He could feel that the Glory's Will was growing steadily; its roots were slowly extending to all sides and would soon join together with the other trees. Their spiritual energies and roots would intertwine to become one, further accelerating the growth.
The trees were planted separately in different corners of the courtyard – southeast, southwest, and south forming a triangle with the Glory's Will equidistant from all three corners in the middle at exactly 12 meters distance.
Chu Li sensed that it would only take two days for the Glory's Will to complete its rooting. With the spiritual force support from the other three trees, it would no doubt grow incredibly fast and will begin to sprout after 10 days.
Right now, it still looked like a wilted branch, without any vital signs.
Xue Ling glanced at the branch whenever she walked by serving the dishes. She shook her head, not understanding why Chu Li was so fixated on it. Planting trees were still acceptable, but she could not fathom sticking a wilted branch into the ground and treating it like a baby and staring at it.
She laid out all the dishes on the stone table in the gazebo and came to Chu Li, "Master, the food is ready."
Chu Li waved his hand in acknowledgment.
He was in the midst of sensing the Glory's Will when he suddenly realized that not only was it absorbing the spiritual energies of the three trees, it was also faintly breathing on its own and exhaling its energy into the air. This trace of exhaled energy was purer than any other energy he had encountered before. As the three trees at each corner took in the Glory's Will's exhaled energy, Chu Li could feel their vigor growing and strengthening.
Deep in his own thoughts, he was unaware that time was ticking by.
Fifteen minutes later, Xue Ling looked at Chu Li and reminded softly, "Master, the dishes are getting cold!"
Chu Li turned his head and glared at her. Xue Ling was not intimidated and looked back at him defiantly with her bright and round eyes.
"You…" Chu Li sighed and shook his head. He stood up and patted the soil away from his hands.
Xue Ling brought over a basin of water and Chu Li rinsed his hands clean before walking into the gazebo. He picked up the jade chopsticks and said to Xue Ling: "If you did not sleep enough, go take an afternoon nap."
"Alright," answered Xue Ling as she poured away the basin of water. She entered the gazebo and stood quietly beside him with her body emitting a pleasant fragrance.
Chu Li took a small bite and sipped some wine while thinking about the pure spiritual force he felt earlier. He wondered if he was able to use the Glory's Will's spiritual force to help him cultivate, purify and strengthen his own inner energy.
His mood lit up thinking about it and finished his wine in one gulp. Xue Ling filled his cup again with wine.
"Hey, you are eating!" Su Ru pushed the door and walked in, her apricot gown flowing along with her movements as she walked up into the gazebo. Casting a glance at the stone table, she commented, "that looks like a sumptuous meal!"
Chu Li smiled and asked, "Have you eaten, Chief?"
Su Ru waved her hand lightly, and answered, "I just finished actually. I came by to take a look at the Glory's Will." She walked over to where the wilted branch was planted and observed it.
Furrowing her brows, she asked, "is it alive?"
Chu Li smiled. "Yes, you will be able to see it tomorrow."
"Will there be any complications?" Su Ru was trying to analyze it, but no matter how she looked at it, it still looked like a wilted branch without any chance of survival.
Putting down his cup and chopsticks, Chu Li walked to her side and smiled. "it can't possibly grow so fast."
"That's true," laughed Su Ru. She was too impatient.
The case of the Glory's Will was extremely important. If it did survive, it would contribute to the Spirit Medicine, and in return improve Lady Xiao's cultivation drastically. This was directly related to the Jade Guardian Island's standing.
Su Ru walked back into the gazebo, and said, "continue your feast."
Xue Ling greeted her, while Chu Li also returned into the gazebo. He sat down and continued eating.
He asked, "Chief, there is something I don't understand."
"There's something you don't know? That's surprising," Su Ru smiled.
Xue Ling walked out of the gazebo and brought back tea to serve Su Ru. She took a sip of it, and said, "What is it?"
Chu Li asked, "Is Lady Yueling just young, or is it because she's well cultivated in her skills?"
"She's Lady Xiao's aunty, older than her by 10 years."
"So she's well cultivated," Chu Li commented. Xiao Yueling and Xiao Qi looked as if they were the same age, not only did the both of them look young but they were also very elegant in their behavior.
"Well, Aunt Yueling is a natural talent, she is no less than Lady Xiao."
"Which sect is she from?"
Su Ru rolled her eyes at Chu Li. "why do you ask?"
"I know Aunt Yueling is a grandmaster, and that is not achievable in the Public House so she must have joined some sect, am I right?"
Su Ru nodded her head. "Seems like you know about the general procedure about rising in power, but this was not how she did it nor did it work on her. It's a secret, the lesser you know the better," she said.
Chu Li looked at her in curiosity. Su Ru shook her head.
"Since it's a secret, then it is most probably not because of the speed of her cultivation progress nor could it be a unique encounter… could it be that Aunt Yueling was with a sect since young? To reach grandmaster level at such a young age, she must have come from a popular sect, one of the top four maybe. It will be impossible for her to come from the Tempest Temple or from the Titanium Temple, leaving the Green Deer Cliff or Amethyst Mountain. With what she's wearing…it must be the Green Deer Cliff?"
Su Ru glared at him and said, "Okay, you are smart!"
Noting that she did not deny what he said, he nodded and began to think.
The Public House and the Martial Art Sects never got along well. The Imperial Household had long used the Public House to restrain the power of the Martial Art Sects. If they were caught working together, the Imperial Household would never let the Public House off easily.
Chu Li furrowed his brows. "This move…"
He shook his head as this was not a good move. Even if the Imperial Household knew nothing about it, they would probably have guessed something and the Yi Public House may be punished harshly.
"There is nothing much we can do," Su Ru sighed and explained, "Aunt Yueling's personality is very different from Lady Xiao. She has been very independent in mind since young. Our Great Ancestor spoilt her and no one could control her at all. She secretly escaped the Public House and disguised herself as a peasant, and in a stroke of fate, joined the Green Deer Cliff."
Chu Li shook his head. Xiao Yueling's actions were serving the Public House on a skewer.
"When she did so, the Grand Ancestor announced that she was dead." Su Ru sighed again. "It was a big deal at that time. Aunt Yueling had lots of admirers; one of them being the younger brother of High Duke Lu, from the Ren Public House."
"What happened after that?"
Su Ru continued, "Aunty Yueling's actual name was Xiao ***, but she changed it to Xiao Yueling after joining Green Deer Cliff while cutting all association with the Public House. She also claimed that Xiao *** was dead."
"Xiao ***…" Chu Li seemed lost in his thoughts. "Ren Public House's princess is named County Lord Lu Yurong?"
After the attack by Ren Public House, he did some research on them and understood that it was most definitely Lu Yurong who ordered the assassination. The County Lord from Ren Public House was known to be a brilliant and smart person.
Su Ru clarified, "Lu Yurong's father has nothing to do with Aunt Yueling."
Chu Li looked dubious.
Su Ru rolled her eyes at him and grunted, "why do you want to know all this? It may do you more harm than good."
Chu Li smiled and finished his cup of wine. Xue Ling refilled his cup again and stood behind him quietly.
Su Ru sighed. "Lu Yurong's father retreated in isolation to cultivate. She was raised by her uncle, who fell for Aunt Yueling and was obsessed with her. When he heard news of her death, he got depressed and passed away."
Chu Li was startled.
"Both Public Houses were not enemies at that time. It only happened after Lu Yurong's uncle's death."
"Did Lu Yurong try to kill Aunt Yueling?"
"She only hated her, but she did not make any moves. It was only after she got wind that Aunt Yueling was actually still alive that she started to plan her revenge. She believed that her uncle was a victim as Aunt Yueling was his favorite person; and perceived that it was our fault when we hid the truth in order to protect ourselves."
"She is not exactly wrong."
"Sigh…so now both Public Houses are enemies, and it's just getting worse." Su Ru shook her head. "The Ren Public House is growing stronger under her leadership, they are growing more and more powerful, and not to mention more arrogant! … What are your thoughts now that you know all these?"
Chu Li shook his head, still speechless.
He finished his cup of wine in one gulp and put it down, and pondered, 'I presume the Imperial Household is aware of Aunt Yueling?'
"How can the Imperial Household not know if even the Ren Public House is aware?" Su Ru twitched her mouth. "which is why we've been sidelined, otherwise, the Ren Public House would not have the gall to bully us!"
"What about Lady Xiao's mother?" Chu Li asked. "She was also a disciple from the Green Deer Cliff, no?"
"You know about this too?"
"Didn't Aunt Yueling address her as Junior Sister?"
"Yes, Madame was also from the Green Deer Cliff."
Chu Li gave a wry smile. If the Imperial Household did not hold a grudge against the Yi Public House, who else would they hold one against?
"It's also a coincidence," Su Ru shook her head again. "Lady Xiao's father disguised his identity when he was out exploring the martial arts world. When he met Madame it was love at first sight."
"What happened after that?" Chu Li frowned. "Did they return to the Public House?"
Su Ru replied helplessly, "No. Madame left after learning about Master's true identity but she was already pregnant. She died from childbirth and Lady Xiao was brought back and raised by the Great Ancestor."
Chu Li signed. By now, he could have pretty much guessed Lady Xiao's situation. Her father probably did not take a liking to her. Since the Great Ancestor had already passed away for so long, she must have had a hard time.
"Luckily, the two Masters and Second Lady are close to Lady Xiao," Su Ru smiled. "That is very fortunate for her"
Chu Li nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is…"
The rules of the world determined that the eldest one would inherit the authority and power. The Eldest Master would no doubt take over -- given that even the Fourth Master did not have the rights to do so, what more the ladies? There was even a Second Lady before Xiao Qi – she was only the Third Lady after all.
Chu Li's circle of activity was very limited. He had never met any of Lady Xiao's siblings; He had only heard stories about them. The Eldest Master, Xiao Tieying, was wise and authoritative; when the High Duke retreated in isolation for cultivation, all affairs pertaining to the Public House were managed by Xiao Tieying.
The Fourth Master, Xiao Baihe, had an excellent aptitude. He did not care for common affairs other than martial arts. It was said that he left the Public House to travel. All disciples of the Public House were required to explore the martial arts world at least once. It was said that to defeat your enemy, you must first know them.
The Second Lady, Xiao Shi, did not practice martial arts but was renowned for her beauty and was named the most beautiful lady in the Great Ji Dynasty. She rarely left Symphony Island, and even when she did, she would don a white veil over her face.
Then there was the Third Lady, Xiao Qi. She had remarkable wisdom and helped the Eldest Master as a right-hand man in managing the Public House's affairs.
"Lady Xiao's martial arts skills are not from the Green Deer Cliff?"
"Of course not!" Su Ru shook her head. "It's an ancient martial arts study that Madame received through a unique encounter. The cultivation itself is tough. If it weren't for the Andromeda, she would still be practicing very hard on it. It is much easier with the Andromeda!"
Chu Li nodded, again seemingly deep in his thoughts.
Su Ru rolled her eyes at him again. "This curiosity of yours is going to land you in trouble!"
Chu Li laughed and said, "It's good for me to know, at least I can now act on things freely with a better understanding. Otherwise, I am always lost and confused and these will restrain me from performing my best."
"All of this information better rot in your stomach," Su Ru said. She turned her head and gave Xue Ling a strict glare, scaring her aback.
Chu Li laughed and said, "what are the other spirit herbs that Lady Xiao is trying to plant?"
"A few others but they are a challenge to grow, and even when they do, they grow very slowly." Su Ru added, "I'm in the midst of preparing their seeds, I will have them sent over to you in a few days."
Chu Li nodded in acknowledgment.
"How is your Sentient Menace cultivation coming along?"
Chu Li shook his head. "It's slow! I think my cultivation method could be wrong, I need to correct it."
"Don't rush. The Sentient Menace is a skill that needs to be cultivated over your lifetime!" Su Ru stood up preparing to leave. "It's alright, there is no need to send me off. Finish your meal, it's getting cold!"
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