Refining the Mountains and Rivers

At night, while Qin Yu was cultivating, he could hear some noises. It sounded different from normal. He hesitated before pushing the door open and stepping out. He headed for the garden.

Rourou was standing under the huge scholartree in the garden, looking at Xu Zhiruo’s room.

The lady must have been abruptly awakened. It was either she had experienced this before, or because she was worried about the evil residents in her house, she did not dare to make too big of a fuss.

The moaning sounds were suppressed, and if not for their enhanced hearing as cultivators, they would not have been able to hear.

Qin Yu looked at Rourou and pointed to the room, “You intentionally agitated her just to see this?”

Rourou nodded and did not have any intentions to hide, “If I don’t see clearly, how will I know if I should set a deal with her or not?”

Qin Yu replied, “Are you clear now?”

Rourou said slowly, “Yes.”

“Worth the deal?”

“Of course.”

Rourou looked up at the pitch black sky above her head, a sneer pulling at the corners of her mouth, “With such a good deal right in front, not many may understand the full value, but this will not stop them from bidding.”

Qin Yu thought for a while before frowning, “So are you saying that we foiled someone’s plan?”

Rourou sneered, “No, it is someone who is not seeing things clearly and is offering himself to us!”

Although the Xu Family’s residence was old and shabby, it was in a good location and there was a big street in front of the house. Many people passed by in the day. The two shops next to their houses were open and it was quite lively.

But in the dark night, when one would not even be able to see one’s hands, no one would choose to come here.

Especially not to climb and lay on the roof secretively. Only the eyes could be seen staring at the garden.

Pfft –

There was a soft, almost inaudible sound. However, the flesh, including the heart, had been pierced through.

The stalker’s eyes widened and a gurgling sound erupted from his throat. Yet, before he could say anything, he died on the spot.

White Iris kept her sword expressionlessly. She was now wearing a black set of clothes, which made it hard to detect her. She disappeared into the night.

This was not the first person she had killed and would not be the last. White Iris walked through the night, taking one life after another.

Why did these people still continue to come despite getting killed? White Iris did not care and could not be bothered to know their reasons. Her master ordered her to kill any cultivators that tried to come near the residence, and she would just follow orders.

But there was something different tonight. Perhaps, the other party had become angry after losing so many people…and was finally doing something interesting.

In the dark night, White Iris’ eyes glimmered and her silhouette flashed before appearing on the long street. Across from her stood a middle-aged man. He had some white hair on his temples and boasts an extraordinary aura as he stood holding a sword.

“Miss, if you want to chase them away, you can just indicate it. Was there a need to kill them?”

White Iris took a step forwards, “You can go and ask them personally.”

Ask who?

Of course, the people she had killed.

The sword cultivator frowned slightly before lifting his hand and stepping forwards. A sinister glimmer reflected off his sword and filled the air, shining down on a huge part of the county. It was majestic and magnificent.

However, the momentum of the aura from this sword came to an abrupt stop, like shooting stars in the sky. No matter how beautiful, they only lasted a few seconds.

A disheveled look appeared on the face of the man with white hair. He frowned and looked to be in pain, but more of it was in confusion.

“Can a sword be used like that?”

White Iris’ eyes lit up, “My master says that it can. So it can.”

She spat out a mouthful of blood before turning to leave. She felt that she was still too weak. Though she could force it, her body could not take it.

Behind her, the man with white hair on his temples crumpled and disintegrated in an instant, blood spurting out of his nose!

……

With the single sword move lighting up half of the county, the entire county was startled and wondering whether it was related to the rumored Sword Immortal.

It was a pity that after one strike, there was no other movement. They did not know if the Sword Immortal had left after killing his enemy in one move.

In the remainder of the night, the commotion lasted for a while before dying down. But there were some people who would have a restless night.

The Li Family.

After a strange clash on the night of the Lantern Festival, everything had been peaceful as if nothing had ever happened.

At the Li Family’s residence, there were numerous lights but they were unable to light up the entire residence, leaving it looking mysterious.

The people from the Li Family who had awoken simply turned back before hearing any news. Li Yuantai had been awoken as well and anger burned in his heart. He felt tormented for a long time before he eventually fell asleep.

When day broke, there was a squeaking sound as someone pushed open the door to a house that faced southeast. A lady wearing a very thin piece of cloth appeared.

She moved quietly onto the patio and greeted respectfully, “Greetings, Master.”

“White Temples failed.” The figure in front spoke calmly without any emotions.

The woman stiffened as she looked up in shock. Under the faint light, it roughly showed that the woman was the one in the pink skirt who had accompanied Li Yuantai into Surplus Store back then. Now, she was almost naked but she did not seem to care. Her pretty face was pale.

Though she did not know where that sword cultivator came from, she knew that he had been one of her master’s strongest cards. But he had not been able to reveal any information about the other party and he was dead!

Taking a deep breath, the woman bowed, “Please tell me what I should do.”

The figure in front of her spoke, “It is now known that the three of them came to East Pole County in order to cross the pass and go to the Central Desolate Divine Area.”

What he said next could not be heard, as only his mouth moved.

Woosh –

The dark figure disappeared.

The woman returned to her room as if nothing had happened.

……

After another night of being wary, Xu Zhiruo finally returned to Surplus after having been on leave for a few days. She had dark circles under her eyes and this made the other shop assistants exclaim and tried to make her talk. What had she been doing the past few days? Why did she look so drained!

Facing their strange looks and playful tone, Xu Zhiruo wanted to cry but no tears flowed out. Her brother was still unconscious at home and she did not dare to say anything.

She finally managed to find an excuse to get rid of them. Xu Zhiruo lifted her own spirits as she went to find the manager of the second floor. According to Rourou’s instructions, she had to say just a single sentence to him.

The manager’s face changed and he glanced at her, “Wait here, I will get the shopkeeper.”

Shopkeeper Zhou arrived very soon and brought Xu Zhiruo into a room, “Zhiruo, are those customers now staying at your house?”

Seeing Xu Zhiruo nod, Shopkeeper Zhou looked at her thoughtfully. He hesitated before saying, “Zhiruo, you are someone who I watched grow up, let me warn you. If you gain something, don’t think and dream too much about the future…you have to look at what is under you.”

He could only say this. It would be up to Xu Zhiruo as to whether she could understand what he was trying to say. After all, the customers had only asked for three passes and there was no change in this.

Xu Zhiruo nodded ignorantly. It was only after she left Surplus and was about to reach home that she somewhat understood what Shopkeeper Zhou was trying to imply. She flushed red in embarrassment.

Rourou stood by the door and smiled as she returned, “Young lady, your face is flushed today. It seems like you are well.”

Xu Zhiruo suppressed her annoyance, “Shopkeeper Zhou said the thing has been done. You all can go to Surplus to finish the deal on the day after tomorrow.”

She did not know what the deal was about, but it seemed like something valuable.

But so what? Now, she was like a fish on a chopping board. Other than letting herself be descaled, she had no choice.

Lowering her head, Xu Zhiruo stepped over the doorstep and walked quickly to Xu Xianglin’s room.

Behind her, Rourou’s joking voice sounded, “Thanks. We will be waiting for you, Miss Xu Zhiruo.”

Xu Zhiruo stumbled.

Qin Yu pushed open the door and looked impatient, “Okay, that is enough. If you want to do a deal, you should consider her feelings as well.”

Rourou smiled and nodded.

Qin Yu’s expression shifted before he turned and left.

“Stop.”

Qin Yu coughed lightly, “I need to answer nature’s call!”

Rourou sneered, “Bear with it!”

She walked over and circled Qin Yu, “Mister Qin, there is something that I have to make clear to you. I am not trying to take what Xu Zhiruo has for myself. Do you understand?”

Qin Yu nodded sharply, “Of course! Lady Rourou, if there is any way in which you need my help, please just let me know.”

Rourou snapped and smiled, “On the right track.”

She stepped forward and leaned into Qin Yu, “Tonight, let’s act out a scene of bullying a weak young lady and having someone save her. How about that?”

Qin Yu’s mouth twitched as he understood what she meant. He tried one last time, “Do you think that Miss Xu will believe it in this scenario?”

Rourou waved her hand, “Whether she believes it does not matter. I just need the process.”

Qin Yu had been shut down. Looking at her sparkling eyes, he knew he could not avoid this. He did not know how he had offended her these past two days.

He clearly had not done anything!

Sigh, women were really complicated and impossible to understand.

Despite how Qin Yu sighed, he still appeared when night fell. He sat in the middle of the room and had wasted half a day of cultivation time. He frowned and thought of all sorts of things. But eventually, he rubbed his face and gritted his teeth as he stood up.

It was bound to happen, so he would do it before she had to remind him!

Standing up and pushing the door open, he looked sad from the back, as if he was about to catch a cold…Qin Yu then mustered up his courage to push open Xu Zhiruo’s door. He saw the shocked look on Lady Xu’s face before looking at Rourou, who was frowning and had a strange expression. He then knew that he had been tricked.

After getting berated, Qin Yu was stunned as he stood on the spot, looking guilty. He covered his face and escaped, leaving Rourou in the room to comfort Lady Xu.

He could vaguely hear her comforting. She said something like, “With me around, you don’t have to be afraid. I will not let him touch you.”

Qin Yu found it weird. Xu Zhiruo did not seem stupid. Could it be that she had forgotten everything that had happened and now believed Rourou? He was speechless.

But thinking about it, getting scolded was better than having to act out the entire scene of ‘bullying the young lady’.

He let it go and decided not to care what Rourou was trying to do. He went back to his room to continue cultivating.

There was no choice. This world was just like that. Without cultivation, there was no power!

One day, in order to be able to…hmm hmm, he had to work harder.

In the room, Rourou, who was comforting Xu Zhiruo, glanced in the direction of Qin Yu’s room and sneered internally. He was really bold but I will not give you the chance!

“Thank you for saving me tonight. Previously, I had many misunderstandings with you; I hope you will not hold it against me.”

Xu Zhiruo stood up and bowed respectfully.

Rourou waved her hand, “Don’t worry, I have always been magnanimous and won’t hold it against you.”

She pointed, “However, if you keep your beautiful eyes, it will lead to trouble.”

Xu Zhiruo took a deep breath and spoke softly, “Please help me.”

Rourou looked at the smart Lady Xu and smiled, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you.”