“Old Ao.”
He Xiuyuan thought for a moment after hearing the Dragon’s words, then cupped his hands and called out.
Ao Qing’s face was also full of smiles upon hearing this.
Cultivators were already rare, and the one he saw now was even more extraordinary, so a desire to befriend him arose in his heart.
“Then, may I ask, Young Brother, your esteemed surname?”
Ao Qing stroked his beard and asked He Xiuyuan with a joyful expression.
“My humble surname is He, and my given name is Xiuyuan.”
He Xiuyuan replied directly upon hearing this.
“He Xiuyuan? What a good name!”
The Old Dragon also replied cheerfully upon hearing it, then praised him.
After some thought, the Old Dragon was about to say something else when his brows furrowed slightly, and he couldn’t help but look back at the dark clouds behind him.
“Brother He, my Cloud Manipulation and Rain Invocation is not yet finished, so I cannot chat with you any longer. I shall go perform Cloud Manipulation and Rain Invocation first, and then come find you later. What do you think?”
He had rushed over to meet He Xiuyuan just now because he saw how extraordinary he was.
However, this had delayed the Cloud Manipulation and Rain Invocation.
Noticing this, the Old Dragon felt a bit unwilling but had no choice.
And He Xiuyuan, hearing the Old Dragon’s words, immediately said, “Old Ao’s matters are important. We should have plenty of time later.”
He Xiuyuan actually wanted to chat more with the Old Dragon to inquire about Cultivating, but since the other party still had to perform Cloud Manipulation and Rain Invocation, He Xiuyuan could only postpone the matter for now.
However, after interacting with him for a while, He Xiuyuan could sense the goodwill the other party was releasing.
He thought that if there was an opportunity to talk with him later, it shouldn’t be a bad thing.
The Old Dragon looked at He Xiuyuan, and seeing his reply, his face brightened with joy. He then transformed into a golden light and shot into the clouds, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
He Xiuyuan watched him leave, then, holding his umbrella, walked towards the inn with a joyful expression.
His luck today could be said to be exceptionally good; not only had he learned Water Manipulation Technique, but he had also mastered Cloud Manipulation and Rain Invocation Technique.
Thinking of this, He Xiuyuan was naturally overjoyed.
It was still raining heavily, and He Xiuyuan no longer needed an umbrella, but out of consideration for the Mortals around him, he still kept it open.
After all, he still had to go to Chang’an, and his cultivation was not high, so it was better to keep a low profile.
“Clip-clop!”
He Xiuyuan walked slowly towards the inn.
Just then, urgent hoofbeats came from behind him.
“Move aside!”
As the urgent hoofbeats rapidly approached, shouts followed.
He Xiuyuan heard the commotion, looked back, and saw a carriage rapidly rushing towards him from behind.
He Xiuyuan frowned at the sight, then moved slightly to the side.
The carriage galloped past He Xiuyuan, its wheels splashing mud. Large amounts of dirty water and mud splattered towards He Xiuyuan.
However, as this dirty water and mud approached He Xiuyuan, they seemed to be blocked by something and did not land on him.
He Xiuyuan’s gaze turned towards the carriage ahead.
The wood used for the carriage seemed extraordinary, and the curtains were made of silk and satin, suggesting that the person inside the carriage was either rich or noble.
But the person driving this carriage was truly too reckless, wasn’t he?
He Xiuyuan frowned and walked into the inn, while the person inside the carriage also lifted the curtain at this moment and was getting out.
When He Xiuyuan arrived, he saw a woman standing gracefully beneath the inn.
The woman wore a green long dress, her hair styled in a ‘startled magpie’ bun, and her appearance was delicate and lovely. Just standing there, she exuded an air of grace and composure.
As her apricot eyes blinked, there was an indescribable sense of liveliness and playfulness.
With just one glance, one could determine that this woman must be from a prominent family.
The woman stood gracefully in place, and upon seeing He Xiuyuan from a distance, she quickly stepped forward.
Then, the woman came before He Xiuyuan and curtsied to him.
Her posture was like a classical woman stepping out of a painting, dignified, elegant, and full of spiritual beauty and intelligence.
“Just now, my horse was startled and couldn’t stop the carriage in time, almost colliding with Young Master. I hope Young Master will not take offense.”
The Young Miss in front of him lowered her head slightly, her voice like pearls falling onto a jade plate, clear and pleasant to hear.
He Xiuyuan was momentarily stunned upon hearing her apology.
He had initially thought it was a rude and unreasonable person, but he hadn’t expected this woman to be so understanding.
Seeing her apologize so sincerely, He Xiuyuan found it difficult to trouble her further.
“Since Young Miss has apologized, this matter is settled.”
He Xiuyuan waved his hand, ready to let the matter go.
Zhong Xiuyun immediately felt relieved upon hearing this. Just now, in the carriage, seeing He Xiuyuan almost hit by the carriage had truly frightened her.
Fortunately, He Xiuyuan was fine.
“Thank you, Young Master, for your magnanimity. Just now, the carriage ran over a puddle and splashed a lot of muddy water. I can compensate...”
Zhong Xiuyun said, while looking at He Xiuyuan’s clothes.
With such heavy rain, the carriage wheels would surely splash He Xiuyuan with mud and water all over him.
So, she had already decided to compensate He Xiuyuan for the cost of his clothes.
However, when she looked up, she saw that He Xiuyuan’s clothes were clean and tidy, without any sign of being splashed by dirty water.
At this sight, Zhong Xiuyun was immediately stunned.
Then, her beautiful eyes instantly widened, and she looked at He Xiuyuan’s clothes with some perplexity.
She couldn’t understand why He Xiuyuan’s clothes had no dirty water on them at all.
She had clearly seen the splashing dirty water going towards He Xiuyuan just now, so why were He Xiuyuan’s clothes still so clean?
“My clothes aren’t dirty, so there’s no need for compensation.”
He Xiuyuan waved his hand upon hearing this, intending to drop the matter, and immediately bypassed her, walking into the inn.
Zhong Xiuyun’s mind was still somewhat muddled at this moment. Only after He Xiuyuan walked into the inn did she somewhat regain her senses.
“Young Miss, since that Young Master doesn’t want compensation and his clothes aren’t dirty, this matter is settled.”
The servant beside her only spoke to persuade her after seeing He Xiuyuan enter the inn.
However, Zhong Xiuyun still frowned beautifully upon hearing this, “Tell me, why are this Young Master’s clothes so clean?”
Zhong Xiuyun looked puzzled.
Her gaze, at this moment, was still following He Xiuyuan.
The servant beside her was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then shook his head, “Perhaps he avoided it.”
“Avoided it?”
Zhong Xiuyun nodded upon hearing this, feeling that it should be the case.
But the next moment, when her gaze fell upon the servant’s shoes, a look of disbelief appeared on her face.
Her own servant had just gotten out of the carriage, and his shoes were already this wet.
And that He Xiuyuan, who had just come in from the heavy rain, his shoes... seemed as dry as if it hadn’t rained at all?