Chapter 104: Completely Different
Just when Rong Xie thought Lu Yingqi would ignore his provocation or say a few polite words to brush it off, Lu Yingqi asked very seriously:
"really?"
"But that would create a lot of drag during flight and require more spiritual energy. Why would Shen Bingsi do that?"
"Even for me, enlarging a flying sword like this and controlling it like an ordinary flying magical artifact would consume a lot of spiritual energy, and I would need to stop and rest after flying for three days and nights. How could he possibly enlarge a flying sword to the size of a house?"
"Shen Bingsi's cultivation is so unfathomable?"
"..."
This time, Rong Xie was at a loss for words.
In their previous conversations, Lu Yingqi had been very rational, not easily trusting others, and even harbored some hostility towards Rong Xie.
Rong Xie thought that this provocative remark wouldn't be so effective, but unexpectedly Lu Yingqi actually believed it.
Over the next period of time, Lu Yingqi chanted incantations while transforming his flying sword into houses of various shapes, including pavilions, quiet rooms, barns, and some houses of his own creation, such as a triangular house with a pointed front, which was said to reduce wind resistance when flying.
Rong Xie watched from the side until Lu Yingqi conjured a triangular house mounted on the flying sword, and the transformation ended.
"Will this work?" Lu Yingqi asked.
"Hmm..." Rong Xie rubbed the tip of his nose, suppressing the urge to laugh. "Alright then."
Lu Yingqi lowered his flying sword and opened the door of the triangular house: "Fellow Daoist, please."
Rong Xie looked inside and paused.
This time, it really wasn't him deliberately stalling for time.
"This... there's not even a place to sit, and no windows for ventilation. It's pitch black, what's the difference between this and solitary confinement?" Rong Xie frowned as he looked inside.
"Do we need those things?" Lu Yingqi asked, puzzled. "When you meditate and enter a state of deep concentration, time passes very quickly."
“I’m sorry, I’m a disgraced disciple of the Spirit Mirror Sect. I’ve given up cultivation. I just want to sit comfortably, to enjoy the scenery when I want, and to lie down and sleep when I don’t.” Rong Xie said, taking out a quilt from his pouch and holding it in his arms. “Since you’ve already changed things, could you please make me a soft couch as well? I’ve prepared everything myself, from the bedding to the blankets.”
"..." Lu Yingqi's usually indifferent face twitched slightly. He waved his hand and conjured up a soft couch and a window for Rong Xie. After that, he ignored him and walked onto his flying sword with his hands behind his back.
Rong Xie walked in, placed the bedding on the soft couch, and sat down comfortably. After a while, he stood up, opened the window, and called out to the back of the figure standing with his hands behind his back, "Senior Brother Lu, can this window be made bigger? It's too small now, and I can't see the scenery."
"..." A flash of white light appeared, and the window seemed to grow larger. Now, Rong Xie could see the scenery outside while sitting on the soft couch.
"Alright, let's go, Master... Senior Brother Lu!"
The flying sword rose steadily and flew towards the sunset. Rong Xie could hardly feel the acceleration or fluctuations. Apart from the changing scenery outside the window, which confirmed that he was flying, he could hardly feel anything physically.
Although he didn't want to admit it, Lu Yingqi's control over the flying sword was indeed stronger than Shen Bingsi's.
The flying sword ascended into the sky and disappeared into the night. The outside temperature began to drop rapidly, and the wind became even stronger.
Rong Xie stood up, found some talismans for warmth and protection, and stuck them around the windows and walls before comfortably lying down in bed.
A long wind blew against the black and white robes of the Xuan Tian Sect sword cultivator standing on the sword. Lu Yingqi turned his head slightly and glanced back.
He was slightly surprised that Rong Xie, who was usually so picky, didn't cause any more trouble and just rested quietly.
The talismans on the windows and walls, after all, were pasted in the house conjured by his flying sword. He could clearly identify those talismans, which were infused with Rong Xie's spiritual power. Each talisman performed its function very well. The person who made the talismans was very skilled in this regard, and it did not seem like the work of a disgraced disciple of the Spirit Mirror Sect at all.
With the aid of the talisman, even though Rong Xie's cultivation level was insufficient and his spiritual power was weak, he could still do many things that only Foundation Establishment stage cultivators could do.
This Rong Xie, one moment he acts lazy and picky, annoying, the next he skillfully takes out a talisman and protects himself well.
I really can't figure out what kind of person he is, or what his purpose is in bringing those absurd prophecies.
Lu Yingqi pondered for a moment, but couldn't figure it out. He didn't force it, so he steered his flying sword and sped towards Qinghe County.
Suddenly, the window behind me opened a crack, and someone knocked hard on the window frame.
"Senior Brother Lu—" Rong Xie's voice came from behind, carried by the wind and not very clear, "Could you slow down? I'm about to throw up!"
"Senior Brother Lu—I'm going to spit on your sword, you don't want me to spit on your sword, do you?"
"..." Lu Yingqi's icy face twitched slightly, and he reduced the flight speed he had secretly increased back down. He had just changed his opinion of this person because of his skillful use of talismans, but now it seemed that he had been thinking too much.
Rong Xie is still the same lazy, troublesome, and annoying person. No wonder he came from Shen Bing Si's place. He and Shen Bing Si are a match made in heaven. I don't know why Xiao Zhi is so fond of him.
Two days later.
Lu Yingqi and Rong Xie arrived at the Lu family residence in Qinghe.
The timing was perfect, just as Rong Xie had predicted. Any slower, and Lu Yingqi might have discovered the treasure-hunting team chasing after them, and all their efforts would have been in vain.
Arriving a day earlier than the treasure-hunting team meant that Lu Yingqi wouldn't immediately get down to business with the Lu family. There would be a welcoming feast and some pleasantries, giving Rong Xie a chance to wander around and gather information.
Once the treasure-hunting team arrives, Lu Yingqi should discuss the well with the Lu family. Rong Xie will be watching from the sidelines to see how Lu Yingqi intends to "resolve" this matter. If he resolves it, then there will be no further discussion. If he acts out of personal favoritism, Rong Xie will mobilize the treasure-hunting team to resolve the matter for him.
The only risk now is Lu Yingqi's character. If he's the kind of person who would do anything for his family's interests, he might very well turn against them after learning about Rong Xie and the treasure-hunting team's actions...
Rong Xie watched Lu Yingqi's fluid movements as he sheathed his flying sword and fell into deep thought.
If Shen Bingsi were here, that would be wonderful.
The thought popped into my head.
He shook his head, banishing the thought.
Shen Bingsi is useless here. Shen Bingsi's cultivation is not as high as Lu Yingqi's. Even if her swordsmanship is worse than his, she still has no chance of winning in this situation where she is completely outmatched.
Ultimately, this matter can only be addressed by acting according to circumstances.
The Lu family's high walls came into Rong Xie's view again. As he looked at the top of the walls, he recalled his feelings when he walked here last time. The maze-like layout and the oppressive atmosphere... He really didn't want to walk into such a place alone unless necessary.
At the corner of the courtyard wall, two servants of the Lu family were already waiting there. When they saw Lu Yingqi and Rong Xie coming from afar, they bowed deeply and kept their bodies folded until Lu Yingqi and Rong Xie walked up to them.
"Welcome home, young master!"
"Welcome home, young master!"
The two called out in unison, and Lu Yingqi hummed in response. Only then did they straighten up and say, "Young Master and Young Master Rong, please follow us."
Two servants led the way, and as they turned the corner of the wall, Rong Xie was startled.
In the open space in front, all the way to the main gate of the Lu family, stood a large number of people. Among them were prominent elders of the Lu family, stewards of considerable status among the servants, younger members of the Lu family, their attendants, and finally, servants dressed in uniform.
As soon as Lu Yingqi and Rong Xie appeared, the servants shouted in unison again, "Welcome home, young master!" The birds in the trees on both sides were startled and flew away.
This kind of pomp and circumstance was something Shen Bingsi didn't even have when she went home.
Rong Xie couldn't help but recall the last time he came back with Lu Yinglin. They entered through the side gate and were quietly led to Lu Yinglin's courtyard. Throughout the process, they hardly saw anyone. It was a blatant case of differential treatment.
Lu Yingqi didn't react in any particular way and accepted the warm welcome with ease.
After the servants finished calling out, the elders and stewards of the Lu family in the front row came forward and greeted Lu Yingqi with great concern and warmth, just like any other ordinary family.
"Yingqi, it's rare for you to come back. The old man misses you so much and talks about you every day. Come in with us!"
"I heard that you made a great impression at the Xuantian Sect after you came out of seclusion this time. Elder Bai even sent a message back saying that he wants to recruit more disciples from our Lu family. You have really brought honor to our Lu family!"
"Yes, these younger generations all look up to you as a role model..."
Surrounded by the crowd, Rong Xie followed Lu Yingqi into the Lu family gate and walked along a well-maintained garden avenue towards the main hall. Pine and cypress trees lined both sides of the avenue, lush and green, and the ground was swept clean, with only some snow remaining on the tree roots and under the steps.
Rong Xie looked at the spacious courtyard with some surprise. He had thought that the Lu family's houses were all small, individual courtyards, but he hadn't expected there to be such a beautiful courtyard.
Looking at these enthusiastic relatives of the Lu family, their concern for Lu Yingqi seemed genuine, and their warm gazes were real.
If Rong Xie had only come here with Lu Yingqi this once, he would have thought that the Lu family was just an ordinary large family. They lived in a remote corner of the country and had finally managed to cultivate such an outstanding disciple who could rank among the top three sects. Naturally, they would have placed endless hopes on him and their enthusiasm would not have been excessive.
However, when one thinks about how they treat those good-for-nothing children, and how they secretly reform so many other people's children, turning them into servants and arbitrarily deciding their life and death, the seemingly harmonious scene before one's eyes becomes eerie.
Rong Xie silently followed behind Lu Yingqi, observing everything.
The crowd escorted Lu Yingqi and Rong Xie into the main hall.
Rong Xie felt a sudden darkness before his eyes. The main hall was very large, with blackout curtains hanging on the windows. The roof was high, about three or four stories high, and the overall environment was dark. Many servants and maids stood in the dark corners.
Rong Xie followed Lu Yingqi all the way to the innermost part. Looking up, he saw a landscape painting with figures and an eight-immortal table set up below. There was a person sitting on each of the two main seats. On the left was an old man who looked somewhat confused. On the right was an elderly woman with heavy makeup and bright red lips. She was leaning close to the old man and smiling as she spoke to him.
A strong scent of roses wafted over, making Rong Xie sneeze.
The woman looked up, glanced at Rong Xie, and smiled, "Oh, this young man looks very kind. Isn't he the one who came to our house with Ying Lin?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com