Chapter 1025: Chapter 1025
Chapter 1025: Chapter 1: She Is Smiling
April in the human realm, spring warms and flowers bloom.
Bai Lu drinks tea on the top floor of her family’s tea room.
She pushes open the window and looks down.
The warm wind sweeps through, along the surface of Ning River, gently stirring the spring willows throughout the city.
In the ancient city of Changye, willow fluff flies everywhere. It’s a good season, except for the frequent plum rains, and most pedestrians on the street carry an “oil-paper umbrella”—
These years, the speed of technological development is getting faster and faster. Some items liked by consumers are instead “retro” old models.
This oil-paper umbrella, which just started trending this year, may look shabby.
But in reality, using it is quite interesting.
Once opened, it offers several features that the owner can choose at will; the oil-paper can suddenly become transparent, or link with AI to automatically create an ink painting based on the size of the falling rain and the speed and intensity of the raindrops.
If the rain falls lightly, the image on the umbrella unfolds gradually, like ripples on a lake, rising and falling gently.
If the wind is harsh and the rain is fierce, one would see an image of torrents of rivers flowing vigorously in rich ink.
This morning, above Snow Forbidden City, the weather is rather “windless and sunny.”
By afternoon, dark clouds come rolling in.
The wind stirs the willow fluff, drifting it across the river.
In the streets and lanes, one after another opened “oil-paper umbrellas” appear, as sudden rains fall, splashing black-and-white ink paintings on the streets of this quaint little town.
“It’s quite a beautiful scene.”
Bai Lu says softly, “It’s just a bit quiet.”
She has been reading and studying in the ancestral hall for over a year.
Usually staying indoors, away from the happenings outside, these days her stillness has sparked a desire for movement… yet unexpectedly, Changye City is more peaceful than she has ever seen.
Since she was born, she has never seen such a tranquil scene.
After the Gu family reunion, the dispute between the old and new factions no longer continues, reducing the internal conflicts within the Jiangbei Council. That old man’s ironclad methods are clearing out the loyal remnants left by Gu Lushen… Meanwhile, the Gu Family Young Master is always busy, never seen.
Li Qingsui, that little girl, with Gao Tian’s support, has smoothly become the “temporary family head.” Because of her young age, the title of Li Family Master still needs the “temporary” prefix… Though now, taming the Elders of the Li Family means removing the “temporary” prefix is just a matter of time, at most three more years, this little girl will be one of the leaders controlling Changye’s Five Families.
The Gong and Mu families have reconciled.
Gong Zi and Mu Ya have successfully gotten engaged but aren’t in a hurry to hold a wedding, so these two families haven’t made any noise lately.
As for the Bai family…
There’s not much to say.
The ancestor becoming the “Battle God Throne” is the biggest event in nearly a century.
Yet the Bai family is the quietest among the Five Families, bar none.
The Bai family has always been Changye’s line of order, and since Mr. Bai Shu became the Divine Throne, the last crumbling frontier of the East Continent immediately became impregnable.
Though this is quite good.
But… with no fights, no conflicts, peacefully with only the wind-borne debris left, is Changye still the Changye she remembers?
Bai Lu sips her tea and sighs softly.
The annual newcomer battle has just ended, hoping for Changye to come alive, it seems they’ll have to wait another year.
She looks at the reflection in her teacup, unable to stop thinking.
Perhaps Changye is so quiet now, because… of the absence of one person?
The moment this name appears, Bai Lu shakes her head urgently, dismissing the absurd thought.
How could she have such a ridiculous notion?
This guy could lock himself up and meditate for an entire year without leaving.
Whether Changye is lively or not, what does it have to do with him?
Some people don’t need to leave the house, and they are the center of the world, with everything and everyone seemingly revolving around them.
Since Gu Shen went to the North Continent, the Five Families of the East Continent have kept a constant eye on the news over there. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI~Fire.net
The “maze mission” outside the northern frontier.
The “storm interception battle” at the Gu Castle Fortress.
And the “restart” of the Duolu River Disaster Realm!
Along with other trivial news… For instance the death of the Blessed Son, and the North Continent Royal Family and Light City’s breakup of the engagement…
During these days of idle tea-drinking, Bai Lu reads about what’s happening in the North Continent every day, and the fact is, ever since Gu Shen went to the North Continent, it began to bustle.
She can only admit, Gu Shen is a “magical” guy.
“Counting the days… Gu should be back, certainly not planning to truly be the Duke in the North Continent?”
Bai Lu looks out the window, feeling bored, counting the rain dripping from the eaves, suddenly a bit annoyed.
Why does this annoying person keep popping up in her mind?
It must be because Miss Chu at the bottom of Ning River is too beautiful, and she doesn’t get to see her often. Only when Gu Shen comes can she sneak a few more glances.
Muttering inwardly, Bai Lu’s eyes suddenly light up.
She sees a familiar figure in the small alley not far from the tea house.
Bai Lu slaps the tea table and flips herself down.
The latter hears the voice and runs without hesitation.
Yet Bai Lu was already prepared.
As she spoke, her spiritual power enveloped the Thorny Dreams and spread out…
Little Iron Man runs a few steps, seeing at the end of the narrow alley wall, suddenly blooming with huge black buds, immediately gives up struggling.
He knew he was dreaming, and could only turn back helplessly and say, “I say, grandaunt, you really have sharp eyes.”
In Changye, anyone who encountered Bai Lu would find her a headache.
“Why are you running for no reason? I’m not going to skin you alive.”
Bai Lu said irritably, “Besides, you’re now the ‘distinguished guest’ that my teacher specifically instructed to entertain well, do you still worry that I’ll bully you?”
This was also what frustrated Bai Lu the most recently.
After finally coming out of seclusion, the Changye Five Families were busy with their own trivial matters, Changye was uninteresting, so she could only find some fun for herself, and the first thing she thought of was sparring, but unfortunately, Shen Li’s status had changed.
Mr. Shan repeatedly stressed that no one should be disrespectful to Shen Li.
Although she didn’t know what had happened, most people could guess that Mr. Shan’s change in attitude came after the cemetery incident, presumably… it was because the “Netherworld King” left a message for the Grand Judge to deliberately look after Shen Li.
Thus, Bai Lu’s last bit of fun was also shattered.
She stood with her hands on her hips, back against the wall of the alley that was Shen Li’s only way out, smiling brightly, “Brother Shen, don’t worry, I just want to ask, when is Gu Shen coming back?”
In Changye City, Shen Li and Gu Shen were the most familiar with each other.
During the year of seclusion and meditation, even if Bai Lu read documents daily, she could also frequently hear clan members discussing as they passed by the ancestral hall.
Something about the Gu Family Spring Rain Temple being very lively.
Something about Gu Shen doing ironwork again today.
Putting it nicely, it’s called Gu Shen doing ironwork, putting it bluntly… it’s Shen Li getting beaten!
Their relationship was forged through punches and kicks, and the famous martial fanatic Shen Li throughout Changye had hardly issued any challenges to other Transcendents ever since the beatings at Gu Shen’s Spring Rain Temple…
Their relationship was truly solid.
Shen Li curled his lips and said, “I’m warning you, don’t get any ideas about Brother Gu; he and Miss Chu are a match made in heaven, you’ve got no chance.”
Bai Lu spat instinctively, angrily saying, “Who wants to get ideas about him? This lady has no interest in him!”
Shen Li suddenly understood, rubbed his chin, and seriously said, “I get it… Is it that Changye has been too quiet lately and you’re hoping Brother Gu comes back to stir things up?”
Bai Lu coughed softly, slightly nodding her head with some restraint.
“Ah, Miss Bai, so you’re just too bored, bored to tears.”
Shen Li pointed to the north and seriously suggested, “I heard there’s a big hole in the Tundra prison over there, and Changye is dispatching people. If you’re really bored, why not go patch the hole?”
Upon hearing this, a hint of anger appeared in Bai Lu’s phoenix eyes.
She raised her hand, and a small whip appeared instantly in her grasp, cracking loudly as it sliced through the air!
Seeing the whip, Shen Li changed his expression faster than turning a page, quickly bowing and saying, “Ahem, based on my ‘reliable information,’ Brother Gu landed in Changye today; he’s currently in the north, and I was just on my way to meet him.”
A source energy boat slowly descended.
The cabin door opened, the gangway dropped.
Inside this airship, there were only two people.
Aluer spoke softly, “Mr. Xiao Gu, ahead is a restricted area, so I can only take you this far.”
It was she who brought him on the trip there, and it is she again on the way back.
Being escorted by the Queen’s Apostle was the highest courtesy from the Northern Continent Central City.
Before leaving, Gu Shen bowed.
He sincerely said, “Thank you for the hospitality in the North Continent these days.”
Dust rose around the source energy boat, influenced by Aluer’s ability, condensing into ice.
The airship hovered, slowly departing.
The whole world became quiet.
Gu Shen stood alone on the desolate plain in Northern Changye, without carrying any luggage; the gifts from the generals of the North Continent before departure were all stored within the Pure Land Domain.
Looking at the city outline hidden within the dust and smoke in the distance, an indescribable complex feeling arose in Gu Shen’s heart… Although the trip to the North Continent was only for a few dozen days, seeing the Snow Forbidden City again gave him an illusion of “many years having passed.”
The Central City’s buildings were all floating and flying.
At this moment… the feeling of being firmly on the ground was truly reassuring.
He took two steps forward and was suddenly startled.
On top of the city wall, he saw Bai Chen.
Was this a welcoming gesture?
No… Bai Chen was responsible for monitoring the [Wind Eye], his presence here must be for business purposes, closely monitoring the Apostle Aluer’s every move upon arriving in Changye.
But as the strong wind blew through,
on the other side of the dust and smoke, several familiar figures appeared.
Gong Zi, Mu Ya, Mu Nan, Li Qingsui, Gao Tian, Shen Li, Bai Lu…
They were all his “old friends” from the Snow Forbidden City.
These people quietly stood at the city gate, each with a gentle smile on their faces.
Their waiting was unexpected for Gu Shen.
The news of him returning to Changye aboard Aluer’s airship… he hadn’t told anyone, intending to leave and return quietly without a trace.
Seeing this scene, Gu Shen couldn’t help but laugh.
These guys… He shook his head helplessly, though a bit puzzled inside.
He had done his secrecy work as flawlessly as possible, how did they know?
And in the next moment, Gu Shen understood why.
The dust and smoke completely dissipated.
He saw in the center of the crowd, a celestial maiden in red clothes with a black umbrella.
She was smiling at him.