Chapter 243   Hare Stealing the Green Jade

Liu Shaoming naturally could not reject this assignment. After all, since he was an outsider to the Xuanyuan Family, he had earned a lot of scorn and sarcasm. He was not someone from the clan. It was only natural for the others to look down on him.

But Liu Shaoming would not admit defeat too. He cultivated madly. When the Xuanyuan Family saw that he was extremely gifted, they gave him many resources for cultivation. Within a short one-year period, he had progressed from the Great Completeness of Soaring Cloud to the Great Completeness of Round Sun.

The rate of his cultivation scared those who had derided him. No one dared to scorn him now. Liu Shaoming rose in stature in the Xuanyuan Family.

And the old Patriarch had given him a chance. If he could kill Hua Qiyue, the Patriarch would let Xuanyuan Qing’er marry him!

The reason why Liu Shaoming was alive was to avenge the Liu family. After all, because of Hua Qiyue, their entire clan had been exterminated. How could he not feel pain and harbor great hatred toward Hua Qiyue?

Therefore, Liu Shaoming did not hesitate. He accepted the assignment at once.

“Shaoming, will you really accept this assignment? Why not do it this way: It’s not right for the old Patriarch to hand you such heavy responsibility when you’ve only cultivated in the Xuanyuan Family for over a year. I will speak up for you... ”

“Don’t bother. Second Elder, I appreciate your concern... but I’ve stayed alive only to kill Hua Qiyue!” Liu Shaoming remarked firmly.

Second Elder naturally understood Liu Shaoming’s hopes. He no longer stopped him, seeing the man so adamant.

“In that case, I’ll get them to prepare more resources for you. And you will have four Qi Artists at the medium level of Moon Eclipse for company!”

Second Elder said, the look in his eyes extremely profound. “You must know that Hua Qiyue had once defeated the Venerated Supreme Devil. It’ll be safer with these four people with you on the road.”

“Thank you, Second Elder. I will surely accomplish this mission!”

Liu Shaoming said determinedly. Second Elder patted his shoulder and left quietly.

When Second Elder had gone, Liu Shaoming started to feel energy filling up his body. He was about to leave for the backyard to practice when he heard familiar footsteps approach.

“Brother Shaoming!”

A lovely streak of mauve darted in. The girl’s forehead was still beaded with dense perspiration. She rushed to Liu Shaoming’s front, grabbing him. “I heard that the Patriarch wants you to kill Hua Qiyue. Don’t go, Shaoming!”

Liu Shaoming gave a slight smile. “Qing’er, don’t worry. I’ll be fine!”

He had waited for this day for more than a year. He was now at the Great Completeness of Round Sun. Surely, he would not lose to Hua Qiyue?

“That Hua Qiyue’s very powerful. I’ll be worried if you go!” Xuanyuan Qing’er pouted, poking his forehead. “You—are you such a blockhead? Don’t you understand how I feel?”

Liu Shaoming grabbed her soft, seemingly boneless hand. “Qing’er, Hua Qiyue is my clan’s great foe. Now that the Patriarch has given me this assignment, it’s everything I could ask for. How can I not go?”

Xuanyuan Qing’er shook her head. “But that Hua Qiyue’s too powerful... ”

“No matter how powerful she is, I will snap her wings alive!” Liu Shaoming remarked coldly. His eyes flared with a fervent glitter. His strong hatred chilled Xuanyuan Qing’er’s heart.

For some reason, she really did not like this Liu Shaoming before her.

But it was the hatred of clan extermination. Surely, Liu Shaoming could not put down that hatred in his heart.

Xuanyuan Qing’er’s heart shivered and she stood on her tiptoes, kissing his charming lips.

Liu Shaoming was startled. Xuanyuan Qing’er was a generous and passionate girl. When he wandered to Yuewu Kingdom penniless, she was the one who had kept him by her side.

Liu Shaoming stretched out his hand and supported the back of Xuanyuan Qing’er’s head, deepening this kiss.

But for some reason, the face of the woman he most hated floated into Liu Shaoming’s mind—Hua Qiyue.

Eight Fingers Mountain.

Hua Qiyue was practicing her mental practicing method. Tianci had obediently brought in a bowl of syrup.

The aroma of the syrup was that of honey, making one’s skin feel sweet as well.

In the past, Hua Qiyue used to enjoy such syrups. But since Tianci was taken away by Yun Shimo, she no longer took any.

“Mom, have a bowl of syrup. It can moisturize your lungs.”

Tianci brought the syrup to Hua Qiyue’s front. His face was wreathed with delighted smiles.

Hua Qiyue quietly took the syrup in her hands and asked quite casually, “Who cooked this?”

“Grandma. But it was the hare that got me to bring you this.” Tianci was truthful.

Actually, the hare wanted him not to tell. But Tianci was quite smart. Despite reaping some gains off the hare, Mom was still Mom. The hare couldn’t make him betray her.

A whiff of cunning flashed across Hua Qiyue’s eyes. “Oh, I see. Then Mom shall drink it first. Look for your Dad to play.”

Tianci blinked his eyes, understanding Hua Qiyue’s meaning. “Yes, Mom, I will look for Dad. If you want me, I will be with Dad.”

The little fellow then scampered off.

Hua Qiyue watched the thick and saccharine bowl of syrup and lifted her brows slightly. “It’s so thick and sweet. Is it really nice?”

However, she still sipped a small mouthful lightly and felt her spirits reinvigorate. “Oh, it’s my favorite Snow Pear with Longan soup. Not bad.”

So Hua Qiyue drank a few more mouthfuls. “It’s too thick. I’ll take it later.”

She smacked her lips satisfyingly, her lips shining red as a petal. “Madame Yun’s culinary skills have improved even more.”

Hua Qiyue continued to cultivate. She sat crosslegged for a short while before feeling a drowsiness overwhelm her. She could only lean against the big sycamore tree, shutting her eyes.

Over this period, Hua Qiyue was also madly cultivating. She felt that time was not sufficient. So whenever she was tired, she would have some shut-eye here. When she recovered, she would go on with her cultivation.

One moment later, Hua Qiyue had lapsed into a deep dreamland.

A little hare quietly inched toward Hua Qiyue.

Hua Qiyue did not know at all. When the hare arrived by her side, it stretched out its paw and dug into Hua Qiyue’s sleeve pocket.

When it had just touched her pocket, Hua Qiyue suddenly opened her eyes and unleashed a palm, throwing the hare out.

The hare gave a plaintive cry. It crashed loudly against the tree on the side. Fortunately, it had protected its body with anima energy and was not hurt.

“Trying to steal my green jade gourd? Hare, you’re the renowned Sun Moon Deity. How can you stoop so low to be Yun Shimo’s slave, stealing my thing?”

Hua Qiyue gave a cold snort. Boundless contempt was in her eyes.

The hare’s ears started to feel hot. It pretended to be aggressive, its arms akimbo. “I was not stealing. I just want to see your green jade gourd!”

Although the hare had said this, its heart was thumping with panic. “This damn girl’s so cunning. She managed to deceive me. But I saw with my eyes her taking the syrup. Why isn’t the drug working?”

Hua Qiyue nearly laughed her head off. She smirked sarcastically at it. “Humph, hare, don’t think of an excuse for your failure. You think I’m a three-year-old kid? I won’t be drugged by your soporific!”

The hare looked upset and unhappy. “Lass, Tianpi and I are old friends. Can’t I see him once?”

Hua Qiyue knew that it had said this only to save face. But still, she would have to give this rotten hare a chance to save face.

“Very well. Later, I shall ask him.”

The hare heard her and stalked away angrily.

This time, the hare had failed in its mission. Yun Shimo racked his brains but failed to come out with a brilliant plan.

In any case, Hua Qiyue was too vigilant. Since Yun Shimo had deceived her once, it would be more difficult to trick her again.

In the evening, Hua Qiyue took from Xuanji two roast hares and two flagons of wine. Then she entered the green jade gourd. Tianpi was waiting for her, his eyes staring straight ahead.

The moment he saw the wine and roast hare in Hua Qiyue’s hands, his mouth started to water. He hurled himself forward, grabbing the food without any regard to his image.

“That hare says that it wants to see you,” Hua Qiyue said quietly. Tianpi gave a cold snort. “I don’t wish to!”

See, his rejection was so adamant. Hua Qiyue had had a premonition of his reaction. She sensed that Tianpi and Sun Moon Deity were neither close friends nor great enemies.

Tianpi tore the roast hare with his huge mouth. As he drank the wine, his eyes became a little bewildered. “Hmmm, days with wine and meat are happy indeed.”

Hua Qiyue seemed to have woken from a dream. She had not experienced this feeling for a long, long time.

Right now, everything had changed. Yun Shimo was no longer the Yun Shimo of the past. Nor was Hua Qiyue the same Hua Qiyue.

By the time Tianpi finished the roast hare, Hua Qiyue had already uprooted a few Ginsengs with Nine Souls. Tianpi mused quietly for a while and finally handed her a scroll.

“This... is your Master’s self-created lethal skill, one that I’m very proud of—Sword in Snow. Once... I used it to kill someone who had treated me very well, whom I also treasured. But things had come to an end... and I could not control it. I’ve given you the strongest lethal skill. Qiyue, if Master becomes possessed in the future, use it to kill me.”

Tianpi’s words were said in a very solemn and serious manner.

Hua Qiyue was startled. In the clear breeze, seeing Tianpi’s crimson hair, blue eyes, and diabolical countenance—why did she sense a faint melancholy in them?

Tianpi’s attitude and tone proved that he was not joking.

Hua Qiyue started to feel her heart shudder with trepidation. Tianpi must have been possessed in the past and lost his rationality, killing someone he had treasured?

“Master... will you be possessed again? You’re trapped here. Haven’t you lost all remnants of your devil nature?”

Hua Qiyue asked in a low voice.

Tianpi helplessly jerked the corner of his mouth. “Yes, indeed. After I was trapped here, my devil nature has been gradually eroded by the environment here. Before that, she had tried her best with those men to stop my massacre. But they failed. Only a few good friends of mine were left to seal me in this jade gourd, sacrificing their lives. One wicked thought and you turn into a devil. Another good thought and you become an immortal. Qiyue... another such day may arrive for me.”

Tianpi’s words made Hua Qiyue quieten down.

When Tianci was first gone, she wanted so much to kill everyone who was stopping her. Even Ji Feng and the others could sense her aggressive murderous malice.

But in the end, Hua Qiyue did not. She tried strenuously to convince herself that Ji Feng was not in league with Yun Shimo.

Reality had proven that Ji Feng was indeed not in league with Yun Shimo. He was a kind, gentleman. Hua Qiyue could never believe that he was a wicked man.

“Cultivate well. Concerning the Xuanyuan Family, I, too, know them quite well. If you encounter their old Patriarch outside, you will not depart with your life,” Tianpi said seriously.