Central Plains, Ten Thousand Flower Ridge.
By a deep pool, Chen Baiqing began preparing tea with gentle, practiced movements. She glanced up at her master, who sat across from Li Junzi.
Li Junzi's hair was now streaked with silver, and the passage of years had left its marks on her face.
Yet her eyes burned brighter than ever.
Time could steal youth, but it also brought clarity.
Chen Baiqing first pushed the freshly brewed tea toward her master, then offered a cup to Li Junzi.
Chu Xingchen accepted the teacup with a warm smile.
"My apologies for the wait, Mr. Li. I had to travel a long way from the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, and it took quite some time."
"Sect Master Chu is too kind. I'm the one who intruded," Li Junzi shook her head gently. "I had originally planned to leave when I heard you were away. It's nothing important — certainly not worth making you travel such a distance."
Chu Xingchen's expression grew solemn.
"Many things shouldn't be measured by whether they're worth the effort, but by whether they're the right thing to do. Has Mr. Li stopped considering me a friend?"
Li Junzi laughed easily.
"Of course not. Being friends with Sect Master Chu is my honor."
"And being friends with Mr. Li is my honor as well." Chu Xingchen raised his teacup. "Warriors drink wine, scholars drink tea. Let me use this cup to congratulate Mr. Li on returning to the Great Scholar realm. The Sub-Sage realm must not be far off now."
Li Junzi lifted her cup as well. After draining the tea, she spoke in a measured tone.
"Sub-Sage or not — after all these years, I've come to realize it's merely a fixation of the heart. If it comes, it comes. If it doesn't, the path must still be walked. Titles are just titles."
"With that mindset, the Sub-Sage realm is only a matter of time," Chu Xingchen said with a smile, before shifting the topic. "I imagine Mr. Li originally came to visit Luoyu?"
Li Junzi did not try to hide it and nodded.
"That was my original plan. My timing wasn't ideal, but Luoyu has her own affairs to attend to, and those come first. Though I'm not a cultivator, my road in life isn't at its end just yet."
Chu Xingchen asked, "Is Mr. Li planning to visit Junzi Mountain?"
"Yes. I've found my answers, and I intend to share them."
"Would you like me to accompany you?"
"That would be too much trouble for the Sect Master. Visiting Junzi Mountain is no great matter — it only requires a conversation. Whether I win or lose, it's my own concern."
Li Junzi glanced sideways at Chen Baiqing, who had changed considerably since they last met.
"I see that Baiqing has grown a great deal. I thought the Sect Master might have changed as well, but seeing you again, you're exactly as you were back then."
Chu Xingchen slowly rotated his teacup between his fingers.
"Luoyu hasn't changed much either. Where does Mr. Li plan to go after settling things at Junzi Mountain — if you win or if you lose? Once things are wrapped up, perhaps I can have Luoyu seek you out."
Li Junzi considered this for a moment.
"I'll think about it. If it's convenient, I'll send word."
Chu Xingchen nodded, then rose to his feet.
"Mr. Li is welcome to rest here for a few days. If you need anything, just let Baiqing know. The journey is long — I can arrange for two cultivators to accompany you if you'd like."
Li Junzi stood and bowed slightly.
"Please attend to your duties, Sect Master Chu."
Chu Xingchen returned the bow, then reached out and ruffled Chen Baiqing's hair.
"Brew two more pots of tea for Mr. Li."
Chen Baiqing nodded her small head in acknowledgment.
Chu Xingchen looked at her and shook his head with a fond smile. Then he turned and walked toward the great hall.
Now that he was back, it was time to take care of one more matter.
Outside the great hall, Ning Qianqian's footsteps were somewhat hurried.
She wore a token at her waist — one given to her by Chu Xingchen. It could be used to contact him with spiritual energy, and he could use it to reach her as well.
Ning Qianqian stopped outside the hall and spoke first.
"Sect Master."
Chu Xingchen's voice drifted from within.
"Come in."
Only after receiving his response did Ning Qianqian step inside. Her eyes found Chu Xingchen, who was idly tossing a set of black-and-white Go stones in his hand.
Chu Xingchen met her gaze. Within the sect, Ning Qianqian was probably the most rules-abiding member — even when no one demanded it of her, she handled every task with impeccable precision.
It was just a pity that she had virtually no talent for cultivation.
Chu Xingchen did not wait for her to speak. Instead, he asked a question.
"You're at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation now, correct?"
Ning Qianqian fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
Her father had already reached Foundation Establishment, thanks to the sect's resources.
She was the only person in the entire sect who couldn't defeat their mascot — Sandong.
And Sandong's approach to cultivation was to have fun with it. He trained when he felt like it, and when he didn't, he would disappear for two or three months at a time to play.
Ning Qianqian was the opposite. She spent every free moment — even during rest periods — pushing herself in cultivation, to the point where she felt ready to swallow spirit stones whole.
Yet the further she progressed, the slower her advancement became.
Ning Qianqian lowered her head slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I've brought shame upon you, Sect Master."
"There's no shame in it," Chu Xingchen replied, his gaze steady. "You handle all of the sect's affairs exceptionally well — but it has come at the cost of your cultivation time."
Ning Qianqian's heart tightened. She looked up cautiously at Chu Xingchen but said nothing.
Chu Xingchen did not keep her waiting. He spoke directly.
"I intend to send you to the Heavenly Manifestation Sect to further your studies. They have cultivators who are better suited to instruct you, and they may be able to find a cultivation method that works with your particular constitution."
"Qianqian dares not ask for so much. You saved my life, Sect Master, and I only hope to stay in the sect and shoulder whatever small burdens I can for you."
Tears welled in Ning Qianqian's eyes. She bent her knees, about to kneel, but halfway down, Chu Xingchen caught her with spiritual energy and held her in place.
He lifted his hand, using spiritual energy to support her, and spoke calmly.
"I'm not banishing you. You're the one who keeps the sect running like clockwork. If your cultivation reaches the Golden Core stage, the sect's internal affairs will be secure for at least the next five hundred years."
"I've had this idea for two years. But back then, your drive to cultivate was so strong that I didn't have the heart to bring it up."
"Since I'm back this time, I'll take you to the Heavenly Manifestation Sect while I'm at it. It saves me an extra trip later."
Tears glistened in Ning Qianqian's eyes as her thoughts raced. Finally, she nodded.
"I'll follow your instructions, Sect Master. But the spiritual plants in the sect have always been under my care. My father doesn't know how to tend them."
Chu Xingchen smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll have Sandong take care of them. He's always loved plants. He's been asking me for ages if he could tend the spiritual herbs, but I was afraid he'd kill them, so I never let him."
"This works out perfectly. The sect is wealthy enough now. Let Sandong have a try — if he kills off a batch of spiritual plants, it won't be a disaster."
"Pack whatever you want to bring, say your goodbyes to your father, and once your cultivation stabilizes — or whenever you wish to return — you can come back."
"This is cultivation training, not exile. So don't be afraid to be a little bold."
"The Sect Master is here to cover for you. No one gets to bully our own."
Ning Qianqian beamed and nodded firmly.
She was one of his people — acknowledged by the Sect Master himself.
[
Dear Readers,
I post 3–4 high-quality chapters daily across multiple fictions, with free chapters unlocking every week.
Patreon Tiers:
$6 — 10 chapters in advance
$8 — 20 chapters in advance + bonus chapters
$10 — 30 chapters in advance + character images + bonus chapters
Note: Avoid the Apple App. It adds a 30% fee and delays payments by 2–3 months. Subscribe through your browser instead.
Your support keeps the daily releases going. If you cannot subscribe, reading and sharing is also appreciated.
Thank you.
Patreon: patreon.com/Alex_Cruise
]