"So... she advanced to the first stage of Qi Refining?" the head of servants asked, his tone mixing surprise and caution.
Once Hong Jiu'er had reached the first stage, the most advisable thing was for her to return home to rest and stabilize her base. After all, although it was possible to advance continuously up to the peak of Qi Refining, doing so without a break—unless one were a Daughter of Destiny, someone with absurdly exceptional fortune, a special physique, or the backing of some heavenly treasure—was, in reality, the worst decision one could make.
A solid foundation was not built in a single day. It was the result of a long process that required days, months, and even years of constant accumulation and purification.
Wu Huang was a clear example of this. Although he never had the intention of advancing in a hurried manner, his foundation was so stable that even if he were to suffer some setback or deviation during his cultivation, it was unlikely that his level would regress. In the worst-case scenario, he would simply see his progress temporarily blocked. In fact, if he really wanted to, he could advance to the peak of Qi Refining without too many difficulties. His foundation was deep enough to support it.
But he had no intention of doing so in the short term. After all, reaching the limit of that realm would mean ceasing to be a servant disciple to become an outer disciple. And with that change would come new responsibilities, new obligations... and many more problems.
As a servant, his life was much simpler. Aside from a few minor daily tasks, he had no major burdens. He had protection, a relatively comfortable environment, and enough peace of mind to cultivate at his own pace.
"Wu Huang?" the head of servants called out again, seeing that the latter did not respond immediately.
Wu Huang blinked softly, snapping out of his thoughts.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I got lost in my reflections," Wu Huang said, finally reacting. "Yes, Hong Jiu'er passed into the first stage without any problems. From now on, I will focus on helping her stabilize her base before she continues advancing to the next stage."
The head of servants nodded with satisfaction.
"Good job. I knew I could trust you," he replied as he handed him a small cloth bag as a reward.
Wu Huang did not even check it; he tucked it directly into his robe without showing much interest. Once everything was settled, the head of servants withdrew quickly, clearly busy. Wu Huang watched him walk away for a moment before shaking his head slightly.
"That guy always has too much work..." he murmured, with a trace of pity, as he returned to his room.
Although he had been given total freedom to train Hong Jiu'er however he wanted, the least he could do was report on her progress. At least that way, those involved in this matter could remain at ease. Upon reaching his room, he sat down calmly and took out the Heavenly Book.
"Well... now that the first step is done, things should be simpler," he murmured as he opened it and reviewed its contents.
Going from being a mortal to a cultivator was, without a doubt, the greatest initial hurdle. The fact that Hong Jiu'er had achieved it without setbacks was a great relief. From now on, the rest of the path, at least in theory, should be much smoother.
"It seems all the plans I made in case something went wrong were unnecessary," he added, closing the book and stretching slightly.
A faint satisfaction crossed his face. If everything continued like this, it wouldn't be long before Hong Jiu'er stopped depending on him, and then he could return to his usual peaceful life.
But just as that thought crossed his mind—
Knock, knock.
The sound at the door pulled him out of his thoughts. Wu Huang stood up and opened the door, only to let out a slight sigh.
"Mu Qinlian... what did I tell you about coming directly?" he said, with a certain weariness in his voice.
On the other side, Mu Qinlian greeted him with a serene face.
"Hello, Senior Brother. How are you doing?" she asked softly.
Wu Huang raised an eyebrow. For some reason, he felt there was something strange in her attitude. However, since her words and tone were practically the same as usual, he decided not to give it too much importance.
"Nothing in particular. A peaceful day," he replied as he stepped aside to let her in.
Mu Qinlian entered, but barely had she crossed the door when her eyes opened slightly. She inhaled discreetly, perceiving a faint... different scent. There was a subtle trace, unmistakably feminine.
"Was there a woman here?" she asked in a direct manner.
Wu Huang paused for an instant, surprised by the sudden question.
"The sect asked me to train a disciple," he replied naturally. "She is a special servant."
Hearing that, Mu Qinlian let out an almost imperceptible sigh. She remembered the little servant from that occasion, and from the way Wu Huang spoke, she understood that their relationship had nothing out of the ordinary. Her mood lightened immediately.
With a more relaxed attitude, she began to converse with him. Wu Huang responded normally, but inwardly he could not help but feel something strange. There was something in her gaze... in the way she observed him. Her eyes seemed different. Softer. More... charming?
He frowned slightly, dismissing the thought.
"You shouldn't come to this place," he suddenly said in a more serious tone. "You are an outer disciple. That can bring you trouble. And your reputation could be affected if it becomes known that you come here to seek out a servant disciple like me."
Although his main intention was for her to stop visiting him so frequently, he also perfectly understood how dangerous rumors could be and how they could ruin someone's future within the sect. Mu Qinlian understood his words, but she did not withdraw immediately. In her mind, only one solution appeared.
"If Senior Brother becomes an outer disciple... then there wouldn't be those kinds of problems."
Wu Huang denied it almost immediately.
"Let's not bring up that subject again," he replied firmly, cutting off the conversation before it could advance down that path.
Mu Qinlian did not insist. Both continued talking for a while longer in a relatively peaceful atmosphere, until finally the moment came to say goodbye. Without further words, Mu Qinlian withdrew.