CH 11.1

A sumptuous meal, and there was Lei Lei’s favourite “Su Su’s” roast duck. According to Aunt Hong from the kitchen, this meal cost about 20 taels. It cost 12 taels just to buy that roast duck.

Lei Lei reluctantly said, “Please enjoy your meal. I will retreat first.”

The young master said, “Let’s eat together.”

Qin Liu Feng frowned, “Brother Xiao, about the longevity fruit…”

The young master shook his head, “No harm.”

He Tai Ping and Qin Liu Feng looked at each other, their expressions worried. The current situation in the world of martial arts was critical and the sole descendant of the Xiao family’s Phoenix Crying Blade must not meet with mishap. Although Xiao Bai acted cautiously, his mentality and calculations were somewhat inadequate still and he was easily exploited by others. Now that he was specially treating a woman of unknown origin, and not avoiding her while knowing that he had important matters to discuss, he was too gullible and this was not a good thing.

Lei Lei was both surprised and puzzled. “Xiao Bai” had always been mature and did not do things recklessly. How could he trust her so easily?

Either way, Lei Lei was very grateful for this kind of trust. She wanted to leave voluntarily so as not to embarrass everyone. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of Qin Liu Feng’s eyes and immediately felt a little unhappy. She just would not leave and sat down demonstratively next to the young master.

At this moment, Leng Sheng Yin, the handsome iceberg next to her, glanced at her a few times. He was evidently surprised too. The talented woman Leng Zui kept calm and sat with her brother. Fortunately, these people had an extraordinary friendship and no one was overly courteous, they all ate very casually, each with their own thoughts.

Lei Lei was grateful to the young master and ate as usual. She personally peeled a prawn with her hands and put it in his bowl.

The young master said nothing and ate with his head lowered.

Qin Liu Feng had been watching the two of them for a long while and his eyebrows raised immediately when he saw this, “Girl, you’re too thoughtless, only serving food for your master and ignoring the guests, isn’t that rude?”

You had ill intentions and wanted to separate “Xiao Bai” and I, but you still want me to serve you? Lei Lei glanced at him and suddenly saw a lot of chives had been picked out of his bowl. She looked at the dishes on the table, of which one was scrambled eggs with chives. She could see this person did not like chives, so she picked them up with her chopsticks and threw them into his bowl, “Please eat, don’t be courteous!”

Qin Liu Feng stared at the chives for a long time and murmured, “Not the same, it’s just not the same.”

Everyone laughed and even Leng Zui could not help but smile slightly at Lei Lei.

Our “Xiao Bai” is the best. Lei Lei peeled another shrimp and put it in the young master’s bowl.

The young master’s face reddened slightly and he said in a low voice, “Thank you.”

He Tai Ping looked at her meaningfully, “Staying here as a maid is not a solution after all. Do you remember anything else? I may be able to help you investigate your identity so you can reunite with your family as soon as possible.”

Here we go again! Lei Lei was nervous.

The young master glanced at her, “Brother He need not worry, I have sent someone to investigate.”

Seeing that he insisted on helping this woman, He Tai Ping sighed softly and began to talk business, “I have investigated that the matter of the longevity fruit being sold in Bi Shui City is indeed true.”

The young master and Lei Lei were stunned at the same time.

Qin Liu Feng said, “I’ve heard it will be an auction with a minimum price of one million yuan. It will be held on the evening of New Year’s day at an old tea alley in Bi Shui City. The seller called himself Mr Shi. Although the news has not been widely disseminated throughout the world of martial arts, many people have secretly spent money to buy this news. There aren’t many people who can afford this price financially. Once the longevity fruit appears, the bidding will not be a problem but rather the chaos it’ll cause. What’s more, with such a precious item, the people from Qian Yue Cave and Chuan Qi Valley would never stand by idly. They would definitely step in.”

The young master pondered, “I wonder who Mr Shi is, and if the longevity fruit is really in his hands?”

Lei Lei interrupted, “The longevity fruit is such a good thing. Who would be willing to take it out and sell it?”

He Tai Ping said, “Either way, the longevity fruit cannot fall into the hands of Shang Guan Qiu Yue and Fu Lou. That Mr Shi is intending on leading many heroes to Bi Shui City which is actually an ulterior motive. When the time comes, I’ll release news of going to Jia Kong City to inspect in advance and then take a private detour to Bi Shui City, mobilising the three main sects to lockdown the city under martial law to prevent the demonic cult from taking the opportunity to cause chaos and to see who Mr Shi is. Spreading the news but moving without a trace, it may have a lot to do with the longevity fruit.” Whether intentional or not, he accentuated his tone when he continued, “This matter must not be leaked to prevent that person from finding out and causing an unforeseen mishap.”

Hearing the deliberateness, Lei Lei rolled her eyes.

Leng Sheng Yin suddenly said, “Perhaps the person who stole the longevity fruit intentionally blamed my father who was wronged and died for nothing…”

He Tai Ping patted his shoulder and interrupted him, “My intentions are to investigate this matter exactly and find the murderer to avenge your father.”

Next to him, Leng Zui’s eyes reddened and she lowered her head.

Leng Sheng Yin sneered, “My father was struck by the unique palm strike of the Xi Sha sect, who else could be the murderer? Back then, the two of them used an excuse to suspect my father and invited him to the top of Mount Hua. What was the talk about explaining to each other…” He did not continue and just snorted, “There’s quite a few cases of thieves accusing someone else of being a thief to cover themselves…”

He Tai Ping smiled, “I think there is something strange about this matter. Bi Shui City has always been under the jurisdiction of your Nan Hai sect. While your father was alive, they had acted openly and honestly and had always considered the civilians. I still hope Brother Leng can consider the overall situation. There’s still quite some time until the New Year, so please go back first and send more people to investigate the information. If we could find the whereabouts of that person early, not only can your father be avenged but it would be considered a great achievement for the civilians. Surely your father in the afterlife would also be greatly relieved.”

Leng Sheng Yin was silent.

Lei Lei sighed beside him. His animosity towards having his father killed was unshakeable and now everyone believed his father was killed by Wen Ting. In fact, it was also very likely the case. Poor Miss Wen with all her sincerity, would this handsome ice cold man appreciate it? What bloody drama was going to happen later?

The young master remembered something, “The day before yesterday, I passed through Xi Sha sect’s territory. Many people seemed to complain they were being taxed too heavily.”

He Tai Ping immediately looked at Qin Liu Feng.

Qin Liu Feng nodded, “I’ll investigate.”

Lei Lei realised that Qin Liu Feng was in charge of the economic issues. Xiao Tai Ping had literary and military talents by his side and there were many of them. No wonder that the world of martial arts was not in chaos even after such a matter had occurred.

With matters agreed upon, everyone was about to continue eating when they suddenly heard Leng Zui say, “On the 15th of this month, we’re having a poetry meet. I want to invite Brother Xiao to go, I wonder if Brother Xiao is free?”

As soon as she heard it was poetry, Lei Lei became enthusiastic. She could not even be bothered to eat the roast duck and immediately put down her chopsticks. Her blood in her chest was surging. Here we go, here we go, the opportunity to display her skills to compose poetry! Can our time travelling heroine compose poetry?! Let me surprise you all!

Could “Xiao Bai” also compose poetry? She turned to look at the young master.

The young master frowned, “I’ve never been good at composing poems…”

Leng Zui interrupted and said, “Brother Xiao is too modest. Brother He has business and cannot go. You are simply not refusing to give me face.”

The young master said, “Brother Qin to be invited to such elegant things.”

Qin Liu Feng smiled and said nothing.

Leng Zui paid no mind, “It’s but a little poetry meet, I’m afraid it will delay Brother Qin’s business.”

The young master looked at Qin Liu Feng.

Qin Liu Feng smiled and said, “I would love to join in the fun, but I’m afraid Miss Leng will dislike me for my lack of talent and knowledge.

Leng Zui smiled slightly, “Brother Qin is famous and known by all so naturally it would be good if he can go and I dare not dislike. But I must also invite Brother Xiao to come as a favour.”

To write poetry, how could it be done without the top talent in the world of martial arts? This beautiful woman probably wanted to invite Qin Liu Feng originally but it was not easy to speak up, so she beat around the bush and asked “Xiao Bai” as a cover. For example, if you want to pick up a beautiful woman, then it was necessary to invite her best friend too, it was the same reasoning! However, if there was excitement then of course we had to join in. If “Xiao Bai” wouldn’t go, then how could she have a chance to show off?