Chapter 417 The Inviting-moon Pavilion amid Lakes and Mountains
It was said that the school master of Tranquility Academy held a discussion for half a day in the “Tranquility Villa” by the Mirror Lake. There was no doubt that the discussion was about the constant change of the Hidden Genius List of Divine Design Valley. If it was true that Ding Hao’s progress was as ma.s.sive, it was absolutely bad news for the camp of Tranquility Academy.
Even Mu Tianyang who was a splendid “Child Prodigy” had never made such a record.
Was Ding Hao really a disaster?
Many people thought back carefully that since Ding Hao joined the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect, one bad thing after another happened to Tranquility Academy. In the contests with the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect, Tranquility Academy had gradually become disadvantaged. Moreover, even Zhuo Feifan, the inspector of the Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost, died at the scene without a complete body because of a few accusations against Ding Hao.
All kinds of rumors were getting more and more incredible.
Did Ding Hao have some strange fate that affected the destiny of the two sects?
No one knew the final outcome of that discussion.
The only certainty was that the atmosphere at the sh.o.r.e of Mirror Lake had become tenser.
Everyone was paying attention to the “List of Hidden Geniuses in Snow Province”; everyone wanted to know whether the list would continue to be updated at the recent frequency because of Ding Hao.
…
Ding Hao also heard about the discussions from the outside world.
He had a discussion with the Saber and Sword Masters. They figured out the reason why the Divine Design Valley continuously changed the list.
“It seems that we have been underestimating the Divine Design Valley. Although they can’t figure out your real potential, they have explored something, otherwise they would not ignore their acc.u.mulated reputation and update the Hidden Genius List so frequently. Little Chap Ding, you cannot underestimate this force when traveling through the Northern Region in the future. At least you cannot conflict with it.”
Saber Master and Sword Master warned him again and again.
It was the first time that Ding Hao had seen those two old monsters behave so cautiously.
In fact, Ding Hao also feared the Divine Design Valley to some extent. When he took out the highest grade black crystal and the “Wen Qing Saber Technique” of the Black Serpent Ring, the Divine Design Valley immediately sensed it and adjusted the evaluation about him. The Divine Design Valley really had unfathomable power. Ding Hao was worried that it might infer that he was actually a soul coming from another world through time-travel.
That was Ding Hao’s biggest secret, one that he didn’t want others to know.
Ding Hao carefully kept the Divine Design Valley in his mind. He had already planned to visit that mysterious existence in the future if there was a chance.
Of course, the main thing at the moment was to improve his strength.
Ding Hao continued to practice day and night.
He practiced saber techniques, sword techniques, saber intent, sword intent, Qi, inscription, elixirs and so on.
Ding Hao practiced day and night without slacking.
By the time that series of cultivation was finished, it was already the time when the moon stood in midheaven.
After practicing the “Wen Qing Saber Technique” for three or four times, Ding Hao was about to channel Qi to feel the real power of the saber technique. At that moment, there was a sound of light footsteps outside, and then the voice of the rebellious girl Huang Rong sounded, “Ding Hao, are you already asleep? I’ve brought you something good.”
There was a strange smile on the corner of Ding Hao’s mouth. Something occurred to him. He released his torrential spiritual power to scan the surrounding area within five kilometers. He nodded thoughtfully, and then said, “Come in.”
The wooden door of Strolling in the Moon Palace opened automatically.
Huang Rong, in a yellow dress, bounced up the wooden stairs with a food container in her hand. She entered with a smile, looked left and right to ensure no one was around, then she approached Ding Hao and patted on his shoulder. She said proudly, “Look! I’m so kind. I heard that you have been practicing the whole tonight without eating. So I asked the chef in the villa to cook for you… ” When saying that she opened the container. There were four fine dishes and a jade wine pot. She continued, “Hee, see, they were all prepared by me. Just eat.”
Ding Hao placed the “Wen Qing Saber” in the Storage Ring. He pointed to the messy tableware by the window and said with a smile, “Actually, I have already dined.”
“Uh, you have? What a coincidence…” Huang Rong said with an awkward smile and continued, “It doesn’t matter. They can serve you as midnight snack. It has been eight hours since dinner time. Look, the moon is so high… Hey, you wouldn’t save my face? That’s not what a buddy does.”
“Well then, I’ll save your face,” Ding Hao said and nodded. Then he took out all the dishes in the container and suddenly asked with a smile, “But, when did we become buddies?” “Theoretically, you should call me ‘martial uncle’.”
“You are so lame.” Huang Rong said while turning her nose at Ding Hao and saying, “You’re younger than me. Don’t put on airs as martial uncle. We should greet each other as peers. That will be harmonious… Ah, look at the beautiful moonlight. It’s boring to stay in the house. Why not go to the lake and enjoy the moon while drinking and eating a midnight snack?”
Ding Hao nodded and said, “Okay.”
“Strolling in the Moon Palace” was Located on the sh.o.r.e of Mirror Lake which was very beautiful. Going out from the back door of the pavilion, there was a waterside corridor, which was one thousand meters long. It led to the deep water of Mirror Lake. At the end of the corridor, there was a red wood pavilion named “Inviting-moon Pavilion” which was the perfect place to enjoy the lake view in the whole Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Mountain Villa. Sitting in the pavilion was like wandering in the endless sea. When looking up at the starry sky, eyes were filled with s.h.i.+ning stars which was fascinating.
Following Huang Rong’s suggestion, The two went to the “Inviting-moon Pavilion”.
Putting the dishes on the wooden table at the center of the pavilion, Huang Rong behaved abnormally well. She poured wine for Ding Hao personally.
The gla.s.s was amber, carved with a peony pattern. Under Huang Rong’s gaze, Ding Hao raised the gla.s.s and sniffed the fragrance of the wine. Then, he thought of something and suggested, “The lake is bright in the moonlight, and it’s lame to drink alone. How about drinking together?”
Huang Rong nodded and said excitedly, “Okay, okay.” Meanwhile she poured herself a gla.s.s of wine with great excitement.
Ding Hao froze for a while, and then nodded slightly. He seemed to understand something. Without saying anything, he gently clinked the gla.s.s and drank lifting his head.
Huang Rong, who was in a rebellious age, was deprived of her mother at a young age, and she was obviously dissatisfied with her father’s discipline. She often stirred up the whole Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Mountain Villa. She had never been to the legendarily dangerous wilderness for which she was yearning. She bothered Ding Hao to tell her of all his experiences, and she listened carefully.
Shortly, a pot of wine had been drunk up by them and four dishes had also been eaten.
“It turned out that you also lost your parents at an young age. Compared with you, I’m so lucky. At least I still have my father’s love. I don’t have to pick up food in the garbage, no one dares to bully me, and I eat well and dress well. I’m much luckier than you.” Huang Rong said with a gentle expression after listening to Ding Hao’s story. Under the moonlight, there was a touch of gentleness on her beautiful face which had never been shown before. She said gently, “That’s good. With same experiences, we are good buddies.”
“Good buddies? Okay.” Ding Hao did not deny.
“Of course we’re good buddies. Hee, thank you for saying so much. How about next time you take me with you when you go to the wilderness?” After the talk, Huang Rong’s att.i.tude towards Ding Hao became much better. She no longer turned up her nose at him.
“Do you like excitement?” Ding Hao drank the last drop of wine and gently placed the gla.s.s on the table.
“Of course I do. I’ve been living in the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Mountain Villa all the time, and my father doesn’t allow me to be too far from the villa. I don’t know what the outside world looks like,” Huang Rong muttered.
Ding Hao smiled and said, “Since you like excitement so much, I’ll immediately show you a super exciting drama.”
Huang Rong’s eyes lighted up and she said, “What show? Would you take me to the wilderness? Wow, that’s great! Good man, since you’re the Number one genius of the Swordsmans.h.i.+p-seeking Sect with great strength, you can fly in wind, right? Why don’t you take me to see the mysterious wilderness now? Don’t worry, I won’t tell my dad.”
Ding Hao shook his head and said, “To see an exciting show we don’t have to go to the wilderness. Just watch it here.”
“Here?” Huang Rong was shocked. She didn’t know what Ding Hao meant.
Ding Hao slowly stood up, went to the pavilion, and glanced across the lake with water vapor rising under the moonlight. He suddenly said, “Since you’re here, why not show up? Do I have to invite you one by one?”