Chapter 38 Returning to the Hometown
Everyone's eyes turned to Qi Qing.
The young man smiled stiffly and secretly gritted his teeth.
This brat is becoming more and more lawless, taking revenge on personal grudges.
Fortunately, Yue Ji was well aware of the principle of knowing when to stop, and he knew when to stop, and immediately changed the subject: "Under the supervision of my master, I get up at 1:00 a.m. every day to practice, recite the book of spiritual herbs at 7:00 p.m., review yesterday's summary at 9:00 p.m., and start refining the first batch of pills at noon..."
The young man spoke calmly and fluently as he described the arrangements for the twelve hours. The content was detailed and the process was believable, just like "a high-energy day in the life of a traveling fourteen-year-old Nascent Soul cultivator."
If Qi Qing hadn't slept, eaten and lived with him every day, he would have probably believed this nonsense.
He glanced around silently, and sure enough, he saw many alchemists who first realized something, then looked ashamed. Some even took out jade slips and began to record, feeling that they had neglected their studies and had no idea that they could do so many things in a day!
"Master often taught me that cultivation is like sailing against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat. If you have never seen the sky at midnight, you are not qualified to talk about diligence."
At this point, Yue Ji paused and raised his voice slightly: "I think alchemy is the same. Only by burning the lamp to continue the day, going all out, and sticking to the boredom for ten years, can you know that God rewards hard work. Fellow practitioners, I hope to encourage each other!"
The young man gave a typical smile and bowed calmly, which immediately won warm applause from the audience.
"You are right, my friend. God rewards hard work! I will go back to seclusion now!"
"That's right. We are still young, so why should we sleep for a long time while we are alive? We will sleep forever after we die!"
"Thank you for your enlightenment! Listening to your words is worth ten years of reading!"
The alchemists present were so excited one after another. When Qi Qing heard them talking about self-discipline and hard work, he rushed towards Yue Ji and quickly stood up and made way.
The young man was quickly submerged in the crowd. Qi Qing quietly made a gesture and slipped out.
He waited under the eaves for a while. The copper bells on the eaves jingled and several footsteps were heard.
He looked back and saw that it was the president who came out.
The old man stroked his beard and said with a smile: "If I'm not mistaken, Brother Qi is preparing to return to the Middle Earth?"
"That's right." Qi Qing remembered something and rubbed his fingers: "President, since my disciple won the first prize, shouldn't the prize be..."
The president smiled unchanged: "Don't worry, fellow Daoist, the prize will be sent to the City Lord's Mansion later."
Qi Qing felt relieved and said with a smile: "That's good, that's good."
He didn't mind losing face, after all, Yue Ji came here for the prize, if he forgot about it, it would be a loss.
The president put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky, sighing: "Middle Earth is really full of talented people. I haven't seen such a young Nascent Soul cultivator in a hundred years."
Qi Qing wasn't sure what he wanted to say, so he gathered his sleeves and waited for what to say next.
"It's been a long time since that old guy has met such a talented person." The president changed the subject and looked at Qi Qing meaningfully: "It's a pity that these two don't have the fate of master and disciple. Fellow Daoist Qi, please forgive me for asking, how did you accept this disciple?"
Qi Qing said vaguely: "The sect is accepting new members."
"So, he is from the vicinity of Tiandu Sect?"
Qi Qing said uncertainly: "Should it be... not?"
The original novel is vague about Yue Ji's life experience, only saying that his family suffered a disaster, and the opening chapter is an entry test.
If he really looked into it, he was actually completely confused about Yue Ji's background.
The president nodded thoughtfully, stroking his beard and said, "This boy is extremely talented. I think he has a long family background. When I have some free time in the future, I will definitely visit the Tiandu Sect in person."
"Haha, well..." Thinking of his own shabby little courtyard, Qi Qing touched his nose awkwardly and said, "Tiandu Sect is not a big sect. I'm afraid I'll disappoint you."
The president said magnanimously: "It's okay. In a few years, when Master Wen comes out again, we will discuss it ourselves."
Qi Qing already knew the old monster's last name was Wen, and was a little surprised to suddenly hear that he was in seclusion.
He wanted to find out more indirectly, but Yue Ji squeezed out at this moment.
The boy saw the two of them standing alone from the crowd, not knowing what they were talking about, and looked at the president with some wariness in his eyes.
The president did not take it as an offense and said with a smile: "Young man, cherish your talent for alchemy. I hope that next time we meet, you can give me and Master Wen a bigger surprise."
There was something else behind his words. Qi Qing waited for him to enter the door before asking Yue Ji thoughtfully, "Have you met him?"
Yue Ji pursed his lips and shook his head, then asked, "When will you return to Middle-earth?"
"Just these two days." Qi Qing stretched and said in a more relaxed tone: "If there is nothing else to say, why not go for a walk on the street."
You will never be able to see the magnificent sight of hundreds of cities standing side by side in Xiwuzhou, so it is better to appreciate the scenery of Liucheng before leaving.
Soon, the generous prizes from the Alchemy Association were delivered to the City Lord's Mansion, along with many visiting cards from alchemists. Yue Ji became famous among the alchemists this time, and the alchemists who were invited to tutor him were also very proud, and they all left the Alchemy Academy with a smile on their faces.
When the city lord heard that they were leaving, he stopped attending to his official duties and came to try to keep them with tears in his eyes.
"Mr. Qi, I haven't fulfilled my duty as a good host yet. Why don't you stay for another month?" He grabbed Qi Qing's hand and said, "I haven't even taken you to taste the fine wine and delicacies of Liucheng yet, and you're leaving like this. I won't be able to sleep for the rest of my life!"
"Lord City Lord." Qi Qing pulled his hand away with a complicated look in his eyes, and said, "You should know that my last name is not Qi. I lied to you."
The city lord said excitedly: "What does it matter! Whether your surname is Qi or Qi, you are my benefactor, I don't care."
He was still trying to touch Qi Qing's hand, but the young man suddenly stepped forward as if nothing had happened, inserted himself between the two of them, and just pushed him aside: "Excuse me."
The city lord was stunned for a moment, then politely withdrew his hand and waited for him to pass, but he didn't expect that he would just stand there motionless.
"Brother Ji...what are you doing?"
Yue Ji narrowed his eyes, leaned towards Qi Qing inconspicuously, and said with a curved lip: "The feng shui here is very good. I want to stay for a while. The city lord won't mind, right?"
"..." The city lord was speechless for a moment, remembering that he had beaten him mercilessly, and turned to Qi Qing aggrievedly: "Qi Enren, let's go over there--"
Qi Qing pulled Yue Ji and signaled him to salute the city lord: "Alright, why don't you thank the city lord for hiring a mentor for you?"
After Yue Ji reluctantly did as he was told, he said, "Thank you for your kindness, City Lord. However, my master and I have been bothering you for a long time. The sect has important matters to attend to, so we cannot stay for long. If the City Lord comes to visit the Central Plains in the future, I will certainly welcome you."
Hearing this, the city lord's eyes lit up: "Can I go to Tiandu Sect to find you?"
"No..." Before Yue Ji could finish his words, Qi Qing readily responded, "Of course."
The city lord was delighted: "It's a deal!"
After two days of packing, Qi Qing and Yue Ji bid farewell to the city lord and the alchemy teacher and officially set off back to Middle-earth.
"Qianren! You must wait for me to find you!"
At the time of parting, the city lord stood on the city wall and greeted loudly.
Qi Qing was about to respond when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a cold white figure beside him.
Are you dazzled? What is Miao Zheng doing here?
The man did not say anything, but just watched them go away quietly.
Qi Qing suppressed his doubts, waved goodbye to the city lord, then flew up on his sword, took Yue Ji and left Liucheng without looking back.
It took the two of them two days to return to the land of Middle-earth. This time, there were no cranes to escort them, so their pace was inevitably much slower.
Qi Qing took the opportunity to open the live broadcast, changed the title to [Middle Earth Geography Channel], and began to act as a scenery anchor.
Yue Ji was strangely silent all the way, so strange that he seemed quite distant from him, and even the comments on the forums were speculating whether the two had had a private argument.
"We really didn't quarrel, and I didn't scold him." Qi Qing explained helplessly: "It's normal for adolescent children to have their own thoughts. Don't make random guesses."
Having said that, the young man glanced at the barrage and felt that Yue Ji was indeed abnormal.
He thought for a moment, lifted the car curtain, and said to the young man driving in front, "Are we going back like this? Do you want to go for a stroll on the road?"
Yue Ji turned around and said absentmindedly, "It's all up to Master."
Qi Qing said, "Okay, it will be Bailu in a few days. I heard there is a Thousand Lantern Festival nearby. Let's go and ask for good luck."
After the itinerary was finalized, God seemed to be paying special attention to it. That night, as soon as the carriage arrived at a small town, heavy rain fell without warning.
The two of them hurriedly found an inn to rest. The mountain rain was beating on the eaves of the stilt house. The night was as dark as ink. A row of red lanterns were swaying in the rain. The lights of the houses not far away were sporadic, making the inn seem particularly quiet.
Qi Qing booked two rooms, wiped the rain off his body, and was concerned about the apprentice next door. He called a few times but heard no response.
He felt strange, pushed the door open, and knocked on Yue Ji's door: "Disciple."
The rain was dripping, and no one responded from inside.
Isn't he here? I didn't seem to hear him go out just now.
Just as Qi Qing was about to knock again, a voice suddenly called out from the stairs: "Master."
He turned his head and saw Yue Ji walking up the stairs slowly, with water droplets dripping from the hem of his robe, leaving dark marks on the wooden floor.
"It's so late, and you're still running outside?" Qi Qing frowned.
Yue Ji said vaguely: "Something happened."
He walked past Qi Qing and opened the door, but suddenly stopped at the threshold.
"Master," he lowered his voice, as if afraid of being noticed: "What do you... think of the demons?"
Qi Qingwei was stunned. This question came so suddenly, so he followed into the house and asked, "What do you mean?"
The two entered the room one after the other. Yue Ji lit the lamp on the table and asked again with his eyelashes drooping, "Master, do you think that demons are born with deep sins and should all be put to death?"
"The demon clan..." Qi Qing followed his words and thought about it. He was embarrassed to say that the only person he had ever seen who was related to the demon was the demon pill cultivator on the day of the finals. "I think good and evil are not determined by birth, but by upbringing. Although there is a saying that dragons give birth to dragons and phoenixes give birth to phoenixes, you must have also heard that good bamboo shoots come out of bad bamboos."
"Then," Yue Ji's Adam's apple rolled, and he asked, "Do you hate the demons?"
Qi Qing said honestly: "I haven't seen many of them, so how can I hate them?"
He pulled out a dry towel, wiped Yue Ji's hair, and said, "Alright, even if there are demons or ghosts hiding in this town, they can't hurt us. Master promises you, okay?"
Yue Ji lowered his head obediently and let him wipe the wet parts of his body dry.
It was not until Qi Qing put away the towel and was about to leave that he uttered a muffled "hmm".
"Go to bed early, call me if you need anything."
Qi Qing closed the door for him.
When there was only a gap left, suddenly a slightly cold hand grabbed his wrist.
Yue Ji stood behind the crack in the door, half of his face hidden in the shadow, his eyelashes casting a warm yellow tone in the dim candlelight, looking at him without saying a word.
The sound of raindrops hitting the lanterns became very loud, and the branches and leaves rustled, but no other sound could be heard.
Qi Qing sighed: "What happened again?"
After a long while, the young man slowly raised his eyes. The candlelight flickered in his eyes, making his eyes look wet, innocent and pitiful.
"Master, I've been having nightmares these past few days... Can you let me sleep with you?"
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