With each simulated experience of life and the continuous increase in power, his mindset underwent significant impacts and changes. His attitude toward people and things became different from the past.
Unconsciously, he even developed a certain condescending attitude toward many people and things.
Having gained power, he no longer needed to be as cautious as before. His demeanor became more natural, and his mind broader, which was normal and not necessarily a bad thing.
However, the frightening part was that over time, as his experience grew, some of his emotions were being continuously eroded, just like a frog being slowly boiled in water, becoming indifferent and more sophisticated bit by bit.
He placed extraordinary importance on his mental state. Although the changes in this aspect were not yet profound, he could still perceive them, but he was powerless to do anything about it.
This was the most terrifying part.
If this continued for decades, practicing for one day after another, even though his lifespan would get longer, he would no longer have the freshness of the past.
So, had he gained time, or had he lost it?
Su Cheng always clung to those emotional bonds, unwilling to let go. Essentially, what he couldn't bear to leave behind was the rolling mortal world.
"...I hope things don't change."
"Don't change?"
"Yes." Su Cheng's eyes gradually became clearer.
"Compared to life and death, I'm actually more afraid that one day I will see Xiao Xue and not feel the same excitement as before, or that I will no longer be able to laugh and play with Zhuqing as I used to. I hope I will always be an ordinary person, always maintaining my past mindset."
"An ordinary person..." Chen Xin silently chewed on the words, then turned to look at Su Cheng with a complex expression.
While everyone else yearned for the future, he clung to the past.
Where did such thoughts come from?
He then sighed, "That's not easy."
"Indeed, it's not easy. People will always grow old."
Not physically, but spiritually.
Su Cheng said solemnly, "After I return to the Spirit Hall this time, I will have a good talk with Xiao Xue. Teacher, thank you."
While Su Cheng and Chen Xin were having their heart-to-heart talk, Ning Rongrong was also strolling around the sect with Zhu Zhuqing.
However, one was filled with suspicion, and the other was naturally cold and not fond of speaking.
After more than ten minutes, they hadn't said much.
Ning Rongrong finally couldn't bear it anymore. Her eyes wandered to Zhu Zhuqing's fair neck, and she asked in a deep voice, "How did you meet my brother?"
She was naturally straightforward and spoke bluntly when she felt uncomfortable, not being very polite.
Zhu Zhuqing frowned at the question.
She was even colder in temperament, initially not wanting to respond, but then she rolled her eyes and casually said, "We met during the Soul Master competition. He even tried to take advantage of me then, so we became friends after a fight."
This statement was half-true. Su Cheng did try to take advantage of her back then.
Zhu Zhuqing's first kiss was lost at that time.
Ning Rongrong paused, almost thinking she had misheard.
Then she widened her eyes, turned her head, and said loudly, "Impossible!"
"Believe it or not."
Zhu Zhuqing's nonchalant tone and her indifferent demeanor were quite convincing, making Ning Rongrong somewhat doubtful.
But in her heart, Su Cheng had never been a lecherous person.
However...
Her gaze involuntarily fell on the beauty beside her.
With her tall figure and exceptionally proud curves, she was unparalleled among peers and even rivaled mature women in their twenties and thirties.
Combined with her extraordinary temperament, even Ning Rongrong, who always held herself in high regard, had to admit that standing next to Zhu Zhuqing made her feel like an undeveloped child.
She then glanced at the conspicuous red marks on Zhu Zhuqing's neck and couldn't help but ask, "Did you come to Heaven Dou City yesterday?"
"Yes, we even visited Moon Pavilion and met Mistress Tang."
"Why didn't you return to the sect yesterday?"
"..." Zhu Zhuqing didn't respond, a blush appearing on her face at the right moment.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth but said nothing more.
In the sect, Su Cheng had his own room, while Zhu Zhuqing temporarily resided in the extremely luxurious guest room of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
At night, a shadow silently slipped through the corridor, opened the door to her room, quickly entered, and closed the door behind.
The entire movement was fluid and smooth.
"What do you want to do?"
Leaning on the wide, expensive wooden bed, Zhu Zhuqing squinted at the sneaky Su Cheng, her eyes narrowing.
The room's main light was off, with only a dim bedside lamp outlining the slender figure on the bed, her almond eyes flickering.
Su Cheng wasted no words, directly pouncing on her and pressing the beauty on the bed.
Then he kissed her.
"Hey... don't... mm..."
Zhu Zhuqing's half-hearted refusal soon turned into soft moans.
Her hands transitioned from pushing to embracing, clinging to his neck.
With their passionate kisses, Zhu Zhuqing began to struggle to keep up but still tried to respond to his fervor.
Seven or eight minutes passed until she was almost out of breath, her lips slightly swollen, before Su Cheng let her go.
"What's up with you today?"
Afterwards, Zhu Zhuqing squinted her eyes into thin slits, lazily curling up in Su Cheng's arms.
Her long eyelashes covered her moist eyes, her voice hoarse and sticky, her body still flushed.
"What's up? Is something wrong?"
Su Cheng nonchalantly asked while playing with her chest.
"I don't know... mm..." Zhu Zhuqing discontentedly shifted her body, "Can you stop for a bit?"
"Who told you to grow so big?"
"Su Cheng, you're so annoying."
She weakly slapped him.
But she was now completely soft, still basking in the afterglow, her body trembling slightly involuntarily.
She had no strength to do more, her thoughts sluggish.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Su Cheng straightened up, frowning.
Someone was coming...
"What's wrong?"
Zhu Zhuqing, startled by his sudden movement, instinctively wrapped herself in the blanket.
"Rongrong's coming this way."
Ning Rongrong?
It's already past ten at night; what's she doing here?
She glanced at the messy bed and the fluids on the sheets, as well as the naked man beside her.
"You bastard." Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth, whispering angrily.
"What did I do?"
"Stop talking nonsense and help me tidy up!"
"Just don't let her in."
"If she keeps knocking and I don't answer, won't it be more suspicious? Plus, this is the guest room!"
Zhu Zhuqing wasn't afraid of Ning Rongrong knowing anything.
But with the room in such a state, she couldn't afford the embarrassment.
"... knock, knock, knock."
A minute later, the door was knocked.
Neither of them responded.
But soon, the knocking resumed.
A moment later, a voice followed, "Miss Zhu, are you asleep?"
Seeing this, Su Cheng felt helpless. It seemed unavoidable.
Cultivators rarely slept.
As the sect heir, Ning Rongrong coming to see her personally would be impolite to ignore or refuse.
"Click—"
With a slight door sound, Su Cheng appeared behind it.
"Brother?" Ning Rongrong looked at him in surprise, "What are you doing here? Isn't this Miss Zhu's room?"
"Oh, we were having tea. Zhu Qing missed the tea I brought, so I took some out to brew."
Su Cheng lightly laughed, "Do you want a cup too?"
He spoke without moving his body.
"..."
"..."
Ning Rongrong raised her eyebrows, "Then step aside. You're blocking me."
"Oh."
Ning Rongrong entered, scanning the room.
The ceiling light shone brightly, illuminating everything.
The bed was neatly made, as if unused.
On the west side, a delicate redwood table had freshly brewed tea emitting a faint fragrance, with two cups of tea placed beside it.
Zhu Zhuqing sat quietly at the table.
Whether it was because of the bright light or not, Ning Rongrong felt that Zhu Zhuqing's face and eyes looked somewhat odd, with an unusually enchanting charm.
But the room seemed to have more than just tea fragrance.
Ning Rongrong's nose twitched, sensing a strange smell beneath the tea aroma.
Seeing this, Su Cheng's eye twitched, thinking this wasn't good.
In the rush, he forgot about this.
He wasn't afraid of their relationship being exposed, as he had already admitted it to Chen Xin.
The problem was the timing, location, and people.
It wasn't just about not resting in the sect, but it was Ning Rongrong, a young girl, coming, which made it awkward.