https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-231-Divine-Soul-Illusion-A-Grand-Occasion/12619344/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-233-The-Ultimate-Delicacy-the-Six-Yang-Pepper/12619351/
Chapter 232: Aloof Little Li, Traveling Companions
The group of men from the martial world chatted lively for a while before paying their bill and leaving the tea tent.
Seemingly eager to get back on the road, they didn't want to miss the upcoming spectacle involving the Flowcloud Sect.
After they left, the other two tables of customers also began to settle their bills and depart one by one.
Lu Qing glanced at their retreating figures, a thoughtful look on his face.
After finishing two pots of tea and all the steamed buns, Lu Qing and his companions rested a while longer, waiting for the horses to finish their feed and rest before continuing their journey.
"Old Doctor Chen, I never expected the Flowcloud Sect to stir up such a ruckus," Wei Zian remarked with surprise.
"Indeed. I thought they would be anxiously searching for their young sect master, but instead, they're using his disappearance as an excuse to intensify their exploitation and plunder of other smaller forces," Magus added.
Only Lu Qing remained silent, deep in thought.
The old doctor noticed his pensive expression and asked, "Qing, what are you thinking about?"
"Master, I'm wondering about the Flowcloud Sect's young sect master. He clearly died in Qingfeng Town, and none of the other sect members escaped at that time. Logically, the Flowcloud Sect shouldn't have confirmed his death so quickly. At most, they should have assumed he went missing," Lu Qing said, puzzled.
"That's true," Magus realized. "We didn't delay our journey coming from Qingfeng Town, but from what those martial artists were saying, it's as if the Flowcloud Sect learned of their young master's death shortly after we took care of him. It is rather suspicious."
Lu Qing's heart stirred at these words.
"Qing, has something occurred to you?" The old doctor asked, noticing his reaction.
"I'm thinking that the Flowcloud Sect must possess some kind of extraordinary treasure that allows them to confirm their young master's fate within a short time. Otherwise, it's hard to explain," Lu Qing replied.
"Is there really such a treasure in this world?" Magus exclaimed. "According to Principal Fang's map, the Flowcloud Sect is a thousand miles away from Qingfeng Town!"
"Stranger things have happened in this world," Lu Qing said with a smile. "Take the cauldron in the Wei family, for instance. Before you saw it, could you have imagined that such a wondrous artifact existed?"
Magus fell silent, recalling the bizarre cauldron he had witnessed in the underground chamber of the Wei estate. Indeed, before seeing it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed that such an unfathomable treasure could exist.
Unlike Magus, the old doctor didn't question Lu Qing's words. He knew that Lu Qing had inherited the cultivation technique, so when Lu Qing spoke with such certainty, it was clear that he had an idea of how the Flowcloud Sect had confirmed the young master's death.
A contemplative silence fell over the carriage. Lu Qing's thoughts turned to his suspicions.
Indeed, he had a theory. If the Flowcloud Sect had used something like a life plaque or soul plaque to ascertain Mo Xuan's death, it meant that someone within the sect had gained access to cultivation techniques. At the very least, they must have obtained certain immortal artifacts.
If that was the case, their upcoming visit to the Flowcloud Sect might not go as planned, and there could be some unforeseen developments.
However, Lu Qing wasn't concerned, even if there were unexpected twists. Aside from his master's breakthrough and advancement to a Qi Training Master, his own cultivation had also been steadily increasing, and his spirit energy was growing daily. His master's strength was now comparable to that of a Pre-Heaven Perfection Cultivator.
As for himself, if pushed to the limit, Lu Qing could break through and enter the pre-heaven realm. At that point, with his cultivation surging and the manifestation of pre-heaven true qi, coupled with the two spiritual artifacts in his possession—the Cosmos Sack and the Earth Spirit Pearl—his battle prowess would likely surpass even that of his master. He would fear no one, not even if a genuine cultivator appeared from the Flowcloud Sect.
The carriage continued its leisurely journey. Knowing that the major sects of Yun Province would be heading to the Flowcloud Sect in a few days to demand explanations, Lu Qing and his companions saw no need to rush.
With their current pace, they would definitely arrive at the Flowcloud Sect within three days, and they could even enjoy the upcoming spectacle for free.
As evening approached, the carriage came to a halt.
"Old Doctor, night is falling, and there's a dilapidated temple up ahead. I think we'll have to spend the night there," Magus said.
"Let's stop there, then," the old doctor agreed.
They had grown accustomed to camping outdoors during this journey, and finding shelter in a ruined temple was already considered fortunate.
Magus steered the carriage toward the temple. Upon entering, they discovered it was a small, abandoned shrine dedicated to the mountain god.
Moreover...
Lu Qing glanced at the horses outside the temple, his heart stirring slightly as if someone had claimed this place before them.
Upon hearing the carriage, two people emerged from the temple to investigate. After a brief moment of surprise, both parties hesitated.
Lu Qing raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the coincidence.
As it turned out, the two individuals were a young man and woman carrying long swords—the same couple they had encountered earlier during their lunch break at the tea tent.
"It's you!" Magus exclaimed, recognizing the pair.
"Indeed, what a coincidence to meet again so soon," the young man replied politely.
Clearly, they had also recognized Lu Qing and his companions.
"It seems fate has brought us together once more," the old doctor said warmly. "Might there be room for us to shelter from the cold night here as well?"
"Of course, please come in," the young woman replied, leading the way into the temple.
Following them inside, they found a small courtyard before reaching the main hall dedicated to the mountain god.
There, they encountered three more people: a rotund middle-aged man and two young men.
"Who are they, Daughter?" the rotund man asked upon seeing the young woman enter with their guests.
"Father, it's the group we met at noon when we stopped for a meal. They've just arrived and wish to stay the night here as well, given the approaching darkness," she replied.
"Ah, so it's Doctor Chen," the rotund man said, recognizing Lu Qing's group.
"Greetings," the old doctor said politely. "I am Chen, a physician by trade, accompanied by my disciple and servant. We were in a rush during our journey and failed to plan our itinerary properly. As night falls, we humbly request your hospitality for the night."
"Please, there's no need for such formality, Doctor Chen," the rotund man said with a smile. "This place has no owner, and we are merely here first. We are not the hosts, so there's no need to ask for our permission. It's not easy traveling these days, so please, feel free to join us for the night."
The rotund man had recognized Lu Qing's group as well, for their diverse ages, from the elderly to the young child, made them quite memorable.
"Thank you for your kindness," the old doctor said. "May I ask your name?"
"I am Xu..."
As the old doctor and the rotund man chatted, Lu Qing and Wei Zian found a spot to settle in and began tidying up the area.
Meanwhile, the young woman, whose name was Ping'er, approached Xiao Yan, her curiosity piqued by the small creature in her arms.
"What are you holding, little sister?" Ping'er asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.
"Hello, sister," Xiao Yan replied sweetly. "This is Xiao Li, my best friend."
"Xiao Li?" Ping'er cooed, captivated by the adorable creature. "May I pet it?"
"You'll have to ask Xiao Li," Xiao Yan said, looking down at the creature in her arms.
Xiao Li opened its eyes, glanced at Ping'er, then turned its head away, pretending to continue its nap.
The two young girls, having spent so much time together, were in perfect sync.
Xiao Yan immediately understood Xiao Li's wishes and apologized, "I'm sorry, sister, but Xiao Li doesn't like being touched by strangers."
"I see," Ping'er said, a bit disappointed but quickly distracted by another thought. "You said you needed to ask Xiao Li's permission. Can it understand your words?"
"Yes, Xiao Li is amazing! It understands everything we say," Xiao Yan boasted proudly.
Ping'er's curiosity about Xiao Li grew even more. However, seeing Xiao Li's reluctance to engage with strangers, she felt a bit dejected.
Then, her eyes lit up as she asked, "Little sister, do you know what Xiao Li likes to eat?"
"Xiao Li loves fish!" Xiao Yan replied without hesitation.
"Fish?" Ping'er's face fell. "We have everything but fish."
Indeed, their bags were well-stocked, but no one carried fish due to its strong odor. It was impractical for travelers to carry such pungent food.
"Aside from fish, does Xiao Li like jerky?" the girl asked hopefully.
But Xiao Yan shook her head. "Not really. Xiao Li loves fish the most and rarely eats jerky."
"How about dried rations...?"
Wei Zian, who was sweeping the floor, found the girl's attempts to win over Xiao Li amusing.
That little fellow, Xiao Li, was quite proud.
Aside from Xiao Yan and Lu Qing, he had never seen Xiao Li be friendly with anyone else.
No matter who it was, Xiao Li would always be indifferent.
Even with Old Doctor Chen, Xiao Li rarely approached him on his own initiative.
Just like his mother, over the past two years, she had tried all sorts of methods to get closer to Xiao Li.
In the end, she had bribed him with countless fish, but the number of times she had actually been able to hold Xiao Li could be counted on one hand.
It was futile for the girl to try and win over Xiao Li's affections with just a little food.
Indeed, in the following time, no matter what method the girl used, she couldn't get close to Xiao Li.
Even when she took out her most beloved cakes, Xiao Li didn't even open his eyes to glance at them.
Instead, Xiao Yan benefited, eating several delicious cakes.
Eventually, Xiao Li found the girl too annoying and jumped out of Xiao Yan's arms, onto Lu Qing's shoulder, and hid in his embrace.
At this point, the girl was completely at a loss and could only feel depressed.
After all, there was a distinction between men and women, and as a young lady, she dared not pester a strange man.
This scene naturally fell into the eyes of Old Doctor Chen and the rotund middle-aged man.
"Old Doctor Chen, your little beast is quite discerning of human nature. Please forgive my daughter for her forwardness," the rotund man said.
"It's nothing," Old Doctor Chen laughed. "Xiao Li has a quirky personality. Usually, aside from Ah Qing and Xiao Yan, he rarely gets close to anyone, even us. Please don't take it to heart, Miss Xu."
"I see. So this little beast has quite the personality," the rotund man realized.
"By the way, Mr. Xu, earlier you mentioned that you're heading to the Flowcloud Sect, right?" Old Doctor Chen asked.
"Yes, at noon in the tea tent, Doctor Chen must have also heard about the upcoming major event at the Flowcloud Sect. I'm bringing my disciples out to broaden their horizons, and we can't miss such a spectacle," Mr. Xu replied.
"But didn't those martial artists at noon say that the Flowcloud Sect is overbearing and tyrannical? Mr. Xu, aren't you afraid of the danger?" Old Doctor Chen asked.
"Hahaha! The Flowcloud Sect is about to face a joint attack from numerous sects in Yun Province, and they'll be hard-pressed to protect themselves. How would they have the time to bother with us idle folks? Besides, although I'm not particularly talented, I do have the ability to protect my disciples," the rotund man laughed heartily.
"Mr. Xu is formidable," Old Doctor Chen praised.
"By the way, Doctor Chen, where are you all headed?" the rotund man asked.
"We were also planning to travel to the lands controlled by the Flowcloud Sect, but after hearing what those martial artists said at noon, we're feeling hesitant.
The Flowcloud Sect is about to become the eye of a storm in Yun Province. If we go there now, we might accidentally get caught up in it," Old Doctor Chen said hesitantly.
"Oh, is that so? What's there to hesitate about?" the rotund man laughed. "Doctor Chen, since you're also out for a journey of enrichment, you shouldn't miss out on such a grand occasion. This time, most of the major sects in Yun Province will be present. It would be a shame to miss it."
"But..."
"No buts, it's rare for us to get along so well. Doctor Chen, if you're worried about safety on the road, why don't we set off together tomorrow? We can look out for each other along the way. With us around, ordinary hooligans won't dare to bother you!" the rotund man said candidly.
Seeing the rotund man's relaxed attitude, Old Doctor Chen pondered for a moment before nodding. "Since you put it that way, my disciple and I shall shamelessly rely on Mr. Xu's goodwill."
"There's no need for such formality. Then it's settled!"
Upon hearing their decision, the girl beside them felt delighted.
If they were to travel together the next day, wouldn't she have more time to get closer to Xiao Li?
With this in mind, the girl immediately went to find Xiao Yan, hoping to learn more about Xiao Li's likes and dislikes from her.
Lu Qing was surprised when he learned that his master had decided to set off with the rotund man and his group the next day.
However, he didn't ask any questions and continued to busy himself with preparing dinner for everyone.
Soon, a rich aroma filled the air, slowly permeating the entire mountain shrine.
(End of Chapter)
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