"What?" Hua Qiyue was fairly surprised. She saw Ji Feng"s expression which seemed to imply something serious...
Ji Zhong gazed happily at Hua Qiyue, as if admiring his future daughter-in-law. "Princess Jinghua, our Ji family is very happy you are our disciple. However, Your Highness possess the Thousand-Year Magistery and seem to know lots of other medicines as well. You probably don"t need much instruction. As the Manor Head, I have decided to let Feng and Jing stay behind in the capital. Of course, Your Highness can go to Ji"s Manor if you like. You will decide everything."
Hua Qiyue blinked. Did she hear wrong?
Did the Ji family just told her that she needn"t go to Ji"s Manor? And they allowed Ji Feng and Ji Jing to stay behind to instruct her, a new disciple? Talking about herbs, Hua Qiyue was not really well versed with them. The person who knew them well was Tianpi.
Many of the seeds of the divine herbs were from him. Although few knew that she had other divine herbs...
Hua Qiyue recalled Queen Liu who had hatched the evil plot and smiled nonchalantly. "I must thank Manor Head Ji! I indeed have some important matters in the capital to see to. I will surely visit Ji"s Manor on a sightseeing tour when the opportunity arises!"
Ji Zhong chuckled happily and glanced meaningfully at Ji Feng.
If Ji Feng stayed, he could cultivate a relationship with Hua Qiyue. Ji Zhong wanted Hua Qiyue badly as his future daughter-in-law.
Ji Yang saw the scene and was a little surprised. Here"s trouble! If Hua Qiyue married Ji Feng, the Ji family would be even more powerful. It would be even harder for their plot to succeed.
Of course, if Hua Qiyue had married him instead, he and his father would have a higher chance of winning!
When he thought of this, Ji Yang immediately put on a gentle smile. "I warmly welcome Princess Jinghua to Ji"s Manor. We will surely receive you enthusiastically."
Then, the sweet tenderness from his eyes blossomed like flowers. Hua Qiyue felt her skin crawling with goose pimples.
Ji Jing saw this and snorted coldly. "Second Brother, you have always loved beautiful women. You"ve thoroughly neglected the 15 beauties in your manor during this 15-day visit to the capital!"
She hinted that Ji Yang was a licentious man. Women like Hua Qiyue with rare skills usually did not like such men.
Besides, Ji Yang was not outstanding. He had no trait that could really attract Hua Qiyue.
Ji Yang heard her and his face darkened. Ji Jing looked only about 17 or 18 but she was a deft thinker. Her one sentence had made Hua Qiyue feel negatively toward Ji Yang.
He saw Hua Qiyue smile faintly and smiled back in dejected anger. He said no more.
The Ji family must all be very warm. Although Hua Qiyue had just had lunch, she could not refuse their zealous invitation. She ate another small bowl of rice. Midway through lunch, Ji Zhong"s face turned extremely serious. He sipped a mouthful of wine and hesitated, finally putting the wine cup down.
"Princess Jinghua, I know that you are an extraordinary person. I have a favor to ask you!"
Hua Qiyue was quietly astonished. Did even the eminent Ji family need to beg from others? The Ji family was a righteous family, seldom colluding with the dark forces of the martial arts world. As such, they had offended many dark factions.
However, innumerable sects were fearful of the Ji family"s power. They did not dare to act rashly against them.
Now that Ji Zhong had spoken, did it mean that the Ji family was heading for some great catastrophe?
"Manor Head is too polite. Please speak up. If I can do you the favor, I will do my best to fulfill it!"
"This is what happened. Our Ji family has been overly impartial and righteous over these years. We have rejected too many evil sects coming for our medicines and offended numerous Qi Art masters. There"s a sect called the Gnawing Devils Sect which abducts unique geniuses and nurtures them into powerful, evil Qi Artists. Two months ago, our spy from the Gnawing Devils Sect informed us that they have captured a Spirit Summoner"s Soul. They are training it to become the most powerful Summoner Puppet among the evil sects— or even within the world itself!"
Ji Zhong"s face took on a ghastly pallor. Even the lively Ji Jing seemed greatly troubled.
Hua Qiyue was stunned. She did not know that such inhuman sects existed in Tianyuan Continent.
"They are waiting for the Soul Puppet to become really powerful. Then they will attack Ji"s Manor and dozens of other righteous sects. That"s why our family has to recruit disciples to boost our strength. Since Your Highness possessed the divine herb... I would like to borrow some Long Red from you to concoct some wonderful pills. They can improve our strength when confronting the Soul Puppet..."
Ji Zhong was tactful and sincere. This was the first time Ji Yang heard the news. He shuddered in trepidation.
"Uncle, why did you not inform us immediately?" Ji Yang cried unhappily.
"Yang, the Soul Puppet is too powerful. If we leaked the news, our disciples would be panic-stricken. The cons outweigh the pros!" Ji Zhong sighed quietly, speaking with gravitas.
Hua Qiyue suppressed her inner astonishment. "Don"t worry, Manor Head. I will not be stingy with my herbs!"
Hua Qiyue"s words a.s.sured everyone.
"Yang, you must keep this a secret. If the other disciples of our family learn about this, there will be panic and strife. Then, our Ji family will be exterminated..." Ji Zhong counseled Ji Yang.
Even though Ji Yang wanted to seize power, he knew he had to be discreet for the moment.
"Yes, uncle! I will surely keep this a secret."
Ji Yang replied respectfully. Hua Qiyue knew that if the Gnawing Devils Sect succeeded in nurturing a Soul Puppet, they would leak the news. Then, even if Ji Yang did not divulge the secret, the other disciples would know.
However, to Hua Qiyue the Soul Puppet was still too distant and strange a preposition. It was the first time she heard of it.
"Manor Head, when will that Soul Puppet be born?"
"Probably in a year. Our family must strengthen our guard by this year!" Ji Zhong raised his wine cup with a heavy heart. The worry in his eyes was not dissipated.
Hua Qiyue knew that their foe was very powerful. Otherwise, the affluent, powerful and conceited Ji family would never have asked for her help!
She would help since she owed them a favor. Besides, if the Soul Puppet really appeared, it would wreak havoc throughout the martial arts world. It would cause a bloodbath and possibly implicate the capital.
She possessed the divine herb, Long Red. It was very rare— so rare that few could actually lay eyes on it. In the end, Hua Qiyue would probably become a target of the Gnawing Devils Sect!
Therefore, an enemy of the Ji family would be also her enemy!
The atmosphere tensed up for a while. However, the girl Ji Jing re-animated everyone again with her lively humor. After lunch, they started discussing about the righteous and evil sects in the martial arts world. They presented Hua Qiyue with many strange and wondrous manuals from their family. At last, their joyous gathering came to an end.
Ji Feng and Ji Jing had purchased a large compound nearby, south to Hua"s Mansion. They had it renamed Feng"s Yard. If Hua Qiyue needed to find them, she could go there.
When she left the inn, it was already four. Hua Qiyue came to Prince Nan"s mansion to pick Tianci up, but he was not yet out.
The doorman gave Hua Qiyue a message. He was to bring her in. Tianci was receiving Qi Art guidance from the Prince Nan.
Hua Qiyue wrinkled her brows. Yun Shimo was really treating Tianci as his disciple. Since his Qi Art was more powerful than hers, perhaps he would teach Tianci something she did not know?
Hua Qiyue was not quite a.s.sured. Although Yun Shimo had saved Tianci, his origins were mysterious. While investigations had shown that Yun Shimo was from a lowly, impoverished family, he had achieved much in Qi Art and Alchemy thanks entirely to his talents.
Hua Qiyue knew not everyone could practice Qi Art and Alchemy. Yun Shimo used to be a small fry. He must have some trump card on him since he became a trusted aide of the Changlong Emperor and a world-renowned Qi Artist and Alchemist.
In other words, although he was born under mysterious circ.u.mstances, he was still treating the capital inhabitants without desiring fame and fortune. The reason he did this was really hard to fathom.
Hua Qiyue walked quickly into Prince Nan"s mansion. Before she had entered the main yard, she heard Tianci"s crisp laughter.
"Dad, you are so powerful. You can grab things from a distance!"
Hua Qiyue heard him and her countenance slightly darkened. So Yun Shimo had this powerful skill?
Grabbing items from a distance. This secret art had been lost among the common populace for a long time. Why was he teaching Tianci this?
Hua Qiyue strode into the yard. She saw a vase descending slowly from mid-air. Yun Shimo"s fair, shapely right hand pointed downward. The vase slowly landed on a side table!
Tianci clapped his small hands loudly, so loudly that his palms turned red. When he saw Hua Qiyue enter, he fluttered over to her like a colorful b.u.t.terfly, giving a loud cheer.
"Mother, you are finally back! Dad"s teaching me how to grab things from a distance. Eh, it"s so fun!"
Tianci grabbed Hua Qiyue"s arm with a smile, raising his little innocent face.
Hua Qiyue lightly nodded. She stared in astonishment at the nonchalant Yun Shimo by Tianci"s side.
The man was entirely in white. He gave one a different feeling than when he was in black.
Right now, Yun Shimo"s robe sleeves were fluttering lightly, his black hair half-coiled on his head. His profound eyes glittered and scintillated like stars. He looked absolutely unreal, like an unblemished male immortal treading here from the snow.
He glanced blandly at Hua Qiyue, his iciness giving a chill to his face. Yun Shimo swept coldly past her, looking at Tianci.
"Come, Tianci, let"s have supper."
Yun Shimo"s voice descended and Tianci immediately capered to him, pulling his snowy-white sleeve. "Hey, mother, dad"s got his cooks to prepare my favorite dishes, Xishi Tongue and the Roast and Steamed Pork Joint Made in Niufo County..."
Hua Qiyue was speechless. Tianci was such a glutton. He would be so full up that he could not walk.
Although Yun Shimo gave her the cold shoulder, she still had to follow him shamelessly to the back dining room.
The dining room was by the waterside. It was a real pleasure to eat there.
Its table was replete with all kinds of snacks and dishes. Most were Tianci"s favorites. One could see that Yun Shimo doted on the young fellow.
The gentle breezes lightly wafted the sumptuous fragrance of the dishes. Hua Qiyue was left drooling despite not being hungry.
The Roast and Steamed Pork Joint Made in Niufo County looked absolutely sumptuous. Its meat looked tender, its color and fragrance enticing... Tianci had already dashed over and pulled at Hua Qiyue to sit. "Mother, it"s mealtime!"
Yun Shimo glanced at Hua Qiyue with a black face through the corners of his eyes. He seemed to be mocking her as an unwelcome glutton.
The maidservant at the side saw Hua Qiyue and filled her a bowl of rice. Hua Qiyue was already salivating. She really wanted to try the culinary skills of Prince Nan"s cooks. So she lifted her chopsticks to pick up a piece of the Roast and Steamed Pork Joint Made in Niufo County.
Unexpectedly, an icy hand shifted the dish— to the front of Tianci.
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