Chapter 413: Profiting from the Difference
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
“What are you doing?” Lu Chao Chao was about to take Xie Yu Zhou and leave when she noticed him hastily pulling up his pants.
Xie Yu Zhou turned around, rubbing the back of his head guiltily. “I… I didn’t do anything… hehe…”
Lu Chao Chao glanced at the damp mark in the corner of the wall and gave him a thumbs-up.
“Nicely done.”
“Let’s go, let’s go! That group is coming after us!” Lu Chao Chao grabbed Xie Yu Zhou and stepped onto the Sunshine Sword, soaring into the Nine Heavens.
“I’m getting dizzy! Slow down, slow down!” Xie Yu Zhou clutched his eyes shut as Lu Chao Chao streaked through the Heavenly Gates on her flying sword.
Behind them, the sounds of battle cries and pursuit still echoed in the air.
Lu Chao Chao didn’t head straight home but circled around the Mortal Realm, shaking off all pursuers before finally returning to Southern Kingdom.
At this moment, the Southern Kingdom’s sky had just darkened.
Carrying a large bag on her back, Lu Chao Chao stood with Xie Yu Zhou in front of the Ning Manor.
“My bad, my bad. I haven’t flown on a sword for too long and forgot to put up a protective shield.” Lu Chao Chao’s hair had been blown into a complete mess, standing up like an explosion.
Behind her, Xie Yu Zhou looked at her with a resentful gaze.
“The princess is back! The princess is back!!” As soon as they stepped before the gates, Deng Zhi shouted loudly.
From within the Ning Manor, countless people rushed out.
Rong Che helped Shi Yun walk quickly towards the entrance, while Xie Jing Xi approached, clutching a wooden staff and glaring at Xie Yu Zhou.
“You have some nerve! Taking the princess out without permission!”
“Not even bringing a single guard with you!” Since Xie Jing Xi couldn’t reprimand the princess, he vented his fury on his son instead.
“Exactly, exactly! No discipline without a beating! Give him a good one!” Zhu Mo, dressed in a flamboyant floral coat, stood at the back of the crowd, stirring trouble.
He couldn’t afford to offend Lu Chao Chao, but he could certainly instigate her family to discipline someone else.
Rong Che shot him a glance. “You’re the princess’s attendant. You couldn’t even keep an eye on your master? Go receive your punishment yourself.”
Zhu Mo’s eyes turned red with anger. Fine, fine! You bunch of protective mutts!
Shi Yun looked at the little troublemaker grinning up at her, wanting to scold her but not having the heart to.
She could only raise her hand and press a firm finger to the girl’s forehead.
“You little rascal, next time, don’t keep secrets from your mother. No matter where you go, you must tell me…” [Mother knows you have great abilities, but I cannot keep up with your footsteps…]
A mother’s worries stretch for a thousand miles. How could she not be anxious?
“Your mother returned from the palace and, upon hearing that you and Yu Zhou were missing, was so terrified she couldn’t even drink a sip of water. She sent people to search the entire city.” If Rong Che hadn’t stopped her in time, she might have gone searching herself, despite her condition.
Lu Chao Chao lowered her head. “Mother, Chao Chao knows her mistake.”
“Chao Chao will definitely inform you next time.”
“Chao Chao went to restock goods.”
“Mother, come inside quickly! Chao Chao brought back lots of good things…” Lu Chao Chao’s eyes lit up as she pulled her mother into the house excitedly.
Just as they stepped inside, a thunderclap echoed across the night sky.
“That’s strange. There’s no wind or rain, so why the sudden thunder?” Rong Che’s words had barely left his mouth when sharp streaks of lightning split the sky.
Thunder roared across the heavens in endless waves.
“Such a powerful display… Is it going to rain? But there’s no sign of rain clouds…”
Lu Chao Chao looked up at the sky with an innocent expression. “Maybe the Divine Realm was just robbed or something…”
Inside the Ning Manor, Old Madam Ning was anxiously pacing back and forth, leaning on her cane.
“Grandmother, Chao Chao is back. Don’t worry…”
“This child was just having too much fun outside and returned late.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Ning finally exhaled in relief. She was well aware of her status and how she wasn’t favored in the household. She constantly feared that her presence would bring trouble to Chao Chao.
“Good, good. As long as you’re back safe and sound.” The elderly woman couldn’t bear to reprimand the girl, so instead, she simply arranged for more guards to be assigned to her.
“Zhu Mo, go stand guard outside.”
Zhu Mo sulked as he stepped outside and shut the door.
Inside, only Xie Jing Xi and his son, Rong Che and Shi Yun, and Old Madam Ning remained.
Lu Yan Shu was preoccupied with concerns about Northern Zhao’s citizens and had been spending his days in the countryside, trying to understand everything about the Southern Kingdom.
“Grandmother, Chao Chao picked up some great things!”
Xie Yu Zhou’s mouth twitched upon hearing the word ‘picked up.’
Lu Chao Chao pulled out five plump, juicy Immortal Peaches.
The peaches were round and slightly flattened, with a dip at the top forming a small hollow. They were entirely red, emitting an overwhelming fragrance.
As soon as they were taken out, the rich peach scent mixed with thick spiritual energy, making one’s mouth water just from the smell.
“Father, Mother, Grandmother, Prince Jing Xi, quickly, eat!” Lu Chao Chao distributed a peach to each of them.
“These peaches… they look just like the ones from legends… Immortal Peaches?” Rong Che, who had seen much of the world, was astonished.
“Who cares what they are? Just eat them. They’re good stuff…” Xie Yu Zhou whispered urgently. He had eaten so much in the Immortal Peach Garden earlier that his stomach was still full.
Shi Yun took a delicate bite, and the sweet juice instantly filled her mouth.
Crisp and refreshing, the flesh melted in her mouth. Her eyes sparkled with amazement.
What was even more astonishing was that, upon swallowing, the peach seemed to transform into streams of spiritual energy, rushing through her body.
Old Madam Ning, whose hair had long turned white, felt invigorated after finishing the peach. All her fatigue disappeared.
Even her hidden ailments quickly faded.
“Mother, your hair!!” Shi Yun exclaimed in shock as she stared at her.
Strands of black hair had started growing amidst the elderly woman’s once completely white locks.
“I’ve had a feeling… that Mother’s face has been looking much younger recently. Even the wrinkles seem to have faded…” Shi Yun murmured in disbelief. Could this be her imagination?
Rong Che nodded. As her son-in-law, it wasn’t his place to comment, but even he had noticed the drastic change.
Compared to when he first met her, the old madam looked at least twenty to thirty years younger.
“Mother was truly beautiful in her youth.” Even in her elder years, she was still graceful, which meant that in her prime, she must have been stunning beyond words.
The old madam chuckled softly, touching her face with a distant expression.
She knew she had been beautiful once.
“The first time he saw me, he was dazed for a long time.”
Back in the Peach Source Village, she had knelt by the river washing clothes. Sometimes, she would stare at her own reflection in the water, lost in thought.
Her beauty had always been out of place in that small village.
But the villagers had always treated her kindly, and she had come to see Peach Source Village as her home.
Lost in nostalgia, the old madam fell silent.
Once everyone had retired to their rooms, Lu Chao Chao pulled Xie Yu Zhou into her chamber.
Time to count their spoils!