Long Aotian’s Beautiful Butler Has Run Away chapter 91

Chapter 91: Overstepping

“Lu Yingqi?” Zhao Dajiang immediately thought of someone. “Are you talking about Xuantian’s One Sword, Lu Yingqi?”

“Exactly.”

“Who is Xuantian’s One Sword, Lu Yingqi?” Linglong asked.

“He’s a formidable Ruthless Path sword cultivator. It’s normal you don’t know him; when he was famous, it was ten years ago. Sword Saint Shen hadn’t even emerged back then.” After Zhao Dajiang finished, he suddenly realized the person who knew Shen Bingsi best seemed to be standing right there. “Fellow Daoist Rong surely knows better than I do.”

“Yes, he hadn’t achieved the Nascent Soul stage yet back then, nor was he serving as the Adjudicator of the Ruthless Path,” Rong Xie recalled.

“That’s right. Xuantian’s One Sword is older than Sword Saint Shen and participated in the Sword Competition of the Three Sect Alliance earlier. He took the top spot early on and earned the title ‘Xuantian’s One Sword’.” Zhao Dajiang rattled off the history of these influential figures in the cultivation world. “But after becoming famous, Xuantian’s One Sword hardly came out to be active. He should be in seclusion cultivating. Young people nowadays haven’t heard of his title.”

Linglong grinned, “Hehe, that’s because I’m young.”

“Alright, alright, I know you’re young and I’m old,” Zhao Dajiang laughed, then turned to Rong Xie. “It might not be easy to find Xuantian’s One Sword. However, since Fellow Daoist Rong introduced such a good treasure hunting opportunity to us, we will do our utmost to find this person.”

“Then I thank you very much,” Rong Xie said.

“If we can’t bring Lu Yingqi out but have a chance to pass a message, does Fellow Daoist Rong have anything to say to him?” Zhao Dajiang asked.

Rong Xie thought for a moment and said, “Just say… someone wants to talk to him about the well in Qinghe.”

“The well in Qinghe?” Zhao Dajiang sensed there might be an unusual code hidden in this. Seeing Rong Xie offer no explanation, he didn’t pry further. “Noted.”

Linglong supported Zhao Dajiang from the side: “Big Brother Rong, don’t worry. Our Captain Zhao has wide connections; he will definitely get this sentence delivered.”

Rong Xie smiled. “I trust Captain Zhao. —I’ll translate that map of Prince Runan into the official language and draw it out when I get back.”

“Good, good.” Zhao Dajiang said. “Fellow Daoist Rong, take your time drawing, no rush. Once we’ve delivered the message and completed your task, we’ll feel more at ease taking the treasure map.”

With that settled, the three raised their cups to celebrate their happy first cooperation.

Rong Xie actually didn’t hold too much hope. He knew Lu Yingqi was very hard to find. Even people from the Xuantian Inner Sect might not be able to see Lu Yingqi, after all, he had been in seclusion for so many years.

Previously, Rong Xie had racked his brains seeking help from Lu Yinglin, but after arriving at the Blue Plateau, there was no follow-up.

Perhaps if Rong Xie pushed harder and went to Shengjing a few times with Lu Yinglin, there would still be hope of seeing Lu Yingqi.

However, Rong Xie always had a vague premonition that as long as he moved with Lu Yinglin, he would be dragged into another kind of life, and it wouldn’t be easy to extricate himself then.

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Rong Xie always trusted his intuition. He didn’t want to become fodder for Lu Yinglin’s social climbing conversations. Although life as an ordinary person was a bit hard and boring at first, it felt grounded. So, after thinking it over again and again, Rong Xie decided not to pursue Lu Yinglin’s line anymore and find another way to reach Lu Yingqi.

Thus, the “Protect Lu Yingqi” plan had been shelved until today, unimplemented.

Asking Zhao Dajiang to pass a message this time, Rong Xie chose the words most likely to provoke Lu Yingqi. But he wasn’t certain; perhaps Lu Yingqi had long entered a higher realm of ruthlessness and had no worldly desires.

Three days later, Zhao Dajiang brought back a reply. He had asked someone to deliver the message, but Lu Yingqi was still in seclusion and it wasn’t convenient for him to reply. If there was anything, Rong Xie could speak to his servant boy, Xiao Zhi.

“Xiao Zhi? Ah, that’s the one…” Rong Xie remembered what Lu Yinglin had told him. Every Lu family disciple who went to the sect for cultivation would be accompanied by a servant boy. This servant boy was the spy the Lu family used to control their disciples.

Just as Lu Yinglin had Xiao Ya by his side, Lu Yingqi had this one, called Xiao Zhi.

However, Xiao Zhi had a good fate. He followed the steady and reliable Lu Yingqi, not the chaotic Lu Yinglin. Xiao Zhi was not only unthreatened by the Lu family but also entered the Inner Sect, bowed to a famous master, and lived a stable cultivation life because Lu Yingqi’s status in the Xuantian Sect kept rising. The Lu family also attached extra importance to him, unlike their negligence toward other servant boys.

Lu Yinglin had told Rong Xie all this, his words laced with jealousy toward Lu Yingqi. Xiao Zhi was described by him as a lucky but mediocre servant boy who honestly executed the surveillance task assigned by the Lu family while maintaining a lukewarm relationship with Lu Yingqi. He sounded very forgettable, far inferior to Xiao Ya.

Of course, Rong Xie believed Xiao Zhi was definitely no simple lucky charm. Being able to execute the task assigned by the Lu family to win their regard, while simultaneously maintaining a relationship with Lu Yingqi such that Lu Yingqi viewed him as an important partner—letting him represent him in communicating important matters during seclusion—such impressive maneuvering skills could definitely not be summarized by the word “luck.”

Now, Rong Xie was about to meet this unassuming character. Naturally, he dared not be negligent. After expressing his gratitude to Zhao Dajiang, he asked him to arrange the meeting time and place on his behalf.

“Although this Xiao Zhi is just a follower, he has a say beside Lu Yingqi,” Zhao Dajiang tried to explain.

“I know. He is Lu Yingqi’s personal servant boy. Seeing him is equivalent to seeing Lu Yingqi himself.” Rong Xie thanked him. “Thanks to Big Brother Zhao’s efforts, I can meet this important figure. And to have news so quickly… I really don’t know how to thank Big Brother Zhao.”

Saying this, Rong Xie handed the reconstructed treasure map of Prince Runan to Zhao Dajiang.

Zhao Dajiang held it in his hands. The lines, coloring, and even the annotated text on the map were almost the same as the original. In his vague memory, apart from the different language used, he could hardly distinguish any difference.

“Fellow Daoist Rong is truly divine!” Zhao Dajiang couldn’t help but praise, looking at the treasure map again and again.

“It’s also because this treasure map is simple,” Rong Xie smiled.

“This is not simple, not simple at all—” Zhao Dajiang praised repeatedly, looking up at Rong Xie. “Fellow Daoist Rong, really not considering coming with us?”

“No. I’ve thought about it; I’m still not good at this. I shouldn’t drag you down,” Rong Xie declined with a smile.

“Alright.” Zhao Dajiang put away the treasure map with considerable regret. “Then I’ll take my leave first. Once I’ve made an appointment with Lu Yingqi’s servant boy, I’ll come tell you.”

Zhao Dajiang stood up, and Rong Xie walked him to the door.

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Having finally made contact with Lu Yingqi’s side, Rong Xie’s mood suddenly brightened. He couldn’t help but envision a true happy ending where a certain someone and Lu Yingqi fought the Heavenly Demons together, the cultivation world survived the great calamity safely, and no one was hurt.

Suddenly, a soft sound came from beside him, like a cat landing on the ground.

Rong Xie turned around—it wasn’t a cat landing, but a certain someone who had been quiet for three days appearing again.

Shen Bingsi still maintained the appearance of “Qu Huaiyan,” as if addicted to this avatar. He hadn’t appeared in front of Rong Xie for these few days, and Rong Xie thought he had gone back.

Having not seen him for a few days, Shen Bingsi looked much worse. His face was gloomy, and his eyes held a dark, viscous emotion.

At this moment, he was staring gloomily at Zhao Dajiang’s retreating figure.

“Why haven’t you gone back yet?” Rong Xie was startled by “Qu Huaiyan.”

“Why do you want to see him?” “Qu Huaiyan’s” voice was dark. “Lu Yingqi…”

When mentioning this name, there was a hint of gnashing teeth.

Clearly, Shen Bingsi knew Lu Yingqi.

It was the kind of “knowing” where he secretly regarded him as a rival in his heart but never had the chance to fight him.

“You eavesdropped on my conversation with my friend?” Rong Xie couldn’t believe it.

How long had it been? The always upright and honest Shen Bingsi had actually started acting like a thief on the beam! Sneaking into someone’s house and eavesdropping on their conversation just because his cultivation was high—was there anything more classless than this?

“Hmph, didn’t you also secretly memorize my treasure map to give away?” “Qu Huaiyan” retorted.

Ah… he already knows. Rong Xie thought. But this wasn’t strange. Since he could eavesdrop on what he said at home, the matter of the treasure map obviously couldn’t be hidden from him either.

“Sorry, but my memory is just that good,” Rong Xie said without batting an eyelid. “If you don’t want me to remember it, be more careful next time. Don’t take it out for me to see.”

“Qu Huaiyan” had been looking straight ahead, but hearing this, he turned his head, his gaze landing on Rong Xie’s face.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly surprised that his gentle and upright best friend actually had such a side.

Rong Xie stared back. He was ready to have a fight with Shen Bingsi. Shen Bingsi didn’t seem to understand calm talking.

However, there was no anger in “Qu Huaiyan’s” eyes. Instead, there was a bit more interest, like a sailor voyaging at sea discovering new land.

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“It was my oversight. I’ll be careful next time.” “Qu Huaiyan” nodded, and the matter of the treasure map was lightly brushed over.

“But why do you want to see Lu Yingqi?” “Qu Huaiyan” asked immediately after, his gaze pressing tightly on Rong Xie, as if wanting to find an answer in his reaction.

“Can you help me find him?” Rong Xie asked back.

“Why should I help you find him? I don’t know him.” “Qu Huaiyan” said immediately.

“Exactly. If you can’t help me find him, why ask so much?” Rong Xie had actually anticipated this answer. Shen Bingsi was the leader of the Ruthless Path in the Lingjing Sect, and Lu Yingqi was the number one of the Ruthless Path in the Xuantian Sect. With Shen Bingsi’s competitive nature, he must have thought about finding Lu Yingqi to compete, but hadn’t done so yet, likely because he was refused and was secretly holding a grudge.

“You…” “Qu Huaiyan” choked as expected. His gaze toward Rong Xie was no longer like discovering a new continent, but like hitting a reef.

Rong Xie turned to go home, and “Qu Huaiyan” followed him inside closely.

“Qu Huaiyan” spoke a long speech about how incompatible the Ruthless Path of the Lingjing Sect and the Xuantian Sect were, and how he only suppressed the Xuantian Sect after becoming the Adjudicator of the Ruthless Path. At this critical juncture, it was very inappropriate for Rong Xie to eagerly go find Lu Yingqi; it would hinder the relationship between the two major sects and affect the pattern of the cultivation world.

“In short, you cannot go find him.” Walking into the flower hall, “Qu Huaiyan” concluded.

Rong Xie took off his casual outer robe and changed into the Blue Plateau Manor steward uniform. While adjusting his belt in front of the mirror, he said indifferently, “Don’t worry, I won’t mention my relationship with you. I’m just going to see him as an ordinary person living in the Blue Plateau.”

“That won’t do either!” “Qu Huaiyan” said categorically.

“Why not?” Rong Xie finished adjusting his outer robe, checked the account books he needed to bring, and walked past “Qu Huaiyan” toward the outside.

A look of dejection appeared on “Qu Huaiyan’s” face—very rare for someone whose tail was always cocked high. He opened his mouth; the twisted logic and grand principles reached his lips but were swallowed back.

“I will feel bad,” he said. “Because I will feel bad.”

Rong Xie stopped.

He turned back, his eyes filled with deep confusion. “Why? As a friend, aren’t you overstepping a bit too much?”