"These are today’s talismans."
In the back mountain pavilion, He Fanshuang placed a stack of Cloud Patrol Realm talismans she had written on the table.
"Thanks."
Li Ang picked up the talismans and placed each sheet of talisman paper into the talisman plate. He had to fight the brown sludge every day and simply didn’t have the energy to write talismans. "Will you stay for lunch? Cui Qiao has made wontons."
"They’re almost ready!" In the kitchen, Chai Cuiqiao heard her na and called out crisply.
The wontons of Yu Country were actually similar to the dumplings from his Otherworld mories: large fillings, thick round skins, and ford into a ball. Li Ang wasn’t quite used to them. However, he still had Chai Chai make them according to his thod. This involved a pork and celery filling with square-shaped wrappers, boiled in hot water, and then served with seaweed, pickled mustard greens, and minced cilantro.
"Okay."
He Fanshuang didn’t refuse. Although she could be so engrossed in reading that she might eat plain, unfilled white cakes for an entire day, she still knew what tasted good and what didn’t. Of course, she would take advantage of a free al.
She glanced at his pale face and asked calmly, "Are the matters at Dongjun Tower exhausting?"
Li Ang couldn’t divulge his mission, so he responded vaguely, "Mm-hm."
He Fanshuang slightly raised her eyebrows. "Can’t be resolved in the short term?"
"For the ti being, yes."
Li Ang gave a wry smile. Even when using all his ans, including Mo Si and the Radiant Crossbow, he still couldn’t handle the brown sludge. He even had great difficulty breaking through its surface defenses.
He paused and asked, "What were you thinking about when you broke through to the Cloud Patrol Realm?"
Back when Jianquan Monk in Xingzhou wanted to create the Six Paths of Reincarnation on his own, Sui Yi and Li Ang tried to hold him back. anwhile, He Fanshuang raced on her sword to Wei State to find support.
"At that ti, it was urgent," He Fanshuang said calmly. "I just thought to make the sword light faster and faster. Then I broke through."
"I see."
Li Ang felt both envious and disappointed. He knew He Fanshuang was exceptionally talented, but he hadn’t expected her breakthrough to be so unobstructed.
He Fanshuang gave a faint smile. "The realm of Cloud Patrol involves ’patrol,’ which ans to travel, and ’cloud,’ which represents the qi of heaven, earth, and mountains.
"If you’re feeling troubled, perhaps you should go for a walk. It might lead to so insights."
Li Ang sighed. "Who has ti for that?"
He Fanshuang’s brows knitted slightly. "How long has it been since you’ve truly rested?"
"What do you an? I’ve been quite free lately."
Li Ang was sowhat perplexed. He had a long-term leave and didn’t need to attend classes. Every day, aside from making ti to go to Dongjun Tower, he stayed in the back mountain pavilion, contemplating solutions.
He Fanshuang said, "I’m talking about truly resting. Doing sothing for yourself."
"..."
Li Ang opened and closed his mouth. Indeed, it seed he hadn’t rested for a very long ti.
When did it start? During the academic exchange between countries? Or since the disaster in Chang’an City?
He was either busy compiling books and papers or teaching and lecturing at the Imperial dical Bureau. Even at ho, he was constantly at work, dividing his Heart Thought to explore the functions of Mo Si and refine his Telekinesis.
Seeing Li Ang frowning in thought, He Fanshuang said, "The realm of Cloud Patrol involves ’patrol,’ which ans to travel, and ’cloud,’ which represents the qi of heaven, earth, and mountains.
"If your mind is restless and stifled, perhaps you should go for a walk."
Going for a walk sounded simple, but when Li Ang actually stood outside the Academic Palace gates after lunch, he found himself unsure of where to go.
"Young Master Li?"
The coachman’s questioning voice rang out. Li Ang ca back to his senses and said with an apologetic smile, "Let’s head to Chang’an City first."
The wheels turned. Li Ang habitually pulled out a dozen or so Mind Needles from his sleeve. They were as thin as cow hair, and he placed them on his palm, ready to practice. Then, he rembered He Fanshuang’s words and forcibly held back, returning all the Mind Needles to the interlayer of his cloth armguard.
He rubbed his palms together, drew back the curtain, and looked out the window.
On the roadside, the evergreen leaves swayed in the wind, and the clear mountain spring flowed along the naturally ford ditches, its surface reflecting the fragnted afternoon sunlight.
He had traveled the road from Academic Palace Xia Mountain back to Chang’an for four years. This was only the second ti he had leisurely enjoyed the roadside scenery like this. The previous occasion was when he had just been admitted to the Academic Palace as the top scorer.
The carriage left Xia Mountain and descended the mountain roads. It entered the city gates and, upon Li Ang’s request, turned into Jude Square, stopping at Aunt Song’s doorstep.
"Risheng has arrived, huh."
You Xiao, who was sunbathing on a lounge chair in the courtyard, was delighted by Li Ang’s visit. She stood up with her maid’s assistance.
You Xiao was already several months pregnant and showing clear signs. "I’ll go call Shao Yuan out," she said.
"No need."
Song Shaoyuan walked out of the main hall, patted Li Ang on the shoulder, and smiled. "What’s this, coming to see your nephew? And not bringing any gifts."
"I ca in a hurry, forgot," Li Ang said with a wry smile. "I’ll make it up next ti."
"What’s the need for gifts among family? Don’t listen to his nonsense, Risheng."
You Xiao rolled her eyes and poked Song Shaoyuan under the ribs. "Besides, it might not even be a nephew."
"I misspoke," Song Shaoyuan said, realizing his slip-up. He added, "A daughter would be good. They say a daughter is like a parent’s warm comfort. Better than so rowdy boy."
Perhaps because they lived so close to the Emperor and were steeped in the affluence of Chang’an City, the troubleso children there were far more destructive than those in Yizhou City.
Chasing cats, teasing dogs, and setting off firecrackers in latrines were all routine operations. Even worse, so would go to the entrance of Pingkang Square. There, they would loudly broadcast false news, perhaps about a shrew from a certain household coming to catch a cheating spouse. They would then excitedly watch as people whose nas were called out fled in a panic.
You Xiao had the servants bring out fruits and tea and place them on the table. She then went back to the inner room, giving the two n space to talk alone.
"My mother and her friends went to Haotian Temple outside the city. They’ll be back this afternoon."
Song Shaoyuan sipped his tea, a smile in his eyes. "Why the sudden visit?"
Li Ang feigned annoyance. "What, can’t I co if there’s nothing up?"
"Of course, you can. You’re always welco. You coming by regularly might even help drive up the land values in Jude Square."
Song Shaoyuan then smiled and said, "From the look on your face, you have sothing on your mind?"
After all, having known each other since childhood, Song Shaoyuan could see the worry in Li Ang’s eyes.
"Sort of," Li Ang replied, not knowing how to explain.
Song Shaoyuan grabbed a handful of lon seeds. "Is it about cultivation?"
Li Ang nodded. "Yeah."
"Hmm..." Song Shaoyuan mused for a mont. "Regarding cultivation and talent, I’m not really in a position to teach you anything. However, you’re currently stuck at the Rain Listening Realm, right? That’s not too bad among your peers."
"But I’m still a few months behind Pei Jing and He Fanshuang."
Li Ang shook his head. He was now an Academic Palace Patrol. His peers, Pei Jing and He Fanshuang, had already been promoted to Cloud Patrol. Furthermore, Galuo had written in a letter so ti ago that she had reached the Innate Martial Artist realm, surpassing him.
As for that Bian Chenpei from Taihao Mountain, he reached the Cloud Patrol Realm long ago.
Being the weakest among the Academic Palace Patrols, he inevitably felt so pressure.
"I see."
Song Shaoyuan thought for a bit, then stood up to go inside, returning with a stack of envelopes.
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