Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 557: Letter from Third Senior Sister

Three months had passed since Lu Yang returned from the Five-Elements Sect.

On this day, Yun Zhi was taken aback by a long-distance missive she received. After a moment of contemplation in her cave abode, she exhaled softly. “It looks like Little Junior Brother will need to make a trip.”

~~~

Meanwhile, Lu Yang had reached a critical juncture in his cultivation. His mouth was wide open as he devoured spirit energy. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, evaporating into mist that gathered above him like an auspicious cloud.

“Whew! I’ve finally advanced from the seventh to the eighth layer of the Golden Core Stage!”

When he opened his eyes, he saw Yun Zhi standing right before him, her visage devoid of emotions. “Since when has the Golden Core Stage been divided into seven or eight layers?”

Lu Yang immediately ratted out the mastermind. “The Immortal Fairy said so! She claimed finer divisions of cultivation stages increase motivation, making one feel a sense of achievement with every incremental improvement!”

“Hey hey hey, you betrayed me so easily?” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy emerged from Lu Yang’s body indignantly. She was clad in pink sleepwear, having just woken to hear him tattling on her.

“How could you call this betrayal? I was simply answering Big Senior Sister’s question honestly.”

“This is betrayal.”

“This is not betrayal.”

Yun Zhi felt that if she allowed the two to continue the debate, they wouldn’t be able to do anything else for the rest of the day.

She whipped out a letter adorned with graceful and delicate characters that read: To Senior Sister Yun Zhi

“This is...”

“A letter from your Third Senior Sister Gan Tian in the Demon Region. She said she’s encountered some stuff related to the ancient era there. She hopes I can find a scholar knowledgeable about ancient times to assist her research and answer her questions.”

This was no ordinary letter but a magical treasure crafted in paired forms of mother and child. Yun Zhi possessed the mother artifact, while Gan Tian possessed the child artifact. Whatever Gan Tian wrote in her letter would automatically be reflected in Yun Zhi’s.

“After much consideration, you’re the most well-versed in ancient history. If you’re not busy lately, you can make a trip to the Demon Region.”

Lu Yang pondered. I’ve just broken through to the eighth layer, still far away from the ninth layer. Remaining in the sect all the time to cultivate seems unwise. Better to head out and venture.

“I’ll go.”

Seeing Lu Yang agree so readily, Yun Zhi felt she could see their shifu in him. She advised, “You may make new discoveries at the border between the Central Continent and the Demon Region. You can consult Third Junior Sister when you meet her.”

~~~

A cultivator clad in gray silk descended, hands tucked in his sleeves. He wore a faint smile, his eyes narrowed to almost invisible slits.

“Halt! Identify yourself.” The Dao-Seeking Sect disciple guarding the gate stopped the cultivator from entering, eyeing him warily.

The cultivator seemed to have anticipated this and fished out a letter, passing it to the two disciples. “Excuse me, I am Xu You, the chief steward of the Meng Family. I’m here to visit our eldest young master. Please kindly make things convenient for me.”

The disciples opened the envelope and examined the recommendation letter from the Meng Family, which proved Xu You’s identity. No one would dare counterfeit the Meng Family’s letter. The Meng Family had always been the ones deceiving others—who would dare impersonate them? Unless one had no intention of staying in the Central Continent any longer.

“So it’s Senior Xu. May we know what business brings you to Junior Brother Meng?” The entire Dao-Seeking Sect knew that Meng Jingzhou was the Meng Family’s eldest young master; they simply didn’t speak of it openly.

Xu You sighed, his sign fading. “What else? It’s none other than persuading the eldest young master to change his mind and return home. His parents miss him dearly.” He produced two storage rings from his sleeves and pressed them into the two disciples’ palms. “It’s freezing out here. I’m sure it’s no easy task for you to be guarding the mountain gates here. These storage rings contain some trivial items. Please make things convenient for me and grant me passage.”

The Dao-Seeking Sect disciples declined vehemently. “This won’t do! The sect prohibits bribery. Anyone caught will face harsh punishment!”

“Please keep them. Only you and I know. As long as the three of us say nothing, who would know?”

Seeing they couldn’t refuse, the disciples reluctantly accepted. “It’s only natural for parents to want to see their son. Please enter, Senior Xu.” The disciples folded the letter, slipped it back into the envelope, and returned it to Xu You, stepping aside to clear the way.

~~~

Once inside, Xu You’s melancholic expression vanished, replaced by his customary benign smile.

The River Spirit’s head emerged from the water.

Xu You nodded and bowed to the River Spirit, proceeding only after the River Spirit returned to the water.

He had long done his homework. Eldest Young Master is in a cave abode on Body Refinement Peak. The cave abode is easily identifiable by an old horse grazing outside.

The old horse snorted in acknowledgement when it was greeted, confirming that Meng Jingzhou was inside.

Xu You rapped thrice on the stone door, waited thirty seconds, then repeated when he received no response. Just as he was about to knock again, Meng Jingzhou opened the door irritably. “Who is it? I’m not in seclusion. Can’t you just come in if you’re looking for me...” Looking up, he recognized Xu You and grew vigilant. “Steward Xu, what brings you here?”

“Young Master, could we speak inside? It’s inconvenient to speak of certain matters outside.”

Meng Jingzhou could only invite Xu You to enter the cave abode.

Xu You seated himself on a straw mat and explained, “The patriarch hasn’t seen you in two years and hopes you can make a trip back. He says he misses you very much.”

“Impossible.” Meng Jingzhou refused outright. I left home with such steel resolve back then! It’s only been two years. How can I return after merely two years?

“The patriarch said he knows all about your misdeeds and has forgiven you.”

Meng Jingzhou studied Xu You’s smiling countenance skeptically, attempting to discern the veracity of his words. “Really?”

“Really.”

Meng Jingzhou was overjoyed. “I deliberately arranged for my dad and little uncle to throw fortunes to vie over the top courtesan at the brothel and intensified their conflict by having them open their curtains and face each other awkwardly. Dad found out about that and forgave me?

“I beat up Minister Li’s little grandson, Minister Gong’s little son, and the young imperial prince, but I thought I was meticulous enough. Dad found out about that and forgave me?

“When Dad wanted to take in a concubine, I told Mom about it, resulting in Grandfather giving Dad a thrashing in the dark. Dad found out about that and forgave me?

“And also...”

Xu You grew increasingly alarmed. The patriarch only mentioned two to three of these incidents before I came. He said nothing about the rest... Clearing his throat, he braced himself to salvage the situation. “Eldest Young Master, actually, you don’t have to be in such a rush to return home. The patriarch has been busy with political affairs recently and may not have the time to meet you. You can just find another suitable date to head back.

“I’ve come here today mainly for another matter.”

“What is it?”

Still wearing a smile, Xu You’s voice turned low. “I heard you’re very close to Prodigy Lu Yang. The patriarch said this boy is incredibly talented and is destined for greatness. Perhaps he could be of use to our Meng Family...”