Chapter 05 - Guos.h.i.+ Residence

No matter how complicated or entangled were other people's feelings, Jia Xiaoli was not interested.  According to the imperial decree sent by the palace, the day she is supposed to leave for the Guos.h.i.+ Residence as a disciple was drawing closer and closer.  Her mood was also getting better and better, day by day, as she busily made preparations for departure in her courtyard.

The most important things were naturally her precious pill-concocting cauldron, her black wooden table that was invincible to knives, guns, and fire and also the saw that was refined from black iron and the hammer that was studded with diamonds……..   She kept an eye on her maids as they packed up every item carefully.

As for her clothes and jewelry, she waved her hand and let the maids pack up for her so that her Mother, the w.a.n.gfei, would not worry.  The packing was done according to a list but later a lot more additional items were added to the list again.

On the day she left for the Guos.h.i.+ Residence, even before seeing the main gate of the Guos.h.i.+ Residence, the five big carriages of luggage she came with were all left outside the rim of the Snow Flower Forest that surrounds and stretches over a distance of 10-li* from the Residence.

(Li is an ancient measurement of distance and one li is approximately 500 meters.)

Although she was sent by General Ji Junior, Ji Nan, who had just returned after a victorious battle in the South, the old Housekeeper from the Guos.h.i.+ Residence who came to welcome her had a solemn appearance and spoke directly.   He clearly conveyed the message from the Guos.h.i.+  ~~ Those who come as disciples, once they enter the Guos.h.i.+ Residence, they have to obey the rules of the Guos.h.i.+.  All conventional items are not needed.

Ji Xiaoli was extremely reluctant to leave her precious things behind and repeatedly reminded Ji Nan and Ji Xi who sent her there to put back her precious things in their original places.  Ji Nan smiled and promised but Ji Xi was extremely worried by the Guos.h.i.+'s show of arrogance and reminded her.

"Ten days later will be your rest day.  I will come to pick you up early in the morning and no matter what happens, you have to endure.  Staying outside is not the same as when you are at home.  Don't cause trouble and try not to get into trouble.  If there is any problem, send a pigeon home with your letter.  No matter what, I will come immediately to be by your side.  Do you understand?"

Ji Xi said in a serious tone but Ji Xiaoli's heart had already flown into the Guos.h.i.+ Residence.  She offhandedly promised and cheerfully nodded.  Then she turned around and followed the old Housekeeper walking away without a trace of reluctance or care.

She rode on her little red horse and refused to sit inside the carriage.  The old Housekeeper could not do anything and had to saddle another horse to ride alongside her.

The Guos.h.i.+ Residence is truly an amazing place.  It is surrounded by 10-li of magical Snow Flower Forest and most of the plants there had turned into spirits.

All along the way, Xiaoli could hear their chatter and arguments as if there was no one present.

"Aiyo…….she really came!  She is really foolish and brave, ah……!"

"Yesterday, when Lord Guos.h.i.+ came back from the palace he was extremely angry.  It can be guessed that he is now sharpening his knives."

"Che!  Why should he sharpen his knives?!  With a sweep of our Lord Guos.h.i.+'s sleeve, she will die horribly with a smashed body and crushed bones!"

"Aiya…….if she dies, don't bury her in my place!  If I absorbed this foolish fertilizer, then it will take me more than a dozen years later to become a demon!"

As Ji Xiaoli listened……..it seems they were all talking about her.

The Guos.h.i.+ wants to kill her ? ? ! !

"That……"  She turned her head around and asked the solemn Housekeeper who was riding beside her.  "Can I ask you a question?"

The Housekeeper turned his face towards her and nodded politely.  "Yes, Miss…… please ask."

"Is the Guos.h.i.+ waiting in the Residence for me?"

"Yes."

"Is he waiting for me happily or is he waiting unhappily for me?"

She carefully tested the waters.

The Housekeeper's mouth twitched.  "This…….this small one is only a servant, therefore this small one does not dare to guess the feelings of the Lord."

Unable to pry any information from him, Ji Xiaoli blinked her sorrowful eyes.

Suddenly, not far away, a snow flower plant started to scream loudly and ecstatically.  "Aiya, she actually rode in on a horse!  Lord Guos.h.i.+ is really left without a choice!  She is going to step into Wu Qiong Formation*!   Hurry, everyone look!"

"That……."  Ji Xiaoli asked with fear.  "Can I ask you one more question?"

"Yes, Miss…….please ask."

"Is the Wu Qiong Formation* in front?"

(Formation is an illusory trap set up by casting a spell to prevent people from advancing into an area.)

The Housekeeper was so shocked that he swayed on his horse.  Riding behind the girl, he had an expression of panic on his old face.  "Miss……how do you know about Wu Qiong Formation?"

In fact, at this very moment, they had stepped into the Wu Qiong Formation.

The Wu Qiong Formation is the first of countless big and small formations set up all along the way to the Guos.h.i.+ Residence.  If there is no one to guide or if one does not know the technique of breaking through the formations, one would be trap forever in the formations and never be able to leave the 10-li Snow Forest.

Usually, when visitors come to the Guos.h.i.+ Residence, the Housekeeper would receive the visitors and take them to the Residence in his carriage.  So naturally, he would not have any problem.  But today, before he came, the young Guos.h.i.+ with his icy mask had told him……..if that 'Ten-year Tao Li' is not willing to ride the carriage…….then let her be.'

All the way, the Housekeeper was mulling over the instructions of Lord Guos.h.i.+.  So it was because of this little girl…….she knows the technique of breaking through the formations!

The little girl, who possessed the skill in breaking out of the formations, was shaking her head honestly.

She pointed at the snow flower trees at the side and said honestly.  "It's what they said."

The Housekeeper was so shocked again that he nearly fell off his horse.

"They said that Lord Guos.h.i.+ is very angry…….why is Lord Guos.h.i.+ angry?  Is he jealous of my root of wisdom?"

She has been thinking hard for a long time.  She and the Guos.h.i.+ did not have any grievances in the past or present and the only connection was the clear vision of the former Guos.h.i.+.  Therefore, the reason Lord Guos.h.i.+ felt unhappy was that even though he had worked hard, he was still unable to attain spirituality and she had so quickly achieved the status of a Fairy due to her talent, so now he hates her and is envious of her.

This time, the Housekeeper really fell off his horse!

When the Housekeeper fell off the horse, he sprained his old waist and with a twisted expression, he climbed up into the carriage.  Xiaoli was worried and kindheartedly took care of him.  She sat in the carriage and safely pa.s.sed through the Wu Qiong Formation.

As soon as they entered the Residence, the Housekeeper was taken away.  Ji Xiaoli was led to the main hall by a round-faced young boy and the distinguished and unrivaled Lord Guos.h.i.+ of Ye Kingdom was waiting for her there.

She had once been to this place when she was a child.  She still remembered the two big hundred-year-old stone lions outside the gate were very silent and the big trees lining both sides of the path leading to the main hall were endless.  But after a decade, why has the place become so quiet now?

As Ji Xiaoli entered following behind the servant, she felt a slight chill on her back.

About ten paces away from the main hall, Wan Qian Hall, the boy halted his footsteps and bowed respectfully to Ji Xiaoli before telling her to go in alone.

Xiaoli gulped and with one hand pressed on the precious sachet that was tied to her waist, she entered cautiously.

The huge hall with high ceiling beams was stone-silent without the tiniest bit sound.  Only the rustling sounds of her footsteps could be heard and it made her break out in gooseb.u.mps.

"Guo………Lord Guos.h.i.+………."  She gathered courage and called out loudly.

Chen Yubai was actually standing beside the window of the pavilion, waiting for her dog eyes to turn around to notice him.  When he heard her voice that was as loud as thunder, his mouth twitched with annoyance.  Unhappily, he swung his sleeve lightly and raised a wind that blew over the girl, who was bent at the waist, causing her to s.h.i.+ver.

Ji Xiaoli who was on guard suddenly felt a strong sinister wind blow fell on her.  Before she landed on her back, she decisively flicked out a thunderbolt pellet that she was holding in her hand.

The red pellet hit the ground and rolled with m.u.f.fled sounds but it did not explode which was normal.  She had prepared ten pellets out of which seven pellets were dummies.  The remaining three pellets had limited lethality.

However, the dummy pellets also had power  ~~ thick red smoke emitted from the pellet and quickly filled up the hall.

Ji Xiaoli flipped over and fled as soon as she had thrown out the pellet.  She rolled then crawled out of the hall and sat on the ground.

With a hand placed on her chest, she gasped heavily for air.  Suddenly, her vision blurred and a black figure flashed past.  It possessed the most powerful demonic violent murderous air she had ever seen before and it stopped 10 paces away from her.

This is the second meeting between Chen Yubai and Ji Xiaoli.

Today his mood is terrible.  Yesterday, he was forced to accept this ghoulish disciple by the pleasant Emperor in the palace.  He knew it was his destiny and was prepared to face it, but this time, it was even more unbearable than what happened 10 years ago.  Even before they were to meet face to face, he was already forced out of Wan Qian Hall while holding his breath!

The usually quiet and silent Wan Qian Hall was clouded with red mist and the normally slow-moving Lord Guos.h.i.+ had flown out of the door.  The servants guarding outside the door were shocked and everyone had an expression that said 'witness this and die by evening' as they looked at the scene in front of them.

The black ice silk robe that even the moonlight did not dare to touch, fluttered on its own will without any wind.  An icy murderous tone that seemed to rose

from the nine levels of h.e.l.l rang out.

"Ji……Xiao……Li ! ! "

The girl, whose name was called, raised her head and saw the approaching black figure. The killing aura of the figure made her little face hurt and to protect her life, the little girl was forced to take out another pellet and flicked it right into his face.

Chen Yubai naturally would not let her succeed the second time and with a sweep of his sleeve, he did not hesitate to change the direction of the pellet that was streaming with a tail of red smoke.  The pellet was swept into the crown of the thousand-year-old eucalyptus spirited tree that was watching the lively commotion at the side.

When the pitiful screams of panic from the thousand-year-old eucalyptus tree spirit reached the ears of Ji Xiaoli, the black figure with a murderous aura was already in front of her.  The black icy cold silk was already touching her neck and she was terrified.  Since she was unable to retreat, she gritted her teeth and used all her strength to push forward.

As a result, the girl's bright forehead knocked into the chin of the approaching figure.

A low moan sounded from the n.o.ble Guos.h.i.+ of the Great Ye Kingdom who was like the bright moon……..stiffening his unrivaled handsome face, he staggered three steps back.

The servants who were watching with interest at the side, at this moment became so frightened that they all plonked down on the ground and knelt.

Only Ji Xiaoli did not know what was happening and stood at the same spot with teary eyes as she held her forehead.

It was only now that she was able to see the person in front of her clearly.

The person who was rumored to be a Zhe Xian and an honored n.o.bleman is actually a young man!  At this moment, his black robe was a bit messy but his robe was fluttering elegantly without any wind just like a fairy.  And he…….Ji Xiaoli looked up at his face and her eyes involuntarily widened……he is so beautiful !.! !

The four Young Masters of the Ji Family are all handsome men but the young man in front of her in a black robe, with black hair, deep black eyes which complemented his ivory skin is very similar to her favorite white jade axe!

He is really beautiful!  The slight swelling on his chin and the light bloodstains at the corner on his mouth are her favorite colors for concocting her pills!

"Lord ……..Guos.h.i.+?"  The 15-year-old girl had a happy expression.  "I hope you are doing well, Lord Guos.h.i.+ !"  Following the teachings of her family, she greeted him and on seeing that his mood was not too good, she complimented him.  " Lord Guos.h.i.+ looks very handsome!"

All the servants knelt on the ground with their faces silently glued to the ground and everyone started to tremble.

Chen Yubai's robes were fluttering furiously in the fierce wind stirred up by his extreme anger.  He tightened his lips and looked at her foolish face as his heart was entangled in a fierce struggle.

Her life is closely related to him and her destiny cannot be changed.  He is unable to kill her with his own hands as it will incur the wrath of Heaven.  But……but now……in this situation, is this any better than incurring the wrath of Heaven?

Swallowing down the b.l.o.o.d.y foam in his mouth, Chen Yubai tried to calm down.

His speech was a little stiff when he spoke which was due to the pain he felt on his tongue after she knocked into him.

"Take……her……away!"

The servants who were trembling in fear like falling leaves in the wind quickly stood up and dragged away Ji Xiaoli who was still in a dreamy state.

In an instant, Wan Qian Hall returned to silence but the hall was still full of smoke with a lingering strange and pungent smell.  Half the trunk of the green eucalyptus tree standing outside the hall was stained with red color and the tree crown was drooping like a canopy.

Lord Guos.h.i.+ who had always looked elegant like the bright moon in all of his 20 years, stood in the middle of the mess with his dressing in a disorderly state.  His jaded handsome face which was usually cold and expressionless and admired by thousands of n.o.ble ladies revealed intense anger that was rising like thousands of furiously galloping horses.