After the Flame Phoenix left, it was once again time for the joyful and exciting disciple training session.
Or rather—guiding the disciple’s cultivation.
In the center of the courtyard—
“Ximeng, the path of cultivation lies within the heart. As long as your conviction is firm, anything is possible!”
Ruo Ximeng sat quietly cross-legged nearby, listening intently to Su Chen’s earnest teachings.
Seeing how seriously his disciple was listening, Su Chen felt even more inspired to “share everything he had,” holding nothing back.
“Ximeng, don’t be discouraged by your slow progress right now. I, your master, see great potential in you—yours is the bearing of an Emperor! One day, you shall become an Empress who reigns for the ages, crowned first beneath the heavens!”
“Master! Really?”
This time, Ruo Ximeng couldn’t hide her excitement and asked eagerly.
“Absolutely true!”
Su Chen replied without hesitation, firm and certain.
“But Master, my cultivation speed is still so slow…”
Although she was thrilled, Ruo Ximeng couldn’t ignore the reality of her sluggish progress.
“That’s no problem at all. Cultivation must follow the rhythm of nature—step by step, slow and steady. Your current pace is completely normal.”
Su Chen spoke with utmost seriousness.
In truth, the technique Ruo Ximeng was practicing—the Heart-Nourishing Qi Technique—was primarily meant to strengthen the body and nourish the spirit.
It didn’t even have a measurable cultivation speed!
Of course, that was not something he could tell her.
“Ximeng, on the path of cultivation, you must never rush. But there are techniques that can help. For example—you must learn to control your emotions.”
“Emotions are a cultivator’s greatest enemy.”
“If you become a slave to your emotions, at best you’ll lose your willpower. At worst, you’ll fall into madness.”
“That’s why, during cultivation, you must not be ruled by emotions—you must master them!”
“Take your master for instance. I once spent an entire day consumed by intense rage!”
Ahem ahem…
“I mean—I once got so angry, I shattered an entire galaxy with a single punch!”
The moment Su Chen said that, Ruo Ximeng was completely stunned.
‘So mastering your emotions during cultivation… was that important?’
‘Wahh! Master is amazing! Even something this unbelievable can be discovered by him!’
Seeing Ruo Ximeng’s serious expression and how carefully she was memorizing every word, the [Emperor Master System] couldn’t hold it in anymore.
[Hahahaha…]
Unrestrained laughter echoed through Su Chen’s sea of consciousness.
It had thought Su Chen hitting her with a fake technique and a made-up stargazing chart was already as low as he could go.
But now it realized—Su Chen didn’t have a bottom line!
He had gone and invented an entire “emotional cultivation technique” now!
At this moment, Ruo Ximeng had already begun trying to explore this new method, following Su Chen’s instructions with utmost sincerity.
But even after a full hour had passed, she still hadn’t discovered a single thing.
With no other choice, Ruo Ximeng could only continue thinking deeply, comprehending, and delving into her practice.
As she immersed herself in absolute focus, her body’s instincts were once again awakened.
While she was still pondering over how to cultivate through emotions, she didn’t realize that her Primordial Star Technique had already begun circulating on its own!
The technique no longer needed her to actively guide it.
As long as she didn’t stop it, it would automatically run through both minor and major meridians in a continuous cycle.
***
Even after an entire afternoon of contemplation, Ruo Ximeng still failed to grasp the secret to cultivating through emotions.
Fortunately, she remembered what Su Chen had told her: cultivation must balance effort and rest.
So, she stopped her training for the time being and headed to the kitchen to learn cooking from Su Chen.
Her master’s cooking skills, though just a tad behind Flame Phoenix’s, were still…
Boom!
Before she could even step into the kitchen, a loud explosion echoed from within.
At the same time, Su Chen emerged from the thick smoke in the kitchen, looking slightly disheveled.
“Master, you don’t like Sister Flame Phoenix, so after she used the kitchen, you decided to blow it up?” Ruo Ximeng asked seriously.
To her, this explanation made perfect sense!
Cough cough. “How could your master be that petty? I was just experimenting with a new dish!”
“As expected of Master—your cooking experiments are truly one-of-a-kind!” Ruo Ximeng exclaimed.
Su Chen had only intended to casually brush it off with an excuse, but to his surprise, Ruo Ximeng actually believed him.
Still, no matter what kind of new dish it was, blowing up the kitchen seemed a bit much…
After the servants in the residence cleaned up the mess, Su Chen hadn’t expected Flame Phoenix to return again.
Upon seeing her, Ruo Ximeng was naturally overjoyed.
Now that Sister Flame Phoenix was here, she could also learn more cooking from her!
Su Chen had already experienced Flame Phoenix’s skills in the kitchen.
This time, he was more curious to see the results of Ruo Ximeng’s learning.
Waiting was a painful thing—especially when it dragged on for so long.
But good food couldn’t be rushed.
However long it needed to take, that’s how long it had to be.
Just when Su Chen was nearly going cross-eyed from anticipation, the two—one tall and one small—finally emerged from the kitchen.
Ding ding ding!
“Master, try the fish I made!” Ruo Ximeng rushed over, holding a plate of sweet and sour fish like a treasure.
Su Chen immediately picked up a piece of the glistening fish and tasted it carefully.
“Hmm? Not bad, not bad! As expected of my disciple—truly gifted! This is almost on par with the chefs in the Imperial Capital… I mean, nearly as good as your master’s cooking,” he said, catching himself just in time.
He almost let it slip that the dishes he’d brought back before were actually made by top chefs from the capital—not by him.
Bit by bit, the tension between Su Chen and Flame Phoenix finally began to ease.
Seeing that they weren’t constantly at odds anymore, Ruo Ximeng was naturally delighted.
***
After dinner, she happily ran to Su Chen’s room to help him make his bed and tidy up.
To her, these were things a disciple ought to do!
Recalling how cold the nights could get in the capital this time of year, Ruo Ximeng simply lay down on Su Chen’s bed to warm it up for him.
Su Chen strolled leisurely back to his room, but as soon as he opened the door and walked in, he immediately backed out.
He looked around carefully, making sure he hadn’t gone to the wrong room, then walked in again.
“Uh… Ximeng, what are you doing in your master’s room?” he asked, puzzled.
“Master, the nights are freezing cold this time of year in the capital, so I’m warming the bed for you. It’s already nice and toasty!” she said seriously.
“Ximeng…”
In that moment, Su Chen was truly moved.
Of course, alongside that emotion, he also felt a touch of amusement.
‘Warming the bed isn’t that something for a later stage of disciple guidance? My disciple really is a prodigy—already learning on her own!’
Of course, that was just a passing joke in his mind.
Su Chen stepped forward and gently pulled Ruo Ximeng into a quiet hug.
Very few people or things could stir his heart anymore—but this girl… she was definitely one of them.
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