Long Aotian’s Beautiful Butler Has Run Away chapter 56

Chapter 56: Ran Away

“Does Brother Rong also want to take his identity papers and sneak out to get married?”

After saying this, Wang Mu chuckled mischievously.

Rong Xie was startled and asked, “Taking identity papers out to get married… what does that mean?”

“Uh…” This time it was Wang Mu’s turn to be at a loss for words. “Brother Rong, don’t take it seriously, I was just joking. You know how it is with the servant boys and girls on the estate—if they find someone they fancy outside, people always say we have to watch out lest they steal their identity papers and run off to get married.”

Rong Xie didn’t take it seriously, but he recalled hearing similar things back at the Shen Family Manor when he was a child. At the time, however, he didn’t know what identity papers were; the words had simply gone in one ear and out the other.

Thinking about it now, marriage really was a significant ritual of relocation: either moving out of one family into another, or setting up a separate household to build a new family. The identity documents required for marriage were exactly what Rong Xie needed to purchase property and settle down outside.

If…

A bold idea flashed through Rong Xie’s mind.

“You’re right, that is exactly what I’m worrying about,” Rong Xie turned his teacup in his hand, speaking with feigned seriousness. “I do intend to set up a separate household. Whether I get married or not is another matter, but I hope to have a respectable identity to dispel the other party’s concerns.”

“Eh?” Wang Mu immediately sat up straight, his eyes shining as he looked at Rong Xie. “Brother Rong, do you really plan to steal your papers and run off to get married? Pooh, pooh! I mean, does Brother Rong really have someone he likes? Which family’s young lady is so lucky?”

Rong Xie didn’t answer, simply running his finger along the rim of his cup.

“Oh~ no wonder! No wonder Brother Rong asked me to find another large estate like Huanxue Villa. I was saying, why look for another place when you have Huanxue Villa? It turns out Brother Rong is preparing a marital home!”

Rong Xie hadn’t said a word, yet Wang Mu had already filled in the blanks completely.

“Heh, what ‘someone I like’? There’s nothing official yet,” Rong Xie lifted his teacup and took a sip. “If I can’t even get my identity documents out, there’s no point in thinking about it.”

Wang Mu had just learned such huge news and was still buzzing with excitement. Even though it had nothing to do with him, he was the type of person who got high on second-hand gossip.

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“That won’t do. You must get them… you can get them,” Wang Mu suddenly looked up, speaking with great confidence.

“How?” Rong Xie asked.

“Just say it. Just say it directly, Brother Rong. To put it bluntly, you don’t know how much the Shen family wishes you would get married early. That way, the position of butler at Huanxue Villa would open up. Without you in the way, they could stuff their own people in—uh, my mom said that, not me.” Wang Mu spoke too fast, accidentally letting slip everything, and hurriedly tried to backtrack.

This was exactly what Rong Xie wanted to hear. He wasn’t angry in the slightest. Continuing to feign hesitation, he asked skeptically, “Is that really true? If I say I’m taking my papers to get married, they won’t make things difficult for me?”

“Of course! I guarantee it! You just go, Brother Rong; they will definitely cooperate enthusiastically,” Wang Mu patted his chest loudly.

Wang Mu’s feedback matched what Rong Xie had anticipated. However, the plan was still too bold; execution would likely be riddled with loopholes.

For instance, the Shen family would certainly ask who he was marrying, where they lived, and how they met. If he didn’t say a word, they would definitely be suspicious. And once suspicious, they would start pulling tricks. It would be a disaster if he failed to get the documents and instead stirred up other trouble.

“I need to consider this matter further. Don’t tell anyone yet, especially your mother,” Rong Xie said.

“Brother Rong, don’t worry. I promise not to tell!” Wang Mu made a zipping motion across his mouth.

By the end of the meal, both felt satisfied. Wang Mu had filled his stomach and heard some gossip; Rong Xie had opened his mind and found a new strategy.

Upon returning to the villa, Rong Xie appeared as calm as ever, but inside, he began to polish this plan repeatedly.

The biggest loophole was, of course, Rong Xie’s nonexistent “partner.” To make this person seem real and convincing, Rong Xie even drew a portrait on paper. Based on the portrait, he brainstormed: Where was “she” from? What was “her” background? How did “she” speak? How did they hit it off, and what kind of things would they argue about? …By the end of his musings, a familiar image always surfaced in Rong Xie’s mind.

It wasn’t until one day, when Fang Renji was cleaning the room and picked up the crumpled portrait Rong Xie had tossed aside, asking if it was the Villa Master’s sister, that Rong Xie finally realized what was wrong with the “intended” he had created.

“…”

Imagination is always based on reality; mixing truth with falsehood makes it seem real. Rong Xie comforted himself with this thought.

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After a period of planning, Rong Xie felt the holes in the plan were mostly plugged. It was time to execute.

He first called the three little ones together and asked if they had received any letters from the Shen family recently.

The three shook their heads.

Rong Xie was slightly surprised. He had thought that after speaking with Wang Mu that day, he would soon receive letters from the Shen family probing for information. He hadn’t expected silence.

Wang Mu had unexpectedly kept his mouth shut.

…

Actually, Rong Xie had kind of hoped Wang Mu would leak a little information.

Next, Rong Xie told the three little ones that he had to return to the Shen family for a trip. During this time, the affairs of the villa would still be left to them. They shouldn’t worry; he was just going to retrieve something and would be back soon.

“Does Brother Rong really not need us to come along?” Shen Yan asked.

Rong Xie had indeed considered taking Shen Yan, but for this plan, the fewer people who knew, the better.

“No need,” Rong Xie said.

However, Rong Xie still bought a pair of new Transmission Jades. He gave one to Shen Yan and taught him how to use it so they could contact each other at any time while he was away.

After settling matters at home, Rong Xie went to Welcome Town again and called Wang Mu out for a meal.

“Wang Mu, I want to make a deal with you. If you can do it, I will recommend you for a position at Huanxue Villa. How about it?” Rong Xie spoke unhurriedly.

“Really?!” Wang Mu sat up, his two thin arms propped on the table, staring unblinkingly at Rong Xie with round eyes. “Brother Rong, are you serious? No matter what it is—climbing a mountain of swords or plunging into a sea of fire—I, Wang Mu, will do it!”

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Rong Xie nodded. “It’s not that dramatic. It’s just what I told you before: I plan to go back to the Shen family to retrieve my identity documents. I need the Shen family to cooperate and let me move out smoothly. If they cooperate, you won’t need to do anything. If they don’t, you steal the documents for me, and I’ll figure out the rest.”

“That’s easy! Brother Rong, don’t worry. Leave stealing the documents to me. Just give the order, and I’ll act immediately.”

This assurance was exactly what Rong Xie wanted.

“But…” Wang Mu’s eyes rolled around craftily. “If it really comes to stealing the documents, the Shen family definitely won’t tolerate me anymore. When that happens, Brother Rong, you must bail me out… Staying at Huanxue Villa—is that really true?”

“Of course.” Rong Xie had no intention of lying to Wang Mu. “Although you’re illiterate, can’t write talismans, and haven’t had your spiritual roots tested… you are clever and good at adapting to circumstances. If you can help me accomplish this, it proves you have advantages over the other servant boys. I will have sufficient reason to recommend you.”

As for whether Shen Bingsi would accept him… well, that was a matter for three to five years later. Rong Xie would act first and report later, getting Wang Mu in. When Shen Bingsi came out of seclusion and saw—hey, one butler turned into four—he’d have gained no matter how you looked at it. Rong Xie wouldn’t even ask him to say thanks.

Hearing the first half of Rong Xie’s sentence, Wang Mu’s face fell, but hearing the tone shift to point out his strengths, he felt confident again.

“Brother Rong, don’t worry. Just give the order, and I’ll work my butt off.”

Rong Xie nodded and explained the further details of the plan to Wang Mu.

Three days later, Rong Xie hired a carriage and set off with Wang Mu.

Half a month later, they arrived at the Shen Family Manor in the remote town of Heyang County.

Meanwhile, on the main peak of the Lingjing Sect, atop the Immortal Worship Platform.

The door to the quiet room opened.

Two figures, one old and one young, appeared behind the door.

These two were none other than the Lingjing Sect Master, Xue Baoshan, and the leader of the younger generation, Shen Bingsi.

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If Elder Yunfeng were here, his jaw would have dropped in shock. The person predicted to take three to five years to emerge had come out after little more than a month.

“Since the Mirror Palace has a mission, I won’t keep you,” Old Sect Master Xue said in a deep voice, his face tense.

“Mn.” Shen Bingsi’s expression was equally grave, wearing a look of cold world-weariness.

“However, as your martial uncle, I must remind you of one thing,” Old Sect Master Xue said. “Your current state is not suitable for executing missions. You should notify the Mirror Palace early to select another worthy candidate, then go to the Supreme Immortal Mountain to explain the situation to your master.”

“…” Shen Bingsi was silent for a moment. “Many thanks for Martial Uncle’s concern. However, no one knows my state better than I do. I can handle it.”

Old Sect Master Xue frowned deeply, wanting to say something, but eventually let out a long sigh.

Shen Bingsi’s Dao Heart had indeed wavered.

However, he didn’t find this strange. Back when he first started cultivating the Heartless Path, his master’s harsh training often caused his Dao Heart to collapse, yet hadn’t he survived it all?

If he never wavered from beginning to end, he would have ascended long ago; would he still need to cultivate realm by realm?

Yes, the extent of his Dao Heart’s wavering this time seemed particularly severe, but there was a reason for that. When his Dao Heart first shook, he hadn’t entered meditation to deal with it immediately but had delayed for two days. This caused distracting thoughts to multiply. By the time Sect Master Xue helped him regulate it, the thoughts had piled up like a mountain, inevitably causing some backlash. In Sect Master Xue’s eyes, since Shen Bingsi hadn’t had such issues for many years, it seemed very serious.

But actually, it was nothing. Everything was under control. The two-day delay was only because the South Island was too far away; if it had been a closer place, such an accident wouldn’t have happened.

After a month of seclusion and adjustment, Shen Bingsi’s state had returned to normal—clear, calm, and tranquil as still water. He would no longer be swayed by any emotion. Executing the Mirror Palace mission would be a piece of cake.

Facts proved this to be true.

Shen Bingsi spent only one day slaying the great demon formed from a thousand-year-old python, breaking the record for the fastest mission completion in recent years.

He returned to the Mirror Palace to report his success. Afterward, he habitually flew on his sword back to Huanxue Villa.

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By the time he came to his senses, he was already standing at the door of Rong Xie’s bedroom.

The night was deep. Rong Xie should have retired already. The windows were dark; he was likely asleep.

Shen Bingsi stood before the door for a long time before finally reaching out to push it open.