Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 260 - 220: The Team Grows Stronger

January 2, 2018, noon

In the tea room of the Li Family Mansion, Lu Xin was as disheartened as a stray dog, or a drowned rat, or a defeated dog, and wearily instructed Shen Qingming about the precautions for the journey to Shen City.

"The decades-long grudge between the Shen Family and the Li Family has long since surpassed the issue between Li Fengyun and Shen Yue’e. So, don’t think that resolving the old misunderstandings can solve everything. The difficulties you face will be more than you expect."

Shen Qingming listened attentively and nodded, saying, "I know, but I have Ah Jiu with me, so I’m not afraid."

Lu Xin sighed, "...If you’re going to participate in the Shen City competition, having Mr. Wang Jiu by your side would ensure success, but since this trip is to reconcile conflicts, with Mr. Wang Jiu’s temperament, what help can he provide?"

Wang Jiu, listening nearby, had to defend himself, "Actually, I am very adept at resolving conflicts."

Shen Qingming frowned upon hearing this, "Adept at resolving conflicts? By forcibly controlling others to act cute?"

"That’s just one of my many techniques, and undeniably, it’s very effective."

The mother and daughter gritted their teeth but couldn’t refute.

Wang Jiu added, "Moreover, I once resolved the deep hatred between the Human Race and the Demon Race."

"...So you plan to apply this successful experience to Shen City?"

Wang Jiu said, "From my perspective, the conflict between Shen City and the Li Family is not rooted in a clash of interests but in a few stubborn individuals who happen to occupy key positions that influence the policies of Shen City. So as long as those individuals are eliminated, paving the way for reconciling the conflict won’t be difficult."

Lu Xin and Shen Qingming were stunned, "The few individuals you mean..."

Wang Jiu said, "Shen Ruoshi and his designated heir, for example. Get rid of them and support Shen Ziyu to rise to power, then Cyan Cloud City can consider forming a brotherly alliance with Shen City."

"Are you kidding!" Lu Xin instinctively rebutted but soon frowned herself, "But it does sort of make sense. If Shen Ruoshi is eliminated, the resistance from Shen City would indeed..."

Shen Qingming hurriedly said, "Don’t let this guy lead you astray! Back to the main topic, the main topic! Wang Jiu may not be good with social affairs, but his status is useful. He is recognized by the Holy Sect as a Primordial Ancestor."

Wang Jiu interrupted, "No, no, there’s no recognition from the Holy Sect. We are basically in a non-interference, mutually indifferent state."

Shen Qingming said, "So even if we declare the recognition, the Holy Sect won’t send anyone to refute it, right!"

Just as Wang Jiu was about to praise Shen Qingming’s cleverness, Lu Xin doused the excitement, "Shen Ruoshi wouldn’t care about the Holy Sect. Shen City has always had a cold relationship with the Holy Sect. Shen Ziyu, because of Shen Yue’e, fell out with Shen Ruoshi, and his first reaction was to throw himself into the Holy Sect. You should ponder their relationship."

Shen Qingming paused and then said, "Then say Wang Jiu is an enemy of the Holy Sect who once embarrassed the Holy Sect Immortal Envoy? So the enemy’s enemy is a friend..."

Lu Xin looked at Shen Qingming as if she were a foolish child, "...How can anyone feel assured letting you go to Shen City like this?"

In the midst of the awkwardness, suddenly an energetic voice came from outside the tea room.

"I’ll take her there, with me around it’ll be fine."

Lu Xin felt her head was about to explode hearing that voice.

"Li Wanqing... what are you stirring up now!?"

As she spoke, the tall Li Wanqing had already jumped into the tea room in two strides, bowing to Li Fengyun and Lu Xin, "Uncle, Sister Xin, and then... Little Sister Qingming!"

As she shouted, Li Wanqing was already trying to rush over to give Shen Qingming a bear hug, only to be unsurprisingly pushed away in dislike.

Li Wanqing didn’t mind and smiled, then stated her intention, "I want to go to Shen City too, and Little Sister Qingming just needs a companion who understands social nuances, so it’s perfect to travel together."

"You..." Lu Xin was somewhat uncertain.

Li Wanqing said, "Don’t hesitate, Sister Xin. Is there a more suitable choice than me for this? I’m of the same generation as Little Sister Qingming, so I won’t easily provoke others’ hostility as a younger peer; I’m powerful, taking second place in my first Cyan Cloud competition, my sheer strength is unrivaled among peers; I have a sweet appearance, playing a vital role in the Spirit Cat idol project, gaining countless fans in a short time; I understand social dynamics and am excellent at flirting with various women, stirring up trouble in Cyan Cloud City with grievances everywhere..."

"How dare you boast about the last point!" Shen Qingming was taken aback by her low standards, "And how is flirting with women considered understanding social dynamics?!"

Li Wanqing seriously retorted, "Ruling over women equates to ruling over half of humanity, and moreover, through women, I can control men."

"..."

Li Wanqing tried to provide an example, "For instance, if I were to fight Uncle, I’d be defeated instantly with no room for struggle, right? But if I can control Sister Xin, I could try to persuade her to poison Uncle with arsenic, thus winning without a fight. Even if Sister Xin is exposed and Uncle kills her instantly, he would surely be deeply affected, his Primordial Spirit shaken, revealing vulnerabilities in battle." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Lu Xin was absolutely indignant, "Li Wanqing, you’ve gone too far!"

Li Fengyun also listened displeased, "Being poisoned with mere arsenic wouldn’t harm me!"

Lu Xin stomped on Li Fengyun’s foot without turning back, and harshly rebuked, "If you can’t focus on the main point, just don’t speak!"

Li Wanqing laughed and said, "See, just one sentence can cause discord in a household with a Mountain-Overturning Realm expert. Little Sister Qingming is going to Shen City; my skills will definitely come in handy."

"..." Lu Xin wanted to rebuke her nonsense, but rationally speaking, he had to admire Li Wanqing’s skill in this regard.

However, Shen Qingming absolutely didn’t want to travel with this person. She immediately sought an excuse to refuse, "With the Qing Cloud Competition over, aren’t you going back to Yuqing Mountain?"

Li Wanqing said, "Sister Yuqing asked me to go to Shen City to buy a limited edition novel from a convention, so going to Shen City is just on the way."

"..." Shen Qingming gritted her teeth, "I don’t believe there can be such a coincidence!"

"Of course not, I was the one who paid to have the convention held by people in Shen City."

"You!"

Hearing this, Lu Xin couldn’t help but laugh, "Alright, with this kind of cleverness, it can really be useful. Alright, since you’re so serious, I’ll entrust Qingming to you."

Shen Qingming was shocked and discolored, "Hey, are you just selling me off like this?!"

"Actually, I didn’t want you to go to Shen City, so either stay in Qing Cloud City or take Li Wanqing with you."

——

Wang Jiu, Shen Qingming, and Li Wanqing; the diplomatic team from Qing Cloud City, took initial shape right in Li Fengyun’s tea room, and with that, came the busy diplomatic preparations. Thanks to this, the rare vacation that Lu Xin and Li Fengyun looked forward to was ruined, and from January 2, they began to work tirelessly, making full preparations for Shen Qingming.

That evening, when Lu Xin finally had some leisure time and was having evening tea with Li Fengyun, someone approached the tea room. Before the person arrived, they said, "Since you’re going to Shen City, why not take a few more people with you?"

Lu Xin was slightly surprised, "Sister Yan?"

The visitor was Zhao Yan, who entered the room and didn’t bother with much polite chit-chat before saying directly, "Sorry to intrude at this time, but since Qingming wants to go to Shen City, why not take a few more people? For diplomatic goodwill, more people are better."

"Take more people?"

"Yes, please bring Xinyu and Chaolu along as well."

"Them?! Why..."

Zhao Yan gave a wry smile, shook her head, then said, "Now Qingming and the others are going to Shen City under what pretext? To celebrate Shen Ruoshi’s birthday, right?"

"That’s right."

"Then here’s the problem, Li Family sending only two kids to celebrate the City Lord of Shen City’s birthday is too low a standard. Of course, Mr. Wang Jiu, being a Honored Guest Elder of the family, has a suitable status, but the accompanying team’s numbers are too few. Rather than a celebration, it looks more like a provocation."

Lu Xin was taken aback, promptly shaking his head, "Busy and confused, I almost forgot about this. Indeed, sending only three people for a birthday celebration, and even having a guest elder lead, is too disrespectful."

Zhao Yan said, "According to the information I’ve received, the team sent by the Zhao Family this time consists of over twenty Zhao Family members alone, not to mention the countless accompanying attendants... The relationship between Li Family and Shen Family isn’t as close as with the Zhao Family, so it’s impossible to send such a grand team, but at least the number of Li Family members shouldn’t be fewer than four."

"That’s indeed the case, thank you Sister Yan for the reminder, otherwise a mishap would have occurred."

Zhao Yan shook her head again, "Actually... it doesn’t exactly count as a mishap, the relationship between Li Family and Shen Family is too delicate. No matter how many people they send for the birthday, the atmosphere would still be awkward. I was also entrusted by someone, and couldn’t refuse to squeeze Xinyu and Chaolu in."

"Entrusted by someone?"

"Yes, that Chaolu kid, upon hearing that Mr. Wang Jiu was going to Shen City, pestered me to let him go along. And when Xinyu heard that Chaolu was going, he also..." Zhao Yan sighed helplessly, "Those two kids, before the Qing Cloud Competition, made a promise to me that if they could achieve a satisfactory result, I would grant them one request. Now, although their results were satisfactory, they did meet the agreed standard, and I can’t go back on my word to my own kids."

"...Shen City is risky, though."

Zhao Yan smiled, "Quite the opposite, it’s not. They are Li Family members, but also half Zhao Family members. Moreover, if anyone in Shen City wanted to harm those two kids, they would at least have to consider my presence."

——

Thus, the team setting out from Qing Cloud to Shen City ultimately consisted of Wang Jiu, Shen Qingming, Li Wanqing, Li Chaolu, and Li Xinyu.

Four people and a sword, before the weary New Year’s break had concluded, left Qing Cloud City and embarked on their journey to Shen City.

Meanwhile, in the distant Shen City, a massive vortex was rapidly brewing.

(End of Volume One: Qing Cloud)