It was getting darker.
By the time Ou Yangming returned to the small courtyard, it was already dark.
Jiang Qingcheng sat on the doorsill, her eyes full of tears, and her face full of grievance.
When she saw Ou Yangming, her small face immediately drooped down. Tears were rolling in her eyes as if she would cry at any time. She whispered, “Uncle Yu.” As she said that, she pounced over.
“What’s wrong?” Ou Yangming was not bothered by the troublesome term of address and asked gently.
The little girl took in 2 breaths of cold air. Her eyes were wide open as she asked, “Has Grandpa He left?”
“Yes. Even sword cultivators can’t let go of the swords in their hearts. He has lost the swords for a very long time, so he has to get them back. Only then will the true god of swords return. If one has worries in one’s heart, no matter how pure one’s sword intent is, one can’t be the strongest,” Ou Yangming replied to her.
Jiang Qingcheng nodded as if she fully understood. She flipped her palm and took out an exquisite carving knife from her sleeve.
The carving knife was about 3 inches long and was extremely small. It was exquisitely made and exuded a cold aura. With one look, one could tell that it was not an ordinary item.
She shook the carving knife in her hand and widened her eyes. She said, “This was given to Lil’ Man by an inner sect elder of the Jiang family a few days ago, but he kept holding on to the carving knife that you gave him. Since he didn’t want to exchange it, I temporarily took it. Here, you can give it to him.”
Ou Yangming’s eyes flashed as he thought to himself, ‘It’s good to work with smart people. There’s no need to waste time talking.’
He knew this was the Jiang family’s goodwill to him. Lil’ Man also understood but was afraid that he would be in a difficult position, so he refused it. Nonetheless, Jiang Qingcheng was also a smart person. She could see through the crux of the matter.
Ou Yangming could not help but sigh internally. The disciples of great aristocratic families were indeed not simple. This way, there was no need for him to waste his time. He just had to wait for the other party to come knocking on his door. He believed that after Jiang Liuche saw He Jian breaking through to the venerable realm, it would be impossible for him to not have any thoughts in his heart.
The young fellow was not slow. He raised his hand to accept the carving knife and said with a smile, “Qingcheng, you’re really smart.”
When Jiang Qingcheng heard these words, her eyes lit up. It was as if the sky had changed. The bitterness on her face disappeared in an instant. She asked with a smile, “Really?”
“Yes,” Ou Yangming answered affirmatively.
Jiang Qingcheng bounced up and down and walked into the house.
In the main hall, Lil’ Man was sitting upright with a solemn face. His aura was as smooth as one, and there was already a faint sign of a ferocious aura above his head at such a young age.
Holding a carving knife in his hand, he was carving wood. Every carve that he made was sculpturing his heart for the path, and they were made on the hostility in his heart.
ONce Lil’ Man saw Ou Yangming, he stopped what she was doing. He put away the carving knife and asked softly, “Grandpa He left?”
Jiang Qingcheng’s beautiful eyes turned, and she answered first, “He left! I knew it before you did.” As she said that, her face revealed a smug look.
Lil’ Man’s expression was calm. She ignored Jiang Qingcheng.
Ou Yangming looked at her and chuckled. The carving knife slipped out of his sleeve, and he handed it over. “Take it.”
“Okay.” Lil’ Man looked at Ou Yangming quietly. His actions were gentle as he solemnly kept the carving knife.
This scene made Jiang Qingcheng gnash her teeth in anger. She pouted and snorted. “Lil’ Man, you’re treating me differently. It’s really unfair! I gave it to you, but you didn’t take it. Big Brother Yu gave it to you, and you took it without saying anything. Hmph…”
Calling Ou Yangming “Uncle Yu” in front of Lil’ Man would mean that she was inferior to Lil’ Man by a generation. This was something she did not want to see. Therefore, she thought of a way to compromise. She called Ou Yangming “Big Brother” in front of Lil’ Man but address him as an uncle behind the child’s back. When she first thought of this way, she felt proud for a long time and did not sleep for a night.
As soon as Jiang Qingcheng finished, she even looked at Lil’ Man provocatively.
Lil’ Man turned a deaf ear and looked out of the window.
Looking at the two of them, Ou Yangming’s state of mind was peaceful, and the corner of his mouth slightly curved. A good feeling grew in his heart.
※※※※
Jiang Liuche paced back and forth in his study with a faint sense of urgency between his eyebrows.
In the study, purple smoke was rising from an incense burner. What was burned in the furnace was the Sinking Flower Wood, which was unique in the Big Ruins. It could dredge one’s meridians and help one meditate. In the Big Ruins, many but not too many aristocratic families could afford to burn this wood every day.
Of course, for a powerful family like the Jiang family, it was nothing.
In the middle of the study hung a piece of calligraphy. It was said that the ancestor of the Jiang family had personally written it.
The word “still” was written on it. The word was like a chasm. It was penetrative and even carried a bit of path conception. It could calm one’s heart, make one forget everything, and allow one to fall into a wonderful state.
At this moment, even looking at this word could not make Jiang Liuche calm down.
He looked at the sky and walked to the desk. He gently rubbed the ink and placed a good piece of paper with the emblem on it. He dipped the brush into the ink and wrote a couplet.
[As heaven maintains vigor through movements, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-perfection.
[As earth’s terrain is vast, a gentleman should carry goods with great virtue.]
Even so, Jiang Liuche’s heart still could not calm down. Generally speaking, those who were worthy of being the patriarch of a big aristocratic family were all people who had surprising moves and a calm face. At this moment, Jiang Liuche’s heart was turbulent. After all, this was related to whether he could become a Venerable One or not. If he could not become a Venerable One, he would be insignificant. The temptation was too great.
He sat in front of the desk, his fingers tapping the table rhythmically, making a series of thumping sounds. Even the ink in the inkstone that had been cracked open was rippling slightly.
Just as his patience was about to be used up, the long-awaited knock on the door and Jiang Yingrong’s cold voice were heard at the same time.
“Father, I’m Yingrong.”
“Come in, come in.” Jiang Liuche’s voice was urgent as he got up to open the door.
Jiang Yingrong was dressed in red. Her curves were exquisite, and her face was charming. In particular, her collarbone was indescribably delicate.
Jiang Liuche smiled and sighed. “It’s been so many years, but you still like to wear red.”
The lady walked gracefully and responded with a smile, “When I was young, Mother told me that Jiangnan’s beauty is unsurpassed, and it’s best to wear red.”
Jiang Liuche’s expression darkened. He did not reply. He walked to the desk and sat. He had thousands of words in his heart but when he was about to speak, he could not say anything. It was as if his throat was blocked by something. It was all because Jiang Yingrong mentioned her mother, the woman that he loved and hated at the same time.
Jiang Yingrong closed the door and sat opposite Jiang Liuche. She looked at the words on the desk. The ink was still wet. It was obvious that the patriarch had just finished writing. Her eyes turned, and she took the initiative to speak, “Father, your calligraphy’s improving day by day. You’re not far from great success.”
“If I can’t even calm my mind, how can I achieve great success?” Jiang Liuche brought up the topic.
Jiang Yingrong was a clever girl. Of course, she understood what he meant, so she continued, “Becoming a Venerable One is the pursuit of every Spiritualist, so it’s understandable to not be able to remain calm in the face of temptation. Human nature is evil. Greed, anger, obsession, love, and desire. They can’t be stopped at all. Instead, one will only sink deeper.”
Jiang Liuche nodded slightly and asked, “He Jian breaking through to become a Venerable One has something to do with Yu Tianrui, right?”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yingrong’s expression turned serious, and she answered, “Yes, it has something to do with him. Brother Yu has the highest talent among all the people I know. He can suppress a Daoist disciple without any problems.”
“Of course. Otherwise, how could he have torn the hand of a Venerable One?” Jiang Liuche nodded.
“That’s not what I meant.” There seemed to be circles of patterns overlapping in Jiang Yingrong’s pupils, making her look profound.
“Then what do you mean?” Jiang Liuche stared at his daughter with a burning gaze.
“The breadth of the knowledge he knows!” Jiang Yingrong enunciated each word and before she finished her sentence, she explained, “When we met in the ancient city, his identity was that of an alchemist. The medicinal pills he refined were powerful and practical. He was also a caster, and I guess that he can cast magic arts from all of the elements. In other words, he can evolve all things.”
Jiang Liuche’s pupils constricted slightly. He touched his chin with his fingers and used his gaze to signal for her to continue.
“Later, I discovered that his attainments in equipment refinement are very high. How should I put it? Oh, right—returning to the basics, where greatness comes from simplicity. Whatever he wants to make, it all depends on one thought from him,” Jiang Yingrong continued.
“Equipment refinement?” The light in Jiang Liuche’s eyes became brighter as if a ball of flame was burning fiercely.
“Yes, equipment refinement—pieces of equipment that can absorb the powers of the Heavenly disaster.” Jiang Yingrong gently exhaled. Her voice was not loud but when Jiang Liuche heard her, her voice sounded like thunderclaps that caused his mind to rumble. There was only one thought in his mind. ‘What kind of equipment can absorb the powers of the Heavenly Disaster? Isn’t… Isn’t that too incredible?’
After a full 10 breaths, his thoughts calmed down.
Seeing that it was almost time, Jiang Yingrong said again, “Also, it can absorb 75% of the Thunderbolt Powers.” When she said this, she looked out of the window, and her eyes revealed a look of shock.
“What?” Jiang Liuche thought he heard wrong, and his heart was at his throat.
“It’s true. Senior He passed 6 Heavenly Thunderbolts, whether the formation boards blocked 2 of them. As for the remaining 4, their powers were absorbed by the Thunderbolt-resistant Suit by more than 70%. After passing the Heavenly Disaster, Senior He was unharmed, and the Thunderbolt-resistant Suit still has its charm,” Jiang Yingrong spoke very quickly, and her breathing was rapid.
Hearing these words, Jiang Liuche’s face turned red, and his body trembled non-stop. His mind was blank.
After all, such a thing was too shocking. No matter how great his imagination was, he would have never thought of this before.
After half a day, he finally came back to his senses. Everything he had heard before was like a myth to him.
He exhaled heavily and stared at his daughter with burning eyes. He asked in a deep voice, “Then tell me—is it… Is it possible if I ask him for help?”
Jiang Yingrong did not answer immediately. She thought for a while and replied to him softly, “Brother Yu has a sense of propriety and is very generous. He won’t treat his people unfairly. That said, this kind of thing is too important, so I can’t say for sure, but you have at least a 60% chance.”
“60%?” Jiang Liuche thought carefully about this. After a moment, he remarked softly, “A 60% change isn’t low.”
Jiang Yingrong nodded slightly and said, “I’ll go and check it out first. After all, this matter is too important.”
“Yes, of course.” Jiang Liuche made the final decision.
Jiang Yingrong slowly stood up. After taking 2 light steps, she turned around and said, “I want to personally teach Lil’ Man in the future…”
Jiang Liuche nodded slightly and agreed. He understood that this was to express goodwill to Ou Yangming, so he would not object to it no matter what.
