Chapter 457: It's Late, Why Don't You Stay the Night (II)

By afternoon, the chamber doors finally creaked open. Qin Liangchen and the other two followed Luo Chen out. They looked visibly weary, but none of them carried the green gourds that contained the Imperial Nectar. That responsibility would be entrusted to Sima Huiniang.

With manpower stretched thin, the Luo Tian Society could not afford to lose several high-ranking members at once. Foundation Establishment breakthroughs had to be scheduled one at a time. For now, they needed to wait for Bian Zhen to be done with his attempt.

"You go on ahead. I have a few things to discuss with the President," Sima Huiniang said.

She walked with Luo Chen to see the three out of the cave residence. The group did not linger and descended Tianlan Peak together.

As they left, Murong Qinglian subconsciously glanced back at the pair standing side by side. Her expression shifted slightly.

On their way home, none of them spoke about what had happened. They buried it deep in their hearts. Yet once they returned, faced with the excitement and expectation in Qin Liangchen’s eyes, Murong Qinglian could not hold it in any longer.

"Sima Huiniang and Luo Chen... are they together?" she asked.

Qin Liangchen, who was busy feeling thrilled by the Foundation Establishment spirit medicine, was stunned when he heard her question. "That can’t be, right?"

"Why wouldn’t it be?" Murong Qinglian rolled her eyes. "You men are so dense. Some things, we women can spot instantly."

Qin Liangchen scratched his head and muttered, "Then what about Little Gu?"

In the beginning, everyone had assumed Gu Caiyi would be the one to end up with Luo Chen. This turn of events had caught them completely off guard.

At that, Murong Qinglian let out a soft sigh. "She probably already knows it, deep down."

Qin Liangchen still looked unconvinced. "Luo Chen doesn’t strike me as the frivolous type. How could he end up entangled with Sima Huiniang?"

"You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask then?" Murong Qinglian sighed helplessly. "Both of them are Foundation Establishment Initiates. Sima Huiniang is capable and can support Luo Chen in many ways. Them being together isn’t so hard to accept. As for Caiyi... I just hope she’ll be able to let it go."

Qin Liangchen, however, had a very different view. He waved his hand dramatically. "Luo Chen still called me Big Brother just now! That junior of mine is destined to be a dragon among men. What’s wrong with having three wives and four concubines? Why should she let go? Just let them all stay!"

The moment he finished, a delicate hand pinched the flesh at his waist and twisted hard. "Oh? You’re speaking up for him now? Is it because you owe him? Hey, Old Qin, since when were you dreaming of having multiple wives? Tell me, have you been bored with me all along? Planning to get yourself a little concubine? Don’t you run, stand right there! I’m counting to three[1]..."

***

On Tianlan Peak, Luo Chen rubbed his temples. He had simultaneously used Soul-Intimidation, Soul-Binding Oaths, and divine soul restrictions on all three of them at once. Even with his formidable late-stage Foundation Establishment divine soul foundation, the effort left him drained. Still, the success made it worthwhile.

In the past, he would not have had access to such methods. But after studying the spirit consciousness restriction techniques of several Foundation Establishment cultivators, learning basic formation principles from Min Longyu, and combining them with his own formidable divine soul and the aid of Soul-Binding Oaths, he had truly mastered divine soul restriction methods. The process had been especially smooth because Qin Liangchen and the others had offered full cooperation, lowering their guard completely.

At his side, Sima Huiniang began to report the recent developments within the Luo Tian Society. The succession system had been officially launched. Min Longyu had already accepted two disciples, passed on his knowledge of formations, and entrusted them with his legacy. Duan Feng had long nurtured apprentices in the Artifact Palace. Now, he had formally chosen the three most outstanding to take as his personal disciples. Wang Yuan’s case was simpler: He had outright taken the disciple Luo Chen had originally reserved for himself, Zeng Yilong.

The boy was the son of the late Zeng Wen, and he was the child who had carried the ceremonial sword for Sima Huiniang during the Foundation Establishment Ceremony. At twelve years old, he was of age to begin cultivation. At his spirit root evaluation, he had been found to possess a rare dual spirit root of water and earth. This was likely because his parents were Qi Refinement cultivators.

Wang Yuan had not chosen him for his spirit roots, but rather for his youth and pliability. Since birth, the boy had been doted on and had consumed many rare foundation-building resources. As a result, he had developed a strong and healthy body that was perfect for Physique Refinement.

Zeng Yilong’s mother, Xiugu, had raised no objections to Wang Yuan taking her son as a disciple. On the contrary, she had seemed pleased. Wang Yuan’s battle prowess was formidable, and his prestige within the Luo Tian Society unmatched. Moreover, the boy had lost his father at a young age and had been spoiled for years by those around him. Over the years, this had made him into something of a pampered young man.

She was too softhearted, and she had never been willing to scold or punish him. Wang Yuan, a man known for his toughness, might cleanse the boy’s spoiled nature before it grew into a serious problem in adulthood.

When Luo Chen heard that Wang Yuan had taken the boy as a disciple, he voiced no objection. His own disciple, Qu Lingjun, had already reached the seventh stage of Qi Refinement and had begun to show impressive talent in alchemy for his age. Even if Luo Chen did not take in another disciple this time, no one would question it.

Interestingly, it was Sima Huiniang who had accepted a disciple.

"She’s the young girl who held my horsetail whisk during the celebration. Her parents were cultivators from the Crescent Moon Valley. She was just a baby when she died, and we don't even know what her original name was. She was raised all these years by Granny Yuan. After Granny Yuan passed away, she lived with Yuan Dongsheng’s family. But after Yuan Dongsheng got married, it became awkward for her to stay. She’s already thirteen or fourteen now, a grown young lady.”

Luo Chen rubbed his forehead as the image of the young girl standing behind Sima Huiniang during the celebration surfaced in his mind. She was indeed tall, at least a head taller than Zeng Yilong. It was not a bad idea for Sima Huiniang to take her as a disciple. With years of guidance, the girl would learn plenty and eventually find her path.

"What’s her name?" Luo Chen asked.

"Yao Mingyue. Granny Yuan gave her that name, to remind her of Crescent Moon Valley," Sima Huiniang replied modestly.[2]

Luo Chen gave a quiet hum of approval. It was a good name. Simple, elegant, and easy to remember.

Noticing that Luo Chen was still rubbing his forehead, Sima Huiniang sensibly stopped her report. She stepped behind him and gently massaged his temples.

"You look a little worn out. Having trouble with your cultivation lately?" she asked.

Luo Chen closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

"There’s no way cultivation comes without setbacks," he said casually. "I have middling talent to begin with, and I started later than others. I’ve had to rise early, toil hard, and push my mind and body to the limit, just to move a bit faster. Tired? It’s nothing but a little hardship along the road."

Sima Huiniang smiled faintly and continued her gentle massage. The serene tenderness she exuded in that moment was a striking contrast to her usual image as a capable and decisive leader.

The atmosphere between them gradually quieted. At some point, Luo Chen took hold of her delicate hand.

"It’s late. Why don’t you stay the night?"

"Mhm."

1. The phrase “I’m counting to three” (我数到三) is a modern Chinese expression often used by mothers scolding their children, or sometimes by wives scolding their husbands. In Chinese internet culture, it has also become a joking way to tease someone for being disobedient or slow to listen ☜

2. Her given name means "bright moon." ☜