Chapter 676 – A Rumor? A Lie? The Flower of Water and Fire That Does Not Exis (1/2)

“Are you schizophrenic?” The corner of Li Qingshan’s mouth twitched as he let go. Her touched expression only seemed to serve as a set-up for the foul words she spouted so that she could achieve enough of an impact.

“What’s schizophrenia?” As if something dirty had touched her, Ru Xin patted her shoulder a few times.

Li Qingshan gave a rough explanation and Ru Xin was taken aback. She said, “So I’m sick in the head too!”

“And quite sick too!”

“Oh right, there’s something good I have to tell you.”

“What?”

All Li Qingshan could do was follow along with how she changed the topic. After all, everyone had their secrets, which had nothing to do with the depth of their relationship. It was like how he would never tell anyone he was a transmigrator. If he insisted on finding out, it would instead be rude.

“The imperial court has dismissed Si Qing as the Marquis of Ruyi. He’s even gone to the provincial lord’s estate in South Hub city to apologise. He didn’t even hold the position for a month. He’s probably the marquis with the shortest reign in history.”

“He asked for it. During that month, it was like he had waged a war against the daemons. The strength of the entire cultivation community of the Ruyi commandery plummeted. Even if the imperial court can keep him around, the provincial lord won’t. Then who’s taking over the position of Marquis of Ruyi?”

Although Li Qingshan had guessed this possibility, he could not help but rile up with vigour when he heard it. Si Qing and Jia Zhen would probably hatch schemes to make trouble for him with each passing day they spent in the Ruyi commandery. But speaking of which, who was the one devouring his territory? Surely it was not the new Marquis of Ruyi, and surely he was not some other prince!

“They returned it to the Jiang family. A son of Jiang Fu is holding the position, but he’s only a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Commander Gu and great general Han are assisting him.”

“Great general Han!”

“Yeah, your old father-in-law came back. He has undergone the second heavenly tribulation too and taken on the position of great general.”

Li Qingshan let out a sigh of relief. If that were the case, the Han family had basically reconsolidated their position in the Ruyi commandery. Coupled with Gu Yanying, the two most authoritative people in the Ruyi commandery were on good terms with him. No one could make trouble for him anymore.

As a result, he could temporarily settle down and cultivate. He could live together with Han Qiongzhi, he could enter the Asura Field and engage in some procreation with Ye Liubo, or he could go underground and harass the Spider Queen. Once the Painting Tomb opened, he could go exploring. Life had never been so comfortable.

Li Qingshan talked a little longer with Ru Xin and suddenly remembered something. He asked, “Oh right, have you heard about the Flower of Water and Fire?”

“The Flower of Water and Fire?” Ru Xin’s expression immediately became rather strange.

“Legend has it that in the depths of the South sea, when volcanoes erupt, water and fire merge…”

“You don’t have to say anymore. I know about it.”

Before Li Qingshan could even finish, Ru Xin interrupted him. He beamed inside. “So you have heard about it. Do you know where I can find it?”

Ru Xin shook her head. “There’s no need to look for it.”

“There’s no need?”

“Because it’s fake!” Ru Xin said firmly.

Legends were only called legends when they were truly indistinguishable between real and fake, yet she was actually so certain it was fake, which left Li Qingshan very surprised. “The Great Banyan Tree King told me this in person. He’s spent ten thousand years in the Mist province.”

“But that doesn’t mean he knows everything. I’d advise you to save the effort. This legend is a lie!”

Ru Xin’s gaze drifted away as if she was gazing at an extremely distant place. The legendary Flower of Water and Fire did represent the peace between the two races, but there was a following part to this legend. If the Flower of Water and Fire bloomed regularly without withering away, then it would bring an extremely great disaster to the two races.

In the Hawkwolf Guard of the prefectural city of Clear River, the bronze hawk spread its wings, overlooking and guarding this city.

However, the entrance seemed rather deserted. This was obviously because of Si Qing’s sins. If it were not for the fact that a part of the Hawkwolf guards were not disciples of the academy, or they were away carrying out missions and had not taken part in the Exhibition Matches of the Nine Prefectures, then the office probably could not even function properly anymore.

In a room on the top floor, Hua Chenglu was currently buried under official business. In the past, she lacked the ability to deal with these matters, but after undergoing Wisdom Imbuement, she became extremely proficient.

Suddenly, she heard a few thumps outside the window and turned around in surprise, only to see a familiar figure standing outside the window with a resplendent smile across his face.

“Big brother Li, you’ve emerged from seclusion!”

Hua Chenglu was overjoyed, hurrying over to open the window and let Li Qingshan in.