Disbanding the Family, Xiuyun Suspects

An inch of time is an inch of gold; three inches of time are worth a xin.

Three days later.

Inside the Chu Family mansion, faint sounds of crying could be heard from within, but they were all pacified and silenced by Chu Ge.

Among them, maids like Little Spring Flower, who had the closest relationship with Chu Ge, were all weeping profusely, their eyes red and swollen, hoping Chu Ge would take them with him.

But faced with Chu Ge's resolve, the many servants could only resign themselves, either accepting the severance pay and reluctantly leaving with their packed belongings, or choosing to follow Steward Fu to the Fulailai Inn to work as helpers.

Steward Fu handed the money in his hand to Chu Ge. "Young Master, I don't need this money. You'll need funds to pave your way when you're out and about. Keeping the inn for me, this old bone to manage, is enough for my retirement."

Chu Ge shook his head and smiled, pushing Steward Fu's hand away. "Steward Fu, I've already saved quite a bit for myself. Your share cannot be less, or my parents in the afterlife will poke my spine."

"Young Master." Steward Fu couldn't help but tear up upon hearing this.

With such an employer, what more could he ask for? He proactively said, "Young Master, I will also often come from the inn to stay and manage this old family mansion for you. Otherwise, it will be overgrown with weeds in a few years, and you and the Eldest Young Lady will dislike it when you return."

"Mm. Steward Fu, I trust you with my affairs. The keys to the mansion are yours."

Chu Ge nodded with a smile, then patted the shoulder of the taciturn and speechless Hei Gouzi. Seeing the young man could only redden his eyes and hold back his tears, he chuckled.

"Hei Gouzi, Steward Fu is old. After I leave, you will follow Steward Fu closely, take care of him, and next year, Steward Fu will arrange a marriage for you!"

"Thank you, Young Master! Young Master, I wish you a safe journey! Come back often." Hei Gouzi was so grateful he was moved to tears.

Chu Ge waved his hand and went inside. After packing his belongings, there were several large boxes and bundles, mostly containing his precious Shadow Puppets and a large amount of materials.

After the servants carried these items out, they filled an entire horse-drawn carriage.

"Chu Ge, you really have quite a lot of things, and they're all those paper-cutting shadow puppet items?"

At this moment, several carriages were approaching from the opposite street. The door of the carriage at the front opened, and Wang Xiuyun poked her head out and asked with a smile.

"Not entirely, some are my clothes and belongings."

Chu Ge laughed heartily. "Your family's merchant ship is ready, right? This time, I'll be taking a free ride and saving on the travel expenses."

"Free ride?"

Wang Xiuyun was amused by Chu Ge's sudden novel phrase, but she understood what he meant. She waved her hand. "You are a master of the Bone Training Realm. With you accompanying me, the journey will be much safer. If you were to pay me for the travel, I would have to pay you, a master, instead."

After they exchanged pleasantries, they didn't linger.

Soon, along with the coachmen, they drove the carriages straight to the pier.

The journey to the Prefectural City by water was a thousand li, and by land, it was still over eight hundred li. It was truly a long and arduous journey, quite difficult given the transportation conditions of the era.

After a simple meal at the Wang Family's restaurant near the pier, the porters responsible for the transport also moved the luggage onto the Wang Family's merchant ship.

Immediately, everyone boarded the ship together.

Wang Xiuyun had clearly made arrangements in advance, assigning Chu Ge a luxurious, clean, and comfortable cabin on the ship.

The floor inside was covered with a thick wool carpet, and a guqin was placed by the window.

In each of the four corners of the room, a toad-shaped incense burner was placed, emitting wisps of fragrant smoke from the toad's mouth, filling the room with its aroma.

"How is it, are you satisfied?" Wang Xiuyun asked with a smile, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents.

Chu Ge praised, "With such a fine room for the journey, it is naturally very good. Thank you, Xiuyun."

"You don't need to be so polite."

Wang Xiuyun smiled, her pretty face radiant. "By the way. I heard you like paper-cutting and shadow puppets. I found some paper-cuts last time. Can you help me see what styles these are?"

She took out some colorful paper-cut fragments from her bosom and handed them to Chu Ge.

Chu Ge recognized them as his own work almost at first glance.

They must have been shattered by the force of the qi when he fought the Corpse Driver that day and left at the scene.

However, Tian Youji and the others had arrived then, and he had left in a hurry, with no time to clean up and collect them.

But he had already anticipated this and had plans.

He pretended to frown as he took them and examined them, then chuckled.

"Aren't these the ones I made? I used to make many paper-cut door gods and shadow puppets, giving them away for free to some children in the city to play with. Whose are these? They've been made so poorly."

"These are yours? What a coincidence."

Wang Xiuyun's eyes widened in surprise. She immediately smiled and said that she liked them very much and wanted Chu Ge to give her some.

Chu Ge did not refuse.

He casually opened a cabinet and let Wang Xiuyun choose some herself.

The paper figures and shadow puppets he made were all categorized.

The boxes also had false bottoms. The top layer contained ordinary items for disguise.

Wang Xiuyun chose a paper lantern, smiled with satisfaction, and left.

After Chu Ge closed the door, she stared at the lantern in her hand with a confused expression. She recalled Chu Ge's demeanor just now and murmured, "It seems I was overthinking things."

She had suspected if Chu Ge had any connection with that benefactor senior.

Otherwise, why would she suddenly be rescued not long after Chu Ge received a reminder from the Little Qin constable that day?

There were also paper-cutting fragments found in the room where the benefactor elder and the Corpse Driver had a fierce fight, which looked similar to the materials used by the Chu Family.

Combined with Chu Ge's strength, reaching the Bone Training Realm in just two and a half years, as well as his changed personality and strange daily hobbies.

It made her feel that her childhood friend was very mysterious, just like that benefactor. Perhaps the two had some connection.

But now, it seemed she might have been worrying unnecessarily.

Inside the room, Chu Ge looked around before taking out a lady-shaped lantern from a box and hanging it up, infusing it with Exotic Power.

The lady on the lantern smiled charmingly, her eyes twinkling, signaling Chu Ge to relax.

There were no tricks set up in the room.

Chu Ge immediately felt at ease, touched his sleeve, and said, "Come out!"

His sleeve moved slightly, and a delicate little head with tender sprout-like tentacles emerged.

Immediately, Little Sprite Qian crawled out. Upon landing, she bowed slightly with a hint of a pout.

These past two days, she had been repeatedly exhausted by Chu Ge's cultivation and had gotten somewhat familiar with him, daring to have minor emotional outbursts.

Chu Ge looked at her expression and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Little Sprite Qian was still pouting, but her gaze flickered towards the box opposite them.

Chu Ge immediately understood her meaning and walked over with a smile, opening the box.

Little Sprite Qian's eyes lit up. She immediately hopped over, leaped into the box, and grabbed a corner of a Shadow Puppet with a charming and cute face, unwilling to let go.

Chu Ge watched as the little creature dragged the Shadow Puppet out. Her small size was less than a fifth of the Shadow Puppet's, and her struggling looked quite amusing.

He casually picked up the Shadow Puppet and laid down the rules, "You can possess this Shadow Puppet and move around, but for now, you're confined to the room and mustn't be discovered by anyone.

Once I reach the Prefectural City and settle down, you can move freely within a certain range, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Little Qian's dimples appeared, making her look incredibly beautiful. She nodded repeatedly, looking up at Chu Ge, her eyes conveying her agreement and obedience.

"Alright, now let's focus on the important matters. Time is precious, and cultivation is even more so!!"

Chu Ge revealed a warm smile.

However, this smile seemed somewhat terrifying to Little Qian.

The thought of being drained of her energy by this big guy again made her extremely reluctant.

But after all, she was now benefiting from his generosity. Chu Ge provided her with Exotic Power daily, and she even got to wear various beautiful 'new clothes.'

Compared to her previous life, being sealed in an ugly iron head, unable to go anywhere and forced to harm others, this was much better.

Therefore, facing Chu Ge's daily demands, she could only express her dissatisfaction with a wistful glance, while her body obediently climbed onto Chu Ge's head, extending her cute tentacles to consume Exotic Power, infuse her spirit, and protect Chu Ge's meridians and acupoints.

"Hoo!"

Chu Ge felt the threads of protection within his meridians and acupoints and exhaled deeply.

He seized the time to mobilize his Exotic Power to enhance his Qi and Blood, visualizing the cultivation of the Tiger Crouching Technique.

With Little Qian protecting his meridians and acupoints, his cultivation speed for two days was equivalent to three days of past cultivation, a significant improvement in efficiency.

He could now condense one-sixth of a tiger's head and had broken through to the middle stage of the Blood Change Realm.

At this rate, perhaps in two months, he could cultivate to the peak of the Blood Change Realm and attempt the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, to explore the secrets of his Spiritual Aptitude.

His cultivation time had been shortened by a month!

"The letter I sent to Big Sister three days ago should have arrived by now, right?"

With this thought, Chu Ge entered a deeper level of cultivation.

Hidden Water Sect.

The sect was situated on a mountainside shrouded in mist, the peaks appearing as if wrapped in soft, white cotton.

The secret areas of the sect were all built within a natural cave within the mountain, the Hidden Water Cave.

One day, a Kestrel flew in and landed on the mountain. Soon, a disciple carrying a letter arrived at a secluded and elegant small building.

In front of the building was a clear pond, with flowers and plants planted on the other three sides. A plaque hung above the building, inscribed with the words "Welcome Snow Pavilion" in running script.

"Senior Sister Chu, there's another letter from your family, sent via urgent Kestrel..."

(Third update, 8,000 characters! More exciting content tomorrow, please continue to follow and cast your monthly votes!)