Chapter 73

When Chu Li arrived at the Duke's residence, it was already midnight.

He first returned to the East Garden. After the small boat docked, he knocked on the jade chime, and the clear sound echoed throughout the island.

A moment later, Li Yue, wearing his pajamas and with messy hair, hurried over, his eyes not fully open. Seeing it was him, Li Yue glared at him irritably and shook his head: "I thought it was someone else!"

Chu Li smiled: "Brother Li, it's been a long time!"

"Ah... Brother, you're finally back!" Li Yue sighed.

Chu Li raised an eyebrow.

Li Yue walked back, saying: "If you don't return soon, something big will happen!"

"What happened?" Chu Li activated his Great Wisdom of the Great Round Mirror and scanned the East Garden. The flowers and plants were all thriving, showing no signs of abnormality.

Li Yue sighed: "The Moonlight Orchid in the West Garden has a problem!"

The two came to the small courtyard and sat by the stone table.

Chu Li lit the lantern, and the courtyard was as bright as daylight.

Li Yue huffed: "Not long after you left, the Moonlight Orchid in the West Garden started to have problems. I went to check, and it was indeed withering, on the verge of dying. Gu Liting has been trying to save it, but hasn't succeeded yet."

"It hasn't died in a month?"

"Gu Liting is no ordinary person; he's managed to keep it alive this long."

"I'll go check it out tomorrow."

"Why wait until tomorrow? Let's go now!"

"Now?" Chu Li shook his head: "It doesn't matter for half a day."

Li Yue widened his eyes: "Brother, if it dies, the Young Master will definitely be unhappy. I heard he really likes that Moonlight Orchid!"

Chu Li smiled.

Li Yue said: "Miss is powerful, but she still has to listen to the Young Master. If you anger the Young Master, there will be no good outcome!"

"What did Gu Liting say?"

"He—?" Li Yue pursed his lips: "He said that the flower might be from Moonlight Island and only has a month to live!"

Chu Li narrowed his eyes and huffed, what a vicious thought!

Li Yue slammed the table: "What does he mean?! Is he saying that all our Moonlight Orchids are from Moonlight Island? It's infuriating!"

"Has the Young Master said anything?"

"The Young Master hasn't spoken, but Zhou Yuting said you fled to avoid punishment!" Li Yue gritted his teeth.

Chu Li huffed: "Zhou Yuting..."

"He relies on his father and acts without restraint!" Li Yue said fiercely: "Don't let me find an opportunity, or I'll make him remember it!"

Zhou Yuting, relying on his father who is a venerated elder, speaks without restraint, offending many people with his foul mouth. However, due to the rules of the residence, everyone is powerless against him, allowing him to act recklessly.

Chu Li waved his hand: "It seems we need to deal with this properly."

"I'm afraid Gu Liting will kill the Moonlight Orchid once he knows you're back, leaving no evidence!" Li Yue glared at him and sighed helplessly: "Be careful not to be tricked by them!"

Chu Li smiled: "It's late, go back to sleep."

"Be careful anyway!" Li Yue yawned, covered his mouth, and got up to go back.

Chu Li returned to his west wing room, not worried. No matter what they do, it's just a conspiracy. With Miss protecting him, there will always be a chance to prove his innocence, and he's not afraid of their schemes.

---

In the early morning, Chu Li rowed to Jade Qi Island.

Su Ru, dressed in a light yellow silk robe, floated over, bringing a faint, refreshing fragrance.

She smiled and looked Chu Li up and down: "Oh, you look great!"

Chu Li bowed in greeting.

Su Ru waved her hand and huffed: "I heard you spent a month with a beautiful lady?"

"Did Aunt Xiao say that?"

"Of course!" Su Ru walked gracefully through the woods, entering a path surrounded by flowers. Beautiful maidservants passed by from time to time, bowing in greeting.

Chu Li said: "I can't disobey Aunt Xiao's instructions."

"Miss has said a lot of good things about you." Su Ru smiled: "She said you're smart. Have you mastered the Light Step technique?"

Chu Li nodded with a smile.

"Really?" Su Ru was surprised.

The young lady and she had both practiced the Light Step technique, but neither had succeeded, and she still felt frustrated. She thought Chu Li would also fail.

Chu Li smiled: "By luck."

Su Ru's eyes scanned his face, then rolled her eyes and turned her gaze: "It seems you have good insight!... Do you know about the problem in the West Garden?"

Chu Li nodded.

Su Ru huffed: "This Gu Liting, really..."

Chu Li smiled.

Su Ru said: "Chu Li, tell me the truth, is there really a problem with that flower?"

She was unsure. When Chu Li cultivated the Moonlight Orchid, he bought one from the Odd Grass Pavilion, and that Moonlight Orchid survived. She suspected the one sent to the West Garden was that one.

Chu Li is bold, and he could do such a thing.

Chu Li said: "Steward, am I the kind of person who doesn't see the big picture? That Moonlight Orchid has no problem; it's even stronger than the average one. ... I was also worried they might not be able to take care of it, so I chose the best one!"

"Then why is there a problem?"

"Moonlight Orchids are delicate and can easily have problems."

"But the ones in your garden haven't had any problems!"

Chu Li smiled: "Brother Li strictly followed my instructions, but in the West Garden, that might not be the case!"

"Hmm..." Su Ru thought for a moment.

Chu Li said: "I even suspect that Gu Liting and Zhou Yuting are deliberately causing trouble, and the Moonlight Orchid was damaged intentionally!"

"Really?" Su Ru was stunned and frowned: "Do they have that much courage?"

"Jealousy can drive people to madness, leading them to do unexpected things." Chu Li sighed: "Gu Liting's character... such a thing is not impossible!"

Su Ru thought for a moment and slowly nodded.

Everyone in the Duke's residence knew about Gu Liting's petty mind. He has done many outrageous things without hesitation. If not for his talent in botany, the young lady, who manages the Punishment Hall, would have already taken action against him!

The two came to the third floor of the Star Observation Tower.

Xiao Qi was practicing swordsmanship, dressed in a spotless white robe, like a fairy who doesn't eat human food.

The cold, sharp sword in her hands was as light as a feather, moving silently and weightlessly, without any killing aura.

Chu Li had seen her practice before, with the sword light being cold and intimidating. But this time, the sword movements were completely restrained, without any trace of aggression.

"Miss!" Chu Li bowed in greeting.

Xiao Qi stopped her sword movements and threw the sword to Su Ru, who sheathed it and hung it on the wall.

"When did you return?" Xiao Qi sat gracefully on a cushion, elegant and dignified, her back straight, and pointed to the cushion opposite her.

Chu Li sat on the cushion opposite her: "Late last night."

Xiao Qi's clear eyes scanned him: "Everything went smoothly there?"

Chu Li recounted the events.

"Leader?" Xiao Qi took the white jade teacup from Su Ru and sipped it: "I thought you would bring her here to protect her."

Chu Li took the teacup and thanked her, holding it and said: "This time is different. Miss Chen is stronger and wants to uphold the foundation of the Storm Cloud Gang."

"Storm Cloud Gang..." Xiao Qi frowned and shook her head: "She's a weak woman, it's too dangerous."

Chu Li put down the teacup: "I eliminated the danger before leaving. It's not far, so I can check on her from time to time."

"If your identity is exposed, it won't be good for the Storm Cloud Gang." Xiao Qi said.

Chu Li said: "I used a fake name."

"Be more careful." Xiao Qi held the teacup and pondered for a moment: "It seems we need to give you a real fake identity."

Chu Li was surprised.

Xiao Qi looked at Su Ru, who was standing by: "Xiao Ru, arrange this."

"Yes, Miss." Su Ru nodded and glanced at Chu Li.

Xiao Qi looked at Chu Li: "Don't underestimate the people in the martial world. There are many talented individuals. The people of the Storm Cloud Gang won't trust you and will investigate you, let alone the people of the Heaven-Aligning Gang!"

Chu Li nodded slowly and explained his arrangements.

Xiao Qi shook her head: "This is too easy to see through. Let Xiao Ru handle it."

Su Ru said: "I'll find someone who looks a lot like you to live in your house."

"Isn't that hard to find?" Chu Li touched his face.

Su Ru rolled her eyes: "Don't worry, I can find someone with a similar appearance, even if it's just 50-60% alike!"

Chu Li smiled: "Thank you, Steward."

Su Ru huffed: "A friend of the young lady, of course, can't be taken lightly. If she gets into trouble, it will be our fault, not for your sake!"

Chu Li nodded with a smile.

Xiao Qi glared at Su Ru, who stuck out her tongue and closed her mouth.

"Have you mastered the Light Step technique?"

"Yes." Chu Li said.

Xiao Qi's eyes sparkled: "Really?"

Chu Li suddenly disappeared from his spot and reappeared by the window, then flashed back to the cushion, the teacup in his hand not spilling a drop, as if he had never moved, just an illusion.

"Light Step technique..." Xiao Qi sighed softly.

Su Ru huffed: "Enough, what's there to show off? The Light Step technique is very draining on your internal energy. You should carry more Essence Cultivation Pills!"

Chu Li smiled and responded.

Xiao Qi said: "The Light Step technique is not just a martial art, but also a footwork and even a profound mental technique. Mastering this will greatly enhance your martial arts."

Chu Li nodded.

With this Light Step technique, his movements are ghostly and unpredictable, greatly enhancing his martial arts.

"Miss, the problem in the West Garden needs to be handled quickly." Su Ru reminded: "Let Chu Li go check it out. He suspects someone is deliberately causing trouble."

"Alright, you go with him." Xiao Qi said.

Su Ru responded promptly: "Yes."

The two bid farewell and left. Chu Li originally wanted to return to the small courtyard first to check on the flowers and plants, how the Heavenly Spirit Tree was growing, and how big the Xuanli Grass had grown, but Su Ru teased him for wanting to see the beautiful maidservants early.

Chu Li could only go to the West Garden with her first.