Chapter 264: Smiles Do Not Disappear, They Only Shift

No matter the world, the society, or the nation, there is one type of person that seems to never be in short supply.

They are very fond of taking advantage of others.

This type of person adheres to the basic principle of "if you don't pick it up when you go out, it's a loss," living their lives without regard for the lives or deaths of others.

They are especially fond of acting clever by performing acts of unclear significance to achieve their goal of taking small advantages.

Even if they might be late, they are never absent.

In one's life, there is always an opportunity to witness such people.

And now, Ren Yidao looks at Li Lang and nods with emotion.

"That's right, it's him."

This young man looks like he has potential; in the future, he will surely be one of those unscrupulous old men who takes advantage of everything.

Ren Yidao has always deeply detested such immoral behavior, never willing to get involved with them, and has always stayed as far away as possible.

Because it is troublesome.

As soon as one has a conflict with them, they will drag the enemy's intelligence down to their own level and then use their own rich experience to defeat the opponent.

But perhaps it is just like when the Princes of Beigan did not want to encounter Ren Yidao before.

You don't look for trouble, but trouble will actively seek you out.

Although Ren Yidao feels he has been in the limelight quite a bit lately and might have attracted a lot of attention, he hasn't taken it too much to heart.

First, he doesn't think he has reached the level of being a thorn in someone's side or a target of someone's hatred.

Even if there were such a person, it would only be that group of people in the Eastern Wasteland; he shouldn't encounter them in Wentian.

Second, it is his current status in Wentian.

With the background of the Li Family and backing from his thick-thighed friend Li Long, he can mess around as he pleases as long as he doesn't commit any major mistakes.

It is precisely because Ren Yidao is so confident in his own safety that he feels incredibly bewildered by Li Lang's undisguised backstabbing behavior at this moment.

Huhu really doesn't understand.

What is this person aiming for...

Is it really just because he took a fancy to this broom that he is willing to offend me for it?

Hiss!

Is he really that brainless?

If I had kept a low profile before, it would be fine if you looked down on me, but I just displayed my strength, didn't I!?

My Junior Sister was bewitched by me into snapping the Demon blade, your Ninth Princess attained enlightenment in the sword under my guidance, and even your Second Prince was coaxed into becoming a cross-dresser...

Can you not see all of this?

Did Li Lang not see these scenes?

No, he saw them very clearly, and he also understood very well how extraordinary Ren Yidao is to be able to create such a spectacle.

But unlike what Ren Yidao thought, Li Lang was not panicked in the slightest.

Even if you are powerful... so what?

No matter how capable you are, you are just an outsider.

This world still belongs to their Li Family!

Li Lang does not believe that an outsider who relies on luck to receive Li Long's favor would have the guts to turn against him, a future Feudatory King!

And all just for a "Yellow Grade treasure" that isn't even that important.

Li Lang ignored the disdainful and puzzled gazes of the people around him and stared fixedly at Wang Xuesong.

"Are you going to move or not?"

Wang Xuesong, who had always been amiable and rarely spoke, did not retreat in the slightest at this moment.

He stood before the gate with his hands tucked in and his back hunched, blocking the only path for Li Lang to leave with his fragile body that looked like it could fall apart at any moment.

He sighed long and hard upon hearing this, and seemingly helpless, he cupped his hands and advised:

"Your Highness the Heir, this old man would like to agree, but it is against the rules."

"You know the rules of the Treasury; no one is allowed to snatch a treasure chosen by another, otherwise they will be dealt with according to clan rules."

Wang Xuesong looked at Li Lang, his eyes filled with hidden malice.

"The crime is equivalent to internal rebellion, punishable by... three hundred lashes of the Poison Dragon Whip."

The Li Family clan rules.

Upon hearing these words, Li Lang's momentum suddenly weakened by a notch.

And upon hearing "three hundred lashes of the Poison Dragon Whip," he subconsciously tensed his buttocks.

Although the ancestor of the Li Family didn't have much education, he knew the principle that governing a country is easy, but governing a family is hard.

In order to restrain his descendants and prevent them from causing trouble easily, this man carried out his usual murderous style and showed no mercy when formulating the clan rules.

Few people know that the Li Family's house rules are even more severe than the current laws of Beigan.

Among the nine hundred-plus house rules, more than half of the punishments are the death penalty...

Even if the death penalty can be avoided, the "living penalties" are substantial.

Things like the Poison Dragon Whip, Tiger Pliers, Corruption Punishment... the variety is so great that it makes one wonder if the Li Family ancestor had some side job.

Although he was startled by the clan rules, Li Lang quickly adjusted his mindset.

He took another step forward, actually revealing an indifferent smile, and laughed loudly:

"Do you think the clan rules can scare me? Haha! Have I committed any crime? I didn't snatch it from his hands, so why shouldn't I be allowed to choose it?"

Li Lang also heard the footsteps approaching from behind; the corners of his mouth lifted, his laughter became even more ostentatious, and he held the broom high:

"I picked this up from the ground!"

Proud of his own wit, Li Lang, like a proud peacock spreading its tail, turned around with the broom, letting everyone see his expression.

"..."

"..."

Li Lingling and the others had no time to pay attention, while the remaining few looked at one another, not knowing what to say.

Wang Xuesong silently raised his hand to cover his eyes, seemingly clutching his forehead in regret for his own oversight, but in reality, he just didn't want to look at this idiot.

Out of sight, out of mind.

The shrewd old Prime Minister, who had spent a lifetime practicing Qi Observation, had misjudged someone this time.

"This old man was wrong. This is not a case of a 'dog father and dog son,' where the son is unlike the father... this fellow is even worse than his father!"

Although Li Lang's father, Qi Yang Prince Li Xing, lacked ability, he at least knew how to lie low when he was young and had a basic self-awareness.

But this Li Lang—not only did he fail to learn the good, he even carried forward the bad with added intensity.

Idiot!

This kind of self-righteous, far-fetched argument—besides fooling yourself, do you think you can convince anyone else?

Although he was cursing Li Lang to high heaven in his heart, Wang Xuesong still sighed and lowered his hand.

Even with ten thousand grievances in his heart, Wang Xuesong still had to do what he had to do; he could not let this matter deteriorate further.

After knowing the importance of Ren Yidao, Wang Xuesong had to avoid letting him become enemies with Beigan.

But when Wang Xuesong saw Ren Yidao's expression, he blinked in confusion.

Having had his treasure snatched and being humiliated by childish tactics, the youth's face showed no anger, but rather... curiosity?

What was he curious about?

Naturally, the diversity of the human species!

Upon hearing Li Lang's sophistry, Ren Yidao directly translated it into familiar words in his mind:

"I didn't steal it, I just picked it up!"

Ren Yidao:?

Fellow villager, you didn't turn off your auto-loot?

Finding it amusing in his heart, Ren Yidao wasn't truly angry at a guy as abstractly stupid as Li Lang.

Family, I've encountered a major speechless event!

Of course, when he noticed Wang Xuesong's probing gaze, Ren Yidao knew he had to say something.

Things having reached this point, he had to show his own attitude.

Ren Yidao smiled and waved his hand at Wang Xuesong, signaling for him to let him handle it himself.

He said:

"This... brother?"

Ren Yidao certainly remembered the name of this former teammate, but he insisted on using this attitude.

Since you are so proud, surely you cannot accept others treating you as an insignificant background prop, right?

Ren Yidao suggested understandingly:

"I feel there seems to be some misunderstanding between us; I assume you didn't take it on purpose..."

"Slow down! Who has a misunderstanding with you?"

Seeing that Ren Yidao seemed to have the intention of letting the matter rest, Li Lang felt a weight lift from his heart.

As expected, he didn't have the guts!

The Qi Yang Prince Heir completely relaxed and became even more arrogant, pressing forward relentlessly:

"I ask you, is there any rule that says only you can take this Broom?"

"That, there is not."

"Was it you who threw it on the ground?"

"That is indeed the case, but I still must say, this Broom has some issues..."

"No need to say more!"

One side was aggressive, the other kept retreating; the scene seemed to be completely controlled by Li Lang.

Having received Ren Yidao's reply, he looked arrogantly at the seemingly enlightened Wang Xuesong and sneered:

"Look, even he himself says so; do you have anything else to say?"

Wang Xuesong did not care about Li Lang's petty triumph, but instead exchanged a look with Ren Yidao for a moment, and withdrew his gaze after the other party nodded slightly.

Giving Li Lang a pitying look, Wang Xuesong sighed wearily:

"Since His Highness Ren has said so, this old man naturally has nothing to say."

It is hard to persuade a Ghost Star who wants to die with kind words; this old man will not bother!

He stepped aside to clear the path and nodded slightly:

"Your Highness Heir, please."

Hmph!

Having obtained the rare treasure and successfully forced the eyesore to bow his head, Li Lang, having achieved a total victory, walked out with his head held high.

And just as Li Lang was about to leave, Ren Yidao, who had been watching him with a smile for a long time, asked out of the blue:

"Speaking of which, Your Highness Heir, what do you call Li Long? Clan brother? Or clan younger brother?"

"What Li Long, I haven't heard... What!? Presumptuous! How dare you be so disrespectful to His Majesty!"

Ren Yidao, on the contrary, comforted him cheerfully, telling him not to react so intensely:

"Don't be nervous, I say the same thing to his face; besides, you haven't answered my question yet."

Li Lang, having realized what was happening, changed his expression and looked at the questioning youth with ill intent, saying cautiously:

"I naturally address His Majesty as Clan Uncle; do you have a problem with that?"

Although Li Lang is somewhat unintelligent, he is definitely not stupid; he understands what the capital for his rampant behavior is today.

It is the Li Family, it is the Feudatory King, it is the current Emperor.

If not for his current status, today's events would absolutely not have gone so smoothly.

This guy, bringing this up at a time like this, what does he mean?

Intending to use the Emperor's status to threaten?

"A little bit."

Ren Yidao walked to the front directly facing him, pointed at himself, and nodded with a smile:

"A small question, guess, how should you address me?"

His smile was kind, and he asked sincerely:

"So... are you sure you want to talk to me like this?"

Li Lang left.

He is not a person of the Eastern Wasteland who has never personally experienced a beating, and he does not understand the weight of Ren Yidao's final words.

Although he felt something was not quite right at the end, he did not take it to heart, nor did he answer Ren Yidao's question; after laughing three times, he carried the Broom and left proudly.

Li Lang thought he had won, but he did not see the pity in Ren Yidao's eyes as he watched him leave.

"What a pity, deaf while still so young, unable to listen to human words."

Ren Yidao sighed endlessly, shaking his head.

You don't even think about it, my things are not that easy to take, are they?

"Although this thing is indeed beneficial for cultivation, I never said it had no drawbacks at all."

"Friend, have you heard of the Broom Star?"

That Yellow Grade Broom can indeed help people cultivate, but it also has a very hidden problem.

Just like the Blood Fiend Blade, it has very high requirements for the user's fate.

Insufficient ability and extremely strong negative effects are the reasons why an Enlightenment treasure can only be rated as Yellow Grade.

This Li Lang, although born into a Feudatory King's family and destined to inherit the python robe in the future, his fate is already considered extremely high in the eyes of the world.

But his fate is clearly not as hard as Li Lingling's Blood Star Fate, and he lacks the great fortune that Ren Yidao possesses as an Auspicious Beast... naturally, he cannot suppress the bad luck inside the broom.

At most, he can suppress it for a while, but in the end, he will still become a victim of the Broom Star.

Summary:

Done for.

He is done for.

It won't be long before the smug smile on his face now disappears from his face.

But fortunately, smiles are conserved; if it disappears from one place, it will transfer to another.

"That's right, that smile will transfer to my face."

Standing to the side and witnessing the changes in Ren Yidao's micro-expressions, Wang Xuesong became increasingly certain that Ren Yidao did it on purpose.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Xuesong gave a reminder:

"This old man does not know what plan Your Highness has, but please be sure to mind your boundaries."

"The Qi Yang Prince is, after all, the descendant of a Feudatory King; if he were to die by accident, the Qi Yang Prince would surely rebel..."

Blinking his eyes, Ren Yidao looked at Prime Minister Wang in surprise.

Wow!

This old man has a dark heart.

The implication is, as long as Li Lang doesn't die, everything else is fine?

"Hehe, Prime Minister Wang jokes, but I have to worry about the Prince holding a grudge against me."

"Hehe, perhaps."

"Hehehe."

After pulling back and forth with Wang Xuesong with a fake smile, Ren Yidao walked back to the place where he had been standing just now.

Although there were some small episodes, it did not affect Ren Yidao's mood; he is now going to do his own business.

After sensing every treasure, Ren Yidao had an unexpected joy.

Originally, he just wanted to find that guy who was hiding.

But after sensing one-tenth of the treasures, the nature of the matter changed.

Ren Yidao's goal was no longer just to find that secret treasure summoning him; he began to earnestly experience the resonance with every treasure.

The functions of these ten thousand treasures are all different, their methods of use are vastly different, and even their categories are inconsistent.

Every time he sensed a treasure, it was an observation and realization of a different path.

Ren Yidao poured all his heart and soul into doing this one thing for this day and night.

Enlightenment.

Not to comprehend the Dao of Heaven and Earth, but to use the ability of the semi-finished Heavenly Eye to comprehend the thoughts and methods of predecessors.

Observing all living things.

Therefore, even when he finished sensing the last treasure and still did not find the treasure that should have existed, Ren Yidao did not panic.

He closed his eyes, felt all the treasures in the space, and sent an invitation to all of them.

"Dance with me."

Hum—

Slowly, with Ren Yidao as the center, the treasures around him began to tremble layer by layer, finally expanding to the entire space!

At the same moment, a ray of light flashed rapidly across the surface of the Qian Mirror, which had been placed in another secret, heavily guarded location.

【He understood...】

【As expected of Father!】

Today is my six-year anniversary with my partner, and I am going out to spend the day with her.

I am also feeling a bit sentimental, having spent a quarter of my life on one person.

Although I do not know what the future will hold, at least I will strive to live the present well.

Simply asking for a Monthly Ticket—