The Oldest Disciple: Farming Intimacy to Become Immortal

Chapter 225 – What Are You Running Around For

Benefiting greatly, Liu Ruyu set down her teacup and cupped her hands in a respectful bow. “Junior Brother, your Senior Sister has been taught!”

Li Meng chuckled and set down the teapot. “Senior Sister, please drink!”

Liu Ruyu smiled gently, lifted her teacup, and took a sip.

Li Meng raised his own cup, just about to taste the tea, when the expression on his face suddenly shifted.

“This is…”

He had habitually swept his gaze over the System’s relationship interface, only to discover something that immediately seized his attention.

The Luck values for Junior Sister Shui’er and Junior Sister Zi’er had suddenly plummeted to three hundred points!

The two sisters shared the exact same drop in Luck. This indicated that they had encountered the exact same calamity.

Li Meng looked up at Liu Ruyu. “Senior Sister, I must make a trip to the Capital of the State of Zhao. Please inform the Ancestor on my behalf!”

Liu Ruyu froze. This… wasn’t this too sudden?

Before she could say anything, Li Meng turned to his little Junior Sister beside him. “Little Junior Sister, do you want to take a trip to the Zhao Capital with Senior Brother?”

Qi Wei’s eyes instantly lit up. She nodded her small head vigorously. “Yes, yes!”

Life on the boat was too boring. Although having Senior Brother around made it bearable, having something to actually do would definitely be much more interesting.

Li Meng reached out and ruffled her small head. “Then let’s go!”

He turned back to Liu Ruyu. “Senior Sister, I leave it in your hands!”

Without waiting for a response, Li Meng rode the wind, vaulting straight out the room’s window and speeding away into the distance.

“Senior Brother, wait for me!”

Qi Wei’s tiny body scrambled onto the windowsill. Riding the wind, she flew out the window, chasing after the direction her Senior Brother had vanished.

In the room, only Liu Ruyu remained, sitting dumbfounded by the tea table.

What should I do now? A flash of confusion crossed her eyes. Leaving midway shouldn’t be allowed, right? Why hasn’t Master reacted at all?

“Is that… Junior Brother Li?”

Standing by the railing at the bow of the ship was Cai Xiaowei, dressed in a purple neon skirt. Seeing Junior Brother Li suddenly leave the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat, accompanied by Junior Sister Qi, a trace of doubt flashed through her eyes.

Where are Junior Brother Li and Junior Sister Qi going?

At the same time, in a certain room on the upper floor of the pavilion.

A man and a woman sat facing each other across a tea table by the window. The man wore black martial attire, while the woman was dressed in red and white robes. They were Han Li and Wen Huanhuan.

Wen Huanhuan turned her head, looking out at the boundless sky outside the window. She furrowed her delicate brows and rolled her eyes.

“Honestly, running around blindly for what!” Her voice was filled with helplessness.

Han Li set down his teacup. “Since Martial Uncle Liu didn’t stop Martial Nephew Li, there must be an urgent matter. Junior Sister, shall we follow and take a look?”

Wen Huanhuan downed her tea in one gulp. The moment the cup clicked against the table, she transformed into a streak of light and flew out the window, chasing after Li Meng and Qi Wei.

A faint smile touched Han Li’s lips. He immediately transformed into a streak of light and followed close behind.

Back in the upper pavilion, Liu Ruyu hurried to the door of her Master’s room.

“Master, Junior Brother Li and Junior Sister Qi have disembarked. Their destination is unknown.”

“I am already aware of this matter. You may go!” The Ancestor’s hoarse voice echoed from within the room.

“Yes, Master!” Liu Ruyu turned and left.

Meanwhile, high above the vast sea of clouds.

A giant gourd, ten zhang in length, rode the wind through the sea of clouds, leaving a long, swirling wake in its path.

A tall figure and a small figure sat cross-legged on the gourd.

“Senior Brother, what are we going to do in the Capital?”

Li Meng lay back on the gourd, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “To fight!”

To fight? Qi Wei’s eyes lit up. Her tiny body crawled over and knelt beside him.

“Senior Brother, can I use ‘Little Black’?” She looked at him with an expectant face. She had never seen what Little Black looked like when devouring a cultivator’s soul!

Li Meng reached out and lightly flicked her jade-white nose. “When it’s time to use it, Senior Brother will let you use it!”

Qi Wei’s eyes curved into happy crescents. “Mhm, mhm! Senior Brother, you must not lie to me. Little Black is very hungry!”

“Has Senior Brother ever lied to you, Little Junior Sister?”

“It seems… not!” Qi Wei tilted her head, trying to recall if her Senior Brother had ever deceived her. The answer was self-evident. Naturally, he hadn’t.

“Why did you leave so suddenly?”

The Ancestor’s Divine Sense transmission suddenly echoed in Li Meng’s mind.

Li Meng’s expression shifted slightly. Nascent Soul cultivators are truly terrifying. He was at least a thousand li away from the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat, yet she could still transmit her voice across such a vast distance.

“Ancestor, this disciple must go to the Zhao Capital to confirm something. I beg for the Ancestor’s permission!”

“You should know what kind of place the Zhao Capital is.”

“This disciple understands. I will act cautiously and will not cause trouble for the Sect.”

“I give you half a year. Regardless of the outcome, you must return to the Heaven-Reaching Spirit Boat by then.”

“Yes! Half a year is more than enough!”

“Whatever you intend to do, go to the Imperial Astronomy Bureau of the State of Zhao to pay your respects first.”

Li Meng narrowed his eyes. It seems the Ancestor knows something.

“Ancestor, has something happened to the Zhao royal family?”

“You will know once you arrive in Lin’an City.”

The Ancestor’s voice faded. Li Meng’s expression turned thoughtful. It seems something really has happened to the Zhao royal family.

What is Senior Brother thinking about? Qi Wei looked curiously at her deeply thoughtful Senior Brother.

State of Zhao. The Capital, Lin’an City.

As the capital of the State of Zhao, Lin’an City had existed for a millennium. Before the Sheng family seized the nation’s Luck, Lin’an City had merely been a small border town. The Sheng family used Lin’an City as their starting point to conquer the four directions, eventually seizing the Luck of the previous dynasty. Through years of continuous warfare, they claimed the lands that now made up the State of Zhao.

A thousand years of development had transformed Lin’an City into the most magnificent metropolis in the State of Zhao. It boasted the highest and most massive city walls, the tallest architecture, and the most luxurious jade pavilions. It was also the most populous city in the nation, with a permanent population of roughly two million.

Today, Lin’an City remained bathed in bright sunlight, as prosperous as ever.

To the west of the city lay a mountain. At the foot of the mountain stood a building reaching nearly a thousand meters into the clouds. From afar, it looked like a giant sword plunged into the earth.

This was the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, the most majestic structure in the State of Zhao. It overlooked Lin’an City and the surrounding rivers and mountains, gazing across at the Imperial Palace in the east.

The streets near the Bureau were bustling. Carriages and horses flowed like a river, painting a picture of prosperity.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a tall figure and a small figure stood out like cranes among a flock of chickens. What made them conspicuous was their attire. The man wore a white robe, possessing the youthful face and white hair of an itinerant Daoist priest. The other was a little girl in Daoist robes, tiny in stature, resembling a young Daoist acolyte.

“Senior Brother, are we going to that place?” Qi Wei pointed her small hand toward the Imperial Astronomy Bureau.

The Bureau pierced the clouds. Qi Wei had noticed it even before entering the city. The spiritual energy of the entire Lin’an City was converging toward it.

“We are, but not right now. First, we go to Prince Qi’s Manor!”

Junior Sister Shui’er and Junior Sister Zi’er hailed from Prince Qi’s Manor. If the sisters had been in the capital all these years, the Manor should know their whereabouts. Perhaps they were even staying there. If the sisters were at the Manor, it would save them a lot of trouble on this trip.

“The Manor?” Qi Wei looked up curiously at her Senior Brother. What is Senior Brother going to a Prince’s manor for?

Half a shichen later. Lin’an City, Prince Qi’s Manor.

The tall and small figures appeared outside the gates.

“Who are you? This is Prince Qi’s Manor. Loitering is forbidden outside the gates. Leave immediately!”

There were two armored guards stationed outside. Seeing Li Meng and Qi Wei lingering, the guard on the left stepped forward and barked an order.

Li Meng looked up at the golden plaque that read ‘Prince Qi’s Manor.’ Truly imposing. Li Meng chuckled and stroked his beard. “Do not be angry, soldier. We are friends of the two Commandery Princesses. Passing through Lin’an City, we have come specifically to pay a visit!”

Friends of the Commandery Princesses? The guard scanned the two of them. He had heard that the two Princesses had gone up the mountain to cultivate the Dao many years ago. These two did look somewhat like the alchemists from the Imperial Astronomy Bureau.

The guard’s stern expression softened considerably. He cupped his fists in a salute. “Please wait a moment!”

The guard turned, pushed open the heavy gates, and strode inside.

Not long after, the gates were opened from the inside. The guard who had gone to report stepped out first, followed by a middle-aged man in a gray robe.

Upon seeing Li Meng and Qi Wei outside, the middle-aged man’s eyes lit up. His face broke into a fawning smile. He trotted past the guard, hurrying over to Li Meng and Qi Wei, and bowed deeply.

“You two possess an extraordinary bearing. You must be Immortal Masters from the mountain. Please, Immortal Masters, come inside quickly!”

As the butler of Prince Qi’s Manor, the middle-aged man’s insight far exceeded that of the guards. Just looking at their attire and aura, he knew they were the same kind of people as the Princesses who cultivated on the mountain.

Li Meng and his little Junior Sister followed the middle-aged man into Prince Qi’s Manor.

The Manor was massive, filled with luxurious pavilions and interlocking corridors of all sizes. The three of them walked in single file down a long corridor.

“This humble one is named Tang Shun, the butler of Prince Qi’s Manor. His Highness Prince Qi is waiting for you two in the main hall!”

Li Meng narrowed his eyes. It’s Prince Qi waiting for us, not the Princesses. This meant his two Junior Sisters were not at the Manor.

As they walked, they arrived at the main hall pavilion.

“Your Highness, the guests have arrived!”

The doors to the pavilion were wide open. The three stepped inside.

The main hall was quite spacious. The furnishings were magnificent and rather lavish. The floor was covered with a thick purple carpet that felt soft underfoot—likely woven from the fur of some exotic beast. Famous paintings hung on the four walls, some of which actually emanated faint spiritual energy.

Li Meng’s gaze fell upon a middle-aged man sitting in the seat of honor. He had a sturdy build, a stern face, and piercing eyes. Even dressed in a fine brocade robe, he couldn’t conceal the aura of slaughter that clung to him.

He was Prince Qi.

Tang Shun bowed to the Prince. Prince Qi waved his hand dismissively.

“This subordinate will take his leave!” Tang Shun turned and hurried away.

Stepping out, Tang Shun closed the doors behind him with a click. As the doors shut, the main hall dimmed slightly.

“Immortal Masters, please sit!”

Although he knew Li Meng and Qi Wei were cultivators, Prince Qi was neither haughty nor humble; his reaction was somewhat cold.

Li Meng didn’t mind too much. After all, he was a Prince of a secular dynasty; an innate, lofty arrogance was in his bones.

Li Meng and Qi Wei took their seats. Qi Wei climbed onto the rather tall chair, her two little feet dangling and swinging back and forth.

Li Meng looked at Prince Qi in the seat of honor. “Your Highness, are my two Junior Sisters present at the Manor?”

Two Junior Sisters? Prince Qi’s expression shifted. “May I dare ask the Immortal Master’s honored name?”

Li Meng chuckled and stroked his beard. “I am Li Meng!”

Prince Qi shot up from his seat in shock. He bowed deeply to Li Meng. “So it is Immortal Master Li! This King is endlessly grateful to the Immortal Master for the grace of bestowing the medicine!”

Li Meng waved his sleeve. A gust of wind gently lifted Prince Qi from his deep bow. “Your Highness is too polite!”

Prince Qi only felt an invisible hand lift him up. Truly the methods of an immortal. Prince Qi turned toward the inner chamber. “Princess Consort, come out quickly! Immortal Master Li is here!”

Li Meng glanced at the inner chamber. He had already sensed someone else’s presence inside.

Light footsteps sounded from within. The bead curtain was lifted, and an attractive, mature woman walked out. She wore a luxurious, exquisite palace dress. Her jet-black hair was coiled atop her head, and her delicate hairpins swayed slightly with her steps. Her beautifully curved waist was faintly visible as she moved. She exuded a mature, enchanting charm.

Her beautiful face bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Shui’er and Zi’er.

The Princess Consort smiled gently at Li Meng, placed her hands on her waist, and curtsied. “This concubine greets Immortal Master Li!”

Li Meng chuckled and stroked his beard. “Princess Consort is too polite!”

Beside him, Qi Wei curled her lip slightly. Secular etiquette is so boring. Can’t they just get straight to the point? And Senior Brother, too. He was in such a hurry when we came. How come he’s not in a hurry at all now that we’re in Lin’an City?

“Princess Consort, come, sit here!”

Prince Qi helped his wife to her seat before returning to the seat of honor.

Prince Qi looked at Immortal Master Li. “The Immortal Master’s timing is somewhat unfortunate. Half a month ago, Shui’er and Zi’er were summoned by the Empress Dowager and have yet to return. I ask the Immortal Master to stay in the Manor for a few days. This King will send someone to the Royal Palace to inform Shui’er and Zi’er.”

Li Meng’s expression shifted. Junior Sister Shui’er and Junior Sister Zi’er are in the Imperial Palace? The time their Luck dropped was exactly half a month ago. Could the Imperial Palace be the site of their calamity?

Li Meng chuckled and stroked his beard. “Your Highness, Princess Consort, then we will impose upon you!”

Since the sisters were in the Imperial Palace, what he needed to do next was very simple.

That night, in a pavilion in a certain courtyard of Prince Qi’s Manor.

The full moon hung in the sky, its brilliant light slightly dispelling the darkness, draping the world in a veil of silver. The weather tonight was excellent. The sky was cloudless, allowing the moonlight to shine down freely.

On the upper floor of the pavilion, Qi Wei’s tiny body lay draped over the windowsill, quietly watching the full moon.

“Sigh!”

Qi Wei opened her small mouth and let out a sigh.

I thought Senior Brother rushed to Lin’an City because of some urgent matter. I didn’t expect he came looking for women. And two women at that! They’re even a pair of sisters!

Sheng Shui’er, Sheng Zi’er? I don’t even know these two!