Free Web NovelChapter 661: Chapter 252: Purple Mansion (Part 2)
"Who would have thought that ordinary, mundane liquor could have such a distinctive flavor..."
"Though two hundred years have passed now, reminiscing about it, that rich aroma seems to still linger between my lips and teeth."
After a moment of recollection, Li Qing suddenly turned around and said, "Does Fellow Daoist Shen plan to continue traveling in this sea region?"
Shen Wen’an was taken aback, pondered for a moment, and replied, "After bidding farewell to Fellow Daoist, I plan to return home."
"The elders at home haven’t seen me in a long time, they might be worried."
Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in Li Qing’s eyes.
"I thought Fellow Daoist would continue traveling, so I wanted you to keep an eye out for me... Oh well."
"After all, the affairs of the world are unpredictable..."
As he spoke, a flash of light appeared in Li Qing’s hand, revealing a palm-sized scale emitting a dazzling blue halo.
"This is one of my Reverse Scales, and I gift it to Fellow Daoist today."
"By carrying it with you, even if stored in a Storage Bag, as long as you’re within ten thousand miles of me, I can feel the presence of the Reverse Scale."
"If Fellow Daoist ever returns to the deep sea, you can use this Reverse Scale to find me."
The matter with the Little Monkey evidently served as a lesson for Li Qing; meeting Shen Wen’an, the two—man and demon—fought but not as enemies but acquaintances.
Gazing at the Reverse Scale in his hand, Shen Wen’an hesitated briefly but then accepted it solemnly.
He could sense that though Li Qing had lived for countless years, he was quite pure and straightforward in nature.
It seemed he hadn’t experienced the malice of the outside world.
This kind of demon is easier to get along with than humans.
After carefully storing the Reverse Scale, the two chatted leisurely for a while before Shen Wen’an stood up and cupped his hands, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Li, for your guidance these past days. Shen must be leaving now."
"Should we meet again, Shen will certainly bring more fine liquor for you."
Upon hearing this, a hint of reluctance flickered in Li Qing’s eyes, but he pretended to be magnanimous and said, "Sounds good, sounds good."
He looked up at the distant, cloud-covered sky and, after a moment of contemplation, said, "There will be a storm in this sea region soon, but as a Flood Dragon, I fear no storm. Let me accompany you."
Upon saying this, not waiting for Shen Wen’an to refuse, he transformed into his Flood Dragon form.
"Come, Fellow Daoist, climb onto my back."
Seeing this, Shen Wen’an did not refuse either, leaping onto and sitting cross-legged on the enormous Flood Dragon’s back.
Li Qing let out a resonant call before surging into the sky and heading afar.
After traveling a thousand miles, the man and demon passed through the storm-enveloped region and arrived at a tranquil part of the sea.
"After sending you a thousand miles, we must part ways. Fellow Daoist, you should return now."
Shen Wen’an leapt from his back and spoke.
"Let’s continue for a bit longer; I have nothing better to do."
Li Qing replied.
But Shen Wen’an shook his head.
"Let’s leave it at that. I might return sometime soon, and there will be a day we meet again."
"Farewell."
As his words fell, his figure suddenly transformed into a Sword Aura, disappearing into the horizon.
The Flood Dragon, measuring a thousand feet, gazed wistfully in the direction Shen Wen’an disappeared before plunging into the water below.
...
Yangnao Land, Zhili, Xiwu City.
Xiwu City is a major city near the Zhili Imperial City, located in Zhili Central Plains; it was once the western gateway to the capital of Yu Country, densely populated and fertile.
Within its borders are tens of Spirit Fields and three Spirit Ore Veins, making it a relatively prosperous city.
Currently, this city has been entrusted to Pei Zhao and his daughter by the Shen Family, serving as the new foothold for Qiyun Valley.
In a spacious courtyard within Xiwu City, Shen Chongming and Pei Zhao sat facing each other.
After a period of recuperation, Pei Zhao’s injuries had completely healed, with his cultivation stabilized in the Realm of Fetal Breathing Perfection.
"Elder Pei, have things been handled smoothly?"
Shen Chongming sipped from the teacup before him and said.
Pei Zhao slightly cupped his hand, "Everything has gone smoothly, thanks to the clan members sent by the Shen Family to assist, which spared me much worry."
Managing such a large Xiwu City would surely be difficult relying solely on Pei Zhao and his daughter.
Having decided to give them Xiwu City, Shen Chongming immediately dispatched some clan members with city management experience from Yunshui City to Xiwu City.
This city, compared to others, presented a somewhat challenging issue in management.
The city originally belonged to Jianan Temple, and ninety percent of the common people within the city had been forcibly enlightened by Jianan Temple using the Seed of Destiny Transformation Scripture, becoming ardent believers.
For Qiyun Valley to take root here and rebuild their Sect, those already enlightened common people naturally weren’t suitable.
Thus, Shen Chongming mobilized a large number of clan soldiers to forcefully relocate those enlightened common people out and brought in a batch from around the area who hadn’t been enlightened.
After such exhausting measures, Xiwu City was finally stabilized to ensure Qiyun Valley could develop faster here.
"How has the development of Qiyun Valley been planned, Elder?"
Shen Chongming pondered briefly before speaking.
Upon hearing this, Pei Zhao sighed lightly, "The plan is roughly in my mind."
"This time for Qiyun Valley, it’s akin to breaking and building anew."
"The rebuilt Qiyun Valley certainly cannot follow the old path."
Shen Chongming nodded then said, "Currently, Yangnao Land is quite chaotic, with relationships between Noble Family forces being intricate, particularly those cultivators in the Southern Border who often sneak into lower territories to plunder common people."
"Elder Pei, I hope you can guard against them."
Pei Zhao was about to sip his tea, and upon hearing this, his expression turned pensive.
"Patriarch Shen, I have something to discuss seeking Shen Family’s opinion."
Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming promptly laughed and said, "Just call me Chongming, no need to be so formal."
