Chapter 227

In any case, before meeting Shen Tang, Ye Tinglan's veil had been smoothly removed, at least preventing Shen Tang from associating her with the National Preceptor.

However, things are rarely perfect. If there was no association with the National Preceptor, then other associations were bound to arise...

The three of them traveled quickly for several days, finally arriving in what is now Xia Prefecture.

Looking down from the wheelchair suspended in mid-air, the spiritual energy was visibly denser, no longer as sparse and barren as it once was.

Although the spiritual energy now was not as abundant as in Dream Return City, where one could open cave-dwelling inns within the city, it had already far surpassed that of neighboring Dongjiang.

The population was also visibly thriving, beginning to absorb people from surrounding counties. Xia Prefecture was not originally small, but its population was sparse; now it increasingly resembled a prosperous large prefecture.

The imperial court easily passed the resolution to relocate the Dongjiang prefectural seat, but the actual relocation and replacement were not so quick. It wasn't simply a matter of the Prefect moving; it involved changes in many departments.

Among them, Chen Jinnian felt most like life was a dream. Having just moved to Dongjiang to serve as the Head of the Prefectural Alchemist Bureau less than half a year ago, he had moved back... His office was still in the original location, making him wonder in a daze if he hadn't been promoted after all.

The wheelchair passed over a bustling urban area and reached the western suburbs. The vibrant, worldly atmosphere began to diminish, but the human presence remained strong.

Below was a flourishing sect.

Danxia Mountain was filled with rich sword qi, and even from high above, one could feel the chilling prickle of ten thousand swords, raising goosebumps.

There were countless disciples in the mountain. The stronger ones cultivated in their own areas, while new disciples practiced martial arts collectively on the training grounds, full of youthful vigor.

Medicinal herbs were no longer grown in the mountain. The primary cultivation grounds for herbs had been moved to the Incense Mountain branch in Dongjiang. Additionally, at the foot of the mountain were continuous fields where apprentices cultivated. These were originally the Huo family's properties, now serving as herb gardens. The former Huo family mansion was used as an external elixir sales point, and many people came here to purchase goods, creating a bustling scene.

The former site of the Danxia Gang and the old location of Shen's Trading Company were now used as a place for the exchange of flying swords, magical artifacts, and the like, with cultivators from the prefecture and counties coming and going, and it was quickly replacing the original Myriad Treasures Pavilion in the city.

Around the brand-new Heavenly Sword Sect, Xia Prefecture's core sect and iconic landmark had been born.

The wheelchair landed outside the mountain gate. The guard disciples wore snow-white robes, their sword intent formidable. The uniform standards of a sword dao sect were clearly established, and everyone's face bore the unique sternness and pride of swordsmen, no longer a messy hybrid of the Danxia Gang and Incense Pavilion.

“Shen Tang is very capable,” Ye Tinglan commented after observing for a moment. “In just half a year, to have such an atmosphere... Regardless of anything else, her management skills are very strong.”

Lu Xingzhou nodded.

Lu Xingzhou had known Shen Tang's management skills were strong ever since she was still running Shen's Trading Company. She had brought the scattered, defeated remnants of the Heavenly Sword Sect into order within just a few days. He himself had been quite idle at the Heavenly Sword Sect, not needing to perform the duties of a prime minister as he did in the Netherworld Palace, only needing to offer advice as a strategist.

In this regard alone, Shen Tang was far superior to Yuan Muyu. Back then, Yuan Muyu only knew how to fight and only learned how to manage things after a long time.

“Stop! Entry to the mountain requires an invitation. For daily trade, please go to the merchant house at the foot of the mountain,” a guard disciple said, stopping the three of them.

Lu Xingzhou chuckled, “It's truly a case of asking where the guest came from.”

The guard disciples were stunned for a moment, scrutinizing him. “We've been here for two or three months and haven't seen you. The Heavenly Sword Sect has only been established here for half a year in total... Wait...”

Someone suddenly realized. There really was someone from the Heavenly Sword Sect who had been away for a few months and was now returning, and was said to be bringing a child.

“Are you claiming to be Elder Lu?” the disciples asked suspiciously. “Your appearance, plus bringing a little one along, does make it seem plausible... But don't try to fool us; Elder Lu uses a wheelchair.”

Lu Xingzhou took out the wheelchair he had just put away.

The disciples all took a step back in unison. This time, their gazes uniformly fell upon Ye Tinglan's face.

The next moment, someone quickly ran up the mountain, shouting, “Someone claiming to be Elder Lu has brought a woman back!”

Ye Tinglan looked bewildered.

With a whoosh, a sword light, like a rainbow, shot down from the mountaintop.

It stopped abruptly in front of them. The sword light dissipated, revealing Shen Tang's long-unseen face.

She was still in her wheelchair... Her eyes didn't even glance at the peerlessly elegant Ye Tinglan beside her. Her beautiful gaze seemed glued to Lu Xingzhou's face, staring up at him fixedly, without blinking for a long time.

Although her face was calm, her heaving chest betrayed the excitement in her heart. The joyful light of long-awaited reunion in her eyes, brimming with endless tenderness, seemed about to spill over.

After a very long time, she finally whispered, “So you decided to come back? I thought you were going to be gone for a year.”

Lu Xingzhou finally spoke. “I was out on a trial... Even without this, I would have found a chance to ask for leave and come back to see you. Could I really stay there for a whole year without moving?”

“That's hard to say. Wherever you are, aren't you surrounded by beauties? Would you still remember that someone here is waiting for you?”

The disciples recoiled in shock again.

Although they had heard rumors shortly after arriving that the Sect Master and Elder Lu probably had 'something going on,' seeing this 'gossip' firsthand was still a bit startling. Weren't they going to be a little more discreet?

How could Shen Tang not know to be discreet? Otherwise, it would not be good if it reached Gu Zhanting's ears. But the surging emotions in her heart were difficult to suppress. She couldn't simply greet him as if nothing had happened...

At the mention of beauties, Lu Xingzhou's face felt a little hot. He secretly glanced at the disciples and whispered, “This isn't the place to talk, let's go up.”

“Let's go to Spirit Spring Mountain. I've kept it ready for you,” Shen Tang said. Her gaze finally fell on Ye Tinglan's face.

She paused, slightly startled, feeling a sense of familiarity but couldn't recall where she had seen her before. Deciding not to dwell on it, she took a preemptive strike: “As for this 'beauty,' she can be accommodated in the guest quarters first. It wouldn't be good for her to go to your residence with us.”

Ye Tinglan looked utterly confused.

*Oh, you princess, you weren't like this when you saw me before! If I hadn't saved you, the grass on your grave would be three feet high by now, and you're picking a fight with me?*

Lu Xingzhou broke out in a cold sweat. He hastily explained, “A misunderstanding, this is Madam Ye from the Alchemy Academy, my mentor!”

Shen Tang's belligerent expression froze on her face. It quickly turned into a forced smile: “Um, hello, Madam...”

Ye Tinglan said coldly, “Can I stay on the mountain? Will it have a good 'influence'?”

“Yes, yes, what 'influence'? Madam, you can stay wherever you like.” Although Shen Tang feigned respect, her slight suspicion of the 'vixen' hadn't vanished at all.

*Such a young and beautiful mentor... Spending every day together, traveling and living together. Are you saying you're not one of those beauties? Are you saying Lu Xingzhou truly has no thoughts about you? Do you take my royal palace intrigue skills for nothing, or think I'm as naive as Qingli?*

*Also, isn't this Madam's voice a bit familiar...*

However, she had very little interaction with the National Preceptor, only exchanging a few words. It was genuinely difficult to make the connection, so she didn't think much of it. She quickly turned and pushed her wheelchair towards Spirit Spring Mountain, saying, “Let's get settled first. Spirit Spring Mountain is still just as you left it, not a single thing has changed.”

Lu Xingzhou stepped forward and pushed the wheelchair.

All of Shen Tang's chaotic thoughts vanished. Her heart felt sweet. “You don't have to pretend to need the wheelchair anymore?” she asked.

“No, I don't,” Lu Xingzhou replied. “Madam Ye helped, and people think she was the one who healed me. That gave me a legitimate reason. It's just a pity that my last attempt to play a trick failed and I didn't get to use the pretense of lameness to its fullest.”

Hearing Lu Xingzhou's casual, old-couple-like chat, Shen Tang's heart swelled with even more joy, her smile irrepressible. “Did you get into many fights in the capital? Tell me the whole story later.”

“Of course,” he replied. “I'll tell you everything, slowly, in detail.”

“Truly everything in detail?”

“How could I hide anything from you?”

“Alright then,” Shen Tang said. “First, tell me about Pei Chuyun.”

Lu Xingzhou was dumbfounded. “Do you have spies in the capital or something?”

“No,” Shen Tang said, her face hardening. “Even the news of you becoming the top scholar was transmitted from the capital to the Alchemy Bureau, and then from the Alchemy Bureau to me. Someone achieved such an important result and didn't even write a letter.”

“Well...” Lu Xingzhou scratched his head. He didn't have a habit of writing letters. However, with the recent letter he had written for Meng Guan to deliver to Pei Chuyun, he couldn't very well say that now. He could only offer a placating smile: “Next time, definitely.”

*But then again, if you don't have spies, how do you know about Pei Chuyun?*

Shen Tang, however, slowly said, “As for Pei Chuyun... I know she's the young lady recently reacknowledged by the Pei family, and that you helped with her recognition. Tracing the timeline, she must be that little demoness who stormed the mountain back then. What were your intentions in helping her with this recognition, and what is your relationship with her? Confess truthfully, and you'll suffer less physical pain.”

Lu Xingzhou was astounded. “I thought you didn't know her at all... How did you connect the dots? Is this Conan...”

Shen Tang didn't understand who Conan was, but she understood the implication. She sighed faintly. “A woman's intuition for catching infidelity, that's beyond any grade.”

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes again glanced at Madam Ye, who was leisurely ascending the mountain beside them.

*Take this one, for example,* she thought. *I refuse to believe there's nothing going on between you two. I'll let her settle in first, then I'll slowly deal with you!*

The wooden house on Spirit Spring Mountain was built by Lu Xingzhou using the Five Ghosts Carrying Method. Although rustic, it had more than one room; it had several and could accommodate guests without issue.

Built by the Spirit Pond, the spiritual energy was delightful. Though simple, it possessed a natural beauty, which Ye Tinglan found quite appealing at first glance. It was far more like a dwelling for immortals than the inns they had encountered on their journey. Lu Xingzhou's grasp of aesthetics was quite impressive...

Having watched Lu Xingzhou and Shen Tang's affectionate behavior all the way, Ye Tinglan couldn't be bothered to interfere. She simply entered the guest quarters to meditate and did not emerge.

*So Lu Xingzhou and Shen Tang really were in that kind of relationship... It would have been fine if it were just that kind of relationship, but they should have been discreet. Yet their affection was completely undisguised. This wasn't good; if Gu Zhanting found out, it would cause more complications. She would have to advise Lu Xingzhou later...*

As for tonight, she wouldn't disturb their long-awaited reunion yet. She would speak to them tomorrow.

“For our reunion after so long, I'll ignore whatever is going on between you and that Madam for now,” Shen Tang said. In the main house, she stood directly from her wheelchair, embraced Lu Xingzhou's waist, and leaned against his chest. “Don't move... Let me listen to your heartbeat...”

Lu Xingzhou gently embraced her back. “What's so good about listening to that?”

“To hear if you've forgotten me in your heart,” Shen Tang replied. “To hear if it beats as fast as mine after seeing me.”