Chapter 43

"Is there no other way?" Su Ru frowned as she looked at him.

Chu Li sighed, "Chief Steward, you know there's only one way."

"No way!" Su Ru shook her head, "You can't leave the manor!"

Chu Li pondered.

Actually, there was a way: to send more guards to protect him, making Dulei Temple hesitant to make a move.

But this would be too much of a fuss. The matter concerning Lingtu was being handled in secret and couldn't be known by outsiders, let alone the Tianling Tree.

Few people knew about the Tianling Tree, but one couldn't underestimate others. There were always higher heavens and more capable people. It was possible that someone knew about the Tianling Tree, which could be inferred from the Wuqing Tree and the Mingxia and Jinghuai Trees they had previously moved.

The Tianling Tree was too tempting, and too many people would envy it, causing endless trouble. Therefore, it had to be handled in secret, without making a big fuss.

Su Ru was not giving up, "Can't a branch be made to live?"

Chu Li shook his head, "It can live, but when will it grow? A sapling is useless; we can't wait twenty years, can we?"

These three types of trees needed at least twenty years to grow. If they were less than twenty years old, their spiritual energy would be too weak and useless.

The roots of the Tianling Tree were half-dead, relying entirely on his spiritual energy to sustain them. If the spiritual energy was insufficient, it would surely die.

Su Ru bit her white teeth and remained silent.

Chu Li said, "Let's do the opposite."

"How?" Su Ru leaned forward.

"Let's make a big show. When will the young lady leave the manor?"

"What are you going to do?" Su Ru's bright eyes stared at him. The young lady's movements were a secret, and no one else knew except her.

"The next time the young lady goes out, I'll mix in with the guards. The young lady can take a detour to the Wuqing Tree and bring it back. What do you think?"

Xiao Qi's guards and attendants were the most loyal and wouldn't leak any information.

"Like this..." Su Ru pondered for a moment, "This is a good plan, not bad!... Yes, not bad!"

The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. With the young lady's guards present, Dulei Temple wouldn't dare to act rashly. Pursuing Chu Li and assassinating the young lady were two different things. Even if Dulei Temple was powerful and domineering, they would have to think carefully.

"Let the young lady travel as soon as possible!"

"Okay, I'll discuss it with the young lady. You prepare, it will be in the next few days!" Su Ru stood up, knowing that the young lady would visit her aunt in a couple of days.

Chu Li followed her out of the living room and saw Xue Ling practicing the eight forms he had taught her under the Mingxia Tree. The Taiyin Decree was not suitable for practice during the day, but these eight forms were.

Seeing Su Ru come out, Xue Ling quickly stopped and accompanied Chu Li to see her off.

Su Ru waved her small hand and disappeared into the depths of the forest.

Chu Li returned to the small courtyard and sat in the pavilion.

Xue Ling served two plates of pastries and two plates of fruits. The treatment on Yuxi Island was excellent, and Chu Li hadn't enjoyed such treatment in the East Garden before.

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On the third morning, Chu Li was practicing the Pohwang Sword Technique in the East Garden when Su Ru floated over. She entered the courtyard and waved, "Prepare yourself, we're leaving right away!"

"Leaving now?" Chu Li sheathed his sword.

"Yes, let's go. Is there anything you need to prepare?"

"…Nothing."

"Then let's go!" Su Ru turned and walked away. Li Yue came out of the hall and said with a smile, "Chief Steward, have a cup of tea."

"No, thanks!" Su Ru waved her hand, "Can you take care of the East Garden?"

"Of course, no problem!" Li Yue patted his chest.

"If you can't, I'll find someone to help you." Su Ru said, "Chu Li has something to do and can't spare the time."

"No, no!" Li Yue waved his hands hurriedly.

He knew himself well; he was very annoying because he was a chatterbox and couldn't keep his mouth shut. Chu Li could tolerate it, but others might not, and it would end in a bad mood. It was better to maintain the status quo, even if it was tiring, it was peaceful and free.

Chu Li took a package and followed Su Ru out of the East Garden. They each mounted a horse and rode through Chongming City, reaching the outskirts where they caught up with a group of people.

A group of gray-clad guards surrounded Xiao Qi like stars around the moon. Seeing Su Ru appear, they made way for her.

Chu Li followed Su Ru to the front.

Xiao Qi was riding a white steed, wearing a white silk robe and a dark green cloak, looking heroic and spirited.

"Let's go together." Xiao Qi waved her hand as Chu Li approached.

Chu Li bowed and followed Su Ru, riding alongside Xiao Qi.

Four gray-clad guards galloped ahead, with four elders on either side and twelve knights at the back.

Chu Li glanced at them, imprinting the faces of the twenty knights in his mind: six elders, fourteen middle-aged men, no young men.

He marveled inwardly. The Guogong Manor was indeed powerful, with fourteen innate experts and six elders who were likely to be Tianwai Tian experts. In the martial world, a Tianwai Tian expert was the head of a sect.

Innate experts were already top-notch in the martial world, dominating a region, but in the Guogong Manor, they were commonplace. Chu Li, though young, had become an innate expert, which was indeed commendable, but he was still just an innate expert and blended in with the guards.

Chu Li activated the Great Round Mirror Wisdom to see their thoughts.

These people were loyal and reliable, but precautions were still necessary. No defense was unbreakable, and no one was without weaknesses. If the weaknesses were seized, betrayal was not impossible.

After a thorough look, Chu Li relaxed. These people were indeed reliable.

They had solemn expressions and did not look around, but they were actually suppressing their curiosity, wondering about his identity and whether he was the young lady's lover.

Chu Li chuckled inwardly. They were really daring to think.

He rode in silence, not saying a word, which made Su Ru glance at him from time to time.

Chu Li was truly patient. Not telling him where they were going, he wasn't at all curious? The feeling of riding in silence was stifling, but he could endure it, indeed not an ordinary person.

Chu Li already knew where they were going: Luoxue Peak and Miaosu Temple to visit Xiao Qi's aunt, Xiao Yueling.

Under the bright sun, they galloped on the official road, their hooves landing like thunder, raising a cloud of yellow dust that swirled like a dragon and lingered for a long time.

They rode until noon when Xiao Qi waved her hand, and Su Ru called out, "Everyone, take a break."

The group slowly stopped their horses. Eight knights spread out to scout the terrain, while the remaining twelve knights surrounded the three of them, looking around vigilantly.

Soon, four knights returned, and the group moved to a forest, untying the reins to let the horses graze and drink water. Even then, Xiao Qi and the others were still surrounded.

Surrounding Xiao Qi had become their instinct, always doing so naturally and subconsciously.

"Chu Li, we're going to Luoxue Peak, it will take about three days." Su Ru sat next to Chu Li, brushing a strand of hair from her temple, "I didn't tell you earlier, are you angry?"

Chu Li smiled, "It's a rule, I understand. What are we going to Luoxue Peak for?"

"The young lady's aunt is on Luoxue Peak."

Chu Li didn't ask more.

Xiao Qi, in her spotless white silk robe, looked relaxed and carefree, "We'll look for the tree on the way back."

"Coincidentally, it's not far from Luoxue Peak." Su Ru smiled, "It's really on the way."

The route to and from was different, a basic principle of the guards, unless there was no other way.

"That's good." Chu Li smiled.

"By the way, the aunt is very powerful, don't say anything inappropriate when you meet her."

Chu Li raised an eyebrow.

Su Ru said, "If you upset the aunt, she won't be polite!"

"Then I'll stay outside."

Su Ru smiled, "Of course, I'll introduce you to her. The aunt is a great beauty!"

Xiao Qi glared at Su Ru, who quickly covered her lips.

Xiao Qi said, "It's not that serious, just be careful."

"Yes." Chu Li replied respectfully.

The three of them chatted for a while, drank some water, and continued on their journey.

The guards were even more curious about his identity. Few people could sit so close to the young lady and talk so casually. Anyone who saw the young lady would be nervous and wouldn't dare to say an extra word.

In the evening, they found a forest to camp in, fortunately, it was early autumn.

On the fourth morning, they arrived at the foot of a mountain.

It was a rugged peak, with lush greenery from the waist up covered by snow, forming a snow peak that pierced through the clouds, making the summit invisible.

Even with the Great Round Mirror Wisdom, Chu Li couldn't see the top of the peak.

They tied their horses and used their lightness skills to leap from tree to tree, as there was no path on the mountain.

The guards now realized that Chu Li had good lightness skills. They had previously thought he was just a guard who didn't know martial arts. Chu Li's appearance was very deceptive.

After fifteen minutes, they stopped in front of a temple hidden in a dense forest.

The temple walls were weathered, exuding a sense of age, and the three characters "Miaosu Temple" were written in a clear and elegant hand, likely by a woman.

Chu Li glanced around. The temple was hidden by the forest, and there was no path on the mountain, making it an excellent place for seclusion.

As soon as they landed, the temple door opened, and a graceful young girl appeared with a duster, about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a clear and crisp voice, "Sister Xiao, please—!"

"Ai Shu, what is the aunt doing?" Xiao Qi asked.

"She is making tea, and she has calculated that you would come." The young girl, Ai Shu, had a face full of spiritual energy, bright and lively eyes, and was a beauty in the making. Her beautiful eyes alone could charm many men.

Xiao Qi said, "Xiao Ru and Chu Li, come with me."

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