Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

"""

The biting winter brought snow, and the howling winds seemed relentless. After more than ten days of heavy snowfall, blue skies remained elusive, the snow falling on and off. The distant lands were already covered in white, as if blanketed in thick cotton wool, and even the perpetually spring-like Luoluo City was shrouded in misty rain, the ground perpetually damp.

Another year’s festival had come.

"Husband, it’s just dawn. Isn’t it a bit too early?"

"It’s not early anymore. I’d rather wait outside my cave dwelling than be late and lose the proper etiquette," Gu Mengqing said in a deep voice, taking the gift box from his wife.

In recent years, he had gradually shown signs of aging. With the help of Chen Li, he now did some small business and no longer had to live on the edge of a knife as before. His days were comfortable, and he’d grown a bit corpulent, looking quite well-off.

"Daddy, Daddy, I want to go too, I want to go too!" Gu Mengqing’s four-year-old son shouted while hugging his leg.

As a late-life father, Gu’s face brightened with a smile as he picked up his son and gave him an affectionate kiss. "Not now. When you’re a little older, then your father will send you to the sect, and you’ll become a Sect Disciple too!"

The young wife glanced at the toddler, hesitated, and then persuaded, "Why don’t you bring Jue Er along? I think your big sister-in-law is very fond of him."

"You don’t understand, it’s precisely because she likes him that I can’t bring him," Gu responded, putting down his son and shaking his head.

For many years, his elder brother had been childless. Though nothing was said outwardly, who knew how much he suffered inwardly, silently bearing the pain.

He kept his mouth shut, saying no more.

After reminding his wife to take care of their child at home, Gu took the gift box and went out.

Outside, a drizzle spread melancholy, blanketing the whole of Luoluo City in a layer of ethereal mist.

He brushed off the nonexistent drops of water on his clothing. The Water Repelling Formation inherent in his first-grade, middle-quality robe repelled the raindrops before they could even touch him, keeping him dry. Although his robe was not of the highest quality, in the entire Luoluo City among the Loose Cultivators who could afford a middle-quality robe, he was still among the more esteemed.

Ascending the long mountain path, step by step, the road typically desolate, was now enlivened with groups of people due to the festival, lending a worldly atmosphere to it.

"Are you here to see Chen?" the gatekeeper asked, "Go on in then. It’s busy today, so I can’t guide you. You know the rules; don’t wander off, or else we can’t be blamed for any trouble."

Over the years, Gu Mengqing had visited the sect’s gates multiple times, and he was well acquainted with the guards there.

"Yes, yes, thank you, Fellow Daoist Wang!" Gu quickly responded with a nod and a bow.

In reality, with his connections inside the sect, there was no need for him to be overly humble, but he had grown accustomed to caution and prudence over the years, and he always felt that Sect Disciples were beyond his reach.

Inside the sect, flowers bloomed profusely, a riot of color, and the rich Spiritual Energy mingled with the scent of medicine invigorated him, filling him with longing.

Sighing, he realized he had no chance in this lifetime, it was set; but his son definitely had the opportunity to become a Sect Disciple.

Gu Mengqing suppressed the messy thoughts in his mind and quickened his pace. He soon arrived at the entrance of Chen Li’s dwelling and didn’t have to wait long before Bai Wei opened the Formation and greeted him.

"Master Gu, the master instructed me to receive you!"

"You have my thanks, Miss Bai," Gu responded with a salute.

Bai Wei quickly stepped aside, declining the formalities, "Master Gu, you honor me too much. I dare not accept your grand gesture. Please, follow me."

Chen Li was chatting leisurely with Hu Buwei in the main hall, and upon seeing Gu Mengqing enter, Chen chuckled, "You’re here; take a seat anywhere. I won’t play host—Bai Wei, bring the tea quickly."

"Elder Brother, you’re busy, you’re busy. It’s important to attend to distinguished guests; don’t mind me."

Gu Mengqing was perceptive; he recognized Hu Buwei, having seen him from a distance on the day Zhang Yan’s funeral was arranged. He replied with restraint, presented the festival gift, and then discreetly took a seat aside.

"Haha, I’m hardly a distinguished guest," Hu joked with a laugh, "As long as Chen doesn’t find me a nuisance, that’s all that matters."

Chen continued, dismissing the notion as too serious, "Having Fellow Daoist visit is my honor. How could I not welcome you?"

The two chatted about everything from the local situation to anecdotes from the pleasure quarters, a leisurely conversation that spanned topics far and wide, and soon, more visitors arrived.

Upon seeing the newcomers, Chen recognized them as the married couple, Peng Yan Wenhui.

Chen and Hu rose to greet them, and it was undeniable that since the battle of the Tianxing Sect, Chen had become inexplicably popular. In previous years during the festival, he had not seen so many visitors, and often it was a somber and solitary time.

Nearly two years into her marriage, Wen Hui retained her innocent and carefree demeanor. She hurried forward and playfully clung to Chen, laughing, "Fellow Daoist Chen, your yard is rather interesting, as if struck by a disaster; not a single blade of grass and all pitted and uneven. One could easily trip and fall."

"""

Chen Li dodged a step without changing his expression, chuckled, and replied, "I’ve taken the path of Body Refinement, and I’m usually quite rugged. Delicate flowers and plants aren’t really my thing."

"Chen, do you still like to be rough with the flowers?" Wen Hui blinked her watery, peach-blossom eyes and responded.

"That depends on the flower," Hu Buwei, looking unsurprised, joked with a smile, "If it’s a delicate beauty like Fellow Daoist Wen, I’m sure Chen would never bear to harm her."

Chen Li nearly choked on his saliva upon hearing this.

That’s a bit much in front of her husband.

Wen Hui covered her mouth and giggled, her peach-blossom eyes playfully sweeping over Chen Li, "What delicate beauty am I? I’m just a wilted flower, a shadow of my former self. Chen doesn’t even deign to glance at me."

Chen Li couldn’t help but steal a glance at Peng Yan, who still seemed to be laughing cheerfully, as if utterly unconcerned.

Chen Li really wasn’t accustomed to this kind of banter from seasoned pros and couldn’t help but give a forced chuckle. He quickly and awkwardly changed the subject:

"A few days ago, I heard from Xiao that Ding has already reached the third level of Foundation Establishment."

"Ah, how is it so fast!" Peng Yan was astonished. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Everyone’s attention was indeed diverted.

"After all, he’s a prodigy who achieved Foundation Establishment before turning twenty, plus he’s personally nurtured by the ancestor. How could he not be fast? Such a person is a Golden Core Seed, breaking through realms as easily as drinking water," Hu Buwei let out a breath of envy, such talents really killed any sense of jealousy, "In the entire Returning True Sect, I guess only Chen could compare with him now."

"No way to compare, no way at all!" Chen Li waved his hands and said.

With his own relentless effort and the aid of the game panel, he had also spent a full five years to step into the third level of Foundation Establishment.

And Ding Jian, in total, took only about three and a half years.

...

It wasn’t until nearly noon that Chen Li finally saw off the last group of guests.

This coming and going was actually more exhausting than cultivation itself.

At night.

After everything!

Zhou Hong’s body pressed close to Chen Li, she let out a breath and said with a gentle tone, "I had only heard about Senior Wen’s fame before, I didn’t expect her to be even more beautiful in person than in the rumors."

"Beautiful? She looks alright, I suppose!" Chen Li responded, keeping his composure.

Sighing internally!

His lady was tipping her jar of jealousy again!

"Among all the Foundation Establishment seniors, Fellow Daoist Wen must be the most beautiful," Zhou Hong continued.

"Ha, how many people are there in Returning True Sect’s Foundation Establishment stage? Most of the women, if not outrightly unattractive, are just quite ordinary looking. You can’t expect someone to have both high cultivation and good looks; isn’t that asking too much?"

"Pfft!" Zhou Hong chuckled, breaking her guard, and playfully hit Chen Li, "You really have a way of putting people down. There are several Foundation Establishment cultivators who are quite pretty, you know."

"If we’re talking truly beautiful, that’s something you’d have to see among Qi Cultivation practitioners. Some are not only good-looking but also have gentle and elegant characters."

"Who might that be?" Zhou Hong’s heart, which had just settled, instantly became vigilant again.

"I can’t be bothered to flatter people. Let’s sleep!"

Zhou Hong was momentarily dumbfounded, but upon realizing, she playfully chided, "You’re really annoying!"

Yet her heart felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey.

ps: Just practicing my touch, so I’ll water down this Chapter. I’ll try to update daily from now on.