Every cause has its effect

Diman Quarter, North City.

Many mortals resided permanently within the Saint Water Palace.

Mortals, after all, were not cultivators. Once their bellies were full and their thirst quenched, they invariably sought out some form of entertainment.

North City, in particular, was the essential destination for anyone visiting the Saint Water Palace.

It was a delightful place for playing chess, savoring tea, watching dances, and listening to the zither.

Every establishment there was personally managed by the Saint Water Palace’s internal affairs.

Among these, the most extravagant were the estate-style inns.

Most of these inns boasted expansive views; opening a window offered guests a breathtaking panorama of the sea beyond the island.

More luxurious establishments even employed formations to draw seawater directly into their estates, creating private pools for guests to swim and frolic in.

It was truly an exquisite retreat for wealthy merchants on the island.

Couples often journeyed here together, seeking a temporary abode.

“If luck smiles upon you, you might even glimpse fairies frolicking in the water~”

A venerable “housekeeper” once remarked.

Luo Bingyan adjusted her clothing before a bronze mirror.

Her hair was disheveled, and a flush colored her cheeks, yet her face was radiant with a smile.

Achoo!

Luo Bingyan twitched her nose slightly, thinking, ‘That brat, he’s so lazy his muscles must be cramping. The room must be a coal heap by now…’

“Oh my~ My Palace Master, what ails you? Your sneezing hasn’t stopped since you arrived. Could it be that some paramour is thinking of you?”

Ning Jing’s voice drifted from behind a silk-spun screen.

“Merely swallowed too much dust.”

Luo Bingyan chuckled, untying the ribbon and ornaments from her hair, allowing her beautiful tresses to cascade down like a waterfall.

As Luo Bingyan combed her hair, she inquired, “Ning Jing, did you dismantle the Saint Water Palace’s Word Spirit Formation five days ago? I haven’t seen you around lately. Instead of tackling the mountain of tasks in the Enforcement Hall, you’re off dismantling our own formations. Are you itching for a beating again? Aren’t you afraid Liu Cuilai will come looking for trouble?”

Ning Jing wore an indifferent expression. She stretched out a hand, vigorously flung off the covers, and, too lazy to bother with clothes, rose and padded barefoot behind Luo Bingyan.

Slowly, she bent her slender waist, encircling Luo Bingyan’s shoulders with her jade-like arms. Her eyes narrowed as she pressed her cheek against Luo Bingyan’s smooth skin.

“Palace Master, you smell so lovely, truly exquisite~”

With that, Ning Jing took another deep inhale.

Luo Bingyan tilted her head slightly, her chin gently caressing Ning Jing’s cheek as she chuckled, “This is the fragrance of Heavenly Scent Grass from Qingqiu Mountain. I’ve used it for a full century. I don’t use it anymore, but I still have some in stock. If you want some, come find me at the bamboo house tomorrow.”

“The bamboo house? Isn’t it nice right here in Crimson Sleeve Estate?” As she spoke, a glint seemed to flicker in Ning Jing’s eyes, and her hands subtly moved downwards.

Luo Bingyan lightly patted Ning Jing’s hands, which were poised to “do mischief,” and said “seriously,” “You still haven’t answered my question.”

“It’s just an insignificant silencing formation, what’s the big deal?” Ning Jing whined, her body trembling playfully, as a hint of coquettish charm inadvertently bloomed on her face.

For the esteemed Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, the “ruthless talent” in the eyes of the Saint Water Palace disciples, to reveal such a demure, almost girlish demeanor was truly unexpected.

If any Enforcement Hall disciple were to witness this scene, countless jaws would surely drop in astonishment.

Hearing Ning Jing’s words, Luo Bingyan’s face flushed with anger. She closed her eyes slightly, and her spiritual energy suddenly erupted outwards, gently pushing Ning Jing’s body away.

Losing her balance, Ning Jing instinctively released her own spiritual energy to stabilize herself, preventing a fall.

However, seeing the change in her “Palace Master’s” expression in the mirror, Ning Jing stamped her foot lightly in exasperation. She pointed a finger at Luo Bingyan and fumed, “Fine, you heartless woman! As soon as you’re out of bed, you become so cruel!”

Ning Jing turned away, swiftly gathering her clothes from the floor, and prepared to leave.

Yet, before she had taken two steps.

A slender, fair arm had already encircled her waist.

The gentle pull from the arm easily bent Ning Jing’s waist.

Looking up into Luo Bingyan’s almost domineering gaze, Ning Jing’s eyes flickered, and her face unexpectedly took on a rosy blush once more. “Palace Master,” she drawled softly, “are you…?”

Alas, Luo Bingyan’s expression remained utterly unchanged. Her right hand, still encircling Ning Jing’s slender waist, simply shifted slightly downwards, brushing against that soft expanse.

“The situation with senior disciples disciplining new ones in the Skill Transmission Pavilion—that news was spread by your people, wasn’t it?”

Upon hearing this, Ning Jing’s expression subtly shifted, only to recover in an instant.

Seeing that she still wouldn’t be honest, Luo Bingyan raised her left hand and immediately brought it down with a firm slap.

“Mhm.”

Ning Jing let out a muffled groan but endured it, her lips now pressed into a thin line as she stubbornly met Luo Bingyan’s gaze.

Seeing that Ning Jing remained unyielding, Luo Bingyan’s expression gradually softened. She spoke gently, “The Word Spirit Formation has been active in the Saint Water Palace for nearly five hundred years. You must give me an explanation today. Did that hurt just now? Let me rub it for you.”

“Hmph~” Ning Jing turned her head away.

Seeing this, Luo Bingyan thought, ‘She dares to play these games with me?’

She raised her right hand, ready to continue asserting her authority.

Unexpectedly, Ning Jing spoke first: “Palace Master, you must know how busy I’ve been since taking charge of the Enforcement Hall! How many traitors have been nurtured by the ‘Gu-raising’ method in the Saint Water Palace’s Skill Transmission Pavilion~”

Ning Jing’s face was teasing as she extended her right hand, her finger tracing circles on Luo Bingyan’s arm.

“But these individuals are indeed skilled cultivators, each and every one. Isn’t that enough? Time is short; the more we have, the better,” Luo Bingyan stated bluntly.

“But have you ever heard of any of those disciples reaching the Mahayana stage?”

“This…”

Ning Jing slowly rose, her hand climbing Luo Bingyan’s waist. “It proves to be quite useless, doesn’t it? Now that Qi Refining Hall has learned about the ‘unspoken rules of the Skill Transmission Pavilion,’ it’s a done deal. From now on, why don’t we see who was right and who was wrong?”

Luo Bingyan’s expression softened slightly as she worried, “Even if we start changing things now, I fear it might already be too late.”

“Who knows until we try? I recall you only took less than ten years to form your Golden Core, didn’t you? How can you be so certain that the disciples won’t be able to catch up to you?”

Ning Jing had originally intended to say “surpass,” but having spent a long time with Luo Bingyan, she naturally understood her unyielding nature.

Luo Bingyan’s face fell into a despondent expression, though she quickly recovered. She sighed, “Never mind. It’s been eight hundred years, and the people around me are still the same old folks. A little more time won’t make much difference, nor will a little less!”

Luo Bingyan released Ning Jing, smoothed her sleeves, and then exited the room.

Achoo!

Ning Jing walked to the window, watching Luo Bingyan depart. She picked up a piece of red cloth, brought it to her lips, and lightly sniffed it.

Wugou stretched out his arms and yawned widely.

These past few days had been truly peaceful. No longer in Hall One, he could finally sleep until he woke naturally, a stark contrast to how Lu Jinhan and Hua Youdie always woke him in the past.

“Junior Brother, you’re awake!”

Wugou rubbed his eyes, recognizing the newcomer as Li Mingzhen.

He sighed inwardly, feeling a touch of helplessness. Ever since he had mended his senior brother’s arm five days ago, Li Mingzhen was inevitably the first person he saw upon waking each day.

Wugou glanced at Li Mingzhen’s arms.

“Senior Brother Li, you’re recovering remarkably fast. With your accumulated true qi, I imagine you’ll be able to break through directly once your arms are fully healed!”

“Indeed, thanks to Junior Brother’s good fortune.”

With that, Li Mingzhen rose and bowed respectfully.

Wugou merely smiled, saying nothing, allowing him to do as he pleased.

“Junior Brother, are you leaving already?”

“Er, I have matters to attend to, matters to attend to,” Wugou said with a faint smile. Even after so many days, he still felt a touch awkward saying this.

“Hehe.”

Li Mingzhen offered Wugou a small smile, then stepped back a few paces, clearing the path.

After walking a few steps, Wugou suddenly turned back and asked, “How is your friend?”

“I initially thought he’d need half a year of recuperation, but Elder Wu from the Alchemy Pavilion said Yang Feng’s broken bone was remarkably clean and orderly, so healing wouldn’t take nearly that long. Junior Brother, you showed mercy, didn’t you?”

Wugou flashed Li Mingzhen a toothy grin, then turned and walked away.

Upon stepping out, he unexpectedly saw Lu Jinhan.

His steps were steady, and though his feminine air persisted, his complexion was rosy.

It seems the Alchemy Pavilion had nourished him well. He wondered what level the world’s alchemy had reached.

Lu Jinhan saw Wugou staring directly at him, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure whether to approach and greet him. If Wugou hadn’t defeated those two individuals a few days prior, Lu Jinhan himself would likely have been laid up in the Alchemy Pavilion for at least half a year.

‘Should I perhaps go thank him?’ Lu Jinhan’s heart pounded with indecision.

“Heh, both junior brothers are here!”

Lu Jinhan and Wugou turned around simultaneously, revealing Hua Youdie.

Hua Youdie, with his very first words, had already taken advantage of both of them.

“Hehe, I, Hua, am not particularly talented, but I just broke through today. I haven’t had a chance to report it to Elder Zhu yet; I merely came to the Second Hall to familiarize myself with the environment.”

Hua Youdie smiled, once again revealing his signature two rows of gleaming white teeth.

Lu Jinhan was astonished. He could understand Wugou keeping pace with him in cultivation, given that they both possessed innate full spiritual roots of the water element. But Hua Youdie? What virtues or abilities did he possess? Although his spiritual roots were decent, the gap shouldn’t be so small compared to a full spiritual root.

It had only been a few days!

A flicker of disbelief crossed Lu Jinhan’s mind. He walked up to the two of them and scrutinizingly assessed Hua Youdie.

Yet, Hua Youdie’s breathing was even, not at all like someone who had just broken through.

“Your comprehension is quite good,” Wugou praised.

Hua Youdie brightened further at the compliment. Anyone would be pleased to have their strength acknowledged. He was just about to step forward and continue conversing with the two.

Unexpectedly, both Wugou and Lu Jinhan simultaneously retreated several steps.

Hua Youdie paused, bewildered. Still unsuspecting, he took another step closer.

Wugou and Lu Jinhan retreated yet another step.

“You… you two!” Hua Youdie fumed, finally realizing that the two of them were guarding against him.

“Ahem, Brother Hua, your skills are exceptional. Please don’t hold it against us~” Wugou said, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture.

Lu Jinhan, however, was far more direct, a hint of disgust coloring his face. “You wretched rat, when are you going to return my fan!”

“You damn sissy, did you personally see me steal it?” Hua Youdie retorted angrily.

“No.”

Lu Jinhan’s reply was surprisingly blunt.

Before Hua Youdie could even crack a smile, Lu Jinhan added, “Regardless, if I lose something, it’s always your fault.”

“You!”

Hua Youdie’s heart swelled with grief and indignation. As a divine thief, what could be more agonizing than having everyone constantly on guard against you?

“Ahem, you two take your time talking. Wugou will be taking his leave first.”

Wugou immediately slipped away, speechless inside. ‘These two are at it again, just like always. Sigh…’