

As their carriage entered, it felt as though they were stepping into a different world. Li Mo looked around like a wide-eyed tourist, fascinated by everything he saw.

His wealth had increased significantly over the last two days. By providing Ying Bing with three meals a day, he had gained over ten thousand taels in silver notes and even a thousand taels of gold. However, upon entering the prefectural city where land was incredibly expensive, Li Mo suddenly felt much less rich.

"Young Master, Ziyang Prefecture City is nothing like our small county," the steward cautioned quietly while steering the carriage.

"We aren't staying for long anyway," Li Mo answered with a grin.

The fact that his father had sent the steward—someone who had known him since childhood—on this journey showed how much his past reputation preceded him. It was a measure taken to ensure his wild nature didn't cause any problems.

"Of course, Young Master." The steward sighed, feeling relieved. This troublemaker really had changed recently, allowing the steward to worry a bit less.

The carriage crossed a bridge painted in bright vermilion, passing over a crowded river of boats. The city was not only larger, but the people seemed more refined; many wore fine silks, and expensive carriages were everywhere. One such carriage, pulled by four foals with crimson scales, was approaching them now. Its cabin was much larger than Li Mo's and decorated with gold and jade, showing off a sophisticated style.

"Cousin!" a voice shouted from behind.

Wang Hu jumped off his horse and ran toward the large carriage. A tall young man in white silk stepped down. He had a steady stance and moved with the grace of a predator. Hanging from his belt was a token that read: Inner Sect.

He was an Inner Sect disciple of the Clear Abyss Sect! The crowd's attitude toward Wang Hu shifted to one of caution immediately. In their group, very few would even make it into the outer sect, let alone the inner sect. That single token represented a massive gap in status; an inner sect disciple could even earn the respect of a county magistrate.

"Little Hu, I expected you'd be here soon," the young man said, smiling as his eyes scanned the group before stopping on Li Mo for a moment. "Since you're new, you probably don't have a place to stay. I know an innkeeper nearby. Why don't you all stay there?"

Wang Hao returned to his carriage, leaving Wang Hu looking very smug. "My cousin Wang Hao became an inner sect disciple in his thirties. If you stay with him, you won't have any trouble."

Wang Hu held his head high, acting as if he were the one who had achieved that rank. The others in the group quickly began to flatter him. Being in a strange city, having a link to an inner sect disciple from Fulong Valley was a huge advantage.

"What is he looking at?" Li Mo wondered, then realized the truth. The man wasn't looking at him—he was staring at the cold young woman by his side.

It made sense. Even in this grand city, Ying Bing’s beauty was unrivaled. Her simple clothes looked better than the expensive outfits of the city women, making them look plain by comparison. After several days of eating together, Li Mo felt their relationship had surely improved. At the very least, they were no longer strangers.

As he thought about this, a large tavern by the river came into view. It was seven stories high and incredibly luxurious—a perfect example of the city's wealth. A waiter saw Wang Hao and immediately called for the innkeeper. The innkeeper arrived humbly, serving tea and talking with Wang Hao while the others waited anxiously.

They had already seen the prices. A basic room cost twenty taels of silver, and the best suites were much more. Because of the upcoming sect recruitment, the prices had been raised even higher.

"A hundred taels for a premium suite?" Li Mo checked the price board before walking to the counter. He saw no reason to be cheap about their accommodations. "I'll take two premium suites."

One for him, and one for Ying Bing. The steward and the guards had already departed to handle the luggage with the escort agency.

"I'm sorry, sir. We are short on rooms. Groups traveling together are limited to booking only one," the clerk explained with a polite bow.

"Fine," Li Mo agreed after thinking for a moment.

"Plum Blossom Suite on the second floor. This is your key."

As the clerk handed over the wooden room token, Wang Hu mocked him from the side. "Some people should just be happy to have a roof over their heads. A hundred taels won't get you any respect in Purple Sun Prefecture. Money doesn't solve everything here."

Li Mo looked at him, confused. Then he remembered—this guy was the son of the Liuhe Gang leader back home. Li Mo's father was the county captain in charge of security. Since their fathers were essentially rivals—one a criminal and the other a lawman—it was only natural that their sons hated each other.

Nearby, Wang Hao approached the nervous youths, acting as though he were doing them a favor. "There are only thirteen premium suites left. Since you're from my cousin's hometown, you'll just have to share."

"That's fine, we can fit!" "Thank you, Brother Wang! You're so generous!"

The group was thrilled and thanked him repeatedly. Li Mo nearly laughed. Who "apologizes" while standing with their chin up and hands behind their back? He knew exactly what the man was doing: he was trying to look impressive, he had noticed a beautiful woman, and now he was trying to look impressive in front of that woman.

Sure enough, Wang Hao looked at Ying Bing and said, "Miss, rooms are hard to find, but I happen to have a private suite here. It's usually empty, but it's kept very clean. If you'd like, you are welcome to stay there?"

He spoke with total confidence. He had used this move before, and it always worked on girls from small towns. He ignored the jealous looks from the other girls in the group. Most people couldn't turn down help from someone powerful who could influence their future.

"No more rooms?" Ying Bing asked, looking at the innkeeper.

"Ah... y-yes, that is correct." The innkeeper nodded quickly, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Wang Hao smiled and prepared to speak again, but his face suddenly went stiff. The young woman simply took the room token from Li Mo’s hand and walked upstairs toward the Plum Blossom Suite. The wooden door clicked shut behind her.

"Tch."

Li Mo looked at Wang Hao, whose face was turning colors from embarrassment. He found it funny but didn't laugh, as it felt like he was seeing a reflection of his own past self. Shaking his head, he followed her up to the second floor.