Chapter 21. Visiting the Li Clan 1

    In the morning, Bai Zhe cleaned his entire house using qi and made breakfast before his mother came out of the bedroom. This had turned into his morning routine for his family.

    The Mu Tian commercial filming would start next week, Wednesday to Friday. He had to fill in a document to take leave from school for the shooting. One thing that he was lacking was experience. Though he had done some research about commercials of various brands of cosmetics last night, he could only imitate them. Thus, he called Xi Lua, asking for something.

    The phone rang for a while, then the call was picked up, followed by the sound of Xi Lua’s voice, which was filled with happiness.

    “How are you, my beloved grandson? Did anyone bully you?” Xi Lua asked with concern. Lately, Bai Zhe was busy with LSA’s classes, which made them not have time to meet each other, and Xi Lua was busy with work as well. So, when the boy called him, Xi Lua was very happy.

    “Nobody bullied me. I called to ask you if you know any highly experienced male models? I got a commercial job from Mu Tian Company, but I don’t have any experience, so I want to ask them for advice and suggestions,” said Bai Zhe.

    “Oh, I know someone. I can contact him for you. What day do you want it to be?” asked Xi Lua.

    “Can It be tomorrow?” asked Bai Zhe.

    “Sure. I will tell him. He’s working behind the scenes now so he’s not that busy, but he is rather fussy, like a girl,” said Xi Lua.

    “Thank you so much. Then, could you arrange an appointment to have a meal with you? So, I can see you as well.” Bai Zhe was afraid that Xi Lua might get lonely. He owed Xi Lua a lot. It was time for him to pay him back.

    “All right, I will arrange the meeting for you tomorrow,” said Xi Lua. His voice became livelier. Before hanging up the phone, Xi Lua said something softly. “Thank you for worrying about the feelings of an old man like me.”

    Bai Zhe’s guess had been right. Even though Xi Mo had come back from abroad, he still had a lot of work to do. He did not even have time to call Xi Lua. Bai Zhe decided that after he started working in the industry, he would tell his manager to schedule a day off for him once a week so he could spend time with his family.

    After Xi Lua hung up the phone, the Li Clan sent him a message stating that they would send a car to pick him up and for Bai Zhe to wait at a bus stop. He waited for only a short time before a black car pulled up before him. Bai Zhe could sense the threatening qi being sent out toward him. It was likely a test for him.

    ‘Huh, this child. Having just basic qi, but wanting to test me,’ thought Bai Zhe. He sent the deadly psychic power back immediately, making the person in the car choke on his own blood. He tried to hold it in his mouth, preventing it from staining his boss’s car. Then, he got out and opened the door for Bai Zhe politely.

    “Don’t do that again. If the other party had not been me, that person might not have gone easy on you,” Bai Zhe warned while he was leading to the back seat. After that, he closed his eyes.

    “Yes, sir. Thank you, Dr. Bai, for your mercy.” Though the man looked polite on the outside, inside he was screaming, regretting that he tried to pick a fight with the wrong person. If Bai Zhe reported this to Matron Li, he would surely be sent to Lao Lao.

    The car drove out of the city, through numerous mountains. Then, Bai Zhe spotted a mansion standing on the top of a mountain. It was surrounded by ancient stone walls that looked like city walls. He could sense the qi of many martial artists there. The highest level of qi that he felt was the emperor qi.

    “Apart from me, another guest is staying in the house, isn’t there?” said Bai Zhe.

    “Dr. Bai, how can you know that? It is as you said. A young miss from the Baii Clan is visiting Matron Li. She will be here for 2 to 3 days,” said a man sitting next to the driver.

    “Hmm?” Bai Zhe was surprised that in this world, the Baii Clan was still alive. He guessed that the person who had the emperor qi must be Miss Baii.

    “The first level of emperor qi is gushing out to this extent…It would be strange if you cannot sense the difference. Matron Li Zhou Ma, who has the highest level of qi in the Li Clan, has the sky qi. But now there is someone in the mansion who has a higher level of qi there. So, I guessed that you might have a visitor,” explained Bai Zhe.

    The driver and the man sitting next to him broke out into simultaneous cold sweats. They thought, ‘You are the scary one. You can tell that someone has emperor qi. If your level is not equal to or higher than Miss Baii, you won’t be able to distinguish the level of power.’

    The two men were being more careful about their gestures and their words. The driver was concentrating hard so that the drive would not bumpy and disturb the man in the back seat. Because it was like they were carrying a nuclear bomb that could explode at any time in the car.

    ‘When will we arrive? The stuff in my stomach almost came out,’ Bai Zhe mentally cursed. Yes, he was still not used to traveling by car for long distances. And the road to the mansion was zigzagged, which made him get even more nauseous.

    The car had arrived at a gate that was built of wood and iron, like an ancient city’s gate. When the car approached the gate, it was slowly opened, sending out echoing squeaks all over the area before the car entered the main road to the mansion, which was located at the centre.

    Both sides of the road were full of martial artists, with ages ranging from 5 to 50 years old. The highest level of qi of these people, who were lined up, was just basic qi. Just by scanning, Bai Zhe could see all the mistakes in their qi practice routines.

    The car pulled up in front of the main building of the Li mansion not long after that. Bai Zhe saw Matron Li, Li Feng, Li Xi Yan, two girls, and one boy waiting for him at the building’s main entrance. Apart from them, there were seven men and women, who were middle-aged to elderly.

    ‘That girl is surely the genius. She’s still young but can reach the emperor qi,’ thought Bai Zhe, before fixing his clothes and opening the door to get out of the car.

    Li Zhou Ma, Li Feng, Li Mei Ying, Li Bai, Li Xi Yan, Baii Gui Ying, and the seven senior members of the Li Clan were waiting for the person in the car. When the door opened, a brown-haired boy with enchanting eyes and a handsome face got out of the car. He had smooth skin which even Baii Gui Ying and Li Mei Ying envied. His hair was styled in a manner that suited his sapphire blue shirt and black pants.

    No one, except Li Zhou Ma, Li Feng, and Li Xi Yan, had ever thought that Dr. Bai was just a 15-year-old boy. They could not believe that the person who had saved Matron Li’s life was just a teenager. But the powerful aura from the boy made them believe that it was really him.

    ‘This formidable aura? I never thought that I would sense it from a kid who is only this old. Though I investigated his family, it showed that his family are not martial artists. This is strange,’ thought Li Zhou Ma.

    “Greetings, Matron Li, all the elders, and all the young masters and misses of the Li Clan. And Miss Baii as well,” Bai Zhe greeted everyone. All of them and Baii Gui Ying were surprised at how Bai Zhe knew that one girl was from the Baii Clan.

    “Dr. Bai, how did you know that apart from the Li Clan, there is someone from another clan?” asked Li Xi Yan.

    “This Miss has the first level of emperor qi. From what I know, Matron Li is the person who has the highest qi in this clan, which is the sky qi, making me guess you have a visitor. So, I asked the people who picked me up and found out that it was Miss Baii,” explained Bai Zhe.

    ‘What is this nonsense? This person could sense and identify a person with emperor qi before he even arrived here. He’s just fifteen, but he has already reached a higher level of qi than Baii Gui Ying.’ Everyone thought the same thing. The way Bai Zhe did not know Baii Gui Ying before but could identify her qi power meant that his qi must be higher than Baii Gui Ying’s.

    “You are young, but you have a higher level of qi than me. Can you tell me your name, Dr. Bai?” Baii Gui Ying was really interested in this boy. She had met young masters from various families who had a higher level of qi than her. But no one had made her feel this way before.

    “My name is Bai Zhe. As you can see Miss Baii, I’m just a fifteen-year-old junior high boy with a little knowledge of medical practices and medicine,” said Bai Zhe humbly.

    “Eh? You said you have a little knowledge? I, a person who couldn’t even cure my great-grandmother, must be a quack, then,” said Li Mei Ying, feeling annoyed. This boy was younger than her. Why did she have to respect him? And she also believed that her level of knowledge about herbs and medical compounding was higher than his.

    “Mei Ying, that’s rude. I will punish you by closing your medicine compounding room for 7 days. Everyone has heard this?” Li Zhou Ma gave the definitive order immediately.

    “Matron Li, if Miss Li Mei Ying is so confident in her medical compounding skill, why don’t you let us have a competition?” Bai Zhe suggested. Of course, Li Zhou Ma understood immediately that Bai Zhe was trying to teach Mei Ying a lesson as she had asked him to before this.

    “That’s a great idea. Li Feng, go and prepare a place. We still have time until lunch. It seems like Mei Yin won’t accept Dr. Bai. This competition would be a great proof of their skills,” said Li Zhou Ma.

    Li Feng ordered maids to prepare the competition area, with every detail under his supervision. In a short stretch of time, the place was perfectly prepared, with various types of herbs that were the fundamental ingredients of medicines.

    “What medicine should we compete to fabricate? Doc-tor-Bai.” Mei Ying said his name by stressing each part of it. She was trying to get on his nerves.

    “Just a basic qi strengthening medicine is enough,” said Bai Zhe. For him, medicine was the most basic of basic skills. He was confident that Mei Ying would spend a long time in fabricating…, no, it should be called boiling.

    “Well, if you two are ready, I’ll tell you the rules of the basic qi strengthening medicine compounding competition. The competition will take one hour. If you are ready…” Li Zhou Ma stretched her hand up into the air, then swiftly brought it down.

    “…Start.” Immediately after Li Zhou Ma started the competition, Li Mei Ying hurriedly went to pick out the herbs that were involved. She compared the same types of herbs against each other, trying to select the best ones. Bai Zhe, on the other hand, could spot the herbs he wanted at first glance and picked them out, putting them into his basket.

    “Erm, if you do not choose carefully, you may get hurt,” said Li Mei Ying.

    Bai Zhe did not pay the least attention to her. He walked over to the table on which several pots had been placed. Then, he used a qi-filled palm to sweep them off of the table.

    “What is he doing?” Baii Gui Ying was curious because the herbs had to be boiled to extract their medical components.

    “Let’s see what he is going to do next, Gui Ying,” Li Baii turned to say to Baii Gui Ying.

    “But I want to see Mei Ying lose. So, she’ll reduce her arrogance,” said Li Xi Yan.

    “Shut up, Xi Yan. You foul-mouthed brother. If I win, you’re going to get it,” Li Mei Ying scolded Li Xi Yan immediately.

    “Oh, I’m scared, sucker…oops, I mean, sister. Don’t beat me, please,” Li Xi Yan mocked her.

    “Just you wait, you brat. After this competition is over, I will beat you. Just wait,” said Li Mei Ying angrily. She then closed her eyes, trying to calm herself.

    After the table was cleared, Bai Zhe reached his hand out into the air, which was twisted. He then pulled his hand back, along with a golden medicine fabrication furnace. Ancient characters that no one recognised were carved all over its surface. Moreover, the furnace radiated a powerful aura as well.

    “That is the dimension spell that is referred to in the ancient textbook. Has he already reached the king of emperor qi?” said Baii Gui Ying, making everyone turn to look at her.

    Everybody knew that the ancient textbook of martial artists detailed the abilities of the king of emperor qi. The person who achieved this level could create, open, and close a dimension.

    “He said that it was the act of pulling things out from the soul’s dimension. But one must have received strict training to be able to do this. If something goes wrong, his soul can be damaged or he could die,” said Li Zhou Ma.

    “Is it possible, Great-grandmother?” asked Li Baii. Li Zhou Ma shook her head to show that she did not know either.

    Now, Bai Zhe had placed the herbs in the furnace. Each type of herb was placed in a different part of the furnace before the lid was closed. He then turned to the Li Clan’s maid.

    “Do you have any matches?” said Bai Zhe.

    Everyone was surprised and mentally cursed, ‘They have prepared a charcoal brazier and a gas stove for you. Why don’t you use them? You are asking for only matches? Are you out of your mind already?’