Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 166: Chapter 166 Invitation to Travel Together

Li Zongrui visibly hesitated at Hu Ji’s words. Although he intended to see his kindness through to the end, he wasn’t the one in charge. It was true that Li Zongrui was the Lesser Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect, but the leader of this expedition was Pavilion Master Zhang. With his own master also present, it was never his place to have the final say.

Hu Ji noticed Li Zongrui’s hesitation. Her thoughts raced, and she spoke to him delicately, ”There’s no need for you to trouble yourself, Young Master. We aren’t far from the capital now. I should be fine if I’m a bit careful. Hu Ji is grateful once again for your life-saving grace. If there is an afterlife, I am willing to work like an ox and horse to repay you!”

As Hu Ji spoke, tears welled in her eyes. A pang of heartache struck Li Zongrui, but he still dared not agree rashly. He could only say, ”Miss Hu Ji, please wait a moment. I will discuss this with my companions.”

Without waiting for her reply, Li Zongrui walked over to Elder Wuji. ”Master, this woman’s situation is so pitiable, and she’s heading the same way we are. Let’s take her with us.”

Li Zongrui knew that Pavilion Master Zhang valued Ye Qingchen greatly, and Ye Qingchen clearly didn’t want him to have much contact with Hu Ji. He reckoned that if he asked Pavilion Master Zhang directly, he would most likely be rejected, which was why he had approached his master instead. After all, Elder Wuji was the First Elder of the Qingyun Sect, his status higher than Pavilion Master Zhang’s. If Elder Wuji gave the word, even Pavilion Master Zhang wouldn’t dare to openly disobey.

However, to Li Zongrui’s surprise, Elder Wuji simply sighed. ”Zongrui, we are on this journey at the Sect Master’s request to escort the elites of the Alchemy Pavilion to the capital for the competition. The Sect Master also ordered that we follow Pavilion Master Zhang’s arrangements for all our movements during this trip. If you want to bring this woman along, you should ask for Pavilion Master Zhang’s opinion.”

A bitter feeling filled Li Zongrui’s heart. His master had invoked his father, so what more could he say? Although he was reluctant to approach Pavilion Master Zhang, he couldn’t just go back and tell Hu Ji that. It would be too humiliating.

So, Li Zongrui steeled himself and walked over to Pavilion Master Zhang. He began respectfully, ”Pavilion Master Zhang, you see, we are now nearing the capital. Since we’ve already saved this young lady, why not see the good deed through and bring her with us? As the saying goes, ’saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda.’ Our Alchemy Pavilion has always taken pride in helping the sick and injured. I don’t think you would refuse, would you, Pavilion Master Zhang?”

Li Zongrui rattled off every justification he could think of, aiming to back Pavilion Master Zhang into a corner and give Hu Ji a satisfactory answer. But Pavilion Master Zhang was a crafty old fox; how could he not see through Li Zongrui’s little scheme? He simply smiled without a word while Li Zongrui spoke. Only after he had finished did Pavilion Master Zhang slowly say, ”Lesser Sect Master, it’s not my place to interfere in the affairs of you young folk. I see that Qingchen is around your age. How about we let him decide this matter?”

Hearing Pavilion Master Zhang so obviously shirking responsibility, Li Zongrui felt a surge of annoyance. He knew that approaching Ye Qingchen would only earn him a round of mockery before a blunt rejection.

Bitterness welled in Li Zongrui’s heart as he turned to look at Hu Ji, who was gazing at him with a pitiful expression. This only intensified his feelings. In a daze, he seemed to see Li Susu’s likeness in Hu Ji. Both were weak women being bullied by Ye Qingchen! Even Ye Qingchen himself had no idea how he was supposedly bullying Hu Ji.

Deep down, Li Zongrui was truly in love with Li Susu, which made him feel increasingly sympathetic toward Hu Ji. With this in mind, he angrily stomped over to Ye Qingchen.

”Ye Qingchen, just say it! Are you going to let Miss Hu Ji travel with us or not?”

His tone was incredibly hostile because he was certain Ye Qingchen would refuse. Li Zongrui had already decided that as soon as Ye Qingchen said no, he would curse him for being cold-hearted and then take Hu Ji to the capital by himself!

But to Li Zongrui’s utter astonishment, Ye Qingchen just gave a noncommittal nod. ”If the Lesser Sect Master is so benevolent and wishes to play the good samaritan, we naturally won’t stand in your way. However, you must have this young lady keep her distance from our group.”

Li Zongrui was so stunned by Ye Qingchen’s words that he couldn’t react at first. When he finally processed it, he ran excitedly back to Hu Ji to share the good news.

Ye Qingchen merely smiled. He had only agreed because he couldn’t stand Li Zongrui’s naivety. Sometimes, people don’t learn their lesson until they’ve suffered a loss. I just hope this incident with Hu Ji will help Li Zongrui grow up a bit! That was why he had agreed, but on the condition that Hu Ji keep her distance. That way, if anything happened, it wouldn’t affect the entire group.

Li Zongrui, however, clearly lacked this awareness. He rushed excitedly over to Hu Ji and announced, ”Miss Hu Ji, they’ve agreed to take you to the capital with us.”

Hu Ji’s heart leaped with joy. She quickly put on a grateful expression and said, ”Thank you, Young Master. You not only saved my life but are also willing to help me like this. I... I really don’t know what to say to express my gratitude. You are truly a good person!”

Her earnest words made Li Zongrui nod again and again, though he replied modestly, ”There’s no need for such formalities, Miss Hu Ji. It is my, Li Zongrui’s, principle to help whenever I see injustice. Besides, when we are traveling, we should naturally help one another.”

A few words of praise from Hu Ji were enough to send Li Zongrui’s head into the clouds, and he began to boast grandly. Hu Ji, however, was an expert at handling men, and every sentence she uttered made him feel euphoric.

In the end, Li Zongrui didn’t even know how it happened, but he somehow agreed to let Hu Ji be in charge of the group’s meals and daily arrangements, completely forgetting Ye Qingchen’s instruction to keep her far away from the group. It wasn’t until after they parted ways that he remembered Ye Qingchen’s words. His face fell, and he had no idea how he would bring it up with him.

Meanwhile, Hu Ji was secretly delighted. I can see that everyone in Li Zongrui’s group is dressed in fine clothes; they are certainly no ordinary people. If I can gain their trust and pull this off, perhaps I won’t have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of my life!