Awakening the Divine Spark
Chapter 215: Caught again.

Chapter 215: Caught again.

’Now, this is annoying!’ Lee thought, looking back at the city gate.

He didn’t mind spending a day cultivating in Xiaogong city’s prison, but to get thrown out for a prank seemed unfair. Moreover, he would’ve shrugged it off if most of his stuff wasn’t hidden back at the inn.

He still had one of the spatial rings and, of course, his trousers which had one of the pockets functioning as a spatial treasure. The problem was that those were mostly filled with what he would consider daily necessities – water, food and money. The artifact collection was in the two spatial bags in the city.

Lee considered whether he should forget about them, but his pride didn’t allow to leave the things behind. After all he scammed the greatest sect in this world to get them. It was almost like some kind of badge of honor – a dangerous one he could never show, but dear to him.

He spent the night next to one of the many merchant camps outside the city gate and the next morning ran to the closest village. He knew he promised himself to never do this again, but these were special circumstances. And dressing up as a woman was the best cover in this case.

After buying female clothing and a large sack of onions, Lee went back to the city. On the way he wore the new clothes, cursing the idea, and hid his face behind a hooded cloak. Then he put the sack on his shoulders and, pretending it was a heavy load, joined the line of travelers at the gate.

Before the noon he was already walking the streets of the outer city, and after selling the onions in one of the many markets, he went back to the inn. It was highly likely he could’ve pulled it off even if he didn’t change his appearance, but Lee didn’t want to risk it. It was possible the city guard had some kind of black list, and if they did, he was surely in it.

In the inn also no one payed him any attention, except there was a surprise in his room.

"Hello!" The same elder who threw him out last night, said the moment Lee came in.

The man was sitting on the bed, apparently meditating while waiting for Lee’s return. Lee did freeze for a split moment, realizing that his treasures were probably gone, but then quickly recovered.

He said, making his voice sound deeper, "I’m sorry, Lord, for disturbance! I was ordered to clean the room!"

"Sure, sure!" Elder nodded, and then said the same thing he said yesterday, "Follow me!"

Lee could only blame himself for being careless. He never imagined that the city guard was so meticulous they found the inn he was staying after throwing him out, and even put an elder there in case he showed up again. Clearly he was not going to get a slap on a wrist this time, especially if they found his stash.

This time they didn’t go to the Lawkeeper office. Instead they went directly towards the inner city, and Lee realized that the things were quickly taking a turn for worse.

Unfortunately, no matter how he looked at the situation, he couldn’t slip away. Ignoring the fact that the elder was highly likely an elemental lord, two other experts were following them, while keeping a distance. No one said or explained anything, but Lee didn’t ask either. In fact, he actually enjoyed the sights of the inner city.

The place was even more luxurious compared to the outer part, but surprisingly there weren’t nobles living here, at least not in the usual sense. Every residence had a large workshop attached to it and sounds of hammering, grinding, and cutting wood echoed everywhere.

The only difference from the outer city was that the streets weren’t as busy, but people were still rushing about. This was what Lee learned during the past month he spent in the Xiaogon city – the artificers were crazy about their work and actually loved it.

Surprisingly, Lee wasn’t brought to a super-jail. The elder led him to the largest mansion of the city, and Xiao Lian’s and Qin Yujian’s statues in the middle of the square in front of it clearly indicated what this place was.

Finally Lee could heave a sigh of relief.

There was a chance he could talk his way out. Even if his old friend had forgotten about him, Xiao Lian had a soft heart and he could exploit that. Of course, the prerequisite was for them to meet.

They did, but Lee immediately had to discard the excuses and explanations he prepared.

He was brought into a study. It was simple and slightly depressing at the same time. Besides the bookshelves lining all walls, there was only a table covered in schematics. Xiao Lian sat at it, engrossed in the drawings before him, barely noticing the visitors.

What shocked Lee wasn’t the meeting or the sight of Xiao Lian studying artifacts. He was stunned speechless at the realization his old friend had actually aged so much.

Lian was in a good shape though, despite the white hair. And his eyes were surprisingly sharp – there was nothing left from the timidness Lee remembered.

"Patriarch, it was as you said." The elder reported with a slight bow, "He returned. You also correctly predicted he had stashed something under the floor planks below his bed. There were a couple of bags, but as instructed, we didn’t inspect them."

One of the two men who followed Lee and the elder, stepped forth and put Lee’s bags on the table.

"Good. You may leave." Xiao Lian said. His voice was stern and deep, and on a street Lee probably wouldn’t have recognized it.

They were left alone in the study, calmly looking at each other, each busy with their own thoughts. Lee pictured this reunion in different ways, but now, seeing how Xiao Lian has aged, felt a bit lost. Surely the Xiao clan’s patriarch had become a mighty elemental lord, and that meant he was probably super old. For Lee less than two decades had passed, but the man in front of him had seen more than he in all of his lives combined.

"What the fuck are you thinking running around my city, causing trouble?" Xiao Lian’s angry bark broke the silence, slightly startling Lee, but his wide grin clearly indicated he knew whom he spoke to, even after all these years, and even despite Lee being dressed as a woman.

"Can’t you come over and say hello like a normal person?" Xiao Lian already said in calm tone.

It seemed he was content with the reaction Lee had, and comfortably sat back in his chair. Then he opened one of the bags and the happy expression vanished, and after he glanced inside the other, it turned grave.

"What exactly did you do?" He asked.

"I visited the Celestial Abyss." Lee shrugged.

"You’re nuts!" Xiao Lian said, throwing the bags back on the table.

"They did kind of kill me. It’s just a small compensation." Lee said.

"Sigh ... Shen Rouya was right, you’re a troublemaker." Xiao Lian shook his head, but then got up, and said, "Let’s go! You need to change. Looking at you like this creeps me out."

He led Lee to a bathroom and afterwards to a large dining hall. While there were over dozen chairs at the long table, the table was set only for three.

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