"Mother, I thought... you had abandoned me..." Li Xuan choked back sobs, his voice filled with indescribable misery. Trapped in that desolate place, he had believed he would never see Chu Qingyi again in this lifetime. Who could have imagined that upon waking, heaven would grant him such an immense surprise—not only had he returned to the familiar courtyard, but Chu Qingyi stood before him, completely unharmed.
The overwhelming joy following profound sorrow made it impossible for Li Xuan to contain his emotions. He collapsed to the ground, pressing his face tightly against Chu Qingyi's calf as tears and mucus flowed once more, leaving a sticky mess on her trousers.
Chu Qingyi frowned, a wave of disgust rising within her. But Li Xuan held her so tightly she couldn't move an inch. She could only shut her beautiful eyes, preferring not to see what she couldn't bear.
"I will be leaving for a few days," Chu Qingyi said, seizing the moment when the grip on her leg loosened slightly to pull away and stand several meters from him.
"Where are you going? Are you not coming back? You can't abandon your son!" Li Xuan, now paranoid and fearful, panicked. Tears streamed from his eyes like an unstoppable faucet, and the despair of losing Chu Qingyi washed over him once more. He quickly shifted, trying to grab hold of her to prevent her from leaving.
"Don't move!" Chu Qingyi snapped urgently, her voice sharp.
Startled, Li Xuan froze in place, his crying ceasing abruptly. He stood there like a child who had done something wrong, bewildered and motionless.
"I estimate I'll be back in about three or four days," Chu Qingyi stated calmly.
"Where are you going? I want to come too!" Li Xuan, terrified she might truly leave him behind, blurted out.
"That's not possible."
"No, you must take me with you, or I'll stubbornly follow you anyway."
"..."
The journey to the branch of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion was long. Although it wouldn't pass through any desolate mountains or wild forests, the unknown risks were still not to be underestimated. Traveling alone would be far more convenient for her; if danger arose, she could use her limited spiritual energy to escape. But bringing Li Xuan along would be like carrying deadweight, and it might even invite unnecessary trouble.
After weighing the pros and cons, Chu Qingyi refused Li Xuan's request. To her surprise, he refused to back down, insisting on accompanying her.
"The journey is long and perilous. There may even be demonic beasts lying in wait to devour humans. As a mere mortal, going would only lead to your death with no place for burial," Chu Qingyi explained patiently, deliberately exaggerating the risks to deter him.
But to her astonishment, even knowing the dangers ahead, Li Xuan declared resolutely, "I'm not afraid. I want to go with you. Even if I die on the way, I'm willing."
What was meant to silence Li Xuan had instead left Chu Qingyi at a loss.
"Don't worry, Mother. I can take care of myself and won't cause you any trouble. If we really encounter a demonic beast, just run. I'll protect you. Even if it eats people, it'll have to chew before swallowing, right? You can use that time to run with your spiritual arts," Li Xuan said with a foolish grin, his expression filled with genuine sincerity.
Chu Qingyi gave him a complicated look, unsure whether to call the youth ignorant or foolish. If they encountered a troublesome demonic beast, both of them would likely end up buried in its stomach.
However, this line of reasoning clearly shook Chu Qingyi's previously resolute heart. She stood in place, lost in thought and hesitation.
"And I'm very familiar with the terrain around Jinling City. If we get lost, I can serve as a half-decent guide! Mother, please agree to let me come along, won't you?" Li Xuan seized the opportunity to press his case, pleading earnestly with Chu Qingyi.
It seemed she had no choice but to agree. Who knew what else the young man might do to beg her?
With this thought, Chu Qingyi had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Overjoyed, Li Xuan was so excited he felt like leaping three feet into the air to vent his exhilaration.
"Mother, when are we leaving? Where are we going? Should I prepare some dry rations? Will there be inns along the way? When the time comes..."
Li Xuan chattered incessantly, grating on Chu Qingyi's nerves until she could no longer stand it. She turned and strode back to her room, slamming the door shut and blocking Li Xuan's attempt to follow her inside.
The annoying chatter abruptly ceased. She breathed a sigh of relief, finally enjoying some peace and quiet.
Rebuffed, Li Xuan scratched his head sheepishly and reluctantly stepped away from the door. He lingered, glancing back repeatedly as if wanting to say more, but upon seeing the firmly closed door, he trudged dejectedly back to his own room.
Three days later, estimating that the time was about right, Chu Qingyi decided to set out for the branch of the Mysterious Jade Pavilion.
During this time, Li Ye had not returned home, and she had not informed him of the details of the matter. She merely left a note that read, "Away on business to the Mysterious Jade Pavilion branch. Will return as soon as possible," before departing.
Of course, Li Xuan was by her side.
The two took the shortest route out of Jinling City, and their surroundings soon opened up. Gone were the bustling vendor stalls and neatly arranged courtyard houses, replaced by a somewhat desolate wilderness. In the distance, a few faintly visible mountains stood lush and verdant, while a narrow path, worn by travelers, meandered into the distance.
Chu Qingyi traveled light that day, dressed in a form-fitting, light-white martial outfit that accentuated her curves. Her hair was tied up high, giving her a clean and sharp appearance.
Additionally, she concealed her face entirely with a veil, leaving only her beautiful eyes visible to avoid unnecessary trouble.
"Mother, are you hungry? I have some snacks—osmanthus cakes and glutinous rice cakes from the Exquisite Pastry Shop, your favorite!" Li Xuan carried bundles of food, all of which he had scoured Jinling City to buy for Chu Qingyi over the past few days, fearing she might go hungry on the journey.
No sooner had they left Jinling City than Li Xuan began circling around her, inquiring with concern.
If not for the mission at hand, Chu Qingyi might have thought they were on a leisurely vacation.
She glanced at Li Xuan but showed no intention of engaging with him.
Rebuffed once again, Li Xuan changed the subject, pulling out a portable water flask from his bundle like a prized possession and asking solicitously, "Then are you thirsty? I have water here."
He looked up at the sky. The sun outside the city seemed even fiercer than inside, its glaring rays forcing him to instinctively raise his arm to shield his eyes.
Just looking at the blazing sun made him unbearably thirsty. Swallowing hard, Li Xuan felt his mouth go dry, but he still handed the water flask to Chu Qingyi.
He really came fully prepared...
Chu Qingyi couldn't help but feel amused. She glanced at the grimy water flask but ignored him, continuing on her way.
In truth, she hadn't told Li Xuan that she had already prepared everything they might need for the journey and stored it in her spatial storage ring. Items like fresh water and dry rations were more than sufficient, enough to last the two of them for a week.
Even if she hadn't prepared in advance, they would pass through many towns along the way, and they could always purchase supplies then.
But she truly hadn't expected Li Xuan to carry all their supplies on his person—large and small bags either hanging from his arms or slung over his back, with even a small pouch dangling from his neck. It was utterly ridiculous.
However, she clearly had no intention of telling Li Xuan about this. She wanted to see just how long this young man, who thought he had prepared meticulously, could last carrying so many things.
"Mother, where are we going this time?" Li Xuan asked, seeing that she had no intention of responding to him, and changed the subject.
But Chu Qingyi continued walking gracefully, still not answering his question. Feeling like he was trying to warm up to someone who didn't care, Li Xuan could only follow silently behind her, occasionally stealing glances at her elegant figure.
"Xuanji Pavilion."
After what seemed like a long while, Chu Qingyi suddenly spoke softly.
"Xuanji Pavilion?! Could it be... that Xuanji Pavilion, one of the three great cultivation sects?!" Li Xuan wondered if he had misheard, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at Chu Qingyi.
"Yes." Chu Qingyi nodded slightly.
"Then... then what are we going to Xuanji Pavilion for? Could it be... could it be..." Li Xuan seemed to have thought of something, his face instantly turning pale as if struck by lightning. He stood frozen in place, looking utterly terrified.
Chu Qingyi, walking ahead, noticed he hadn't followed and turned to see him standing there with a miserable expression, not having moved an inch.
"To get elixirs from my grandmother." Chu Qingyi parted her delicate lips slightly, using her spiritual energy to send the words directly into Li Xuan's ears.
Snapping back to reality, Li Xuan shuddered and hurriedly picked up his bags to catch up.
Thank goodness...
He breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it wasn't what he had feared, or he really would have had nowhere to cry.
"By the way, Mother, what does your grandmother do at Xuanji Pavilion? Why is she giving you elixirs? And what are these elixirs for?" Li Xuan fired off questions like a machine gun, his mouth never resting.
"Gu Yishuang." Chu Qingyi simply tossed out the three words for him to figure out on his own.
Throughout the journey, she had been utterly exasperated by Li Xuan's incessant chatter. Only now did she understand why, according to ancient texts, the master Tang Seng could drive his disciples to utter frustration with his nagging. Li Xuan was exactly like Tang Seng, and she was the disciple.
Almost every time Li Xuan spotted something novel, he would buzz around her like an annoying fly, chattering nonstop until she responded.
"Gu Yishuang? Is that your grandmother's name? It sounds somewhat familiar... where have I heard it before..." Li Xuan furrowed his brows into a deep frown, concentrating as he searched his memory.
"Gu... Gu... Gu Yishuang?!" Li Xuan's mouth nearly formed an "O." If there had been an egg nearby, it could have easily been stuffed into his gaping mouth.
Even if one hasn't eaten pork, they've surely seen a pig run—yet Li Xuan only now realized the thunderous significance of Gu Yishuang's name. If his memory served him right, she was the founder of the Mysterious Jade Pavilion!
Aside from reclusive masters unknown to the world, the three most renowned top-tier experts in the Profound Realm Continent were household names: Chu Tiannan from the Celestial Master Manor, Gu Yishuang from the Mysterious Jade Pavilion, and Leng Ao from the Hundred Flowers Sect.
These three figures were virtually godlike in the eyes of ordinary people, each presiding over one of the continent's most elite cultivation sects and representing its most formidable powers. Their status in the hearts of common folk was unshakable.
Among them, Gu Yishuang commanded the deepest respect. In a continent where patriarchal traditions ran deep, she had reached the pinnacle of cultivation as a woman, single-handedly establishing the Mysterious Jade Pavilion. She became an unattainable legend for women across the land, inspiring them to break free from their constraints and courageously stride toward new lives.
What made her story even more miraculous was that Gu Yishuang wasn't born into wealth or privilege. Her family was impoverished, her parents died when she was young, and she faced betrayal and abandonment. Venturing out alone at a tender age, she honed her skills through hardship, ultimately achieving supremacy on the path of cultivation.
Her legendary tale had spawned countless adaptations in operas and stories, and even teahouse storytellers relished recounting her exploits, leaving audiences in awe.
And this very legend... was actually Chu Qingyi's grandmother?!
Li Xuan could hardly believe his ears, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
He had thought Chu Qingyi—born with a silver spoon, standing at the finish line from birth—was remarkable enough with the backing of the Celestial Master Manor and her unfathomably powerful parents. But who could have imagined Gu Yishuang was her grandmother?!
Comparing oneself to others only brings frustration.
Li Xuan felt this saying perfectly captured his current state of mind.
Yet then it struck him: this exalted, breathtakingly beautiful fairy had repeatedly been intimate with him, drenched in his semen, and had even gripped his cock tightly in her hand...
Whenever he recalled those tender moments with Chu Qingyi, Li Xuan would grow unbearably excited, his face flushing crimson with exhilaration.
While others might never so much as touch her sleeve, he had stood by her side, even defiling her with his member. If word got out, he'd surely become the object of envy and resentment—especially among men who saw Chu Qingyi as their dream lover, most of whom would likely go mad with jealousy.
"Heh... hehe..." At this thought, Li Xuan couldn't help but chuckle foolishly.
Chu Qingyi glanced back at him, baffled, wondering what the boy was secretly snickering about.
Thanks to the marital alliance between Yun Wanshang and Chu Tiannan, the Mysterious Jade Pavilion and the Celestial Master Manor had always maintained friendly relations. The outside world assumed Gu Yishuang married her daughter to Chu Tiannan to strengthen ties with the Celestial Master Manor and consolidate the Pavilion's standing.
The truth, however, was that Yun Wanshang and Chu Tiannan had met by chance and fallen in love at first sight, quickly becoming inseparable. Though they seemed like a perfect match made in heaven, Gu Yishuang vehemently opposed their relationship. She would rather her daughter marry an ordinary man and live an uneventful life than see her entangled with the heirs of major factions—especially someone like Chu Tiannan.
As the leader of the Mystic Jade Pavilion, Gu Yishuang was deeply aware that she was already trapped in the murky struggles and covert manipulations among the major cultivation sects, unable to extricate herself. She refused to let her daughter marry into the Heavenly Master Manor and end up like her—constantly embroiled in conflicts between sects and facing unknown dangers at every turn.
Moreover, Chu Tiannan, as the leader of the Heavenly Master Manor, was a man of profound cunning. Who could say whether his intentions were genuine or ulterior?
Gu Yishuang tried earnestly to dissuade her daughter, but Yun Wanshang, deeply in love, would not listen. She insisted on marrying Chu Tiannan, even going so far as to renounce her ties to the Mystic Jade Pavilion. Left with no choice, Gu Yishuang reluctantly agreed, leading to the grand cultivation world event over twenty years ago.
However, the mother and daughter fell out over this matter, both too proud to make amends. For years after the wedding, they had no contact until their relationship gradually thawed after the birth of Chu Qingyi.
Chu Qingyi had known about this since childhood, but she felt her grandmother's worries were entirely unnecessary. Over the years, her father had doted on her mother, cherishing her as if she were a precious treasure. Their affection remained as strong as ever, akin to newlyweds even after all this time.
As for the disputes among the three major cultivation sects and their conflicts with various royal families, Chu Tiannan handled everything himself, never allowing his wife to worry about such matters.
Thus, for many years, Yun Wanshang basked in the ocean of happiness under her husband's meticulous care. Even after giving birth to a daughter, her appearance remained unchanged—still as delicate and youthful as a maiden, as if time had spared her entirely, leaving no trace of age on her face.
All of this was observed by Gu Yishuang, who felt both relieved and began to view Chu Tiannan in a new light. In recent years, her interactions with the Heavenly Master Manor had grown more frequent, and the relationship between mother and daughter had finally thawed as hoped.
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