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墨書 Inktalez
The pavilions and towers resembled the dwelling places of the Ancients, devoid of steel and concrete, almost entirely made of wood.
Mu Xuanche drove to the end; it was a parking lot that could barely accommodate five cars.
While sitting in the car earlier, I hadn’t been idle. I noticed that the architectural structures here were not simple. Although I had studied some formations from ancient texts, related to the Five Elements, I found myself unable to see through what I observed from the car.
After Mu Xuanche parked the car, I stepped out and stood beside him, saying, “There’s something off about this place; it always gives me an uneasy feeling. Stay alert.”
Mu Xuanche nodded in acknowledgment.
“Hello everyone, my master has asked me to take you to the reception room. Please follow me,” a sudden voice startled me. Turning around, I saw a man in his fifties or sixties, dressed in a dark blue Tang suit, exuding a refined demeanor.
Shangguan Jinhong smiled and responded, “Every time we come here, it’s always Wei Butler who personally welcomes us. Xun Lao is thoughtful; it truly is a bother for you.”
Wei Butler smiled faintly and said, “There’s no choice; the terrain here is complicated. If I don’t come to guide you, you wouldn’t find your way.”
A sense of doubt arose within me. In such a large estate, there were no other stewards? From Shangguan Jinhong’s words, it seemed that this Wei Butler personally received guests every time. What could be the reason for that? A mere butler shouldn’t need to greet guests in person each time.
The owner of this estate was certainly not an ordinary person.
Such thoughts surged in my mind as we followed Wei Butler through the intricate terrain. There were many paths along the way, with too many forks to keep track of where we had walked each time.
At first, I forced myself to remember the routes we took, but as we walked further and further, I lost patience and eventually gave up trying to memorize them.
I was preparing to observe Wei Butler each time he walked along those paths, wondering if he followed any particular characteristics.
However, I still found no useful information; the flowers and plants along each road showed no patterns at all—everything was chaotic, completely disordered.
Frustration welled up inside me as I struggled to remember the routes and discern any order. Perhaps Mu Xuanche sensed my agitation; his hand, which was draped over my shoulder, gently patted me. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down.
I had no idea how long we had been walking, continuously traversing paths lined with greenery. At one point, I felt so nauseous that I nearly vomited.
Being in a place dominated by a single color for an extended period can be quite oppressive, and this was green—a cool tone that felt even more stifling.
As time passed, my numbness grew, and I lost nearly all sensory perception.
Several times, I gagged audibly, but Wei Butler didn’t even glance my way. He only looked at Mu Xuanche when he was channeling spiritual energy to help me feel better.
I keenly noticed this detail; he hadn’t paid attention to me before but chose to look at Mu Xuanche during that moment.
Was Wei Butler also someone who practiced cultivation?
I couldn’t believe it was mere coincidence; he couldn’t have just happened to notice Mu Xuanche. There was definitely something off about Wei Butler—whether or not he was a cultivator, he must have sensed the spiritual energy.
Mu Xuanche seemed to have picked up on this as well. We exchanged a knowing glance, understanding each other without words.
Shangguan Chenxi wasn’t faring much better than I was; in fact, her complexion looked worse than mine. Bai Qiling stood beside her, offering a gentlemanly hand whenever she stumbled unsteadily. It was undeniable that Bai Qiling played the role of a gentleman exceptionally well; it was clear to everyone that Shangguan Chenxi’s heart and mind were entirely focused on him.
Shangguan Jinhong appeared to be doing quite well, perhaps because she had been here more than once and had already adapted.
The path was nearly complete, and I finally saw the end. Honestly, if I had continued walking, I wasn't sure if I would have burst into tears; it was just too overwhelming.
A two-story building in a natural wood color appeared before us, with a couplet hanging at the entrance.
The first line read, "In front are the Ancients painting Heaven and Earth."
The second line stated, "Behind is the Intruder defining the firmament."
The horizontal inscription declared, "Life and Death Are Mine to Control."
I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about this couplet.
The six of us entered through the Carved Wooden Door one by one.
As soon as we stepped inside, we were greeted by an exceptionally large image, seemingly painted on a solid piece of wood—a Taiji Yin Yang Diagram—surrounded by no decorations.
Below it stood a pear wood table, half a meter high and one meter long, with nothing on either side. The living room had plenty of ordinary wooden stools on both sides, and in the center was a large round table.
The entire living room felt empty, devoid of any decorations.
Butler Wei asked us to take a seat on the stools and wait for a moment while he went to fetch the master.
In less than half a minute, a middle-aged man who looked to be no more than forty approached, with Butler Wei following behind him.
I had a suspicion in my heart: could this middle-aged man be Xun Lao?
Shangguan Jinhong approached enthusiastically and extended his hand, respectfully saying, "Xun Lao, I apologize for the disturbance."
The middle-aged man referred to as Xun Lao smiled lightly in response to Shangguan Jinhong, "Su Ze, no need to be polite. We have known each other for a long time, and you know I am always willing to help."
Shangguan Jinhong smiled humbly and then stepped back to pull Shangguan Chenxi forward, introducing her to Xun Lao. "Xun Lao, this is my daughter, Shangguan Chenxi. Chenxi, greet him."
The last part was directed at Shangguan Chenxi, who felt a bit awkward and hesitated to speak. The man her father called "Xun Lao" appeared younger than her own father, leaving her unsure of how to address him.
Xun Lao looked at Shangguan Chenxi with kind eyes and said to Shangguan Jinhong, "It's alright; she is still just a child. No need to be formal."
Then he turned to Shangguan Chenxi. "Chenxi, you probably don’t know what to call me. I may look quite young, but I am already seventy-eight this year. Just call me Grandpa Xun."
Upon hearing this, I looked at the so-called Xun Lao in disbelief. When I turned to see Mu Xuanche and Bai Qiling's expressions, I found them unusually calm.
Of course, these two had lived for hundreds or even thousands of years and had seen countless extraordinary things. To them, this was just an old man with a youthful face—nothing worth being overly surprised about.
Shangguan Chenxi was equally shocked but did not show it overtly; she obediently called out, "Grandpa Xun."
Xun Lao whispered something to Wei Butler, who then pulled out a jade hairpin from his pocket. Upon closer inspection, it seemed like there was water flowing within it.
Xun Lao took the hairpin from Wei Butler's hands and presented it to Shangguan Chenxi with a gentle tone. "Since it's your first visit, Grandpa doesn't have much to give you. This jadeite hairpin is a small gift for you as a token of our meeting. Jadeite can soothe the mind; I noticed your complexion doesn't seem quite right. Have you been troubled by something recently?"
I was taken aback; jadeite—what flowed within it was indeed jadeite.
This was truly extravagant... Jadeite is something rare and hard to come by. Many cultivators seek this precious material as it has significant effects on strengthening the soul; it is indeed a rare treasure.
Xun Lao casually presented a gift to a junior as a greeting, showcasing just how generous his family was. Moreover, he had noticed that Shangguan Chenxi had recently encountered some troubles... This person should not be underestimated.
Shangguan Jinhong appeared somewhat flustered and quickly declined before Shangguan Chenxi could speak, saying, "Xun Lao, this is too much. Such a precious item wouldn't be of any use to our Chenxi; we truly cannot accept it."
Xun Lao smiled and replied, "Oh, this is a gift for Chenxi, not for you. Why are you refusing? Just take it when Grandpa Xun gives it to you. Don't be like your father, worrying about whether you can accept it or not. If I give it to you, then you can accept it."
In the end, his insistence left little room for refusal. Even though Shangguan Chenxi wanted to heed his father's words, he had no choice but to accept the hairpin under the pressure of the situation.
I, Mu Xuanche, along with Bai Qiling, stood quietly by the side waiting for them to finish their conversation. I did not feel displeased at being overlooked; after all, this was someone else's gathering, and guests should follow the host's lead.
Shangguan Jinhong took Shangguan Chenxi aside to sit down.
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