Chapter 70: What Is Li Doing?

Inside the room, Tai Lingxuan could not settle her mind for a long time.

The Demonic Sect…

After decades of silence, now they had begun such large-scale actions again, destroying the seal on the Monster Tower within the Ziyang Secret Realm, and now, even here, inexplicably sacrificing thousands of innocent lives.

Now, with a great war imminent, the Northern Territory was in turmoil.

What would become of the Hehuan Sect then?

Thinking carefully, Tai Lingxuan realized—

The great war in three years was unavoidable for her.

It wasn’t that her ambition was so lofty, nor that she liked to compete for strength, but rather that she needed to make a clear statement— that the Hehuan Sect had completely converted to the righteous path.

Only in this way could she finally reverse the world’s prejudice against the Hehuan Sect.

But, a battle of that scale— even if she reached the Fifth Level of the Unity Realm, she could not guarantee she’d come out unscathed.

If, by any chance…

If she were to die in battle…

What about Qiushui, Lingsha, and the others, and Yuyang… Without her, could they still support this sect?

Yuyang…

This child was capable, and he cared deeply for the sect.

If that day truly came, perhaps entrusting the sect to him would not be a bad choice…

Late at night, alone, Tai Lingxuan could not help but overthink, worry, and hesitate.

Her thoughts grew more and more tangled, more and more chaotic…

Her heart, in the end, was stirred and could no longer settle.

At that moment, suddenly, Tai Lingxuan caught a whiff of something.

The scent wasn’t very strong, yet it was exceptionally enticing.

Just a faint hint was enough— Tai Lingxuan felt herself grow damp, her mouth watering. What kind of scent was this, to be so tempting?

Tai Lingxuan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then got up and went outside.

On the dark brown Absolute Thunderwood deck, under the moon, a small golden pill furnace was set up.

A boy and a girl sat around the pill furnace.

The boy was holding a flame in his hand, constantly heating the furnace, while the girl held a jade bowl and waited by the side, drooling.

Tai Lingxuan recognized at a glance— that golden pill furnace was the very one she had picked out with great care in the Ziyang Town market, spending over two thousand spirit stones, buying it especially for Chen Yuyang— a fifth-grade pill furnace.

But now, this furnace… Tai Lingxuan was a bit dumbfounded.

“What are you two doing?”

At her words, Lingxi immediately looked like a thief caught in the act, hiding her bowl behind her and looking at the newcomer with reverence, her voice trembling a little.

“Mas-Master… Why are you out here?”

Chen Yuyang looked calm, not seeing anything wrong with it.

It was just a pot of snake meat soup to satisfy his hunger; he didn’t even understand why little junior sister felt so guilty.

Perhaps it was just instinct— anything done in secret must be wrong.

“Master, I’m making soup. Just caught the snake— didn’t even use spices, only a bit of salt, but it’s very fresh.”

Chen Yuyang said, controlling his spiritual power to lift the lid of the pill furnace, letting the aroma of meat waft out even more.

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Tai Lingxuan was a little surprised, and a trace of anticipation rose in her heart.

Then I must have a good taste and see how your cooking is, disciple.

She said this as she came closer and sat properly at the side.

Seeing this, Lingxi finally relaxed, hurriedly pulling out another set of bowl and chopsticks from her sleeve.

“Master, I have extra here.”

Tai Lingxuan took them.

Chen Yuyang focused on controlling the flame, continuing to simmer the soup.

To Chen Yuyang, alchemy was a breeze, so making soup was even easier.

As for controlling the fire, Chen Yuyang was second to none.

Soon, Chen Yuyang withdrew the flame, took a jade bowl, filled it to the brim, and handed it to Tai Lingxuan first.

Then he gave a bowl each to Lingsha and himself.

The broth was now milky white, the aroma of meat rich, and the snake meat was stewed to perfect tenderness without falling off the bone.

Tai Lingxuan watched for a moment, her appetite rising, and took a small sip— the rich flavor spread through her mouth, a warm current traveling from her throat to her belly, making her feel deeply satisfied and content.

She picked up a piece of snake meat, tasting it lightly.

It was neither dry nor tough, neither greasy nor heavy— a gentle pull and the meat came clean off the bone, melting in her mouth.

Tai Lingxuan continued to savor it carefully.

On the other side, Lingxi had already wolfed down a whole bowl, still chewing, holding out her bowl to Chen Yuyang and mumbling:

“Senior brother… snake… snake… more… inside…”

“Eat slower, no one’s fighting you for it.”

Shaking his head slightly, Chen Yuyang filled Lingxi’s bowl again.

As for himself, he calmly enjoyed the flavor, his gaze drifting to Tai Lingxuan.

“Master, does the soup suit your taste?”

“Not bad.”

Tai Lingxuan’s answer was brief and to the point.

“I never thought, Yuyang, you had such a talent.”

“I just treat it like alchemy.”

Chen Yuyang replied with a laugh.

“I suppose all pill masters make good cooks.”

At this, Tai Lingxuan couldn’t help but laugh lightly, then said,

“But using Sunfire to simmer soup— isn’t that a bit of a waste?”

“Doesn’t it taste even better?”

“That’s true, except that there’s still some lingering heat in this soup.”

Tai Lingxuan said, glancing at Lingxi from the corner of her eye.

At this moment, Lingsha, who had downed two big bowls of soup, was starting to feel something was off.

She just felt as if a fire was burning inside her body, sweat breaking out all over.

“So hot, so hot… Master, this is…”

“You drank too fast. With this soup, you have to use your spiritual power to digest the heat as you drink.”

Chen Yuyang reminded from the side.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Lingsha glared, jumping up.

As the heat inside her kept spreading, she couldn’t help but panic.

“I thought junior sister knew this already.”

Chen Yuyang laughed with a hint of mischief.

Seeing Lingxi’s flustered state, Tai Lingxuan couldn’t help but cover her lips and chuckle softly.

This child Yuyang, even knows how to tease Lingxi now.

“Then—then what should I do now?”

Lingxi gripped the corner of her clothes, feeling the heat growing ever harder to suppress, and hurriedly asked.

“That’s easy. Since your body’s burning up, just go find a man to vent the heat.”

Chen Yuyang teased.

Lingxi knew right away that Chen Yuyang was teasing her, and, furious, she threw her arms open and pounced at him.

“Damn senior brother! If that’s how it is, I’ll strip you right here for justice!”

“Ahem, stop fooling around.”

At that moment, Tai Lingxuan coughed and put on a serious expression.

“There’s a simple way. Lingxi, just circulate the Hehuan Art and channel your yin power. That’ll refine the heat, and even help you harmonize your yin and yang.”

Hearing this, Lingxi paused, then glared fiercely at Chen Yuyang.

“Hmph! If not for Master, you’d be dead today!”

With that, the girl grabbed her skirt and, before her sweat-soaked clothes clung to her body, rushed back to her room and shut the door to practice her cultivation.

Chen Yuyang lowered his head, pretending nothing had happened, and continued sipping his soup.

Seeing Tai Lingxuan interrupt, Chen Yuyang couldn’t help but wonder— was she jealous seeing him tease little junior sister?

Ahem, I know nothing, saw nothing.

Chen Yuyang focused on his soup.

Tai Lingxuan no longer spoke, simply continued to savor hers.

After a while, she spoke again.

“Tell me, what made you suddenly decide to cook this soup today?”

“Junior sister said she wanted something to eat, so I just grabbed something nearby.”

“That simple?”

Tai Lingxuan was a little surprised; she thought there might be some deeper meaning behind it.

Turns out, it was just a whim.

“Why else? Master, when you think of something, just do it. Cultivators like us train for a clear and open heart. Why tie ourselves up in knots and overthink things, making nothing go smoothly?”

Chen Yuyang replied casually.

Tai Lingxuan nodded.

The principle was simple, but she knew it was hard to live by.

Still, listening to the young man’s words, and seeing what he did, she felt her heart grow clearer.

Yes, cultivation is about keeping an open heart— so why worry so much about things three years from now?

With that thought, Tai Lingxuan smiled in relief.

“You’re right, Yuyang.”

Chen Yuyang didn’t know what Tai Lingxuan was thinking, but he didn’t care much, sipping his soup, admiring the moon— his mood was light and at ease.

If only little junior sister were still here being teased, it would be perfect.

Time ticked by.

The moon drifted, the night sky turning blue.

Chen Yuyang gazed at the flow of the Milky Way.

Yet at his side, Tai Lingxuan’s gaze lingered more on the boy’s face.

Her body felt just a bit hot.

Tai Lingxuan didn’t know if it was from the heat lingering in the soup, or something else.

At this moment, she wanted.

She wanted, just as Chen Yuyang had said, not to tie herself in knots— if she wanted to do something, just do it…

“Yuyang.”

Suddenly, Chen Yuyang sensed the woman beside him draw a little closer.

Turning, he found the woman almost sitting right next to him.

“Master…”

“Yuyang, I… I…”

Her red lips stammered slightly; the normally proud face now looked nervous and uneasy, eyes dodging.

“Master, if you have something to say, just say it.”

Chen Yuyang sighed softly inside.

“I’m a bit tired, could you… help me back to my room?”

Tai Lingxuan bit her lip, and after a long time managed to get the words out.

“Of course.”

He didn’t question why she was tired, or why she needed his support.

Chen Yuyang simply agreed, offering his shoulder for Tai Lingxuan to lean on, supporting half her body as he walked her back to her room.

All the way, not a word.

Tai Lingxuan didn’t know what to say; Chen Yuyang even less so.

Arriving at the room, Chen Yuyang helped the woman onto the bed and then took half a step back.

“Master, it’s getting late, I’ll head back and rest as well.”

“Mm… alright.”

The young man turned to go, but stopped in his tracks.

Because a hand grasped his.

“W-wait… Yuyang!”

“Master, is there something else?”

“Yuyang, could you… stay with me?”

“I suddenly… suddenly miss how you were when you were little… I want, want to relive that feeling.”

Tai Lingxuan said, her voice trembling uncontrollably.