“I do not need anything else. I only need a place where I can cultivate safely,” Ning Zhishui said.
What a joke. Having finally come to Shenfeng Valley with such abundant spiritual energy, how could she not seize the chance to cultivate properly?
If she were cultivating in the training hall of Lake Reflection City, it would cost a great many crystal stones.
Yan Chen paused for a moment. “If it is cultivation… I will have someone deliver a Spirit Gathering Disk to you later. You can place it in your room and cultivate it there.”
There were naturally places in the valley more suitable for cultivation, but it was inconvenient for Ning Zhishui to go there.
Ning Zhishui readily agreed. “Many thanks. Also, I will not receive visitors. When the Valley Master arrives, you may call for me.”
Yan Chen had no objections. He sent a maid to lead Ning Zhishui back to her room, and the two of them exchanged voice transmission talismans.
Soon afterward, various items were delivered, spiritual tea, spiritual fruits, and some medicinal pills to assist cultivation.
“These are all Young Master Yan Chen’s instructions,” the maid explained while secretly observing Ning Zhishui.
If Ning Zhishui were a little older, she might truly suspect there was something between the two of them.
This was the first time Young Master Yan Chen had brought a woman into the valley.
Ning Zhishui glanced at the maid and suddenly asked, “Has the news of Yan Chen bringing me here already spread throughout the valley?”
The maid’s gaze flickered. “Well…”
“It seems it has. I will not receive visitors. If anyone comes, please turn them away for me,” Ning Zhishui said.
Even though she had told Yan Chen to keep her purpose confidential, this was their territory. Shenfeng Valley was full of people and eyes. It was impossible to keep it entirely secret.
Unless Yan Chen were the Valley Master himself and could control everything with a single hand, it would not be possible.
Still, saying it was better than saying nothing. At least those who came to probe and inquire would be fewer and less blatant.
Was that not precisely why she entered the valley to wait, to make use of these few days to cultivate more?
At fourteen years old, with the most suitable top grade cultivation method, every single day of cultivation was the most efficient day of her life, far more effective than cultivation after the age of fifty.
She cherished it deeply.
“Yes.”
After the maid left, Ning Zhishui placed a restriction in the room so she could immediately sense if anyone approached.
Then she activated the Spirit Gathering Disk, allowing the formation to take effect in the room.
With a soft hum, centered on the disk, spiritual energy began to gather continuously.
Ning Zhishui sat cross legged, closed her eyes, and in less than two breaths had fully immersed herself in cultivation.
During this time some people attempted to see her, but they were turned away by the maid before even entering the courtyard.
This meditation lasted three days.
During these three days Ning Zhishui only consumed fasting pills and did not touch any other food.
It was not out of distrust, but because she felt it would waste time.
When the restriction was triggered and she opened her eyes, the spiritual brilliance within them flickered and then quickly returned to normal.
Yan Chen had sent two messages. One said that the Valley Master had just returned to the valley and was bathing and changing clothes. Once he was ready he would see her.
The other message asked her to come over.
When Ning Zhishui opened the door, the maid bowed to her. “Miss, the Valley Master has returned. Please come with me.”
“Very well. Lead the way.”
“Young Master Yan Chen is waiting outside.”
As Ning Zhishui stepped out of the courtyard she saw Yan Chen looking up at the skylark in the sky.
He stood there like a refined gentleman, elegant as the wind, carrying a rare and clean temperament.
“If this scene were set on a snowy night, it could enter a painting,” Ning Zhishui said with a smile.
“You are quite at leisure, Fellow Cultivator Ning,” Yan Chen replied with a smile as he came back to his senses.
“I am only saying so. If you asked me to paint it, I would surely be too lazy. Of course, payment would be another matter,” Ning Zhishui teased.
Yan Chen laughed brightly. “As for money, that is easy to discuss.”
Yan Chen led the way. Ning Zhishui admired the valley scenery until they encountered a man and a woman.
The man was tall and dressed in black, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. The woman was petite, and the two stood together in perfect proportion.
“Second Brother!”
The woman’s voice was as crisp as silver bells. She was charming and beautiful, dressed in fiery red robes, her waist tightly bound by a belt that highlighted her graceful figure.
She skipped forward and grabbed Yan Chen’s sleeve.
“Hongling, Eldest Brother,” Yan Chen greeted them.
“Yan Chen, are you also going to see the Master?” the man asked, though his gaze fell on Ning Zhishui. “And this is?”
Eldest Brother.
The eldest young master, Song Xing?
“This is a friend of mine. You may call her Miss Ning,” Yan Chen said.
“My name is Rong Hongling. This is our senior brother Song Xing. Miss Ning, what is your name?” the woman asked with a bright smile, her eyes probing.
“Ning Zhishui.”
Ning Zhishui inclined her head.
This was the first time Yan Chen learned her full name. He had thought she was deliberately keeping it secret, but now it seemed she had no such intention.
Then why? Was she simply too lazy to say it before?
“We are going to see the Master. Are you going as well, Zhishui?” Rong Hongling asked curiously.
“Yes, she is also going to see Master. Let us go together,” Yan Chen said with a slight movement of his eyes.
What had been two people became four.
Along the way Rong Hongling chatted nonstop, subtly asking about Ning Zhishui. Ning Zhishui appeared friendly but revealed nothing of substance.
After a while Ning Zhishui could already faintly hear voices from the main hall.
“Master has been away for several days. It seems there are quite a few people wishing to see him,” Yan Chen remarked, glancing at Ning Zhishui.
It was now impossible to keep her from being seen.
It was quite possible that these people had arrived at such a coincidental time not truly to see Master, but to catch a glimpse of this mysterious guest.
Ning Zhishui had already guessed as much. She was not surprised and showed no concern.
“Master.”
“Greetings, Master.”
Upon entering the hall, the three beside her bowed toward the person seated in the main position.
Ning Zhishui looked at the man seated in the center.
His appearance truly embodied the phrase indistinguishable between male and female. His facial features alone were so exquisite that they blurred gender, but combined with his overall face and build it was clear he was a man.
He was extremely well maintained and looked to be in his twenties, though the faint lines at the corners of his eyes betrayed otherwise.
This was the Valley Master of Shenfeng Valley, Valley Master Haomiao.
It was not Ning Zhishui’s first time seeing him, yet each time she felt a trace of amazement.
The world praised the six young masters of Shenfeng Valley for their unmatched elegance, but in truth their bearing still fell short compared to the Valley Master himself.
“You have all come together. Sit first and take a look at the treasure your Senior Changyin has newly acquired,” Haomiao said with a smile as he looked toward the person seated beside him.
Ning Zhishui’s gaze burned as she stared at that person, unable to hide her eagerness.
Changyin had actually come.