Free Web NovelChapter 655: Chapter 251: Dao Source True Form (Part 2)
Upon hearing this, Xu Qingzhi hurriedly tidied her clothes and sat upright with a solemn expression.
The door to the side room was pushed open as Shen Chongming led Shen Xiuzhuo inside, and with a cupped fist, he began to speak.
"Please forgive us, Elder Luo. This young man went to the clan’s barracks to train the clan soldiers, which made it quite a task for me to find him."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Xiuzhuo stepped forward and cupped his fists in salute towards Luo Yao.
"Xiuzhuo greets Elder Luo."
"Greetings, fellow Daoist."
Luo Yao nodded with a smile.
She had met most of the junior generation of the Shen Family with the character "Chong" in their names, but when it came to the "Xiu" generation, apart from Shen Xiubai, she was mostly unfamiliar.
However, having associated with the Shen Family for over a hundred years, she was familiar with their family practices.
Although Shen Xiuzhuo was often spoken of less favorably by his father Shen Chongming.
Yet upon this meeting, Luo Yao found that he was quite a respectable young man.
His demeanor was calm and courteous, without the frivolous arrogance common to noble young masters; indeed, he appeared to be a good choice.
"Qingzhi, this is the current Patriarch of the Shen Family."
As Luo Yao spoke, Xu Qingzhi quickly bowed in salute as well.
"Qingzhi greets Patriarch Shen, greetings fellow Daoist."
Shen Chongming glanced at the young girl in front of him, nodded approvingly, and smiled, "Please, be seated."
After the four were seated, Xu Qingzhi laid her long sword across her knees, her eyes occasionally glancing at Shen Xiuzhuo diagonally across from her, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Shen Xiuzhuo seemed more interested in the conversation between Luo Yao and his father, listening attentively to their casual dialogue.
A moment later, Shen Chongming realized it would be appropriate to give the two youngsters some time alone and turned to say, "Xiuzhuo, this is Miss Qingzhi’s first time in Yunshui City. Why don’t you take her for a stroll?"
Though Shen Xiuzhuo felt a bit reluctant at heart, he nonetheless rose, cupped his fists, and looked at Xu Qingzhi, saying, "Fellow Daoist, please."
Xu Qingzhi stood up, bowed to Luo Yao and Shen Chongming, and followed Shen Xiuzhuo out of the side room.
The winding cobblestone path in the mountains bore the weight of over a hundred years of development by the Shen Family, with vigorous, dragon-like vines winding freely around the mountain rocks.
Despite being deep into autumn, the Earth Vein Qi near the Black Water Pool was rich, nourishing the mountain’s vegetation, keeping it lush and green.
The two walked along the cobblestone path, with Xu Qingzhi trailing half a step behind, quietly observing Shen Xiuzhuo’s back in front of her.
"Young Master."
The silence between them was broken as they encountered a cultivator from the Shen Family ahead.
Seeing Shen Xiuzhuo, the cultivator cupped his fists in greeting before hurrying towards the manor.
Taking advantage of this momentary pause, Xu Qingzhi caught up to his side.
Standing side by side, Shen Xiuzhuo pondered for a moment and asked, "Fellow Daoist, are you from the Yangnao Land?"
The barrier between Danzhou and the Yangnao Land had been blocked by that Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm elder with a conical hat for over thirty years.
Xu Qingzhi, who cultivated at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer and appeared to be around thirty, was clearly not a disciple of Luoxia Mountain in Danzhou.
Xu Qingzhi nodded, "Qingzhi is from He County Tan City."
Years ago, He County was once part of Luoxia Mountain, but after the Southern Border invasion, Luoxia Mountain retracted its defenses for safety reasons, relinquishing most of He County’s territory.
"What did Elder Luo say to you before you came?"
Shen Xiuzhuo asked again.
Hearing this, Xu Qingzhi was momentarily stunned, not understanding why he would ask such a question.
"What is Young Master Xiuzhuo’s opinion?"
After a brief thought, Xu Qingzhi didn’t directly answer but instead returned the question.
Shen Xiuzhuo glanced at her and suddenly smiled.
"As the common people often say, ’Follow the orders of your parents and the words of the matchmaker.’"
"But as cultivators, we cultivate hard to break free from shackles, to wander freely between heaven and earth..."
"Qingzhi feels the same." Perceiving Shen Xiuzhuo’s detached and otherworldly demeanor, a flash of light briefly flickered in Xu Qingzhi’s beautiful eyes as she echoed in agreement.
"Before coming here, Qingzhi was always worried that since you are the Shen Family’s eldest son, you would inevitably get caught up in scheming and intrigue, being a deep and strategic person."
"But as it turns out, Qingzhi was mistaken."
For a moment, it seemed as though the two had found common ground, gradually growing more familiar with each other.
"My father always intended for me to take on family affairs, but honestly, those things do not interest me at all."
"As a member of the Shen Family, I’m ready to fight for the family and even sacrifice for it, but managing those concerns is not my forte."
After a slight pause, Shen Xiuzhuo continued, "I can sense that my father and aunt have given up on the idea of me taking over as Patriarch."
"This time, they can look for another suitable candidate."
"My cousins lack no talent in managing family matters; let them carry that burden, while I simply become a carefree cultivator."
Shen Xiuzhuo was engrossed in his talk, completely unaware of the two figures approaching leisurely ahead on the winding cobblestone path.
It wasn’t until Xu Qingzhi stopped walking that he noticed Shen Wenxing, standing with his hands behind his back, and Shen Li, standing at his side further down the path.
"Grandfather, Aunt."
Shen Xiuzhuo quickly cupped his fists in salute.
Then he introduced their identities to Xu Qingzhi.
Hearing this, Xu Qingzhi hurriedly bowed in salute as well.
Looking at the two young ones in front of him, Shen Wenxing silently sighed.
He and Shen Li had heard Shen Xiuzhuo’s earlier words, but with outsiders present, he was unable to rebuke him, and with a smile he simply said, "Myself and your aunt have matters to attend to; you two go have a look around."
Shen Xiuzhuo realized that his remarks had likely been overheard by the two and, without further words, simply led Xu Qingzhi down the mountain.
