Myriad Dragon Divine Sovereign

”It’s not just Wen Shibei. There’s another big shot involved,” Zhang Hua said, keeping him in suspense, his eyes burning as he looked at Wen Qingye.

Wen Qingye nodded, but to Zhang Hua’s embarrassment, he didn’t play along. He didn’t even ask about the ”big shot.”

Zhang Hua gave a hollow laugh. He looked at Wen Qingye and said, ”Virtuous Son in Law, in three days, you will...”

Wen Qingye nodded. ”I know. I’ll be there when the time comes.”

Zhang Hua said no more. He stared at the Monkey Wine in his cup, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he held his tongue. Downing the wine in one go, he said, ”Then I’ll take my leave.”

Once outside the courtyard, Zhang Hua couldn’t help but frown. He looked up at the crimson-streaked sky and thought about Zhang Hui. ’In hindsight, Wen Qingye isn’t so bad. It would have actually been a good thing to marry him back then. What a pity...’ In the end, Zhang Hua heaved a heavy sigh and strode away.

Yunshan finished her book and came out. Noticing that Zhang Xiaoyun was nowhere to be seen, she couldn’t help but ask, ”Brother Qingye, what’s wrong with Sister Xiaoyun? Is she sick?”

Lately, Yunshan had taken a liking to books about strange and wondrous tales. Wen Qingye had bought several for her on their journey, and she read them every day.

”No, she’s just a little tired,” Wen Qingye said with a smile. He walked over to Yunshan, took her hand, and said, ”In a few days, how about I teach you cultivation?”

Yunshan clapped her hands. ”Great! Great! I’ve wanted to cultivate for so long.”

Seeing Yunshan’s innocent, childlike smile, Wen Qingye felt a sense of ease wash over him.

Yunshan’s aptitude wasn’t what one would call astonishingly brilliant, but it wasn’t bad, either. The Longevity Technique was far too profound for her, so Wen Qingye planned to find an easier Cultivation Method. With the right technique from him, Yunshan’s aptitude could become top-tier among her peers. As for her future beyond that, it would all depend on her own destiny.

Wen Qingye returned to his room. He looked at Zhang Xiaoyun sleeping soundly on the bed and began to think. ’Now that I have the Rain Dew Flower and the Black Pearl, I want to remove the scar from her face. It might be difficult, but it should be possible to at least remove the surface-level scarring. Why not give it a try?’

Wen Qingye extinguished the candle and slowly walked to the side of the bed.

...

「The next day, at the crack of dawn.」

Zhang Xiaoyun opened her eyes, just as she did every morning. The first thing she saw was a clean, handsome face with chiseled features. It was the kind of face that grew more attractive the longer you looked.

Only then did Zhang Xiaoyun realize she was hugging Wen Qingye tightly, her entire body draped over his.

Zhang Xiaoyun wanted to get up but didn’t dare to move, afraid she would wake Wen Qingye.

”It’s still early. Sleep a little longer.” Although Wen Qingye hadn’t opened his eyes, he was aware of her every move.

Zhang Xiaoyun said in a low voice, ”It’s getting late. I have to make breakfast, and...”

Wen Qingye wrapped his arms around Zhang Xiaoyun and said flatly, ”You’re not going anywhere. Stay here and sleep with me.”

Hearing his words, Zhang Xiaoyun blushed to the tips of her ears. She ducked her head, buried her face in Wen Qingye’s chest, and fell silent.

Zhang Xiaoyun could feel Wen Qingye’s breath and the beating of his heart. Her own heart gradually calmed, and it seemed as if she had made a resolution.

Zhang Xiaoyun whispered, ”No matter what happens, we’ll face it together, through thick and thin.”

”Good.” Wen Qingye slowly opened his eyes, a smile gracing his lips as he looked at the woman in his arms.

...

Wen Qingye arrived at the entrance to Jishi Hall and strolled inside.

Not far away, Zuo Qiang was sorting medicinal herbs. When he looked up and saw Wen Qingye, his face lit up. ”Master Wen, you’re here!”

”Yes. Where is your father?” Wen Qingye asked.

Zuo Qiang said excitedly, ”My father is performing alchemy in the Alchemy Room. Quick, please come inside.”

Wen Qingye gave a nonchalant nod, and Zuo Qiang led him deeper into Jishi Hall.

”Who is that? For Young Master Zuo to be fawning over him like that...”

”I know, right? And he’s so young. I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

”He looks familiar to me too, but I can’t seem to place him.”

The onlookers were all surprised at how Zuo Qiang treated Wen Qingye. The young man seemed very familiar, yet none of them could recall where they had seen him before.

Zuo Qiang led Wen Qingye further into Jishi Hall, through a long corridor that opened up to a massive tower.

In a spacious clearing, a Pill Furnace was being heated by a blazing Pill Fire. Not far away stood Zuo Yu, his forehead slick with sweat, continuously channeling the Primordial Qi from his hands into the flames.

”So, your father is a Third-Grade Alchemist now?” Wen Qingye said, glancing at Zuo Yu.

Zuo Qiang nodded. ”Yes, and it’s all thanks to your guidance, Master Wen. He only broke through recently. Right now, he’s trying to refine a Third-Grade Pill, but unfortunately, he’s been working on it for half a month and still hasn’t succeeded.”

Wen Qingye fell silent, quietly watching Zuo Yu channel all his Primordial Qi to make the Pill Fire burn even more fiercely.

Time dripped by. Just then, Wen Qingye’s brow twitched. ”Don’t add the Orchid Cassia Root,” he said.

Zuo Yu froze, then pulled back the hand holding the Orchid Cassia Root.

Zuo Yu then continued with the previous steps of the alchemy process. A moment later, a peculiar fragrance began to waft from the Pill Furnace, spreading out in all directions.

”Success! The pill is a success!” Zuo Yu exclaimed, his face alight with joy.

Seeing that his father had actually succeeded, Zuo Qiang couldn’t help but look at Wen Qingye with even greater admiration. He knew that if Wen Qingye hadn’t spoken up, Zuo Yu would have failed to refine this Third-Grade Pill.

When Zuo Yu saw Wen Qingye, he hurried over. ”Thank you for your guidance, Master Wen!”

Wen Qingye gave a slight smile. ”Think nothing of it. In fact, I should be thanking you for taking care of my wife.”

Zuo Yu smiled obsequiously. ”It’s only what I should do, of course.”

If anyone from the outside saw the notoriously short-tempered Zuo Yu being so agreeable at this moment, what would they think?

Just then, an Attendant from Jishi Hall rushed in. ”Master Zuo, there’s a young lady outside from the Gao Family. She’s in a hurry to find Young Master Wen.”

Zuo Yu glanced at Wen Qingye. ’It must be Gao Yuerou,’ Wen Qingye mused, then nodded. ”Bring her in.”

The Attendant glanced at Zuo Yu, who glared back. ”Didn’t you hear Young Master Wen? Hurry up and bring the young lady from the Gao Family in!”

”Yes, right away!” Seeing Zuo Yu flex his authority, the Attendant immediately hurried toward the outer hall of Jishi Hall.

Before long, the Attendant led Gao Yuerou in. She had rushed over as soon as she heard from Yunshan at the Zhang Mansion that Wen Qingye was at Jishi Hall.

She was startled when she saw Zuo Yu and quickly said, ”Greetings, Master Zuo.”

”Greetings,” Zuo Yu replied, his old face flushing. Normally, he would be immensely proud when someone addressed him as ’Master,’ but with Wen Qingye present, the title somehow made him feel uncomfortable.

Gao Yuerou turned to Wen Qingye, her brow furrowed. ”Qingye, my mother’s condition has worsened. My father heard a Fifth-Grade Alchemist is in Phoenix City, so he invited him to treat her. I just have a really bad feeling about this. Can you please come and take a look?”

”Alright,” Wen Qingye said. ”Right now?”

”Yes, right now. I’m sorry to trouble you,” Gao Yuerou said, her voice anxious and laced with a hint of pleading.