Chapter 87

As the sun set, the afterglow spread across the lake.

Chu Li had just returned to the East Garden when Su Ru arrived, leading him to Jade Qi Island.

Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, they heard the sound of a zither, intense and filled with the aura of battle.

He turned to look at Su Ru.

Su Ru sighed and whispered, "Miss had a fight with the Eldest Young Master."

"Because of me?"

"Yes," Su Ru whispered, "The Eldest Young Master is very upset."

Chu Li smiled, guessing some of it, and then used the Great Mirror Wisdom to see through the situation.

Gu Liting was personally expelled from the mansion by the Eldest Young Master. His standard for employing people was both virtue and talent; he would never use someone with talent but no virtue.

According to him, since Gu Liting was expelled from the mansion, he was no longer part of the Duke of Ren's household, and his fate was left to heaven. Moreover, the Duke of Ren's mansion did not kill him but merely recruited him, so there was no need to make a fuss.

When Chu Li and his men killed twenty guards of the Duke of Ren's mansion, the news reached the mansion, and the Eldest Young Master flew into a rage.

Lu Yurong, that madwoman, should be avoided if possible. The Duke of Ren's mansion was powerful, and the Duke of Yi's mansion could not stand against it. Conflicts should be avoided, and the household should rest and recuperate. This time, however, they had taken the initiative to attack. Lu Yurong would surely retaliate fiercely. For every twenty people killed by the Duke of Ren's mansion, they would have to kill at least forty!

Xiao Qi had acted on her own, ignoring his authority, acting lawlessly!

The Eldest Young Master originally wanted to punish her, but Xiao Qi disagreed, leading to an argument.

Xiao Qi scolded the Eldest Young Master for being rigid, saying that Lu Yurong was insatiable and did not know when to stop. Negotiating with such a woman was laughable.

The Duke of Yi's mansion could not compromise. Only by making Lu Yurong feel the pain could there be any peace. Now, the morale of the guards in the mansion was low, and the situation was not good.

Xiao Qi managed the internal affairs, clearing the atmosphere within the mansion, while the Eldest Young Master managed the external affairs, mobilizing the guards.

Xiao Qi, seeing the mansion constrained everywhere, finally could not bear it and took this step.

Su Ru lowered her voice, "Be careful, Miss is not in a good mood!"

Chu Li said, "It should be fine, right?"

Su Ru waved her jade hand and smiled, "They've argued many times. They argue every few days and make up after a couple of days, but you need to avoid the Eldest Young Master!"

"Good, I need to focus on practicing the Vajra Deliverance Divine Skill."

"Right, it's best to stay in the courtyard and not come out."

"No problem."

The two stepped into the Star Observation Tower and went to the third floor.

Xiao Qi faced the window, her back to them, sitting at the desk and playing the zither. Her graceful and beautiful figure made Chu Li's heart race.

"Miss," Su Ru called softly, "Chu Li is here."

The zither music stopped abruptly, and Xiao Qi turned around, her beautiful face cold and clear.

She pointed to the white moon cushion opposite with her delicate hand.

Chu Li walked over and sat on the cushion, looking at her quietly.

The faint fragrance from her body wafted into his nose, refreshing and invigorating. Her clear eyes looked at him, "You did well this time."

"It was risky. Lu Yurong arranged four batches of people."

Xiao Qi nodded lightly, "She is cunning and indeed hard to deal with."

"The Duke of Ren's mansion has deeply infiltrated us," Chu Li mused. "The Jinghai route is almost entirely infiltrated, which is shocking!"

Xiao Qi's jade face darkened.

Chu Li said, "If something happens, they can intercept our communications. We must be on guard!"

Xiao Qi's eyes flickered.

Chu Li sighed, "The Jinghai route has almost become their backyard. This is just the Jinghai route; the other routes in the mansion are probably not optimistic either!"

There are twelve routes in the world, each guarded by a Duke's mansion. Each route is divided into six sub-routes, and they had passed through the Jinghai sub-route.

Su Ru tugged at his sleeve.

Chu Li pretended not to see and continued, "To this extent, our guards have no safety. If this news spreads, it could cause unrest, with unpredictable consequences!"

Xiao Qi's jade face became even darker.

Su Ru whispered, "Don't say that!"

Chu Li seemed not to hear and continued, "Miss, if this continues, the Duke's mansion will be a mere shell, at the mercy of others!"

"Shut up!" Xiao Qi huffed.

Chu Li looked at her quietly.

Xiao Qi's jade face was solemn, and she said coldly, "I didn't expect the situation to be so severe!"

Su Ru said, "Miss, it's not that serious, is it?"

Chu Li sighed, "It's even more serious than I said. Think about it, if Miss goes out, they can assassinate her whenever they want. How terrifying is that!"

"The guards around Miss are enough to handle it," Su Ru huffed.

Chu Li shook his head, "Ten people can handle it, a hundred can handle it, but what about two hundred? They can mobilize people at will without us noticing, treating our mansion as their own!"

Su Ru fell silent.

Xiao Qi sighed after a long while and shook her head.

Chu Li said no more, as words were futile.

"Where is Gu Liting?" Su Ru changed the subject.

Chu Li said, "He's in Jinghai City."

"He will find it hard to return," Xiao Qi frowned. "Elder Brother won't tolerate him."

"Actually, he is a useful talent. Why not recruit him, Miss?"

"His character is not sufficient; he cannot handle great responsibilities," Xiao Qi said.

Chu Li sighed, "What a pity."

He could use Gu Liting, with the Great Mirror Wisdom, he could see his thoughts at any time. Any slight change would be noticed, and he could be disciplined. Moreover, Gu Liting had a fatal weakness, and once it was seized, there would be no fear of him rebelling.

"Observe him for a while," Xiao Qi mused. "If he performs well, then bring him over."

Chu Li smiled.

Xiao Qi also had the ability to see through people's hearts, and she dared to use him.

Precisely because she had this ability, she knew that observing people's hearts and demanding both virtue and talent was too strict. She could tolerate and embrace various talents, unlike the Eldest Young Master's high standards, leading to conflicts in their styles.

Xiao Qi looked at him quietly, "Chu Li, you did well this time, but unfortunately, you cannot claim credit."

Chu Li smiled, "Miss, what are you saying?"

Xiao Qi said, "Stay in the mansion for the next few days. The Great Thunderclap Temple and the Duke of Ren's mansion, Lu Yurong will retaliate fiercely!"

"Right, I'll stay in the mansion to practice."

"Next month, Second Miss will go to Jinghai City for a birthday celebration," Xiao Qi frowned and mused. "You should go with her."

"Jinghai City?" Chu Li frowned.

Su Ru hurriedly said, "Miss, isn't that too dangerous?"

The Great Thunderclap Temple and the Duke of Ren's mansion both wanted to deal with him. Going out would be like walking to his death.

Xiao Qi said, "Practice the Vajra Deliverance Divine Skill to the third level within a month, and with the Near Distance Skill, you will have the ability to protect yourself!"

Although she did not practice the Vajra Deliverance Divine Skill, she knew the changes at each level. At the third level, one would be impervious to blades and swords, and most of the internal energy could be deflected. Combined with the Near Distance Skill, it would be enough to protect oneself.

Chu Li showed a difficult expression, "The third level... it might be very hard!"

"Anyway, you decide," Xiao Qi said coolly.

Chu Li saw a painting on the desk and smiled, "Is this Miss's work?"

Xiao Qi picked up the painting and handed it to him.

It depicted a fierce tiger descending a mountain, its aura so intense that it seemed ready to leap out of the painting.

Chu Li sighed, "What a heavy aura!"

He felt a stirring in his heart, sensing that this painting could be beneficial. Observing the tiger and capturing its spirit would help him practice the White Tiger Yang Cultivation Diagram.

"Far from it," Xiao Qi said. "Seeing Lu Boyuan's paintings, you'll know what true aura is."

Chu Li said, "Miss, do you have Lu Boyuan's paintings?"

Lu Boyuan, a great painter of the previous dynasty, was especially skilled at painting tigers. Others painted the skin, flesh, and bones of tigers, but he painted their aura and spirit. His tiger paintings were considered supreme masterpieces, priceless.

"I have a few. Do you want to see them?"

"Can I see them?"

"Su Ru, take them to him later," Xiao Qi said. "For a month."

"Thank you, Miss!" Chu Li was overjoyed.

Xiao Qi waved her jade hand.

Chu Li tactfully took his leave.

He returned to the courtyard on Jade Qi Island, pushed the door open, and the setting sun's light turned the courtyard red. Xue Ling, dressed in a white outfit, was practicing the Eight Yin Forms slowly and gracefully. Hearing the sound, she turned her head, her clear face showing surprise.

Chu Li said, "Why are your eyes so wide?"

Xue Ling quickly stopped, "Master, when did you return?"

"Just now." Chu Li entered the living room.

Xue Ling followed, "Have you eaten yet?"

"No." Chu Li lazily sat in the armchair, taking a deep breath. The pursuit and escape had been exhausting, and now he could finally relax.

Xue Ling busied herself, quickly brewing tea and bringing it over, then went to cook.

By the time Chu Li finished a cup of tea, Xue Ling had prepared four small dishes and brought a jar of fine wine, pouring him a full cup, "Master, have a little to tide you over. I'll make a proper dinner later."

Chu Li, smelling the enticing aroma, nodded in satisfaction, picked up the dishes, and drank the wine, listening to Xue Ling recount the major events in the mansion over the past few days.

"Creak..." The courtyard gate opened, and Su Ru entered gracefully.

She held a long box, its surface a deep purple. Seeing Chu Li eating contentedly, she smiled, "You're quite fortunate!... Here's the painting!"

Chu Li put down his wine cup and stepped forward to take it.

Su Ru handed it to him, "There are ten paintings by Lu Boyuan here. Be careful, don't damage them. Miss treasures them very much. If it weren't for your achievement this time, she wouldn't have taken them out!"

Chu Li beamed, stroking the long purple box, "Of course, of course!"