"Damn it... why is Master still asking about cultivation? Shouldn’t he be concerned about Senior Sister?"
The little girl realized the topic had been changed again and was annoyed at herself for responding too quickly. She puffed up her cheeks and earnestly said,
"Master, why are you asking about cultivation now! You should be comforting Senior Sister! As long as you go, she won’t be sad anymore!"
"Once you embark on the path of cultivation and reach the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, you are a Cultivator."
Chen Ye’s voice was calm,
"Cultivators defy fate, so there is no reason to need constant comfort from others. Besides, this bitter fruit is one she planted with her own hands."
He wanted to reach out and ruffle Qing Jun’s hair, but the little girl turned away in a huff, quickly slipping behind Mao Qingzhu, peeking out with half her little head:
"Hmph! Master is bad!"
"Alright, alright... Master is bad. Precisely because of this, Master cannot always protect you. You must learn to adapt to days without your Master sooner or later," Chen Ye smiled.
Qing Jun was taken aback; though he wanted to continue scolding the bad master, something seemed to block his throat, and he could no longer speak.
Master... really is bad.
...
Since that confrontation by the mountain pond, Lisong Valley had fallen into an unprecedented silence.
Chen Ye was true to his word and actually began a month-long secluded retreat.
He handed over all matters in the valley to Duan Ling and his two subordinates, disappearing completely from everyone’s sight, focusing solely on breaking through the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer bottleneck.
Fortunately, after expending great effort for a month managing Lisong Valley, the current valley no longer required Chen Ye’s constant attention; otherwise, he indeed would not have time for cultivation.
Mao Qingzhu, unable to understand his stone-heartedness, could only convert all her heartache into careful care for the two children.
Every day, Qing Jun remained lively and noisy, but always when no one was looking, she would sneak to the door of her Master’s quiet chamber. Not daring to disturb, she would just stand silently for a while before quietly leaving again.
Meanwhile, Zhiwei was the same as always, just even more silent.
Since that day, she had completely shut herself in.
Apart from the necessary daily practice, she no longer spoke or stepped out of her room even by half a foot.
Time slowly passed.
In a blink of an eye, more than half a month had gone by.
On this day, the sky was clear and bright.
A scarlet sword light fell at the entrance of Lisong Valley.
The visitor was lean and thin, accompanied by a timid little girl.
"I, Hee Qi, have come to visit Steward Chen."
He politely clasped his hands toward the Mountain Protection Array at the valley entrance.
Soon, the array silently opened up a passage.
Duan Ling came out from within, showing a hint of surprise upon seeing Hee Qi: "Taoist Friend Hee? What brings you here?"
This person was indeed Hee Qi.
Under the jurisdiction of the Lingyin Sect, Hee Qi was considered one of the prominent figures among Loose Cultivators.
As early as six years ago, he had already reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer and, possessing a Fire Spiritual Root, his combat prowess was remarkable.
Among Loose Cultivators, he was one of the few with prospects of reaching Foundation Establishment.
"Haha," Hee Qi chuckled, "I haven’t seen Steward Chen for a while, and I miss him, so I came to visit. I wonder... is Steward Chen available?"
Though Hee Qi said this, Duan Ling understood.
Who brings their daughter when visiting someone?
He glanced at Little Shuyao.
Little Shuyao was very shy, and when strangers looked at her, she pinched the corner of her clothes and whispered as softly as a mosquito: "Uncle... Uncle Duan."
"Ha... haha, in just a few years, Shuyao is becoming a young lady."
Duan Ling laughed somewhat awkwardly; he was only in his twenties, yet he was being called Uncle...
After greeting Hee Shuyao, Duan Ling then looked at Hee Qi, showing a troubled expression:
"To be honest, Taoist Friend Hee, the Steward... has been in seclusion for nearly a month and has not come out yet."
"Seclusion?"
At this, Hee Qi was shocked.
He knew that a year ago, Chen Ye was just an unremarkable Loose Cultivator.
Now, since he was in seclusion, he must be attempting to break through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer!
This...
Thinking it through, Hee Qi began to understand. He remembered Chen Ye’s Qi Concealment Technique was highly advanced, easily hiding his cultivation from others.
Perhaps, back in the Yunxi District a year ago, this guy had already concealed and hidden his cultivation!
The more Hee Qi thought about it, the more it made sense; in his memory, Chen Ye was the kind of cautious Cultivator who pretended to be weak while being strong, which was indeed normal.
Amid their conversation, a gentle voice came from behind:
"Since you are Brother Ye’s guests, please come in."
Duan Ling turned back, seeing Mao Qingzhu approaching elegantly. She addressed Hee Qi with poise: "Taoist Friend, having come from afar, Brother Ye is in seclusion, so as his sworn sister, I will entertain you briefly. I hope you won’t mind."
"A Foundation Establishment Cultivator?!"
Upon seeing this graceful woman with a thin veil covering her face, Hee Qi was startled once more.
Who was this Foundation Establishment Cultivator?
Claiming to be a sworn sister and living in Brother Chen’s Lisong Valley, perhaps not just an ordinary sibling...
This Brother Chen, truly has considerable skills!
Hee Qi sincerely admired him, warmly greeting, "Oh, oh, so you’re Brother Chen’s sworn sister, all one family, one family indeed!"
Mao Qingzhu secretly felt annoyed; this rascal winking and making faces was surely not a good influence! He mustn’t lead Brother Ye astray.
Even though... even though Brother Ye is already quite mischievous.
She would only stay in Lisong Valley for a month, and he went into seclusion!
Despite feeling a bit displeased with Hee Qi’s presumptuous attitude, since he was Brother Ye’s friend, she maintained a gentle and graceful smile on her face, inviting Hee Qi and his daughter into the courtyard within the Inner Valley.