Chapter 125: Gaining the Greatest Benefit

Jiang Miao steadied herself, suppressing a smile, and looked at Cheng Xi, saying, "You really have a leisurely mood; what time is it now, and you still have the heart to farm here?"

Cheng Xi straightened her back, scattered the seeds in her hand into the soil, and said unhurriedly, "Isn't that just how life should be lived? Doing things one enjoys."

Baohua carried a hoe on her shoulder and chimed in with a milky voice, "That's right, that's right!"

Jiang Miao shook her head helplessly, sat down on a nearby stone, and with her gaze fixed on the seeds in Cheng Xi's hand, said thoughtfully, "The matters regarding the Wanxing Sect have basically been settled. I heard the Prince is returning to Jindu; do you want to go back? I want to go back and take a look; if you go back, we can just happen to travel together."

Cheng Xi clapped the dirt off her hands, sat down beside Jiang Miao, and looked into the distance: "If you want to go back, then go back. After all, your family is still in Jindu. I have no old friends waiting for me if I return; with no ties on my heart, I can naturally follow my own will."

Jiang Miao looked at Cheng Xi's indifferent expression and couldn't help but sigh in her heart; Cheng Xi was much more open-minded than she was. "You really are able to let go; if only I had your state of mind."

She just couldn't bear to leave her family behind.

This time she didn't have the qualifications to pass through the Star Gate, but next time she would definitely strive for it. Thinking about it, she could still accompany her family for a few more years, and she became happy again.

As the two were talking, a figure hurried over from afar; it was none other than Yan Shengyu.

She ran until she was panting, and seeing Cheng Xi and Jiang Miao, she hurriedly shouted: "Jiang Miao, I knew you were here. I went to look for you but couldn't find you; I had originally intended to come with you."

Seeing her hurried expression, Cheng Xi asked with concern: "What happened to you? You look so anxious."

Yan Shengyu caught her breath, looked at Cheng Xi, and said: "Don't mention it. Someone encountered Ji Tang in the mountains, and the two sides started fighting. Five or six people from the Academy were injured, and she managed to run away. I came to tell you so you can be a bit more careful."

Now that the City Lord's Mansion has been destroyed, the fact that the Ji Family colluded with Ye Wujin can no longer be hidden. Now the Ji Family stinks in Wanxing City; no wonder they couldn't find Ji Tang all this time—she had actually hidden in the mountains.

Cheng Xi didn't care much and said slowly: "Without the protection of the Ji Family and having lost Ye Wujin as an ally, she is now like a stray dog. She wouldn't dare enter the Academy again; if she dares to come, she won't be returning."

Jiang Miao felt extreme disgust whenever Ji Tang was mentioned: "When she first entered the Academy, she was very arrogant. Now that I think about it, it was also intentional, wanting to scheme for the Ji Family. But their Ji Family was unlucky to have run into you and the Prince."

Yan Shengyu laughed loudly, "This is fate!"

Cheng Xi brought the two back to her courtyard; Jiang Weiran and the others were not there, having gone to the market at the foot of the mountain to buy things.

She personally brewed tea and sat with the two of them by the stone table under the tree to drink.

The sunlight was warm, and the gentle breeze brought warmth.

Yan Shengyu suddenly said: "It seems like a long time since I've had a cup of tea this relaxed and comfortable."

Jiang Miao felt a sense of shared emotion; ever since entering the Academy, she had been rising earlier than the chickens and sleeping later than the dogs. Thinking back to the days when she was an Eldest Miss surrounded and served by servants, it felt like a lifetime ago.

"Xixi, are you really not going back to Jindu?" Yan Shengyu heard what Jiang Miao said and tilted her head to ask her.

Cheng Xi nodded: "You two just go back. If you have time, buy some snacks for me and bring them back; that will be as if I had gone back myself."

Yan Shengyu nodded and agreed, not trying to persuade her further. They all had family waiting for them when they returned, but no one was waiting for Cheng Xi.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel sad for her and said softly: "Wait for us to come back; we'll bring you lots of delicious things."

"Alright." Cheng Xi smiled and nodded.

The two drank three pots of tea at Cheng Xi's place before leaving. No sooner had they left than Cheng Fenglan and the others returned.

They brought back delicious fruits and snacks from the market at the foot of the mountain for Cheng Xi, all made from Spirit Rice, which were very tasty.

Cheng Xi thanked them and picked up a piece of Spirit Cake to put in her mouth; it was soft, glutinous, and fragrant. With delicious food in her stomach, it truly made one happy.

Jiang Weiran took out a Spirit Tool for Cheng Xi: "Help me take a look at this; how is it?"

Cheng Xi took it, looked at it, and asked: "How many Talisman Beads?"

Jiang Weiran gestured a number, and the corners of Cheng Xi's mouth twitched: "A fool and his money are easily parted."

Jiang Weiran:...

"I should have known to let you go with me."

He had been scammed.

Cheng Xi looked at his angry expression and smiled: "I'll draw a blueprint; you have Chi Laicheng refine it for you."

"Really?" Jiang Weiran immediately brought paper and pen, looking like a sycophant.

Cheng Xi picked up the brush to draw for him, Cheng Yunjian watched seriously from the side, and Cheng Fenglan went about her own business. When she returned, she saw Jiang Weiran hugging the blueprint and the Spirit Tool like a treasure as he ran off.

"I told him long ago that this thing didn't look like anything powerful, but he was coaxed into not knowing north from south and insisted on buying it back," Cheng Fenglan complained.

Cheng Xi looked at them: "What did you buy?"

Cheng Fenglan shook her head: "My brother and I didn't buy anything else, thinking we should save the Talisman Beads; they might be useful if we get over there."

Cheng Xi was a bit surprised to hear this, but Cheng Fenglan's plan was not wrong. She thought for a moment and said: "You still need to have a defensive Dharma Artifact. Once you get over there, you don't know what the situation will be, so saving your life is the priority. Go buy one, and I'll modify it for you when you get back."

Spend the least money, get the greatest benefit.

Cheng Yunjian was unwilling and looked at Cheng Xi: "Don't worry about us anymore. We can't always let you scheme for us; we will find our own ways."

Cheng Xi then said: "When it comes to modifying Dharma Artifacts, there is truly no one in this Academy more capable than me, not even Yuan Dashi. Besides, after eating someone's food, one's mouth is soft; go on."

Cheng Xi pointed to the snack box.

Cheng Fenglan knew that Cheng Xi hated owing favors the most and also knew she meant well, so this time she didn't refuse and looked at Cheng Xi: "Alright, we'll come find you once we've bought it."

Cheng Xi nodded and slowly closed her eyes.

Seeing this, the two siblings didn't disturb her and went about their own business.

They had to prepare many things. They didn't know what the world beyond the Star Gate would be like. They had no backing and had to rely on themselves for everything, so they had to prepare everything they could.

Cheng Xi could protect them for a while, but they couldn't keep shamelessly adding to her troubles.

Everyone would eventually have to part ways.

Listening to the two whispering and discussing things, Cheng Xi gradually drifted into a dream.

The sunlight fell on her through the treetops. Baohua brought her a blanket to cover herself with, then lay on her shoulder and fell asleep too.

Time was shallow, and the breeze was gentle.

When Li Zhi'an returned, this was the scene he saw.

His footsteps stopped, and he just watched her like that for a long while before stepping in on tiptoe.

"I thought you were going to stand there until the end of time."

Cheng Xi's voice suddenly came, and Li Zhi'an couldn't help but stiffen.

Sure enough, he had disturbed her after all.