Chapter 924: Contact

Li Sui paid no mind to why Xuan Pin’s voice was different from before. After all, 180 years had passed, so it was perfectly normal for her voice to have changed a bit.

Li Sui was excited to hear that the other person knew what had happened.

“Really? That’s great! Take me to Daliang now. I’ll wait for my father there. Oh, and my father needs dragon qi, a lot of it. We need to prepare plenty of dragon qi in advance so we can help him when the time comes.”

However, upon hearing this, Li Sui was surprised to see the other person shake their head. “No, you don’t need to come along.”

“Huh? Why not!? I want to go home!” Li Sui immediately grew anxious again.

She had finally reached this point, only for something to go wrong.

“You know too much, and your mind is not fully developed. Spreading this information in Daliang would disrupt karma. It’s safer for you to stay in Daqi.”

“I won’t tell anyone! My lips are sealed,” Li Sui repeatedly promised.

At that moment, Zuoqiu Yong walked over and rolled her eyes at Li Sui. “Tsk, tsk, tsk, you’re just a little child. What ‘lips are sealed’? You’ve practically told everyone you met along the way where you’re from. Don’t worry, I’ve had someone clean it up.”

“Just stay in Daqi. Follow Auntie well, and Auntie will teach you properly, lest you be like a blank sheet of paper, easily deceived by others.”

“But…”

“No ‘buts’. Consider it for your father’s sake. It’s decided. I’ll come pick you up in 180 years.” Xuan Pin’s body then vanished like smoke.

“Don’t even think about secretly running back here. If I catch you, you won’t like the consequences!”

Li Sui tightly pressed her lips together, tears welling in her eyes. Although what Xuan Pin said was true, she disliked the current Xuan Pin, who didn't trust her at all.

She spoke stiffly, showing no understanding.

“Come on, let’s go back. Anyway, there are still 180 years to wait. What’s the difference between you staying in Daqi or Daliang?” Zuoqiu Yong reached out and patted Li Sui’s head.

“From now on, I’ll raise you as my daughter. Since I have no children of my own, don’t despise me for being incomplete.”

Hearing this, Li Sui shook her head and wiped away her tears. “I don’t despise you. I know Auntie is a good person.”

“Take the carriage back. I still have things to do, so I won’t see you off. You know I’m the Supervisor of the Daqi Heavenly Watchers; I’m always busy.”

Watching the sullen Li Sui board the carriage and leave, Zuoqiu Yong remained standing in the bamboo grove, looking at the bamboo leaves, waiting for something.

When the sound of horse hooves completely faded, Zuoqiu Yong softly said, “Come out.”

As soon as she spoke, a wide red Daoist robe fell from the air. The person was none other than Xuan Pin, who had just vanished.

Xuan Pin extended a hand and removed the Daoist robe, revealing three people stacked on top of each other like a human ladder: two men and one woman. They appeared to be siblings. It turned out that the “Xuan Pin” from earlier was an impersonation.

The three quickly separated, knelt on one knee before Zuoqiu Yong, and clasped their hands. “Supervisor of the Heavenly Watchers!”

“How do you do your work? Do I really need to fill in for you on such a minor matter? Don't you have mouths? Do you not want your mouths anymore?”

Hearing the threat in Zuoqiu Yong’s words, cold sweat immediately broke out on the three’s foreheads. If they said the wrong thing, they might indeed lose their mouths.

“My lady, actually, your subordinate—”

“Enough, no more nonsense. Go back. Remember, this is the last time; there won’t be a next.” Zuoqiu Yong said, then turned and left.

Just as the three let out a sigh of relief, Zuoqiu Yong’s voice came from ahead. “Don’t discard that Daoist robe. If we need to use this little bastard without leaving a trace, that Xuan Pin ‘skin’ of yours will come in handy.”

“Yes, my lady! My brothers and I will always be ready!”

“It won’t be long now. Once I’ve extracted everything she knows, you can take her and refine her into a magical artifact.”

A look of delight immediately spread across the three’s faces. “Thank you, Supervisor of the Heavenly Watchers, for this reward!”

A spiritual treasure like Xinsu was incredibly rare and hard to come by, let alone a Xinsu evil spirit.

For a period afterward, Li Sui gradually settled into life in Daqi under Zuoqiu Yong’s care.

During this time, Li Sui noticed that Auntie was very curious about what had happened 180 years ago. Li Sui, having no defenses against an aunt who had always been kind to her, told her everything she knew.

She even tried hard to recall things she had long forgotten.

At first, Li Sui harbored resentment about being in Daqi, wondering if she would be closer to her father if she were in Daliang.

However, under Zuoqiu Yong’s meticulous care, Li Sui gradually adapted to life in Daqi.

Moreover, she felt Auntie was right: her father would visit Daqi many times, so whether she was in Daqi or Daliang, she would still be waiting for him.

One afternoon, Li Sui, hiding something in her hand, walked into the room with a smile. Zuoqiu Yong, who was doing needlework, rolled her eyes at her. “What are you up to?”

“Auntie, close your eyes.”

“What if I poke my hand with the needle if I close my eyes?” Zuoqiu Yong asked, raising her right hand with a thimble and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Oh, just close your eyes, please!”

Unable to resist Li Sui’s persistence, Zuoqiu Yong finally closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she found a clay figurine identical to herself in front of her.

“Auntie, I like you the most! You’re as good to me as my father is. You’re my family now too!” A delighted Li Sui affectionately threw herself into Zuoqiu Yong’s embrace, pressing the clay figurine into her hand.

“Oh, oh, the needle! You child.” Zuoqiu Yong somewhat flusteredly put her needlework aside.

“Don’t cling to me, it’s very hot. Are you hungry? There’s food prepared for you in the study. Go on.”

Hearing about food, Li Sui immediately let go of Zuoqiu Yong and ran towards the study.

“Run slower, and remember not to bother my ink monkey. It trembles when it sees you now.”

“Got it!”

Hearing Li Sui’s receding footsteps, Zuoqiu Yong, a faint smile on her face, continued with her needlework.

Just as she bit off the last thread, the three siblings knelt on one knee before her. “Supervisor of the Heavenly Watchers! We are ready to serve you at any time!”

The smile on Zuoqiu Yong’s face slowly faded. She seemed to realize with a slight delay, “Oh dear, look at my memory. I’ve asked almost everything. It’s time to clean up. The fewer people who know about this, the better.”

She picked up the clay figurine nearby, examining it carefully, a hint of hesitation appearing on her face.

“My lady?”

“Go,” Zuoqiu Yong said, casually tossing the clay figurine in her hand before them. “Give her a quick end.”

After the three left, tears flowed from Zuoqiu Yong’s eyes. She lovingly wiped them away and continued her needlework.

“Sigh... after so long, I really am a little reluctant.”