Chapter 355
“Why would you doubt yourself like that? Han Xianzi is as pure as the driven snow; bathing is just a hobby.”
“......”
“Here’s an idea: I have a bathtub in my room...”
Gentleman Li, stroking his chin, seemed to be contemplating something of great importance.
Han Xianzi cast him a sidelong glance, biting her lip, and silently shifted her position, turning her legs toward him.
If he kept talking, they might end up bathing in his room.
“Ice Block, this is the happiest birthday I’ve ever had.”
“Let’s not make this a habit...”
Ice Block had grown accustomed to him massaging her feet, but today, Li Ming was a bit too cocky, taking advantage of his birthday.
He didn’t even spare her calves.
Ying Bing pulled out a small jar from the big-headed doll, intending to count her money.
Then she realized—
The jar was empty.
She almost forgot; in her rush to shop today, she hadn’t bargained. Whatever price they quoted, she accepted.
Unable to count her money to distract herself, her thoughts burst forth like fireworks outside, each one dazzling and vibrant, rippling across her heart like shimmering waves.
Li Ming had been a little troublemaker in his childhood.
It seemed that growing up hadn’t changed him much.
Do men really become worse as they age?
What about next year...
An hour later, the sounds of fireworks outside gradually faded, leaving behind a hazy night sky painted by the remnants of the celebration. New Year’s Eve had passed, and so had Li Mo’s birthday.
“Let’s start dual cultivation; I’m about to break through.”
Seventeen-year-old Li Mo, now a bit more mischievous, decided it was time to get serious.
After all, he had already mastered the secrets of dual cultivation.
“I’m going back to my room.”
Ying Bing gently pulled her small foot back, hugging her knees and watching him warily.
“Aren’t you going to practice today?”
“But when I came here, I ran into Uncle and Aunt at your door.”
Ying Bing said coolly.
Li Mo: “......”
Given his history, when his father went to the outhouse tonight, he would definitely pass by here and pay special attention.
Moreover, tomorrow was the first day of the new year, and he had to accompany his parents to the Ying family’s ancestral home to pay respects.
After that, they would head to Lankao Mountain.
“Alright then.”
“I’ll head back.”
Ying Bing put on her boots and stood up to leave.
With a cold, expressionless face, she stumbled slightly at the door, unsure if it was from sitting too long or if her legs had gone numb...
The next morning.
Before relatives and friends arrived, Li Mo’s parents had already risen early, bringing along the prepared offerings and calling him to get up.
After New Year’s Eve, the festivities in Qinghe County showed no signs of waning; the atmosphere was even more vibrant, and perhaps tomorrow would be even livelier.
The ground in front of the Li residence was littered with firecracker paper and snow as everyone prepared to set off. Li Dalong handed Li Mo some incense and candles.
“In the past, we didn’t take you to pay respects because you were too young. Now that you’re a young man, you’ll need to join us in these rituals. No matter how high you soar in the future, don’t forget to come to the Ying family’s ancestral home to pay your respects during the New Year.”
His father patted his shoulder and moved ahead.
Li Mo held the incense and candles, glancing at Ying Bing beside him.
“Ice Block, are you coming too?”
“Sure.”
Ying Bing looked toward the direction of the ancestral home.
It was no longer the shadow of her childhood.
Now, she felt more confusion and curiosity.
Li Mo and Ice Block shared the same thoughts.
Why did the Ying family attract that black year beast?
What did it have to do with Ice Block?
These questions couldn’t be answered with just a trip to the ancestral home; perhaps they would need to go to Lankao Mountain to find the answers.
---
Chapter 389: Return to Ziyang City
The Ying family’s ancestral home, once a grand courtyard, was now filled with crumbling walls, with only the ancestral hall barely resembling its former self.
However, the roof of the ancestral hall had a large hole, allowing a beam of light to drift in with the wind and snow, casting a glow on the statue of their ancestor.
In front of the statue, the incense burner remained, but there were now two more tablets on the shelf.
“Son, come and light some incense for your Ying family uncles and aunts.”
“Coming.”
Li Mo lit the incense and bowed to the tablets. Suddenly, he felt a stirring in his heart and looked up at the statue of the Ying ancestor.
Just moments ago, there had been a fleeting wave of life force, but now it seemed to have returned to its ordinary state.
The Southern Border’s shaman spirit statue?
In his dream, Li Mo had been filled with questions.
The ancestral statues worshipped in ordinary households, even in great clans, couldn’t possibly possess the extraordinary power to dispel year beasts like in his dream.
Li Mo stared intently at the statue; its features felt familiar, yet when he searched his memory, he found no trace.
At that moment—
Footsteps suddenly echoed behind him.
“Master?” Li Dalong’s voice called out.
“Hmm?”
Li Mo turned around to see Xue Jing, dressed like an ordinary apothecary, standing in the snow with a smile.
Xue Jing hadn’t come alone.
Old Li’s master had arrived, and naturally, Li Ming’s master was here too.
Shang Wu crossed her arms, tilting her chin slightly.
“Master, why did you come in person?” x2
“His Highness the Crown Prince arrived in Yunzhou yesterday and will soon reach Ziyang City to personally commend Xiao Mo and Xiao Bing,” Xue Lao said with a grin.
“!”
Li Dalong froze, his back straightening suddenly.
Gu Xueqin pinched her husband’s waist, feeling as if she hadn’t fully woken up.
The Crown Prince of Dayu, the next emperor, was personally coming to commend them.
The impact on the couple was clearly different.
The Crown Prince of Dayu, the one who topped the Qianlong List and took the Chulong Sword Bone, that elder brother?
Li Mo narrowed his eyes and walked over to his master.
Shang Wu shifted slightly:
“I was just out for a stroll with Xue Lao. You’re a top talent on the Qianlong List; we can’t possibly reach your heights.”
“Master, all the soldiers in the Southern Border know that my victory over the enemy army is entirely thanks to the winning strategies you taught me. Even though you weren’t there with me, the reputation of the Fighting King’s rules must have spread throughout the Southern Border by now.”
“Hmm.”
“By the way, Master, I have a constructive suggestion.”
Li Mo took out a bottle of Jin Feng Shao Daozi and a thick red envelope from the system space, speaking earnestly:
“Let’s team up and take down that Crown Prince.”
“Only my precious disciple would think of that! If we take him down, I’ll be the master of the top spot on the Qianlong List!”
Shang Wu took a sip of wine, feeling that her disciple was finally on the same wavelength as her, and her once-flower-like face no longer looked so angry.
The master and disciple huddled together, whispering conspiratorially.
Occasionally, they burst into fits of laughter.
Xue Jing: “”
Li Dalong gave his son a light smack, only to hurt his own fingers; this kid’s head was really hard.
“You’re being outrageous; that’s the Crown Prince, the son of the Emperor! What you just said could get you sentenced, you know?”
“What of it? The son of the Emperor?”
Li Mo muttered, “Who can cut off the grain supply to the army at Qingmu City? Who can summon the King of the South back to the capital with an urgent order?”
Li Dalong’s expression stiffened.
After a moment’s thought, Old Li seemed to deflate, opening his mouth to say something but hesitating.
He could only look at Ying Bing:
“Bing’er, do you think he’s making any sense?”
“The Crown Prince of Dayu?”
Ice Block pondered for a moment, her expression cool as she said:
“Just him? Commending me?”
Li Dalong: “???”
No, I meant for you to comment on the disrespectful Li Mo.
I didn’t mean for you to set an example for him!
Bing’er wasn’t usually like this; although she was inherently proud, she wouldn’t speak out of turn. How could she...
Li Dalong and Gu Xueqin exchanged glances.
Could it be that their reckless son had led her astray?!
Xue Lao had long been aware of the bond between Shang Wu and Li Mo. He cleared his throat:
“Let’s keep the nonsense to ourselves. Our Qingyuan Sect is nominally still under the seal of the Great Ancestor. While we’re not subjects of the court, we shouldn’t ignore it either.”
“The Crown Prince is here; we must observe basic etiquette.”
“At the very least, we need to maintain appearances. It’s best if we set off today.”
After all, New Year’s Eve had passed, and his birthday was over. The next few days would be filled with relatives and friends visiting, along with the annual bragging sessions between his parents.
Moreover, the constant bombardment at Lankao Mountain wasn’t a sustainable situation.
So, that day, after lunch, the group prepared to return to Ziyang City.
“We’re in a hurry; I borrowed Old Qian’s warship.”
Xue Jing tossed out Elder Qian’s prized warship in the Li family’s backyard.
“There’s no need for that.”
Li Mo smiled slightly and summoned his Jindouyun.
Now, Jindouyun could carry over ten people without needing to use its full capacity to travel thousands of miles.
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