Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 92 - 77: Meeting Through Portraits

Morning of August 19, 2017

Three young men appeared as servants, making their way to the entrance of Shen Garden in Green Willow Lane, East City District.

Li Li, Li Yuan, Li Peng, old friends of Shen Garden.

Li Li walked at the front, stood respectfully in front of Zao Hong Sect gate, and after knocking on the door slowly three times, said, "Miss, we are here."

After a while, Shen Qingming’s voice came from within.

"Come in."

Only then did the three cautiously push open the gate, seeing Shen Qingming just finishing her morning exercises, her whole body blending True Essence and Qi Blood, appearing vibrant and fiery.

The girl’s morning exercise evidently paid off well; although she was drenched in sweat, her smile was as radiant as a flower, and she was in a very pleasant mood.

Seeing these three old friends, Shen Qingming warmly greeted, "Come in and sit down, I’ll freshen up for a moment..."

The three servants acknowledged repeatedly, watching as the young lady cheerfully ran to bathe and change, before they headed to the reception hall of Shen Garden, standing straight and waiting quietly.

Before long, Shen Qingming returned from her shower, seeing the three standing like wooden stakes, couldn’t help but laugh, "Why are you all standing there like fools? It’s not like there aren’t any chairs inside."

Li Li awkwardly scratched his head, "Uh, we, um—"

Shen Qingming looked at them with a smile, "Are you still afraid of me? Hmm, afraid that I might retaliate for you forcing me to move back then?"

Li Li’s face turned somewhat pale at that moment, and his legs began to tremble, "Miss, we really didn’t mean to, it was under Madam’s orders, after all, you’re magnanimous..."

Shen Qingming laughed even harder, "You really are bad with words, even saying it was under Madam’s orders, you’re selling out your mistress!"

"Ah!" Hearing this, Li Li nearly had a heart attack.

"Besides, you guys, really... it’s been so long, am I that vindictive?!"

Li Li’s face was as white as paper, "Sorry, I was rambling again, Miss, you are the most generous and kind-hearted, never holding grudges."

Seeing that these guys were truly terrified, Shen Qingming stopped teasing them, straightened her expression, "Alright, no more jokes. You’re here to help me pack, right? Where’s Li Ping?"

Hearing Shen Qingming bring up business, the three felt slightly calmer, and Li Li replied in a low voice, "Yes, we came according to Madam’s instructions to help you pack, whatever needs moving or temporarily purchasing, just let us know. As for Brother Ping, Brother Ping, he’s..."

Li Peng instinctively added from behind, "Brother Ping is buried with work..."

Before he could finish, Shen Qingming couldn’t help but laugh, "Punished to run laps again? I was just wondering, how long has it been since I’ve seen him?"

"Uh..."

Shen Qingming gradually furrowed her brows, "I’m even beginning to doubt, is there really someone named Li Ping in the Li Family Mansion?"

Li Li laughed bitterly, "There is, there is, it’s just that Brother Ping made a mistake again the night before last, so..."

"Alright, alright." Shen Qingming waved her hand, "Come help me sort through the stuff in the warehouse, there’s quite a lot to take... Did you bring mustard seed bags?"

The moving trio was certainly prepared, nodding rapidly, and then followed Shen Qingming toward the warehouse.

Halfway there, the girl frowned again and asked, "Why are you three walking with shaky legs? Are you unwell?"

Li Li smiled bitterly, "Miss, we don’t know what’s happening either, we were fine on the way, but once inside this courtyard, we can’t help but recall many terrifying images."

Li Yuan added, "Based on available data, there’s a 75% chance that it’s the psychological impact from last time’s illusion technique array in Shen Garden."

Li Li said, "Miss hadn’t broken the Wind Barrier then, but that illusion technique sure left a stark impression..." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Shen Qingming said, "Actually, it wasn’t me; it was all designed and arranged by Wang Jiu... Speaking of which, where did he disappear to this time, when he clearly said he’d help pack today?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Wang Jiu’s voice came from behind.

"I went to hold an impromptu meeting with the head of the finance department."

Hearing the term finance department head, Shen Qingming instantly frowned, "Are you really going to use Zhang Zhixi? Is she reliable?"

"Very reliable, her Poverty Destiny capability is almost as strong as the Immortal Venerable Zhu Junsen. If left to her own devices, she’d likely live in debt, destitute, but as head of the finance department, her specialty is being perfectly exercised. Yesterday, she secured the first fund from Cyan Cloud Bank..."

Shen Qingming, losing interest, waved him off, "Alright, come help sort through the stuff."

Wang Jiu asked, "Are you really moving?"

Shen Qingming shrugged, "What else can I do? I already said so at the birthday banquet, and the elders have forgiven me, allowing me to return to the Li Family. If I keep staying here, it always feels a bit... like taking advantage of their favor."

As she spoke, the young girl was already directing the trio to simply organize the items in the warehouse. Then, she pointed out a few commonly used practice tools for the three to pack into bags.

Li Li couldn’t help but say while tidying up, "Miss, actually, all these things are available at the mansion, and they’re of better quality."

Shen Qingming paused for a moment, shaking her head with a smile, "Yes, after all, it’s the Li Family Mansion. How could they lack training items? But let’s pack them anyway; after all, I’m used to using these."

After finishing with the warehouse, the three of them went to the bedroom. Shen Qingming looked at the bed, dressing table, and desk that had accompanied her for several years, feeling a bit bewildered.

Li Li said from behind, "Miss, there’s no need to move this furniture, right? The mansion has already prepared your room, and it’s fully furnished."

"Yes, of course, it’s fully furnished, but... fine, let’s leave them here; I might come by occasionally anyway."

Shen Qingming didn’t have much luggage. Over the years, she had always lived a simple or even impoverished life, with no fuss over food, clothing, or shelter. As for the Li Family Mansion, they had already prepared all her daily necessities. The girl could leave empty-handed without any inconvenience.

After making a full circle within Shen Garden and packing everything up, Shen Qingming took a deep breath, giving one last look at Shen Garden, which had accompanied her through the toughest times, feeling increasingly bewildered.

Is she really just going to leave like this?

Amidst her confusion, a gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the branches and leaves of a few large trees. The girl couldn’t help but smile wryly, "Grandpa Tree, are you trying to keep me here, or hurry me along?"

After looking up, the girl sighed, "Honestly, I’m really reluctant. Although everything is nice at the mansion, for some reason, it always feels like this place is truly my home."

The three servants exchanged glances, not knowing what to say.

But Wang Jiu, thoughtful, nodded and said, "Very typical nostalgia, easy to understand."

Shen Qingming turned back to look at him.

Wang Jiu explained, "Most humans have this emotion, an unnecessary attachment to familiar things, and it takes a long time to gradually adapt."

Shen Qingming was somewhat surprised, "You actually understand human emotions?"

Wang Jiu said, "I’ve seen it a lot, so I know. During the Immortal Demon war, when the Demon Race occupied Yuezhou and Jing Province, people were forced to leave their homes and flee to places like Fengzhou. And even though the Myriad Immortals Alliance had already established very well-organized refugee camps in Fengzhou, the refugees still longed for their homelands for a long time. This is your typical nostalgia."

"No... that definitely isn’t nostalgia, and I’m not being forced to leave my home." Shen Qingming shook her head vigorously, rejecting Wang Jiu’s explanation.

"Oh, if it’s not forced, are you purely moving by choice?"

Shen Qingming really wanted to nod, but at the same time, she genuinely felt reluctant, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Wang Jiu said, "Since you’re unwilling, why are you moving?"

Shen Qingming sighed, "I told you before. The elders have been very lenient with me, I can’t overdo it," her tone full of reluctance.

"Well, since there’s objective need and subjective reluctance, why not use a substitute for the transition?"

"...What kind of joke is a substitute?!"

Wang Jiu said, "It’s simple, make a portrait of yourself, treat it as you, and move it back to the mansion.

"When has anyone ever used a substitute for this kind of thing?!"

Wang Jiu said, "You’re an idol, right? Idols can use substitutes for anything, that’s perfectly normal."

"I’ve never heard such a normal thing!"

"That must be because you haven’t seen the idol companies in Qing Province back in the day, where the substitutes for those idols showed up on stage more often than the idols themselves."

As he spoke, Wang Jiu, using astonishing speed, drew a black-and-white portrait of Shen Qingming, with cat ears and paws, exuding a powerful cuteness. He then magically framed the portrait in a copper frame and handed it to Li Li and the others.

"Take this portrait back as a substitute, and after Shen Qingming has gone through the psychological adjustment period, we can discuss the move again."

Li Li was dumbfounded, holding the black-and-white portrait in his hands, unable to keep up with Wang Jiu’s line of thinking, just feeling that if he actually took this thing back, he would surely end up like Brother Ping, wandering aimlessly outside Cyan Cloud City.

However, before he could snap out of his daze, suddenly a series of hurried footsteps approached from outside Shen Garden.

A servant from the mansion came running, gasping for breath, "Brother Li, and Miss, Madam wants you to return quickly. Master, he’s been seriously injured."

"What?!"