The banquet was already nearing its end, so Luo Yuan and Shen Qing also took their leave.
Jiang Zhongguo personally saw them to the door.
Xi Yu walked to the car and bit down, crushing the candy in his mouth. A wave of warmth spread through his limbs and bones.
He turned his head and saw Lu Zhixing several steps behind.
The jade ring on his thumb felt warm and smooth to the touch, threads of warmth seeping into his body.
“Bro, aren’t you getting in the car?” Luo Cheng’an asked in confusion. Following Xi Yu’s gaze, he looked over. “Why does Lu Zhixing keep looking at you?”
Xi Yu shoved Luo Cheng’an into the car. “Wait for me.”
With that, he walked straight toward Lu Zhixing.
“Xiao Yu…” Lu Zhixing called, looking at Xi Yu with a trace of anticipation. “What’s wrong?”
Xi Yu expressionlessly grabbed Lu Zhixing by the wrist and dragged him into a secluded spot.
“Who exactly are you?”
What Lu Zhixing had given him just now was not candy at all.
It was a spirit fruit—a thing from the Immortal Realm.
And the ring Lu Zhixing had used to help him out of his predicament earlier was also from there.
Was Lu Zhixing someone from the Immortal Realm?
Then what was that demonic aura coming from his body?
Lu Zhixing’s gaze fell upon the hand Xi Yu had wrapped around his wrist. The black jade ring accentuated his skin, making it look even whiter than snow.
Xi Yu tightened his grip, and a faint pain appeared around Lu Zhixing’s wrist.
His Master had never spoken to him so harshly before.
At tonight’s banquet, Xi Yu had been exceptionally indulgent toward Luo Cheng’an. Even though he clearly hated being watched by others, he had still put on such a performance because of Luo Cheng’an.
Even though Lu Zhixing kept telling himself that Xi Yu had now taken on the identity of the Luo family’s young master, and that a person like Xi Yu, who always repaid kindness and vengeance alike, would certainly protect the three members of the Luo family…
He was still jealous.
In the past, he had been the only one who could receive his Master’s protection.
Lu Zhixing said nothing, simply staring at Xi Yu. His peripheral vision once again fell upon Luo Cheng’an, who was watching them from behind Xi Yu.
After a pause, his brows drew together slightly, and the corners of his eyes reddened.
“It hurts.”
Because their skin was touching, the demonic aura around Lu Zhixing disappeared completely, replaced by a layer of luminous white light enveloping him.
Seeing the pain on his face, Xi Yu instinctively loosened his grip.
In an instant, the aura around Lu Zhixing changed.
It was impossible to distinguish whether he was divine or demonic.
In ten thousand years, there had never been anything this bizarre.
Surrounded by two kinds of utterly pure energy, Lu Zhixing had somehow not exploded and died.
Xi Yu frowned as he looked at Lu Zhixing’s somewhat pitiful expression. The harsh questions on the tip of his tongue became stuck in his throat.
Lu Zhixing covered his reddened wrist and looked at Xi Yu in silent reproach.
Xi Yu felt that something was not quite right.
He felt a little guilty.
He had yet to figure out where that guilt was coming from when Lu Zhixing spoke again.
“Did I do something wrong? Why are you being so mean to me?”
Xi Yu looked at Lu Zhixing’s wrist. The marks he had squeezed into the skin were bright red.
Combined with Lu Zhixing’s question just now…
It almost made it seem as though he were the demon lord.
How ridiculous.
He was very certain that he could not beat Lu Zhixing.
Fortunately, Lu Zhixing had no ill intentions toward him—at least not for now. Otherwise, things really would be troublesome.
Knowing that Lu Zhixing would not answer his questions, Xi Yu removed the jade ring from his thumb and held it out to him.
The ring had storage capabilities.
It was indeed extremely useful to him right now.
But things that came for free were never easy to accept.
“Nothing comes without a reason. Mr. Lu, you should take this ring back.”
Lu Zhixing had no ill intentions toward him now, but who could guarantee that he would not have any in the future?
Lu Zhixing did not take it.
“You called me Brother Lu, so consider this ring a gift to you as a meeting present.”
“No need.” Xi Yu did not want to keep going back and forth over this. He refused decisively.
Lu Zhixing pressed his lips together, his gaze falling upon the amulet hanging around Xi Yu’s neck.
“You accepted the one Luo Cheng’an gave you, but not the one I gave you, is that it?”
Lu Zhixing’s tone was completely different from his earlier weakness. It almost sounded accusatory.
Xi Yu was the typical kind of person who would yield to softness but not force. His brows furrowed at the sound of this, and he could not help saying, “How can you two be the same?”
Lu Zhixing froze.
He gave a soft laugh, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
“That’s right. He’s the one you hold most dear now.”
What the hell was he talking about?
Xi Yu stopped arguing with Lu Zhixing, shoved the ring into his hand, and turned around to leave.
Luo Cheng’an was waiting beside the car. When he saw Xi Yu return, he hopped over to meet him.
“Do you know Brother Lu? What were you two talking about just now?”
“We don’t know each other. I was just returning his stuff.”
Xi Yu did not deliberately lower his voice, so Lu Zhixing heard him clearly.
Luo Cheng’an hurriedly covered Xi Yu’s mouth.
“Keep your voice down!”
Xi Yu disdainfully kicked Luo Cheng’an.
Luo Cheng’an chuckled and turned around to call out to Lu Zhixing.
“Brother Lu, we’re leaving first. Bye-bye~”
Xi Yu had already gotten into the car.
Lu Zhixing looked coldly at Luo Cheng’an, his fingertips moving slightly.
Luo Cheng’an suddenly felt his legs go weak and landed hard on his butt.
“What tripped me?!”
Luo Cheng’an cursed as he scrambled back to his feet.
As a mortal, there were many things he could not see.
Xi Yu, however, clearly saw a strand of black energy wrapped around Luo Cheng’an’s ankle, causing him to trip.
After Luo Cheng’an got into the car, the vehicle started up and passed Lu Zhixing.
Xi Yu rolled down the window, rested his forearm against it, and with a flip of his hand, sent a strand of luminous white light straight toward Lu Zhixing.
Lu Zhixing did not move at all. He showed no intention of dodging. He even slightly opened his arms, welcoming the attack.
A moment later, Xi Yu’s eyes suddenly widened.
Xi Yu knew that he could not hurt Lu Zhixing in his current state. That attack had merely been a warning for him not to touch Luo Cheng’an.
But why could Lu Zhixing absorb his cultivation?
Every spell and talisman was condensed from his spiritual power.
Yet that attack had immediately merged into Lu Zhixing’s body the instant it came into contact with him.
Everyone cultivated differently. When another person’s spiritual power entered one’s own body, not only was it difficult to integrate, it would also hinder the growth of one’s spiritual power. It brought countless disadvantages and no benefits whatsoever.
Xi Yu’s hand suddenly clenched.
The car was still moving, and he instinctively turned his head to look at Lu Zhixing.
Lu Zhixing raised his brows slightly, the curve of his lips faint and malicious.
It was a thoroughly provocative gesture.
“Bro, why do you keep looking at him?” Luo Cheng’an teased with exaggerated winks. “Is Brother Lu really handsome? Are you falling for him~?”
His heart had not moved, but his hand had.
Xi Yu slapped Luo Cheng’an on the back.
“Straighten your back. Stop acting like you don’t have any bones all day.”
Lu Zhixing’s identity was unclear. Xi Yu could not pry the answers out of him, so he would have to wait and see.
Luo Cheng’an kept chattering beside him.
Xi Yu discovered that Luo Cheng’an was incredibly clingy. He liked sticking close to him whenever he had the chance.
The last person this clingy had been his disciple.
He wondered whether his good boy was doing all right now.
For the time being, he could not return to Heaven. With his current physical body, he would probably explode and die before even making it halfway there. He would have to find another way.
Lu Zhixing was neither distinguishably divine nor demonic, while he himself was currently caught between human and divine.
He could wait a little longer.
As long as he stayed alive, there would always be a chance for them to meet again.
Xi Yu lowered his eyes.
It was already irritating enough that he could not see his disciple while still alive.
After returning to the Luo residence, seeing Luo Shujing’s family of three sitting in the living room made him even more irritated.
………………………..
“I’ll go back to my room and sleep first.”
Xi Yu spoke slowly and calmly, becoming the only person among them who was not awkward.
He was terribly sleepy. He had expended too much spiritual power at Old Man Jiang’s place just now and desperately needed to rest.
If not for that candy from Lu Zhixing, he probably would not have been able to hold out this long.
Xi Yu had just started upstairs when Luo Cheng’an grabbed his hand.
Luo Cheng’an looked at Xi Yu pitifully and wailed, “Bro…”
Bro, my ass!
Shen Qing and Luo Yuan looked quite calm, showing little surprise, as though they had already known these people would come.
What Xi Yu had not expected was that Luo Shujing’s family could actually come and go freely in a villa equipped with fingerprint recognition.
The Luo family really did trust this family.
It was just a pity that Luo Yuan regarded them as close blood relatives, while they had never considered that. Instead, they wanted to trample over the bones of him, his wife, and his son to enjoy their fortune.
Xi Yu originally did not want to stay and watch what happened next.
But Luo Cheng’an refused to let go.
“Bro, please, please~” Luo Cheng’an begged softly.
Xi Yu said nothing and sat down helplessly.
Luo Yuan looked at his younger biological brother with a cold expression.
Although he could not reveal that he knew about the formation, what Luo Shujing had done today had given him an excuse to confront him.
Even without completely breaking ties, he could at least vent some of his anger.
“What are you still doing here?!”
Luo Shan gave an embarrassed smile and pushed Luo Shujing.
Luo Shujing’s face was deathly pale. The injuries caused by the backlash would not heal in a short time. Pushed forward by his father, a trace of embarrassment flashed through his eyes, but he quickly stood up and knelt before Luo Yuan.
Shen Qing accepted the tea handed over by the nanny and pretended to be surprised.
“What are you doing? You haven’t recovered yet. The floor is cold. Why don’t you get up?”
That was what she said, but she made no move to help him. Instead, she took a light sip of tea.
Seeing this, Zhang Yue got up and sat beside Shen Qing. Tears welled in her eyes.
“Let him kneel! After all these years as sisters-in-law, I’ve always regarded you as my own sister. Shujing was sick and lost his footing, causing such a huge misunderstanding. If this makes our relationship more distant, I’ll have to break this child’s legs myself!”
Zhang Yue wiped away her tears, turning deliberate entrapment into a misunderstanding with just two sentences.
Shen Qing gently brushed Zhang Yue away without saying a word.
Zhang Yue performed her solo act for quite some time, yet she received no response whatsoever. A trace of barely perceptible impatience flashed through her eyes.
She glanced at Luo Yuan and Luo Cheng’an from the corner of her eye. Seeing that neither of them was saying anything, she felt somewhat embarrassed.
What was wrong with this useless family today?!
In the past, whenever she showed the slightest bit of weakness, Shen Qing and Luo Yuan would always give in.
Luo Shujing, who had remained silent all this time, also realized that things might not be so easy to smooth over today. His eyes reddened as he looked at Luo Cheng’an.
“Uncle, I really didn’t frame Cheng’an. My health has always been poor. I really just lost my footing. I was dizzy at the time and had no idea I had pushed him.”