Disorderly snow scattered, early plum blossoms budding.
The entire plum garden was shrouded in snow, there was only an expanse of whiteness in sight.
The snow was getting heavier, yet there was no way it could suppress the delicate plum blossom fragrance. Bursts of strong aroma were wafted to oneâs face, penetrating deeply into the heart and refreshing the mind.
Without plum blossom, snow alone is not as beautiful. Without poem, snow is not as elegant.
In such a blizzard, with such a mood, there should be 3-5 friends chatting and drinking merrily, reciting poems and playing chess.
But Li Muyang was talking about the serious matter of life and death with one of the most powerful people of the Kingdom.
The previous Li Muyang was just a child, protected by his parents and cared for by his sister. On his way to Starry Sky, the black dragon that had entered his body, as well as the string of events that followed had quickly made Li Muyang grow up.
He knew it was time to stand up and take responsibility.
Lu Xingkong had planned for everyone; he also needed to plan for his little family.
As he said, as long as the Lu family prospers the Li family will be safe. If the Lu family collapses, then the Li family will die.
Some things have to be thought about, and some things have to be done.
Since they were all on the same ship, it is natural to hope that this ship will remain tall and stable and never sink.
Lu Xingkong looked at Li Muyang, smiled and said: âWhat? You want to help me?â
âI am helping myself.â
Lu Xingkong gently shook his head, sincerely looking at Li Muyang in the eye, âJust do your own thing is enough. Practice martial arts and break into the next realm, as soon as possible reach the Starry Sky realm, become the king of the divine continent. With absolute strength, all the crafty plots are nothing but paper tigers. If the Lu family needs you to help, it proves that the Lu family has been defeated, nothing can save it then.â
Li Muyang earnestly nodded, âPractice martial arts to break into next realm. Muyang has been working hard at it everyday, I have not slacked off at all. If the Lu family needs me, I will certainly do my best.â
âAs long as you do not stand on the opposite side of the Lu family, I will be satisfied.â
âHow could that happen? I am in debt to the Lu family, why would I stand opposite of the Lu family? If I did something like that, wouldnât I, Li Muyang be an ungrateful person?â
Lu Xingkong gently sighed, there are thousands of words, but it was still difficult to clearly tell him.
âGrandfatherâââ Li Muyang noticed that Lu Xingkong had sank into deep thoughts, softly called out.
Lu Xingkong shifted his line of sight back from the view of the snowy garden, saying in a low voice: âThe great snow destroys the city, tragedy will come soon. Who will the tragedy start with? And when will it begin?â
Li Muyang felt that the old man had a heavy weight on his mind, a sense of oppression difficult to be released.
Could it be that, the Lu family was in imminent danger?
âThe Lu family have been standing for thousand years, there certainly will not be anything bad happening.â Li Muyang consoled him. ã
âTiandu city has been drowned by this heavy snow, I do not know how many demons and monsters are being covered up. Some attacking, some defending, someone hiding in the side beating a drum. Itâs not easy for everyone to live.â Lu Xingkong looked at Li Muyang, a smiling face as he continued. âFortunately, I also have been prepared, I must not to let my Lu family all be captured in the same net.â
Li Muyang pondered for a moment then asked. âGrandfather knows where Lu Qiji has gone?â
âThereâs no need to worry about her.â Lu Xingkong said with a smile.
âDoes Grandfather think thatââthereâs something different about her?â
âSomething different?â Lu Xingkong thought for a moment then said, âYou want to ask why she has purple hair and eyes?â
âIt is a little strange.â Li Muyang said with a smile. âHer appearance is not like any other West wind citizen.â
âThousand people, thousand faces, all decided by the heavens. Some have black hair, some white hair, some red hair, and some purple hair, who is able to determine their own appearance? I think, since the Heavens has given Qiji such an appearance, it must have its profound meaning.â Lu Xingkong was a very want open-minded old man, seemingly not a bit troubled by his granddaughterâs unusual appearance.
Li Muyang had a complex feeling about it, nodding: âGrandfather is right. Thousand people, thousand faces, the Heavens decide all. There are some things that are human cannot control. Sometimes itâs not what kind of person we want to be, but what the heavens have decided we should be.â
Lu Xingkong lifted the cup of tea that has been cooled, taking a sip, before he said: âYouâve accompanied this old man for half a night, your family most likely are waiting for you. Go and be reunited with your family, this is the happiest thing in the world.â
Li Muyang thought to butter up Lu Xingkong once more, deepening the relationship between the Li and Lu family. âFor some reason, when I chat with Grandfather the time does not feel slow, like I am chatting with my family.â
Lu Xingkong burst into a hearty laugh: âWe are originally one family.â
Since the other person has already raised the teacup asking the visitor to leave, Li Muyang also felt he should not stay any longer.
He got up from the ground, bowed deeply to Lu Xingkong, saying respectfully: âThank you Grandfather for the tea.â
âYou can go.â Lu Xingkong waved, a smile on his face.
Li Muyang left the teahouse, where Elder Lu was waiting at the door.
Elder Lu was going to walk Li Muyang back, but Li Muyang repeatedly refused. âHow can I let an elderly escort me? I can go back on my own.â
Elder Lu also no longer forced, instead said with a smile: âReunite with your family. You saved Qingmingâs life, the entire Lu household takes it as a personal favour. If the lady rewards you, you should accept it. They treat you with sincerity.â
Li Muyang did not understand why Elder Lu would say this to him, but it was still a show of good intention. He then bowed again to thank him. âThank you, I will bear this in mind. No matter what Aunt Gongsunâs reward is, I will take it.â
âHahaha, such a good child. Same as Shinian, you both are a good child.â Elder Lu laughed.
Standing under the veranda, watching Li Muyangâs figure disappear into the distance and out of the plum garden, the old man turned toward around to enter the tea house.
Elder Lu touched the teapot, realising that the water inside the teapot had gone slightly cool. He hurriedly placed it on the fire to heat up. He then poured out Lu Xingkongâs cup of cold tea, added tea leaves, and poured in boiling water to bring a cup of steaming hot tea for Lu Xingkong.
âExactly the same as when you were young.â Elder Lu set down the cup in front of Lu Xingkong as he said with a smile.
âBut more energetic than I was when I was younger.â Lu Xingkong had a wide smiling expression.
âHappy?â Elder Lu tucked his hands into his sleeves.
âHappy.â Lu Xingkong stated aloud. âWe should have met long ago, but for some reason, I lacked courage, and pushed it back again and again, until tonight.â â
Elder Lu gently sighed, âHas Master ever thought of telling Young master?â
âHow do I say it?â
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âWe have enough people to hate us, why do we have to add a member of the Lu family to that list?â
âBut the situation is pressing, if you do not say it, I am afraid thatââthe gap will become even deeper.â
âEven if it is wrong, let it continue to go wrong.â Lu Xingkongâs voice was almost inaudible. âUntil the last minute, who knows just which action is key?â
âSigh.â Elder Lu gazed at the Master who had gone into deep thoughts again for a long while, before turning around to walk outside.
When Li Muyang returned to the little courtyard, he heard voices of people talking inside.
He knocked on the door, only to see that the person running over to open it was unexpectedly the beautiful servant that Lady Gongsun had gave him, Chuyao.
âWhy are you here?â asked Li Muyang, with a startled face.
âZhaihua and I came to see Young master, to see if Young master has anything to order us servants to do.â Chuyao said with a smile on her face.
âZhaihua is also here.â
âYoung master.â In the house helping to clean up table was another servant Zhaihua, who also came out to greet Li Muyang.
Li Shinian pursed her lips. âAunt Gongsun is not being fair. I have been here for so long, yet she hasnât sent me a servant. How long have you been back? All of a sudden, four servants were given to youââand all four are so pretty. They are not a wife, why do you need them to be so pretty?â
Luo Qi went over to pinch Li Shinianâs cheeks. âWhen you first came here, did your Aunt Gongsun not give you any servants?â
âWhere are the servants?â Li Shinian evaded her Motherâs attack while asking loudly.
âI refused.â Luo Qi said. âYou have the life of a servant, why do you want a servant?â
âI donât want it.â Li Shinian said irritably, rolling her eyes. âMum, tell brother to give me two servants?â
âNo. Your Aunt Gongsun gave them to your brother, what does it matter to you?â Luo qi refused.
âAunt Gongsun also gave me servants, why did you decline for me?â
âBecause you are my daughter.â
âIs Li Muyang not your son?â
âYour brother has grown up.â Luo Qi stated. âWhether they stay or leave, he can decide for himself.â
âMother, do you dare say youâre not favouring one of us? You are biased.â
âYes, I am biased. I am biased towards you. Why do you need a servant? If you do not know how to make soup, cook, sew and needlework, how will you find a good husband?â
âSister Xiaoxin also does not know. Does that mean she will not be able to find a good husband?â
âYouâââ
âAm I wrong?â Li Shinian smiled proudly.
âMother, I was going to tell you about it. I came back to Tiandu just to see you twoââand, of course, Shinian. Iâm relieved to see that youâre all right, and Iâll going to go back to Starry Sky in a few days to continue my training. Aunt Gongsun had gave these four girls to me, I also cannot send them back, why donât you let them stay to serve you and father?â
Zhaihua and Chuyao immediately knelt down, waiting for Luo Qiâs final decision. If Luo Qi agreed, then they would became the servants of the Li family.
For them, the words of Li Muyang were their fate.
Luo Qi shook her head and said to Li Muyang, âMuyang, Mother understands your intention. But we absolutely must not have servants. Think about it, we have just arrived in Tiandu, but we have already received many favours from the Lu family because of a little relationship back then. No one had said anything, but they will all remember this matter. If you give us these four beautiful servants, how can we continue to live in the Lu mansion?â
There was something else that Luo Qi did not speak out publicly. Li Muyangâs identity was sensitive and cannot be exposed to the people of Tiandu.
If their family suddenly have servants, people with bad intention will be suspicious of Li Muyangâs return once they find out.
This was not good for Li Muyangâs safety.
As parents, they always put their mind on their children first, and do not bear to see them suffer in the slightest or get hurt.