Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 49 - 40.99999: The Clever and Keen Li Xinyu

Chapter 49: Chapter 40.99999: The Clever and Keen Li Xinyu

July 20, 2017, Cloudy

The height of summer in QingCyan Cloud yun City has always been unbearable, except for those grand mansions equipped with Clear Spirit Arrays that can ward off the heat and make it feel like spring all year round. For regular households, July and August are plagued by the oppressive heat, and until late September when it finally dissipates, the prices for ice and similar goods in QingCyan City skyrocket.

During the peak of summer, it’s not just the scorching sun that’s unbearable, but also the endless cloudy sky.

The gray clouds in the sky block the harsh sunlight, but also trap the stifling heat beneath, turning the world into a steaming cauldron, with invisible vapors permeating the atmosphere, leaving everyone feeling as if they’re on the cusp of transcendence.

Yet during this harsh season, in a secluded villa to the north of QingCyan City, cool and refreshing breezes drift through, and the verdant walls of the courtyard create an illusion realm of mountains and streams amidst the bustling city. Standing in this hundred-square-yard garden, it’s as if one is in a dense mountain forest.

This is the private residence of Li Kongcheng of the third branch of the Li Family, a wedding gift from the Li and Zhao families when Li Kongcheng’s cultivation reached the Mountain-Overturning Realm, and he married Zhao Yan from the Zhao Family. At that time, it was worth over ten thousand Spirit Stones, and now, with real estate prices soaring in QingCyan City, its valuation is close to a hundred thousand, making it an unbelievably luxurious mansion. The price per area surpasses even the Li Family Mansion.

However, most of the time, this luxurious house remains vacant. Li Kongcheng almost never lives here—primarily because his wife, Zhao Yan, insists that the family should live together and strongly opposes him moving out alone. Without much say in the matter, Li Kongcheng can only feel stifled living in the mansion, eating cold meals in his bedroom.

Currently, this villa is being used by Li Kongcheng’s two children to host a tea party.

In the illusion realm of the villa, there’s a pavilion at the mountain’s peak, with a set of purple clay tea ware already laid out. Wisps of steam rise and swirl from the teapot’s spout, veiling the slightly nervous face of the young girl.

Li Chaolu sits upright at one end of the pavilion, looking at the misty clouds outside, feeling uneasy.

"Brother, I... I don’t look bad now, do I?"

Not far away, Li Xinyu smiles ingratiatingly, "Of course not, you look stunning!"

Aside from the naturally beautified image of his sister in her brother’s eyes, Li Chaolu indeed looks astonishingly beautiful at this moment. Though just thirteen, her youthful features have yet to mature, her tall figure paired with a magnificent, floral-embroidered dress, exuding an ethereal aura, highlighting the bright and lively aspects of her features to an extreme.

"Hmm." Li Chaolu feels slightly relieved by her brother’s assurance, thinking that despite this fatty’s shortcomings in other areas, he does have a decent sense of aesthetics...

"Alright, Wang Jiu will be here soon, so step back a bit, okay?"

Li Xinyu pulls a long face, "I already am hiding in the bushes!"

"No, it’s still too close." Li Chaolu wrinkles her little nose in serious contemplation, "I think I can still smell your odor."

"It doesn’t smell at all!" Li Xinyu protests, "Besides, it was me who sent the invitation. Wouldn’t it be weird if Wang Jiu arrives and doesn’t see me?"

Li Chaolu replies, "Then just have a momentary madness for a reasonable exit."

"..."

During the conversation, the wind chimes hanging on the pavilion’s red pillars begin to ring, and Li Chaolu quickly sits up straight, "Here they come."

Soon after, the clouds among the mountains part, and Wang Jiu appears riding on a red cloud, his figure dashing and elegant, causing Li Chaolu to stare in awe from afar.

Of course, all of these are just illusions in the courtyard, but in the eyes of an adolescent girl, it’s as if a genuinely Exiled Immortal had descended upon her.

However, as Wang Jiu’s silhouette becomes clearer, Li Chaolu notices the presence of someone who shouldn’t be there by his side.

"Is that... Li Qingming?! What is she doing here?"

Li Chaolu immediately glances sharply at her brother.

Li Xinyu quickly explains, "It’s not my fault. I only invited Wang Jiu and never mentioned Sister Qingming—oh right, remember to call her Shen Qingming later, she’s changed her surname."

"I don’t care what her name is! That shameless woman monopolizes Wang Jiu just because she’s Uncle’s daughter, it’s utterly disgraceful!"

However, as she speaks, Wang Jiu and Shen Qingming have already arrived beside the pavilion on the passenger-bearing red cloud.

Wang Jiu asks, "What was that about utterly disgraceful?"

Li Chaolu’s expression stiffens, lamenting inwardly that this totally deviates from the plan! According to the rehearsed scenario, she should have been sitting gracefully in the pavilion, and as Wang Jiu arrived on the red cloud, she should have risen to demonstrate her fairy-like perfect guest reception etiquette, leaving a good first impression on him.

But now the script has gone completely off track, and she can’t even begin to utter the lines she practiced.

In her awkward moment, Li Chaolu hears her brother’s secret communication, "Quickly invite him to sit down and pretend nothing happened."

Li Chaolu hastily puts on a smile, steering away from the previous topic, "Mr. Wang Jiu, welcome to our humble abode, please have a seat."

Wang Jiu, while accompanying Shen Qingming into the pavilion, says, "Hello, Li Chaolu, may I ask if Li Xinyu is not here?"

Initially immersed in the joy of Wang Jiu’s greeting, Li Chaolu suddenly feels awkward at the mention of her brother, "He, uhm, isn’t feeling well, so..."

Wang Jiu nods, "Oh, then I’ll come back another day." With that, he turns to leave with Shen Qingming.

Li Chaolu is entirely caught off guard by this turn of events, her mind goes blank, her eyes wide open, speechless.

Fortunately, Li Xinyu bursts out from the bushes just in time, sighing contentedly, while patting his big round belly, loudly saying, "Ah, my stomach was like a tempest just now, but now I’m much better... Wang Jiu, don’t rush off, I’m fine now!"

Li Chaolu’s eyes widen even further, watching her brother waddle out from the bushes, sighing with relief, this scene unbelievably enchanting, akin to a powerful magical blast that disorients one’s divine sense.

Meanwhile, alongside Wang Jiu, Shen Qingming glances at Li Xinyu, who is stroking his belly, then at the dense bushes he emerged from, her face immediately showing alarm and disgust as she retreats two steps, pulling Wang Jiu’s sleeve, "Let’s go, we need to leave!!"

Wang Jiu is puzzled, "Why? Didn’t Li Xinyu just arrive?"

"You!?" Shen Qingming continues to tug at his sleeve, wishing to tear it off entirely, rendering Wang Jiu into a one-sleeved Divine Sword.

However, the sleeve of Wang Jiu’s clothing, merely conjured through Illusion Sword Technique, has no substance, so naturally, Shen Qingming can’t pull it off, she can only watch him sit down with a bright smile and greet Li Xinyu.

On the other side, Li Chaolu watches with immense reluctance as her brother and Wang Jiu chat happily together in the pavilion. She puts away a stool into her small storage sack, only to see Li Xinyu nonchalantly pull out a folding stool from his own bag and sit down.

This tea party is nothing like expected! It was supposed to be a world for just her and Prince Cyan Cloud! Why are there now an obnoxious fatty and a shameless little witch here?!

In this strange atmosphere, the four of them eventually take their seats, with the tea party officially beginning.

Li Xinyu, all smiles, starts, "Brother Wang Jiu..."

But before finishing the sentence, he’s sharply stepped on under the table by his sister.

Then, Li Chaolu offers a sweet smile, and says, "I’ve long heard of Mr. Wang Jiu’s great name, today I’m truly honored to meet you, and have prepared some teas for you to taste."

Saying that, the young girl extends her slender hand, using her True Essence to conjure a gentle breeze to lift the teapot, pouring out a stream of golden tea.

But just as Li Chaolu pours one cup, she sees Shen Qingming look terrified, her small body slightly recoiling.

Li Chaolu immediately feels annoyed, what is that shameless little witch playing at?!

However, in the next moment, Li Chaolu notices the steaming golden tea in the cup seems somewhat glaring... Remembering the scene of Li Xinyu clutching his belly emerging from the bushes, she instantly realizes the reason behind Shen Qingming’s fear.

She then starts feeling a bit uncomfortable herself.

Meanwhile, Li Xinyu seemingly senses the awkwardness too and promptly tries to amend the situation, pulling a tray of pre-prepared refreshments from his storage sack.

"Don’t just mind the tea, try some of these special... sweet potato mash from Rice Fragrance Garden..."

By the end of his sentence, Li Xinyu sheepishly stares at the tray of brownish-red mash, unable to utter another word.

And looking at Li Chaolu’s fierce glare beside him, Li Xinyu knows if he can’t salvage the situation quickly, after the tea party, it would certainly be his end...