Dawn.

A pair of slender, jade-like legs emerged from beneath the blankets. The backs of a woman’s feet quivered like taut bowstrings, then paused in midair.

Then, as if exhausting all of their power, the feet sank back into the mattress.

On the other end of the bed, Cha Jin poked her head out from beneath the thin blanket.

Her dark hair was disheveled, and she was drenched in sweat. Her beautiful, goose-egg shaped face was flushed red, and her rosy lips parted, gasping for breath. Despite her stupor, she was a living example of the word “charm.” 

“The sun’s up….” Su Yi extracted himself from the blankets, then gazed out the window at the hints of warm light appearing over the horizon. Despite himself, he felt a bit dazed. Did we just spend all night dual-cultivating? Again?

“The flow of time sure is heartless. We were just enjoying ourselves, yet dawn’s already here….” He sighed ruefully, then turned and got out of bed.

After washing up, he put on clean, loose robes, then stood beside the pond and began practicing the Pine and Crane Body Refining Technique, as was his custom. 

Not bad. Daoism’s ‘Little Yin-Yang Harmony Technique’ is indeed beneficial to one’s cultivation. As Su Yi sensed his energy circulating through him, he couldn’t help but nod to himself. Just one night of dual cultivation, and his first-level Grandmaster cultivation had already gone up a notch.

It was easy to get a hankering for this style of cultivation, and with this particular method, you felt none of cultivation’s usual tedium. Both heart and body rejoiced, and it comforted both the mind and spirit. 

It was no wonder that everyone, from Daoists to Buddhists to adherents of Confucianism and even demonic cultivators, all had records and inheritances relating to dual cultivation. 

Of course, since they called it “dual” cultivation, both partners benefited.

A proper dual cultivation technique was far superior to those aberrant branch techniques that one-sidedly used yin to replenish yang or yang to bolster yin. 

Once Cha Jin had washed up, gotten dressed, and combed her hair, she drew a bath for Su Yi, then rushed out of the House of Waveswept Rocks to purchase their breakfast.

After Su Yi finished his cultivation, he leaned back into his wicker chair, facing the blue-green waters of the pond. Gentle breezes blew past, and he closed his eyes in contentment. 

Before long, the sound of footsteps resounded from the courtyard.

At first, Su Yi assumed it was Cha Jin, but before long, he silently opened his eyes and listened carefully. Then, he closed his eyes once more.

Except now, there was a faint, nigh-indiscernible hint of a smile on his lips. 

Meanwhile, a young woman in a pale green dress tip-toed through the gates of the House of Waveswept Rocks. 

She held her breath, her footsteps as light as a cat’s and as careful as a thief. First, she surveyed the surrounding area. When she saw that distant figure reclining beside the pond, she couldn’t help but take a deep breath. 

Then, she carefully drew near.

When she was just ten feet away from the wicker chair, she raised her slender arms and cupped her hands around her lips like a horn.

She was just about to shout when the figure reclining in the wicker chair burst into laughter. “A little thief dares invade my territory and startle me?”

“Ah!” The young woman jumped, then frantically lowered her hands, like a startled fawn. Her bright eyes filled with bashful awkwardness. 

It was then that Su Yi sat up and looked at the slightly awkward young woman standing not far away. He couldn’t help but laugh. “Girl, why is it that you haven’t changed at all?”

Back when they still lived in the Wen Family estate, Wen Lingxue often snuck into his residence to “surprise” him.

Su Yi always found it rather dull, but he had no choice but to play along, feigning shock and surprise.

Thinking back on it now, both Wen Lingxue and the young man he’d been prior to reawakening his memories were rather… childish.

“Brother-in-Law…. Uh, Big Brother Su Yi, I….. I just wanted to surprise you…” Wen Lingxue stammered, not quite sure of how to respond. 

Su Yi smiled, then tousled her hair, just as he always had. “It’s fine. You came here to see me; there’s no more delightful surprise you could have given me.”

He noticed that she addressed him differently now, but he couldn’t be bothered to concern himself with that. So long as she was happy, she could call him whatever she wanted. 

“Brother-in…. No, Big Brother Su Yi, are you…. You’re not mad at me, are you?” Her big, shiny eyes shone with a faint hint of guilt.

Adjusting his title right in front of him made her feel rather embarrassed.

“How could I possibly be mad at you?” Su Yi examined her, feeling a bit rueful.

In the time since they last saw each other, she’d become even livelier. Her hair was tied up, and her neck was long and thin. Her skin was like suet, and her dress was tailored and form-fitting, highlighting her graceful curves. She was like a lotus breaking through the surface of its pond, with a pure and refreshing beauty.

Innocent and lively, with bright, charming eyes.

One glance at her, and her liveliness assailed the senses. She was a picturesque beauty, complete with natural charm and elegance.

On her way here, Wen Lingxue had felt tense, timid, and uncertain. She was worried that after staying away for so long, Su Yi would be mad at her. What if he ignored her?

Who’d have thought that, when they actually met face-to-face, Su Yi would treat her just as he had before? She instantly relaxed; it was as if they'd returned to the past. 

It was only when she addressed Su Yi directly that she felt a bit uncomfortable.

After all, she was used to calling him “Brother-in-Law.” Learning to call him “Big Brother” would take some getting used to.”

“Go bring over another chair. Sit next to me and talk.” As Su Yi spoke, he slumped back into his wicker chair.

When she saw that he made no attempts to disguise his laziness, Wen Lingxue couldn’t help but chortle. “Pff! Brother-in… Uh, Big Brother Su Yi, you’re still as lazy as ever!”

She said this, then dashed off, her gait light and airy. Soon, she returned with a chair and sat beside him.

When Cha Jin came back with their meal, she saw the two of them sitting side-by-side. They were chatting away. Or rather, Wen Lingxue was chatting away in high spirits, while Su Yi listened with a smile. Both of them were bathed in the gentle light of the sunrise, and they looked like the perfect pair.

Even Cha Jin had no choice but to admit that, at least in terms of age, the sixteen-year-old Wen Lingxue was indeed a better match for the seventeen-year-old Su Yi than her.

She inexplicably let out a faint sigh.

She could compete with a little fox spirit like Zheng Muyao, but she couldn’t outshine Wen Lingxue’s beauty.

She knew full well that not just anyone could replace that picturesque young woman’s position in Su Yi’s heart. Cha Jin knew that she was no exception either.

“Young Lord, Miss Wenxue, come eat.” Cha Jin calmed herself down, smiled, and called out.

….

…..

After they finished breakfast, Su Yi planned to set aside a chunk of time to accompany Wen Lingxue, but he had no choice but to give up on the idea.

Because today, far too many guests came knocking on his door. It was actually a bit too much.

The first to arrive were Zheng Tianhe and his daughter, Zheng Muyao. Ning Sihua showed up shortly after on the back of her Bluescale Eagle.

Then came Mountain-Subduing King Mu Xi, Cloudlight Marquis Shen Jiusong, Spiritmartial Marquis Chen Zheng, Grand Elder Pu Yi of Starcliff Academy, and elders Jiang Tanyun and Lu Zhangfeng of Kongtong Academy, one after another.

Zheng Tianhe came with several precious tier-four medicines as an expression of his gratitude. After all, if not for Su Yi, he might well have lived out the rest of his days confined in the family dungeons with no hope of ever regaining his former position as head of the Zheng Family.

Ning Sihua obviously had business to discuss, but when she saw how many people were present, she was in no rush to speak up.

Mu Xi, Pu Yi, Jiang Tanyun, Lu Zhangfeng and the others had come to bid Su Yi farewell. They each had business and official positions to attend to, and they couldn’t linger in the Imperatorial Provincial Capital forever.

Furthermore, now that they’d forged an alliance with Su Yi, they needed to return to their own respective factions and make various arrangements.

Shen Jiusong and Chen Zheng had come here for similar reasons.

No matter what, they were still non-Zhou marquis of the Great Zhou, and they each commanded grand armies stationed in different territories.

Su Yi took advantage of the idle conversation to ask Mu Xi about the True Spirit bone Buddha Statue.

It was obvious that Mu Xi had an impression of it. When he heard Su Yi bring it up, he didn’t even pause to think. “I found the statue among the possessions of the Firedome King, Xia Houlin. If I’m not mistaken, he most likely found it on Treasure Temple Yao Mountain.”

“Treasure Temple Yao Mountain?” Su Yi was instantly stunned.

Mu Xi nodded. “Others might not be able to tell, but there’s no hiding it from me. Young Lord, don’t forget: my Qilin Blood Jade Pendant came from deep within Treasure Temple Yao Mountain too.”

He paused, then continued, “Around when I obtained the pendant, I saw a similar statue in the ruins of an abandoned temple. Except that statue was about ten feet tall. It was severely damaged and missing its head, but its hands still formed lotus seals, and it still had the carving of a true dragon wrapped around its back and shoulders.

“And to the best of my knowledge, a few years ago, Xia Houlin went to Treasure Temple Yao Mountain in search of fortune! This, I dare say that Xia Houlin almost certainly obtained this palm-sized statue on Treasure Temple Yao Mountain.”

Su Yi nodded. “Hearing all that, it really does sound like Treasure Temple Yao Mountain hides as-of-yet unknown heavenly mysteries.”

Mu Xi said with a smile, “Young Lord, if you want to visit, I’d be happy to accompany you.”

When she heard that, Ning Sihua felt a sudden impulse, and she said, “I once ventured deep into Treasure Temple Yao Mountain too. If you want to go, you can count me in.”

Su Yi thought for a moment. “I’ll begin my journey to the Jade Capital on the fourth day of the fourth month. I’ll actually pass Treasure Temple Yao Mountain on the way. When the time comes, if you two are willing, we can explore it together.”

Mu Xi and Ning Sihua looked at each other. Both straightforwardly agreed.

They were both well aware that with Su Yi’s wisdom and the methods at his disposal, he could likely discern numerous secrets and comprehend numerous mysteries they couldn’t have fathomed on their own.

After all, the abilities and judgment Su Yi had displayed at Bloodthistle Yao Mountain were truly unbelievable. 

It was as if no matter what strange or unnatural occurrence arose, it couldn’t escape his keen eyes and perception.

Given the circumstances, even if all they did was accompany him on his journey, they’d gain an awful lot.