Unlike the solemn and imposing main hall, the side hall of the Council Palace was decorated with a more elegant and cozy touch. Even so, Manor Lord Su Jing, seated in the primary seat, still exuded an aura of effortless authority.
Beside him, an exceptionally beautiful woman clad in a pale green gown was leisurely sipping tea, a lively smile dancing in her eyes. It was none other than the Manor Lord’s wife, Gongsun Rou.
“Father, Mother,” Su Yi took the lead in saluting, his tone relatively relaxed.
Tantai Yunzhi, on the other hand, drew a deep breath to suppress the nervousness in her chest. Stepping forward, she bowed deeply according to sect protocol. “Disciple Tantai Yunzhi greets the Manor Lord and the Mistress.”
She tried her best to keep her voice steady, yet the faint tremble in her fingertips betrayed her inner turmoil.
“Mm, no need for formalities.” Su Jing’s piercing gaze rested on Tantai Yunzhi for just an instant before turning to Su Yi, cutting straight to the chase. “I have summoned you regarding the matter of the Foundation Establishment secret realm two months from now.”
The Foundation Establishment secret realm! Su Yi’s heart gave a start—he had nearly forgotten about that! Within it lay an item crucial to the future trajectory of Gongsun Lin’s fate.
Furthermore, it marked the first minor climax of the early story, where the demonic sects would emerge to cause havoc.
‘Nothing suits Junior Sister’s physique better than the Stalactite Body Tempering Fluid. I must secure it.’
Su Yi’s gaze sharpened, momentarily shelving the perplexing matter of Zhao Qian.
“The fluctuations detected from the secret realm this time are far more intense than in the past,” Su Jing continued. “The opportunities within may be greater, but the risks will inevitably multiply as well.”
“By tradition, the secret realm only permits Qi Condensation disciples to enter. The disciples from our Divine Might Manor entering this time will require two commanders to lead them.”
Su Jing’s gaze settled on Su Yi. “Yi'er, although your realm fell, you previously reached Foundation Establishment. Your understanding of the secret realm far exceeds that of your peers. You shall lead the disciples this time. Proceed with caution, and let preserving your fellow disciples be your utmost priority.”
Neither Su Yi, Gongsun Lin, nor even Tantai Yunzhi found this arrangement surprising. With Su Yi’s experience, he truly was the best candidate.
“Your son understands.”
Yet Su Jing’s next words caused the expressions of all three—especially Tantai Yunzhi—to change drastically.
“As for the position of vice commander...” Su Jing’s tone remained flat, yet he dropped a bombshell of a name. “It is my intention to have Zhao Qian fill it.”
“Zhao Qian?” Gongsun Lin immediately questioned, her brows knit tight. “Master, Junior Sister Zhao has long since attained the Foundation Establishment realm. By the rules, she cannot enter the secret realm at all. How could she serve as vice commander?”
“I am well aware of this,” Su Jing replied. “However, a few days ago, Zhao Qian... seemingly suffered a major blow. Her Dao heart grew unstable, causing her realm to fall. Her cultivation has now slipped to Qi Condensation Perfection.”
“Her realm fell?” All three were astonished. For a cultivator, a regression of realm was no trivial matter. Zhao Qian had merely lost to Tantai Yunzhi; could her Dao heart really shatter to such an extent?
At that moment, Gongsun Rou, who had been quietly sipping her tea, set down her teacup. Her crisp voice broke the solemn atmosphere as she chimed in with a bright smile: “Besides, setting everything else aside, that girl Zhao Qian does possess genuine Foundation Establishment experience. Her comprehension of the secret realm and ability to respond to crises are indeed superior to ordinary Qi Condensation disciples.”
“Presently, if there is no other disciple who is more dependable and possesses suitable cultivation, this arrangement can be considered an acceptable compromise.”
As she spoke, her smiling gaze fell meaningfully upon Tantai Yunzhi, who had remained silent all along.
That look struck Tantai Yunzhi like an epiphany, instantly making her understand the true intention behind the Manor Lord and Mistress summoning her!
This was not merely an announcement; it was an opportunity! An opportunity placed right out in the open!
The position of vice commander meant greater authority in the secret realm, greater control over resource distribution, and... more importantly, a chance to prove that the flaws of her physique would not hinder her potential.
In that split second, Zhao Qian’s confident, uncanny smile seemed to reappear before her eyes: “Junior Sister, you will surely come seek me out for a contest... You certainly will!”
So Zhao Qian had anticipated this move all along!
‘No... perhaps this entire trap was set by her!’
Seeing that the official discussion had concluded, Gongsun Rou clapped her hands lightly as if finding the atmosphere not lively enough. Her lovely eyes flitted between Tantai Yunzhi and Gongsun Lin, her tone brimming with unvarnished affection.
“My, now that business is out of the way... The more I look at this young lady, the more I take a liking to her.”
Saying this, her gaze shifted toward Su Jing and Su Yi as she cleverly pivoted the conversation. “Great Manor Lord Su, Young Manor Lord, you father and son surely have a mountain of sect affairs to discuss, don't you? We girls are going to have some private heart-to-heart talk. Having you two here will only make the girls shy.”
A man of Su Jing’s caliber immediately understood his wife’s unsubtle dismissal. A barely perceptible smile flickered across his majestic face as he rose smoothly to his feet. “Indeed, there are matters awaiting our attention. Yi'er, follow me.”
Su Yi was still pondering the bizarre circumstances of Zhao Qian’s realm regression. Taken aback by his father's words, before he could even react, his father seized him by the sleeve and unceremoniously whisked him out of the side hall.
In the blink of an eye, only the three women remained in the side hall.
The smile on Gongsun Rou’s face grew increasingly warm, even carrying a touch of cunning. Turning first to Tantai Yunzhi, she spoke in a gentle tone: “Yunzhi, this isn't our first time meeting, so don't be formal. There are no outsiders here. How do you feel Su Yi treats you?”
Tantai Yunzhi hastily shook her head. “Mistress is too kind. Senior Brother Su... treats me very well.”
“Oh? Very well?” Gongsun Rou’s eyes lit up as she seized the chance to press further. “Then what do you think of Yi'er as a person? I mean... as a Dao companion?”
As if afraid the girl might give a vague answer, Gongsun Rou made her intention crystal clear; she had never been fond of beating around the bush.
“!” Tantai Yunzhi’s cheeks flushed crimson in an instant, red as a ripe apple. Her heart pounded furiously, and even the tips of her ears burned scarlet.
She had never expected the Manor Lord’s wife to be so direct. For a moment, she was completely at a loss, her gaze darting away, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. “Senior Brother... is righteous and kind... very... very good...” Aside from “very good,” she truly could not think of any other words; her mind was completely blank.
Seeing this, the amusement in Gongsun Rou’s eyes deepened. Knowing she wouldn't get much more out of her, she stopped putting her on the spot and turned her gaze toward Gongsun Lin, who was trying hard to act like an invisible spectator. “Little Lin'er, what about you? You grew up together with Yi'er. What do you think of him?”
Although Gongsun Lin had a somewhat tomboyish and carefree personality, being teased so bluntly by her mistress still made her cheeks heat up slightly. Forcing herself to look composed, she replied with a barely perceptible stiffness in her voice: “Mistress! Please stop teasing me.”
She had originally intended to say a few complimentary words about Su Yi as well, but seeing Tantai Yunzhi standing there with her mind drifting who-knew-where, Gongsun Lin swallowed the praise back down.
Looking at Tantai Yunzhi, she thought for a moment before saying, “Senior Brother has a rather whimsical temperament. If a woman is devoted to seeking the Dao with all her heart, happens to have a flawed physique, happens to be constantly receiving his aid, and... and... Anyway, if you ask me, for such a woman, Senior Brother is truly not a suitable match.”
Hearing this, the corner of Gongsun Rou’s mouth twitched. Looking at the two girls' reactions, she could only feign a disappointed sigh. Picking up her teacup, she gently brushed aside the floating tea leaves with the lid, her tone suddenly turning casual, yet carrying the impact of a thunderclap:
“Sigh, Yi'er isn't young anymore. Since neither of you think much of my unpromising boy and find fault with him left and right... Forget it, forget it. A twisted melon isn't sweet.”
“I think that girl Zhao Qian, arrogant as she may be, seems to have matured quite a bit after her realm fell. Elder Zhao has also dropped hints many times... It seems I can only settle for second best and consider agreeing to the Zhao clan's wishes...”
Yet before she could even finish!
“Huh?! As if she's worthy?!”
A cold snort laced with explosive thunder and extreme contempt rang out abruptly from Gongsun Lin's lips.
Almost at the exact same instant!
“No! Senior Sister Zhao is definitely not a suitable match!”
Tantai Yunzhi also spoke in urgent protest, instinctively taking half a step forward, her face full of disapproval and worry.
Two voices—one fierce, one frantic—conveyed the exact same message!
As the words faded, the side hall plunged into an eerie silence.
Both Gongsun Lin and Tantai Yunzhi realized their lapse in composure. Especially upon catching the victorious, brilliantly radiant smile spreading across Gongsun Rou’s face, both girls were utterly mortified with embarrassment.
“Then in your opinion, who is suitable for Yi'er?” Gongsun Rou calmly took a sip of tea, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
She had long wanted Su Yi to start a family. Others might not know, but could she be unaware?
The higher one’s cultivation realm, the harder it was to sire children. If Su Yi were like Su Jing back when he courted her—clueless and dragging his feet until after he became Manor Lord to marry—then the Su family lineage might very well end with him.
Rate on N.U.
