Chapter 495: Good Intentions Gone Awry, A Timely Encounter

"Foundation Establishment was easier than I imagined in some ways, yet harder than I ever expected in others. You once mentioned the three thresholds to Foundation Establishment. I met them all. My divine soul was strong, my spirit energy was pure, and my physique was sturdy. My preparations were flawless. She feared I would grow greedy for advancement and rush things, so she made me wait three more months after reaching Perfected Mastery, and only after verifying my yuan qi herself did she give me the Foundation Establishment pill. I also overcame the three calamities of the spirit roots safely. Whether it was my tongue root, dantian, or primal yin, nothing was amiss.

"When I broke through the barrier of my dantian, I could feel the Great Dao of Foundation Establishment beckoning me forward. At that moment, all I needed was to open the main meridians and consolidate my spirit power, and I would have succeeded. But my mind ran wild, and my will scattered. I pressed forward, because I was determined to catch up to your footsteps. And right on the brink of success, I grew hesitant. If I truly reached Foundation Establishment... would you still want me? She is clearly more talented than I am."

Perhaps it was because she had been healed by Luo Chen's pure wood-element spirit power, or maybe it was simply the sight of Luo Chen that stirred her emotions. Whatever the reason, Gu Caiyi spoke as though she had reached a final moment of clarity before death.

"When I woke, my dantian had already been destroyed. The mass of spirit power had nowhere to go and tore through my meridians, leaving them in complete disarray. At that moment, I knew I'd completely failed."

She stared blankly at Luo Chen. "I know the Dao companion you desire isn't just someone beautiful, but someone who can walk the cultivation path alongside you. If I cannot reach Foundation Establishment, then within a few decades, I will turn into nothing but dust, and I'll leave you with nothing but sorrow. I did not want to appear fragile, but... I am afraid. I am afraid that if I don't speak now, I will die in a few years, and by then I will have no chance left..."

"You won't die!" Luo Chen's voice held no trace of comfort, no hint of false hope, only unwavering resolve. "You seem to believe that I'm lying because I'm trying to comfort you. I

am

trying to comfort you, but I'm

not

lying. Within one year at most, I will heal your injuries."

Gu Caiyi blinked slowly, the corners of her lips twitching as if trying to lift into a smile. She murmured, "Really?"

Luo Chen did not give her an explanation, only a firm nod.

A faint curve appeared at the corners of her lips, and hope finally flickered in her tired eyes.

"You should rest now," he said gently.

"You're leaving?" she asked.

"They've arrived," he replied.

Gu Caiyi paused in surprise, then blushed and released Luo Chen's hand. Luo Chen tucked the blanket around her, careful and unhurried. Then he stood and cracked open the window, letting in a rush of clean, cold night air. Only after that did he quietly step out of the room.

From behind, Gu Caiyi watched his departing figure and slowly closed her eyes.

***

Outside, figures moved faintly in the snow, cloaked by the moonlight and silence. The moment the crimson-robed figure stepped out, a chorus of greetings rang out.

"President, welcome back!"

Luo Chen clasped his hands behind his back, his expression calm as his gaze swept the crowd. "Return to your duties. We'll have a council meeting in three days. Huiniang, you please stay."

The gathered cultivators exchanged uncertain glances, but no one dared to object. The weight of Luo Chen's presence had grown steadily over time, leaving none bold enough to challenge it. They offered respectful bows and dispersed.

Only two figures remained in the snowy courtyard. A man and a woman, both surrounded by silence and thoughts just as messy as the trampled snow.

Sima Huiniang said nothing, simply stretching her slender neck to gaze at Luo Chen. Luo Chen said nothing either, simply watching her. A year and a half had passed since they'd last met. She was more composed and elegant than ever. Yet her once youthful features had thinned, carved by responsibility and time.

At last, Huiniang lowered her gaze and said softly, "You're back."

"Yes. I'm back. Thank you for holding everything together during this time."

For reasons she could not explain, Sima Huiniang suddenly felt her nose sting with the urge to cry. She shook her head gently. "Serving you has never been a burden."

Luo Chen sighed and stepped forward. He reached out and gently took her hand, delicate and cool in his palm. "Tell me. What's the situation?"

The "situation," of course, wasn't the Luo Tian Society. It was the woman resting in the courtyard behind them.

Sima Huiniang felt the warmth of his grasp, and some of the heaviness in her heart began to ease. She turned toward the small courtyard and said, "On the day you left Danxia Peak, Palace Leader Gu had already reached Perfected Mastery of the Qi Refinement Realm. Based on her years of accumulated merit, she came to request a Foundation Establishment Pill from me. I had one available at the time, one of the three gifts Tantai Jin presented during my Foundation Establishment Ceremony. By rules, I should have granted her request.

"But as we discussed before you left, the Luo Tian Society was expanding quickly and needed manpower. She was managing the Gold Palace, which was crucial for converting output into revenue, and the society could not replace her immediately. And since Palace Leader Murong was ahead in line for Foundation Establishment, I waited three months after her success before giving the pill to Caiyi."

Luo Chen listened carefully. Everything she described matched what Murong Qinglian and Gu Caiyi had told him the night before. It was clear that Huiniang had left out certain details, such as arranging for Gu Caiyi to stabilize her cultivation to prevent reckless advancement and providing her with a second-tier low-grade cave residence.

"Before Gu Caiyi's Foundation Establishment attempt, Elder Wang Yuan and I evaluated her. She had solid foundations and purer spirit energy than even Duan Feng or me. She should have had the highest chance of success among us. Yet when something is not absolute, the unexpected can still occur. She failed. Her injuries were severe... much worse than my brother's when he failed. Hence, in the name of the Luo Tian Society, I spent a fortune to hire the renowned medical expert Sun Sifang from the city.

She fell silent for a moment before continuing. "The diagnosis... wasn't optimistic. According to Sun Sifang, Palace Leader Gu's foundations were too solid. Though she was still a Qi Refinement cultivator, her spirit power rivaled that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. And precisely because of that, the damage caused by the failed breakthrough was far worse than what a typical Qi Refinement cultivator would suffer."

As Sima Huiniang spoke to that point, Luo Chen's spirit consciousness stirred. Suddenly, he realized the true cause behind Gu Caiyi's failure! The restless mind, scattered will, and cultivation deviation had been only triggers. The true cause was the immense spirit power, pure to the point of rivaling that of an Initiate!

Normally, a Qi Refinement cultivator would never have such incredible purity of spirit power; not even Luo Chen himself had such a foundation back then. Yet over the years, he had given her Jade Dew pills from time to time. These were second-tier pills so desirable that even female Initiates from the Ice Fortress coveted them!

Even though Luo Chen had modified the absorption technique and instructed Gu Caiyi to take them in divided portions, the medicinal potency still forged within her an incredibly strong and pure spirit power. Compared to others in the same realm, her spirit power was three or even four times purer. At the moment of her attempt, how could she possibly control such power with a divine soul not yet at the Foundation Establishment Realm?

Luo Chen's throat went dry as the thought struck him. Could this truly have been his fault? He had never imagined that his very own good intentions would end up causing harm. Without the Jade Dew Pills, Gu Caiyi might have taken several more years to reach Perfected Mastery of the Qi Refinement Realm, and she would still have had a solid foundation to break into Foundation Establishment. Even if she'd ultimately failed, at most, it would have been like Sima Xian's case—after a few years of recuperation, she'd have returned to full strength. Now, her dantian shattered, meridians in ruin, overwhelming spirit power clogging her body and steadily corroding her flesh.

Sima Huiniang didn't notice the guilt in Luo Chen's expression and continued describing the situation. It turns out that after Gu Caiyi suffered severe injuries, she was treated by Master Healer Sun, who proposed a corresponding treatment plan. No ordinary spell could heal her; it had to be done through gradual medicinal therapy. During the process, external spirit energy must be avoided, lest it worsen her condition. Therefore, Sima Huiniang arranged for Gu Caiyi to stay in this secluded part of Danxia Peak. The spirit energy here was extremely thin. In addition, she also had Min Longyu construct a formation to maintain a spiritless environment.

Wang Yuan had visited from time to time, examining her condition and channeling refined Bright Force tempered through his blood qi into her core meridians. It was a temporary measure, meant to shield them from being destroyed by the buildup of spirit power. Otherwise, if the damage became irreparable, she would never be able to cultivate again. Feng Xia had also remained faithfully by her side for the past year, caring for her night and day.

After knowing the truth, Luo Chen said with heartfelt emotion, "Everyone has done their best."

Sima Huiniang nodded, her tone calm and firm. "We've all come this far together. Even if Foundation Establishment is out of reach, she should at least retain her cultivation. I've heard that in three years, the Medicine King Sect may auction off several Blue Sea pills. If we can get one, there may still be hope of repairing her dantian."

The Blue Sea pill drew its name from an old saying: Eventually, even seas would turn into mulberry fields—an analogy for the great changes brought about by the passage of time. It was the supreme medicinal pill for repairing a cultivator's dantian and sea of qi. Decades ago, it had gone to auction once, and just one pill fetched a price of fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones!

"You've been thoughtful," Luo Chen said, giving the soft hand in his grasp a gentle squeeze.

Sima Huiniang smiled brightly. "As long as you don't think I'm targeting her on purpose."

"Do I seem like the kind of person who'd think that?" he asked mildly.

"But your expression just now—"

"I am just tired," Luo Chen replied, rubbing the center of his brow. "I spent the whole day traveling, and I had to be on guard for rogue cultivators. And the moment I returned, I had to examine Caiyi's injuries carefully, and make sure not to cause her more harm. If I said I wasn't exhausted, I'd be lying. How could I possibly have the energy to put on a smiling face after such a long day, let alone in a situation like this?"

Then, as if remembering something, he lifted his hand. "Here you go."

A slender Autumnwater Sword appeared in Luo Chen's hand. "A gift I brought for you. Do you like it?"

Sima Huiniang's eyes lit up as she looked at the flying sword. It was an enchanted treasure, and it perfectly matched her water-element cultivation. With practiced ease, she spun it into a flower-shaped arc, joy shimmering in her expression.

In the snowy courtyard, her figure twirled gracefully. Her skirt fluttered, and the sword gleamed in the moonlight, creating a sight of breathtaking beauty. Luo Chen watched her silently, admiration clear in his gaze. Yet beneath that admiration lingered a worry that refused to fade.

Three years...

he muttered to himself.

That is far too long.

***

Gu Caiyi awoke slowly, the edges of her dreams still clinging to her consciousness. The first sight that greeted her eyes was Feng Xia, busy packing in the corner of the room. She glanced around and failed to see the figure from her dream, and a wave of emptiness swept through her. That feeling quickly vanished when a man stepped in from outside.

"Sister Xia, is everything ready?"

Feng Xia nodded. "Just a few personal items. Everything's packed."

"Then let's get going!"

She hesitated before speaking. "But Elder Sun warned us that Caiyi shouldn't allow any external spirit energy to enter her body. Are you certain it's safe to move her?"

"It's better to release than to suppress," Luo Chen answered without pause. "That advice is not wrong, but it only applies when there's no alternative, and I actually do have a better alternative."

As he spoke, he had already reached Gu Caiyi's side.

Gu Caiyi bit her lip and asked, confused, "Where are we going?"

"To my residence," he said gently. "I promised you I would heal you."

He gave a slight smile, and before she could react, he scooped her up into his arms.

Feng Xia's eyes welled with tears as she watched and helped drape a thick fur coat over her. "It'll be okay. Everything will be okay."

They exited the courtyard. Luo Chen summoned a spirit energy barrier and boarded the Langqi Flying Boat with Gu Caiyi in his arms.

"Sister Xia," he called back as the ship began to hum with energy, "when Caiyi's well again, we'll treat you to a drink. Bring Duan Feng along too."

Feng Xia stood in the courtyard waving hard as she watched the flying boat rise into the sky.

***

Aboard the flying boat, Gu Caiyi sat on the soft, warm chair, her heart and eyes fixed on the man before her. When he had picked her up in his arms, something deep inside her had shifted. In that single moment, it had felt as though her life had found its completion. Even now, with waves of sharp pain occasionally surging through her body, she couldn't stop the smile that played at her lips.

Luo Chen watched the gentle curve of her expression and couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you really that happy?"

Her eyes were bright, and she nodded. "I am."

Then she looked him in the eye, and without hesitation, she said, "Luo Chen, I really like you."

Luo Chen paused in surprise. Even though she had already expressed her feelings before, hearing such a candid confession still caught him off guard. Thinking it over, he realized this was the Gu Caiyi he had first encountered—brilliant, radiant, and bold.

She had always loved and hated with equal intensity. Once her heart was set on something, she pursued it without wavering. For that, she had willingly abandoned the lucrative position at Tianxiang Tower and sacrificed the prestigious Gu family name at Dahe Market. It was because of him that she had spent the past years suppressing her true nature. Now, grievously wounded and uncertain of her future, she had finally cast aside her restraints.

Luo Chen's expression softened as he gently patted the back of her hand. "Once you're healed, I'll help you reach Foundation Establishment."

"Whether I reach Foundation Establishment or not, it doesn't matter anymore," Gu Caiyi said with a gentle, smiling gaze. "Having you by my side like this, without barriers or distance, is enough for me. Even if I were to die now, I would have no regrets."

Back then, Luo Chen hadn't been like this. When they stayed at the siheyuan, he was the cheeky one—always looking to bum a meal, his eyes darting here and there. There had been no trace of prestige or power in him then. But as time passed and he gained experience, that so-called bearing, dignity, and presence gradually took shape. And yet, now, at this moment, they had returned to something simpler. A connection without pretense.

Suddenly, she asked, "Are we going to your cave residence?"

"Yes. I haven't been back in a while. Once we're there, it'll be easier to handle a lot of things," Luo Chen replied with a nod.

She hesitated, then continued, "But... she's been staying there this past year. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to go there now?"

Luo Chen rose to his feet with a sigh, then bent down and gave her nose a gentle pinch. "Why are you acting so jealous and petty all of a sudden?"

"What do you mean, petty?" Gu Caiyi asked, tilting her head.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Honestly, he didn't know how to explain.

Gu Caiyi did not press further. Instead, she said firmly, "No matter what, I've already chosen you. Even if she tries to fight me for you, unless you abandon me, I will never leave."

Luo Chen's heart ached as he looked at her face. She was so much thinner now and nearly hollow beneath her skin. He reached out and cupped her cheek gently.

"Don't worry. Huiniang isn't the kind of person you imagine. Everything has already been arranged. She has moved out. A friend gave me the right to use a top-grade cave residence on Tianlan Peak, and that is where she will be staying from now on."

Gu Caiyi leaned into his hand and murmured, "I know she isn't like me. She's more independent, stronger. Even after she grew close to you, she never tried to use that connection to her advantage. Even when I treated her coldly, she never took offense. Instead, she did everything she could to help me reach Foundation Establishment."

Her voice grew softer, fragile with emotion. "But even knowing all that, sometimes I still get angry. I don't even know if I'm upset with her, with you... or maybe I'm angry at who I used to be."

Luo Chen remained silent and let her continue. In this moment, she was more vulnerable than ever. What she needed was not words but healing. He would bring back the Gu Caiyi she once was, the one even Master Healer Sun had failed to help.

That third-tier Revival pill couldn't have come at a better time!