Chapter 456 – Gathering at the Parlour of Clouds and Rain (1/2)
She waved her hand, and the eighteen prayer beads returned to her pale, slender wrist. Long, seaweed-like hair draped down, covering her body that was just as slender and pale.
At this moment, on a whim, she spread her arms and raised her head. Like a sprouting willow in spring, her body gradually stretched upwards.
Li Qingshan’s group returned to the academy. Hua Chengzan specially held a banquet at the Hua estate to welcome him back.
After washing and grooming herself, Hua Chenglu emerged from the back and specially toasted him, thanking him for saving her life.
Li Qingshan emptied his cup and smiled. “Never did I think that the girl back then would end up becoming such a beauty now. If your big sister Han hadn’t been a step faster, I probably would not be able to help myself but to ask you to pledge yourself to me.”
Hua Chenglu reddened, but she did not back down. “Never did I think either that the brat back then would become such a heroic figure. If big sister Han hadn’t been a step faster, I probably would not be able to help myself but pledge myself to you too.”
She left Li Qingshan surprised, who asked seriously, “Han Tieyi is not here, right?”
That led to a roar of laughter. Hua Chenglu stamped her foot. “What are you trying to do?”
Hua Chengzan even jokingly said, “Qingshan, you’re not even afraid of the rock demon. How can you be afraid of tiger Han?”
Li Qingshan said, “If he’s here, I’d like to go three hundred cups with him.”
“Brother, why didn’t you tell me this beforehand?” Hua Chenglu then grumbled. Who knew how many private conversations he had eavesdropped on during their missions.
Hua Chengzan immediately raised his cup and apologised to his younger sister. Li Qingshan smiled. “It’s not just you. Even I was left in the dark without the slightest clue of what’s going on.”
Before she returned to her seat, Hua Chenglu blinked her eyes and said to Li Qingshan, “Big brother Li, don’t forget you still owe me a favour.”
Li Qingshan smiled and expressed, “As long as it’s not pledging me to you, I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Zijian, it’s your turn now.” Hua Chenglu understood the value of his word very well. She returned to her seat and pushed over Yu Zijian who was beside her.
Yu Zijian offered up a cup of alcohol, but her eyes were fixed on Li Qingshan. His smile eased up slightly, but he continued to smile with his eyes. “What, is there something on my face?”
“Zijian, you’ve done very well with the missions this time. I find it very admirable,” Li Qingshan praised.
Hua Chenglu said, “Do you just admire everyone that’s a beauty?”
“Haha, basically.”
With both the host and the guest thoroughly satisfied, Li Qingshan took his leave from the banquet. Hua Chengzan accompanied Li Qingshan to the entrance and whispered to him, “I just received the news. In three days time, still the Parlour of Clouds and Rain. Negotiations about the alliance.”
Li Qingshan’s expression changed. “That works too. At least your efforts haven’t gone to waste.”
“You already know?”
“I know a bit. Don’t worry, I won’t blabber.”
“You should pay a visit to the Han family too.”
“Understood.” Li Qingshan patted Hua Chengzan on the shoulder. He leapt up and arrived mid-air before taking a step and flying into the clouds. With a few flashes, he vanished into the horizon.
Hua Chengzan stared at the sky for quite some time before sighing gently. “What impressive judgements.” Who knew whether he was talking about Gu Yanying or Han Qiongzhi.
……
Li Qingshan returned to the Qing Xiao dwelling. Xiao An was already waiting there. She took out the strange rock that Strongboulder had left behind.
The Rock of Slaughter flickered with blood-red light, dimming and brightening over time like a beating heart. This was her gift for him.
Li Qingshan stroked the uneven surface of the Rock of Slaughter gently. Countless riling scenes of slaughter and of war poured through his head, tempting him to fight and slaughter too.
He suppressed this urge and sighed gently. “A loose end has finally been tied up.”
“Qingshan… look at me…” Xiao An called at him extremely softly and murmured.
“What’s wrong? You seem a little different today?” Li Qingshan turned his head and finally noticed what was different about Xiao An. He circled around her.
Her seaweed-like hair seemed to have become even longer, and she stood slightly taller too, almost past his waist. Her delicate facial features had become even more distinct, now with a hint of breath-taking beauty.
Li Qingshan clapped his hands together. “You’ve grown a little.”
“If I don’t grow, I’ll attract suspicion.” Xiao An lowered her head and explained it like that.
Although a profound cultivation could delay ageing or even rejuvenate youth, Xiao An’s cultivation was nowhere near that profound.
Because she had been practising the Path of White Bone and Great Beauty the entire time, she was unable to change the size of her skeleton. Fortunately, she had been avoiding the eyes of others for the past few years, and she did not attract much attention in the first place. However, as time went on, she would definitely attract suspicion.