His great uncle’s family had raised him, and his cousin had treated him as a dear younger brother. Such a small favor was something he had long kept in mind.
“Thank you, A Che…” the great uncle pursed his lips.
When the great uncle brought word back, Liu Chunming immediately took swift action, bringing Li Chengzhou and a somewhat sheepish Li Zhengran, his older cousin, to thank Li Che.
Ever since Li Zhengran had been brought back from the Million Gambling House by Li Che, he had felt awkward. Despite turning over a new leaf, there was a sense of shame, and he found it hard to look Li Che in the eye.
However, his cousin-in-law, Liu Chunming, was somewhat angry, “Although A Che sees you as family, he has done our family such a big favor. Going to thank him is only proper!”
“Chengzhou’s future is closely linked to A Che; what are you nervous about, as his father?! Huh!”
Li Zhengran fell silent, pulled along by Liu Chunming.
“A Che, to take care of Chengzhou in the mountains… We must rely on you. He is still young, just three years old…” said his cousin-in-law, Liu Chunming, her voice choking up as she spoke.
Li Che looked at the restrained Li Chengzhou and, smiling, picked him up, saying to Liu Chunming, “Don’t worry. Chengzhou… he’s even a few months younger than Xi Xi. Such a child, if not for his future, which parents would willingly part with their child?”
“I’ve just received the Divine Sect’s pass from the Sect Master himself. I’ll be under the Green Mountain Peak Master’s command. When you want to visit Xi Xi in the Divine Sect, just find Yaya, take the pass and go up the mountain together.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Chunming covered her mouth, her face flushed with excitement as she cried tears of joy.
Li Zhengran watched his wife’s expression, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He turned to Li Che and said earnestly, “A Che… thank you so much!”
Li Che smiled and replied, “Cousin, you’re too polite. Don’t worry.”
Li Zhengran nodded firmly.
The great aunt could not help but wipe away tears, too.
“Come on, after Chengzhou’s Outer Sect disciple assessment is over, we’ll all go to my residence to celebrate with a feast tonight!”
Li Che said with a smile.
“Nurse Momo, invite the Green Mountain senior to join us, too.”
Nurse Momo held Xi Xi in her arms, her face full of tender smiles as she replied.
“Li, what about me?”
Shangguan Qinghong spoke up, her mouth stuffed with preserved fruit.
“You… just scoop up a bowl.” Li Che joked.
Shangguan Qinghong didn’t mind the teasing, and immediately grinned, running off to play with Xi Xi.
…
…
The Li family of Listening Flowers Lane had become completely famous in the area.
The news that Xi Xi had become the Divine Sect’s Sect Master’s true successor had spread throughout Golden Light Prefecture City in just half a day.
A Divine Child with a hundred-foot Divinity, a rarity once in fifty years for the entire prefecture!
What a shock it was!
The Li family could be considered an example of one person attaining the Way and lifting the entire family to the heavens!
In three days’time, the news spread even more rapidly, and the doorstep of Li Che’s Listening Flowers Lane residence was nearly worn thin from visitors.
Almost every day brought people coming to offer congratulations.
Among the Five Great Clans, the Hai Family, Gongyang Family, and Gong Family each sent people to congratulate them, bringing lavish gifts.
Even the Qin Family, to Li Che’s surprise, sent gifts. It was Qin Haonan, an important figure from the third generation of the Qin Family, who was related to Qin Yuqing whom Li Che had shot, who sent the substantial gifts.
“Master Li, my sister… may have shifted her anger toward your family, causing you fear and trouble… my Qin Family is here to apologize,” said Qin Haonan with a sincere attitude.
One does not hit a smiling face, and naturally, Li Che let bygones be bygones with a smile. Initially, Qin Yuqing did indeed bring him considerable pressure upon arriving at the Mansion City.
But now, with Qin Yuqing shot by him and the Qin Family offering an apology, he naturally wouldn’t create enemies without reason.
The Shangguan Family had not sent anyone, which was not surprising since Shangguan Qing Lei nearly died from an attack by Xi Xi.
And Shangguan Zhengheng even intended to use the Void Aspect to pressure Xi Xi.
This grudge was carefully noted by Li Che.
When it comes to being petty, especially regarding his daughter… Li Che has zero tolerance!
The Temple Control Bureau and the Qintian Observatory also had people visiting, all having attended the banquet.
Almost every major influence in the Mansion City had come by.
This made Listening Flowers Lane suddenly the center of attention in the city, and the neighbors around Flower Lane were stunned, each reflecting and wondering if they had somehow offended the Li family.
…
Warm spring winds heralded the end of the late cold snap, warming the air.
All things began to revive, and plants started sprouting tender buds.
In Listening Flowers Lane, the spring breeze brought the fresh scent of willow catkins and moist earth.
The alley was extremely lively.
People had gathered early on, and Zhang Ya dressed Xi Xi in new clothes and tied her hair with a cute red rope.
She even lightly dotted Xi Xi’s forehead with vermillion sand.
“Xi Xi, when you get to Divine Sect Mountain, listen to your master, okay? Don’t be naughty. Without your mom by your side, be good,” she advised her.
“Xi Xi will miss mom, and mom will miss you. Without mom to put you to sleep, you have to learn to sleep on your own at night…”
“Xi Xi, get along with your fellow disciples, but of course, if they bully you, you must tell daddy and mommy, tell your Sect Master… You are young, your Sect Master will surely stand by you!”
…
Zhang Ya held Xi Xi tightly, her lips gently pressed, incessantly talking.
Her eyes were already swirling with tears.
She really didn’t want to let go of Xi Xi.
However, the Sect Master Nan Lihuo said that to ensure Xi Xi’s safety, it would be best for her to stay on the main peak of Golden Light Peak. Otherwise, Li Che could be responsible for escorting Xi Xi to and from the peak.
Outside, a carriage was ready, with an eighteen-year-old lady in a pink long dress, a radiant smile, and a Godly Pattern on her forehead, sitting quietly on the carriage shaft, waiting.
This lady was Sang Guanyin, the fourth disciple of Nan Lihuo and a person of Divine Base Perfection.
She was the only female disciple among Nan Lihuo’s four followers, and now with Xi Xi joining, she was not the only one anymore.