Chapter 580 - 352: Casual Conversation
Although the space has changed significantly, there is basically no idle space left.
Ling’er, after all, is eagerly awaiting the next upgrade, so right after the space expanded, she immediately replenished the expanded areas.
Even the empty spaces left after transplanting those ginseng, notoginseng, and tuber fleeceflower root have all been filled by Ling’er.
It must be said, ever since having Ling’er, Xiaomi hardly ever needs to worry about the matters in the space.
"Huh? When were these flowers planted here?"
Walking to the edge of the courtyard wall, Xiaomi saw flowers that had obviously just been planted recently, the soil freshly turned, with just budding blooms. Xiaomi didn’t know much about flowers but thought the leaves resembled those of roses.
"They were just planted. Didn’t the master pick a few branches of various varieties last year? I grafted them on the edge of the space, and just as the space upgraded, the courtyard also expanded, so I placed them here."
"Then why plant them outside?"
"Master, these flowers will climb along the wall and over it. If planted inside, we’d only be able to appreciate the flowers from outside, wouldn’t we."
Uh, that makes sense, huh.
Besides here, Ling’er also specifically opened a plot elsewhere and specially planted various flowers. The seeds stored up before have now come in handy.
Xiaomi pointed at a fragrant orchid.
"Ling’er, see if there’s a ceramic pot to help me pot this orchid."
It’s just a very ordinary and common orchid but it’s really grown well and has a wonderful fragrance.
It’s just right because it’s orchid blooming season outside, so taking it out wouldn’t raise any suspicions.
"Okay, Master, just a moment, it’ll be ready shortly."
Ling’er quickly found a suitable pot, just an ordinary ceramic pot with an orchid pattern on it.
Not wanting to worry the family, Xiaomi quickly prepared to leave.
With a wave, the parrot flew onto Xiaomi’s hand, and was soon enveloped in a small whirlwind, its feathers blown out.
The wind subsided instantly, and the parrot regained its freedom, though it seemed a bit unstable on its feet.
"Ling’er?" Xiaomi asked, looking curiously at the parrot in her hand.
"Master." The voice was a bit peculiar, like a toy dummy, but it indeed came from the parrot’s mouth.
"This voice is so unpleasant." Xiaomi complained.
Usually, Ling’er’s voice was melodious, sweet and pleasant to hear, truly enjoyable!
Perhaps the contrast was too stark, that Xiaomi’s first reaction upon hearing the parrot speak was not surprise but disdain.
Of course, disdain was just a little bit. Soon, Xiaomi lovingly held the now Ling’er parrot closer.
"Ling’er, let’s go out now, but don’t speak for now. Wait until I teach the parrot to speak on its own, then you can start speaking slowly."
"Don’t worry, Master, I understand."
After all, speaking sometimes and not speaking at other times would seem quite strange.
Subsequently, Xiaomi took Ling’er out, with Ling’er curiously looking around as she appeared.
The weather today was nice, sunlight pouring through the window gaps, casting swaying, mottled light on the ground.
Xiaomi opened the window and placed Ling’er on the table by the window, just right for sunbathing, allowing her to practice walking and flying.
The parrot was afraid of the cold, but now as Ling’er, Ling’er carried Spiritual Energy that could warm the parrot’s body, coupled with the sunlight now, even a bit of cold wouldn’t affect the parrot.
Upon opening the window, Xiaomi saw Wei Ziang in the courtyard but faced away, unclear on what he was doing. Thinking a bit, Xiaomi stepped outside.
"Hey, brother?" Getting closer, she realized he was reading.
Hearing Xiaomi’s voice, he looked up with a warm smile already appearing on his face.
"Xiaomi, not reading anymore?"
It seems that the excuse she gave to her mother earlier was overheard by him too.
Xiaomi giggled twice, without answering, and moved a bit closer.
"Brother, I totally forgot to ask you, how’s your swordsmanship practice going?"
Speaking of swordsmanship, the two have been practicing for years, with hardly any place to put it to use.
"The sixth form now. I was too busy recently without time. Besides, it seems less progressing here than at home."
As Wei Ziang spoke, he suddenly extended two fingers from his right hand in a sword gesture and waved slightly to the side.
A half-leaf fell, seeming to have been halved by a sharp sword.
Xiaomi was surprised, "Sword Qi release? Impressive, I never thought it could be done this way."
She was only concerned with speed, strength and agility before, and never considered Spiritual Energy could also transform into such a powerful weapon.
With just that move, wouldn’t it be possible to take down a target without them knowing!
Wei Ziang wasn’t surprised; he smiled and withdrew his hand, "If you practice, Xiaomi, you can do it too."
He wasn’t actually as formidable as Xiaomi, being able to sense Xiaomi’s Inner Strength was much more substantial.
He just excelled at quick, concealed killing techniques as a hobby.
Wei Ziang was unfamiliar with Spiritual Energy, so he referred to the internal energy as Inner Strength, just like what’s written in storybooks.
Xiaomi pondered while nodding: "Indeed, this method is good. It also makes hunting more convenient, significantly enhancing safety."
After all, within the Xuyu Dynasty, carrying weapons on the street was prohibited, violators treated as criminals. Even kitchen knives needed to be wrapped in cloth to hide them as kitchen knives.
And Wei Ziang’s use of Spiritual Power this way, it’s practically a portable concealed weapon.
To put it bluntly, if there was an opportunity to meet the emperor, and they assassinated him, no one would know who did it.
Of course, they weren’t bored enough to do such a thing.
Wei Ziang chuckled, "Why didn’t you go out today? Normally, I wouldn’t see you with much of a reading look."
Xiaomi laughed awkwardly twice, "It’s just that I didn’t feel like going out just now."
Wei Ziang glanced back, "Your parrot is quite obedient, even if set free it doesn’t fly away, just walking around on the table."
Xiaomi blinked, saying nothing.
Wei Ziang simply laughed, not continuing with the subject, but instead asked about Xiaomi’s recent hunting adventures.
Due to timing issues, after Xiaomi returned, she spent almost every day hiding with her parents from matchmaking aunts lined up at the door, so the two hadn’t had a quiet, good talk until now.
With time and leisure today, they both sat down and chatted well.
Talking about Wei Ziang’s experiences in exams, and Xiaomi’s hunting anecdotes in the deep mountains.
During the conversation, Wei Ziang secretly observed the girl before him.
The first time they met, the small, round, cute little girl, had unexpectedly blossomed into a graceful young lady.
Perhaps due to martial arts practice and frequent mountain hunting, Xiaomi didn’t at all look like the nine-year-old girl she was, neither in appearance nor temperament, even her height was catching up to her second sister.
On the other hand, her twin brother Jiang Wei, born just fifteen minutes earlier, was instead shorter than her.
