In the Eastern side of the City of Prodigies, it the special area, a long bearded grey haired old man, wearing a white and black daoist robe was taking a stroll around the student's residing area for no particular reason with his hands clasped behind his back, he was feeling quite pleased by the calm and tranquility in the area despite the arrival of the students for a new school year.
'These youngsters are taking their life here quite seriously, getting into cultivation the moment they arrived, it's quite admirable.' he thought with a light smile.
As he walked further ahead he saw the beautiful lake to the side showing the reflection of the sun that was about to set, he then began to reminisce about his younger day when he was also a young man that came to further his learning of the Dao here, Junior Sister Su was with him back then discussing the way of cultivation, such a bittersweet memory made him sigh, when did they grow so further apart forgetting the times they shared, such was life.
While he lamented about the changes that time brought, his melancholic thought were interrupted by the raising voice of some youngsters not far, his expression returned to the strict Elder of the Academy as he strode forward to see what was going on.
…...
The tension was palpable in front of a luxurious courtyard.
Li Yun was standing alone against tens of young men who were blocking his way forward. The guys were looking at each other in dismay after hearing his extremely arrogant words.
One young man that seemed like the leader then took the initiative to talk, he was about two years older than Li Yun and had an handsome face with a scholarly demeanor full of elegance; commonly known as a white face…
"This Junior brother, there maybe some misunderstanding, we are here to visit the new student that live in this courtyard, do you know him by chance."
His voice was filled with gentleness, but it didn't give him any femininity and raised his handsomeness level instead.
Li Yun wasn't in the mood to deal with these guys as he said calmly:
"Are you searching for the new freshman that shocked the whole Academy with a great prowess?"
The young man noded his head in acknowledgement. Look, it was always better to have a civilized talk instead of buttheading any problems that come your way, he was about to say something when Li Yun interrupted him:
"Then, you have come to the wrong place senior brother, that person live in the next courtyard. Look , it is just beside this one."
Li Yun then showed the courtyard beside his, where a greatly famous freshman was living indeed, he didn't lie to them.
He then excused himself and entered his residence with Liu Guan following behind, the young man and his follower were left standing here looking at each other in puzzlement, did they really get the wrong place?
As they were beginning to feel some doubts and walked to the other courtyard to confirm the situation, a snort echoed to the side as a figure appeared:
"Humph, what are you doing this late in this area student Zhou Feng?"
"Elder Zheng?!" The young man Zhou Feng showed some panic when he saw who it was.
"Elder Zheng?"
"Elder Zheng!!"
The followers echoed one after the other in puzzlement then fear.
It was the Disciplinary Elder of the Academy Zheng Yang! Look like their visit today won't end well….
But, shouldn't the minions come first before the higher up come one after the other, how come the last boss appeared first ? His followers were already discussing if they should kneel down and ask for forgiveness directly to reduce the punishments.
But the leader Zhou Feng regained his composure, he then said calmly:
"We are sorry for the derangement Elder Zheng, we are just here to visit a fellow student living here, we may be good friend but look like I was a bit rash to come here at such a late time, please excuse us."
What a skillful tongue! The other marveled at brother Zhou's bluffing, Elder Zheng looked less angry after hearing that, so they were here to visit some friend, but their happiness was short lived as the door of the courtyard opened up and a beautiful young lady walked out with a puzzled face. She remarked several people at her doorstep and one of them seemed to be an Elder of the Academy from his clothing, she went to him and cupped her fist in respect before saying calmly:
"Greeting Elder, this one is called Feng Ling, what can I do for you?"
Seeing her, Elder Zheng's face returned from lighter to dark as he said:
"Greeting student Feng Ling, I want to confirm something with you, do you you know these students behind me?"
Feng Ling looked at the gentlemen and looked genuinely surprised before saying:
"Sorry Elder but I do not know these gentlemen, I am a new freshman of the Academy this year and only arrived here not long ago."
Elder Zheng's thought were confirmed after hearing that, he then said in a calm tone:
"I see, sorry for the disturbing student Feng Ling, you can go back to your residence."
Feng Ling bowed again before going back inside, no one heard her as she whispered 'what a petty man…'.
Elder Zheng then looked at the group of students before him and asked coldly:
"Any other words to say student Zhou Feng?"
Zhou Feng had some perspiration on his face as he said weakly:
"It may look like an excuse Elder Zheng but, this is not what you think…"
Honesty is a good virtue…
"I will listen to your explanation tomorrow, for now you all go back to your own residence!" Elder Zheng said sternly before shooing them away making them scram back to where they came from, he then walked away with his hands behind his back, the Disciplinary Elder did another good job today…
...
Li Yun was now seated on a large soft bed in his new courtyard, it was quite spacious with three bedrooms as large as a suite, a living that took more space than his home and a high end kitchen depsite the fact that no one really cooked in this city ; he told Liu Guan to leave him alone and not disturb under any circumstances.
He then began to think about the day today, and he had only two words:
"So tiring…"
He didn't want to think about all of that anymore so he decided to directly go to the Peach garden, he wasn't going here to seek his mother's comforting, it would be too shameful at his age…
...…
In the Li house in the Peach garden, mother Li was doing some cooking in the kitchen, it was still early yet many dishes were almost done, such a hardworking mother! She then took a plate of steamed buns with roasted pork (char Siu), her youngest son's favorite, and brought them to the dinning table where Li Yun was the only one seated.
"Thank you, mom." He gave his thanks before eating in bliss, this was the taste of home the taste of his mother's love.
Li Ying didn't ask him anything and just sat before him with a smile.
Xiao Ling'er was seated bedide father Li on the sofa in the living, watching the T.v.? She felt puzzled by the two's action so she asked him:
"Father Li, why are they acting so strangely? Did something happen to brother Li Yun?"
Li Cheng let out a sigh and said:
"You may be right Xiao Ling'er, everyone have some bad day from time to time, so just let them be."
He then patted her head before looking at the strange things shown on the T.v., a guy that seemed out of this world even in this cultivation world was talking excitedly about incomprehensible thing like the great war in the Abyss realm that lasted for a thousand years coming to close, but he just thought it was a channel from another continent. Did they not need to pay any bill to watch this then? So mysterious…
Half an hour passed by, and Li Ya was already seated on the dinning table laughing uncontrollably while Li Yun looked at her with great angst, she only stopped after their mother's warning.
It was then that Li Kun descended from upstairs, and looked at the strange atmosphere, he then looked at his father in the living in puzzlement but he felt even more puzzled, what was he watching…It remain as a mystery…
"It's a bit early, but we can have dinner then." Mother Li said prompting the other to go on the dinning table and began the dinner in family, Xiao Ling'er also got a seat having a bigger table is so useful no?
Hong Xi woke up discretely and went to eat in his bowl, today was steamed buns and fish balls, what a great happiness.
The family member then eat while talking about anything new in their day. Li Ya then said:
"My day was pretty much spent in my residence cultivating, Sun Jia also did the same, but when I walked out to get some air I heard some rumor...pft…" she then stoped here, it would be too mean to continue.
The other didn't ask either as Li Kun made a report on his situation:
"The work is quite hectic in my company but I am just tasked to make some difficult to make pills, when I gave them the pill formula of the great yang rejuvenating pill they exclaimed about how great the leader was before my assistant hugged me and...cough… that's it, I'd say." he stopped talking here, he was an engaged man even if in name only, he didn't do anything to reproach him about.
Father Li Cheng then showed why he was the head of the house as he made a proper talk:
"With the help of your mother and the Blue River school, we managed to spread the new methods of plantation of Spiritual Herbs to most of the city surrounding, it should be spread in the whole region in the next week finishing the mission."
Such a great news! Everyone showed a smile hearing that praising father and mother Li as well as Xiao Ling'er who helped them, the other three felt a bit embarrassed since they didn't do anything after the initial advancement of the project advertising the method in the Blue Sky city, but they couldn't complain about it.
After the laughter, father Li then looked quite serious as he had another announcement, the other saw his solemnity so they listened attentively:
"We had tried out best cooperating with the Sun Clan to win other the other Great Clan, I have made some concessions and was willing to close my eyes this time, but sadly there are still some of them that refuse to back down and keep working with the Dark cult, there is nothing else that can be done…"
The other showed a somber look, they knew that something like this would happen sooner or later so they prepared themselves for that. Xiao Ling'er ate her steamed bun with a sad face…
...…
In the Dark miasma region, Wang Dafei was reading a report on his study unlike usual, he look was quite grave as he read it, he then muttered :
"This thing is really beyond my expectation, it may be unprecedented in the story of the continent."
There were many numbers and graphs on the sheets of paper showing the sharp rise in the growth of spiritual herbs in some part of the Blue River region, but only he who was so ever concerned about the situation there would remark these changes. And he could say that it was frightening! He knew the value of such an increase, the resources in the region would grow at an alarming rate giving rise to the number of experts and the Li clan that reign here would only get stronger.
But the rise of the number of experts was a trifling matter, no matter the number of ants they can't bit a Dragon to death, it wasn't bling arrogance but a proved fact since the time immemorial. If you want to eat a Dragon become one yourself first.
He was more troubled by something else, whatever methods they used would be almost completely useless for the other regions. It would be too much of a coincidence if you say that the greatest spiritual herbs productor of the continent, suddenly found a method to grow any spiritual herbs, but only spiritual herbs, at a faster rate and greater yield out of nowhere right? Something must be done to investigate the matter and there was only one move he could use right now.
He then stood up and looked at the starless sky silently before saying in a cold tone:
"Whatever you are hiding Li Cheng, this Wang Dafei would find it sooner or later, I hope you enjoy your moment of peace for now, the time will come…. It will come sooner than you may expect…" His voice echoed in the silence of darkness. What sinister plot was the Devil God Wang Dafei concocting? No one but himself knew.