Legacy of the Spirit Stone

Chapter 61 – Li Qingwan

The soft call caught the four people present off guard.

Yang Lingrui swallowed the words that were about to leave his mouth.

Li Cheng glanced back, wanting to say something, but ultimately held back.

"Lingrui, make your own decision, don't force yourself," Li Cheng said.

"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Li. Since Miss Li has said so, it's best to meet, otherwise it would seem that the Yang Clan lacks manners."

Upon hearing Yang Lingrui's response, Li Cheng inexplicably felt a sense of relief.

"Very well."

He led Yang Lingrui to the entrance of the inner courtyard. "I won't go in. You two can talk slowly."

Yang Lingrui walked into the Yingchun Inner Courtyard. The blue bricks with black tiles, white walls with indigo roofs, the overall architectural style of the courtyard was extremely traditional and orderly.

Only the pond full of lotus flowers stood out vividly and lively.

Just like the woman in green standing by the pond, her delicate hands gently held, her embroidered brows slightly lowered, as if a person from a painting had stepped into reality.

From a distance, Yang Lingrui saw that the woman's beauty was like the moon, with a free-spirited and lively aura.

In this regard, the two indeed seemed like a perfect match, no wonder Li Cheng had taken a liking to Yang Lingrui at first sight.

Hearing Yang Lingrui's footsteps approaching, the woman turned around.

"Li Qingwan of the Li Clan of Nanshan."

"Yang Lingrui of the Pine Mountain Yang Clan."

The two exchanged names.

Yang Lingrui was thinking of finding something to talk about, but Li Qingwan stepped forward first.

"How did you end up like this?" She looked at Yang Lingrui with eyes full of pity and spoke softly.

"Miss Li, this..."

"Shh, wait."

Just as Yang Lingrui was about to explain, Li Qingwan raised a finger to make a gesture of silence.

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Then she turned her palm, summoning a sandalwood lotus flower.

She raised her hand slightly, and the lotus flower floated into the air, followed by a light pink curtain that enveloped the entire inner courtyard.

"Alright, now no one can eavesdrop on our conversation."

With that, Li Qingwan gently supported Yang Lingrui's arm, revealing a bright smile.

"You're so weak, come sit down and talk slowly. It wasn't easy for me to get out this time."

"Ah, alright."

Li Qingwan's reaction left Yang Lingrui a bit bewildered.

Earlier, Yang Lingqing had prepared various conversation tactics for him, worried about what kind of person Li Cheng's sister might be, fearing she might belittle or trouble him.

But the current Li Qingwan was nothing like what the Yang Clan had imagined.

The two sat down on a stone bench by the pond, and Yang Lingrui continued to tell Li Qingwan the story of his life.

"Is that so!"

After hearing Yang Lingrui's account, Li Qingwan seemed somewhat indignant.

She glanced back at the courtyard gate, complaining, "My brother has always been like this since he was young, always making decisions on his own without considering others. It's all his fault you're like this now!"

Yang Lingrui quickly shook his head, "It's my own actions, not Young Master Li's fault."

"How can it not be his fault! It's his fault! If it weren't for him orchestrating the marriage and the ceremony between our families, you wouldn't be in this state."

Li Qingwan said angrily, "You respect him because you fear the Li Clan, but his actions are just bullying with power!"

Seeing this, Yang Lingrui quickly soothed her with a few words, and only then did Li Qingwan calm down.

"Rest assured, the final decision is mine. I won't force you, nor will I force the Yang Clan."

"Thank you, Miss Li."

"Alright, let's not talk about this unpleasant matter. Tell me about yourself!"

"Me?"

"Yes, yes, I've been sent to Moonwatch City to train with my master since I was young, and I've never left this city."

Li Qingwan looked at Yang Lingrui with eyes full of anticipation.

Under her eager gaze, Yang Lingrui pondered for a moment and then recounted his experiences over the years.

From entering the path of cultivation, to the family's relocation, to the beast tide crisis, then the chaos of the mines, and later the exploration of the ancient tomb...

Of course, many key details in these stories were altered.

For instance, Chen Yang never appeared, and in the mining incident, it wasn't Zhang Chen he killed, but a bandit leader.

Li Qingwan listened intently, resting her head on her hand.

"Miss Li, that's all," Yang Lingrui said.

"How wonderful..."

Li Qingwan sighed, then looked up at the towering city walls.

Listening to Yang Lingrui's journey and comparing it to her own life, she felt like a caged bird, her eyes showing a hint of sadness.

"Thank you for talking with me today. It's getting late, and the ceremony starts tomorrow. You should go back and rest early."

"Then I'll take my leave, Lingrui. I hope Miss Li won't mind my intrusion today."

Yang Lingrui turned and walked to the door, only to find that the spell curtain had not yet been removed.

At that moment, Li Qingwan's voice came from behind.

"Wait, there's something I haven't told you."

"Miss Li, what is it?"

Li Qingwan looked at Yang Lingrui, suddenly smiled, and said with a slight curl of her lips, "You're very handsome!"

Yang Lingrui was taken aback by her words, and then he saw a blush spread across Li Qingwan's cheeks.

He smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Miss Li. You are also very beautiful."

As he finished speaking, the curtain dissipated.

Yang Lingrui bid farewell to Li Cheng in the outer courtyard and then returned to his residence.

"How was it? How do you feel?"

After Yang Lingrui left, Li Cheng hurried into the inner courtyard to ask.

He hadn't heard anything outside, which made him anxious.

"Heh, nothing much, nothing special."

Li Qingwan rolled her eyes at him and replied irritably.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I refused, it's not happening."

"What!? You!"

Li Cheng's expression changed instantly upon hearing this. "Don't be fooled by appearances. I thought about it carefully outside, and there's something fishy. The Yang Clan might be doing this on purpose, just to..."

"Just to avoid falling into your trap!" Li Qingwan retorted.

Li Cheng was stunned for a moment, then his face darkened. "I have no regrets for the Li Clan, for my family!"

"What a noble sentiment!"

Li Qingwan rushed up to Li Cheng, grabbing his collar. "How many innocent people have you already dragged into the family's affairs? Do you not know what fate awaits them? Now you want to drag the Yang Clan into this too? Li Cheng! You have such a cruel heart!"

"Shut up! You don't understand my intentions! Why do you think I'm doing this?"

Li Cheng grabbed Li Qingwan's wrist in return. "I just want you to leave this wretched place and live freely in this world for a few years!"

Li Qingwan, initially furious, heard these words and her eyes filled with sorrow.

"I don't want this, nor can I accept it."

She said mournfully, "Brother, by now, it's beyond what you and I can change. You should know better than me, stop making futile efforts..."

Li Cheng slowly released his grip, watching his sister walk out of the courtyard and disappear from his sight.

He habitually took out a wine jar from his storage bag, but the next moment he smashed it to pieces.

He wanted to shout in anger, but feared being overheard, so he clenched his fists, letting his nails dig into his palms, using the pain to dull his heartache.

"Thirty years... If I could have another thirty years... why would I fear not reaching Core Formation..."

Li Cheng collapsed to the ground in despair, his eyes gradually losing their light.

The Ancestor sought the Dao of the Stone, and his sister was to become a furnace.

And he was powerless, unable to do anything.