Due to the lamp shape of the lotus platform – wide at the top, narrow in the centre and wide at the bottom – the bottom base was only slightly narrower than the top. While Miguo Branch wasn’t a group of architects, they already knew the design would make the platform heavy based on the same platform design at Pure Land. The extremely narrow centre – in comparison to the top and bottom – that connected the top to the base, however, rendered it prone to collapsing. To address the issue, they planned to set eight stone columns around the base, with one side deep in the ground and another through the stone base. Well, they were supposed to consolidate the base today.
Lord Miguo flew onto the now-slanted platform. For someone of his level, slanted or not barely made a difference compared to flat ground. Targeting the approaching silhouette behind the veil of white dust, he unleashed punch that came out as loud as cannon fire. He couldn’t identify the two men and the woman with them, but he wasn’t going to accept anything less than their lives for ruining his work.
The ferocious qi blast should’ve hit them with a loud boom, yet it only grazed Hua Qing as gently as gentle breeze tickling a rock.
Ming Feizhen stepped out from the behind the dust field, grinning from ear to ear as if he was at home. “Hahaha, damn, this is fun. It’s been ages since I’ve jumped from such a height. By the way, where are we?”
Having yet to catch up with current events, Hua Qing thundered, “Why in god’s name did you jump, then?! I thought I was going to hell! Ah, I think we knocked something over, rather, knocked somebody’s property over. I recall this thing being flat when I landed.”
“Eh, no biggie. They can just construct another one.”
Lord Miguo, as a man who preferred actions over words, took Ming Feizhen’s words to heart, compelling him to jump down to the lotus platform to inspect the broken parts. Even though the part that connected the base to the bottom was broken, it was possible to substitute the connector. As for the shattered leaves, they had spares, plus nine more days to spare, so there was a good chance of repairing it. Lord Miguo waved the head artisan over, then instructed him to commence repairs forthwith.
As soon as they hopped off the other side of the lotus platform, Su Li absorbed her landing with a forward roll, then sprinted off.
Ming Feizhen curled his lips. “What are you running so far for? I don’t have the spare energy to go to your rescue if you’re caught.”
“I’d be safer with them than with you, don’t you think?!” Su Li hadn’t gone far at all, when her weak legs forced her to squat down so that she could throw up the sickening feeling in her gut.
Su Li was peacefully enjoying some congee at Zhuo Estate when Ming Feizhen kidnapped her with a gale, dragging her along with a half-conscious Hua Qing, and said, “Lass, I need your help, hahaha.” Without even explicating what he needed help with, Ming Feizhen let her experience what moving at high speeds really meant.
Hua Qing gently patted Su Li on the back. “Here, Miss Su. Use my handkerchief. I, too, just finished puking.”
“Get… Get lost!” And… Su Li returned to vomiting. While she wasn’t spoiled rotten at home, she had never been subjected to the amount of stress she had borne with for the last month.
The tears that formed in Su Li’s eyes had Hua Qing’s brain doing gymnastics for a response. “You’ve got it wrong. I meant that I can sympathise with how you feel. This handkerchief is clean! Clean!” Seeing as she wasn’t having any of it, he rolled his handkerchief up in his hand. “Look here.” He tugged at the handkerchief, pulling out a flower that gained Su Li’s attention. Therefore, he thumped his chest and bragged, “I knew it would work. This works every time Yanran cries.”
Su Li zoned out until she could no longer contain her tears and voice. Helpless, Hua Qing just caressed her crown until she noticed the warmth on her head and stopped. Espying his flustered appearance, she finally smiled. Once she paid attention to his mumbling, she heard, “Jade Emperor, Your Majesty, please help this vixen who can’t stop crying.” Thus, she grouched, “Y-you’re the vixen.”
“Y-you heard me?” Hua Qing removed his hand from Su Li’s head. “I was out of ideas, so I could only pray. Are you feeling better now?”
Su Li curled her lips.
“Poor, Miss Su. All of her shark-fin congee has gone to waste.”
Su Li laughed. “Listen to yourself. You’re grossing me to death.”
“Huh? To death? How? You’re talking right now.”
Su Li’s giggle took Hua Qing’s soul from him. “Wh-what are you staring for?”
“… You’re beautiful.”
“That’s not a reason for you to stare.”
“Not only do I want to stare, but I also want to compose a poem.”
Su Li lowered her head. “Feel free to.”
“Oh… Oh, yes, um, Feizhen, what poem should I recite?”
“She’s the fairest of them all. She’s the one. She’s the one I’m seeing onto the sedan. What do you think?”
“Can it be any lousier?!” Hua Qing spun around to glare, only for the surroundings to remind him that they were still in enemy territory. Meanwhile, Ming Feizhen had his arms tucked and a big upward curve at his lips. Hence, he and Su Li got up with their heads down the whole time.
Ming Feizhen covered his face. “Too bright. I’m going blind.”
“Well, sorry. It was one of those heat-of-the-moment moments. So, uh, we still in danger?”
“Well, you don’t need to worry about being surrounded. After all,” Ming Feizhen pointed to the other side, “we pretty much know everyone here.” Subsequently, he yelled, “Hey, Mister, why are you here?!”
Stroking his beard, Wen Wudao commented, “Hahaha, I like it! Smash it all down! Good bloody job, son!”
“Welcome, welcome, brother, hahaha. Green hats everywhere as usual,” said Zhuxing Wuchang.
“It’s green mountains everywhere, you stupid foreigner!” Wen Wudao chided.
Bai Tianbin: “We’re here for this stupid event! What are you doing here?!”
Ming Feizhen: “We’re here to sabotage the event!”
“Oh, damn, break a leg, then!”
“Oh, have fun, then!”
Ming Feizhen waved to the group to his left. “Master Le, long-time no see.”
The chubby man with the timid youth and Master Ku beamed. “Long-time no see. I see you’re in good spirits as always. I’m happier to see you than my old man.”
“Ahaha, you flatter me.”
“When you going to visit us to enjoy some music and dances? I am ready for you any time.”
“Another day, I promise.” Ming Feizhen changed his direction of sight again, still smiling. “Never expected I’d have the chance to meet you two again, much less here of all places.”
Ruisi and Yungu had no choice but to force a smile. “We missed you. When will you visit us again?”
“Hahaha, as soon as I can.”
Given all the people Ming Feizhen’s clique was acquainted with, Miguo Branch’s people had qualms about jumping them. After all, how were they supposed to tell who the trio was with?
“Who are you? Announce yourselves!” Having finished with the repair discussion, Lord Miguo sauntered towards the liable trio. Glaring at Ming Feizhen, he questioned, “You. Are Ming Feizhen?”
“Yeah, and who is you?”
Infuriated, the big man flashed a corner of his teeth. “This great one is Lord Miguo!”
“Really? You ar-”
“Not only have you been hiding Repository Jade, but now you’ve also sabotaged my ceremony. Where are Kongcang and Zhuo Fengru? Did you kill them? You will be shown no mercy.”
