"WH-WHAT do you mean?" Yang Yue flustered when she heard Lan openly suggest that Zheng should dual cultivate with her.
"Are you married or Are you in love?" Lan boldly asked Zheng.
"No."
"You have a heavenly look, I won't mind giving myself to you." Lan said with her gaze fixed on Zheng.
"you look like you'll be great in bed, I like to try with you." Lan teased Zheng despite Yang Yue and Li staring at them.
As they talked, Lan spoke more than she listened, saying things that made the whole room feel awkward and when Zheng spoke, she held her gaze- not intensely, just enough to make him feel heard.
At one point, she stepped a little closer, lowering her voice as if she wants to share a secret. "You see," Lan said. "we will make a great couple."
At that moment, something inside Yang Yue started to stir up, not love or lust but definitely undeniable feeling- just a spark of love that she started to have for Zheng.
"Ahem…" Yang Yue interrupted the moment between Lan and Zheng, without directly glancing at them. "Maybe you two can continue later but right now can we focus on treating the customer."
An old man stood inside the healing hall until he was spotted, the man was tense yet calm as he stood there.
Zheng was surprised to see a man standing there, a man who was able to hide his presence and enter unnoticeable. When did he come? How did I not notice him? Who is he? A man capable to hide his presence from me. All kind of question and suspicion stormed his mind.
"You should go," Zheng smiled, small and warm.
"I'll wait here." Lan said as if she was desperate to dual cultivate with Zheng right then and there.
"Wait?" Yang Yue smiled, small but cold, the opposite of Zheng like she was protecting Zheng. "I think you should leave."
Without a word, Lan turned and started to walk away. When Lan reached Yang Yue, she stopped, slightly stared at Yang Yue and said. "I will come see you again." As if she was declaring war against Yang Yue to see who can get Zheng.
The old man stood there, still but respectful, calm yet his tense expression was enough to scare a man.
"I-I'll go and get some supplies from the market." Said Li and rushed out from Zheng's Healing hall.
"Hm? This is the healing hall I've been hearing about a lot recently." Said the old man as he walked toward Zheng.
"Who you may be, Sir?" asked Zheng, firm but cautious. This was the first time since his old master that a man was able to hide their presence from him.
The old man's step was slow but dramatic, each step he closed toward Zheng, he slowly released his spiritual energy as if the old man was testing Zheng's strength.
"Mast…" Zheng was speechless as he recognized the old man walking toward him.
"Yang Yue? Can you us alone for a while?" said Zheng.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
As soon as Yang Yue left the hall, Zheng knelt down on his knee, bowed his head and greeted the old man with his fist and palm held together.
"Master…" said Zheng. "It's so great to see you again."
"Zheng?" asked his old master. "Is this the journey he chose after coming to mortal realm?"
"My apologies, Master." Replied Zheng, bowing further until his forehead touched the floor. "In this mortal realm, to acquire either pill or resources are hard and expensive. In order to earn, I had to start this business, Master."
"Come, have a seat with me." Said the master. "I'm happy that you didn't forget my teaching."
"Please, give me a moment, master." Said Zheng. "I'll prepare your favorite tea."
Zheng moved quietly, every step light, careful not to disturb his master. Returning to his master, Zheng sat down the kettle with hot water. From the jade-lacquered box, Zheng selected the tea leaves, best suited to his master taste and served the tea in jade cup.
"Your friends are weak," said the master as he sipped the tea. "But their hearts are pure, I couldn't sense any darkness in them."
"They were the first people to help me when I first came here." Said Zheng with a bright smile.
"Did you make any progress since returning to mortal realm."
"No, master." Replied Zheng, his head lowered slightly. "But I did manage lo locate demonic spirit sealing scroll."
"Demonic spirit sealing scroll?" said his master. "I thought the scroll was lost for centuries."
"Apparently the scroll was found by some man and since then it has been passed down their families for generation."
"Zheng..." said the master. "keep an eye on the scroll. If Divine Immortal Lotus Clan (a clan in immortal realm) finds about scroll, a war is inevitable."
Zheng once again knelt down, spine straight, hands resting on the ground, his head lowered. "I'll do as you say, master."
"But what brings you here, Master?"
"The reason I came to meet you, in this form was…" said his master. "The last time when we departed, I told you it was our last encounter but the moment I found out how you can ascend to saint level, I couldn't help but come here."
Zheng bowed in gratitude. "Thank You, Master."
"Ah… Don't sweat it." Said his master with a sarcastic smile. It was the first time Zheng saw his master smile sarcastically. "You are my precious student, it's my responsibility."
For a short moment, neither the master nor Zheng spoke- Master waited for Zheng to ask and Zheng waited for master tell him the way.
"How can I ascend? Master." Zheng decided to ask anyway.
"In order to ascend to saint level, you have to practice dual cultivation with woman having ice spirit yin..." said the master, hesitation in his voice as he sipped the tea.
"And woman with fire spirit yin…"
"and soul yin…."
"and heart yin…"
"and lunar yin..."
"and with solar yin…"
With each sip of the tea, the master continued to list the type of woman, Zheng needs for dual cultivation. "And lastly a woman with pure yin."
Zheng was surprised to hear his master. "Master, its basically to create a harem."
"Yes, isn't it great." Jokingly said the master.
And suddenly, his tone changed into seriousness. "Zheng… it's time for me to return." Said the master. "I've decided to enter eternal sleep, for one last time I wanted to see you. The next time when we see each other, you'll be a saint level immortal. I know you can do it, Zheng."
"I-i..."
Before Zheng could say anything, a bright white light engulfed the whole room and the next second, Zheng was sitting there all alone, his eyes filled with tear and his heart heavy with emotion.