After the night of fiery passion, both Su Lingxue and Yu Qingci slept comfortably on his chest, their bodies completely satisfied, their needs thoroughly fulfilled.
As moonlight faded into dawn, their brief but intimate moment had come to an end—for now.
In the following days, life returned to a gentle rhythm. Time flowed like water through one's fingers—hours passed like seconds, and days seemed to drift away unnoticed.
Seven days flew by in a blur.
Li Chen remained extraordinarily busy throughout. His schedule was relentless, packed from sunrise to nightfall.
By day, he honed his swordplay with meditative focus, each slash more precise than the last. By dusk, he immersed himself in pill crafting, refining medicinal herbs into potent elixirs.
The only time he found a break was at night—when he shared warm, intimate moments with his wives. He used his dragon dick's formidable strength to satisfy their needs but the real moto was dual cultivation.
Their dual cultivation not only deepened their love but steadily increased his strength.
———————
Meanwhile, somewhere in the bustling city of Beiping, Chu Ying sat in Jiang Mu's inn, quietly having breakfast.
Now that a cook had been hired for the inn, she mostly took her meals indoors and avoided stepping out in public. The reason was simple—she feared being recognized as the former Sect Leader of Frost Cloud Pavilion.
Though she harbored no grudges, life had taught her that enemies sometimes appeared when least expected.
"Besides," she thought, sipping her tea, "if anyone learns I'm currently a mortal... things could become difficult. Better to avoid such accidents altogether."
Just then, Jiang Mu walked in from outside and spotted her. His eyes lit up, and he quickly made his way to her table.
"Miss Ying," he said, settling opposite her, "didn't you say you wanted to attend the Springwater Sect's disciple recruitment ceremony to meet Lady Qinru?"
"Yes, yes, Master Jiang. Have they already begun recruiting disciples?" she asked.
"Not yet," he replied, "but you should hurry. If you're late, you might not find a good spot to watch the recruitment process."
"Oh... is there any travel caravan operating from the city today? And do you happen to know the price?"
Jiang Mu hesitated. "Ah... well, if you don't mind, Miss Ying... I, uh, have a small request to make."
Chu Ying looked at his flustered face, noting the nervousness in his voice. She answered casually, "Yes, go ahead."
Gathering his courage, Jiang Mu spoke quickly, "Miss Ying, I'm heading to the ceremony on business. If you'd like, you can come with me. I have a flying boat. Honestly, if you try to book a fare through the travel companies now, you might not get there in time. So... I think it's better if you travel with me."
Chu Ying was slightly stunned by the length of his explanation. "Does he always think so much before speaking?" she mused inwardly.
What she didn't know was that Jiang Mu had deliberately hidden the timing of the recruitment event before. This entire setup was a small ploy—a chance to ask her out for the day.
He knew she wouldn't agree if asked directly, so he created the perfect excuse to convince her.
And he succeeded.
Chu Ying gave a faint smile. "Alright, Master Jiang. Once again, thank you for your help."
"So... shall we head to the ceremony now?"
"Yes, yes. Let's go."
They stepped out of the inn together. Jiang Mu casually pulled out a flying boat from his storage ring.
Slowly, the boat unfolded and took its full shape. It wasn't anything extravagant—just a simple vessel with enough space for the two of them.
They boarded, and the boat rose gently into the sky, gliding over the city.
As they traveled, Jiang Mu hesitated before asking, "Miss Ying... why did you come to Beiping? Ah—don't be upset. If you don't want to answer, I completely understand."
Chu Ying looked at the city below and replied calmly, "It's not a secret. I was expelled from my sect. And now... I'm just here."
Jiang Mu was shocked. "So you were a cultivator?"
"Yes," she replied.
He wanted to ask more questions, but when he saw her eyes gazing down at the city, perhaps lost in memories, he stopped himself. Instead, he looked down as well, then glanced at her again.
Her hair fluttered in the breeze. A few strands fell across her face, slightly obscuring her view. For a moment, Jiang Mu wanted to reach out and tuck them behind her ear—but restrained himself.
The next moment, Chu Ying gently tucked them back herself.
Bathed in the golden glow of morning sunlight, she looked ethereal—like a broken beauty left behind by the heavens, silently moving through the mundane world.
After a few hours of travel, they arrived near the recruitment arena.
A massive crowd had gathered. Young cultivators filled the space like an army of ants, moving back and forth, exchanging information about the selection process. Some were practicing. Others were asking about the structure of the trials.
What shocked Chu Ying most was a vendor selling a strange book titled:
"How to Seduce the Sect's Inner Disciples."
She nudged Jiang Mu and pointed. "Look over there. That stall."
He turned and saw it.
"Now look closer at the book's cover," she added.
He squinted and read aloud, "Principles to Seduce Your Senior Sister or Brother..."
He blinked. "Oh my. These sellers really know how to boost sales. They even come up with tricks like this?"
Chu Ying chuckled. "It's not just one or two of them. As far as you can see, everyone's selling something."
They strolled through the buzzing street, amused by the chaos and creativity on display.
Soon, they arrived at a nearby restaurant and ordered a simple, hearty meal to prepare for the long day ahead.
After their lunch, they entered the arena and found a spot in the first row.
Although the recruitment ceremony was the main event, Chu Ying's true goal was to meet Lady Qinru of the Springwater Sect. But that could only happen once the event began.
A few incense sticks' time passed, and the recruitment finally commenced.
Participants slowly entered the arena, one after another, showcasing their strength, posture, and focus.
Their expressions radiated determination. Their movements were steady, and their weapons gleamed with intent. Each young cultivator carried the same clear goal: to be selected as an outer disciple—no matter the cost.
They were ready to face anything that stood in their path.
At last, a young man wearing the robes of an inner disciple stepped onto the main platform.
He raised his voice and announced to the crowd:
"Let us now welcome our honored judges and the most distinguished guest of today's recruitment ceremony—Lady Qinru!"