Chapter 760: Li Residence Fetal Energy

"She hasn't given birth in three years; isn't that a ghost baby?"

Xiezhi, seeing that Jiyuan wasn't competing with him for food, wasn't eating as happily. As he chewed the fish, he kept an eye on Jiyuan's movements and naturally heard the scholar's words, but he certainly wouldn't consider the other person's feelings.

Upon hearing Xiezhi's words, Li Ping's expression naturally soured, but he didn't dare to get angry. He simply looked at Xiezhi, who was continuously picking at the fish, and explained.

"Sir, what you said is mistaken. My wife has been attended by many famous physicians, and her fetal pulse has always been stable. We even invited sorcerers to examine her, and they all said my wife's condition was good and the child in her womb was healthy. It's just that, it's just that..."

"It just hasn't been born yet?"

Jiyuan interjected with that question, and Li Ping nodded.

"Yes, it hasn't been born yet, and we don't know what to do. It's almost three years now. Although my wife's belly hasn't been constantly growing, our entire family is growing more and more worried. Not only have we consulted many renowned physicians and sorcerers, but I even petitioned the capital before, though without a reply. This time, I plan to go to the capital to personally request an audience with His Majesty, to implore him, for the sake of my half-century of service to the court, to have the Imperial Preceptor, Saint Monk Moyun, examine her."

Hearing this, Jiyuan once again scrutinized the scholar named Li Ping. Indeed, although his official aura was dim, suggesting he no longer held a position, it hadn't dissipated entirely. This indicated a strong possibility that he would hold office again, and also that he still held a certain standing in the Emperor's eyes.

"So, Master Li is on his way to the capital?"

"Precisely. It's a long journey; we've been traveling for half a month and are now approaching Jiangko, the auxiliary capital. I estimate it will take at least another month to reach the main capital. However, meeting two esteemed individuals like yourselves today might spare me this trip..."

At this point, Li Ping lowered his voice and cautiously asked Jiyuan.

"Might I ask, sir, if you would be willing to visit my home and take a look?"

"Are you sure I can discern your wife's condition? Perhaps my visit would be of no use."

What Li Ping thought was that his trip to the capital would likely not even grant him an audience with the Emperor, making his hopes very slim. Meeting the two individuals before him felt like a last resort. However, he couldn't say that aloud. He looked at Jiyuan with a very solemn expression and stood up.

"Sir, what are you saying? From seeing you both, I know you are extraordinary. That feat of moving objects from a distance was truly the work of an immortal, performed with more ease than most sorcerers I have ever seen. I implore you, sir, to save my Li family. Whether you succeed or not, there will certainly be a generous reward!"

As he spoke, Li Ping bowed deeply to Jiyuan once more. His words and manners were impeccable.

Jiyuan considered this, glanced at Xiezhi, who, despite eating the fish, was paying attention to their conversation, then turned back to Li Ping and helped him straighten up.

"Master Li, there's no need for such formalities. I am indeed interested in visiting your home to see. Once you've finished your lunch, we shall set off for your residence."

Li Ping was overjoyed and quickly bowed again.

"Thank you, sir, thank you! My Li family will certainly offer a generous reward, and if this succeeds, we will never forget your great kindness."

"Heh, Jiyuan is willing to help you. It has nothing to do with me, so don't include me."

Xiezhi chuckled softly and continued to feast, while Li Ping merely offered an awkward smile. He couldn't say anything to Xiezhi's remark, so he simply looked at Jiyuan with gratitude. At least the gratitude he showed seemed somewhat sincere to Jiyuan.

"All right, sit down and drink your tea. This tea is also a precious commodity, rarely tasted by ordinary people."

Jiyuan picked up the teapot and refilled Li Ping's cup. Li Ping quickly sat down, carefully inhaling the tea's aroma. He had just drunk this tea, and he still felt a warmth spreading through his body, more potent than elixirs refined by some sorcerers or immortals.

However, Jiyuan only refilled Li Ping's cup once. Afterward, even when Li Ping's teacup was empty, he never poured for him again. Li Ping, of course, didn't dare to take the teapot himself to pour more tea; everyone around knew this tea was extraordinary.

Soon after, the food that had been prepared, though lacking the unique aroma of Jiyuan's fish, was quite bountiful, consisting of vegetables, fruit, and meat.

"Master, the meal is ready. Please come and eat!"

The servants placed all the food on a nearby table before reporting. Li Ping naturally invited Jiyuan and Xiezhi to dine with them.

"Esteemed sirs, we have good wine and delicious food here. Would you care to join us for a bit more?"

Jiyuan merely smiled and shook his head, then got up and returned to the table where Xiezhi was. Little fish was left there, and Xiezhi showed no interest in Li Ping's food, not even offering a response.

Since the esteemed individuals were not interested, the Li family party naturally ate their own meal. Jiyuan and Xiezhi continued to eat fish at their table. As the fish was almost gone, Xiezhi suddenly became more refined, chewing each piece of meat slowly and deliberately for a while.

Jiyuan observed Xiezhi's demeanor, mischievously guessing that he didn't want to finish his food and then watch others eat.

The people in Li family's entourage, of course, couldn't afford to eat slowly this time. They quickly finished their meal, preparing to set off. The guards had already been discussing the matter and approached Li Ping to speak as soon as he finished eating.

"Master, since we are returning immediately, if we ride hard along the original route this afternoon, we should be able to reach our last campsite, which would be more convenient. If the two esteemed sirs do not have luggage, they could choose to ride horses or sit in the back carriage, which is also more spacious."

The head guard still didn't want the two esteemed individuals, whom they had met by chance, to share a carriage with his master. However, Jiyuan stood up and smiled.

"There's no need for such trouble. It won't take long to get back. Since you've finished eating, we can depart now."

With that, Jiyuan looked at the horses and carriages nearby, then casually waved his sleeve. His long sleeve seemed to stretch endlessly like an illusion. After a gust of clear wind, both carriages and more than a dozen horses were all swept into Jiyuan's sleeve. The guards standing by the carriages didn't even have time to react, while everyone else was utterly dumbfounded.

"To be frank, I am quite concerned about the fetus in your wife's womb. It would be best to go and examine it sooner rather than later."

Li Ping stared blankly at Jiyuan.

"Sir, where have our carriages and horses gone?"

"Master Li, rest assured, the carriages and horses are all safely in my sleeve. Are you all ready?"

The head guard on the side subconsciously asked a question.

"Ready for what?"

"Heh, to be carried away by the wind, naturally. If you feel flustered, just close your eyes."

Having said this, Jiyuan didn't wait for their reply. He waved his sleeve again, and everyone in and around the tea shed felt a refreshing breeze wash over them.

Then, in the next instant, everyone felt light on their feet. Accompanied by a slight sensation of weightlessness, they all rose into the air, flying upwards with Jiyuan towards the sky.

"Ahhh!" "Oh, mother, I can't come down!"

"Flying, we're flying!"

Some shrieked, some looked excited, while others simply closed their eyes, too afraid to look. The ascent was incredibly fast; in a short time, the tea shed below had shrunk to a tiny speck, and looking down became utterly terrifying.

"Immortal master, immortal master... please fly more carefully..."

Li Ping was extremely excited, but also very flustered at that moment, calling out repeatedly.

"Relax and stand firm!"

With a thought from Jiyuan, mist emanated around everyone's feet, quickly forming a white cloud. This gave them a new place to stand, and although it felt soft and unsupported, it was much better than before.

Xiezhi arrived a step late, flying up from below and landing on the cloud next to Jiyuan. However, he was too lazy to look at the excited faces of the people behind him. His body dissolved into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared, while the painting scroll automatically flew towards Jiyuan and finally entered his sleeve.

"Immortal, Immortal master, my home is in Kuinan Prefecture City, nearly a thousand li from here..."

"Yes, I know."

Jiyuan replied, and without any visible incantation or gesture, simply with a thought, he guided everyone on the cloud towards Kuinan Prefecture City.

Li Ping and the others cautiously observed the sky's scenery and the moving mountains and rivers below. The excitement in their hearts was inexpressible, and they couldn't help but occasionally discuss where they were passing.

A great hope also surged in Li Ping's heart; he knew he had met a true immortal today, and his hope was stronger than ever. He wanted to speak more with Jiyuan, but on one hand, he was afraid of heights, and on the other, he dared not say much. Supported by two guards at his side, he could only excitedly look forward and listen to the exhilarated chatter of his servants about flying.

From high in the sky, the ground seemed to move slowly, but the actual speed far exceeded Li Ping and the others' imagination. Before long, they would discuss where they had reached, how long it had taken, and yet they hardly felt any time had passed before Kuinan Prefecture City came into view.

The white cloud slowly began to descend, and the sensation of speed intensified. Before long, Jiyuan brought everyone directly down to the main road outside the Li Manor. Passersby seemed not to notice the large group descending from the sky, continuing with their walks and strolls. Even the two house servants guarding the Li Manor gate appeared to overlook them.

Jiyuan waved his sleeve again, and the carriages and horses that had been stored within it all flew out, landing on the open ground outside the manor. The carriages were intact, but the horses seemed slightly startled, repeatedly stomping their feet, appearing restless. Several guards instinctively hurried forward to grasp the reins and calm the horses.

Li Ping seemed to still be in a dream. He looked left and right, then at the plaque of the Li Manor, confirming that he had indeed returned home.

"Master Li, aren't you going to knock on the gate?"

Jiyuan's voice reached him, and Li Ping awoke as if from a dream.

"Yes, yes, yes, Immortal Master, please wait, Immortal Master, please wait. I'll knock on the gate. Oh, and where is the other Immortal Master? I saw him disappear as he went onto the cloud..."

"There's no need to call me Immortal Master; 'Mister' as before will suffice. As for that fellow daoist, he doesn't wish to concern himself with this matter and has gone to sleep. Master Li, you needn't worry."

"Yes, yes, in that case, I am relieved!"

After nodding, Li Ping wiped away the sweat that had beaded on his brow from the anxious flight and personally stood before the manor gate.

"What are you doing? Didn't you see that I, your master, have returned? Why are you still standing there stunned?"

After these few words, the house servants guarding the Li Manor gate paused in surprise. Looking carefully at the main road in front of the gate, they saw that, unbeknownst to them, carriages, horses, and many people were now standing there—it was indeed their master and the household members who had gone out.

"Still standing there? Were you just dozing off?"

"Oh, oh, Master!" "The Master is back!"

"Master, it's my fault, I didn't see you return, but I certainly wasn't dozing off just now..."

"Alright, alright, open the main gate wide. Then go inside and inform everyone. Pack everything up, and have the household prepare a family banquet!"

"Yes, sir!"

Seeing that their master wasn't angry, the two servants quickly acknowledged the order and pushed open the main gate. Li Ping then hurried back to Jiyuan's side, gesturing for him to enter the manor.

"Sir, please!"

"Mm!"

Jiyuan's pale eyes opened into spiritual sight, like mirrors, surveying the entire aura of the Li Manor. He could clearly see a dense fetal energy in the back courtyard. Upon seeing this energy, it was as if he could perceive a soft, pink, and adorable infant curled within.

However, for some inexplicable reason, despite no presence of evil or malevolence, Jiyuan felt a strong sense of foreboding.

'Indeed, there's something wrong with this child!'