"Whew, Gale Steps has finally reached minor mastery."
Early morning, Lu Li withdrew from the Time Hall. After focused practice during this period, his Gale Steps had finally reached the minor mastery stage, over twenty zhang in one breath.
"Young master, you're up. I was just about to call you." On the gravel path by the lake, Xiao He came walking toward him, batting her eyes as she spoke to Lu Li.
"Mhm, I'm going out today." Lu Li nodded.
"Oh, when will you return, young master?"
"That's hard to say. I'm a cultivator, you don't need to worry about me. Just take care of yourself while I'm gone." For some reason, Lu Li felt quite fond of this Xiao He, perhaps because of her gentle and humble nature.
"Alright, young master. Shall we go have breakfast?" Xiao He raised her head to ask.
"Mhm."
The two arrived at the dining hall. At Lu Li's request, Xiao He also sat down to eat together. Lu Li ate heartily, occasionally making slurping sounds, while Xiao He kept her head bowed, not making a single sound, seeming somewhat restrained.
Lu Li shook his head but didn't speak.
After eating, Lu Li went directly to Li Chenghu's courtyard. To be honest, in terms of elegance, Li Chenghu's courtyard couldn't compare to Bihuyuan.
Li Chenghu was practicing fist techniques in the backyard, his movements stirring gusts of wind as he shifted and twisted. His robust body showed no sense of clumsiness. Suddenly, Li Chenghu's figure turned, changing direction as he whooshed toward the courtyard gate.
His fist shot straight for Lu Li's face.
Lu Li's brows slightly furrowed as he instantly sidestepped two feet to the right. Simultaneously, his right hand formed a fist as he turned and smashed it against Li Chenghu's wrist.
Bang!
Li Chenghu only felt a tremendous force strike his wrist, his arm directly knocked aside. He couldn't help looking shocked: "Little brother, you're impressive!"
Lu Li smiled slightly, "Far inferior to you, elder brother. I just took advantage of the situation."
"You brat, just like the strategist, all bookish manners." Li Chenghu shook his head, turned and walked back to the stone table, then instructed the maid beside him: "Get me a jug of wine, and brew some tea for my little brother here. Use the best tea, the kind the worldly emperor drinks."
"Yes!" The maid slightly bent at the waist before turning to leave.
Lu Li thought this Li Chenghu truly had a straightforward personality, walking over slowly to sit down: "Elder brother, I plan to go up the mountain today to lure out that Zhang Song. Do you think it's convenient?"
Li Chenghu was stunned, "Convenient! I've been so idle I'm practically growing moss, just waiting for you to give the word!"
Then he asked more gravely: "Qin little brother, do you really have a way to protect yourself? If not, we should still think of other methods. You entering the Daybreak Mountain Fortress alone is too dangerous."
Lu Li smiled, "Elder brother needn't worry. My plan has changed. Have someone go call over Chu elder brother. Let's discuss this again."
"Plan changed?" Li Chenghu's eyes shifted, standing up with a start as he roared toward the gate guard: "Little Third, go call that old man Chu over! This chief has business with him!"
"Yes, great chief!" The guard respectfully saluted before quickly turning to leave.
After quite a while, Chu Fankong finally slowly made his way over. Seeing Lu Li was also there, he glared at the guard: "Why didn't you say Qin little brother was here too?"
The guard cowered, saying: "G-great chief said he was the one looking for you."
"Hmph."
Chu Fankong snorted coldly before quickly walking toward Lu Li and the other, directly sitting down before saying to Lu Li: "Qin little brother, you were looking for me?"
"I have matters to discuss, so I troubled you, elder brother." Lu Li smiled in reply.
"Hehe, little brother is too polite. I thought this blockhead was looking for this old man to drink again. What is it, little brother?"
Lu Li no longer beat around the bush, stating directly: "I know a lecherous old man who wants to gain some benefits from Zhang Song, so he agreed to help me lure Zhang Song out..."
Lu Li roughly explained Wu De's situation and his own plan: have the two not let Wu De know of their existence, following from a distance. After Wu De leaves, the two would then regroup with Lu Li, avoiding Wu De's suspicions.
After hearing this, Li Chenghu and the other both wore strange expressions, thinking this kid could be so devious.
However, both also felt this was more secure. After all, better Fellow Daoist die than poor me. Even if Wu De failed, there would be no loss. So they unhesitatingly agreed.
After some plotting, Lu Li had the two prepare first. Later, when they saw him and Wu De go up the mountain, they would follow far behind.
After bidding the two farewell, Lu Li rushed nonstop to Earth Tiger Restaurant.
"Kid, you're serious about this, right?"
In the third-floor room, Wu De raised his head, eyes fixed intently on Lu Li, trying to see something from Lu Li's face.
Lu Li calmly said: "Of course. At this point, I won't hide it from you. I have enmity with this Zhang Song. You take your treasure, I just want his head!"
"You have enmity with him?" Wu De was rather surprised at this.
"Hehe, telling you is no issue. This Zhang Song has the nickname 'Heretic Daoist.' He once captured me to be a medicine slave. Several of my brothers died by his hand, so... you understand what I mean." Lu Li spoke half-truths.
"Such a thing!" Seeing Lu Li speak sincerely without seeming false, Wu De already believed seventy to eighty percent, thinking no wonder this kid was willing to risk it for two Meridian Nourishing Pills-there was enmity involved.
This was also good, then he wouldn't slack off.
Then Wu De righteously declared: "This old man is hearing for the first time that Zhang Song has such a past. So be it, this old man will help you eliminate this scum!"
After discussing further, the two left Earth Tiger Restaurant, heading toward the north of the town.
Seeing the two leave the town, a servant following from afar shifted his gaze, also turning to head toward the Earth Tiger Fortress courtyard direction.
The sky was still early, the two moving with great efficiency, soon reaching the halfway point up the branch mountain.
After Lu Li dispatched a primary Demon Beast with one punch, Wu De exclaimed in shock: "Kid, when did you reach the fifth stage?!"
He hadn't been probing Lu Li's cultivation level, this giving him quite a fright.
"Long since reached." Lu Li busied himself with the beast skin, casually saying.
"Is that so?" Wu De stared at the busy Lu Li, a glint flashing in his eyes, though hidden instantly, thinking once we deal with Zhang Song, this old man will incidentally deal with you too. I want to see what secrets you have.
After finishing handling things, the two set off again.
Deep in the night, midnight, the two finally crossed the main ridge, entering the branch mountain range on the Daybreak Town side.
In a valley about twenty-some li from Daybreak Town, Lu Li stopped, pretending to look around: "This place suits laying treasure. I'll stop here. The rest is up to you."
"Here?" Wu De frowned, "This place is still far from Daybreak Town. Can't we go further forward?"
"No!"
Lu Li sternly said, "If we're too close to Daybreak Town, if the opponent escapes wounded, we won't be able to stop him at all."
"Fine."
Wu De also stopped quibbling. After looking around to confirm he remembered the location, he flashed toward Daybreak Town.