Chapter 1063: Chapter 1062: Kong Lan’s Doubts
Although Kong Lan is formidable, unfortunately Si Lingxi is stronger. After dual cultivation with Lu Zheng, the Phoenix Power imbued with mysterious aura allows Si Lingxi to frequently enter the profound Enlightenment Realm at her peak moments.
So, even though it’s been a mere year, Si Lingxi’s progress in the realm is even greater than her progress in cultivation.
Guiding Kong Lan is naturally relaxed and carefree; within a few words, she pinpointed the key issue, providing guidance for Kong Lan’s subsequent cultivation.
"Thank you, Palace Master!"
Kong Lan left her seat, knelt to the ground, and kowtowed nine times. As Lu Zheng looked down, she appeared as a graceful and alluring smooth curve.
Blinking, he sensed his wife’s gaze and naturally withdrew his gaze, then raised his cup and drank it down.
Liu Qingyan pursed her lips and chuckled covertly, while Si Lingxi gently raised her hand and helped Kong Lan up effortlessly.
"Sit."
"Yes."
Kong Lan resumed her seat and then raised her cup in a distant toast to Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan.
She saw clearly that Si Lingxi had pointed out her in front of the two, reminding her to respect them intentionally.
Thus, even though Kong Lan had lingering doubts, out of respect for Si Lingxi, she did not express them immediately.
...
After the meal, the three of them went to the back mountain.
Red Crane had just called the maid to tidy the tableware when Kong Lan pulled her aside.
"Who exactly are Young Master Lu and Miss Liu?" Kong Lan asked.
She had just emerged from seclusion and went to meet Si Lingxi, only to find out she was not there. Then she heard from Red Crane and the other three about Si Lingxi finding an ideal husband, who also had other women.
At that moment, Kong Lan was stunned.
Si Lingxi is aloof and proud, unmatched in the world. In Kong Lan’s eyes, she is the unrivaled Divine Lady, and no man in this world is worthy of her!
Moreover, Si Lingxi has always been Kong Lan’s idol; her life’s aspiration is to follow in Si Lingxi’s footsteps, to soar high and overlook the world.
Yet, during her brief seclusion, her idol was whisked away by a man?
And this man is a philanderer?
Her Palace Master is unperturbed?
What kind of bizarre development is this? Could the Palace Master be under some enchantment? But, given her Dao Practice, how could she fall for it?
Conflicted and perplexed, Kong Lan did not inquire further details from Red Crane and the others, so she remained unaware of Lu Zheng’s achievements with the "Phoenix Order" and "Phoenix Maiden Playing the Zither Painting," nor the miracle of the high-yield seeds.
She also had no knowledge of Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor plotting against Si Lingxi, leading to Lu Zheng taking her together across to Blue Star for "healing."
Thus, when Kong Lan first saw Lu Zheng, she cast a scrutinizing and skeptical gaze, which naturally caught Si Lingxi’s attention.
And that led to the scene at the luncheon.
...
"Young Master Lu is a disciple of the White Cloud Temple in the Central Plains, and Miss Liu is from the Tushan Celestial Fox lineage."
"I know, you’ve told me that," Kong Lan waved her hand and said, "But how did the Palace, the Palace Master take a liking to Young Master Lu?"
"Because Young Master Lu is so talented!" Xuan Mei said with sparkling eyes at the side, "That night, when the Palace Master unveiled the ’Zither Painting,’ I felt moved."
Bi Hu nodded repeatedly, "And the ensemble of the Palace Master with Young Master Lu was beautiful!"
Bai Yuan, more composed, added, "This year’s high-yield crops harvested by the tribe beneath Phoenix Mountain should also be related to Young Master Lu."
Kong Lan grabbed the four of them, "Why didn’t you tell me anything?"
"You didn’t ask?"
Kong Lan: ???
After listening to Red Crane and the others, Kong Lan still had a face full of question marks, her brows furrowed.
Red Crane and the others grew up on Phoenix Mountain, and they are Si Lingxi’s personal maids, deeply influenced by her art, and being young, easily infatuated, thus captivated by Lu Zheng’s "talent."
But Kong Lan is a top expert under Phoenix Mountain’s command, and is confident in her own skills and experience, being much less susceptible to "deception."
In her view, no matter how talented Lu Zheng might be, it should be impossible for Si Lingxi to easily offer herself, let alone the luncheon just now which didn’t reveal Lu Zheng as particularly impressive.
Not to mention, the chess skills of Wansong Mountain’s old pine tree are unparalleled, a previous Sword Immortal from the Central Plains was extraordinarily gifted, and a Music Saint once invented a unique musical instrument, none of which stirred Si Lingxi.
What makes Lu Zheng so special that a piece of music and a painting can win Si Lingxi’s affection?
That’s absolutely impossible!
After dispatching Red Crane and the others, Kong Lan stood alone in a corner of the side hall, gazing towards the back mountain, her cool and beautiful face revealing a hint of perplexity and confusion.
"There must have been something we don’t know that happened." Kong Lan’s eyes narrowed, "Something that ’compelled’ the Palace Master to offer herself to Lu Zheng."
Kong Lan’s gaze seemed to pierce through countless walls and buildings, cliffs and trees, to glimpse Si Lingxi and Lu Zheng at the back mountain.
"What exactly happened?"
"What could have affected the Palace Master’s heart so?"
Kong Lan squinted her eyes, took a deep breath, then turned and left, her graceful silhouette disappearing into the dense forest of the mountains.
...
At the top of the back mountain cliff under a phoenix tree, Lu Zheng and Si Lingxi sat facing each other, Liu Qingyan at the side brewed tea with Cosmic Fire, also placing pine nuts nearby.
Si Lingxi placed a white piece on the celestial star, while Lu Zheng followed with a black one.
With a crunching sound, after eating a pine nut containing vibrant Spiritual Qi, Lu Zheng sighed, "Phoenix Mountain has such formidable experts!"
Si Lingxi smiled faintly, "The White Cloud Temple’s back mountain has plenty of experts as well. My Phoenix Mountain can’t rely on me alone for everything."
Lu Zheng laughed, "Isn’t there Red Crane and Bai Yuan though."
Si Lingxi shook her head, "They’re too weak."
Red Crane and the others are considered experts anywhere, being the main force of the clan, yet in Si Lingxi’s words, still "too weak."
The two placed pieces in turn, while Liu Qingyan served tea to them both, "Lingxi Sister pointed out Miss Kong during the banquet, is that alright?"
"No problem," Si Lingxi waved a hand, "Kong Lan has an arrogant nature, a lesson is necessary."
Lu Zheng couldn’t help but laugh, "She still doesn’t know about what’s between us, and frankly, she’s speaking out for you."
Si Lingxi shook her head, "Spreading her wings, daring to question me."
"But then, didn’t you just subdue her backhandedly," Lu Zheng laughed.
Si Lingxi’s lips curled as she gently placed another piece, "By the way, tomorrow you will accompany me into the Divine Fire Grotto Heaven of Phoenix Mountain."
"Is that where you were born?"
Si Lingxi nodded, "A Flame World, ideal for cultivating Phoenix Divine Fire."
"Will we be in seclusion?" Lu Zheng asked.
"Depends on how long you can cultivate." Si Lingxi pondered, "About ten days or so."
Lu Zheng nodded, "Alright!"
