AZI Volume 4 Chapter 37

"Seems like you're all done."

Pushing along a cart loaded with plates of food, Zhen Rong comes into the lotus garden with Nuo'er and Yao Ying. Held in Nuo'er's hand is a pot of wine.

Rather quickly, all the plates are set onto the table. Roasted duck, fried dumplings and chicken, meat-based soup, and boiled prawns, just to name a few dishes.

The seating order starting from Long Hua's right begins with Tian Cheng, and is then followed by Zhen Huai and Zhen Rong. To Long Hua's left are Bai Wen, Nuo'er, and Yao Ying, with the eighth seat being empty.

Grabbing the wine, Bai Wen pours a cup for himself before passing it over to Long Hua, who had emptied his tea beforehand.

Holding his cup, Bai Wen says—

"Well then, I guess congratulations are in order—for Lao Long making it back alive?"

"Cheers, I guess?"

Raising their cups, the group downs the first drink of their dinner.

Setting his tea down, and picking up a pair of chopsticks, Zhen Huai says—

"Xiao Rong, after this—tell a few workers to look through the inventory for rare metals and minerals."

"Got it. Also, I've finished making that list."

Receiving a piece of parchment from Zhen Rong, Zhen Huai looks it over for a final confirmation, prior to passing it over to Long Hua, who asks—

"What's this?"

"All the people I wish to grant your two Divine Arts' learning rights to. They're all members of my bloodline branch."

Looking at the list, while placing a bit of rice into his mouth, Long Hua sees the cultivation base of each individual, along with their age.

"Hm?"

Noticing something odd, Long Hua presses his brows together, and asks—

"Core Formation realm, that's the highest cultivation realm your kins of the same bloodline have?"

"…"

With a frown on his face, Zhen Huai raises a sigh, and replies—

"Odd, isn't it?"

"Indeed."

Cutting into their conversation, Zhen Rong says—

"The juniors of our bloodline branch, they haven't been able to cultivate pass the Core Formation realm for as far back as I can remember. This… Also includes me."

Despite having stuck to Bai Wen's guidance, while Long Hua was away in the ruins, Zhen Rong didn't show any signs of making a breakthrough.

At this point, Bai Wen had run out of ideas, and similarly, Zhen Rong—who is feeling more and more dejected with every failure, has become hesitant to make further attempts.

(A situation like this is far too odd; it doesn't take a genius to figure that out. Ai… I've no business in sticking my nose into where it doesn't belong though.)

Inwardly shaking his head, Long Hua says—

"Accepted, feel free to grant them those two Divine Arts."

Receiving the parchment back, Zhen Huai simply states—

"Thank you."

"…Brother, you sure you don't want to…- You know?"

Towards Zhen Rong's suggestion, Zhen Huai shakes his head.

The potential that Long Hua—who is a foreigner of the Everlasting Spirit Realm, might have an idea on how to resolve this issue that has persisted within their bloodline branch for so long is there.

However—

(…Ai, I figured that I had become numb—to receiving answers related to this matter, but I suppose, a part of me is still holding out to some hope? But the greater this hope is, the worse it feels to have it crushed…)

Just as Zhen Huai is thinking of this—

"…Ah, I forgot to ask, but do you have any books on curses?"

Towards Long Hua's sudden question, Zhen Huai raises an eye.

Similarly, Zhen Rong does the same, while Zhen Huai asks—

"…Why would you be interested in that?"

With a difficult expression on his face, Long Hua says—

"…During my previous life, I was inflicted with a curse. That curse… It followed me into this life as well."

Hearing this, Bai Wen also raises his right eye, and asks—

"…? What kind of curse is it?"

"Hard to give you details, but it's something that will gradually make me less human, and more of a monster that acts on instinct. Well, it shouldn't be too great of a concern, so long as it doesn't progress. However, I'd still like to get rid of it if possible."

Blinking his eyes, Zhen Huai sinks into thought. Momentarily, he says—

"Long-xiong, I can give you resources on curse studies for free, so long as you promise to share your findings with me."

Towards Zhen Huai's offer, Long Hua doesn't reply immediately, as he thought—

(An interest in curses as well? Could it be that his bloodline is under the effects of a curse, and that's why, their juniors are unable to break pass the Core Formation realm? To be able to curse so many people, and with such a brutal curse as well… Just who did they offend?)

Compared to Zhen Huai, who is maintaining a look of composure, Zhen Rong's anxiousness couldn't be more obvious, as she asks—

"Long-shao, your answer?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Long Hua answers—

"…Fine, I don't see any disadvantages for me. Still, I'm not an expert on curses or anything, so don't expect much."

"Deal then. Xiao Rong?"

"I'll gather everything later."

Off to the side, Nuo'er nudges Yao Ying's arm to remind her of something.

"…"

Pouring himself another cup of wine, Long Hua naturally notices Yao Ying's stare, but he doesn't say anything about it, and instead turns to Zhen Huai to ask—

"…There's something that I've been wanting to ask. Zhen-laoban, you clearly don't stay in this village all year round, do you? If you wished to leave the Leng Bing Realm, don't you need to go through the Ling Yuan family as well?"