Chapter 8

But Miss Third did not call them again and left at noon, leaving behind a lingering fragrance. Chu Li felt a vague sense of loss.

Li Yue also looked dejected and could not muster any energy.

The Cold Star Grass was of average quality, not a spirit grass, and its essence was as pure as that of the willow tree. He used his mind to multitask, touching the Moonlight Orchid with one hand and lightly touching the Cold Star Grass with the other.

The essence of the Moonlight Orchid circulated through the Small Cleansing Pulse Technique, diverting a thread of it into the Cold Star Grass.

The Cold Star Grass, infused with the essence of the Moonlight Orchid, became vibrant and lush overnight, as fresh and vigorous as after a light rain.

The next morning, Su Ru appeared in a light yellow silk robe, a faint fragrance following her.

Chu Li was sitting in the Moonlight Orchid garden practicing, while Li Yue had been waiting by the lakeside under the willow tree, looking eagerly, and finally waited for Su Ru.

He warmly greeted her, and the two came to Chu Li.

Su Ru waved her hand, indicating that Chu Li did not need to be overly formal. She stared at the Cold Star Grass for a long time, then looked up and asked Chu Li, "Chu Li, is this really the one?"

Chu Li nodded.

"Simply... unbelievable," Su Ru said, reaching out to touch the Cold Star Grass, finally believing it. "It really is!"

She had made a small mark on this pot that others could not notice.

Chu Li also sighed inwardly. Despite her young age, Su Ru had such meticulous thoughts, truly not to be underestimated. He could not be arrogant, thinking that with the Great Mirror Wisdom, he could act without restraint.

Su Ru sized up Chu Li and suddenly smiled lightly, "Chu Li, it seems you do have some skills."

Fang Han smiled without a word.

Su Ru took out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, which contained a seed, and handed it to Chu Li, "This is the seed Miss gave you. Try to grow it."

"What kind of seed?"

"Night Dream Flower, have you heard of it?"

Chu Li pondered for a moment, his thoughts searching his memory palace, "The Night Dream Flower that preserves youth?"

"Indeed, well-read!" Su Ru nodded in approval, "That's the one!"

Miss might heavily rely on this Chu Li. She thoroughly investigated him after he entered the mansion, knowing everything about his situation.

He liked reading, was well-versed and knowledgeable, which was unique among the guards of the Duke's Mansion. Almost everyone focused on cultivating martial arts, having no time to read, thinking that being knowledgeable was not as good as being strong in martial arts. Chu Li's thoughts were different from the norm.

Chu Li frowned, "The Night Dream Flower is said to grow at the top of the clouds, the environment is probably..."

"It's up to you." Su Ru smiled, pointing at the seed, "If you can really make it sprout and grow, then you truly have some skills!"

"Alright, I'll give it a try."

"If it doesn't grow, you'll have to honestly tend to the flowers!"

"Yes," Chu Li said solemnly.

Li Yue offered to help send the Cold Star Grass back, but Su Ru firmly refused and left gracefully. Li Yue stood under the willow tree, gazing for a long time, not willing to take his eyes off even after the small boat disappeared.

Chu Li smiled, "Li brother, are you soulless?"

Li Yue blushed and said loudly, "Don't talk nonsense!"

"Snap out of it!" Chu Li shook his head, "That's not a woman we can think about!"

"Ah..." Li Yue lazily squatted down, drawing on the ground with a grass stick, "Sometimes I feel very frustrated, wishing I could become a guard!"

"Even if you cultivate supreme martial arts, you can't get a beauty like Su Chief Manager."

"There's always a glimmer of hope!"

"Even if it were Zhuo Feiyang, Su Chief Manager wouldn't look at him. Are you more handsome or stronger than him?"

"You're so talkative!" Li Yue pointed at him, saying unhappily, "Can't I even have a beautiful dream? You have to pour cold water on me!"

"I'm afraid you'll do something foolish. Once your emotions cloud your judgment, you'll do anything!"

"Ah..., I wonder which man is worthy of Su Chief Manager!"

"That's not our concern, let's get to work!" Chu Li sighed.

But in his heart, his ambition burned fiercely, determined to get Xiao Qi, Su Ru, and Zhao Ying, to not waste his life in this world!

---

In the following month, Chu Li did not step out of the East Garden.

That evening, the setting sun cast a golden glow, making the East Garden even more splendid. Li Yue sent a pot of Moonlight Orchid to the West Garden and returned with a look of anger.

Chu Li sat in the Moonlight Orchid garden, a green sprout emerging from the soil beside him, the Night Dream Flower had already grown.

Li Yue plopped down on the ground, cursing, "This Gu Litong, what a despicable person!"

Chu Li looked up at him.

Li Yue said, "You didn't see, his nose wasn't a nose, his face wasn't a face, as if we owed him ten thousand taels!"

Chu Li smiled.

"If you're not as skilled, just admit it. Why put on such a face? It's not like we asked him for the Moonlight Orchid!" Li Yue grew more and more angry, his voice rising.

Chu Li said, "He must have said something else, right?"

"Nothing much," Li Yue huffed.

Chu Li smiled, "Saying I got lucky, not enough proof?"

"Hmph, something like that," Li Yue pouted.

He knew this was a critical time. If the Night Dream Flower really grew, Chu Li could gain the favor of Miss. There was no need to tangle with Gu Litong.

Chu Li said, "Jealousy is inevitable. Did others see you send the flower?"

"Everyone in the West Garden was there, and we met two on the way. Do you think they won't acknowledge it?" Li Yue's face turned serious, "Claim it as their own?"

The new Moonlight Orchid had adapted to the soil here. If Gu Litong used it to cultivate a few plants and claimed it as his own research, that would be a problem!

Chu Li said, "We can't be too careful."

"I'll go find Old Meng!" Li Yue couldn't sit still, getting up and leaving in big strides.

Chu Li shook his head and smiled. These were just small matters. As long as he had Miss Third's support, his future would be bright.

Meng Qinglin soon followed Li Yue, his face flushed, and Chu Li stood up to greet him.

"Ha, Little Chu, I'm here to bring good news!" He patted Chu Li's shoulder, laughing, "This time, we've really shown our worth. You should have seen Gu Litong's face!"

Chu Li smiled, "Li brother just sent a Moonlight Orchid, and Gu Litong didn't look happy."

Meng Qinglin laughed uncontrollably, "Little Li went at the right time. Gu Litong was returning from the Hundred Herbs Hall, looking miserable, and ran into him!"

Li Yue shook his head, "This Gu Litong is really over the top!"

"It's understandable," Meng Qinglin chuckled, "Little Chu, you've advanced again, to the Eighth Rank!"

"Thank you, Old Meng!" Chu Li clasped his hands in a salute.

Meng Qinglin waved his hand, "Little Chu, I'm ashamed. You'll have to wait to enter the herb garden."

Chu Li looked at him.

Meng Qinglin sighed, "The people in the West Garden are blocking it like mad. It will take some time to get a result. Don't be impatient."

"Alright..." Chu Li nodded.

He naturally wouldn't reveal Xiao Qi's decision, as it would do more harm than good.

Meng Qinglin said, "Be careful of Gu Litong. He's determined to find fault with you, he's definitely not convinced!"

Chu Li smiled, "Actually, a competition isn't bad. It's through sparring that we improve."

"I like your spirit!" Meng Qinglin laughed, patting his shoulder, "If he's not convinced, let him come, until he's convinced!"

Li Yue shook his head, "Gu Litong is still very strong."

"Winning him will show your true skills!" Meng Qinglin laughed, "If he's too weak, winning him would be no fun!"

Chu Li smiled but said nothing.

He understood that Meng Qinglin was encouraging him to win again against Gu Litong to remove the obstacle to entering the herb garden.

---

As the lanterns lit up, Chu Li was pulled out of the East Garden by Li Yue, heading to the Yingxian Tower to celebrate his promotion to the Eighth Rank.

The Yingxian Tower was located in the south of Chongming City, not far from the South Gate. It was a towering building, its sign fluttering in the wind, visible throughout Chongming City.

The two sat at a window seat on the second floor, looking down at the bustling streets, feeling a sense of contentment amidst the noise and prosperity.

Four jars of Green Leaf Brew were opened, the aroma of the wine filling the air, and ten dishes of exquisite food were laid out on the table. The two drank and chatted.

Li Yue was in high spirits, chuckling, "Brother, this is the way to live. We earn such high salaries, why not enjoy ourselves?"

Chu Li smiled, "This meal must cost at least ten taels of silver, right?"

"Six taels is enough!" Li Yue laughed, "The food isn't expensive, but the wine is, one tael per jar!"

Chu Li wasn't really clear about the prices.

"We earn fifty taels a month, and there are also rewards!"

"That's true."

Chu Li also enjoyed life. Fine wine, delicious food, and beautiful women—drinking the best wine and enjoying the most beautiful women. He had high standards and wanted to enjoy the best, which required status, power, and martial arts skills first.

"Hey—, isn't that the famous Mr. Chu?" A voice suddenly rang out, and two young men stood at their table.

Chu Li glanced at them. One was tall and thin, with narrow, piercing eyes, looking at them with a haughty expression. The other was a chubby young man with a tight, white, plump face.

"Gu Litong!" Li Yue called out.

The tall, thin man said coldly, "Li Yue!"

"Gu Litong, are you following me?!" Li Yue's face darkened.

"Ridiculous!" Gu Litong sneered, "You're not a beauty, why would I follow you!... Chu Li, right?"

His narrow, bright eyes seemed to want to see through Chu Li.

"I am Chu Li, Gu brother, long admired!" Chu Li sized up Gu Litong. This was their first meeting, and Gu Litong had considerable martial arts skills, worthy of being a Ninth Rank guard.

Gu Litong sat down without hesitation, gesturing, "Waiter, add two sets of chopsticks and bowls!"

"Coming right up..."

Chu Li frowned. His actions showed that he didn't take Chu Li seriously, and he had come with ill intentions.

"You're Chu Li?" The chubby young man looked Chu Li up and down, "You've been making quite a stir!"

Chu Li looked at him, "This brother is...?"

"Zhou Yuting!" The chubby young man said proudly.

Chu Li realized, "So it's Zhou brother."

Zhou Yuting, an Eighth Rank guard, the son of the Zhou Elder of the Martial Hall, with deep connections.

Zhou Yuting picked up the wine jar, filled his and Gu Litong's cups, and set it down heavily. The two drank a cup, clearly treating themselves as the hosts.

Li Yue looked angry but was stopped by Chu Li's eye signal.

Zhou Yuting put down his cup, looking at him with a playful expression, "Chu Li, be honest, did you really grow the Moonlight Orchid?"

Chu Li smiled, "What do you mean, Zhou brother?"

"The Moonlight Orchid was grown by Gu brother!" Zhou Yuting set his cup down heavily, speaking loudly.

Chu Li was surprised, looking at Zhou Yuting and then at Gu Litong, and laughed.

"Zhou Yuting, what nonsense!" Li Yue stood up, his eyes blazing, "The Moonlight Orchid was grown by Gu Litong?"

"Exactly, by Gu brother!" Zhou Yuting took a sip of wine, nodding calmly, "Chu Li stole Gu brother's technique, such a person doesn't deserve to be in the Duke's Mansion!"

Chu Li shook his head.

"Nonsense!" Li Yue's face turned red with anger, "Zhou Yuting, you're shameless. The Moonlight Orchid I sent over, many people saw it, don't try to deny it!"

"Who saw it?" Zhou Yuting waved his hand dismissively, "If they lie for you, they must be very brave!"

"Fan..." Li Yue was about to say a name, but Chu Li interrupted him, "Li brother, forget it!"

Li Yue looked at him.

Chu Li filled his cup and raised it, "Come, let's drink to this amusing joke!"

Li Yue was taken aback but quickly reacted, chuckling, "Right, right, but what a bad joke!"