Chapter 524 - 260: New Orchid Mystic! But Four of Them?

Chapter 524: Chapter 260: New Orchid Mystic! But Four of Them?

"Later, Liu Shishi made many inquiries and learned that the Scholar was a poor, struggling intellectual who studied tirelessly in his studio. She picked a day to wait for him in front of the studio and return his paper umbrella."

"The Scholar had a clear, honest gaze. He said, ’A woman as beautiful as you must be a fairy fallen from Heaven to the mortal realm!’"

"At first, Liu Shishi thought the Scholar was like every other man, but he then turned and asked, ’My lady, would you like to study? I could teach you.’"

"After that, the two of them, Liu Shishi and the Scholar, spent romantic nights together, composing poetry, playing chess, and making music. The Scholar admired Liu Shishi’s exceptional talent, and she, in turn, admired his lofty ambitions."

"One day, the Scholar suddenly told Liu Shishi that he was going to the capital for the imperial examinations. He promised that three years later, on the day he became the top scholar, he would return to his hometown to marry her. Thus, they made a three-year pact."

"Liu Shishi replied that she would plant a young Orchid in her backyard. She would wait for the Orchid to bloom in splendor. As long as the Orchid did not wither, she would keep waiting, even if her hair turned white."

Zheng Xiu listened to the story quietly.

He had practically guessed the ending already.

’If nothing goes wrong, something is about to go wrong.’

Lily’s tone shifted. On the verge of tears, she said mournfully, "Liu Shishi waited for three years, hoped for three years, was steadfast for three years, and smiled for three years. Day and night, she waited, tending to that pot of Orchid."

"The Orchid’s leaves were lush, but it stubbornly refused to bloom."

"In the third year, Liu Shishi heard that the Scholar had indeed become the top scholar and had been appointed a high-ranking official."

"By the fourth year, all news from the Scholar suddenly stopped."

"Liu Shishi no longer smiled."

"In the fifth year, the Orchid bloomed—in full."

"But the Scholar still hadn’t returned."

"In the sixth year, the local governor took a fancy to Liu Shishi. He knew of her entanglement with the Scholar, so he had a matchmaker tell Liu Shishi that after becoming a high official, the Scholar had married the daughter of the Minister of War. They were a perfect match in social standing, a talented man and a beautiful woman, and he had long forgotten Liu Shishi."

"Her heart filled with despair, Liu Shishi accepted the governor’s proposal. The governor sent an eight-bearer sedan chair to marry her."

"Later, Liu Shishi learned from the governor’s own mouth that the Scholar hadn’t forgotten her for a new love. Rather, he had been framed two years prior, thrown into prison, and had long since been beheaded, dying in a foreign land."

"On their wedding night, the governor’s entire household of one hundred and eight people was tragically wiped out. Not a single body was found, and Liu Shishi had vanished without a trace."

At this, the four women began to tremble violently, their eyes shut tight.

It was as if they were recalling something terrifying.

"There, Liu Shishi saw... a sight she had never seen before."

’So the story ends just like that, of course.’ Zheng Xiu frowned, struggling to think. The four women were up to something, and his mind felt a bit foggy. "So, the point of your story is that lovers are doomed to a tragic end?"

"Pfft!" Jing Xuemei couldn’t help but laugh. Her laughter, as eloquent as her tongue, sounded like the seductive notes of a flute.

But Lily tapped her toes lightly, stepping on the branches and leaves of the Orchids, and came before Zheng Xiu. She smiled. "My Lord, we have finally attained enlightenment. We know the true way to advance on the Orchid Path."

The four women’s expressions suddenly became one. Striking different poses, they turned before Zheng Xiu’s eyes.

RUSTLE.

As their clothes fell, they stood with their backs to Zheng Xiu.

A strange, continuous tattoo appeared across their backs. It was a single Orchid stem that stretched across all four of them, with individual Orchid blossoms blooming upon each of their smooth backs.

Within the snow-white Orchid tattoos, the two characters ’Renzi’ were inked on each of their backs.

However, compared to the Mystic Marks of others, the marks on their backs were slightly fainter in color.

Only when the four of them stood side-by-side did they form a complete picture of an Orchid.

"What a fine painting!"

Zheng Xiu’s inner Painter was unexpectedly stirred, and he praised the work with genuine admiration.

The four women looked at each other, never expecting that their Lord would only praise the tattoos on their backs and nothing else about them.

Secretly annoyed and indignant, in the next moment, as if telepathically linked, they each spoke a single line, forming a complete sentence.

"Everyone says the Orchid is heartless."

"But that is not the case."

"All who enter the Orchid Path have been wrong."

"They were all wrong."

The four women gave a dazzling smile, each with her own charm: one delicate, one bewitching, one cold, and one shy.

"Beauty that could topple nations, captivating an entire generation."

"A lonely Orchid in a secluded valley, blooming for one person alone."

Zheng Xiu: "So, you’re using me... to cultivate?"

"Yes, My Lord. This is our cultivation."

"But to abide by the rules, please forgive us for not being able to truly give ourselves to you."

"Years ago, Liu Shishi remained a virgin, hoping for a grand wedding in the public eye."

Pingping winked playfully. "If it’s not a grand wedding, it will break the rules."

Zizi said worriedly, "But if we have a grand wedding, what about the Madam..."

She was referring to Feng Bei being too powerful; they were afraid they couldn’t handle her.

Jing Xuemei put down her Long Flute and smiled faintly. "As long as we don’t lose our virginity, it will be fine."

"For the sake of cultivation."

"Mhm, for the sake of cultivation."

"There are... other ways."

"Wait, don’t shake..."

"You dare bite this king!"

"HISSS..."

"This king is really just helping you cultivate!"

The giant "Orchid Cocoon" rocked in a strange way all night.

Everything was for the sake of cultivation.

...

That long night made Zheng Xiu understand many things.

He had gained many experiences that were hard to put into words.

He now had "Orchid Mystics" under his command.

That wasn’t the problem.

The problem was that he had gained "four Mystics" all at once.

Zheng Xiu thought for a moment and understood why this strange encounter had occurred.

The Passage he had opened in Lu Town connected the Bund with the Main Body in the dungeons of the Red King Mansion. Feng Bei had entered the Bund through the "Bund entrance" and smashed the "Orchid Deceitful Object" to pieces with a single slap.

These "Deceitful Object" fragments, contrary to what Zheng Xiu had initially thought, had not simply annihilated themselves in the Bund. Instead, they had quietly followed the "Passage" into the Red King Mansion, searching for suitable hosts.