Chapter 65: Preparations |
Xiao Jin froze, staring blankly at Lu Fengmian. It felt as though something had exploded violently inside his mind.
The First Disciple of Venerable Lingxuan.
The personal disciple of the Sect Master of the number one sect in the world.
Personally visiting the Xiao Family.
He did not dare imagine how much weight those words would carry when placed together.
Father Xiao also stood stunned, momentarily at a loss for words. Tear marks still lingered on Mother Xiao’s face, yet she had forgotten to wipe them away, simply staring blankly at Lu Fengmian.
Grandfather Xiao, seated in the place of honor, suddenly saw his clouded eyes brighten.
Supporting himself on the armrest, he slowly stood up.
“Young Master Lu, you mean…”
“Senior Xiao,” he said, “since I, your junior, have come to the Xiao Family, there is naturally no reason to let the Xiao Family be bullied.”
He glanced at Xiao Jin again.
“Since the Bai Family has sent an invitation, then let’s go. We’ll go openly and with dignity.”
For the rest of the day, the entire Xiao Family became lively.
Mother Xiao personally summoned several tailors and pulled Xiao Jin over to take his measurements. The tailors chattered as they recorded numbers, stretching measuring tapes back and forth across him, discussing fabrics and styles.
Xiao Jin was manipulated like a wooden puppet, not daring to move, allowing them to do as they pleased.
“This color is too plain—switch it to indigo.”
“Tighten the waist a bit more; the Young Master has grown thinner.”
“The collar must stand firm and sharp; it cannot droop.”
Mother Xiao directed them from the side, the earlier sorrow on her face long gone.
Father Xiao was not idle either. He personally went to the storeroom and rummaged through chests, pulling out several items from the bottom.
A pair of jade bi discs; their quality appeared decent, but upon closer inspection, a fine crack could be seen along the edge.
A box of spiritual tea; the box was exquisite, yet once opened, the spiritual energy within the leaves had nearly dissipated. It was still drinkable, but only the flavor remained.
Several bolts of brocade. They looked bright in color, yet were in fact old stock long stored at the bottom of the warehouse. The fabric quality was acceptable, but nothing rare.
Father Xiao laid these items on the table, examined them carefully, then nodded in satisfaction.
“This one, this one, and that one—wrap them all up,” he instructed the servants while organizing the gifts. “Make the packaging look impressive. The boxes must be large, the silk bright. Don’t let people see at a glance what’s inside.”
The servants immediately understood. They quickly found several large chests and packed the items inside.
Layer upon layer, they spread silk, placed an item, then another layer of silk, then another item… They successfully made these ordinary objects appear somewhat priceless.
Servants hurried in and out, their steps light and brisk.
“I heard Young Master Lu is going to accompany our Young Master!”
“That’s right! The First Disciple of the Sect Master of Lingyun Sect—how incredible!”
“Let’s see if the Bai Family can still be so arrogant now!”
The young maids who had stomped about in anger that morning were now walking with cheerful, buoyant steps.
After handling matters on Xiao Jin’s side, Mother Xiao remembered Lu Fengmian.
Leading the tailors toward the courtyard where he stayed, she pondered what style would suit his status.
Too plain would not do; too flamboyant would not do either. It had to be elegant and dignified, and also reflect the Xiao Family’s sincerity.
She had just reached the courtyard gate when she was gently stopped by Lu Fengmian, who wore a faint smile.
“I appreciate Madam Xiao’s kindness,” he said, “but since I am going as support, the most appropriate attire would naturally be the sect robes of Lingyun Sect.”
Mother Xiao immediately understood.
The robes of Lingyun Sect carried far more weight than any fabric the Xiao Family could provide.
They represented the authority of the number one sect in the world.
She nodded repeatedly, no longer insisting, and left in high spirits.
Xiao Jin was tormented by the tailors for a full hour before finally being released from the “ordeal” of measurements.
Standing in the courtyard, he lowered his head to look at the clothes that had been measured countless times, then lifted his gaze toward the courtyard where Lu Fengmian resided not far away.
His Senior Brother’s words from that morning still echoed in his mind.
The First Disciple of Venerable Lingxuan personally visiting the Xiao Family.
How magnificent those words sounded.
But thinking this far, Xiao Jin suddenly found he could not smile.
A thought struck him—
Senior Brother could not currently use spiritual power.
What if the Bai Family harbored ill intentions? What if someone provoked them? What if…
His expression changed. He turned and hurried toward Lu Fengmian’s courtyard.
The gate to the guest courtyard was slightly ajar.
As Xiao Jin approached, he heard Lu Fengmian’s voice from inside, calm and unhurried, as though speaking to someone.
“Yes, there was a minor issue with the teleportation. I was sent near Linzhou. Yes, my Junior Brother Xiao Jin’s home is here, so I stopped by to visit.”
A brief pause.
“Elder Meng has been quite concerned. Please inform the Sect Master that I am safe and will return in a few days.”
Another moment of silence, as if listening to the other party.
“Yes, I understand. Thank you for your concern, Elder Meng.”
Just as he tucked the jade talisman back into his sleeve, he looked up and saw Xiao Jin standing at the courtyard gate, hesitation written across his face.
“What is it?”
Xiao Jin walked in, pressing his lips together. “Senior Brother, your spiritual power…”
What he had wanted to ask was: Your spiritual power hasn’t recovered yet—are you really going to the Bai Family? What if something happens?
But looking at Lu Fengmian, the question felt unnecessary.
When had Senior Brother ever made a mistake?
“It’s nothing,” he changed his words. “I just wanted to see you.”
Lu Fengmian looked at him, the corners of his eyes curving slightly.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “Regarding the Bai Family, I know what I’m doing.”
Hearing that, Xiao Jin felt somewhat reassured.
Just as he turned to leave, Lu Fengmian’s voice stopped him.
“Wait.”
Xiao Jin turned back.
He saw Lu Fengmian reach into his sleeve. When he withdrew his hand, something rested in his palm.
A crystal stone containing a flowing galaxy lay quietly there. The surrounding air seemed faintly distorted by its power, as if unable to bear its weight.
He recognized it.
It was precisely this crystal that had lured him into the cave within the secret realm.
“Senior Brother, this…”
“It’s for you,” Lu Fengmian said.
Xiao Jin froze, then immediately waved his hands in refusal.
“No, no, Senior Brother, this is too precious. I can’t accept it.”
“Xiao Jin.” Lu Fengmian did not insist. Instead, he asked, “Do you know why your cultivation hasn’t progressed?”
Xiao Jin’s hand stiffened midair.
Why hadn’t his cultivation progressed?
He had asked himself that question countless times. From the Xiao Family to Lingyun Sect, he had cultivated desperately, yet ever since reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining, his cultivation had not advanced at all.
He did not know the answer.
Lu Fengmian looked at him and slowly spoke:
“Because you possess the Primordial Myriad Manifestations Meridians.”
Xiao Jin’s pupils contracted slightly.
He had heard that name before.
When he was young, his grandfather had once held him and pointed to a yellowed genealogy book, saying:
“Our Xiao Family once had a very renowned and powerful ancestor. That Old Ancestor was born with extraordinary meridians known as the ‘Primordial Myriad Manifestations Meridians.’ His cultivation advanced at astonishing speed. He was an existence of immense power.”
There had been a trace of nostalgia in Grandfather’s voice.
At the time, Xiao Jin had been young and ignorant, nodding blankly.
Later, after he had grown older, he had assumed it was merely a story Grandfather told to comfort him.
And now, Lu Fengmian was telling him it was real.
Xiao Jin found it difficult to believe. “You mean…”
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