“I’m going to find Senior Sister to discuss sword techniques. I’ll be back before dinner!”
After finishing the meal, Qin Wanyuan fled as if escaping.
Qin Qian’er and Lin Que tacitly refrained from asking any questions. After Qin Wanyuan left, the two of them returned to the master bedroom together.
Lin Que squatted in front of the phoenix egg. He placed one hand on it to infuse spiritual energy, aiding the hatching process.
This phoenix egg had already been in the refining formation for an unknown amount of time before Lin Que discovered it. Now, encountering Lin Que’s spiritual energy, it was like a long drought meeting sweet rain. It greedily absorbed every bit.
Qin Qian’er quietly crouched not far away, calmly observing….not just the phoenix egg, but Lin Que as well.
Bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight, the young man’s sword-like brows and starry eyes gave him a deep, serene gaze. He looked like an otherworldly immortal untouched by the mundane world.
It was the first time she had ever observed a man so intently, and she didn’t even realize how focused she had become on Lin Que.
So this is what he really looks like? No wonder Sister fell for him.
In the past, due to a misunderstanding that Qin Wanyuan had been threatened, Qin Qian’er had disliked Lin Que and naturally refused to even spare him a glance.
Now that layer of prejudice had faded, and she could finally see him clearly.
As sisters, Qin Qian’er’s sense of aesthetics was indeed similar to Qin Wanyuan’s. If she ever sought a Dao partner in the future, it was likely she’d look for someone much like Lin Que.
However, Qin Qian’er had no intention of seeking a Dao partner. Whether in the past or now, all she ever wanted was to be with her sister. That alone was enough.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Qin Qian’er averted her gaze from Lin Que and refocused her attention on observing the changes in the phoenix egg.
It had to be said, witnessing the hatching process of a divine beast up close was indeed extremely beneficial for a cultivator’s Dao comprehension. Subtly, her cultivation had improved yet again.
After about fifteen minutes, Lin Que lifted his hand from the phoenix egg and couldn’t help but sigh in amazement, “As expected of a divine beast—its appetite is truly astonishing.”
In just that brief span of time, the phoenix egg had absorbed a full tenth of his spiritual energy. Fortunately, this ritual only needed to be done once a day. If it had to be repeated more often, it might suck him dry.
Standing up, Lin Que stretched lazily and walked out of the room, stepping onto his flying sword.
“I’m heading out to buy some medicinal herbs. I’ll be back by evening.”
Since the misunderstanding between him and Qin Qian’er had been cleared up and their relationship had softened, he took the initiative to inform her.
The household’s supply of healing medicine had long been depleted by Qin Wanyuan and Jiang Moqing over the past few days, so it was only natural that he needed to go out and restock.
“Alright.”
Qin Qian’er nodded. “I’ll stay home.”
With that brief exchange, Lin Que flew off on his sword. Qin Qian’er glanced at his departing figure, then turned her gaze toward the master bedroom bed.
This morning, Sister was cuddling him and acting all spoiled… right there.
The way her sister had behaved while being coy that morning was something she had never seen before.
Can a man really change Sister that much?
Qin Qian’er, having never experienced love herself, couldn’t understand Qin Wanyuan’s feelings.
But now that it was clear Lin Que hadn’t won her sister’s heart through some despicable form of coercion, there was no reason for her, as the younger sister, to say anything more.
As long as her sister was happy, that was enough.
That was Qin Qian’er’s sincere thought.
“Anyway, I should just keep studying this phoenix egg…”
***
Lin Que flew swiftly on his sword, using the Wind Manipulation Technique to turn into a streak of flowing light across the sky. But unlike before, he no longer traveled with grand, attention-grabbing momentum.
He quickly left the domain of the Sword Seeking Sect and only lowered his altitude and reduced his speed when he reached a city in the distance.
The city walls were tall and imposing, guarded by dozens of sentries whose cultivation levels were at least at the fifth stage of Qi Refining. There were even several squad leaders at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm. It was an impressive setup, to say the least.
A faint glow of a formation shield surrounded the outer perimeter of the city, and many cultivators like Lin Que could be seen flying on swords. However, most of them chose to enter through the main gate.
Lin Que took out a gold-inlaid jade token from his storage ring and was able to smoothly pass through the barrier from above, entering the city without issue.
This city was named Wanbao City (Ten Thousand Treasures City). It belonged to the Xia-Shang Empire and was a bustling trade hub specifically designed for cultivators to conduct legitimate transactions.
Its marketplace was vast and comprehensive. Everything from magical tools, pills, weapons, and techniques could be found here. With the protection of the Xia-Shang Empire’s military cultivators within the city, one need not worry about being robbed or killed, making it a paradise for rogue cultivators.
Though built for cultivators, the majority of residents in the city were actually mortals. Mostly small-time merchants or shop attendants working in service trades.
Flying slowly above the building-lined streets, Lin Que soon arrived at his destination: a tall building with a plaque that read “Glazed Pavilion”. It was the tallest structure in the entire city.
Red walls, yellow tiles, carved beams, and painted rafters. The magnificent, luxurious exterior alone was enough to showcase the noble status of its owner.
Lin Que landed and stepped through the main entrance. Without needing to prove his identity, a pair of beautiful twin girls approached and offered a respectful greeting.
“Welcome, Chief Lin. The Pavilion Master is in the Moonview Pavilion on the top floor. Allow us to guide you.”
“Why don’t you inform her first?” Lin Que scratched the tip of his nose. It had been several years since he last came to the Glazed Pavilion to trade, and naturally, it had been just as long since he’d contacted the Pavilion Master.
Though they had once been friends, time without contact had inevitably created distance. It was better to be polite.
After all these years, Lin Que was no longer the sword-obsessed youth he once was. He had learned a thing or two about social etiquette.
“You’re too polite, Chief Lin. The Pavilion Master specifically instructed that if you ever came by….regardless of the time and even if she were resting, we are to take you directly to her boudoir.”
“Uh… alright then.”
Since things had been made so clear, Lin Que simply followed the two maids into the pavilion.
The interior style was no less extravagant than the exterior. The winding corridors led past walls adorned with calligraphy and paintings by famous artists and elaborate carvings of dragons and phoenixes crafted by master artisans.
Even the floor beneath their feet was paved with white jade. It was opulence taken to the extreme.
Along the way, many cultivators cast surprised glances at Lin Que and the two maidservants leading him. After all, these two were no ordinary attendants. They were the managers of the Glazed Pavilion, holding quite a high status within. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them the Pavilion Master’s right and left hands.
And yet, these two esteemed managers were respectfully guiding a young man dressed in a deep bamboo-green robe.
Just who was this young man?
Of course, some among the crowd recognized Lin Que, the champion of the Eastern Region’s Hundred Sects Tournament, and their eyes were filled with nothing but envy.
As they ascended the staircase, the number of bystanders gradually dwindled. By the time they reached the top floor, no outsiders were present at all.
One of the managers knocked gently on the door to the Moonview Pavilion. A pleasant female voice soon rang out from within.
“Come in.”
The words were brief, but the voice was sweet and melodious. If Lin Que had to describe it, it reminded him of the legendary mermaids of his previous life. The creatures whose voices alone could bewitch the soul.
Of course, that comparison wasn’t quite accurate.
After all, the person inside was… a dragon.
The door opened, revealing a young woman leaning over a desk, her expression slightly weary.
The girl possessed an extraordinarily beautiful face, her delicate features finely sculpted. Her long silver-white hair cascaded like a waterfall, and the two dragon horns atop her head shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight.
“State your business.”
Without even lifting her head, the girl spoke in a calm, detached tone upon hearing someone enter.
“Pavilion Master, it’s Lin—”
Before the word “Chief” could be spoken, the silver-haired, horned girl suddenly looked up. The moment she saw Lin Que, her pupils contracted, and the weariness in her eyes vanished in an instant. It was replaced by pure delight.
“Lin Daque!”
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