Chapter 59 Part 3

What if? What if Lu Wuqi really was different from the rest?

Sheng Xu knew there was no solid basis for the thought. But as always, delusions didn’t need any support.

–

The barbecue restaurant Sheng Xu had chosen had stellar reviews. By the time they arrived, they snagged the very last private room available.

Looking over ingredients that started at three digits and capped at five, Sheng Xu swiped through the tablet menu. She occasionally turned to consult Lu Wuqi on the dishes.

Lu Wuqi was easy to please. Forget three-digit starters—even single-digit ones were fine, as long as they weren’t loaded with so much tech additives they’d cause problems.

Matching the steep prices was attentive service. Lu Wuqi and Sheng Xu didn’t need to lift a finger to grill; professional servers handled it all. They just had to use their chopsticks.

Since Lu Wuqi was driving, they skipped alcohol and paired the barbecue with soda instead. They ate with great relish.

“Hotel again tonight?” Lu Wuqi set down her chopsticks and asked. Realizing she’d eaten to ninety percent full without noticing, she experimentally sucked in her belly.

“Yeah. I had someone send over clothes.” Sheng Xu smiled. “We can turn in early tonight.”

“No can do. We’ve got to try it tonight—we can’t go too far.” Lu Wuqi reminded her. “The materials my senior brother got for me should be here by now. Want me to teach you how to draw talismans tonight?”

Sheng Xu instinctively wanted to refuse. After all, she was just a container for spiritual power—she couldn’t even use it.

But recalling Lu Wuqi’s earlier attitude, Sheng Xu silently swallowed her words.

“Sure. I taught myself some basic runes once. Not sure if I still remember them.” Sheng Xu smiled, her expression betraying nothing unusual.

After driving back to the hotel, the pair picked up their respective items at the front desk.

But just as they joined hands to head for the elevator, a man seated in the lobby lounge area stood up. He hurried over in big strides and blocked Sheng Xu’s path.

“Xuxu, we let the tantrum slide once. Don’t keep making a fuss. The family has guests coming tomorrow—you need to be there. Come home with me.” The man said.

“Cousin, I thought I made myself clear yesterday.” Sheng Xu instinctively shielded Lu Wuqi behind her and frowned at Sheng Gan. “I think an adult should have the right to decide where they spend the night.”

“But tomorrow’s guests are from the Jia Family. They want to meet you.” Sheng Gan said.

He knew his cousin’s attitude had shifted—she’d gotten tougher. But with the Jia Family here, Sheng Xu had to show up.

“Sir, I believe Xuxu has the right to decide whether she meets them or not. If they’re here to pay a visit, surely only the family head needs to be present?”

Lu Wuqi’s tone was unhurried, as if she were just a passerby chiming in with some fair words. “Or does that mean Xuxu is the Sheng Family head? That without her, the whole family falls apart?”

Hearing Lu Wuqi’s pointed, ambiguous provocation, Sheng Gan’s gaze finally landed on her.

Sheng Gan frowned slightly at first. Then he quickly matched her face to a memory and recognized who this argumentative woman was.

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Lu. I’ve heard so much about you.” Sheng Gan said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “This is our family matter. Even as Xuxu’s friend, Fellow Daoist Lu doesn’t seem qualified to interfere.”

“Then you have it wrong, Fellow Daoist. My bond with Xuxu runs deeper than family. So of course her family business is my family business too.” Lu Wuqi gave Sheng Xu’s palm a reassuring squeeze.

Sheng Gan couldn’t help but scoff, the mockery in his eyes sharpening. “Fellow Daoist Lu, is this hair-splitting what the Imprint Moon Sect elders taught you? Are you sure you want to meddle in Sheng Family affairs as an Imprint Moon Sect disciple?”

“I’m just protecting my friend as a friend. If you insist on seeing it that way, be my guest.” Lu Wuqi wasn’t one to be morally blackmailed.

After all, Lu Wuqi preferred to sidestep morality altogether—no one could tie her down that way.

Lu Wuqi shrugged indifferently. “If Uncle-Master Bufu asks later, I’ll just say you insisted on blowing a personal grudge up into a major conflict. That you want the Sheng Family and Imprint Moon Sect at odds.”

“You…” Sheng Gan had never met someone so shamelessly persistent before, and he was quickly rendered speechless.

There was no helping it. After all, the Sheng Family was merely a clan with some minor influence. They couldn’t openly oppose a top-ten sect like the Imprint Moon Sect.

“Do you have anything else to say? If not, we’ll be on our way,” Lu Wuqi said very politely. “By the way, are you planning to declare war on the Imprint Moon Sect on behalf of the Sheng Family?”

“D-Does your master know you’re waving the Imprint Moon Sect’s banner around like this?” Sheng Gan couldn’t swallow his frustration or spit it out. He could only try to regain some ground from another angle.

“My master? She should always be watching over me and protecting me from the heavens above. She knows,” Lu Wuqi said with complete seriousness.

“Also, before I came down from the mountain, my martial uncle and martial grandmaster specifically told me that if anyone bullies me, I should post in the sect’s group chat to call for reinforcements. The Imprint Moon Sect has plenty of disciples—there’s basically some in every city.”

Upon hearing this, Sheng Gan had no choice but to force down his resentment. The potential influence of a junior favored by the sect leader was not to be underestimated.

“I didn’t mean it that way. The Sheng Family has always remained neutral and never made enemies of any sect or faction,” Sheng Gan said, enunciating each word carefully.

“However, Fellow Daoist Lu, the guests arriving tomorrow are here for Xuxu. I must take her back, or the Sheng Family will lose face.”

Lu Wuqi let out an “oh” and turned to Sheng Xu at her side. “Xuxu, did you know about this? Did anyone from the Jia Family deliver an invitation to you?”

A clear glint of amusement hid in Sheng Xu’s eyes as she pursed her lips, struggling to control her expression. “It seems not. I’ve been with you these past couple of days, Wuqi, and I haven’t received any invitation. No calls or texts either.”

“Fellow Daoist, did you hear that? Xuxu hasn’t gotten any message at all. You must have made a mistake, right?” With that, Lu Wuqi strode forward and deliberately bumped Sheng Gan with her shoulder.

“Sorry about that. You’re blocking my path, so I had to ask you to step aside,” Lu Wuqi said perfunctorily. Then she took Sheng Xu’s hand, grabbed the bag of materials, and headed into the elevator without a backward glance.

Sheng Gan opened his mouth, but not a single word came out.

However, his slightly trembling lips and arms made his fury quite obvious.

Once the elevator doors closed, Lu Wuqi’s arrogant and roguish demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by a touch of slight nervousness.

“Xuxu, it was okay for me to say all that earlier, right? How’s your relationship with your cousin?” Lu Wuqi asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

Sheng Xu had held back her laughter upon seeing Sheng Gan’s impotent rage. But Lu Wuqi’s sudden emotional shift—like flipping faces in a play—finally made her burst out laughing.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Our relationship is just average,” Sheng Xu said, her brows and eyes brimming with mirth. “He’s probably just privately arranged to meet someone with me. If it were a formal visit, my parents would have called to let me know.”

“Got it. If he pulls that nonsense again next time, I’ll keep handling it the same way,” Lu Wuqi said. Although her lips curved up in a smile, a trace of heartache lingered in her eyes.

For this Sheng Gan to chase them all the way to the hotel and speak to Xuxu in such a commanding tone, he must have bullied her plenty in the past. Otherwise, his attitude wouldn’t have been so naturally condescending.

“Xuxu, let’s shower first, then get started on the attempt,” Lu Wuqi said as the elevator doors opened.

“Okay, I’ll go first.” Sheng Xu agreed, unable to stop herself from growing nervous ahead of time.

Would a miracle happen?

If not, could she still change her fate?

And if it did happen, would Lu Wuqi get dragged down because of her uniqueness?

A jumble of stray thoughts suddenly flooded Sheng Xu’s mind, diluting her earlier joy.

–

A shower didn’t take much time. By the time Lu Wuqi had finished preparing the materials for drawing talismans, Sheng Xu had already changed into her nightgown and emerged from the bathroom.

Lu Wuqi’s gaze lingered for an extra second on the water droplets still clinging to Sheng Xu’s collarbone before she quickly headed to the bathroom herself.

Twenty minutes later, Sheng Xu assumed a standard meditation posture on the bed with her eyes closed, waiting for Lu Wuqi to channel spiritual power into her.

“Wuqi, remember not to push yourself. Just send in a tiny bit at first,” Sheng Xu said. Her heartbeat was faster than usual, revealing just how nervous she was too.

“If you notice the spiritual power flowing into my body uncontrollably, stop right away. Stop as fast as you can—don’t hesitate for a second.”

“Okay, I got it. Don’t worry, Xuxu. I won’t do anything reckless,” Lu Wuqi replied.

Gazing at Sheng Xu’s slender back, Lu Wuqi nervously licked her lower lip.

This attempt had to succeed. Xuxu had such excellent cultivation talent—how could it be buried because of some petty villains’ revenge? She was meant to be a dazzling genius.

Lu Wuqi took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

After repeating this twice, Lu Wuqi fully calmed her mind and gradually gathered spiritual power in her palm.

Her warm palm gently pressed against Sheng Xu’s somewhat frail spine. Through the thin layer of her nightgown, the warmth from Lu Wuqi’s palm and the spiritual power entered her body at the same time.