Chapter 169

Chapter 169: I Want Fei Yan, Not Another Girl! Zhao Gao Comes to Deliver the Edict!

“The National Advisor has returned, greetings National Advisor.”

“Do you want something to eat, National Advisor? I can have it prepared.”

“Would you like some tea, National Advisor?”

“We just got some new tea today, I can brew it for you.”

As soon as Li Mo walked into the tavern, the shopkeeper hurried up to greet him.

Ever since learning that the person staying in that courtyard was the National Advisor, the shopkeeper had become very attentive.

“No need, just mind your own business.”

Li Mo shook his head, speaking in a calm tone.

“Alright, alright, call if you need anything.”

The shopkeeper nodded and bowed as he escorted Li Mo to the house’s entrance.

Upon entering the house, Li Mo paused.

The people in the house also froze.

Fei Yan stood up in a panic from the pavilion.

Trying to retreat to her room, but Li Mo had already entered the house blocking her path.

Since what happened in the carriage last time, Fei Yan had been hiding in her room for days.

Only coming out for some fresh air after Li Mo left.

Yan Lingji asked her why she hadn’t been outside recently; she claimed to be in seclusion for cultivation.

Yan Lingji asked why she came out whenever Li Mo left, she said it was a coincidence, just a coincidence.

Yan Lingji asked if that guy bullied her.

Fei Yan blushed and shut herself back in the room.

This enchantress asks too tricky questions.

Always hits the nail on the head.

This time, with Yan Lingji and Li Mo out, Fei Yan finally had some time to breathe.

Based on the time, Li Mo usually wouldn’t return until before dark.

But just as she sat down in the house, he came back ahead of time.

Caught right in the act!

“Why has Miss Fei Yan come out? How has your meditate practice been these past few days?”

Li Mo had sensed what Fei Yan was doing in her room.

If daydreaming counts as meditate practice, then she indeed was meditating.

He estimated that it was probably because he pushed too hard last time, scaring her.

Fei Yan nervously squeezed her small hands, her heartbeat uncontrollably speeding up.

After forcing herself to calm down, she plastered her usual dignified and amiable smile on her face.

“Just as usual, I thought I’d come out for some fresh air.”

Running away was not an option, so she decided to face it calmly.

As long as he didn’t corner her again, she would be fine.

Li Mo’s senses swept over her tightly clutched hands, and he nodded nonchalantly.

“Hmm, that’s true.”

“In matters like these, haste makes waste. Forcing insights may lead to mistakes.”

He walked into the pavilion.

Fei Yan instinctively took a few steps back.

She scanned her surroundings with the corner of her eye.

The pavilion has four sides open to the air and three exits.

If he cornered her again later, she could run to the side.

It’s okay, it’s okay!

No need to be afraid

“Miss Fei Yan, sit down. Why are you standing?”

Li Mo suddenly found it amusing that a dignified figure like the Dongjun of the Yin-Yang School would be this nervous.

Fei Yan wasn’t nervous about anything else.

She just didn’t know how to face Li Mo.

His influence on her emotions was growing heavier.

The more this was the case, the more nervous she was about Li Mo’s attitude towards her.

She could tell that Li Mo was a kind person at heart.

At least to commoners and the vulnerable.

He wouldn’t trouble someone who posed no threat to him.

This was evident from his behavior at the lantern festival and his attitude towards the manager of the inn.

But Fei Yan was different.

She never needed a reason to kill.

There was no notion of innocence or deserving to die for those who died at her hands.

Putting it nicely, she was ruthless.

Speaking frankly, she was a cold-blooded killer.

Even the merciless Prime Minister feared her.

Now that Li Mo knew her identity, he surely knew her deeds as well.

Fei Yan worried that this was why he was indifferent to her.

“Alright… alright.”

Fei Yan swiftly glanced at Li Mo.

She sat down properly beside him.

“Miss Fei Yan seems a bit tense. Am I that scary?”

Noticing her rigid posture, Li Mo half-jokingly asked.

Fei Yan’s proud figure trembled slightly.

The elegant curves were just as impressive as Zhao Ji, the old enchantress.

Her fair and bright skin made one wonder what kind of scenery lay beneath her skirt.

If these lanterns were lit, they’d probably dazzle everyone’s eyes!

Luckily, he didn’t have eyes to worry about this!

Hearing this, Fei Yan quickly shook her head: “No, not at all.”

“It’s… It’s just that Fei Yan has been preoccupied with Dao reflection, so I was a bit absent-minded.”

“Yes, that’s it.”

Fei Yan nodded as if answering her own questions.

Her misplaced gaze and unsure expression made her look somewhat cute.

Who would have thought this was the feared Dongjun of the Yin-Yang School?

Someone unaware might think she was an elegant lady from a noble family!

“Reflection on Dao requires peace of mind and natural progression.”

“Miss Fei Yan, being too fixated on it might backfire.”

Li Mo had never reflected on Dao himself.

After coming to this side, he directly reached the pinnacle of martial arts, bypassing the need for Dao reflection.

But he assumed that was how it worked.

Fei Yan gently nodded, “Fei Yan understands.”

She naturally understood this concept as well.

In reality, these past few days, she spent very little time reflecting on Dao.

Most of her time in the room was spent daydreaming.

Not to mention Dao reflection, it was hard enough just to meditate.

Whenever she closed her eyes, a face appeared in her mind.

She couldn’t get rid of it and couldn’t chase it away.

“How did Sir reflect on Dao back then?”

“Could you share it for Fei Yan to learn from?”

Fei Yan looked at Li Mo and cautiously asked.

He was so young and already at the level of Transcendent experts. He must have a unique understanding of this aspect of practice.

Who else in the entire world could achieve this at such a young age?

Moreover, he didn’t just comprehend the Dao, he had already crossed over to this world.

If you consider the time it took for him to comprehend the Dao and convert his internal energy into Qi, doesn’t that mean he had reached this level while still in his teens?

Just thinking about it left Fei Yan feeling incredulous.

Is there really someone so exceptionally gifted in the world?

She had always been considered a once-in-a-century genius of the Yin Yang School, but compared to the person in front of her, she couldn’t even hold a candle.

Li Mo opened his mouth and was silent for quite a while.

My experience?

I don’t have any experience worth mentioning!

All I know is breathing and sleeping.

I can’t possibly teach you how to breathe and sleep, can I?

Otherwise, you’ll think I’m some kind of pervert!

“Fei Yan was being inconsiderate,” Fei Yan said, seeing that Li Mo seemed to have some unspoken difficulty.

Methods of cultivation and training experiences are the closely guarded secrets of every sect and master.

Asking him such questions was indeed a bit presumptuous.

We’re not even related; why would he share such things with me?

He had already done me a great favor by giving me some pointers earlier.

But Li Mo chuckled lightly and said, “Miss Fei Yan misunderstood, I was just… just thinking where to start.”

“Actually, there’s not much experience to speak of.”

“I naturally reached this level over time.”

“To be honest, I don’t even understand fully how I comprehended the Dao.”

This was the truth, no need to fabricate anything.

He didn’t want to make things up, in case Fei Yan imitated and went astray.

However, Fei Yan seemed to be pondering his words deeply.

Naturally?

So does that mean one should follow their heart?

After a moment, she nodded seriously.

Looking at Li Mo with genuine appreciation, she said, “Fei Yan has understood. Thank you, sir, for your generous teaching.”

Such crucial experience, and he actually shared it with no reservations.

Sir is so kind to Fei Yan, how could she ever repay this kindness?

Li Mo’s mouth twitched.

What did you understand now?

“Miss Fei Yan… truly has extraordinary talent.”

What else could he say?

What could he possibly say?

Last time it was the same; they were chatting and she suddenly had an epiphany.

Fei Yan’s face flushed, and she lowered her head, saying softly, “Sir, sir, don’t call me Miss anymore, just call me Fei Yan.”

She then glanced at Li Mo out of the corner of her eye.

Honestly, she told him this last time.

Stop calling me Miss Fei Yan, just call me Fei Yan.

“Hmm, alright, Fei Yan, Fei Yan.”

Li Mo repeated twice.

Remember it, next time just call her Fei Yan.

A smile appeared on Fei Yan’s lips.

Hearing her name from Li Mo’s mouth made her feel a sweet sensation in her heart.

“Oh? You’re not in seclusion?”

At this moment, a seductive voice full of curiosity came from the side.

Just from the voice, it could only be Yan Lingji, the enchantress.

Dressed in a red dress, Yan Lingji appeared in the courtyard like a sprite.

She walked in an elegant, captivating manner, as if she were on a catwalk.

Her entire being exuded a deadly allure.

“Finished your business?” Li Mo turned to ask her.

“All done, running around has exhausted me.”

Yan Lingji sighed softly.

Her voice was soft and weak, as if to say it had worn her out.

After lazily sitting down, she tilted her head and looked at Fei Yan.

Slowly, she asked, “You’re not in seclusion?”

Fei Yan gently shook her head, her smile modest and friendly.

“Sir said haste makes waste; such matters should follow one’s heart and not be rushed.”

Yan Lingji glanced at Li Mo meaningfully and said, “Oh.”

You weren’t here, I called her many times but she didn’t come out.

Now she’ll listen if you speak.

Click, so obedient.

“What about your side? Is everything going smoothly?”

Li Mo responded casually: “Quite smoothly, Lu Buwei has been imprisoned.”

Fei Yan, who was beside him, suddenly froze.

She looked at him in disbelief.

“Lu Buwei got caught?”

That’s the Prime Minister with immense power, yet he was caught just like that?

Actually, this matter was already widespread outside.

It’s just that Fei Yan had been hiding in her room and didn’t know.

Lu Buwei was arguably the most powerful figure in the Qin state.

His downfall was something no one expected.

The commotion caused by this incident was equivalent to a massive earthquake!

And Fei Yan’s heart was greatly shaken.

From Yan Lingji’s words, it wasn’t hard to tell that Lu Buwei’s capture was orchestrated by Li Mo.

This newly appointed National Advisor had such great abilities!

Fei Yan felt that she might have underestimated him.

“Although the person has been caught, it’s not over yet.”

Suddenly, Li Mo spoke softly.

“Miss Fei Yan, I have a favor to ask of you.”

Fei Yan did not reply.

She just frowned slightly, looking at him with a bit of sorrow.

Li Mo was stunned for a moment.

What does that mean?

She doesn’t want to help?

“Miss Fei Yan?”

He tried to ask again.

Fei Yan frowned deeper, lightly biting her lip.

She still looked at him without speaking.

Li Mo touched his chin.

Strange, whether to help or not, why not say a word?

That’s not right.

Wasn’t she quite easy to talk to before? Now she doesn’t even care?

Did he say something wrong to upset her?

Thinking about it, Li Mo suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

“Fei Yan, I need a favor…”

“Okay!”

Fei Yan squinted slightly, agreeing with a shallow smile.

Li Mo: “…”

Yan Lingji: “??”

He hasn’t even told you what he wants help with, and you agreed.

If he asks you for help having a baby, would you still agree?

Something’s off, something’s really off with Lady Dongjun.

Yan Lingji pinched her fair, sharp chin, her dreamlike light blue eyes spinning around.

Her gaze swept back and forth between Fei Yan and Li Mo.

When she saw the soft light in Fei Yan’s eyes, almost overflowing, she was suddenly enlightened.

She couldn’t see how she usually looked at Li Mo.

But she could see others.

Jing Ni’s gaze towards Li Mo was the same.

Her soft eyes were full of water.

When looking at others, they turned to ice.

When looking at Li Mo, they melted into water again!

Yan Lingji suddenly understood everything.

But before she could think about when Lady Dongjun fell for Li Mo, a sharp voice sounded at the courtyard gate.

“It’s Zhao Gao, pay respects to the National Advisor.”

Yan Lingji and Fei Yan looked over to see a smiling eunuch leading two people, bending over as they walked in.

Li Mo had already noticed their arrival.

He just didn’t expect that this person was called Zhao Gao.

He looked young, about thirty years old.

The smile on his face was almost squeezing out wrinkles.

His fawning appearance matched everyone’s impression of a sycophant.

After entering the courtyard, Zhao Gao bent over and bowed his head very formally.

He was a smart man, knowing the status of Li Mo in the minds of Ying Zheng and the empress dowager.

Especially now that Lu Buwei had fallen.

From Li Mo’s current performance, his future status in Qin would be unshakable.

He was just a small official delivering orders, naturally needing to curry favor with such a big figure.

“Lord Zhao, may I ask what brings you here?”

Zhao Gao’s current status was not high, just a walking clerk of the imperial study.

He only helped organize things in the imperial study.

But this status was low only relative to Li Mo, the National Advisor.

To others, Zhao Gao was still a high-ranking figure as he was someone from the palace.

Thus, his presence here was a bit surprising to Li Mo.

Zhao Gao was someone close to Ying Zheng, usually running errands.

He suddenly rushed over now.

Could it be that Ying Zheng… knows that I made his mother cry?

Zhao Ji ran to complain about me and badmouthed me?

Zhao Gao smiled broadly, bowing and scraping, “Congratulations, National Advisor, congratulations.”

Li Mo was slightly taken aback.

“What is there to be happy about?”

For Zhao Gao to say such a thing, it meant that it wasn’t as he had thought.

The Empress Dowager still wanted to save face.

She wouldn’t say such things in front of her son!

Zhao Gao extended his hand, and the eunuch behind him immediately handed him a scroll.

“Hehe, My Lord, your residence has already been assigned.”

“I came specifically to deliver the decree and then take you there.”

“This is the emperor’s decree, please have a look… ahem, shall I read it to you?”

Li Mo smiled. So this is what it was about.

“No need to read it, just give it to me.”

Yan Lingji lazily stretched out her small hand, and Zhao Gao quickly handed over the decree with a fawning smile.

Yan Lingji opened it, blinking her eyes, with a flicker of embarrassment.

She couldn’t read it, and she didn’t recognize the characters.

“May I take a look?” asked Fei Yan with a smile on her lips.

Yan Lingji wished she would say that.

She hurriedly handed the decree to Fei Yan.

“Go ahead.”

Fei Yan slowly opened the decree, nodded after reading it.

“The summer resort at Shimen Mountain is a pretty good place. The mountains are clear, the waters are fresh, warm in winter and cool in summer. Even in the hottest summer, it’s only a bit over twenty degrees.”

After rolling up the decree and handing it back to Yan Lingji, a hint of sadness flashed in Fei Yan’s eyes.

She looked at Li Mo with sorrow and reluctance.

Is he leaving?