Chapter 478: Chapter 470: Yu Linglan

Mourning for the spring or grieving for the autumn is not something Qin Liuxi likes to do. She doesn’t bother to think about things she doesn’t understand. After a round of complaints, she goes on to do whatever needs to be done, come what may. As for next year, if prices really do rise, well, she’ll have no choice but to ‘rob from the rich to give to the poor.’

This makes perfect sense!

Temple Master Feng also thinks this way deep down. The precious medicines at Changsheng Hall will have to increase in price, there’s no helping it, following the trend of heartless wealth, that’s the basic principle of being a Big Demon.

The two exchanged a glance, revealing a sly smile that suggested they were in cahoots.

Soon, Qingping Temple posted a notice for temporary closure for renovations, then gathered the people, prepared the materials, and started construction, replacing old tiles with a golden roof and carving auspicious beasts.

Qin Liuxi didn’t concern herself with the management. After laying the foundation in the Scripture House with Master Chi Yuan and setting an Array at its base, she spent her days at Feichang Dao’s shop tutoring disciples and slacking off, studying the fragmented Trapped Immortal Array Map. Whenever she couldn’t make heads or tails of it, she would write a note, fold it into a Paper Crane, and send it to Yu Changkong using magic.

With hidden families like the Yu Family, who knew what other Collections or Array Maps they might have? If she could find them, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look.

Of course, her letter wasn’t just about that. Qin Liuxi also mentioned that Qingping Temple was building the Scripture House, not only for book storage but also as an observatory. It couldn’t be built for nothing, so she asked Yu Changkong to copy some of his cherished books to serve as the foundation, especially those concerning the Mystic Sect and Qimen Dunjia.

Not only did she send letters to Yu Changkong asking for books, but she also sent them to Jiang Wenliu and Yan Qishan and even had Teng Zhao send one to his father. In essence, she sent ‘greeting and congratulations’ to every useful contact she had, while expressing her zeal for learning and lamenting the lack of scholarly books, shamelessly asking for them.

Temple Master Feng teased her, saying that she was already asking for books even though the Scripture House hadn’t been built yet. It was indeed hard work being a Junior Temple Master.

Qin Liuxi replied, “Spending a large sum of money to build a structure without any standout books, what if other Daoist Temples come to challenge us and we become a laughing stock? Books have always been pivotal in the transmission of culture and civilization. With them, those who come after can learn knowledge and skills. And to develop Qingping Temple, it’s not enough to just attract people—one must also have real abilities to hold up the facade. Unlike you, who only knows how to preen and posture.”

Temple Master Feng retorted angrily, “Me, preening? I’m the most handsome man in the world!”

Qin Liuxi chuckled, “Handsome man that stole two jars of my wine, we haven’t settled that account yet. Come on, let’s go up the mountain.”

Temple Master Feng protested, “One of those jars, you drank from it too!”

“It was you who forced me, with the seal already broken, it would’ve been rude to refuse!”

Temple Master Feng: “?”

I must say, your shamelessness seems to have improved again!

Qin Liuxi didn’t mind him. She took him up the high mountain to do the hard work of finding precious Spirit Fruits and medicinal ingredients for brewing, and gathered the cleanest snow from the peak to bury a few jars of snow water for future needs.

This year, Qin Liuxi also brewed five jars of ginseng wine, the main ingredient naturally being the root of the Little Ginseng Spirit, which left the Little Ginseng Spirit so distraught that it hid underground, not daring to show its face, fearing that it would be plucked bald, especially since some little evil spirit could be quite ruthless.

Qin Liuxi’s days appeared mundane, but only Chen Pi and the others knew that she was busier than in past years.

Yu Clan.

Yu Changkong sat cross-legged on the couch, completing a Grand Circulation, when he suddenly twitched his ears, hearing something flapping. Turning his head, there indeed was a small yellow crane flapping at the window.

His eyes brightened, and he swiftly walked over, opened the window, and reached out his hand. The little crane landed on his palm, pecked at the center of his hand, and then stopped moving, transforming into a genuine Paper Crane.

Yu Changkong closed the window, first petted the Paper Crane, then unfolded it, and a letter appeared before his eyes.

Changkong, consider this letter as meeting in person…

Yu Changkong read the letter twice, as if he could see Qin Liuxi writing it, a slight smile curving the corners of his lips.

“Sifang.”

Sifang quickly entered from outside, “Young Master, did you call for me?”

“Bring water, I’m going to the Book Collection Pavilion.”

Sifang responded promptly, swiftly fetching water to assist him with his washing and changing into a fresh set of clothes.

Yu Changkong led him towards the Book Collection Pavilion, but unexpectedly, they encountered Yu Linglan there again.

“Big brother.” Yu Linglan was dressed in a crescent white robe with a dark red cloak, his appearance handsome and his expression gentle and soft, the epitome of warmth and refinement.

“Second brother.”

Yu Linglan said, “Big brother, you have come to the Book Collection Pavilion again?”

Yu Changkong appeared indifferent, merely grunting in response.

As he walked inside, Yu Linglan followed and said, “Big brother, after next year’s Imperial Examination coincides with the Longevity Festival, Shengjing must be bustling. I have already obeyed Grandfather’s command, preparing to go to Shengjing to witness the grandeur of Da Feng’s multitude of talents.”

Yu Changkong paused slightly in his steps.

What these words implied was also that the current generation of the Yu Family’s children were ready to come forth.

Coming forth didn’t mean participating in the Imperial Examination to compete with others for rankings and titles, but instead to seek out the Monarch they recognized, to aid him and achieve great accomplishments.

In other words, Da Feng was about to designate the Crown Prince.

This was also conjectured by the Yu Family themselves. The Emperor at fifty years old should have already established a Crown Prince; its absence dealt a blow to the nation’s foundations. Once the Longevity Festival passed, the calls for establishing the Crown Prince within the court would grow louder, and the struggles between various forces would become even more intense.

The Yu Family planned to take this opportunity to vie for the position of Emperor’s advisor.

Yu Changkong slightly turned his head and said, “Then I wish my second brother a smooth journey!”

Yu Linglan smiled, responding, “I prefer the blessing of achieving great successes.”

Yu Changkong did not continue the conversation and was about to leave when Yu Linglan added, “Big brother, your eyes have already recovered, haven’t they?”

Yu Changkong was startled inwardly, but his pace did not stop, and he proceeded into the Book Collection Pavilion.

“I’ll wait for big brother in Shengjing.”

From outside the pavilion, Yu Linglan’s voice drifted in.

Sifang looked worriedly at Yu Changkong, “Young master?”

Yu Changkong raised his hand, ascended to the second floor, and stood before the window lattice, his gaze becoming focused as he looked down.

Yu Linglan was leaving the Book Collection Pavilion. He seemed to sense something and turned around, looking in Yu Changkong’s direction. His lips curved into a smile as he mouthed the words, “I’ll wait for you.”

His smile appeared somewhat triumphant and even a little wicked.

Yu Changkong watched intently, finally noticing the aura around Yu Linglan; it was red like blood, as if shrouded in a cloud of blood mist, obscuring his figure, making him unclear and inscrutable!

Suddenly, his eyes felt a stabbing pain.

Yu Changkong immediately closed his eyes, took a moment to recover, and upon opening them, Yu Linglan had vanished.

“Young master, are you alright?” Seeing Yu Changkong’s complexion looked somewhat unwell, Sifang anxiously said, “Your face looks a bit pale.”

“It’s nothing.” Yu Changkong pressed on his chest where he felt a palpitation and said, “You don’t need to attend to me here. Go find Uncle Qian and have him come to see me tonight.”

Sifang withdrew.

Yu Changkong, supporting himself on the window lattice, gazed towards the direction where Yu Linglan had disappeared, his eyes becoming distant as he murmured his name, “Yu Linglan, what will you turn this world into?”