Chapter 640 - 260: The Women

Chen Qing tidied himself up and went to the private dining hall of his courtyard.

Four dishes and a soup were already laid out on the table, steaming and fragrant.

There was a plate of braised pork knuckles, a bowl of steamed jade-green carp, a dish of stir-fried emerald sprouts, and a chilled crystal lotus root salad. In the center sat a tureen of creamy, rich soup made from old chicken and mountain ginseng, its surface dotted with a few bright red goji berries that made one’s mouth water.

Chen Qing sat down at the table, glanced at Qing Dai standing by his side, and asked casually, "Have you all eaten? If not, why don’t you join me?"

At his words, a faint smile touched Qing Dai’s lips. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. We’ve already eaten. Please, enjoy your meal."

Chen Qing nodded and, without further ceremony, picked up a piece of the pork knuckle and put it in his mouth.

The pork knuckle was stewed until it was incredibly tender and flavorful, melting the moment it entered his mouth.

He nodded in satisfaction, praising, "This is excellent cooking. The timing was perfect."

Qing Dai covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, glancing at the other woman beside her. "You’re too kind, Senior Brother. Perilla was the one who cooked most of today’s meal. She’s the best cook among us."

Hearing this, Chen Qing looked up at the woman named Perilla.

She had a particularly tall and slender figure and carried herself with an elegant grace.

Though she wore the same simple, elegant dress as the other attendants, the straight, well-proportioned lines of her long legs were still discernible beneath the hem of her skirt.

When she saw Chen Qing looking at her, she lowered her head slightly and answered softly, "Sister Qing Dai is too kind. I’m just glad you like it, Senior Brother."

Chen Qing smiled and asked, "Do you know how to cook fish?"

Perilla nodded, her voice still gentle. "Steaming, braising, pan-frying, making soup... I’ve learned a bit of each."

"Good."

Chen Qing smiled, said no more, and focused on enjoying the meal before him.

’Having people to meticulously look after my daily needs and meals is certainly a world of difference from being alone,’ he thought. ’It saves me from countless trivial annoyances.’

After his meal, Chen Qing went straight back to his bedroom.

His bedroom was connected to the Quiet Chamber, making it convenient for him to enter Cultivation at any time.

Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, he quickly banished all distractions and entered a state of Cultivation. The aura around him gradually became deep and sustained.

As the night deepened, on the other side of the courtyard...

The four women did not rest immediately but gathered together, whispering amongst themselves.

The youngest, Bai Zhi, whispered in amazement, "Sister Qing Dai, is Senior Brother... really a True Disciple with such a respected status? He doesn’t look that much older than me..."

Even though she had learned of Chen Qing’s true identity before arriving, she still found it somewhat hard to believe.

Qing Dai’s expression grew serious at her words. In a cautionary tone, she said, "Senior Brother is a peerless talent, beyond the measure of ordinary people. It is an immense blessing for us to be able to serve in a True Disciple’s courtyard. From now on, we must be even more cautious in our speech and conduct, perform our duties with diligence, and never slack off in the slightest. Understand?"

Su Wen, who had been listening quietly, nodded solemnly and added, "Sister Qing Dai is right. Before we came, our family elders repeatedly reminded us that serving a True Disciple is a blessing and a great responsibility that countless others could only dream of. We certainly know how to conduct ourselves."

Seeing that they all understood the stakes, Qing Dai’s expression softened slightly. "How has your Cultivation progressed recently? Although Senior Brother doesn’t ask, we cannot let our own fall behind."

Her gaze swept over her three sisters, her tone encouraging. "We must strive to reach the threshold of the Astral Force Realm as soon as possible. Only then can we live up to this fateful encounter and be of better service to Senior Brother in handling his affairs."

The young women all nodded in silence.

....

「The next day, the sky was clear and the air crisp.」

It was early spring, and the air still held a biting chill.

After leaving his courtyard on True Martial Peak, Chen Qing didn’t head directly for the Grotto Heaven behind the main peak. Instead, he first took a detour to Ten Thousand Laws Peak.

The Scripture Pavilion on Ten Thousand Laws Peak housed a vast ocean of scriptures. He spent some time there, carefully poring over records concerning the Cave Heaven Secret Realms controlled by the Sect. He paid special attention to the detailed descriptions and notes regarding the Grotto Heavens, ensuring he had a clear idea of what to expect before finally setting off for the main peak.

The entrance to the Cave Heaven Secret Realm was located in a forbidden area behind the main peak.

Whenever disciples encountered him along the way, their expressions would turn solemn. They would stop at a distance and bow respectfully.

Even some Stewards on patrol would clasp their fists in salute, their polite attitude tinged with awe.

Chen Qing remained placid, responding to every greeting with a slight nod, whether he knew the person or not, and never broke his stride.

After passing through the magnificent complex of halls on the main peak and circling around to the rear mountain, the view before him suddenly transformed.

A path paved with White Jade snaked deep into a valley shrouded in Spiritual Mist. Towering ancient trees grew all around, and the ground was carpeted with rare and exotic flora.

After following the path for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the mist ahead grew denser, and space itself seemed to ripple faintly.

At the end of the path, a seemingly humble, gray-brown wooden cabin stood quietly, as if it were one with the surrounding rocks and woods.

In front of the cabin, an old man in a simple gray robe sat leisurely on a bamboo chair, holding a yellowed ancient scroll, completely absorbed in his reading.

His aura was so restrained he seemed like an ordinary mountain farmer.

But Chen Qing knew he was anything but ordinary.

’How could the expert tasked with guarding a forbidden area of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect be an ordinary person?’

Not daring to be disrespectful, Chen Qing bowed reverently. "Disciple Chen Qing pays his respects to Elder Xiang."

As he spoke, he presented his True Disciple Identity Jade Token with both hands.

At these words, the old man slowly looked up from his scroll.

"The newly promoted True Disciple from True Martial Peak? Hmm, your foundation is solid."

His gaze swept over Chen Qing, finally landing on the Jade Token. "You know the rules?"

Chen Qing retracted the Jade Token and replied, "A True Disciple has two opportunities to enter the Grotto Heaven for Cultivation each month. Each session cannot exceed twenty-four hours. Those below the Astral Force Realm who have not yet refined their True Essence may only cultivate in the outer regions of the Grotto Heaven and are forbidden from trespassing into the inner Realm."