novelapdf Chapter 114 Trouble Never Fails
Chapter 114 Trouble Never Fails
Chapter 114 Trouble Never Fails
As the Heavenly Fiend Qi died, Li Qingyi quietly dispersed the True Transmission of the Dao in his heart, and he instantly recovered as before.
Looking at the gruesome corpse before him, even someone as resolute as him couldn't help but furrow his brow.
Wasn't that a bit too harsh?
He himself never expected that playing the role of an interrogator he had seen in a TV series in his previous life would make him so cold and ruthless.
He turned his back, no longer wanting to see the horrific scene.
He raised his hand and made a grasping motion, and the storage bag at Tian Sha's waist flew into his palm through the air.
Seeing that Ling'er had already turned and left, her back view revealing a hint of aloofness, Li Qingyi's heart tightened, and she quickly chased after her.
Ling'er stood in a relatively open clearing in the forest, sunlight filtering through the leaves and falling on her.
She simply stood there quietly, gazing at the distant verdant mountains, her expression complex and indescribable.
Hearing Li Qingyi's footsteps behind her, Ling'er asked, "Was that your true form just now, Brother Qingyi?"
Li Qingyi walked to her side and looked at the same mountain view with her, explaining with some helplessness, "That was just an act."
Ling'er turned her head. "An act? But to me, it's more real than reality. Do you think I should believe it?"
Li Qingyi was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to explain.
You can't say he's grasped the essence of acting —
He felt that if he said that, Ling'er would be even less likely to believe him.
However, his extreme state during the interrogation was not his true intention.
"I—" He opened his mouth, but ultimately changed the subject.
He weighed the storage bag, which still carried a faint scent of blood, in his hand. "Let's divide the loot first. Let's see what this tough nut has on it."
Ling'er frowned slightly: "Do you think I would lack these junk pieces?"
"Uh—" Li Qingyi froze, looking slightly embarrassed.
He had indeed forgotten that the person in front of him was a true disciple of the Purple Mansion, whose wealth probably far exceeded his imagination.
He silently opened the storage bag and probed it with his divine sense to take inventory.
The contents of the bag were unremarkable:
Thirty-one spirit stones, several bottles of the most common healing pills, and two thread-bound booklets with worn covers.
One of them is a mid-level body technique for the Qi Refining stage called "Flowing Wind Step".
The other book is "Mysterious Water Yin Sha Array".
The art of formations is profound and complex, and cannot be mastered overnight; Li Qingyi has no intention of delving into it for the time being.
However, his own unique movement technique could just make up for his current lack of a dedicated movement technique, which was a pleasant surprise.
He carefully put away the storage bag and could clearly sense that Ling'er's attitude towards him was somewhat colder and more distant than before.
I was somewhat taken aback.
"Could it be because I refused her suggestion to go to the Zhao family's house last time?"
Li Qingyi, realizing this belatedly, felt it was very likely.
He decided to try to explain his previous rejection.
"The Zhao family," he said cautiously, "I will go. The reason I didn't agree immediately last time was because I was weighing the feasibility of the two options and which one was more secure."
Upon hearing this, Ling'er's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she looked at him with a hint of surprise.
After a moment of silence, she whispered, "If you come with me, you might very well die. Even if you are a true disciple of the Golden Core stage, you might still die without knowing why."
Li Qingyi certainly knew.
He had previously considered staying away from the Zhao family's vortex.
Then, with the help of the simulator, he quietly accumulated experience, steadily improved, and lived the cultivation life he had always longed for.
but----
If we back down now and watch Ling'er step into a life-or-death situation, we will surely feel stagnation and find it difficult to think clearly.
While seeking immortality through cultivation requires avoiding misfortune and seeking good fortune, constantly shrinking back and harboring resentment and regret will eventually lead to a blocked mind and backfire on oneself.
What he pursued was the longevity of preserving one's true self after overcoming hardships, rather than the cowardly retreat of seeking only survival.
Moreover, risks and opportunities often go hand in hand.
Going to the Zhao family's residence is fraught with danger, but it may also present an opportunity to seize resources.
Although he didn't get his hands on Zhao Mengxi's "dowry" in the last simulation, it did show him the huge potential benefits it might contain.
"I know." Li Qingyi met her gaze. "That's why I need time to think about how to infiltrate the Zhao family more safely, instead of just barging in headfirst."
Ling'er fell silent again after hearing this.
A gentle breeze swept through the woods, lifting a few strands of her hair.
She suddenly smiled. "Never mind." She gently shook her head. "That was ultimately my own fate, and I should face it myself."
Li Qingyi's lips twitched. Women change their expressions so quickly—"
"Let's not talk about that for now," Li Qingyi decided to move on to a more practical issue.
"Ling'er, can you contact True Person Minghao? If True Person Zifu intervenes, things might take a big turn for the better."
Ling'er's expression darkened, and she shook her head: "If only we could contact Master."
In his quest for a breakthrough, he has entered into a deep seclusion, isolating himself from both inside and outside the world; even I cannot send messages through him.
Li Qingyi's heart sank, and she pressed on, "What about the other elders within the Zhengyang Immortal Sect?"
Ling'er smiled wryly: "The sect elders each have their own duties. Without sufficient reasons or benefits, they will not easily intervene in the internal disputes of the Xuan Kingdom, especially those involving the Purple Mansion."
Her words were tactful, but her meaning was clear: there needed to be something that would entice the sect.
Suddenly, Ling'er changed the subject, as if she remembered something: "However, before Master went into seclusion, he instructed that if we encountered any major trouble that we could not solve, we could seek help from the Xuan Kingdom's royal family."
Upon hearing this, Li Qingyi's lips twitched involuntarily.
Thinking of the mysterious and close relationship between Crown Prince Li Xuance and the Purple Mansion True Man of the Zhao family, he immediately crossed this option off his mind.
Ask the royal family for help?
This matter is likely deeply connected to the royal family.
"No," he flatly refused. "The capital city is probably more dangerous for us than the Zhao family is now."
Upon hearing this, the two were immediately at a loss.
Left with no other choice, they had to return to Xuan Ce City.
Deep within the ancestral home of the Zhao family in Zichuan.
In a simple, unadorned secret room.
Zhao Wuyi, the patriarch of the Zhao family, was dressed in a Taoist robe and sat cross-legged on a cold jade futon.
His face was thin and his beard and hair were all white, but at this moment his face was as still as water.
"You still know how to come back?" Zhao Wuyi's voice was icy. "Anyone who didn't know better would probably think that you, Zhao Jingci, are a Purple Mansion raised by the Xuan Kingdom's royal family."
Zhao Jingci, dressed in plain robes, stiffened, then gave a bitter smile and cupped his hands, saying, "Father, please calm your anger. Jingci—also has his own unavoidable difficulties."
Zhao Wuyi seemed to have anticipated that he wouldn't tell the truth, so he stopped pressing for details and instead asked, "I'll only ask you one question: what are you and the royal family plotting?"
Zhao Jingci's body trembled, and after a moment of silence, he slowly lowered his head: "Grandfather—please forgive Jingci, I cannot tell you."
"I can't tell you?" Zhao Wuyi's eyes grew even colder.
The temperature in the entire sealed room plummeted, and ice crystals formed all around.
"I'll ask you one last question," Zhao Wuyi said, enunciating each word clearly, "Will your schemes harm the fundamental interests of my Zhao family?! Speak!"
Zhao Jingci's expression froze, and after hesitating for a moment, he was about to explain.
"That's enough!"
Zhao Wuyi suddenly stood up from the prayer mat.
In an instant, the overwhelming pressure of the Purple Mansion descended without reservation, slamming down on Zhao Jingci.
"The worst decision I've ever made in my life!" Zhao Wuyi stared intently at Zhao Jingci, "was helping you ascend to the Purple Mansion!"
His eyes flashed with murderous intent as he said, "I never imagined that after all these years, the Zhao family would have nurtured not a pillar to protect the family, but a wolf that could threaten the clan at any moment!"
Zhao Jingci let the murderous intent wash over him, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "After this matter, I will leave it to my grandfather to decide."
Zhao Jingci simply endured it silently.
Guilt flashed in his eyes. He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Father, Jing Ci guarantees that he will do his utmost to ensure that the Zhao family will not suffer any damage."
"ensure?"
Zhao Wuyi laughed in fury, the sound particularly jarring and desolate. "Hahahaha—what a promise! Zhao Jingci, you've even forgotten where your own home is, what face do you have to make a promise?!"
Zhao Wuyi could no longer suppress his anger and was about to make a move.
Zhao Jingci suddenly looked up and said urgently, "Father! Wait! If the two of us fight here, the Zhao family will be reduced to ruins in no time! What innocent members of the clan are there?"
"Excellent! Absolutely excellent!" He pointed at Zhao Jingci, his finger trembling. "You—you are truly a fine descendant of the Zhao family!"
Zhao Jingci felt a mix of emotions.
He said no more, but bowed deeply to Zhao Wuyi: "Grandfather, Jing Ci has failed you and the family. In ten days, Jing Ci will personally visit the Zhao family with His Highness the Crown Prince."
At that time, I hope that you, my grandfather, will prioritize the overall interests of the family and not obstruct me. Once everything is settled, whether you wish to kill or torture me, Jing Ci will have no objection!
""
After saying that, he flashed and disappeared in front of Zhao Wuyi.
Zhao Wuyi stood frozen in place, motionless for a long time.
Suddenly, a surge of emotion welled up in my chest.
He couldn't hold back any longer and gushed out a mouthful of dark red blood.
Having ascended to the Purple Palace for over five hundred years, he has weathered storms and witnessed rises and falls, forging his will into something as firm as a rock.
But today, he was so angered by the successor he had personally nurtured that his Dao heart trembled and his blood surged upwards.
His gaze fell upon the Zhao family ancestral hall in the distance, looking at a memorial tablet above it, and he sighed, "Yuan'er, it was your father who chose the wrong person back then."
Xuan Ce City, Luo Mei Residence.
The small courtyard in the south of the city has been reduced to ruins. After discussing it with Ling'er, Li Qingyi finally decided to settle there temporarily.
To Li Qingyi's dismay, the monthly room rate at Luomei Residence was three spirit stones higher than usual.
Fortunately, Ling'er knew his thrifty nature and had already prepaid the full month's room fee before he could even speak.
Although the room fee was settled, Li Qingyi still felt a headache coming on at the thought of living with Zhao Mengxi.
He would never forget the crazy woman who said she was pregnant.
It's a shame I didn't survive the last simulation to the "wedding night," otherwise I would definitely have—"
He promptly stopped some inappropriate thoughts and brought his attention back to reality.
The private room the two rented was named "Xurixuan" and was located deep in a bamboo forest. The environment was indeed far superior to that of the small courtyard in the south of the city.
The courtyard is serene and quiet, and the interior is elegantly furnished, mainly in light blue and white, adorned with plum blossom-patterned porcelain and calligraphy and paintings. The air is filled with a faint, cool fragrance of plum blossoms, which brings peace to the mind.
More importantly, the concentration of spiritual energy here is significantly higher than that outside.
Although it cannot compare to the cave dwellings of major sects, it is still an excellent temporary residence for cultivators in the Qi Refining stage.
At this moment, the two were sitting facing each other at the tea table by the window inside the pavilion.
The bamboo shadows sway outside the window, filtering out dappled sunlight.
Ling'er, holding a cup of tea, asked, "Brother Qingyi, why are you always so stingy?"
Upon hearing this, Li Qingyi's face showed a hint of embarrassment. She coughed lightly and skillfully began to make empty promises: "Ahem, Ling'er, you know me, I'm really so poor that I can't even afford to eat."
"When we have more money in the future, I will definitely buy you the best magic weapons and elixirs, and you can spend the spirit stones as you please."
He quickly calculated his family's assets in his mind:
The thirty-one stones contributed by Tian Sha, plus the fourteen remaining after the simulation, total forty-five low-grade spirit stones.
We are 15 short of the 60 needed for the next simulation.
Wait a minute, Qingkui must have drawn some more golden body talismans these past two days.
Eight Golden Body Talismans can be exchanged for sixteen spirit stones at the Lingbao Pavilion, according to the previously agreed price.
After doing this calculation, Li Qingyi realized that all she needed to do was go to Lingbao Pavilion.
Ling'er rolled her eyes. "You stingy bastard."
Li Qingyi shrugged helplessly. Seeing Ling'er return to her usual self, the tension in her heart eased a little.
He said seriously, "Ling'er, is there anything special about you?"
Ling'er was taken aback upon hearing this, not understanding why Li Qingyi would ask such a question.
However, she still replied, "I have a special constitution; I lose consciousness every year on my birthday. I don't know what happens during that time."
She added, "During those days, my master took care of me, and after I woke up, everything was normal again."
"Lost consciousness? Birthday?" Li Qingyi frowned. "When was your birthday?"
December 1st.
Li Qingyi did a quick mental calculation, then frowned deeply. "Isn't this the day of my wedding with Zhao Mengxi, the one we simulated last time?"
It's late October now, and November will be here in a few days.
Just then, a sound that Li Qingyi least wanted to hear came from outside the courtyard.
"Ling'er, have you come to this Luomei residence after thinking things through?"
Zhao Mengxi, dressed in a light red dress, pushed open the courtyard gate and gracefully stepped into the courtyard.
Li Qingyi sighed inwardly: Trouble is never absent.