Chapter 145: Tofu Pudding
With the greeting out of the way, the awkwardness between the four young cultivators and the middle-aged woman took hold of them again. Li Lang’s group looked around, with no one wanting to have the first word. The elder just stoically stood there like a statue.
After some time, the elder broke the silence.
“It’s been some time, Li Lang, Long Yi. I can’t say I’m happy about our reunion considering who you’re with,” the elder’s last words were said while pointedly staring at Sima Xue.
“Elder Cao, I hope you are in good health,” Li Lang replied with a bow. “You may be jumping to conclusions. It’s a long story, after all.”
“Well, I have some time to listen to your excuses as to why you’re associating with this demonic cultivator that allegedly framed you. That, plus the fact of your rapid progress is especially concerning. Just so you remember, I put myself on the line to defend you. Have you forgotten my warnings?”
The elder’s stark contrast of tone almost made Li Lang flinch. Elder Cao had always been so kind to him during his time in Spirit Grove. It felt weird that she acted so hostile, but also understandable at the same time, considering she found him associating so closely with demonic cultivators. The fact their cultivation had skyrocketed since she last saw them was the last nail in the coffin. It left no question in Elder Cao’s mind that they had gone against her warnings and dabbled in demonic cultivation.
“Elder Cao, I can’t exactly tell you everything here. I ask that you consider where we are. There’s no point in holding any enmity here,” Li Lang tried to explain.
He couldn’t exactly tell her everything, especially because they were currently posing as people who had switched over to demonic cultivation to blend in. It was what they decided to explain why they had progressed so rapidly in their cultivation. Otherwise, even demonic cultivators would be alarmed at the fact two boys with grade-one aptitude had reached the late stages of Energy Gathering before the age of twenty.
Protecting this information caused Li Lang to make an on-the-spot decision. A decision to lie.
“The only thing I can tell you is that we no longer have any animosity toward Ling Xue. There’s no point considering we live in Polarity City now. It’s neutral grounds, after all. I still respect you, Elder Cao and Spirit Grove.”
The elder grunted and looked away. She didn’t say anything in particular, but for those who knew her, her stern expression softened.
Before their conversation could continue, Elder Cao suddenly glanced in one direction down the street. She spotted her companions who had likely just finished their errands.