Refining the Mountains and Rivers

to you and Qingqing as a wedding present.”

This hand was more than amazing.

The Qing Family was considered a family with deep coffers, but it was actually impossible for them to casually give away such a large dwelling.
It had to be known that Wu Zetian had spent more than ten years constructing that courtyard and both the interior and exterior decorations were all top quality goods.
All in all, while it wasn’t worth more than 100 million spirit stones, it was almost that amount.

The Qing Family Patriarch and Madame Qing were shocked.
They quickly declined, saying that even with these two juniors getting married, it still wasn’t worth such a generous gift.

Leon and Qingqing also didn’t dare to accept.

Qin Yu smiled and shook his head.
“It’s just a dwelling.
I only fear that I won’t live there and letting it idle away would be a waste.
Leon, what do you think?”

Leon was just about to refuse, but he suddenly remembered that beneath his teacher’s black robes, he was hiding his status as a human.
He wasn’t an idiot, otherwise he wouldn’t possess such great talent as a sea spirit teacher.

Teacher, he…perhaps he was going to leave.

Yes, this had to be it.

As he thought of this, he was inexplicably flustered and also a bit sorrowful.
He hesitated again and again before kneeling and pulling Qingqing down too.
“I thank teacher for the generous gift.”

Qin Yu flicked his sleeves and lifted the two up.
“Chief manager, Manager Clearwood, after this period of seclusion I might leave the capital city for some time.
I will have to ask you two to take good care of Leon for me.”

Chief Manager Wu’s heart stirred.
He had heard from Old Sea already, but it seemed that Honorable Ning really did have thoughts of leaving the capital city.
He nodded with deep veneration.
“Rest assured, Honorable Ning.”

Clearwood seemed a bit distracted.
She only nodded a little, not saying much.

Being startled, the Qing Family Patriarch and Madame Qing hadn’t noticed anything amiss at this moment.
In their excitement, their earlier worry and unease had vanished.
With this generous gift, even if Honorable Ning couldn’t attend the wedding for some reason, it was still enough to indicate how valuable Leon was.
In the future, as long as they managed this well and maintained a relationship with Grandmaster Ning, then the rise of their Qing Family would only be a matter of time.

After obtaining a satisfactory answer and knowing that Honorable Ning planned to go into seclusion for another period of time, the Qing Family Patriarch and Madame Qing stood up and bid their farewells.
Qingqing also left with them.
This was one of the traditions of the sea races; just before a young man and woman were married, they wouldn’t meet in private again.

Leon stayed behind.
He was silent, his head drooping down.

Chief Manager Wu didn’t seem too surprised that Qin Yu would be leaving.
He took out three storage shells and placed them on the table.
“Honorable Ning, the first one is the complete earnings from the earlier gambling.
The second is 20 million spirit stones from my master.
There are also some soul strengthening treasures on the way, but they haven’t yet reached the capital city.
The third is Old Sea’s gift to you.”

He didn’t know which day Honorable Ning would leave on, so he certainly needed to clarify everything before then.
After handing over these three storage shells, he was visibly relieved.
Carrying so much wealth on him had left him anxious and on high alert all the time, and at least with this the four sea mantis swordsmen would also be able to relax.

Qin Yu nodded and received the three storage shells.
He casually asked, “Where’s Old Sea?”

Clearwood answered, “Teacher’s injuries may have stabilized, but in order to make sure there are no lingering damages, he needs to rest for a period of time.”

And as everyone thought she had finished speaking, this cold and frigid woman suddenly asked, “Honorable Ning, are you really leaving?”

Chief Manager Wu frowned.
Although everyone had guessed this, it wasn’t too polite to blurt it out loud.
But as he saw Clearwood’s eyes, he seemed to realize something.
A strange expression came over his face and he castigated her choices in his heart.

Qin Yu was surprised.
He nodded; it wasn’t like there was anything to hide.
Old Sea was a very astute person so he had likely guessed this and told Chief Manager Wu when passing the gift over to him.

“You can’t stay here?”

“I can’t.” Qin Yu smiled.
He seriously said, “There are some matters that are waiting for me to resolve.
Although the capital city is good, it isn’t the home I must return to.”

Clearwood’s complexion dimmed.
She nodded and didn’t speak further.

Qin Yu had told her and Chief Manager Wu that he needed to return home; it was likely that only Leon knew just why his teacher had to leave.
He was far too dazzling a figure now and an incident could occur at any moment.
This was especially true with random invitations from the royal palace.

He had been alright this time, but what about next time? Or the time after that? There would eventually be a day when great mishap would occur.
He was cautious about these things, so how could he not understand this point?

So, he needed to leave.

Once Chief Manager Wu and Clearwood left, Qin Yu looked at his depressed disciple.
“It’s fine, I have to leave sooner or later.
Leaving safely is the best possible outcome.
You should be overjoyed for me.”

Leon’s eyes glistened and turned a little red.
“Teacher, will we ever see each other again?”

Qin Yu thought for a moment and shook his head.
“I don’t know.
But what I do know is that you, Leon, will surely become a truly great person in the future.
Brat, you can do it! Qingqing is a good girl, so don’t disappoint her.
Go, I have to enter seclusion.
Before I leave I will bid you farewell.”

Leon straightened himself and bowed.
He took several steps back and left.

Qin Yu sighed.

It wasn’t that he was too worried, it was just that the situation was forcing him to do this.

When he left Soupman’s mansion, he never imagined he would encounter Princess Lushy.
He thought this disguise was perfect, but that little girl was already suspicious of him.

That’s right.
While she had managed to maintain a tranquil demeanor, she couldn’t hide the flash of insight in her eyes from Qin Yu.

With her status, wanting to find recordings of him was extremely simple.
While those couldn’t prove anything, as long as she had just a bit of evidence it would only be a matter of time until he was exposed.

Thus, Qin Yu could not wait.
He immediately had to go into seclusion and refine the last of the five-element spiritual objects, and then leave the capital city before his identity was exposed.