After a fleeting kiss, Su Yanxue scurried into the kitchen as if making an escape.
Lin Feng touched the damp spot on his forehead, a doting smile spreading across his face.
'This girl, honestly...'
While Su Yanxue was cooking, Lin Feng didn't stay idle.
He picked a random room, went inside, and sat down cross-legged.
Although he was now fully awake, his soul had been sealed for five long years.
And though a long period of dormancy could lead to explosive growth, it was impossible to say there were no lingering issues.
Even though he had already taken the Top-Grade Soul-Stabilizing Pill he refined himself, there were still some hidden problems that he needed to regulate and nurture.
Not to mention, he had used the Golden Needle Dao twice today to treat people, and he could still feel a slight stiffness when channeling the Supreme Profound Medical Scripture.
'Looks like I still need to nurture my meridians for a while.'
After entering a state of internal inspection, Lin Feng's focus fell upon a completed meridian within his body.
This meridian was wide, clear, and stretched endlessly, like a great dragon coiled within him, with Spiritual Power surging and churning all around it.
After observing it carefully for a long moment, Lin Feng slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, then closed his eyes and continued his cultivation.
「Time flew by.」
As evening fell and the sun began to set, an orange-red afterglow washed over the courtyard, bathing it in a faint golden light.
A sumptuous dinner was already laid out on the table.
There was a small pot of steamed rice, served with some vegetables and meat.
There was also some steamed egg custard.
And a few crispy chicken wings, sweet and sour fish, stir-fried asparagus, and moo shu pork.
Looking at the table full of delicious, fragrant dishes, Su Yanxue couldn't help but reveal a proud smile. She had made all of this herself.
But when she saw Lin Feng, a blush quietly crept onto her cheeks again.
After showering, Lin Feng changed into a set of casual loungewear, looking both relaxed and handsome.
"Lin Feng, hurry up and sit down to eat."
Su Yanxue waved at Lin Feng, who was standing at the door.
"Why are you calling me by my name? Shouldn't you be calling me 'husband'?"
Looking at Su Yanxue's slightly flushed face, Lin Feng thought of the fleeting kiss from the afternoon. A mischievous grin appeared on his face as he decided to tease her.
Sure enough, as soon as she heard Lin Feng's words, two rosy blushes blossomed on Su Yanxue's cheeks.
"You're awful! Just sit down and eat. I'll go get the bowls and chopsticks."
Leaving him with those words, Su Yanxue quickly ran toward the living room.
Lin Feng shook his head and chuckled. He suddenly realized that this kind of simple life—a warm home with a wife and kids—was actually quite nice. It put him in a much better mood.
...
「Meanwhile.」
In Northwest China, a majestic palace stood amidst a vast mountain range.
The palace covered an enormous area. From a distance, it looked like a massive city standing between heaven and earth, radiating an aura of immense power.
At this moment, in the central hall of that city-like palace, a group of people had gathered.
And at the very head of the hall, a middle-aged man was seated on the main throne.
The man had a square jaw, sharp, sword-like brows, and eyes like stars. His expression was stern, and he carried the domineering air of someone who could look down upon the entire world.
His gaze swept over the crowd before finally landing on a young man.
"Li Xian, are you sure about this? You're not pulling my leg, are you?"
He stared grimly at the young man standing below him, his tone chillingly skeptical.
The young man below him was dressed in a black robe. He had a slender build, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp.
After hearing the middle-aged man's words, he showed no signs of panic. Instead, he gave the man a cool glance and explained calmly, "This was something you authorized me to do. What's the matter? Have you forgotten?"
Hearing the black-robed young man's response, the middle-aged man frowned. He shot Li Xian an ashen-faced glare before finally taking a deep breath.
"Fine. In that case, I won't say any more."
"Our forces in the Mortal Realm have confirmed the intelligence is accurate. Lin Feng, the designated successor to the master of the Immortal Doctor Valley who disappeared five years ago and was presumed dead by us, has reappeared."
"Since our plan failed five years ago, we will use this mission as a starting point to redeploy our strategy."
The middle-aged man said coldly, then turned to look at Li Xian.
"I'll have to trouble you with this matter. If this succeeds, I will give you my fullest support."
Hearing the middle-aged man's words, a greedy glint flashed in the depths of Li Xian's eyes.
But he quickly concealed it, lowering his head slightly.
"I will not fail this mission."
Only after hearing Li Xian's guarantee did a smile return to the middle-aged man's face.
...
「Night fell.」
Lin Feng and Su Yanxue sat contentedly in their chairs, patting their full stomachs.
Lin Feng really hadn't expected Su Yanxue's cooking to be so good. Although there was still a gap compared to a professional chef, it wasn't a large one.
"I thought this was just going to be a normal dinner. It seems I underestimated my wife's skills. Here, this is your reward."
Lin Feng playfully tapped Su Yanxue's nose and then took out a small, pinkish pill.
This was a Beauty Pill he had casually refined from the dregs of the Soul-Stabilizing Pill.
Its only effect was to improve one's skin.
While it was useless to Lin Feng, he remembered that his senior martial sister, the one in charge of the inner treasury, was quite fond of these things.
You have to understand, his senior sister was known as the Medicine Spirit Fairy.
'If even she cares about it so much, it should be a perfectly fine gift for Su Yanxue.'
Besides, Su Yanxue had just recently had the fire toxin removed from her face. A little proper nourishment would be entirely beneficial with no drawbacks.
When Su Yanxue saw the pill Lin Feng handed her, she was startled for a moment, then shot him a playful glare.
Nevertheless, she obediently took the pill, bit through its casing, and swallowed it.
She knew what Lin Feng was capable of, so she was certain the pill would have miraculous effects and swallowed it without hesitation.
Seeing Su Yanxue act so decisively, Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected the girl to trust him so much already.
"Since we've eaten our fill, let's go."
With that, Lin Feng was the first to head for the door, with Su Yanxue hurrying to follow.
"Huh? At this hour? Where are we going?"
The two of them left the house and, under the astonished gazes of the villagers, strolled leisurely toward the mountain behind the village.
The night was hazy, and moonlight spilled down from above.
It draped the mountains in a silver veil, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
"To your home, of course. You're my wife now, so shouldn't I be the one to solve your family's problems?"
Lin Feng gave Su Yanxue a questioning look and patted her head.
"I don't know what you're thinking, little girl. Why are you being so polite with me?"
After saying his piece, he didn't wait for Su Yanxue's reaction. He just took her small hand and headed straight for her home.