Chapter 093: Blue Moonlight (Twenty-Two)
Chen Yunli fell asleep to the mermaid's singing and woke up to the morning breeze on the sea.
When he opened his eyes, Luo Qifang's handsome face was right above his head. Seeing that he had woken up, she smiled and waved at him...
"Want to eat grilled fish? I made it early this morning."
Chen Yunli propped himself up and sat up. His gradually recovering senses allowed him to smell the dry smell of burning firewood and the aroma of grilled fish.
At the same time, his stomach and intestines began to swell and make gurgling sounds.
Most practitioners practice fasting, and their bodies are clean and dust-free. Chen Yunli is one of the few who is obsessed with food and drink. Since he started practicing, he has never skipped a bite of food. In order to ensure that no filth is produced in his body, he specially learned the art of fasting.
He took the grilled fish, which was crispy, fragrant and still steaming.
"Wouldn't this be too greasy to eat so early in the morning?" Chen Yunli asked as he honestly bit off a piece of fish.
Tender and fragrant, the aroma of wood fire brings out the natural flavors of the ingredients without overpowering them, completely overpowering the strong fishy odor of the ocean fish. The fish's natural fats, meticulously roasted, permeate every corner of the fish, creating a sizzling, yet not at all greasy bite.
This reminded Chen Yunli of a hellish joke about food ingredients - scallops: the shell that protected me became the plate that held me.
He curled his eyebrows and when he looked up, he saw Luo Qifang staring at him.
He didn't explain whether grilled fish was oily or not, but instead asked him, "Is it greasy?"
Chen Yunli chewed a few times and found the tender fish meat surprisingly chewy. "Not greasy, very fragrant. Did you add any seasoning? I taste a bit of spiciness."
"Your tongue is quite sensitive," Luo Qifang beamed, pointing to the unnamed sea trees nearby. "Look, I wrapped the fish in their leaves and grilled it. These leaves are spicy and salty, and the flavor permeates the fish during grilling, acting as a seasoning. I stumbled upon this by chance when I was here before. You know, I always enjoy exploring new uses for both new and familiar things."
"That's true, and you succeed every time." Chen Yunli ate the fish and gave him a thumbs up, "You are worthy of being the son of Heaven."
Luo Qifang was happy.
The two men divided the grilled fish, left one for Su Chenyu, holding it in a leaf, and returned on the waves as if taking a walk.
The sea is blue in the morning light, and the sunlight shines on it, like a piece of golden satin.
Chen Yunli hadn't left yet, but he already started to miss the tranquility and peace here.
A few more days passed.
Su Chenyu helped Chen Yunli and Luo Qifang pack up their things - mainly various East China Sea specialties, and stuffed them all into Luo Qifang's storage magic tool.
"After you leave, I will also leave Donghai and return to the Su family." Su Chenyu said while busying himself.
"Going back to the Su family?" Chen Yunli asked casually, thinking of the records in the Su family history.
"Yes, I'm going back to inherit the family business." Su Chenyu's tone was flat, no joy could be heard, but fortunately, he didn't reject it. "My old man has to go into seclusion and won't come out until he breaks through the Void Immortal Realm. Someone has to take care of the family affairs. My brothers and sisters pushed each other, and in the end, it all fell on me."
"The Su family has a long tradition of poetry and literature, and with so few people and little to do, it's easy to manage. That's why you're so nonchalant." Luo Qifang complained, "If I asked you to take charge of our Luo family, I guarantee you'd be running away in three days."
"You don't need to tell me that?" Su Chenyu rolled his eyes at him. "Didn't you just crawl away from the Luo family?"
The two men cast a series of spells at each other with their eyes, but neither of them won.
Chen Yunli was used to these two bickering, and he was amused by it. "You've made the Luo family look like a den of dragons and tigers. Is that really necessary?"
"As for that, very much so."
Su Chenyu became excited when talking about such things. He pushed Luo Qifang aside and stood next to Chen Yunli, telling him about the Luo family's troubles.
The Luo family is a spiritual cultivation clan on the banks of the Yuman River. The family is prosperous, with twenty-two side branches alone. The main family's direct and side branches for two generations together have more than a hundred people. It is no exaggeration to say that the tree has deep roots and luxuriant branches and leaves.
Luo Qifang is the eldest legitimate son of this generation, but because his mother died early, his status became a bit awkward after his stepmother came into the family. Calling him the eldest legitimate son would hurt his stepmother's reputation, but not saying it would be unfair to his mother and him. Therefore, before leaving home, he had a cold relationship with everyone in the family, including his father and several younger brothers who he lived with day and night.
Although the Luo family is wealthy and powerful and has many cultivation resources at their disposal, there are too many people in the family. If they want to stand out and obtain more resources, they must work hard to move up and fight to the death.
If the direct lineage was like this, the fighting among the concubines was even more fierce. The intensity and focus of the struggle was such that Luo Qifang would frown just thinking about it.
Chen Yunli often sees this kind of normal state in large families in novels, movies and TV dramas. Chen Yunli accepts it well and can understand Luo Qifang's embarrassment and annoyance in it.
"If nothing unexpected happens, the position of Luo family patriarch will fall to one of his brothers. He is the most talented cultivator in the Luo family. In the future, he will drop the word 'talent' and strive for the throne of the strongest in the world, becoming the face of the Luo family to the outside world."
Su Chenyu shook his head as he spoke: "It's no wonder he doesn't like going home."
"My parents gave me life, and my family raised me to be a successful person. If I become strong enough in the future, it's my duty to protect my family and repay their kindness," Luo Qifang interjected. He had always been a good-tempered person, but he spoke coldly. "But that's all."
...You can see that he really doesn't like that home.
After exchanging a glance with Chen Yunli, Su Chenyu cleared his throat and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Is there anything else you want to bring? If you don't have it at home, I'll go out and buy it for you."
"No, I don't need to bring anything. It's you who keeps stuffing food and drinks into my storage device." Luo Qifang waved her hand and looked at Chen Yunli, "Zhu Ji, is there anything you want to bring?"
Chen Yunli smiled and said, "No need. Local specialties are only truly appreciated when eaten in the area they're in. Other places also have their own unique charms worth experiencing. If I ever miss the East China Sea, I'll just come back. After all, a cultivator can travel a thousand miles a day."
"You're right." Luo Qifang narrowed her eyes and her mood seemed to have improved.
Su Chenyu observed the atmosphere between the two and smiled too - the couple he had been secretly supporting for two years seemed to be coming together!
…
The main stream of the Yuman River flows directly into the East China Sea. If they go upstream along the estuary, with the speed of Chen Yunli and Luo Qifang, they can reach the middle reaches of the Yuman River in less than half a day - that is also the most prosperous area along the Yuman River.
On the riverbank stood the city of Meiye, where the heads of the Su and Luo families resided. During the day, the four markets, east, west, south, and north, were all open, protecting the aristocratic and wealthy families of the city. At night, the night markets were brightly lit and bustling with people, earning it the nickname "The City That Never Sleeps."
"I haven't been back for ten years. Has anything changed here?"
Chen Yunli slowly walked into the city. After living in the quiet seaside for a long time, he suddenly returned to the world and found everything new and interesting.
"Nothing has changed - ah, the grandma who sold tofu pudding on East Street is gone, and now her son has taken over. Her son's cooking skills are not very good, and the tofu pudding he makes is bitter." Luo Qifang looked in a certain direction and shook her head and sighed.
Chen Yunli looked over and saw a long queue under a tofu pudding stall made of thatch and wood. He didn't know how he saw the stall owner.
But looking at the changes first and then looking at the food really suits his personality.
The two of them walked around five streets, had a meal, and barely got a clear idea of Meiye City.
Chen Yunli swallowed the candy cake in his mouth and asked him, "Should we go back to the Luo family now, or wait until the day your brother gets married?"
Luo Qifang calculated the days and noticed powdered sugar on the corner of his lips from the corner of her eye, so she lifted the corner of her sleeve to wipe it off for him. Her movements were so natural and open that even Chen Yunli didn't notice anything was wrong.
"He's getting married the day after tomorrow. As his elder brother, I understand... well, I'll go back today." Luo Qifang changed her words reluctantly, "I still need to see my father. Fortunately, I'm not familiar with the other branches of the family, so I don't need to pay a visit."
Chen Yunli roughly estimated the number of people in his family and immediately understood why he felt relieved after he finished speaking.
"Do you need me to accompany you?"
"Please come with me!" Luo Qifang said firmly, with a faint clanging sound. "That place is too unfamiliar to me. I don't want to go alone."
Is it just because it's unfamiliar? If so, he's been to all sorts of unfamiliar places, so why is he only afraid to go home?
Probably because he felt uncomfortable and embarrassed, and also because he had stopped considering that place his home a long time ago.
"Then let's go."
Chen Yunli held his hand in his hands, and placed his palm against his wrist, transmitting warmth and a tiny bit of courage.
Luo Qifang looked at his hand and smiled: "Okay."
The Luo family is a big local family. They only open the main gate for important matters, but today they made an exception for one person.
"Hurry up! Clean up the yard where the eldest young master used to live as soon as possible! Sweep the paths leading to the yard twice more, too. There must not be even a speck of dust!"
"Is the kitchen cooking? Follow the menu I wrote! The young master isn't picky about food, but the taste can't be bad!"
"Someone wants to visit the young master? Which branch? ... Forget it, no matter which branch the invitation comes from, return it first! The first person the young master will see when he returns home must be the head of the family, so others should stay away from joining in the fun!"
The housekeeper Xu Laozhong arranged various matters with great energy. He was organized, but the people under him were ordered around in circles. The whole mansion was in unprecedented bustle, even more hectic than the preparations for the second young master's wedding.
The position of steward in the Luo family is a hereditary position. Old Xu's son has been learning from him for some time, and this is the first time he has seen such a scene.
"Dad, is it necessary to make such a fuss just for the young master to come home? If someone didn't know, they would think that a distinguished guest had arrived. ..."
He paused and added softly, "That's too strange."
"What do you know?" Old Xu said, looking at him sideways. "The eldest young master has now reached the Half-Step Void Immortal Realm. Considering his age, this level of progress is truly astonishing. He will surely become a powerful figure in the future. No matter where he goes or which family he joins, he will be a distinguished guest. Besides... it's not that his family is estranged from him, but the eldest young master has never been close to this family, or anyone in it."
His son was puzzled: "The head of the family isn't close to him? And the young masters born to his wife aren't close to him either? The former is fine, but the latter are his biological brothers who grew up with him."
Old Xu shook his head. "No, not at all. But if it weren't for this indifferent relationship that had developed since childhood, the eldest young master wouldn't have come back for the wedding—to be honest, he should be thankful that he came back for the patriarch's funeral."
Old Xu's son hissed and sighed, "There's no kinship among the aristocratic families..."
Hearing this, Old Xu kicked away the rest of his sighs and told him to get back to work.
In this way, the head of the Luo family was busy for two hours. Finally, the eldest young master, who was late, stepped into the house, accompanied by a young man who was no less handsome in appearance and temperament.
Old Xu led his attendants forward to greet him. Before he could speak, he saw his eldest young master turn his head and say to the young man:
"Just now I suddenly remembered that there's a bow in our storeroom. It's of the same rank as my sword, with the power to pierce clouds and split rocks. Aren't you still in need of a handy weapon? Once I've informed my father, I'll go get it for you."
Mr. Xu: “…”
The attendants: "..."
Young Master, do you think it's appropriate to spend all your family savings as soon as you get home?
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