Chapter 106 - 107: The Anomaly in the Sky
Rumors, if not fanned by gossip, fall apart by themselves.
The gloomy skies, too, finally began to clear bit by bit, as a current of air surged from the furthest mountains in the Li Chuan Plain.
The murky air seemed to have been thoroughly cleansed.
This was the first clear morning, a morning with the light of dawn, with the sky gradually brightening.
Opening a window, one could see a vast expanse of azure sky; although the other half was still shrouded in thick clouds and fog, it was believed that the summer breeze would soon disperse them.
People’s spirits lifted with the weather, a disaster that had blacked out the sun was finally past without perils, and with continued labor, a great harvest was still possible before the arrival of autumn.
“Let’s go out for a walk, to see the summer willows, to try the new tea at Lu Hua Tower?” Zhu Minglang walked up to the main house of the separate courtyard.
He didn’t enter uninvited; even though everyone was quite familiar with one another, Zhu Minglang still maintained the dignity and integrity one should have, waiting outside for Li Yunzi’s response.
Even in recovery, one needed to get out and about, to breathe fresh air.
Recently, Zhu Minglang had seen people running around outside the courtyard from morning till night, relaying messages, and he knew that the Ancestral Dragon City had just gone through a change, with many people asking her for instructions on various matters.
But he also saw that she had little interest in clan affairs; she had essentially appointed her successor and left the handling of everything to him.
This person, might not have Li Yunzi’s complete trust, but at least would not hinder her anymore.
At the Army Guard, it seemed Commander Cheng was in charge.
There had been large-scale movements among the troops recently, and they seemed to be waiting for a signal, which was for Li Yunzi to survive this upheaval.
Once she did, all the Army Guards of the three major city-states and those of the southeastern city-states would prepare for nation-building.
Since many matters were handled through messages, staying indoors was fine, but going out to enjoy the scenery was also possible.
Li Yunzi liked green tea, and going to the scenic and elegant Lu Hua Tower was perfect…
“Miss might be somewhat indisposed today,” Frost’s voice came from inside at that moment.
“It’s okay, going out for a walk is good as well…” Li Yunzi then spoke; her voice today was very soft, and it was unknown if it was because she felt very good, or worries had lessened with her recovery from her injuries, lacking the usual coolness.
Zhu Minglang nodded and continued to wait outside.
Waiting, just waiting.
Zhu Minglang’s calves started to ache from the waiting, but he did not see Li Yunzi come out.
He wanted to ask Frost if her mistress had fallen asleep, but he felt it would be impolite and decided to keep waiting in silence.
Finally, Li Yunzi came out, and Zhu Minglang, with feigned formality, gave a bow, slowly lowering his clasped hands. In the moment he lifted his eyes, he was stunned!
With a svelte waist and lotus steps, she showed her creamy wrists through gossamer sleeves. Her eyes, like pools of autumn water, shone tenderly. When she noticed Zhu Minglang lost in a gaze so fond and doting, those autumn waters rippled with a shy tremor.
“Hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm,” at that moment, Miss Frost attempted a reminder.
It was then that Zhu Minglang snapped back to reality, awkwardly smiling in politeness.
Well, Zhu Minglang had to admit a fact.
Like those so-called admirers of Li Yunzi, and most ordinary men, he too was attracted to Li Yunzi’s unsurpassed beauty and her ethereal grace.
After the delicate dressing, Li Yunzi was filled with graceful beauty, and simply gazing at her was a pleasure to the eyes.
“Let’s go,” Li Yunzi said.
Miss Frost opened an umbrella to shield her mistress from the sun, and they walked in step, moving leisurely.
Zhu Minglang walked alongside them, along with Fang Niannian, who had also opened an intricate little umbrella.
But she only shielded herself and didn’t lean towards Zhu Minglang at all, her small mouth pouting, like someone who is showing a little proud petulance, saying she isn’t your maidservant.
Zhu Minglang didn’t mind, maintaining his distance, yet unconsciously moving closer when walking and talking.
If Zhu Minglang had his way, he wouldn’t mind tying up the two greenhorn girls, Frost and Niannian, and tossing them into the river, on this sunny and breezy day, he only needed himself and Li Yunzi.
They arrived at the Deer Hua Pavillion.
With willows casting soft, beautiful shadows everywhere, there were indeed a lot of people out for a stroll today, after all, it was the first sunny day after such a long time.
The clouds were slowly being pushed aside, and the sky was completely clearing.
After sipping some tea, Zhu Minglang was about to share some unheard tales of the land with Li Yunzi when a wave of noise came from outside, as if something had happened.
Soon, the noise from below turned into a clamor.
Even the pleasant folks in the Deer Hua Pavillion went to the wooden windows, curious to see what was happening outside.
Fang Niannian especially loved to watch the excitement, she quickly walked to the window, first looking down to see many people on the ground below and in the streets standing still.
Even some busy vegetable farmers had set down their carrying poles and were all looking up at the western sky.
All these people had stopped just to look at clouds?
Fang Niannian was puzzled and consequently also looked towards the western sky like everybody else.
But this glance sent shivers down her spine uncontrollably!!
What met her eyes was not the azure sky nor the beautiful clouds, but a mountain range so distant yet seemingly within arm’s reach!!
It seemed distant because the mountain range was unknown how many thousands of miles away from Ancestral Dragon City, so much so that even in this clear and dustless vast sky, the range appeared to have a faint shimmering distortion due to light refraction, spanning from the azure blue of the sky to the lighter blue and even farther to the faint purple of the distance…
It seemed close because it was unimaginably enormous.
The northernmost mountains of Ancestral Dragon City were said to be majestic by anyone who had seen them, but even those paled in comparison to this mountain range mirrored in the heavens, which was still insignificant by comparison.
This mountain range dominated a whole swath of the western sky, even more expansive and boundless than the lands to the west! !
As the murky clouds in the west dissipated, the sight became increasingly awe-inspiring, as people gradually realized that it wasn’t a mountain range at all, but a floating continent big enough to completely overshadow the western heavens!!!
Screams began to echo through the streets; some people had been inside their homes unaware of the commotion outside.
But as more and more people heard the news and went out to the streets to look up, they were immediately scared out of their wits!!!
The heavens are unimaginably vast, and a small patch of blue sky far away in the distance might be several dozen times bigger than the entirety of the Li
Chuan Plain…
Yet now, that western expanse of sky was completely cloaked by a landmass, and the imposing mountain range people initially saw was just the tip of the iceberg of the entire floating continent! !!
It was boundlessly vast, though incredibly far away, yet it presented an astonishingly close vision!!