Chapter 23: The Fairy Ashamed of Past Affections

As a member of Dragon King Mountain, Wu Shanlong was certainly not reporting back to anyone from the Duke Meng residence. Even Duke Meng himself held no authority to command Wu Shanlong. He had come here to report to his senior brother.

His senior brother, Qiu Xunxing, was the very man who had taken Meng Xinchen as his disciple. Qiu Xunxing was the pillar of the middle-aged generation of Dragon King Mountain and its most formidable martial artist. This trip to the Lu family in Yonglin City had also been undertaken at Qiu Xunxing’s behest.

The inheritance of Dragon King Mountain differed from many other sects. In each generation, there were only ever seven inner disciples. No matter how many outer disciples they recruited, the number of inner disciples remained strictly seven. These seven individuals were the ones destined to inherit the future of Dragon King Mountain. In truth, Dragon King Mountain recruited very few disciples to begin with, let alone those capable of qualifying for the inner sect.

Wu Shanlong was considered a fairly valued martial artist on Dragon King Mountain, yet even he was not among the inner disciples of his generation. The fact that Qiu Xunxing could assign him to run errands and deliver messages was a testament to the fact that his status in the sect was not particularly exalted.

"Is the Third Senior Brother not at the Duke's residence? Why have I not seen him?" In the reception hall, Wu Shanlong took a sip of clear tea and inquired of a servant nearby.

He had returned from Yonglin City and naturally needed to report his findings to his senior brother. Yet, he had been sitting here for a quarter of an hour without seeing any sign of Qiu Xunxing. Before the servant could reply, Jiang Yuerou strolled into the hall, bringing a gift for Wu Shanlong.

The gift was contained in a box; though it remained unopened, a delicate fragrance could already be detected. Based on his experience, Wu Shanlong guessed it was a rare medicinal herb.

"Fairy Jiang, this is..." Wu Shanlong looked at the gift box, feigning ignorance. He still addressed her as "Fairy Jiang." They were of the same generation, and in their youth, Jiang Yuerou had been a renowned beauty of talent and grace throughout the Xia Kingdom. Wu Shanlong had known her back then, and the title had stuck over the years.

Even after giving birth to three children, Jiang Yuerou still appeared remarkably youthful and elegant. Martial cultivation helped preserve one's appearance, and as she had always lived a life of luxury, free from hardship, and was further supported by various youth-preserving elixirs, it was no surprise that she did not look her age.

"Please accept this, Protector Wu. It is a small token of gratitude from the Duke Meng residence. The journey to Yonglin City is long and exhausting. I wonder, did everything go smoothly?"

Wu Shanlong held the rank of Protector on Dragon King Mountain, so Jiang Yuerou’s address was quite appropriate. At her question, Wu Shanlong hesitated slightly. Jiang Yuerou seemed to realize something and immediately explained:

"Senior Brother Qiu had some free time recently, so he took Xinchen out for some experiential training. He left a letter for you in the guest room, and I have brought it here for you."

As she spoke, a maid standing beside her presented a letter to Wu Shanlong. Recognizing the handwriting on the envelope as that of his senior brother, he opened it. The contents were simple: they instructed Wu Shanlong to consult with Jiang Yuerou if he needed anything, and that after finishing his current business, he could take a rest and simply stay in Shangxuan Capital for half a month until Qiu returned.

After reading the letter, Wu Shanlong shared what he had learned. "The trip to Yonglin City went quite smoothly on the whole. The Old Madame of the Lu family was cooperative, and everything fell into place. The 'Dragon Blood Body-Refining Manual' has been delivered to Lu Xiao. That child currently lacks a cultivation method. Fairy Jiang can rest easy; everything went well, and now we need only wait patiently."

Hearing this, Jiang Yuerou felt slightly relieved, though her brows remained knitted, as if she were still troubled by something.

"Fairy Jiang, do you feel that I failed to handle something correctly, or that there were oversights?" Wu Shanlong asked directly, not wishing to keep his concerns to himself.

Jiang Yuerou shook her head. "I have some reservations, but it is not because of your handling of the matter, Protector Wu."

"The 'Dragon Blood Body-Refining Manual' has been placed in Lu Xiao's hands. Practicing this technique will significantly enhance his physical constitution. It will also have a marked effect on the spiritual bones he possesses. Fairy Jiang should be familiar with the manual and its effects," Wu Shanlong explained, hoping to ease her worries.

But Jiang Yuerou shook her head again. "You misunderstand, Protector Wu. My concern is not with the manual itself, but with the child, Lu Xiao. His talent and comprehension are meager. Even with the manual in his possession, he may not be able to master it. If he cannot learn it, the goal of strengthening his spiritual bones becomes nothing more than empty talk."

Her concern caught Wu Shanlong off guard. While the manual had been delivered, if Lu Xiao lacked the aptitude to learn it, that would indeed be a significant problem.

"That is a point I failed to consider. After some time passes, I will see if I can arrange for someone to go to Yonglin City to provide him with some guidance. Even if he cannot grasp the deeper meanings, understanding the superficial aspects will still bring some improvement."

Jiang Yuerou waved her hand at this suggestion. "That would appear too deliberate and would not be appropriate. Let us not force it..."

Wu Shanlong nodded. "Indeed, it is best not to invite any further trouble. Even if Lu Xiao’s own physique is poor, his spiritual bones will still provide great assistance. With the help of elixirs refined from spiritual bones, Xinchen’s entire constitution will surely take a great leap forward. Perhaps he will even be able to open his eighth meridian. By then, Xinchen will be the first martial artist of the younger generation in the Xia Kingdom to have opened eight meridians. Such talent is destined for the Saint Realm."

The Saint Realm. To become a Saint. The servants nearby could not help but brighten at the mention of the word "Saint." A Saint was the highest pinnacle a practitioner could reach in this world. To step into the Saint Realm was to possess the power to establish one's own sect.

Geniuses in this world were as numerous as hair on an ox, and that was without even counting those from other nations. In the Xia Kingdom alone, talented young practitioners emerged like spring water from a source, constant and unending. Yet, among so many geniuses, how many could truly reach the Saint Realm? If one Saint were born every ten years, it would be considered a golden age. Wu Shanlong’s assertion that Xinchen was destined for the Saint Realm was indeed a monumental claim.

Jiang Yuerou smiled and offered a few humble words of courtesy. The son and daughter she had with the current Duke Meng were indeed remarkably gifted. In particular, Meng Xinchen’s talent for cultivation had already clearly surpassed her own at that age.

In truth, Jiang Yuerou had other motives. She had always felt a sense of guilt toward her current husband, Meng Beizhou. They had once been a fated couple, but due to a misunderstanding, she had married Lu Jinghong, the third son of the Lu family, out of spite. Although they had eventually reunited, Jiang Yuerou knew that there was still a thorn in Meng Beizhou’s heart. Years had passed, and even with Meng Xinchen and Meng Xinxue grown, he still harbored that lingering resentment.