Chapter 118: Cao Chengyu, the Great Swindler

Guan Mountain Outer City.

The women, having spent the entire morning chatting, were currently enjoying afternoon tea, completely unaware that Cao Chengyu was piloting a massive vessel and preparing to whisk them all away again.

Dragging an entire household along was truly troublesome, yet it was unavoidable. This time, he intended to use the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams to find a safe haven for his family, sparing them the constant upheaval and needless worry.

"Hey, look at the sky!"
"My goodness, is that a Flying Moutai—pah! That’s a Flying Spirit Boat!"
"I haven't seen one in years."
"Bullshit. Didn't a group of spirit boats leave just a while ago?"
"A group? You’re really reaching. And you claim your son is an inner-sect disciple of the Five Elements Sect? You’re truly ignorant."
"I saw it with my own eyes!"

Two middle-aged men were squatting by the side of the street, one holding a birdcage. The one being questioned was visibly annoyed, his face flushing and his mustache twitching. Dammit, he had clearly seen a fleet of spirit boats pass overhead a few days ago. After learning the name of the vessels from Miss Luo, he had been eager to show off while out walking his bird. But his new acquaintance thought he was bragging, and he had been just about to pull out the inner-sect token his son had left him to prove his status when a voice froze him in place.

"Dad? What are you doing squatting here?"

The man was Cao Di. Back at home, the women were chatting, and after asking about the spirit boats and failing to get a word in, he had been forced to take his yellow-feathered parrot out for a stroll in frustration. Seeing his son, Cao Chengyu, fly down from the spirit boat, his toes curled in embarrassment.

"Ha, Yu'er, what are you doing here?"
"Let's talk when we get back. Come on up."

As he spoke, Cao Chengyu waved his hand, conjuring a staircase of spiritual energy to help his father board, as the city streets were too narrow for the spirit boat to land.

"Hey."

Cao Di hadn't expected his son to be the one piloting the vessel. He climbed the energy steps in a few strides, then turned back to wink at the other middle-aged man. "Old Cai, your son isn't up to much, but look at mine!"

Old Cai’s face turned dark, his jaw hanging open in shock. It wasn't until Old Cao had boarded that he finally remembered to wipe the drool from his chin. For the next twenty years, he would be a die-hard fan of the Cao family!

The temporary residence the Cao family had rented wasn't far. On the spirit boat, Cao Di looked around, curiously touching this and peering at that. Although he knew his son had made a name for himself in the world of cultivation, he hadn't realized he was this formidable.

"Yu'er, can a mortal pilot this spirit boat?"
"What's the matter, Dad? You want to give it a try?"
"Heh heh, if I could, that would be great."
"Wait until we're back. Once we're out of Guan Mountain Outer City, I can let you have a go."
"Leaving the city?"
"Yes. The Five Elements Sect is done for. I snatched this spirit boat from them, and our family is moving again."

"..." Cao Di was at a loss for words. He wasn't sure if he should speak his mind. "You’re a jinx, boy! You went to the Heaven-Watching Tower to seek the Way, and the entire Great Yue collapsed. You went to apprentice at the Five Elements Sect, and that sect is finished too. I’m truly afraid that my whole family is going to join you in the afterlife."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Cao Chengyu felt a bit ashamed and speechless. It sounded ridiculous, yet strangely logical.

"And another thing," Cao Di pressed, "you snatched items from the Five Elements Sect. Did their sect leader not react? If they come after us, can you guarantee our safety?"

Seeing his father’s serious expression, Cao Chengyu replied earnestly, "Dad, you don't know. Their sect leader ran off with his daughter, and the Supreme Elder stripped the sect’s treasury bare. Everyone who could flee has already left. The only ones left are a few stragglers. Son can handle them with a wave of his hand."

"..." Cao Di sighed. "Fine, I won't burst your bubble. Having confidence is better than living in constant fear."

After the father and son chatted for a bit, they arrived at the residence. Cao Chengyu immediately sent a voice transmission: "Everyone in the Cao household, come aboard. Take everything you can; we aren't staying here anymore."

He also sent private messages to Sister Yun and Luo Yuzhu. "Sister Yun, come up quickly and help me control the spirit boat's core. I need to speak with Senior Sister Luo."

"Sister Yuzhu, wait for me. I'll be down in a moment."

This was what you called remaining calm under pressure. Lin Yunjiao, being a cultivator, quickly flew up using the power of a magical artifact. The servants were still packing, and his mother was busy directing them. Once Lin Yunjiao boarded and saw Cao Di, she restrained her expression significantly. She walked gracefully to Cao Chengyu’s side and asked in confusion, "Chengyu, I only have the cultivation of the Spirit Refining Realm; I can't control the core of this vessel."

"It's fine. I will leave a wisp of my divine sense to help you pilot it. Just keep it from crashing until I return." While his father was looking down, Cao Chengyu snatched a kiss from her soft lips.

It was thrilling. A feeling that could not be described to outsiders. Lin Yunjiao blushed, gave him a light rebuke, and hurriedly took control of the navigation core.

"I’ll go talk to Senior Sister Luo, it will only take a moment."
"Fine, I’ll wait for you to explain when you come up."
"..."

Cao Chengyu wasn't sure which kind of "explanation" she meant, or if he even needed to explain at all. Seeing that Lin Yunjiao’s expression remained unchanged, he slipped away, his scalp tingling. After greeting his mother, he pulled Luo Yuzhu into the small garden. He was about to speak when he saw her looking at him with a mysterious, mocking smile. Oh no, could it be—

"Oh, if it isn't Master Cao. You even went after your own 'aunt'? My, my, you really are something! Targeting a young lady in her thirties." By the second half, Luo Yuzhu was practically gnashing her teeth.

Before making up his excuse, Cao Chengyu checked her favorability rating: 96. It had dropped by 3 points, which was still acceptable.

*Deep breath.* Don't push me, I'm about to perform!

"That... Sister Yuzhu, please don't misunderstand."
"Misunderstand? How is this a misunderstanding?"
"It’s a long story."

Cao Chengyu sighed, his expression weary and seemingly genuine. "Sister Yun has been my mentor since I was a child. Well, in terms of cultivation, not that other thing."

"She comes from a beast-taming immortal clan in the Eastern Region. Three hundred years ago, the Thousand-Eyed Demon Centipede of her family betrayed them and set up this scheme in the Great Yue."

"She is a descendant of that family who came chasing the trail of the demon centipede twenty years ago. Unfortunately, she was struck down by the people from the Heaven-Watching Tower and was eventually saved by my second uncle. She’s been here for twenty years."

"And what does that have to do with your relationship with her? Don't try to distract me! I have no sympathy right now!" Luo Yuzhu sneered.

"This..." Cao Chengyu gritted his teeth. It wasn't the first time he'd lied; if he didn't deceive Luo Yuzhu, he was going to be killed.

"Sister Yun was gravely injured, her foundation damaged, and her cultivation fell to the early Spirit Refining Realm. She almost died."

"She couldn't recover on her own. From the moment I was born, she noticed my talent for cultivation and kept me by her side, nurturing me until I could cultivate myself."

"And then..."

"There is a dual-cultivation technique called the Green Dragon Yin-Yang Scripture. Whether it's repairing injuries or increasing cultivation, this technique is miraculous. She needs my help!"