Chapter 39: Reflections in Water, Spiritual Energy Revives
Yu Ke thought of the current situation.
He could only force a smile and say:
“Sister Xie, you’re too polite—this is what I should have done. But since my Foundation Establishment failed, the spirit stones I borrowed from you will be hard to repay in the short term.”
“I hope you can grant me a little more time.”
After hearing this, Xie Wanwan replied lightly, as if it were nothing:
“Brother Yu, they’re just a few spirit stones—nothing worth mentioning. Why put it on your mind? Pay me back when you can.”
Her tone was utterly indifferent—just a few spirit stones, after all.
Hearing this, Yu Ke thought: Is this the charm of a wealthy woman?
I’m in love!
He suddenly felt Xie Sister looked like a celestial being descending from heaven, glowing with holy light.
The Xie family of Mingshan was a famously wealthy household in the Great Zhou Empire; their descendants wandered the Jianghu with great fortunes.
Among aristocratic heirs, most were second-generation rich, yet even among them, there was a world of difference.
Yu Ke had nearly exhausted his entire family fortune, borrowing everywhere, just to barely gather the materials needed for Foundation Establishment.
Yet Xie Wanwan showed no concern over such debts.
Definitely a little rich girl!
“Then thank you, Sister!”
Of course, Xie Wanwan wasn’t worried Yu Ke wouldn’t repay.
Yu Ke, though not of the Yu family’s direct line, was still listed in the clan genealogy, recognized as Yu blood.
The Yu family had been rooted in Luoshui for generations, with deep roots, numerous servants, and ancestors who had produced True Persons who dominated entire provinces—powerful indeed.
They would never default on a few spirit stones and lose face.
Moreover, Yu Ke had signed a written agreement; the sect itself would ensure justice.
If he truly refused to repay, would a few spirit stones be enough to settle it if it reached the Yu family?
Xie Wanwan had known Yu Ke for three years and understood his character well.
Thus, she felt no worry, only smiled faintly and said:
“Brother Yu, you’re too courteous.”
“I need to go do my lessons. You keep… washing the dishes.”
She said “washing the dishes” with a peculiar tone.
After speaking, Xie Wanwan turned to leave, yet couldn’t resist turning back curiously:
“Brother Yu, have you been taking some whitening elixir lately, or cultivated a special technique?”
Yu Ke, upon hearing this, looked utterly confused.
Seeing his reaction, Xie Wanwan understood.
“Never mind. Brother Yu, you go on with your work.”
She had another thought unspoken, silently thinking:
Brother Yu had become much paler and more handsome than before.
And compared to his old rigid, single-mindedly cultivative personality, he’d changed slightly.
She couldn’t quite say what had changed, only that his eyes seemed much brighter.
Yu Ke listened intently.
He bent slightly over the courtyard’s pond, gazing at his reflection.
The water’s surface reflected blue sky and white clouds, white pear blossoms floating, and a young man’s face.
Not exceptionally handsome, but clearly refined.
His brows were open and calm, his eyes dark as starlight.
The corners of his mouth curled slightly, as if carrying a faint smile, giving him a gentle, restrained aura.
Yu Ke looked left and right, touching the hair at his temples.
It seemed… a bit paler than before.
His once stern and dull face now held a touch of vitality.
Indeed, one’s appearance reflects one’s heart.
“Sigh… trouble. I’ve gotten even more handsome.”
The corners of Yu Ke’s mouth couldn’t help but lift.
At that moment!
The new neighbor in the west wing, the white-robed youth, walked over calmly.
He stood beneath the pear tree, where blossoms clustered like brocade; he looked up at the clear blue sky and drifting clouds.
In his hand, he toyed with a colorful, lively bird, its feathers shimmering with spiritual energy as it fluttered its wings with spirit on his finger.
The white-robed youth smiled lightly:
“Little bird, you’re so ugly—why gaze at your reflection in the pond?”
“If I looked like that, I’d drown myself in the water.”
Yu Ke turned around sharply.
The white-robed youth walked past him calmly, saying:
“The weather is nice today—perfect.”
Then he strolled away as if nothing had happened, leaving the courtyard.
The white-robed youth’s appearance was truly outstanding: his white robes whiter than snow, lips red, teeth white, his looks impeccable—a noble youth stepped straight from a painting.
Yu Ke’s face darkened—he clearly meant something by that.
He always felt this kid was deliberately picking on him!
Was it because he glanced at that beautiful woman?
…
…
Mount Zhongnan.
Located in the south, hundreds of miles from the capital, remote and hard to reach, with steep mountains and difficult paths.
Once a place rarely visited, by winter it became utterly deserted, with no birds flying.
But that was years ago—now, things were different.
Since the Great Qing Emperor personally designated the orthodox Daoist sect San Yi Jiao to establish a temple here, the Daoist monastery rose grandly, its incense smoke curling endlessly.
The famed Lu brothers of the world also chose this place to retire; Lu Chen’s name spread far beyond the Yellow River’s banks, even reaching the northern winds.
After that!
Mount Zhongnan was no longer peaceful.
During every festival, pilgrims surged like clouds, endless streams; the mountain paths teemed with people, forming a winding, serpentine dragon snaking through the hills.
The mountain stairways were packed, shoulders brushing, bustling with activity.
Royal nobles arrived in palanquins, causing traffic to crawl.
Even after nightfall, the mountain paths remained congested, lanterns blazing, illuminating the night sky of Mount Zhongnan.
Yet all this unsettled Lu Yu—he was used to quietness. He gazed down at the brilliant lights below.
He couldn’t help but miss the past.
He sighed: Simpler was better!
Next spring, the Great Qing Emperor would personally visit Mount Zhongnan to pray for the realm.
In response, the Ministry of Rites had issued an edict: from the first day of the New Year, Mount Zhongnan would be cleared of all outsiders, strictly forbidden to ensure the solemnity of the prayer ceremony.
The news spread rapidly, causing countless commoners to flood the mountain before the New Year to burn incense.
For a time, Mount Zhongnan’s incense offerings reached their peak.
Incense smoke curled, voices rose in clamor.
The incense in the main hall burned fiercely, like blazing firewood, still unceasing after half a month.
Many high officials from the capital abandoned famous temples like Bai Ma Temple and Qing Yun Guan.
They endured long journeys, braved fatigue, crossing hundreds of miles, just to come to Mount Zhongnan.
It was now dusk.
Lu Yu stood alone atop the peak, gazing down at the throngs below, sighing again.
He recalled his master—Liu Jinchan had been smiling constantly lately.
Promoting San Yi Jiao was his duty, and lately he’d grown noticeably fatter, chuckling all the time.
Whenever powerful figures from the capital came to visit, Master Liu Jinchan worried he’d fail to properly host them, so he’d summon Lu Yu to deal with these nobles.
Lu Yu was deeply troubled!
Unlike Lu Yu, his elder brother excelled at social interaction—but Lu Chen chose to see no one, devoting himself entirely to cultivation.
No matter how exalted the rank, nothing could shake his resolve to pursue the martial Dao.
Even the Second Prince of Great Qing came personally, hoping to glimpse the true form of Lu Shaobao.
He was politely turned away by his elder brother.
Now, his elder brother had hidden inside the Living Dead Tomb deep in Mount Zhongnan.
Lu Yu was going today to find his elder brother—not for worldly matters; he knew his brother hated hearing them.
He harbored a earth-shattering secret, eager to share it with his elder brother.
Lu Yu looked up at the heavens, where several night stars had already emerged, as if veiled energies were stirring.
“The heavens have changed!”
He slowly uttered these three words, as if speaking to heaven and earth, each syllable bearing the weight of a thousand jin.
Then, a white speck of light slowly appeared in Lu Yu’s palm, emitting a soft, mysterious glow, flickering faintly like a candle being lit.
“The spiritual energy recorded in ancient texts seems to have returned to the world,” said Lu Yu, facing the breeze blowing from Mount Zhongnan.
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