Li Mo paid the school a visit, days since his last time here. The others’ attitudes towards him had changed completely.
The rightful heir to Shenjing’s Li clan, Li Mo, now received constant bootlicking.
He just stepped into the classroom and almost all his mates greeted him. Those that were a bit more conscious about themselves chose to only smile at him.
All except one, Huang Yao.
Huang Yao noticed him coming but behaved like he didn’t exist, lowering her head in the books.
“Good morning folks.”
Ao Jiuxiao walked in as well. He only had an interest in Li Mo, his eyes glittering at the sight of him.
“Student Li Mo, it’s been a while.”
Li Mo frowned.
Li Mo never took kindly to this teacher Ao Jiuxiao because his enthusiasm was a bit groundless. He had a bad feeling about him that stemmed doubts.
Ao Jiuxiao laughed, “Student Li Mo what did you have for breakfast?”
Li Mo’s mouth twitched.
“Breadstick, soy milk, and a boiled egg from the best shop on Xi Street. They had excellent skills and tasted divine. I can take you whenever you’re free.”
“No need.”
“It’s no problem.”
Li Mo sighed.
Ao Jiuxiao chatted a bit more before starting the lesson. Enthusiasm aside, his teaching was quite exemplary. With ample examples and clear explanations.
At the end of class, Ao Jiuxiao was back before Li Mo, “Student Li Mo, are you free at noon? Want to eat lunch together?”
“I’m busy.”
“Another day perhaps. Whenever you have time, come find me. I’m always free.”
Ao Jiuxiao left laughing.
“Brother Mo, care for a smoke?”
Chen Hai skipped over with a cigarette in hand but Li Mo passed.
“You’ve been gone for so long I’m starting to pin for you.”
“Just act natural.”
Chen Hai’s attitude did a u-turn from before. That was his father’s, Chen Zhengzhong, fault for being so fake. This was one attitude Li Mo never liked to see.
“I get it, bro Mo. You must be busy.”
Chen Hai left whit one last flattery.
The others were whispering in a corner.
In the purview of his mates, Li Mo looked to have been reborn, going from rags to riches overnight.
Only one person there wasn’t too enthused by Li Mo’s success. And all this time, Huang Yao kept her nose in her books.
When school was over, Huang Yao met him when he was leaving the schoolyard.
“Li Mo, I’ve changed. So why do you still ignore me?”
“Eh?”
“I’ve been working hard on my studies and even improved my grades.”
“How does your success have anything to do with me?” Li Mo felt helpless.
“After that day, I thought long and hard. I realized where I was wrong. I’ve thus decided to change my wrongs and now there’s only one man that I love, you Li Mo. I don’t care about anyone else.”
“I am still working hard on my studies. Getting the best grades is the only way to make me worthy of you.”
“Miss Huang Yao, there’s something you don’t get.”
“What may that be?”
“I have cast aside my title as heir to Shenjing’s Li clan and entered the Longhu Mountain’s Celestial Master Abode as a disciple. I am just a mere Daoist and here is my token.”
“Impossible. Don’t lie to me.”
“You can ask around if you like. I’m sure everything about me is on the internet already.”
Huang Yao skeptically took out her phone and searched. Li Mo was indeed an official disciple of Celestial Master Abode.
“J-just what are you thinking?”
“Nothing really. I never cared about money. My true goal is to pry into the Almighty Heaven.”
“Y-you. Li Mo, I was dreadfully wrong about you. I have always given you chances to change for the better. Only now I see what a hopeless case you are.”
Li Mo cracked up.
Huang Yao snapped, “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, nothing at all.”
“It was my wish to become a disciple of Celestial Master Abode, but it was also because of a more selfish reason. My second uncle has a son. He wants his son to inherit the family business, so the Li clan can’t have me.”
“You’re saying you were cast out?” Huang Yao realized.
“Right, oh so perfectly right. I’ve been cast out.”
“But did they give you anything in return?”
“Yeah, around two hundred thousand stocks. But I will get them when I marry.”
“Y-you… are such a disappointment.”
Huang Yao left in a huff.
Li Mo took a deep breath and only calmed down after a long time.
It was all for her father’s sake that he had even this modicum of decorum.
She always nagged and with bottomless greed. This was one type he never wanted to meet with again.
“Student Li Mo! Student Li Mo!”
Huang Yao just left and Ao Jiuxiao took her place.
Ao Jiuxiao was riding a women’s bicycle and stopped before Li Mo, “Get on, I’ll give you a ride.”
“No need.” Li Mo’s mouth twitched.
“No need to be so polite with your teach.”
“I’m not in the least. I just don’t need to!”
Li Mo hailed a cab and went in, going to the store to get some daily necessities. When he got home, he was hailed by a weirdo, ruining any mood he had left.
“You’re back. I’ve been waiting for ages.”
Li Mo found Yang Hongying between him and his home.
“What are you doing?”
“What what? I got you in so why aren’t you thanking me yet? The least you could do is invite me to your family for a meal.”
“I am a family of one.”
“No biggie. I’m not picky, an instant noodles will do.”
“I am dirt poor.”
“A chat is also nice.”
Li Mo opened his gate and closed it behind him.
Yang Hongying lost it, “Have you no manners at all?”
“You call haunting my house with your soul having manners?”
“I-I, humph. I’m not leaving unless you let me in.”
“Suit yourself.”
“You… you…”
Yang Hongying blew a gasket.
She never left ever since they came back after Li Mo’s test, wanting to barge into his home like it was the order of the day. Her aim was simple, to find Li Mo’s soul power item.
“I’ve just about had it with him.”
She waited at the gates a half an hour more, then left bitter and filled with rancor.
Seeing as neither by soul nor being pushy got her entry, she was at her wit’s end.
In the living room, the Yellow Emperor’s three demons were engrossed in Investiture of the Gods’ soap opera.
They were at the final episode when the nine-tailed fox was beheaded. Jade pipa sighed, “I never would’ve guessed us three demons of Yellow Emperor’s tomb to have such fate…”
Nine-headed pheasant gritted her teeth, “Everyone became gods, even the dead King Zhou became one, while only us were left behind.”
Whitey was silent. She read the original Investiture of the Gods book then watched the soap oper with her demon sisters. Her knowledge was far wider than theirs.
“Master’s back.”
“Master~”
The three demons welcomed Li Mo with open arms.
