Chapter 79: Chapter 75: Whales Are So Nice

Backed into a corner by Du Youqian, Li Yu’s expression turned ugly. "What is it you want, Fellow Daoist?"

Du Youqian thought for a moment. "Aren’t you going to invite me for some tea to discuss this properly?"

Li Yu’s expression relaxed slightly. ’As long as we can talk, it’s fine.’

"This way, Fellow Daoist," he said, releasing a Paper Crane.

Du Youqian couldn’t help but smile, releasing a Tier One Top Grade Magical Artifact Flying Boat. "Fellow Daoist, let’s take this. It’s faster."

Li Yu secretly rolled his eyes.

’Damn tycoon. So shameless!’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

’The friendships between Immortal Masters are so strange.’

Such a thought popped into Liao Minmin’s little head as she watched her Great Ancestor and that National Guardian of the Wu Kingdom stroll through the Wu Kingdom’s Palace City, chatting and laughing as if they were friends of many years.

’Just a moment ago, they were at each other’s throats, looking like they were ready to draw blood over the slightest disagreement.’

’How did they suddenly become best buddies?’

Liao Minmin should have been nervous, arriving at the Imperial Palace.

She was merely the daughter of a concubine from a Martial Arts Clan. In the original course of her life, she never would have been able to set foot inside the Imperial Palace.

She wasn’t even qualified to enter as a palace maid to sweep the floors.

But seeing the way her Great Ancestor and the National Guardian were acting, she couldn’t feel nervous at all.

’It was like strolling through her own courtyard.’

After all, didn’t she see the Imperial Guards, the High Grade Eunuchs and Palace Maidens, and even the Palace Ladies all bowing in greeting from a distance when they saw them?

’The Imperial Palace isn’t such a big deal after all.’

Li Yu smiled and asked, "My unworthy disciple... I haven’t heard a word from him. It seems he died at your hands, Fellow Daoist?"

Du Youqian smiled pleasantly. "Indeed. The moment he arrived at my door, he was shouting about killing me, and he didn’t even introduce himself. I only meant to teach him a lesson, but I never expected a single strand of Sword Qi would cut him down. Ah, if only I’d known. I should have gotten the details before killing him."

’Get the details? *Then* kill him?’

Li Yu’s face twitched, but he quickly forced a stiff smile. "It must have been that unworthy disciple’s fate to face this tribulation. Don’t trouble yourself over it, Fellow Daoist Qiu."

"Then, the matter I entrusted to you, Fellow Daoist Li..."

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Qiu, what are you saying? Your business is my business. You can leave it all to me. It’s just a matter of altering the historical records. A small matter, a triviality. By the way," Li Yu asked tentatively, "I wonder what relationship you have with that figure from two hundred years ago, Duke You De, Du Youqian?"

Du Youqian said calmly, "That person had some dealings with a friend of my master. Though that friend has long since passed on, he was concerned about his old companion’s posthumous reputation. Thus, he instructed me to see this matter through and ensure his name is not tarnished in the history books."

Li Yu chuckled. "That Du Youqian was quite an interesting character. I’ve read the notes left by a sect senior. The man single-mindedly yearned for the Dao. If he had possessed a Spirit Root, he would have been a fine prospect for cultivation."

Du Youqian laughed along with him. "He’s just a handful of dust now, not worth mentioning. How can he compare to virtuous cultivators like us, with our long lifespans? Even if one cannot reach Core Formation, merely succeeding at Foundation Establishment grants a life of two hundred years. We can laugh as all the celebrated figures of the Mortal World turn to piles of white bones."

Li Yu clapped his hands in praise. "Well said, Fellow Daoist! Your words speak directly to my heart. We cultivators ought to brave all obstacles and single-mindedly pursue the Dao. Petty squabbles over pride are trivial matters."

Du Youqian watched him with a smile.

’This guy is afraid I won’t let the matter drop, so he’s trying to sweet-talk me and beg for forgiveness.’

Du Youqian had only been teasing him for fun while getting the historical records modified anyway. He had no real intention of making things difficult.

Upon hearing this, he was about to relent.

But then, he heard Li Yu say, "Since you have some connection with that Du Youqian, Fellow Daoist Qiu, I’m suddenly reminded of a story I heard not long ago."

Du Youqian stopped and looked at him.

Li Yu didn’t leave him in suspense, quickly explaining, "Decades ago, the Duke You De of that generation was implicated in a major case. Duke You De’s Mansion was ransacked, his title was stripped, and his entire family was exiled three thousand li. That Duke committed suicide to atone for his crimes. As for his pampered sons and daughters, some couldn’t bear the humiliation and took their own lives, while others managed to eke out a meager existence in the Woniushan Mountain Range."

"Decades have passed, however, and in that harsh environment, not many of them are still alive."

"A few months ago, the last two descendants of Duke You De killed two other exiles in a struggle for survival. The incident caused quite a stir at the time, becoming fodder for idle gossip in the long-peaceful Capital City."

"Last month, the Ministry of Justice handed down its verdict: they are to be executed after the autumn harvest."

"However, since your sect has a connection to the Duke You De’s line, Fellow Daoist Qiu, I will take the liberty of handing those two children over to you. How about it?"

Du Youqian frowned, remaining silent. He suddenly took out three copper coins and performed a divination on the spot.

Li Yu couldn’t help but look on with envy. ’Even his damn divination tools are Upper Grade Magical Artifacts. True Disciples really are extravagant!’

’Damn tycoon. So shameless.’

Once the divination was complete, Du Youqian put away the copper coins and gave Li Yu a formal salute. "In that case, I thank you, Fellow Daoist!"

Just now, after hearing Li Yu speak, he’d had a sudden premonition, a feeling that those two children were connected to him in some significant way.

So he cast a divination, and the result was the "Family" hexagram.

The Family: The perseverance of a woman is advantageous.

There were two changing lines. The first was the Nine in the third place: When there are harsh words in the family, there will be remorse. Danger, but good fortune. When the wife and children are frivolously laughing, it leads in the end to humiliation.

The second was the Nine at the top: Sincerity is met with awe. In the end, good fortune comes.

With two changing lines, the top line carries more weight when interpreting the hexagram.

All things considered, these two children seemed to be the key to him avoiding a future calamity.

However, this calamity was not destined for his current life; it was more likely for the next one.

Or even the life after that.

’Regardless, I’ll just consider it forging a positive karmic bond with them!’

’It’s a trivial matter that requires little effort, anyway.’

Li Yu’s face also lit up with pleasure. ’I’ve finally sent this troublesome guy on his way.’

But then he saw Du Youqian take a small porcelain bottle from his Storage Treasure Pouch and offer it to him. Li Yu asked in surprise, "Fellow Daoist Qiu, this is..."

"These are some Elixirs I refined in my spare time. Our conversation today was most enjoyable, Fellow Daoist Li. Please, consider it a greeting gift!"

Li Yu accepted it, uncorked the stopper, and first took a look. The elixir’s color was vibrant, and its shape was perfectly round. He then took a sniff of the Pill Qi; the aroma was rich and pure, without any trace of the unpleasant scent of impurities. It was a clear sign of superior quality.

Upon closer inspection, he identified it as a Clover Rejuvenation Pill, an auxiliary cultivation elixir commonly used by those in the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage.

Although it was called "common," he had actually never used one himself due to its high price.

Let alone one of such superior quality!

Li Yu was deeply moved.

’Damn tycoons are the best!’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Du Youqian’s Flying Boat departed the Wu Kingdom Capital City, it carried two new passengers: a boy and a girl.

Liao Minmin sized them up curiously.

Before, the two little ones had been disheveled and caked in grime, smelling worse than beggars.

Now that they were cleaned up, they both looked rather delicate and well-featured.

The girl had a dignified and delicate face, though her skin was a bit rough.

She was about the same age as Minmin, but she was as skinny as a bean sprout, looking as though a strong gust of wind could blow her away.

The boy, on the other hand, had a large head on a small body. Despite his youth, his eyes held a fierce glint.

’They committed murder? They killed two people?’

Liao Minmin could believe that the boy had killed someone.

’But the girl?’

’Judging by her kind, timid, and introverted gaze, she probably wouldn’t even dare to kill a chicken.’