Chapter 64: Qingxi and Qingxing
“Ouch.”
“What was that for?” Song Changsheng clutched his head, grimacing.
“Hmph, you brat, daring to lecture your grandpa now.” Song Xianming swung his arm and cast his line again, his face having returned to its usual calm.
“If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. Why hit me?” Song Changsheng muttered under his breath, still eyeing the jade pendant on Song Xianming's waist.
“Aren't you just curious about that matter with Falling Sunset City? Don't overthink it. What's meant to be, will be. The grudges of the older generation won't affect you.”
“That Niu Dazhuang looked like he wanted to eat me alive and you say it won't affect me?” Song Changsheng pouted.
A hint of anger appeared on Song Xianming's face, then vanished in an instant, replaced by a calm expression. “He's just a brute. You don't need to pay him any mind. He won't actually lay a hand on you.”
“But…” Song Changsheng wanted to ask more.
But Song Xianming simply waved his hand, and the array formation of the Cloud-reaching Hall instantly pushed him out. In the blink of an eye, Song Changsheng was already standing outside the hall.
“What is Grandpa hiding from me? Is it really related to that jade pendant?” He had only asked a probing question, and Song Xianming's reaction undoubtedly confirmed his suspicions.
Although his gossiping heart was exploding, there was nothing he could do if Song Xianming wouldn't speak. He could only wait for a day he could pry it open.
...
Returning to his courtyard, after spending only a few days with his mother, it was time to part ways again. Xia Yunxue had returned to the clan temporarily; Fourth Elder Song Luohuai was covering for her, so she couldn't delay any further.
She safely escorted Song Changsheng to Little Qing Mountain before returning to the clan's mortal world.
Looking at the familiar scenery, Song Changsheng felt a sense of familiarity.
“I wonder if that fish succeeded.” He thought of the spiritual fish that had asked him for tea leaves. Three years had passed in a flash. He wondered if it had ascended to second rank.
He also thought of the Mistveil Tea. It had shown signs of breakthrough back then. He wondered if it had now advanced to top-grade first rank.
And then there were Song Qingxi and Song Qingxing. He wondered how their cultivation was progressing.
Thinking of these, he couldn't help but quicken his pace, soon arriving at Mirror Lake. He paddled a small boat towards the island in the middle of the lake.
The island had not changed much since a few years ago. It was still the simple thatched cottage. The Spirit Gathering Array was still operating, and the few green plum trees swayed in the wind.
The only difference was that the spiritual field had become wider, and the spiritual plants grown there had become diverse.
At this moment, Song Qingxi, dressed in a long green dress, was diligently tending to the spiritual field. Song Qingxing, on the other hand, sat cross-legged beneath a green plum tree cultivating, an ancient longsword resting horizontally on his knees, its sharp edge exposed.
Song Qingxi uprooted several weeds and straightened up to wipe her sweat, her peripheral vision subtly glancing at Song Qingxing in the distance for who knew how many times.
Unexpectedly, this time, Song Qingxing suddenly opened his eyes, startling her. She quickly withdrew her gaze and pretended to calmly pull weeds.
She thought Song Qingxing had noticed her small movement, but after a moment, she felt something was wrong. How could she have been discovered when she was being so discreet?
She secretly raised her head to look and found that Song Qingxing was indeed not looking at her, but staring at the distant lake surface.
“What are you looking at so intently?” Song Qingxi followed his gaze and immediately saw a small boat approaching the island, with a familiar figure standing on it.
A look of surprise appeared in Song Qingxi's large eyes. She quickly ran to the shore, cupped her hands into a makeshift megaphone, and shouted, “Little Uncle-”
Song Changsheng's lips curved into a smile. He waved towards the island, then sped up his boat.
When he was less than a hundred meters from the shore, Song Qingxing suddenly moved. He rose to his feet and sword qi surged around the sword in his hand.
Song Changsheng lightly stomped his foot and the small boat stopped. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Song Qingxing with interest.
“Slash!”
A cold voice emerged from Song Qingxing's mouth and a streak of sword qi sliced across the lake surface, arriving in an instant.
This sword strike was swift and fierce, already showing considerable power.
Song Changsheng laughed heartily and stomped his foot again. A wall of water rose out of thin air before him. The sword light fell into it, only splashing a single wave.
His left hand moved slightly, and the water wall instantly transformed into a lifelike flood dragon, its wide mouth actually returning the sword light exactly as it was received.
A hint of surprise appeared in Song Qingxing's eyes. He unleashed another sword strike and the two streaks of sword qi collided in mid-air, swiftly dissipating into nothingness, with not a single wisp of spiritual energy overflowing. This demonstrated his superb control over his spiritual energy.
“Not bad, it seems you haven't wasted these past few years,” Song Changsheng praised loudly. He lightly tapped the bow of the boat with his toes and, like a soaring swallow spreading its wings, glided across nearly a hundred meters of the lake, lightly landing on the island.
Song Qingxing sheathed his longsword and coldly said, “How did you do that?”
Song Changsheng knew what he was referring to. He smiled and said, “It's merely a superficial application of water manipulation techniques, not worthy of grand display. As for you, your control over your spiritual energy is already not inferior to some late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.”
“How do I compare to you?”
“Still a little bit off.”
Song Qingxing's eyes flickered, but he didn't refute.
“What are you doing?” Song Qingxi was startled to see them drawing swords as soon as they met. She ran up to Song Qingxing and loudly questioned him.
“Testing how much of a gap there still is between us,” Song Qingxing replied indifferently. He thought for a moment and added, “I had it well under control; I wouldn't hurt him.”
“Even so, you shouldn't draw swords at Little Uncle! What's the second clan rule?” Song Qingxi didn't buy it, hands on her hips, she chided.
Song Qingxing was momentarily stunned. He genuinely didn't know what the clan rules stated.
“Ahem, the second clan rule: punishment for insubordination,” Song Changsheng "kindly" reminded him.
“Did you hear that? Hurry up and go face the wall in contemplation,” Song Qingxi said, wrinkling her small nose.
Song Qingxing nodded expressionlessly and actually went to face the wall, seemingly cultivating. Song Changsheng couldn't help but marvel.
This fellow truly had no temper in front of Qingxi. It seemed his move back then was quite wise.
“Our Xi'er is truly impressive,” Song Changsheng said with a smile, patting Song Qingxi's small head.
The young girl was already twelve, almost reaching Song Changsheng's chest in height.
A faint blush appeared on her small face. She hugged Song Changsheng's arm and playfully said, “Uncle teases Xi'er as soon as he returns.”
“Hahaha, I'm not teasing you. Are you two doing well here?” Song Changsheng said, sitting down at the stone table under the green plum tree.
“Very well! Twelfth Grandpa often tells Xi'er stories,” Song Qingxi said happily.
The Twelfth Grandpa she referred to was Fourth Elder Song Luohuai. He was usually responsible for guiding their cultivation and had not yet returned from the mortal world.
Neither of their cultivations had fallen behind. Song Qingxing, at fourteen years old this year was already at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, even a bit faster than Song Changsheng was at that age.
Qingxi, two years younger had a cultivation of the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, showing great progress, which made Song Changsheng very pleased.
“That's good to hear. Uncle brought you gifts.” Song Changsheng smiled slightly and took out two exquisitely packaged gift boxes…
(Chapter End)