**Chapter 4: My Husband!**
Lu Yibei sat at the edge of the bed, looking at the Ling Tai Purification on the floor, his brow nearly twisted into the shape of a QR code, feeling exceptionally heavy-hearted.
Even now, recalling the fleeting image of Li Xuan that had just flashed before his eyes made him feel very uncomfortable.
Putting aside his aversion to Li Xuan as a person, his appearance could still be considered somewhat of a classical beauty.
However, what Lu Yibei had seen earlier, that twisted and hideous expression, was nothing short of spiritual pollution.
And that suffocating sense of pressure was also something he had never experienced before.
“It seems there’s no other way now, is there?”
Lu Yibei muttered to himself, bending down to pick up the Ling Tai Purification and placing it flat on his knees, concentrating his mind to inject spirit energy into it.
To obtain information regarding the Dachunyang Palace, he needed to make contact with the Ancestor.
So, he could only grit his teeth and try.
If all else fails… I’m sorry, Officer Li. If fear cannot be avoided, I can only find a way to conquer it! Lu Yibei thought.
……
Flowing light spread over the sword body, the blade trembled lightly, emitting a pleasant humming sound.
In a moment of daze, Lu Yibei decisively interrupted the flow of spirit energy.
After waiting for a few seconds, he repeated the technique and then interrupted the energy flow again.
This cycle repeated about sixty times, each time increasing the duration by a fraction of a second.
It was like testing the temperature of footbath water, transitioning from toe to the entire foot, and then gradually increasing the time submerged in the water.
It was only when that suffocating feeling of pressure and the image of Li Xuan did not reappear that Lu Yibei let out a slight sigh of relief, clearing his mind, and boldly injected spirit energy into the Ling Tai Purification.
Thus, accompanied by the long cry of the sword blade, darkness descended before his eyes.
————
The sky was as dark as ink staining, and the cool wind floated through the forest of steel and concrete.
At the top of a towering building, on a dilapidated and sagging rooftop, at the edge of the rooftop stood a man with a graceful and refined appearance, gazing up at the stormy sky, his side profile revealing a bit of sorrow and loneliness.
“Busy, kids should be busy!” Qing Ji said to himself, silently sighing as he spoke.
Suddenly, a wave of spirit energy fluctuated without warning, shaking the air and sending out colorless ripples.
Noticing the familiar presence within the spirit energy fluctuation, Qing Ji’s face lit up with joy, his eyes filled with anticipation, but they quickly dimmed.
Hmph! You little brat, you haven’t come to see me in so long. Do you think this old Ancestor is already dead?
Uh, I seem to indeed have died… but that’s not important!
What’s important is that I can’t give her a good face when she comes back! Qing Ji thought fiercely.
At this moment, he felt much like many empty-nest elders, both looking forward to the care of their descendants and feeling angry about their prolonged neglect.
Like a grandmother scolding endlessly, while her hands in the kitchen never stop.
However.
Just as Qing Ji was pondering how to discipline that unfilial granddaughter-in-law, the spirit energy fluctuation in the air suddenly dissipated.
“Eh? Gone?”
With a soft exclamation, Qing Ji turned around to look at the empty, dilapidated rooftop, the faux anger on his face fading, his eyes revealing a hint of disappointment.
Ah, human feelings are as thin as paper, and the affairs of the world are ever-changing. It seems I’ve overthought it.
Well, judging by the aura, her strength seems to have increased significantly. She should be living quite well. Qing Ji thought, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
Like most elderly people, though they feel a tinge of loneliness from not seeing their descendants, as long as they receive a phone call confirming their safety and well-being, that is enough.
The next moment, the spirit energy fluctuation in the air intensified again, the familiar presence returning.
Qing Ji’s dim eyes instantly regained their luster, only for the spirit energy fluctuation to vanish once more.
Thus, for nearly an hour following, that familiar aura appeared, disappeared, then reappeared, repeating a total of sixty-seven times.
One “phone call” can count as a safety report, but consecutively making sixty-seven “phone calls” is an entirely different matter.
“……”
Looking at the empty and dilapidated rooftop, Qing Ji fell silent.
He had completely lost any expectation or anger now.
In his heart, there was only a resolute killing intent.
He was only thinking about when his unfilial granddaughter-in-law would appear so that he could personally take care of that little pest!
————
Consciousness felt as if it were sinking into water, continually descending, slowly dissipating, and then swiftly condensing again.
When a cool breeze brushed past his cheek, Lu Yibei’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and he opened his eyes.
The haze in his vision still hadn’t cleared when a strong warning of danger shrouded his consciousness.
【What a fast sword!】
Lu Yibei, “???”
What is this premonition and thought? Has there been a diagnosis of abandonment?
“Pu—!”
Almost at the same time the premonition appeared, a searing heat rose from his back, and Lu Yibei watched helplessly as a three-foot green sword pierced through her chest.
“Sixty-seven…”
Qing Ji’s voice entered her ears, causing Lu Yibei to frown slightly, confusion arising in her heart.
I haven’t come to see the Ancestor for so long, and it’s understandable for him to be angry and stab me with a sword.
After all, I can’t d*e.
However, what does this “sixty-seven” mean? Is it some kind of sword technique I haven’t learned? Lu Yibei thought.
Just as she was pondering, Qing Ji’s voice rang out again.
“…Sixty-six, sixty-five…”
Lu Yibei, “…”
As each number sprang from his mouth, the light sword simulating the Hundred-Armed Giant Power shot out, striking with the ferocity of thunder.
Stabbing where it hurts the most, avoiding vital areas.
For a moment, Lu Yibei seemed to see the light; within the light, her father was waving seven wolf blades.
At last, she could no longer bear the escalating pain and let out a heart-wrenching scream.
“Husband, my suffering husband Lu Yibei! I miss you so much! Wuwuwu~!”
By the time Qing Ji counted to “fifty-five,” she had fully grasped the situation.
She had tried sixty-seven times earlier, and the Ancestor would stab her sixty-seven times.
Following that, after grappling with the question of whether or not to preserve her dignity for about three attempts, she chose to maintain her dignity.
Then she silently lowered her standards regarding dignity.
Hearing Lu Yibei’s scream, Qing Ji’s mouth twitched, recalling the early demise of his unknown great-grandson, softening, and slowed the sword.
Soon, the simulated light sword of the Hundred-Armed Giant Power transformed into specks of light, dissipating.
It proved that women really can interfere with the swinging of a sword.
————
After a moment.
Qing Ji sat on the railing of the rooftop, looking at Lu Yibei kneeling before him, gripping her ears tightly as her chest heaved violently.
“Is it wrong?!”
“It’s wrong…” Lu Yibei said weakly.
“Will you dare not again in the future?”
“I won’t dare again…”
“That’s more like it.” Qing Ji rolled his eyes, then, seeing Lu Yibei trying to stand up, he sternly shouted, “Wait, who told you to get up?”
“Oh.” Lu Yibei responded and knelt back down, gripping her ears again.
As obedient as a small kitten that had just been beaten.
She felt very wronged; she didn’t know that injecting spirit energy into the Ling Tai Purification would alert the Ancestor!
“Hmph!” Qing Ji glanced at Lu Yibei and coldly snorted, “I know, you little brat, you never show up without some business.”
“Speak, what do you want me to help with this time?”
Although the Ancestor moved quickly, he still cared about his great-granddaughter-in-law.
“It’s a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding.” Lu Yibei hurriedly said, “Ah, Ancestor~! I just wanted to see you; I specially came to check on you!”
Old folks need to be coddled, much like children!
As she spoke, she blinked her alluring eyes and swayed her slender waist, inching closer to Qing Ji.
“Oh?” Completely ignoring Lu Yibei’s act of cuteness, Qing Ji raised an eyebrow, said coolly, “Now that you’ve seen, you can go back.”
Continue pretending!
I’ve seen more vixens than you’ve had meals; I can see right through your little schemes!
Having interacted for so long, how could I not know what kind of person you are?
“This… haha.” Lu Yibei forced a dry chuckle and gestured with her hands, “Actually, there’s still a really small request I’d like to ask the Ancestor for help with.”
“Hmph, I knew it!” Qing Ji rolled his eyes. “So, what do you wish to learn this time? I must say in advance, I can’t teach you any crooked methods; the last time I taught you the Zhipianxian, I had already made an exception.”
“I told you, you misunderstood me!” Lu Yibei pouted, “I really didn’t come to learn; I just want to… want to…”
“Want to what?”
Lu Yibei’s eyes darted around before she said, “Want to ask you how I can sneak into the Dachunyang Palace undetected.”
“I don’t know.”
“Eh? How could that be…” Lu Yibei’s words halted.
Aren’t you frequently ‘borrowing’ things? You should be quite proficient at sneaking through doors, picking locks, soaring over rooftops, and passing through walls!
“Since I became a master, I’ve always walked in openly,” Qing Ji said flatly.
After all, neither the guarding disciples nor the sect elders could stop him; in nature, it was no different from walking in openly.
Lu Yibei, “…Okay, so this isn’t burglary; it’s an outright theft, right?
“What’s wrong?” Seeing Lu Yibei silent, Qing Ji squinted his eyes, looked her up and down, and said in a serious tone, “What little schemes are you up to again?”
“It’s not a scheme, it’s not a scheme.” Lu Yibei waved her hands, explaining, “I just happened to hear some news that the last fragment of the Ling Tai Purification is stored within the Dachunyang Palace…”
As she spoke, her voice suddenly choked with emotion, her gaze dazed, and she turned away, pulling up her sleeve to wipe her eyes.
“Sniff! Ancestor, you know, this sword is almost the last thing my deceased husband left for me. Wuwuwu…”
While speaking, Lu Yibei pretended to imagine her deceased scenario, growing increasingly sorrowful, nearly unable to control her emotions.
If she couldn’t fool herself, how could she trick the Ancestor?
“I’ve longed to complete it just to keep a memory of him, really, I have no ill intentions.”
Qing Ji, “…”
It doesn’t seem like she’s acting?
Ah, my great-granddaughter-in-law, usually so carefree, unexpectedly has such deep feelings?
Sentiment has always led to empty grievances, while dreams are easily awakened… how lamentable!
After pondering for a moment, Qing Ji sighed lightly and said, “Ah, this matter can be easily resolved; there are two methods.”
Lu Yibei, “…Hey, plan successful!
“Firstly, I can tell you the detailed map of the Dachunyang Palace’s main gate and the formation layout, then you can come and go freely. However, since time has passed, I can’t guarantee if there will be any changes.” Qing Ji said.
“Secondly, if you can contact that Zhang Hainan kid, just tell him a phrase of incantation, and he will certainly present the last fragment to you. However, by now, it’s been over a hundred years, so whether that kid is still alive is another question.”
“He’s alive, alive.” Lu Yibei said, “I’ve heard someone mention him.”
She clearly remembered the change in Fu Xinyi’s expression and attitude when she mentioned Zhang Hainan’s name in Tangcheng, which was enough to prove that Zhang Hainan was still alive.
“Oh?” Qing Ji seemed to have heard something good, his eyes brightening, smiling, “By now, that kid should be a virtual age of one hundred and two; not bad, not bad!”
“I still remember, he was crying with his nose running, telling me that one day he would surpass me, not expecting it to happen in this way, haha!”
“However, speaking of which,” Qing Ji changed his tone, “that kid is probably already an important figure in the Dachunyang Palace; it might be somewhat difficult for you to meet him.”
“…”
Not just difficult, it could even be life-threatening!
What worried me even more was that the Ancestor had been gone for so many years; whether Zhang Hainan would even give the Ancestor face was another matter.
The most terrifying situation would be if Zhang Hainan still harbored resentment against the Ancestor. When I subsequently recite the phrase given by the Ancestor, I might drop dead on the spot.
Lu Yibei thought, bowing slightly to Qing Ji, “I’ll find a way to overcome the difficulties; I ask for the Ancestor’s guidance.”
Whether it was the map or the incantation, though it might not necessarily be useful, it’s always good to memorize it first.
————
Half an hour later.
Lu Yibei looked at the child-like doodle-like map drawn by Qing Ji on the ground, her eyes wide open.
“Ancestor, if I may be rude, what does this irregular circle that looks like a sesame cake represent?”
“What cake? This is the guarding formation, those dots are the formation eyes, you fool!”
“And this Corgi?”
“What Corgi? That’s a Qilin!” Qing Ji shouted, “Are you questioning my drawing skills?”
That shout was both filled with thin anger and a bit of awkwardness mixed with pride.
Haha, finally, there’s something you can’t remember!
Lu Yibei, “…I wouldn’t dare!
However, even with her memory, it was a bit difficult to remember such a “map.”
She even suspected that if a bit of spirit energy was injected into that map, it would immediately spring to life and shout a few phrases like “Yubi Baba, Makabakka!”
Pulling her gaze away from the map, Lu Yibei rubbed her slightly swollen forehead and looked at Qing Ji, “Ancestor, you should tell me the incantation first; I’m afraid I won’t remember this map right away.”
“Hmph! Then you’d better listen closely, I will only say it once.” Qing Ji slightly raised his head and declared in a loud voice, “Tai Chi Hunyuan, as soon as it opens its mouth, it divides benevolence and righteousness. Dispersing purity, the great way is ruined…”
Wait, this incantation sounds familiar? Halfway through, Lu Yibei frowned slightly, then blurted out along with Qing Ji’s tone.
“…All things draw and add brightness, the divine furnace silent and tightly sealed. Get one fire, refine a Vajra, transcend the universe!”
“Is that it? This is your spirit pattern’s power description, right? I remember you mentioned it once before.”
Qing Ji, “…”
The slap in the face came too quickly; he was unhappy.
Noticing Qing Ji’s slight change in expression, Lu Yibei said with a strange tone, “Ancestor, why don’t you say something? Is it or isn’t it?”
I admit I had the intention of reclaiming a lost opportunity in my motive.
“Yes.” Qing Ji answered through gritted teeth.
“Oh~!”
Great, it really is a problem with the Ancestor’s drawing ability, not an issue with my memory.
Lu Yibei nodded, instantly regaining the confidence that had been shattered by that map.
————
Lu Yibei squatted on the ground, staring hard at the distorted map until her eyes grew dry, forcing herself to commit it to memory.
It was quite absurd that even though the map was chaotic, it also had a 3D effect.
One didn’t know whether to say it was a bizarre drawing style or an extraordinary talent.
Having memorized the map, she rested for a moment before suddenly recalling the earlier reminders from Huasang, she looked at Qing Ji, who was closing his eyes, and gently inquired, “Ancestor, my spirit patterns have been a bit off lately; what do you think…”
Qing Ji didn’t even open his eyes but interrupted her, “Don’t ask me.”
No way, no way, the dignified master of a generation, could he really hold a grudge over two sarcastic remarks? Lu Yibei thought scornfully.
“Is that so? Ah! Then I can only wait until I see Zhang Hainan and beg him well. Previously, someone told me that he’s unrivaled in treating uncontrollable spirit patterns.”
Qing Ji, “…”
“Husband, my husband~! Wuwuwu!”
While speaking, Lu Yibei stole a glance at Qing Ji’s expression with her peripheral vision, only to find it a grave disappointment.
Totally useless! If the Ancestor were alive today, he would definitely be a master of identifying green tea, Lu Yibei thought.
In the silence, Qing Ji opened his eyes a slit, glanced at the pretentious girl, and let out a cold laugh.
“You stirring me doesn’t work; since you remember my spirit pattern power description, have you forgotten where my spirit patterns came from?”
Where did they come from? Lu Yibei slightly furrowed her brow and recalled a bit, then her eyelids twitched.
She vaguely remembered Qing Ji saying that his masters were extremely poor, and when they drew his spirit patterns, they stuffed in whatever materials they had.
There was only one principle: not to k*ll someone with poison!
Now thinking about it carefully, Qing Ji’s ability to condense a spirit pattern that no one had ever seen—[Tai Chi Hunyuan]—might well have been the result of countless failures and beneficial mutations during spirit pattern control.
He wasn’t afraid of spirit pattern failures, so naturally, he didn’t need to master the means of treating spirit pattern failures.
Alright, I’ll consider you DIO!
Seemingly sensing Lu Yibei’s subtle change in mindset, Qing Ji dropped the thought of teasing her, and with an expression of satisfaction, said, “Alright, stop sulking; it’s unbecoming.”
Lu Yibei, “…”
Tsk, as if he had a way to solve it.
Also, I’m not sulking; I just have a poker face.
I won’t listen; I dislike you, haha!
“Though I haven’t treated spirit pattern failures, I can guess what method Zhang Hainan used for treatment. Do you want to hear it?”
“Want!”
“Hehe!” Qing Ji smiled meaningfully, “Do you know how humans obtained power before spirit patterns existed?”
