Chapter 280: Chapter 180: Expelling Misfortune

The sounds of battle carried on the wind.

Along with the heavy stench of blood.

Lü Zhong’s brow furrowed. He realized something major was happening in the port district; the chaos outside explained why the Law Enforcement Team had yet to appear. Given his severe injuries, he couldn’t be bothered with the goods in Lintao Pavilion. He ordered the Spirit Puppet to carry him toward the Grand Array in the backyard.

Before entering, he didn’t forget to slap several Cleaning Talismans on himself.

Lady Butterfly’s wings could shed a deadly poison dust.

Lü Zhong was protected by the Golden Sun Insect Fire and had no fear of the poison dust, but the two women inside were another matter. Yu Feng’er was a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, so she would be somewhat better off. Li Hejun, however, was only a mortal, her constitution worlds apart from a cultivator’s. If she were exposed, even if she didn’t turn into a living corpse on the spot, she would fall gravely ill and have to take a trip to the Ghost Gate and back.

Still uneasy, he scanned himself several more times with his Divine Sense before finally entering the array.

A fragrant breeze washed over him the moment he entered.

Li Hejun and Yu Feng’er rushed forward, their faces etched with worry. Seeing Lü Zhong so weak he had to be carried in by a Spirit Puppet—something that had never happened before—pained expressions appeared on both their faces.

"Fellow Daoist Lü, why didn’t you let me out? I’m also at the Foundation Establishment stage! I could have helped!" As a cultivator, Yu Feng’er could tell that Lü Zhong’s face was abnormally pale. It was clear his Divine Soul had suffered significant trauma during the battle; otherwise, he wouldn’t look this way.

"*Cough, cough.* You’re a Literary Cultivator. Against Lady Butterfly, I’m afraid you wouldn’t have lasted even half a move," Lü Zhong stated bluntly.

Unlike a member of the Martial Combat Sect like himself, Yu Feng’er typically relied on managing her Commerce Association to earn resources for her cultivation. Her combat prowess was, to put it mildly, abysmal. Cultivators like her were also known as the "Cultivation of Literature Sect."

In truth, the majority of cultivators in the Cultivation Realm were such Literary Cultivators.

This was true for Loose Cultivators, clans, and Sects alike.

This was especially true for the latter two, who had vast enterprises to manage. Disciples who specialized only in killing were clearly unqualified for such tasks, forcing them to rely on Literary Cultivators.

The only exceptions were Demon Cultivators and Evil Cultivators.

They were all belligerent and ruthless, their combat strength typically far surpassing that of other cultivators at the same level.

"Enough of this for now. I’m going to the Quiet Chamber to recuperate." With that, Lü Zhong directed the Spirit Puppet toward the chamber, only to find Yu Feng’er following him.

"Why are you following me?" Lü Zhong asked, feigning ignorance.

Yu Feng’er grabbed his hand, a blush creeping up her neck. Out of Li Hejun’s earshot, she sent him a private voice transmission. "I want to help you! When used properly, my Ice Soul Spiritual Energy can calm the Divine Soul. Don’t think I couldn’t tell, Fellow Daoist Lü. You’ve suffered an injury to your Divine Soul, and it’s not a minor one. Without my help, you could be in seclusion for thirty or even fifty years and still not suppress the damage!"

Lü Zhong couldn’t argue with that.

She was right.

"...Thank you."

...

Time erases all traces.

A few short years were enough for people to forget the bloody massacre that had engulfed Port City seven years prior. The incident began with a Sea Demon attack, leaving no fewer than a hundred thousand dead. Subsequent investigations revealed it was the work of Demon Cultivators, but as for their motive, the cultivators of Changchun Valley could never find a conclusive answer.

In the Quiet Chamber, Lü Zhong slowly stirred and awoke.

Yu Feng’er lay sprawled across his chest, fast asleep with her hair in disarray.

’This Ice Soul Spirit Body is really something else,’ he thought. ’It’s better to guide the flow than to dam the river.’ After he helped "unblock" the Ice Soul Spiritual Energy in Yu Feng’er’s body, it was no longer bone-chilling. Instead, it became beneficial to the Divine Soul. Absorbing it calmed his own Divine Soul and even had a faint healing effect on its injuries.

It was thanks to this that he had managed to fully recover from his injuries in only seven years.

It had also been a blessing in disguise; the strength of his Divine Soul had improved slightly, and his Divine Sense Projection range had increased once more. He could now project it a distance of one hundred ninety-eight zhang, seven chi, and three fen.

As for his cultivation... it was better left unsaid.

Perhaps because he had neglected his training while recuperating, his cultivation, which had been on the verge of a breakthrough, had actually regressed. Still, Lü Zhong estimated that with another year or so of diligent practice, he would be able to break through to the late-stage of Foundation Establishment.

With this in mind, he gently patted Yu Feng’er’s smooth back.

Over the past seven years, she had come periodically to aid in his recovery.

Startled awake by his touch, Yu Feng’er rubbed her eyes and sat up, climbing off him. "Fellow Daoist Lü," she mumbled sleepily, "do you need more? I can still give you some."

She still had plenty of Ice Soul Spiritual Energy in her body, after all.

"My injuries are healed. I’ve been in seclusion here for so long, it’s time I got some fresh air." Lü Zhong helped her to her feet as he spoke, remembering to hand her a stack of Cleaning Talismans.

He quickly cleaned himself and dressed.

He then turned to help Yu Feng’er, who always grew clumsy at times like these.

They left the chamber together. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The courtyard had been renovated; it was far more spacious and elegant than before, though the layout remained unchanged.

Upon reaching the front courtyard, they found Li Hejun, dressed in fresh robes, waiting with her maids. Lü Zhong had informed her of his date for leaving seclusion, and she had made special preparations for the occasion.

"Quickly, dip the pomelo leaves in water and wash away the Master’s bad luck!"

The scene felt strangely familiar.

Feeling exasperated, Lü Zhong asked, "What is all this?"

"Master, it’s a custom from my hometown. If you sprinkle water from pomelo leaves on yourself, it washes away bad luck so you won’t have any misfortune in the future!" Li Hejun wore a rare, earnest expression. The memory of Lü Zhong’s injuries from all those years ago still made her heart ache, and she hoped this custom would help protect him from future calamity.

"Fine, fine." It was a kind gesture, and Lü Zhong didn’t have the heart to refuse.

Nearby, Yu Feng’er watched with a cheerful smile.

Finding the custom amusing, she also grabbed a handful of pomelo leaves and began sprinkling water on him.

"Alright, alright! You’ve chased all the bad luck away, I promise!" Lü Zhong finally said, stopping them with a helpless laugh.

He had been in seclusion for a full seven years. He’d missed fourteen of Master Dongbu’s Alchemy lessons and wondered if he could use the scene regression function to catch up.

Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

He noticed a pair of eyes on him. It was Yu Feng’er, staring at him intently, looking as if she wanted to say something but was holding back. When she saw him looking back, she shyly dropped her gaze.

He had grown accustomed to her shyness.

"If you have something to say, just say it."

"Fellow Daoist Lü, are you free on the first of next month?"

"What for?"

"The Yu Family has a member who just advanced to Foundation Establishment. We’re holding a celebration on the first of next month, and I’d like to invite you and Sister Li to attend." After she finished speaking, Yu Feng’er looked at Lü Zhong, her expression tense.

’Oh, so that’s all it was. I was wondering what was on her mind.’

Lü Zhong thought for a moment. Attending the Yu Family’s Foundation Establishment celebration didn’t conflict with his own plans, so he nodded in agreement.

Afterward, he made a trip to Dongbu House.

As expected, he could continue his studies as long as he paid the Spirit Stones.

’That makes sense. Master Dongbu is teaching to make a living, after all,’ Lü Zhong thought as he initiated the scene regression, successfully retrieving the content of the lessons he had missed over the past seven years.

Freeloading? Of course not!

Having overexerted his Divine Sense, his legs were now trembling, and his entire body felt completely drained.