The stone door of the secret chamber finally opened after midnight. Wan Yunting emerged, refreshed and invigorated. He found Zhou Ruoxi and Chen Qiuyun had already prepared blankets in the cave's bedroom, busy tidying bedding and pillows…
"You're out…"
Duan Yingying, sitting on a stone stool playing an offline mobile game, saw Wan Yunting emerge and happily went to hold his arm. She then noticed Master Jin Yu, her face flushed and head bowed in shyness, also following him out…
Duan Yingying's almond eyes widened in suspicion. "Master Jin Yu, why is your face so red?"
Being stared at by Duan Yingying's wide, curious eyes made Master Jin Yu even more embarrassed. She lowered her head and walked towards Chen Qiuyun…
"I was warming up from practicing. Is that any of your business?"
Wan Yunting tapped Duan Yingying's head, rolling his eyes at her, and then walked towards Zhou Ruoxi…
"Warm? The Cold Ice Bed is so cold, I nearly freeze to death every time I practice on it. You guys get warm?" Duan Yingying pestered him with questions, making Master Jin Yu keep her head down, too shy to say anything.
This was her first time experiencing the feeling between a man and a woman outside of dual cultivation with him…
"Alright, junior sister Yingying, stop asking him. It's late, you should get some rest too." Zhou Ruoxi, having finished making the bed, told Duan Yingying to stop pursuing the issue.
Seeing Master Jin Yu's unusual state, she understood what had happened in the secret chamber. Her autumn eyes cast a slightly resentful glance at Wan Yunting, and she said, "You should go wash up quickly too, it's getting late."
"Okay, you and sister Qiuyun rest first…"
Wan Yunting gave Zhou Ruoxi an awkward smile before turning to leave, with Duan Yingying following him out…
Chen Qiuyun, seeing Master Jin Yu's embarrassed demeanor, couldn't help but tease, "What, never happened before?"
Master Jin Yu looked up, her cheeks flushed, and gave Chen Qiuyun a shy glance with her phoenix eyes before turning over and lying down.
This amused Chen Qiuyun. They could share secrets when sleeping together…
Seeing this, Zhou Ruoxi went out to the cave's living room and found Xu Lingwei sitting by a kerosene lamp, still engrossed in a book. She walked over and smiled, "Senior sister Zhishan, aren't you afraid of ruining your eyesight reading like this?"
Xu Lingwei saw her sit beside her and nodded slightly, calmly saying, "It's fine to read like this once in a while."
"That's true…"
Zhou Ruoxi nodded and, picking up a book out of curiosity, joined Xu Lingwei in reading…
She knew Duan Yingying wouldn't be back anytime soon with the man…
In the following days, Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi, along with Master Jin Yu, and Chen Qiuyun and Duan Yingying, with Xu Lingwei, all entered seclusion in this valley to practice…
However, it was mainly Master Jin Yu who utilized the Cold Ice Bed to refine the Snow Mountain Sect's martial arts. In just a few days, she broke through her cultivation realm, entering a completely new stage.
The Snow Mountain Sect's martial arts were tailored for Master Jin Yu. Ever since she successfully transformed the cold poison in her body into her own ice internal energy, her martial arts advanced by leaps and bounds. Now, even Wan Yunting would find it difficult to defeat her.
Wan Yunting was naturally pleased to see Master Jin Yu becoming more and more powerful.
In the valley, Zhou Ruoxi not only practiced with Wan Yunting but also quietly read other books. Perhaps she was still immersed in thoughts of her mother's death and contemplating her future path…
Wan Yunting had persuaded and comforted her several times on this matter, but it was her personal issue, and only she could resolve it.
During this period, Chen Qiuyun, besides cooking for everyone, occasionally practiced in the secret chamber with Master Jin Yu. With her innate alluring physique and exceptional talent, Chen Qiuyun's martial arts realm had reached the late stage of Dan Jin, even touching the threshold of Gang Jin.
This astonished and envied Zhou Ruoxi, Duan Yingying, and Xu Lingwei. Even Wan Yunting, the so-called martial arts prodigy, paled in comparison to Chen Qiuyun…
Xu Lingwei always maintained a serene, indifferent expression. Besides her daily practice, she was absorbed in her books, quietly keeping to herself as long as no one disturbed her.
As for Duan Yingying, she appeared restless.
All she wanted was to pester Wan Yunting to go out and gather wild fruits, not returning for hours, which made Zhou Ruoxi feel uneasy.
However, ten days passed in a blink of an eye. Wan Yunting's seclusion practice with them also helped him improve his martial arts considerably. He was still at the outer Gang realm of Gang Jin, and his physical tempering had not reached its peak. As for breakthroughs in spiritual will, there was no sign of enlightenment.
Physical training could improve through daily discipline, but breakthroughs in spiritual will were profound and mysterious for any martial artist, depending solely on opportunity.
"I'm returning tomorrow."
That evening, Wan Yunting was having dinner with everyone by the hot spring pool. He said, "There are matters in the capital that require my attention; I can't stay here too long."
"Mm, then go back."
Zhou Ruoxi nodded, knowing he was the chairman of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association and already very busy. If it weren't for her matters, Wan Yunting wouldn't have stayed with her until now.
"What about you all? Do you plan to continue your seclusion here?" Wan Yunting asked Zhou Ruoxi and Master Jin Yu.
"I want to stay here and continue my seclusion with Master Jin Yu for a while," Zhou Ruoxi said. Master Jin Yu was currently making great progress in the Snow Mountain Sect's martial arts and wanted to use the Cold Ice Bed to elevate her internal energy further…
"Senior sister Zhishan, what about you?"
Wan Yunting looked at Xu Lingwei, who was quietly eating with a blank expression. She nodded, indicating she would stay and practice…
"And you?"
Wan Yunting turned and looked at Duan Yingying, who pouted and said, "I'd rather go out. It's a bit boring staying here for too long."
Wan Yunting helplessly rolled his eyes, but he knew this girl only talked about practicing. After staying in the valley for over twenty days, she was already eager to leave.
"Alright, I'll take you back tomorrow…"
The next morning, Wan Yunting and Duan Yingying tidied up briefly and prepared to leave the valley.
Zhou Ruoxi, Master Jin Yu, Chen Qiuyun, and Xu Lingwei watched them leave from beside the hot spring pool. Wan Yunting waved to them, smiling, "Don't stay in seclusion for too long; come out when it's about time."
"Mm, we got it. Be careful on your way…"
"Got it, bye bye…"
Duan Yingying linked her arm with Wan Yunting's and waved goodbye to Zhou Ruoxi and Xu Lingwei before leaving the valley with the man…
Zhou Ruoxi, Master Jin Yu, Chen Qiuyun, and Xu Lingwei continued their seclusion practice in the valley, planning to leave only around the New Year…
Wan Yunting led Duan Yingying out of the valley. They followed the original path and returned to Chen Qiuyun's residence, as the car was there, allowing them to drive back to the Wuliang Daoist Temple…
After staying for one night, the next day, Wan Yunting drove directly back to Wuliang Mountain with Duan Yingying, then headed up the mountain back to the temple.
"Senior sister Yingying, why are you back?"
Li Zihang was cleaning the courtyard with a few disciples. Seeing Wan Yunting return with Duan Yingying, he asked in surprise, "Where is senior sister Zhishan?"
"She's still in seclusion in the mountains."
Duan Yingying said this and then ran towards her living quarters, "I'm not saying anything more, I'm going to take a bath first…"
"Abbot senior brother, you're back too."
Li Zihang greeted Wan Yunting. He nodded, and then he saw Jiang Tingxia, Lu Shuang, and He Shanyue coming out from inside. He was surprised, "Junior sister Jiang, senior sister Lu, why are you here?"
"Oh, Abbot Wan, you're back…"
Jiang Tingxia and Lu Shuang saw him and quickly walked over to greet him.
"Junior sister Jiang and senior sister Lu have joined our temple," Li Zihang said with a smile.
Wan Yunting was taken aback and looked at Jiang Tingxia and the others in surprise. "Why aren't you staying at the Emei Sect?"
Lu Shuang shook her head and sighed, "We couldn't stay any longer."
"Yes, Elder Guo is now the sect leader of the Emei Sect. His disciples deliberately ostracized us, so senior sister Lu and I couldn't bear the humiliation and came to the Wuliang Daoist Temple. I heard my senior sister Zhou is also at the temple, Abbot Wan, why didn't she come back with you?" Jiang Tingxia asked.
"Yes, your senior sister and Master Jin Yu are in seclusion in the mountains and will return in a few days. They will come back to the temple for the New Year to celebrate with everyone," Wan Yunting said with a smile.
"It's good that senior sister Zhou is with Master Jin Yu…"
Jiang Tingxia and Lu Shuang were reassured upon hearing this.
At noon, while eating in the canteen, Wan Yunting, Yang Jingyi, Wuweizi, Jiang Tingxia, and others gathered together. They discovered that nine disciples who came from the Emei Sect had directly chosen to join the temple.
Previously, Jiang Tingxia and Lu Shuang had contacted Li Zihang before coming up the mountain. Yang Jingyi naturally welcomed these disciples who had left the Emei Sect with joy.
Wan Yunting inquired about the current situation of the Emei Sect. Guo Yu became the sect leader and had been suppressing Master Yun Bai within the sect, causing unrest. Master Yun Bai, in order to contain Guo Yu, insisted on staying at the Emei Sect and not leaving…
This made Wan Yunting admire Master Yun Bai…
The next day, Wan Yunting left the Wuliang Daoist Temple and returned directly to the capital.
It was the second day by the time he reached the capital. Today was the start of the new year, January 22nd. Next month would be the Spring Festival, and all the streets in the capital had already begun to be decorated for the upcoming festival.
"Brother, you're finally back…"
As soon as Wan Yunting returned to the Ouyang residence, his sister Ouyang Fanmeng greeted him. Seeing his travel-worn appearance, she asked, "Where have you been gallivanting for the past half a month?"
"Gallivanting? I was doing important business."
Wan Yunting flicked the girl's fair forehead and then entered the courtyard. He saw his mother holding their daughter and chatting happily with Gu Luotang in the courtyard. Seeing Wan Yunting enter, they also called out happily, "Yunting is back…"
"Mm, Mom, Luotang…"
Wan Yunting happily went over and took his daughter from his mother's arms. However, this made his daughter cry out immediately. His sister came over to take the child and said displeasedly, "Brother, look at you, you've been gone for so many days, your daughter almost doesn't recognize you."
"Sweat…"
Wan Yunting could only offer a wry smile.
Gu Luotang looked at him and smiled, "Are you alright?"
Wan Yunting knew she had heard something. He shook his head slightly and smiled, "I'm fine. By the way, why isn't Yan Xi here?"
"Mm, she went to the company with your father," Xia Xiangyun said with a smile.
"Went to the company?"
Wan Yunting sat down and took a sip of tea. "Is she already impatient to go back to work at the company?"
Xia Xiangyun rolled her eyes at him and smiled, "You know yourself that Yan Xi hasn't been very happy staying at home taking care of the baby, so I let her go to the company to work and change her mood. Anyway, there are many people at home, and we can take care of Xinxin."
Wan Yunting listened and nodded, knowing that Fang Yanxi had been staying at home to care for their daughter since she was born and couldn't go to work, so she had been suppressing her feelings.
"It's good for her to work."
Wan Yunting nodded with a smile, figuring it was best for Fang Yanxi to do whatever made her happy.
"By the way, Luotang, where is your father?"
Then, remembering something, he turned to Gu Luotang and asked.
"He went back to the United States," Gu Luotang said with a smile.
"So soon?"
Wan Yunting's expression froze. Gu Luotang gave him a look and said, "It hasn't been that long since you left."
Wan Yunting suddenly smiled sheepishly and asked, "How is your father's relationship with your grandfather? Has there been any progress?"
Gu Luotang happily replied, "My grandfather has forgiven him."
"Really?"
Wan Yunting was surprised and asked with a smile, "Why did Old Gu suddenly forgive your father?"
Gu Luotang smiled and said, "Perhaps my grandfather just came to his senses. In fact, he didn't truly want to sever the father-son relationship, it was just that he held a grudge in his heart."
"That's true, it's not like anyone can be that heartless." Wan Yunting nodded with a smile.
Gu Luotang said with a smile, "My father went back to the United States to bring his family back for the New Year."
Wan Yunting's expression faltered, and he smiled, "You mean your father's family formed in the US is coming back to celebrate the New Year together?"
"Yes."
Gu Luotang nodded with a smile. She was actually quite happy and had never seen her foreign stepmother before.
"That's great, the family can finally reunite."
Wan Yunting nodded with a smile and sat chatting with his mother and Gu Luotang…
However, seeing that it was almost two o'clock in the afternoon, Wan Yunting got up to take a shower. After saying goodbye to Gu Luotang, he went straight out to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association's office building…