Chapter 87 My Beloved:

The next morning.

Rong Xie arrived at the manager's courtyard of Lan Yuan Villa early in the morning and entered his small room with banana leaf-covered windows.

Last night, Rong Xie read the booklet that Steward Wang had given him over and over again, gaining a lot of knowledge. He couldn't wait to apply what he had learned to his planning for the orchard's operation next year, so he came to the villa early this morning.

After the end-of-week report, the stewards began their work for the new week. That morning, the stewards' courtyard was quite lively, with people passing by Rongxie Gate from time to time.

Surprisingly, everyone who passed by simply greeted Rong Xie before going about their own business.

The enthusiasm they showed yesterday for matchmaking with Rong Xie vanished overnight; the stewards seemed to have suddenly lost interest in the matter.

Of course, this is a good thing for Rong Xie.

However, Rong Xie was still somewhat unaccustomed to the sudden change in the managers' attitudes.

"Could it be because of Miss Ling?" Rong Xie pondered.

It seems like this is the only possibility.

Linglong said she would be Rong Xie's shield, and now that shield has really worked. Rong Xie didn't even have to publicize it, yet the news has already spread?

"Forget it, thinking about this and that is a waste of time." Rong Xie shook his head and continued to work on the budget plan. Unconsciously, he became engrossed in it, shutting out all other thoughts, and lost track of time.

By the time he finished making the plan and looked up again, it was already noon.

Rong Xie stood up from his desk, stretched his limbs, picked up the booklet and the new plan, and went out to find Steward Wang.

Manager Wang was giving instructions in the courtyard when he saw Rong Xie approaching. He waved to the other stewards to disperse, then walked over with a smile and asked Rong Xie what was the matter.

Rong Xie handed the booklet to Steward Wang to express his gratitude, as he had benefited greatly from the contents of the booklet.

"No need to be so polite," Manager Wang said with a smile. "You've finished reading so quickly? It's fine if you read it for a couple more days."

"I've finished reading it. This is my budget plan for next year, which I wrote down based on this booklet. Please take a look." Rong Xie handed over a stack of papers he had written, which he had put in a letter for easy storage.

Manager Wang knew the significance of the plan as soon as he picked up the letter, and hurriedly accepted it: "You've done so much in just half a day. Manager Rong, you've worked hard."

"There are many, but they may not be of any use. I would appreciate any guidance from Steward Wang," Rong Xie said.

"Alright, I'll take it back and take a look. But I've been a bit busy these past few days, so I'm afraid it will take a while before I can give you a reply," said Manager Wang.

"No rush," Rong Xie smiled. "We'll talk about it when you're free."

After finishing their business, Rong Xie took his leave.

Manager Wang hesitated for a moment, then called out to Rong Xie.

"I heard that Steward Zhang introduced you to a girl from his distant relative's family?" Steward Wang asked.

Rong Xie thought to herself, "Finally, someone asked. Sure enough, this matter has spread."

"Exactly."

"Hmm..." Manager Wang's expression was somewhat complicated. "Should you discuss this matter with Master Shen?"

"Talking to Shen Bingsi?" Rong Xie was surprised. "What's there to talk to him about? Wait, he... he wasn't here yesterday, was he?"

Yesterday during the mid-day meeting, Rong Xie received a tip from Shen Yan that Shen Bing Si would be coming. He was on guard all day, but Shen Bing Si did not show up.

It turns out that Shen Bingsi did come, but instead came to Lanyuan Villa and sought out Steward Wang.

"What did Shen Bingsi say?" Rong Xie frowned. "I don't need his permission to be with whomever I want, do I? Manager Wang, to tell you the truth, I have no contact with him anymore. I came out here to live my own life."

Manager Wang sighed, "I'm in a difficult position too. Alas, Master Shen seems to be very concerned about your marriage and specifically instructed me not to act as a matchmaker for you."

"What? He won't let me play matchmaker?" Rong Xie was both annoyed and amused.

It's infuriating that Shen Bingsi meddles so much. Shen Bingsi cultivates the Path of Ruthlessness and doesn't accept anyone's kindness. How ruthless she was when she rejected Rong Xie! Now that Rong Xie has changed his ways and found someone else, she's upset and causing trouble again. This domineering behavior is truly infuriating.

The laughter was directed at Shen Bingsi's underhanded behavior, which was completely different from his outwardly magnanimous demeanor. It was as if he wasn't the one who had opened the door and told him to leave and never come back.

"Yes, Master Shen has a very close relationship with our master after all. We dare not disobey his special instructions. So, Manager Rong, you should talk to him properly," Manager Wang said helplessly.

“…Alright,” Rong Xie knew about Steward Wang’s predicament, “If I see him, I will speak to him.”

"That's good, that's good." Manager Wang breathed a sigh of relief.

Rong Xie returned to Zhuli Lane with a heavy heart.

He originally thought that Shen Bingsi came to see him just to see how he was doing and whether it was as he had expected.

The worst-case scenario would be that they see he's not doing so well, go back and exaggerate his situation to Shen Yan and the others, showing off their foresight and concluding that Rong Xieli is indeed no good.

Rong Xie could understand this mentality, because he himself had a bit of it. Every time Shen Yan transmitted her voice to him, talking about how anxious and abnormal the master was, Rong Xie would feel a secret pleasure, and he would be full of energy for the rest of the time, doing everything with great enthusiasm.

However, while one may secretly enjoy the satisfaction, it is rather despicable to take action and openly or secretly sabotage the other party.

Rong Xie always believed that no matter how badly his relationship with Shen Bingsi broke down, it would not affect his good opinion of Shen Bingsi's character. He was upright, honest and straightforward. Among all the people Rong Xie had met, he was the most outstanding. Otherwise, Rong Xie would not have plunged into it headfirst, knowing that the end would be tragic but he still went ahead without hesitation.

But now, Shen Bingsi's actions are destroying all of this, and his glorious image in Rong Xie's heart is collapsing.

"No, this can't go on," Rong Xie muttered to himself. "If I see him again, I must make things clear with him and part ways amicably... This entanglement is pointless."

With that thought in mind, Rong Xie walked into Bamboo Lane.

Suddenly, a dark blue figure caught Rong Xie's eye out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't help but turn around to look, only to see a young woman with a high ponytail walking across the bluestone street.

The immortal sects are full of beauties. Rong Xie had seen many beautiful female cultivators in the inner sect of the Lingjing Sect. Later, he saw many exotic beauties in his precognitive dreams. Even Cui Xingmiao, who was designated as the most beautiful woman in the Book of Fate, could not move Rong Xie's heart as much as this young woman who happened to pass by.

He was almost stunned—luckily, the young woman didn't notice him, striding across the street and disappearing into the crowd without looking back.

"This is..." Rong Xie came to his senses, clutching his chest, his heart pounding as if it were about to burst out of his chest, "What's going on..."

Rong Xie had been away for so long and had never thought about actually settling down with a girl, but just now, he wavered.

"Brother Rong, what are you looking at here?" A clear voice came from behind, startling Rong Xie.

Rong Xie turned around: "Miss Linglong?"

Linglong changed into a bright red cloak and wore a pale yellow velvet skirt. She was already pretty and cute, and this bright outfit made her look even more like a blooming flower.

However, Rong Xie's mind and eyes were filled with that dark blue figure. He suddenly felt a pang of guilt, as if an ally of the alliance, who was using the shield as a shield, had secretly found someone he liked.

Linglong came to see Rong Xie this time not to solidify her image as a shield, but because she really had something to discuss.

She returned yesterday and immediately relayed the news of seeing Rong Xie to the treasure hunting team. Everyone on the team was very excited and expressed their desire to come to Lan Yuan to find them. Linglong was afraid that too many of them would disturb Rong Xie's life, so she did not agree.

However, Linglong couldn't refuse Captain Zhao's request.

Captain Zhao is the leader of the treasure hunting team. He is a straightforward and loyal person. He really wants to meet Rong Xie. He also happens to have some clues about the treasure, but he has been unable to act because of his lack of knowledge. Now that Rong Xie is there, he can solve these clues, and the treasure hunting team can get back on the right track instead of dealing with petty theft every day.

Like the other team members, Linglong hoped that the treasure hunting team could get back on track and start treasure hunting again. Therefore, after hearing Captain Zhao's request, she couldn't wait to find Rong Xie and wanted to bring the two of them together as soon as possible.

"Whenever is convenient for Captain Zhao, I'm available," Rong Xie said with a smile after listening to Linglong's story.

"Really? Then I'll contact him right away and tell him to come out today—" Linglong hurriedly stood up.

“No rush. It’s getting late, and Captain Zhao will probably arrive after dark.” Rong Xie picked up the teapot and poured a cup of freshly brewed flower tea. “Why don’t you contact him first and see when he comes? We can have a casual meal together and then talk about the clues to the hidden treasure.”

"Okay, okay! We'll do as Brother Rong says!" Linglong pinched a whistle between her hands, put it to her lips and blew it. A falcon flew over the courtyard wall like a cannonball, skimmed across the pond, and crashed into the glass window with a "bang".

"Oh dear, you idiot!" Linglong quickly opened the window, scooped up the falcon, placed it on the window frame, and waited for it to stand up on its own, still a little dazed.

"This is...your messenger?" Rong Xie handed the teacup to Linglong. "It seems to be dizzy from the impact. Let it rest for a while."

"Sigh, it's my fault. I forgot that the glass window is transparent," Linglong said dejectedly.

"It's alright, it's alright, I'll cast a healing spell and everything will be fine." Linglong downed her flower tea in one gulp, handed the teacup back to Rong Xie, and muttered, "Mmm, so fragrant." She then formed a hand seal, and a light purple light appeared between her palms.

Rong Xie remembered that when Steward Zhang introduced Linglong, he seemed to have mentioned that she was the daughter of a family of divine healers.

It seems the little eagle-headed falcon is alright.

"Bang!"

A plume of white smoke rose up.

Rong Xie took a half step back, looked up at the window frame, and felt a sense of unease.

Sure enough, when the smoke cleared, the little eagle-headed falcon stared with its two big, round eyes wide open, its entire body stiff as a stone, standing in place, unable to move.

"Oh no!" Linglong flailed her arms wildly. "It's over! This spell can only heal people, not birds..."

Rong Xie's eyelids twitched slightly. Although he had heard that rogue cultivators were all makeshift operations, he did not expect that even a family of divine doctors would be so unreliable.

"I'll do it." Rong Xie reached into his pouch. He remembered that there were several talismans inside that could remove abnormal statuses. They could be used on all kinds of living things. Helping out wouldn't cost him much spiritual energy.

However, before his hand could reach into the brocade pouch, a dark blue figure tumbled down from the eaves, gracefully gliding through the window like an upside-down orchid, landing lightly. One arm blocked Rong Xie's arm, while the other reached out towards the little eagle-headed falcon, its five fingers covering its face.

With a flash of light blue light, the little eagle-headed falcon returned to normal, let out a short cry, flapped its wings and jumped onto Linglong's head, ruffling her hair with its claws.

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Too late! A red envelope dropped! [Crying emoji]