Chapter 39 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

In the governor’s manor.

“Li Rong has returned, Governor.”

“Let him in.” A dignified voice sounded.

A slightly fat middle-aged man quickly walked into the hall.

“I hope that you have been well, Old Master.” The fat middle-aged man, Li Rong, kneeled to salute.

“Stand up please.” The dignified Lord Lin Yuan looked solemn. “Where’s Master Luo? Didn’t he come back with you?”

“Old Master.” Li Rong answered with a bitter expression on his face. “You gave me the order to wait for Master Luo to complete his refinement of the Spirit Elixir in Dong Lai City when you took your leave. I have given him the best possible treatment. However, seven days after he succeeded, he went back on his promise. ”

“Ridiculous!” Lord Lin Yuan, Li Boyan, was angry. “Luo Hanyuan is a Grandmaster in the field of alchemy. How can he do that? Does he not care about his reputation? It must be because you did not treat Master Luo well!”

Li Rong who had just stood up fell on his knees once again when he heard the words coming from Lord Lin Yuan. He cried out and said, “Old Master, it was an important matter. How dare I be negligent? I have been waiting outside his elixir room every day throughout the seven days when Master Luo was refining the Spirit Elixir. I even tried to make his young apprentices happy by calling them young geniuses. I would surely not miss any detail on proper etiquette. I also got Li Fu to prepare a gift for Master Luo every day. However, Master Luo returned all the gifts after he succeeded and did not say anything about following me to Lin Yuan City. Master Luo became livid and drove me out when I asked him why…”

Li Boyan suppressed his anger and said, “Think! Did Master Luo meet with anyone or say anything after he succeeded?” He knew that his steward, Li Rong, had always been reliable. If that was not the case, he would not have returned to Lin Yuan City beforehand.

“Old Master, now that you mention it. Many of his friends went to congratulate Master Luo on the day of his success. Master Luo was kind to me at the beginning but his attitude suddenly changed after Officer Liu met him.”

“Dong Lai’s Liu family!” Li Boyan suddenly understood what had happened. He could not help but sigh and fell back on his chair dejectedly, “Alright. This is not your fault. You can go now.”

“Old Master, if you don’t punish me, I will not feel at ease.” Li Rong peeped at Li Boyan and said anxiously.

“Well. It was not your fault. I’m not that kind of person who would release his anger on others.” Li Boyan weakly waved his hand. “I would not let this slide if you were truly in the wrong.”

“Thank you for your grace, Old Master.” Li Rong was finally relieved and he respectfully retreated.

There was only Li Boyan left in front of the spacious hall. He sighed deeply and felt an immense pressure on his shoulders.

A man about thirty or forty years old came out from the inner hall. He was good-looking but his expression was frosty. The man was Li Zhongxuan. He said, “I heard everything. What’s going on? Why did Dong Lai’s Liu family stop Luo Hanyuan from coming to extend our father’s lifespan?”

Li Boyan said, “Ahem! They want the fiefdom of Lin Yuan City. The head of the Liu family, Liu Junxuan, has advanced to the Mystical Lord stage long ago. His Majesty gave him the Blue Mountain as his reward but he rejected it as it is sparsely populated and rather barren. He only received the rank of an officer. Since Father’s lifespan has shortened considerably, Liu Junxuan wants to seize the chance when His Majesty takes back the fief and gives it to another person. Therefore, he will not stand back and let Father extend his lifespan.”

Li Zhongxuan frowned and said, “Preposterous! Liu Junxuan is obstructing Father’s attempt at extending his lifespan because of such selfish reasons, and Luo Hanyuan went back on his promise. These are all petty and unacceptable behaviors! Brother, we should stop all transactions with the Liu family and cut off our monthly supply to Luo Hanyuan.”

Li Boyan shook his head and said, “Zhongxuan, you are acting too rashly. The Li family will suffer great loss if we stop the transactions with the Liu family. As for Master Luo Hanyuan, we cannot guarantee that we won’t need his help in the future. After all, there are too few Rank-5 Alchemist Masters in Dong Lai Kingdom.”

Li Zhongxuan raised an eyebrow and said, “That is the difference between you and me. There is no compromise in my dictionary.”

Li Boyan sighed as he looked at the figure of Li Zhongxuan walking away. Both of them had the state of mind of a Grandmaster as their cultivation had reached the Mystical Grandmaster stage. Neither of them was right nor wrong. In Li Boyan’s point of view, the straightforward state of mind that his younger brother had was more conducive in breaking through the stages of cultivation.

‘Although Zhongxuan is a few years younger than me, his strength has already surpassed my own… This may be because his state of mind is suitable for breakthroughs,’ Li Boyan thought to himself. ‘Unfortunately, he doesn’t understand that his kind of state of mind is not suitable in dealing with matters in the real world. One should not have too high of a demand in life. Sometimes, compromise is necessary.’

‘Now, I can only count on Yuanzhi. She said that she wants to refine the Life-Extension Elixir but I don’t know whether she can succeed. Alas! I’m afraid the effect will not be good enough even if she does succeed. After all, Father is in the Mystical Lord stage. A Life-Extension Elixir is not enough to rejuvenate his vitality.’

In Vast-Gate Dojo.

“Young Master, we found out that Xu Yang has left Lin Yuan City and gone to the Python Mountains three days ago.” A Mystical Warrior reported respectfully.

“The Python Mountains? He is a Mystical Learner and no one else is accompanying him to go through the Ascetic Road. Why did he go to the Python Mountains? Is he going to scavenge for herbs?” Qi Hong was stunned but he soon put aside his questions. “This is a great chance!”

“Tell Old Huo and his guys to search along Song Ren’s route of Ascetic Road. Kill Xu Yang on the spot when you meet him.” Qi Hong said with his eyes flashing with coldness.