Surging Undercurrents
“Liang Qi, you also lost to Du Shaofu’s in just one move?” A twenty-something young man turned to look at a certain young man beside him and asked straightforwardly.
“Replying Young Lord, that is the very same Du Shaofu. According to rumors, he was an idiot fool for ten years, I didn’t expect him to be so strong.”
The young man replied and his voice was filled with respect, but his face looked a little pale. If Du Shaofu saw this young man, he definitely would recognize him – the same "honorable" Imperial Knight that he defeated a few days ago, also Du Hao’s cousin brother.
“I"ve already said when we"re outside, don’t call me Young Lord; here, I’m just your Captain.” The young man smiled faintly, his tall height coupled with his handsome face made people feel comfortable looking at him.
“Yes, Captain. What should we do now?” Liang Qing nodded his head, respectful towards the ‘Young Lord’ before him.
“The Ye Family decline to cooperate with us, whereby the An Family’s plot runs deep. But... that Bai Family’s girl is pretty good. It"s a pity that rose if full of thorns, and need some time and effort to "mold" her. To obtain what we want the earliest possible, it seems we should pay a visit to the Qin Family.”
The young man watched Qin Xiaolu within the crowd hidden from plain sight, and a tiny trace of smile flickered across his eyes. He continued in a light voice saying, “The Qin Family’s woman is also not bad, at the very least, they possess some petty cleverness. When we get what we want, whether it is the Ye Family or Qin Family’s woman won’t be able to escape.”
“This time with the Captain here, things would go smoothly, the items won"t be able to escape from the Captain"s palm. Unfortunately, the Ye Family and Du Clan don’t know how to appreciate other"s kindness.”
“Let’s go, there are things to be done beforehand.”
A light smile appeared on the young man’s face, drew the hood of his long robes over his head and left the scene quietly, his subordinates followed from behind….
…
Du Clan back mountain.
Du Shaofu took out the two storage bags he had just procured and poured everything inside, out. The result made his brows wrinkled with obvious disappointment. After going through the things on the ground, he sighed lightly, “These two’s storage bag is so poor, there"s practically nothing valuable.”
“Kid, what were you in your previous life! The wind pa.s.ses by, you inhale, the goose pa.s.ses by and you pluck all its feathers, even two little Xiantian warrior"s storage bag you take. If this spread, my hard built reputation would be ruined by you.” Zhen Qingchun’s transparent figure came out from the little tower, glaring at Du Shaofu. Towards this kid, all his a.s.sumptions were already crushed, words had failed him many times; this kid simply was a reincarnated bandit.
“How can those who doesn’t manage household know the preciousness of rice and wood; the list of things you told me to buy are expensive. If it weren’t for the harvest I got from the Wild Beast Mountains, I simply can’t afford them. I need to think of a way, otherwise the next time you tell me to buy something I can only go and rob.”
Du Shaofu rolled his eyes at Zhen Qingchun; he had been using his own savings to buy the things Zhen Qingchun listed. Of course, he needed to find a way to gather xuanbi to support his high expenditure. What bad luck, this Bai Tianming and Qin Xiaolu’s storage bag was truly too poor compared to the storage bag he had gotten from the tangerine red dress woman. Even her fragrance still lingered on the storage bag.
“Up to you to buy or not to buy, it is for your cultivation and not mine.”
Zhen Qingchun rolled his eyes, and he secretly decided in his heart, when he had recovered his strength, he must stay away from this kid as far as possible, the further the better. Otherwise, this kid would ruin his reputation if others knew he had such a sworn brother.
Du Shaofu adeptly kept the storage bags, smiled at Zhen Qingchun, “The faster I become strong, the faster you would heal. Don’t make it sound like everything is for my benefit; furthermore, you are my Big Brother, you have a responsibility to take care of me and protect me, or you plan to violate your vows?”
“Take out the elixirs, today I will teach you how to refine them.’
Zhen Qingchun changed the topic, too lazy to bicker with Du Shaofu. Otherwise, the one feeling angry and wronged would be himself.
“I got the things ready.”
Du Shaofu grinned bashfully and took out the herbs he had prepared, feeling excited. His eyes looked at Zhen Qingchun full of antic.i.p.ation, his voice softly asking, “Brother Qingchun, when are you going to teach me arrays? Also, are you familiar with weapon refining, I want to give it a try.”
“Don"t bite off more than you can chew; you want to cultivate martial arts, and you want to be a Spirit Talisman Master. Be careful that in the end, you have no achievements in any of them. So many talented experts from ancient time till now, all proud, arrogant and confident, wanting to learn everything like you but ended in failure, only harming themselves.”
Listening to Zhen Qingchun’s words, Du Shaofu turned serious, “I understand, I know what to do.”
“En, it’s good that you know. If you can learn alchemy, then I will teach you arrays. How much you can learn depends on your own capability.”
“I"m only afraid you don’t have enough to teach.” Du Shaofu sn.i.g.g.e.red.
“Humph, don’t try to spur me; if you have the ability to learn, it matters not to teach you all I know.”
Rolling his eyes at Du Shaofu, Zhen Qingchun’s lips curled to the side, “First, I’m teaching you the basics and knowledge of medicine refining. Although your Big Brother, me, focuses on arrays, and dabble in alchemy, and dare not claim to have high attainments in both. I want to emphasize my alchemy knowledge is still not something a general Alchemist can compare to. In medicine refining, it is vital to take note of the Spirit Talisman Cauldron and one"s control of spiritual force. Knowledge about herbs and elixirs properties is equally important…”
In a hidden mountain valley, a transparent figure and a purple-robed silhouette sat cross-legged. Du Shaofu was listening attentively as Zhen Qingchun talked, sometimes nodding, sometimes asking questions. One teaching, and the other one learning, and like the day pa.s.sed.
Not too far away, the wildcat like Demonic Scale Tiger laid on a rock in a lazy demeanor, taking a nap. Its eyes opened a slit wide to check on the two figures before going back to its beautiful nap.
Fine rain drizzled down, splattering on the water surface making tiny circular ripples. This was an evening of soft misty rain, slightly foggy.
On a pavilion next to a lake, a young woman’s flowy lavender dress fluttered in the breeze. An exquisite face, elegant temperament as the young woman stood in the stood, painting a picturesque scene with the soft rain as her background.
“Little Sister, you must avenge me ah, that Du Shaofu is too much, totally not putting our Bai Family in his eyes!” Behind the young woman, a pale-faced Bai Tianming was whining.
Bai Caiyi turned back, a pair of clear eyes looked at Bai Tianming, but the corner of her lips slightly curved downward, “Big Brother, haven’t you realize Qin Xiaolu used you this time. All of Qin Xiaolu’s attention has always been on An Long, that type of woman isn’t suitable for you. If you’re capable go and woo Ye Zhijin, then our Bai Family would be in this pa.s.sive position.”
Bai Tianming struggled with indecision, and it showed on his face. He looked at Bai Caiyi feeling irreconcilable, argued “Little Sister, are we letting Du Shaofu off just like this? If this matter spread, people would think that our Bai Family is afraid of Du Clan, our family’s reputation would go down if we don’t do anything!”
“There are some people who wish for us to retaliate, waiting for us to walk this path.”
Bai Caiyi’s clear eyes watched tiny drops of rains. .h.i.tting the lake surface, small red lips moved and her clear voice sounded, “Only the final winner can reap the benefits, what does a temporary win or lose matter.”
“Little Sister, you deliberately hold back because you want to see Xiaolu uncomfortable! That’s why you purposely refuse to act; I’m going to look for Dad!” Seeing his little sister remained impa.s.sive, Bai Tianming brushed his sleeves and left the pavilion in bad mood.
“Aii….”
Bai Caiyi sighed softly and continued to watch the lake surface. Some time later, she suddenly muttered to herself, “Du Clan Du Shaofu, endured for ten years, or did the Du Clan hid him away on purpose. Or, something happened recently? Wonder how he fares against An Long’s true strength? It seems this round compet.i.tion would truly be lively…”
Rain continued to fall from the dark night sky, a rhythm of the falling rain sounded as it hit the roof playing a long melody into the night.
“An Family’s An Long, Bai Family’s Bai Caiyi, these two people really hide deeply.”
In a courtyard’s long corridor, a graceful figure laid down. The long dress accentuated a young woman’s curves, exuding elegance.