Like every hit-and-run offender, Yun Liu hurriedly snuck back to Jueyun Peak after cleaning up the “crime scene.”
He even took a detour through Xixu Peak, pretending as if nothing had happened, terrified of bumping into anyone he knew.
“Young Master.”
Who could have guessed that Lin Shu hadn’t gone anywhere all night?
She had been dutifully guarding Shanhai Pavilion.
Her sudden appearance gave Yun Liu a start, though he was relieved it wasn’t Sister Qin.
“Yes.”
Yun Liu lowered his head and entered the building.
After taking two steps, he paused and retreated toward her.
“Not a word of this to anyone, including Xiao Xinran. Otherwise, you’re fired.”
Lin Shu blinked.
She wasn’t stupid.
‘The Young Master must be referring to… the fact that he didn’t return last night?’
“As you wish. But what does ‘fired’ mean?”
“It means pack your bags and get out!”
Yun Liu was forced to put on a stern face to threaten her, his heart racing with the guilt of a thief.
Sister Qin had only just implicitly accepted Tan’er’s presence.
However, the woman he had just been with was a heavyweight of a different caliber—she had quite literally “cut in line” to the finish line.
Her seniority alone could scare Sister Qin senseless.
He would have to take things one slow step at a time.
“Understood.”
‘Isn’t this just a case of protesting too much?’
Lin Shu could barely stifle a laugh.
As a subordinate, she naturally wouldn’t gossip about her master’s private affairs, but she couldn’t help being curious.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, they said, but the Young Master couldn’t even wait one night.
Who could he have secretly visited after bathing and changing his clothes?
So, Mr. Yun really did have a very close Dao Companion.
It seemed that person wasn’t the gentle and intellectual Sister Qin.
Xiao Miss and Miss Ji were likely going to be disappointed.
The jealous dynamic between the ex-wife and the mistress was truly baffling.
After spending some time here, the new employee had roughly figured out the strange relationships in this family.
Xiao Xinran was the childhood friend, and Sister Qin was the big sister.
The most comical one was the mischievous Ji Shiyu—they seemed like master and disciple, but acted more like father and daughter.
Back in his office, Yun Liu’s gaze was vacant as he sat in a daze, still reeling from the aftereffects of an intoxicating night.
Four words: an endless, lingering aftertaste.
The young man belatedly realized that it hadn’t just been Yan Bingling’s first time; it had been his as well.
Judging by how his foster mother seemed to want more, he probably hadn’t disappointed her.
Did he perform well?
No, no, no! That wasn’t the issue!
Aunt Master and Old Mother Ji were peerless geniuses of the same era.
Regardless of status or cultivation, Ice Fairy was someone no ordinary person could ever hope to touch—yet she had been desecrated over and over again by her unfilial foster son while she was weakened and possessed by her inner demons.
Though she was the one who started it…
No, she was the one who used her mouth…
Yun Liu covered his face.
He truly wished to be honest about his feelings with a lucid Yan Bingling, rather than just during those nights.
However, the contrast in Yan Bingling’s behavior before and during the “battle” was indeed captivating.
Before the fight, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut; once the fighting started, she couldn’t keep her legs shut.
In the end, the only thing left in the room was the sound of rhythmic slapping—except it was a different kind of “face-slapping” altogether.
Coming back to his senses, Yun Liu slowly noticed the obvious changes in his body, leaving him utterly amazed.
First was his surging Qi Sea.
Gushing spiritual energy filled every single meridian.
Most of it had yet to be absorbed, drifting through various corners of his body.
The reason was simple: his current Jade Palace Spirit Foundation could no longer contain it!
Yun Liu’s eyes widened in shock.
In just one night, he had leaped from the middle stage of Foundation Establishment to the peak, touching the bottleneck of the Golden Core realm.
‘Is this the wonder of dual cultivation?’
No!
The gap between their true cultivation levels was too vast.
Even a Heaven Rank demonic art shouldn’t be able to absorb that much spiritual energy.
There had to be something else at play.
As he began to circulate his Minghuang Divine Art, something even more terrifying happened.
Yun Liu skipped three levels of the technique instantly.
His entire body radiated a brilliant aura of light, and his sacred fire seemed to have received a massive supplement, turning his spiritual manifestation a blazing white.
The restless demonic energy on Yan Bingling’s body had nowhere to go.
It was extremely Yin and cold, which happened to be perfectly swallowed by his extreme Yang sacred fire.
This accidental synergy had nourished his Mingzun Saintly Body.
She was a demonic cultivator, after all.
It seemed this “double-person exercise” was remarkably beneficial for alleviating her cold poison.
The unfilial disciple scratched the back of his head.
Since it was all benefit and no harm, perhaps they should do it a few more times—all in the name of “treatment,” of course.
Yun Liu was only daydreaming; he didn’t dare actually put it into practice.
After all, the side effects of the demonic art were still there.
If he didn’t cure Yan Bingling and instead turned himself into a “public toilet” where anyone could just walk in and take a seat, that would be a disaster.
Business at Shenhua Pavilion was booming.
With the Sea of Clouds as a hub, it had revitalized the southern territory of the dynasty.
Even during the winter break, the market remained prosperous.
Among all the ventures, the top seller was Rosy Fragrance Pavilion.
The business skills of the Yao Lu disciples were extraordinary, and their subsidies and commissions were equally high.
The Senior Sisters of Qingxia Peak absolutely adored this Mr. Yun.
Jueyun Peak didn’t keep idle people.
Early that morning, Lin Shu was handed over to Youyou for training.
She was taken to the back office to familiarize herself with various tasks, acting as a part-time receptionist.
Yun Liu handed her two Outer Sect manuals.
One was a Mystery Rank boxing technique, and the other was an Earth Rank spear technique.
Both were simple, straightforward styles that could significantly increase combat power once mastered.
“This… This is too precious. I can’t accept it! Miss Ji and the Young Master have already done me a great kindness by saving and taking me in. I am already beyond grateful!”
Lin Shu was moved but also terrified, overwhelmed by the favor.
As a refugee from an enemy nation and a fugitive from the dynasty, she was lucky enough to leave Yudu alive without being humiliated.
She didn’t dare wish for more.
In the Wuling Sect, the most precious secret manual was merely a high-tier Mystery Rank body-tempering method.
She couldn’t repay this debt even if she died for him.
Yun Liu silenced the young general with a single sentence.
“This is an investment, not a donation. If you truly feel bad about it, the best way to repay me isn’t by clearing your debt, but by showing potential that far exceeds the value of these items.”
“But with my spiritual root talent…”
“Do not underestimate yourself. I believe your achievements will not stop here. You deserve a grander stage, which is why I’ve given you the chance to prove your Dao through martial arts. You can continue to be depressed to prove me wrong, or you can take back your justice with absolute strength in the near future. The choice is yours.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Lin Shu clenched her fists, her fighting spirit reignited.
She suddenly understood why everyone was so attached to Mr. Yun.
It wasn’t just because of his transcendent status as a Heavenly Dao Alchemy Master or because they were driven by profit.
In the young man’s eyes, there was no past or present—only the future.
It was as if he possessed a kind of magic, invisibly leading everyone to rewrite their own destinies and rise up in resistance.
Yun Liu wasn’t actually that noble; he just wanted to play every card in his hand well, regardless of their initial value.
He had run through the unavoidable main quest lines in the game and understood the joys and sorrows behind every supporting character.
Their stories shouldn’t be limited to just a few spicy CGs.
In other words, the Mountain King could be lazy, but the employees could not!
Meanwhile, the bad news brought back by Qin Xing shook the Five Peaks.
During the fall of the Golden Crow, the entire East Pole Province felt the impact, as if the sky itself were collapsing.
The cultivation world had been peaceful for hundreds of years.
The new generation of righteous cultivators had no idea how terrifying the Demon Sect could be.
This time, the massive invasion by the Eight Banners had nearly overturned the mortal realm.
Their sinister intentions had to be guarded against.
If the Zhusheng Dynasty fell, the various spiritual caves and paradises would eventually be consumed as well.
As a result, the Grand Elder called for yet another meeting at Dragon Subduing Hall to discuss the Heavenly Concord Alliance’s joint relief efforts and to prevent the resurgence of the Demon Sect.