A few days later.
Chen Yin woke up early one morning and stretched as he walked outside his cabin. He suddenly felt in high spirits.
He still had five years left. This time, he had plenty of time.
As he passed by the pond, he heard the sounds of splashing water and light singing coming from the bathhouse.
—Xiang'er was already bathing so early in the morning.
Behind the bathhouse, Chen Yin could faintly see steam rising through the high window.
Looking at the soft wisps of steam, Chen Yin's mind began to drift to images of Xiang'er bathing:
Droplets of water sliding down her smooth shoulders, mist swirling around her pale skin, indistinguishable from her snowy white complexion.
Her slender legs moved gracefully in the water, her hair tied up, exposing her slender, inviting neck…
Heh, heh, heh.
A goofy expression crept onto Chen Yin's face as he almost drooled.
"I really want to see…"
"I really want to see…"
The next moment, Chen Yin turned his head, only to find himself face-to-face with his master, a small woman dressed in a palace-style robe, sporting an equally goofy grin.
Chen Yin: "?"
Yu Ling: "?"
"Master, what are you looking at?"
"What? Can't I look just because I'm a woman?" she replied, displeased.
"Who wouldn't want to watch a pretty girl take a bath?"
"That's true… True my foot!" Chen Yin said, stepping in front of her with a righteous look. "Master! I've always respected you for your high moral standing, but I never thought you'd have such base thoughts about a young girl!"
"I can't let you do this! Unless you step over my dead body, I'll protect my junior sister's honor no matter what!"
Yu Ling arched her eyebrows, placing her hands on her hips in anger.
"Hmph, you brat, hogging it all to yourself and acting all righteous about it?"
"I just want to check my disciple's development; it's none of your business!"
"And besides," she crossed her arms dismissively, "it's still better than some spineless wimp lurking outside, only brave enough to fantasize about it."
Chen Yin was both furious and helpless, seeing his dark-hearted, smug little master grinning at him.
—Forget it. He'd watch some other day.
"Let's go. Don't disturb Xiang'er while she bathes."
"Then hurry up and leave; let me take another look—Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing!"
Without a word, Chen Yin grabbed his master by the collar, dragging her up the mountain.
All the way, she flailed her arms, shouting like a child.
"Let go of me! I want to see Xiang'er bathe! I want to see a naked pretty girl!"
Inside the bathhouse, Xiang'er felt a sudden chill. She looked around, confused.
"Huh?"
"Did someone call me?"
<+>
After he finally dragged his master up the mountain and tossed her into her own bathhouse pool, Chen Yin sat down, grumbling by the small tea table.
"Honestly. If she wants to watch girls bathe, can't she look at herself?"
He sighed as he sipped his tea. "Just my luck… I actually had a chance."
"Hmph. You just need the courage, and Xiang'er's maternity leave will be taken care of."
Immortal Yu Ling lounged in the pool, her face flushed as she exposed only her head above the water.
"If you weren't so timid, and took a stronger approach with Xiang'er, you wouldn't have to sneak around trying to peek. You could bathe together."
Chen Yin imagined the scene for a moment, his blood pressure soaring.
—Suddenly, his life goals became clearer.
"Forget it. Xiang'er probably wouldn't look twice at a useless senior brother like me; forcing her would only hold her back."
He sighed, saying softly, "I'm just a laid-back, good-for-nothing with no real ambition or high cultivation. If she were with me, it would only be a disappointment for her."
Yu Ling glanced at him and then turned away.
"Look at you. For all your empty words, you're pretty clear-headed about yourself."
Chen Yin said, "…I was just being modest. Don't take me so seriously, you crazy old hag in a little girl's body."
"On a serious note."
As she splashed water onto her shoulder, Immortal Yu Ling's playful tone grew more restrained.
"Start focusing on your cultivation. Try to reach the early Cloud Realm soon."
"It's been dragging on long enough."
Hmm? Chen Yin was curious.
His master rarely pushed him in his cultivation; why was she suddenly changing her tune?
"Is something going on?"
"In a few days, the Heavenly Beauty Summit hosted by the Wanxiang Pavilion will take place again."
Master spoke softly, "Our Xiang'er should go see the world."
"You mean…you want me to take Xiang'er there?"
Chen Yin was surprised.
He'd heard of the Heavenly Beauty Summit.
Strictly speaking, Wanxiang Pavilion was a trade guild, regularly dealing in goods between the cultivation world and the mortal world. Their business covered the entire continent.
The pavilion's master was rumored to be a playboy, and his favorite pastime was ranking female cultivators by beauty, writing biographies and painting portraits of them.
The Heavenly Beauty Summit was a gathering of all the young female cultivators, competing for the title of "Most Beautiful Woman in the Cultivation World" based on both looks and cultivation.
While it might seem unreliable, the pavilion master was quite powerful, and Wanxiang Pavilion was both influential and wealthy, respected in both the mortal and cultivation worlds.
For the major sects, it was also a good opportunity for their female disciples to gain experience and raise the sect's profile.
After a few successful events, its fame grew, becoming a classic gathering in the cultivation world.
"But… Xiang'er is only in the early Cloud Realm; by the standards of today's cultivation world, she's still rather ordinary. Why bother?"
"Seeing the World is Always a Good Thing"
"She can't spend her whole life on this mountain, can she?" Master shook her head.
"Besides... the only way for you to move forward is if Xiang'er does, too," she added, casting Chen Yin a sly look.
Chen Yin's eyes widened.
"Master... how much do you know?"
"Not much. And not interested," she replied with a lazy stretch, reclining by the edge of the pool. "You young people should handle your own affairs."
Chen Yin thought for a moment and nodded.
"I understand."
"Good." She lowered her gaze slightly. "The journey is long, and it would be too risky to send your junior sister alone."
"As it happens, I have some business to take care of soon, so I won't be able to accompany Xiang'er."
"That means, as her senior brother, it's up to you to escort her."
"Are you going somewhere, Master?" Chen Yin asked curiously.
"Hmph. Just because I look leisurely every day doesn't mean I am."
She pouted, exasperated. "After all, I am still an Immortal of the Great Purity Realm."
"There are only a handful of Great Purity Realm immortals across the cultivation world, so yes, it keeps me busy."
…Most of her time was actually spent drinking and messing around. If Great Purity Realm immortals were this idle, there'd be something wrong with the world, Chen Yin muttered to himself.
"But, Master, I'm not even at the Cloud Realm yet. My cultivation level is lower than my junior sister's."
With a wry smile, he added, "If I escort her and something dangerous happens, who will be protecting whom?"
"That's why you need to hurry up and cultivate, you little brat!" Yu Ling huffed. "Otherwise, if bandits decide to kidnap Xiang'er to make her their bride, what will you do?"
"… That's not an option. Anyone who tries that deserves death."
"If you don't want to be the one left behind, then cultivate hard."
She gave him a pointed look. "And who do you think you're fooling, hmm?"
"Your key to advancing isn't about whether you can."
"…It's about whether you want to."
Chen Yin grinned and said nothing.
"Alright then." She rolled her eyes. "Now go train. What are you hanging around here for? Waiting to get caught ogling?"
Chen Yin was about to get up when he noticed something behind her—a thin, black, twisted line like a scar.
"...A wound?"
Chen Yin frowned. "Master, are you hurt?"
Her hand froze momentarily in the water before she resumed as if nothing happened. "What nonsense are you thinking, kid?"
"Besides, you know well enough that my Record of the Forgetful Blossoming Heart technique's greatest strength is its resilience."
"Name anyone in the entire cultivation world who could injure me?" She even raised her head proudly.
...She had a point.
Record of the Forgetful Blossoming Heart wasn't known for its offensive abilities but rather for its endurance and longevity.
Few techniques were more robust, with faster healing and regeneration rates.
At her level, she was practically a true immortal.
"True." Chen Yin scratched his head. "Maybe I'm overthinking it."
"Just make sure you're careful when you're out gallivanting. Otherwise, it'll be a pain if I have to come to your rescue."
Surprisingly, she didn't respond with her usual teasing but instead went quiet.
After a moment, she let out a soft laugh, her eyes half-closed.
"...You brat. Talking big in front of your master, huh?"
"I'm not someone you need to worry about."
"Focus on your own matters first."
Chen Yin lowered his head in silence.
"What are you standing around for? Waiting for a chance to get fresh with your master?"
He grinned playfully and bowed. "If my master ever needs anything, I'm at her service."
"I may not be great at fighting, but massaging your shoulders and cheering you on, I can manage that."
Yu Ling blinked in surprise before bursting into laughter, her voice light and girlish.
"Haha, you little brat. You're not even good at trying to be cool."
"If I really wanted someone to massage my shoulders, why would I pick you over Xiang'er, a sweet, delicate beauty?"
Chen Yin sighed. "Master, Xiang'er is still your disciple, after all. It's probably best to watch what you say, for her sake."
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
Yu Ling let out a huff, turning away. "I'm just an old pervert who likes looking at pretty girls. What are you going to do about it?"
"There is one solution, actually."
Chen Yin thought for a moment, his face turning serious.
"Master, though you may be too far gone to help, remember that there will always be another day for people, but flowers won't be young again."
"So… why not start over?" he ventured cautiously.
The next moment, a wave of water blasted him right out of the chamber.
<+>
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