Seeing that it was an invitation from Shang Luoluo, Zhao Ya was somewhat surprised.
Because ever since he returned from Wuxiang City, Shang Luoluo hadn’t shown up.
Except for the first day of the Lunar New Year, when Shang Luoluo sent a greeting letter to Zhao Ya, she practically disappeared without a trace.
So why suddenly send an invitation now?
But since she invited him over, it surely meant there was something important.
Although Zhao Ya knew many people in the Commandery, there were few he could truly call friends.
Coincidentally, Shang Luoluo counted as one of them, so Zhao Ya didn’t hesitate and simply tidied up before heading over.
Shang Mansion.
Over the past year, Yunxiao County underwent earth-shattering changes, except this mansion seemed detached from worldly affairs, remaining unchanged.
Zhao Ya didn’t enter through the main door but chose to fly over, skillfully arriving at the bamboo grove courtyard at the back.
As he landed in the courtyard, a light laugh came from inside the house.
"Tell me, do you also scale walls to enter other girls’ homes like this?"
Hearing this teasing remark, Zhao Ya’s heart instantly calmed down.
Because being able to make jokes indicated the matter wasn’t serious, at least not too severe.
So he laughed as well.
"It depends on the situation; for instance, if the girl has already prepared food and wine waiting inside, naturally I would hurry over."
With that, Zhao Ya stepped into the house.
By the window, there was a table, with a girl sitting beside it, dressed in a long skirt, elegant and charming—Shang Luoluo.
On the table were several exquisite appetizers and a jar of Feixian Brew.
Seeing Zhao Ya, Shang Luoluo smiled lightly.
"You’re right on time; the food and wine are freshly prepared, at their best taste, go ahead and try."
Zhao Ya didn’t hold back, seated himself opposite Shang Luoluo, picked up chopsticks, and started tasting.
"How does it taste?"
After Zhao Ya had a few bites, Shang Luoluo asked.
"Hmm, not bad, but seems not like Feixian Inn’s craftsmanship. Has some restaurant in town hired a new chef?" Zhao Ya ate as he spoke.
"I made it myself," Shang Luoluo smiled.
Zhao Ya was stunned, raising his eyes to look at Shang Luoluo.
"Why look at me with such a strange expression? Do you think I’m just a pampered young lady who doesn’t lift her fingers to do any household chores?" Shang Luoluo laughed.
"No, I’m just a bit surprised."
Saying this, Zhao Ya put down his chopsticks and looked seriously at Shang Luoluo.
"Tell me, what happened?"
Shang Luoluo sighed softly, "As expected, I couldn’t hide it from you."
Then she looked up at Zhao Ya, "I’m leaving."
"Where to?"
"To the Capital City."
"For what?"
"My father’s term has ended, and he has to report for duty in the capital after the New Year."
Hearing this reason, Zhao Ya’s expression turned peculiar.
"Quite funny, isn’t it? To be honest, I also find it funny," Shang Luoluo smiled bitterly.
"After all, in today’s world, which Commandery still takes orders from Great Yan seriously? But my father is different; he has been a loyal, virtuous official since childhood, thus when the transfer order came, he immediately prepared to set out for the capital."
Zhao Ya suddenly didn’t know what to say. After a long silence, he asked, "Will there be any danger after arriving in the capital?"
Shang Luoluo shook her head, "Danger shouldn’t occur. Although Wei Hongbin died in Yunxiao County, it doesn’t have much to do with my father, and the Wei Family likely won’t make trouble over it. Furthermore, even if they wanted to cause trouble, they’d have to weigh their options."
"After all, my father also has friends in the capital."
"So when are you leaving?" Zhao Ya asked again.
"Within these days, no later than this month."
"Then... wish you a safe journey!" Zhao Ya smiled slightly and raised his glass.
Shang Luoluo’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment but soon vanished. Then she raised her glass, smiled, and said.
"Thank you!"
Shang Luoluo drank the wine very quickly, almost in one go, then it made her cough and blush.
Zhao Ya passed a piece of paper over, Shang Luoluo took it and wiped away tears from her coughing eyes, then smiled.
"Actually, since you returned from Wuxiang City, I wanted to visit, but didn’t expect the transfer order to the capital to arrive, so I was busy for quite some time till everything got sorted today."
"Thus, this meal should be our last one together until we meet again, who knows when!"
In the end, Shang Luoluo’s expression became somewhat gloomy.
In this era without convenient transportation or phones, an unnoticed farewell might turn into an eternal one, especially to a capital thousands of miles away.
Barring accidents, they might never meet again.
Zhao Ya didn’t utter a word, nor offered much consolation, merely accompanied Shang Luoluo through the jar of Feixian Brew, then stood up and said.
"It’s getting late; I’ll return now!"
By this time Shang Luoluo was somewhat drunk, she looked at Zhao Ya with blurry eyes, then suddenly giggled.
"Go ahead, I need to sleep too!"
Zhao Ya nodded, jumped out the window, and disappeared in a few leaps.
Shang Luoluo stared dumbly at the direction he left, her eyes shifting, pondering something unknown.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ya returned to his small courtyard next to the Martial Arts Hall.
Zui’Er had already gone to sleep, but as soon as Zhao Ya landed, a voice suddenly came from beneath the tree.
"You’re back?"
Zhao Ya was slightly startled.
Because he hadn’t detected anyone in the courtyard before, he quickly lowered his head, cupped his hands, and called out.
"Master!"
It was Lu Dingtai sitting under the tree.
He looked at Zhao Ya, seemingly smelling the alcohol on him, and sighed involuntarily.
"When are Shang Jingchuan and his daughter planning to leave?"
Zhao Ya was startled again.
He had received an invitation from Shang Luoluo and went out, not interacting with anyone from the Martial Arts Hall throughout the process, so how did his master know?
"You underestimate your master’s abilities. Before the New Year, I heard that Emperor Yan had issued an order, preparing to transfer Shang Jingchuan back to the Capital City for a position. Considering the time, they should be departing by the end of this month at the latest!"
Zhao Ya finally understood that although his master Lu Dingtai seemed indifferent to worldly affairs, spending his days writing and maintaining his health in the Martial Arts Hall, he was actually well aware of the major and minor happenings in the Commandery.
Zhao Ya didn’t hide anything and briefly recounted how Shang Luoluo had invited him over for a meal.
After hearing it, Lu Dingtai sighed.
"Shang Jingchuan is inherently rigid and inflexible, but to think he has a daughter who is so intelligent and clever."
After expressing his emotions, Lu Dingtai looked at Zhao Ya.
"Do you know why I waited for you to come back in the middle of the night?"
"Disciple doesn’t know."
Zhao Ya indeed felt confused.
Although he went out late at night to drink with Shang Luoluo, it wasn’t overly excessive.
At least it shouldn’t have alarmed his master Lu Dingtai to come personally.
Lu Dingtai smiled and suddenly changed the topic, "How is your cultivation realm now?"
"Still at half-step into the Fifth Realm!" Zhao Ya dutifully responded.
Despite the intense training recently, which improved various martial arts skills, the overall progress wasn’t significant.
This meant Zhao Ya had hit a bottleneck period.
"Come, attack me with full force. Let me see how strong you are now!" Lu Dingtai said.
"Now?"
"Yes, right now. Stop wasting time, strike!"
Zhao Ya dared not ask further.
Lu Dingtai’s temper was always quite fiery, especially when it came to action, he was resolute.
Since he said to use full force, Zhao Ya dared not hold anything back.
He took a deep breath, and with the blessing of the Heart Devotion and Red Transformation’s talent, his Qi Blood immediately surged within him.
Not only that, but the blood stored in his liver also erupted forth.
"Master, be careful!"
Zhao Ya felt the muscles throughout his body crackling, his stature even seemed to grow by several inches as a result, and the strong momentum created small air whirlwinds around him.
Seeing this scene, Lu Dingtai’s eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "Good lad, come on, let me see what you’re made of!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Ya struck.
To say this was Zhao Ya’s first full-force strike, and it was delivered in a peak state.
This punch had no fancy embellishments, only immense force, and instantly bridged the gap between them, reaching Lu Dingtai.
"Good shot!"
Even with the punch nearly upon him, Lu Dingtai didn’t forget to praise, and then with only a heartbeat’s time, he raised a single palm to firmly catch Zhao Ya’s punch.
Thud!
With an extremely deep rumbling noise, an invisible ripple quickly spread out from the center around the two of them.
The nearest stone table bore the brunt, instantly shattered into fist-sized chunks, and soon, the nearby water tank and flower pool didn’t escape, both turned into fragments.
Boom!
After the courtyard walls were half-collapsed, the power of the shock wave was finally fully unleashed.
Looking around the courtyard, it was in ruins.
Aside from the stone stool Lu Dingtai was sitting on and the large tree behind him, everything else was gone.
The loud noise naturally woke up Zui’Er inside the house.
She thought it was an earthquake, threw on some clothes and ran outside.
Upon reaching the courtyard, she saw Zhao Ya confronting Lu Dingtai, and froze, then stopped, calling out.
"Master, Ya, what’s going on with you two?"
This question was like the call to halt in battle; Zhao Ya retreated several steps, a flush rising on his face, his arms trembling slightly.
In contrast, Lu Dingtai still sat on the stone stool, unmoving like a mountain.
The disparity was evident.
Zhao Ya marveled inwardly and couldn’t help but cup his hands and say, "Master, I lost!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a cracking sound echoed, and the stone stool beneath Lu Dingtai finally couldn’t withstand the pressure, appearing with lines of cracks.
Then Lu Dingtai burst into laughter.
"Actually, it doesn’t mean you lost. Considering my realm is higher than yours, being able to force me to use seventy percent of my strength with just a half-step into the Fifth Realm, and even causing the stone stool beneath me to be compromised, your strength is already worthy of pride!"