"When are you leaving this time?"
Huang Qingyue wiped her eyes, slightly reddened from crying, held back her sorrow, and hurriedly asked, afraid Chen Xia would suddenly disappear again without taking her along.
Chen Xia lowered the hand propping up his head and rested both hands on his knees, looking rather casual as he said with a light laugh,
"I didn't plan on leaving this time. I'm going to cultivate here in the imperial city."
Huang Qingyue froze, then sniffled, unable to contain the delight in her voice as she asked again for confirmation.
"You're really not leaving?"
Chen Xia smiled and nodded. "I'm tired of traveling, and there's nowhere worth going. I might as well stay in the imperial city and cultivate in peace."
"Good, good, good." The corners of Huang Qingyue's mouth lifted as she said it three times in a row, clearly unable to suppress her happiness. A silly grin even appeared on her face.
Chen Xia stood, pinched his chin with one hand, and looked Huang Qingyue over in her pale yellow dress. After a moment's thought, he smiled.
"You really don't seem to have changed much."
Huang Qingyue smiled shyly and said, "Not at all. By a normal person's lifespan, I'd already be an old granny."
Chen Xia shook his head. "By a cultivator's lifespan, you're still just a young girl."
"Hehe." Huang Qingyue laughed again, clasping her hands behind her rounded bottom and nodding her little head as she said,
"I hope so."
Chen Xia jumped down from the wall and nodded firmly. "That's exactly how it is."
Huang Qingyue was not even a hundred years old yet. Among cultivators with their long lifespans, she could indeed be considered a young girl.
After all, that old immortal, who was only at Foundation Establishment, was already over two hundred years old.
At that thought, Chen Xia asked curiously, "How far have you gotten with the Mystic Primordial Dao Chapters I left you?"
Huang Qingyue scratched her pretty cheek and replied with some embarrassment, "I've only condensed fifty wisps of Mystic Primordial Qi. I haven't written any Dao chapters yet."
Fifty wisps?
Chen Xia was a little surprised. Even with his cultivation to rely on, he had only condensed thirty wisps of Mystic Primordial Qi, yet Huang Qingyue had managed fifty since beginning her cultivation from scratch.
Clearly, Huang Qingyue had good talent.
Seeing Chen Xia remain silent, Huang Qingyue grew uneasy. Her other hand clutched the corner of her clothes as she stammered,
"M-maybe I'm too stupid. I never comprehend it well, my cultivation progresses slowly, and I'm not very strong now, either..."
Her voice gradually softened. Pressing her lips together, Huang Qingyue said dejectedly,
"Am I really useless?"
Chen Xia was speechless, unsure how to respond. After a moment, he shook his head.
"It's fine. At least you're a good person."
Huang Qingyue pouted and retorted, refusing to back down,
"So are you."
"Thank you." Chen Xia nodded politely and smiled. "I am indeed a good person."
Huang Qingyue rolled her eyes, at a loss for words.
The two began staring at each other.
Chen Xia noticed that Huang Qingyue's cultivation realm was not high, yet her appearance had hardly changed. This meant she had a long lifespan-at least two hundred years to start with.
A low cultivation realm, but a long lifespan.
That was a little strange.
After thinking for a while, Chen Xia decided it was probably an effect of the Mystic Primordial Dao Chapters.
Some cultivation methods not only increased strength but also extended lifespan. Even the mortal martial arts practiced by wandering martial artists could have such effects.
Thus, Huang Qingyue had probably gained so much lifespan through cultivating the Mystic Primordial Dao Chapters.
At that thought, Chen Xia could not help marveling that some cultivation methods prolonged one's life, while others shortened it.
The Great Turtle Breathing Technique he currently practiced was the perfect example.
It was only because Chen Xia, the wrong person, had encountered the Great Turtle Breathing Technique, the wrong cultivation method, that the two had formed such an exceptionally rare right combination.
It was a case of two negatives making a positive.
The Mystic Primordial Dao Chapters, meanwhile, was a proper cultivation method for proper cultivators, so Chen Xia, the wrong person, progressed somewhat slowly with it.
The early spring weather was lovely. The warm sun rose early and hung high in the sky.
Huang Qingyue wore a smile throughout the day as she followed beside Chen Xia. She hardly spoke, simply following him with that smile.
This badly frightened the eunuchs in the imperial city. Why was the Moon Consort, with her exalted standing, following this young man so happily?
These eunuchs had all entered the palace within the past two years and belonged to the younger generation.
Although Chen Xia was renowned throughout the world, a proper count placed him among the figures of fifty or sixty years ago.
Even if his portraits still circulated throughout the world, such things had not looked much like him fifty or sixty years ago, and resembled him even less now.
Thus, the young eunuchs did not recognize Chen Xia. Seeing how happy the Moon Consort looked, however, they dared not speculate wildly and only stole glances from afar.
"What are you all looking at, skulking around like that?" a scolding voice rang out.
The eunuchs jolted and hurriedly lowered their heads, answering respectfully, "Your Highness, the Moon Consort is entertaining a guest. We were curious and took a look."
"A guest?" The crown prince frowned, unable to imagine who could qualify as the Moon Consort's guest.
Even his father could only treat the Moon Consort with respect.
So the crown prince began looking over as well, his expression growing increasingly puzzled.
A young man?
And he looks even younger than me, twenty-five or twenty-six at most.
A young man can make the Moon Consort this happy?
Could he be her lover?
But in all my years in the imperial city, I've never heard of the Moon Consort having such contact with another man. At most, she exchanged a few bland, inconsequential words.
Who is this man?
The crown prince's mind raced. A moment later, his eyes suddenly widened as a possibility occurred to him that even he found unbelievable.
The Imperial Preceptor... the Imperial Preceptor?!
Once that shocking thought burst into his mind, it became increasingly impossible to erase, sinking deeper and seeming more correct by the moment.
So much so that the crown prince's body began trembling.
What sort of figure was the Imperial Preceptor?
He was an immensely important figure whom even Father, the reigning emperor of Great Song, had to spare no effort to please!
And he was Father's adoptive father. By seniority, that put him in my grandfather's generation.
The crown prince still remembered how his father, so imposing and overbearing back then, had looked exceedingly proud when mentioning that the Imperial Preceptor was his adoptive father.
As though acknowledging the Imperial Preceptor as his adoptive father was an enormous honor for him, the ruler of a nation.
His father had also specifically instructed him that, if he ascended the throne someday and was fortunate enough to meet the Imperial Preceptor, he must please him at any cost.
At that thought, the crown prince grew even more excited and wanted to tell his father immediately, but his steps halted and he frowned slightly.
If I tell Father now, I might not have another chance to speak with the Imperial Preceptor afterward.
After a moment's hesitation, the crown prince's expression immediately became resolute. He would speak to Chen Xia first and at least try to make his face familiar.
"Go back. Don't stay here."
He first waved away the surrounding eunuchs, then straightened his clothes, suppressed his unease, and exhaled before walking toward Chen Xia with a respectful expression.
The moment the crown prince took his first step,
Chen Xia sensed it, but paid little attention and continued chatting idly with Huang Qingyue.
When the crown prince was still thirty paces from Chen Xia, he dared go no farther. Stopping where he was, he cupped his fists and called out respectfully,
"This junior, Song Nan, pays his respects to the Imperial Preceptor!"
Chen Xia did not look at him, merely asking casually, "You guessed?"
The crown prince dared not raise his head to look at Chen Xia and answered sincerely, "Seeing how happy the Moon Consort was, I made that guess and took the liberty of coming to pay my respects to you!"
"What if you'd guessed wrong?" Chen Xia asked with a light laugh, still not turning to look at the crown prince.
The crown prince hurriedly replied, "If it was a guess just now, this junior is certain now!"
After all, only the real Imperial Preceptor could remain so composed at a time like this.
"Mm." Chen Xia nodded. "Then you did guess correctly."
The crown prince let out a breath and raised his head slightly, continuing, "This junior often hears Father speak of you. Now that I've met you in person, my surprise and excitement emboldened me to come and disturb you."
Only then did Chen Xia turn his head. He briefly looked Song Nan over and chuckled. "You do look quite a bit like Song Wei."
"Thank you for your praise, Imperial Preceptor!" Song Nan hurriedly replied.
Even though Chen Xia had not actually praised him at all.
After all, resembling his father was only natural. What was there to thank him for?
"So you came here just to look at me?" Chen Xia asked with a smile.
The crown prince said respectfully, "Father has missed you for many years. Now that you've returned, he will surely be overjoyed. I wanted to tell him right away, but feared displeasing you, so I came specifically to ask."
"Go tell him if you want," Chen Xia replied indifferently.
The crown prince hurriedly turned and headed toward Song Wei's sleeping quarters.
Huang Qingyue had stood behind Chen Xia the whole time, simply listening quietly without speaking.
Considering our relationship, Chen Xia should count as my man, right?
At that thought, Huang Qingyue's pretty face abruptly reddened again, though her expression remained unchanged as she pretended to be composed.
When her man spoke, she only needed to listen quietly.
Chen Xia stretched and laughed helplessly. "Someone else will be coming to say hello in a bit."
And very soon, too.
Supported by Song Nan, the aged Song Wei hurried over with remarkable speed. He looked excitedly at Chen Xia and called out respectfully,
"A-adoptive Father!"
Chen Xia looked the aged Song Wei over and replied with a light laugh, "Long time no see."
Since their parting at the last martial arts tournament, fifty years of springs and autumns had passed.
Song Wei nodded repeatedly, his expression excited and his whole body trembling because of his age, as he replied,
"It's been fifty years, Adoptive Father."
A faint smile lifted the corners of Chen Xia's mouth. "Did you really want me to appear?"
Song Wei froze. After a moment's silence, he answered honestly, "Not when I was young. Now that I'm old, I do."
When Song Wei had been young and full of spirit, Chen Xia had been a presence weighing upon the entire world.
As emperor, Song Wei had said nothing, but he certainly could not have felt very comfortable about it.
Yet Chen Xia had indeed rendered Great Song a tremendous service and deserved such gratitude from him.
Later, as Chen Xia disappeared for decades, Song Wei's feelings had shifted from his initial delight to his present longing.
"I haven't really missed you much, though," Chen Xia replied with a smile. He rubbed his neck and said casually,
"I came back this time to cultivate quietly and enter seclusion. I might stay for quite a while. You don't mind, do you?"
Song Wei hurriedly nodded. "Of course not. Stay as long as you like. As long as our Great Song exists, you're welcome to stay!"
"Good." Chen Xia nodded, with nothing more to say.
Song Wei was perceptive. Bowing to Chen Xia, he said, "Then I won't disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave."
The emperor and crown prince left.
Chen Xia yawned, feeling inexplicably tired for some reason.
Perhaps it was because he was about to form his Golden Core.
He could have formed his Golden Core twenty years ago, but comprehending the Dao had delayed him by twenty years.
Now he had simply returned to the imperial city to form his Golden Core and cultivate quietly afterward.
Besides, the imperial city had one advantage: plenty of fortune.
He was already a lucky fellow. His fortune would rise further in the imperial city, making forming his Golden Core even easier. It might even trigger a special effect.
Standing behind him, Huang Qingyue blinked and asked curiously, "What are you thinking about?"
"You." Lost in thought, Chen Xia gave that reply as if possessed.
A blush swiftly spread across Huang Qingyue's pretty face, turning it as red as an apple. Her bashfulness was ready to spill out as she chided softly,
"I'm standing right here. What do you need to think about me for?"
Chen Xia fell silent, searching for something to say. He looked at Huang Qingyue twice more before finally coming up with an idea and replying,
"Seeing someone and thinking of them is perfectly normal."
Like a young girl, Huang Qingyue completely lost her ability to think upon hearing Chen Xia's flirtatious words. An irrepressible smile hung on her pretty face as she asked again for confirmation,
"Is it really perfectly normal?"
Chen Xia fell silent for another moment.
Someone had once said that, once you told a lie, you needed countless more lies to conceal it.
So Chen Xia nodded and replied, "Really."
And so Huang Qingyue smiled even more happily.
Chen Xia stretched his mouth into a grin, then suddenly suggested, "How about an exciting, thrilling battle of Chinese chess?"
Huang Qingyue's eyelashes curved as she blinked, her face wreathed in smiles. "What rules?"
"As long as you can convince yourself," Chen Xia answered.
Then Huang Qingyue understood: it was another chess battle where she could let her imagination run wild.
Still, she agreed.
Because what mattered was not playing chess, but whom she played with.
If it was Chen Xia, she would be happy even if she lost.
What mattered had never been winning or losing.
It was who she was with.
March.
After spending two months idling and playing with Huang Qingyue in the imperial city, Chen Xia prepared to form his Golden Core on March second.
There was not much to prepare.
He simply sat in his room, gathered all the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Qi in his body, and circulated the "Great Turtle Breathing Technique," preparing to form his Golden Core.
While reading the "Mystic Primordial Dao Chapters," Chen Xia had discovered something: cultivators formed different Golden Cores depending on their Cultivation Methods.
These were further divided into the Human Ranking, Earth Ranking, and Heaven Ranking.
Three colors meant the Human Ranking, four the Earth Ranking, and five the Heaven Ranking.
A core with five colors was a top-tier Heaven Ranking Golden Core, granting combat strength roughly twenty percent greater than an Earth Ranking Golden Core. Combat strength would also vary depending on the imagery of the Golden Core formed.
Chen Xia hoped his Golden Core would not be a green turtle.
If that happened, he would rather destroy his own Golden Core.
Forming a Golden Core was not particularly difficult, especially since Chen Xia's luck stat was still very high.
Everything was like water flowing into a channel once it was ready.
Half a month passed.
His Golden Core finished condensing. It hung at the very center of his Qi sea, at the very center of his body, connected to his limbs and every bone, and governed all the acupoints throughout his body.
Chen Xia opened his eyes, and a gleam of golden light flashed within them.
Only upon forming a Golden Core did one become a person of the heavens.
He had now officially stepped onto the path of cultivation, though he did not know what quality of Golden Core he had formed.
Three colors, four, or five?
Chen Xia sank his Divine Sense inward and looked toward his Golden Core. He froze at once, somewhat at a loss.
Above his Qi sea, a seven-colored bead spun ceaselessly, radiating light.
What was this supposed to mean?
Had he formed a colored lantern?!