Chapter 367: A Predestined Affinity Long Since Exquisite

In Shenyuan Year Sixteen, the Emperor was plagued by severe illness, and the Crown Prince was overseeing the state, yet he repeatedly made errors. The Imperial Preceptor observed the celestial phenomena at night; the North Pole Taiyi was not in the position of the Taiwei head, yet the Taiwei was dim and obscure, unpredictable. To stabilize the political situation, he issued the Talented Person Decree, summoning all Daoists to gather at the Imperial Academy to rectify the Purple Star Palace.

The Long, Lu, and Qiao families were enfeoffed by the Imperial Court, so they were required to enter the capital to receive orders.

At that time, the Qiao family's only daughter was frail, and the family head was deeply worried. Coinciding with this event, he sought guidance from the Imperial Preceptor.

The Imperial Preceptor, Baili Wudao, had once met a woman in his youth who called herself Tumi; she had the bearing of an immortal, extraordinary cultivation, could bring spring with a touch, and was highly accomplished. In his early years, he often traveled the world and possessed profound insight.

However, for some unknown reason, she later retired into the mountains and forests and disappeared without a trace, though fortunately, there had been news of her recently.

Upon learning that this immortal was currently staying in Youlu, the Qiao family head was overjoyed. After thanking the Imperial Preceptor, he began planning to take his granddaughter to Youlu.

After consulting with the Lu family head, once the affairs in the capital were settled, he set this plan in motion.

The Long family head also intended to go along. Firstly, the ancestors of the three families were originally one, tasked by the Heavenly Dao to guard the Three Talents; if one side moved, the others had to act as well. Secondly, since she was a great master, there was no reason to miss the opportunity.

The Three Talents Zhen guarded ancient great demons, but recently it had loosened, causing many great demons from the primordial era to escape repeatedly. Some years ago, a great demon, Zhu Yan, took advantage of this to collude with a Pao Xiao and bewitch members of the Qiao family, thereby escaping the suppression of the array.

At that time, fortunately, Daoists from all paths assisted, and although the battle was fierce, the disaster was considered quelled.

However, this matter had always been criticized by the world, yet how could the world know that in these days of declining Spirit Roots, the three families were already at the end of their strength and no one was capable of inheriting the ancestors' will.

It was not that there were no more great masters in the world, but most practiced the Dao of Wuwei; thus, these great masters were mostly hidden in mountains and forests or in the bustling markets, and could not be found by ordinary people.

Therefore, facing such a rare great master who had descended into the world, the three families naturally had to seek a way out from her.

This was four-year-old Long Qi's first time leaving home; he was chattering all the way, very excited.

The current head of the Long family, Long Feiyu, had only one wife in his life, and they were deeply affectionate. They had six sons and one daughter, the daughter being the third-born, still unmarried and living at home.

Although Long Feiyu had many children, because of their status as an Exorcist Family, they were deeply hated by the demon race. His sixth son was snatched away by the demon race while still in swaddling clothes, and his fate remained unknown to this day.

The Lady of the Long family was inconsolable and had once ruined her health from grief, only beginning to recover after little Long Qi was born.

The pain of losing a child made the Long family cherish Long Qi with extra care; even his older brothers and sisters treated him like a treasure, fearing he might trip or bump himself.

Among them, Long Wu was the closest to Long Qi.

Firstly, the other brothers were older and held family responsibilities, making it difficult for them to get away. Secondly, Long Wu was close in age to Long Qi and was a twin to the Long family's sixth son; he felt very guilty about Long Lu's fate, so he poured all his guilt and love for his brother onto little Long Qi.

And so, for this long journey to Youlu, it was Long Wu who accompanied him.

The reason for bringing little Long Qi on this trip to Youlu was mainly to have the great master examine his bone structure.

When little Long Qi was born, Long Feiyu had received a prophecy from an ancestor saying that this child would bear a great responsibility in the future, but when Long Feiyu tried to ask further, the ancestor was unwilling to say more.

What great responsibility could such a small child bear?

Although he thought this, Long Feiyu dared not be dismissive. But now that Spirit Roots were declining and little Long Qi was young, it was truly impossible to see what his strengths were, hence this action.

If he were to shoulder a dangerous task but had mediocre aptitude, it would be better to plan early, would it not?

Along the way, little Long Qi was incredibly excited, stretching his little head to look out the carriage, babbling the whole time. Little Long Wu was relatively much more steady; although he did not go out much either, he felt that since he was older, he had to be composed in front of his younger brother and not appear ignorant.

Looking at Long Wu, who was still just a young lad himself yet was taking care of his younger brother the whole way, Long Feiyu felt immensely comforted.

The journey from Nanhua to Youlu was long, and the Long family party traveled by carriage, taking over a month to arrive. The Lu family head, Lu Wuhuang, had received word and had long been waiting at the pass with his people.

The Lu Family Fortress was strategically located and filled with mechanisms; if an ordinary person were to wander in, they would never be able to escape without the ability of Communication with Heaven. Moreover, the Long, Lu, and Qiao families were originally one, and the history of it was clear to every family head; to show respect, he naturally had to welcome them in person.

Along the way, the towering peaks and ridges had already left little Long Qi overwhelmed; he forgot even to exclaim, just staring straight ahead, and even after arriving in the Lu Family Fortress, he had not yet come to his senses.

The adults all went to discuss matters, and the two children were settled in a courtyard, served by maidservants, and given a thorough wash.

How could children stay still?

As soon as he changed his clothes, Long Qi clamored to go out and play. Although Long Wu acted all serious, he was only a half-grown child himself; unable to withstand little Long Qi's pestering, he finally agreed, provided they only played in the courtyard.

But unexpectedly, there was already someone sitting in the courtyard.

In the courtyard was a little girl, looking no more than one or two years old, wearing a small green vest, her hair tied in two little buns, sitting under a pine tree, fiddling with something in her hands.

Little Long Qi only had time to see the little girl's back before he saw a nanny hurrying over.

"Oh, my little ancestor, why have you run out wearing so little again? It's autumn and it's cold, don't catch a chill."

As the nanny spoke, she picked her up. The little girl mumbled something, but little Long Qi really couldn't hear it clearly. After the two entered the house, he saw that where she had been sitting, there were two pine cones left behind.

At that time, Long Qi did not know what a pine cone was, only feeling that it was very fun, just as round and chubby as the little girl who had just been there.

Little Long Qi fiddled with the pine cones for a while, then suddenly felt that these were someone else's things and should not be kept, so he asked Long Wu, "Wu, whose little lady is that?"

Long Wu naturally did not know either, so he asked the maidservant behind them.

"That? That is the daughter of the Fairy invited by the family head; the little girl is extremely cute," the maidservant answered with a smile.

"Cute?" Little Long Qi looked up, looking unconvinced, "Is she as cute as me?"

His father, mother, brothers, and sisters all said he was the cutest.

Looking at the delicate, jade-like little milk-baby, the maidservant suddenly felt that he and the little daughter of the immortal woman were a perfect match, truly a golden boy and jade girl.

"Naturally, the little young master is the cutest; others certainly cannot compare," the maidservant said with curved eyes, coaxing the pouting little Long Qi.

Having received the maidservant's answer, little Long Qi began to fiddle with the pine cones again—he must find a chance to return them to her, lest she cry when she can't find them later.