Long Aotian’s Beautiful Butler Has Run Away chapter 102

Chapter 102: Am I Very Weak?

After returning to Blue Plateau, Rong Xie began to plan the matter. Coincidentally, Captain Zhao was about to set off to secure the Ru’nan King’s treasure while defenses were lax during the New Year period. Rong Xie waited quietly for the results of their expedition.

At the Blue Plateau Manor, the New Year period was incredibly busy. First Minister Wang had to entertain several waves of guests, so Rong Xie couldn’t leave either. Especially during the first few days of the first lunar month, the stewards had to be on standby within the garden and couldn’t wander off. This was fine for the other stewards who lived in the garden, but it was inconvenient for Rong Xie. He couldn’t go home to sleep at night and had to borrow a room in the stewards’ courtyard. Fortunately, the living conditions at Blue Plateau Manor were excellent, and they didn’t skimp on charcoal fire. Aside from being unaccustomed to it, there was no discomfort.

The feeling of being unaccustomed was mainly because… in the past, he had always spent the New Year with Shen Bingsi. This year, he was outside, alone.

And not even in his own home, but at his workplace. The stewards’ courtyard was cold and quiet at night as everyone returned to their own rooms. Rong Xie lay on the floor, warmed by the charcoal fire, listening to the sound of snow clumps falling from the banana leaves outside. A sense of desolation rose in his heart.

What is Shen Bingsi doing right now? Rong Xie couldn’t help but wonder.

Why think about him? Another voice in his heart retorted.

Rong Xie rolled over, looking at the crack between the floor and the wall. Although the architecture of Blue Plateau Manor was exquisite, these servant rooms weren’t finished with care. The walls met the floor directly without baseboards, and the gaps easily harbored dirt and grime.

Huanxue Villa wasn’t like this, Rong Xie couldn’t help but think. Every room in Huanxue Villa had baseboards. It made cleaning convenient for him, and it looked comfortable and neat. How could a house not have baseboards? Without baseboards, bugs could easily hide in those dark cracks.

Rong Xie immediately felt uncomfortable all over. He sat up and cast a barrier around his bedding to prevent bugs from crawling over.

Once the barrier was set, Rong Xie lay down again.

This time, Rong Xie fell asleep. In his dream, Shen Bingsi explained to him that he hadn’t found him because Rong Xie had moved to the stewards’ room and wasn’t at Bamboo Lane.

Rong Xie was a bit annoyed. He turned his back and told Shen Bingsi he didn’t need to explain; he was having a lively New Year alone in the garden and didn’t have time to miss him at all.

Waking up the next morning, Rong Xie secretly spurned himself. He was supposed to be distancing himself from Shen Bingsi; why was he thinking about him again?

He passed the time in limbo until the fifteenth of the first lunar month. The New Year was officially over, and only wrap-up work remained in the garden. Steward Wang made an exception and gave Rong Xie a long leave to go back and rest.

Rong Xie had been waiting for this. He immediately packed his bedding and belongings and returned to Bamboo Lane with his bundle. The moment he stepped through the door, Rong Xie felt he could finally relax completely.

Rong Xie called Wang Mu over and asked how he had spent the last few days.

Because Rong Xie had moved to the garden, the responsibility of watching the house was given to Wang Mu.

Wang Mu watched the house at night and went to the garden to collect free meals during the day. The rest of the time he wandered around, setting off firecrackers on the street with others. His days were quite carefree.

“Mmm,” he mumbled while eating a steamed bun with pickled vegetables Rong Xie had brought back from the garden, stretching his neck to report. “The Villa Master didn’t show up. The house next door has been empty. Captain Zhao and Linglong came by and brought gifts for Brother Rong. Seeing you weren’t here, they went back, just leaving a message saying the Ru’nan King’s treasure has been found, thanks to Brother Rong’s blessing. As for me, I’m fine. The garden’s soy sauce duck is delicious; Brother Rong, bring some back next time too!”

“En…” Rong Xie thought to himself. Since Captain Zhao successfully found the treasure, they could proceed to the next step.

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Zhao Dajiang was indeed intrigued, leaning forward to ask eagerly, “What place is it? A place Fellow Daoist Rong mentions must be reliable.”

“Brother Rong, you have a private stash of good places!” Linglong said, half pleasantly surprised, half complaining.

“This place isn’t exactly a proper treasure trove, which is why I haven’t mentioned it.” Rong Xie thought for a moment and started with the point most likely to pique interest. “It is a well. It is said the water in the well is miraculous. As long as they drink it, children without spiritual roots will grow them and can cultivate like other children born with spiritual roots.”

“Really?” Zhao Dajiang and Linglong were both shocked.

“I don’t know if it’s real or fake, but the family that owns the well has adopted many children from surrounding villages, made them drink the well water, and had them serve as servant boys for the family’s young masters and ladies. When the young masters and ladies grow up and go to major sects to apprentice, these servant boys can go with them.” Rong Xie paused, then added, “Not long ago, I met a young master and a servant boy from that family and confirmed these rumors.”

“Are you saying—” Zhao Dajiang stared at Rong Xie in disbelief, and Linglong covered her mouth.

Seeing their intense reaction, Rong Xie felt that getting the treasure hunting team to investigate this matter was likely secured. He continued, “Correct, it is exactly what you think. That family’s young master is the Xuan Tian Sword, Lu Yingqi, and the servant boy who once took the well water is Xiao Zhi. However, please do not spread this matter. Firstly, we have no solid evidence. Secondly, I do not wish to make an enemy of the Xuan Tian Sect. You should know the importance the Xuan Tian Sect places on Lu Yingqi.”

“Understood!” Zhao Dajiang said immediately. “Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Rong. We don’t want to offend the Xuan Tian Sect either. We still want to do business in the capital in the future; it’s not worth crossing the local heavyweights.”

“But how can there be such a spiritual spring in the world? How could one grow spiritual roots just by drinking it… wouldn’t the world fall into chaos!” Linglong was still in shock.

This was also what Zhao Dajiang wanted to ask.

Both looked at Rong Xie in unison.

“This is exactly what I want to investigate,” Rong Xie said. “I suspect that spiritual spring might be a type of sorcery, a type of Gu… capable of creating the illusion that ordinary people can cultivate. Among the children the Lu family adopts, there might be some who already possess spiritual roots, but commoners have no way to test for them. Hearing they can cultivate, they send the children to the Lu family. The Lu family selects the children with spiritual roots, pretends to feed them spring water, and claims the water gave them the roots.”

“Hmm…” Zhao Dajiang nodded, pondering. “That does sound more reasonable. But, sorcery, Gu… what does that mean?”

Rong Xie told them about the Lu family’s ability to remotely control the servant boys. He briefly recounted Xiao Ya’s story. The two were shocked again, unable to believe such heinous acts occurred in such a remote, small place.

“That’s too much. That’s even worse than a Master-Slave contract…” Linglong wrinkled her nose.

“No wonder Lu Yingqi wants to investigate this well… He wants to sever the connection between the servant boys and the Lu family so they won’t fall under the Lu family’s control. Being willing to rebel against his family for a servant boy makes him a decent man,” Zhao Dajiang analyzed.

“…” Rong Xie paused, then said, “It is not Lu Yingqi who wants to investigate; it is I who want to investigate. If you want to come with me, there might be a bit of risk. This isn’t a conventional treasure hunt; there might not be any treasure in the end.”

The two fell silent.

A moment later, Zhao Dajiang said, “What treasure hunt doesn’t have risks?”

“How can the Xuan Tian Sword be like this? Only caring about his own cultivation and ignoring the life and death of the servant boy who has been with him for so many years.” Linglong said with great disappointment.