Chapter 175: Those People |
An entire day passed.
Deep within the depths of the Illusory Void Mountain.
Ao Lan, covered in fragrant sweat, lay amidst a pile of precious treasures. She had almost no energy left to move. Indeed, he was worthy of being that presence from the pavilion. Truly valiant and skilled in battle!
"What is My Lord thinking about?"
Ao Lan noticed that Chen Daoxuan was silently gazing at the ceiling, and she cautiously spoke up.
"It's nothing…"
Chen Daoxuan thought for a moment, but he didn't reveal what was on his mind. After all, he couldn't very well say that after the recent events, he was pondering questions like: What is the meaning of life? How did life originate? Why does that rock look so peculiar, and how did it transform into that form?
At this moment, he felt as though he had entered the realm of a sage!
But he chose not to explain the reason, which only made Ao Lan even more anxious.
"Ao Lan doesn't seek any status; she just hopes to be able to stay by your side and take care of you in the future. Would you be open to that?"
Ao Lan thought that perhaps Chen Daoxuan was regretting his decision after the events they had shared. She was well aware of the immense gap between herself and the master of the pavilion. He shouldn't even exist in this world; the plaque of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion alone seemed to contain the essence of three thousand avenues.
Being able to stay by his side as a maidservant was already enough. She wouldn't have to hide in the Illusory Void Mountain to evade those people anymore...
"Hmm? Naturally, that's not a problem. You're quite thoughtful."
Upon hearing her words, Chen Daoxuan pondered for a moment. At this point, he realized an important issue: he had come to the depths of the Illusory Void Mountain just to take a look, but now he was leaving with a wife. Bringing back a wife for his disciple was something that Leng Yanran and Li Yourong might find hard to accept.
However, since Ao Lan was so understanding, she had inadvertently solved this rather major headache for him.
Although Ao Lan had no intention of seeking identity or status, she was already his woman… and even the mother dragon. He wouldn't treat her unfairly.
"Thank you for accommodating me, My Lord! However, there's something Ao Lan wants to confess to My Lord."
Upon hearing other party's agreement, Ao Lan's face lit up with joy. Then, she lowered her head, not daring to look at Chen Daoxuan, and whispered softly.
"It's fine to tell me."
Chen Daoxuan replied casually.
"Actually, Ao Lan has a selfish motive for doing this… Everyone knows that our Dragon Clan is one of the most powerful creatures in this world. Normally, the Dragon Clan lives in Central Region, and there's no force in Central Region that dares to confront the Dragon Clan.
"But ever since those people appeared, they've shattered this situation… They even killed and captured members of our Dragon Clan. If we submit to them and become their spirit pets or mounts, we might survive. But if we refuse, death is the only path!
"When I was young, I was sent by the elders of the clan to this desolate northern region to escape danger. Over the years, I've hidden here in the Illusory Void Mountain, afraid to reveal myself."
As Ao Lan spoke, her gaze dimmed, her small fists clenched tightly. It was as if the deaths of those respected elders were still vivid before her eyes.
"Oh? Those people? Who are they and what's their identity?"
Chen Daoxuan didn't mind that Ao Lan had dedicated herself to him seeking protection. He found it perfectly reasonable and even quite clever.
What intrigued him more was the mention of "those people." Who were they exactly?
"Ao Lan doesn't know for sure… At that time, I was still young and only knew that those people had terrifying strength. At worst, they were probably at the level of Living Immortals. Even our Dragon Clan's Living Immortal elders were no match for them.
"My Lord, are you still willing to let Ao Lan stay by your side? I might bring trouble to you in the future."
Ao Lan shook her head, indicating that she had only heard the title "those people" from the elders. As for their true identity, she had no idea.
"That's not a major issue. But there's a more important question I'd like to ask you…"
Chen Daoxuan actually appreciated her straightforwardness. This approach was quite clever. If everything was concealed from him and unexpected troubles arose in the future, it would be a different story.
Now that she had revealed everything, and those so-called "those people" didn't seem like much of a threat to him, he even got excited upon hearing that the worst possibility was Living Immortals. This would earn him quite a few system points!
"Please tell me, My Lord!"
Ao Lan's expression became serious.
"Can you cook?"
Chen Daoxuan looked at Ao Lan with a sincere expression, asking seriously.
He had been separated from his disciples for an entire day. If he didn't come up with a good excuse, it would be hard to pass off his absence without raising suspicions.
If Ao Lan could cook, it would be the perfect solution to all his problems. He wouldn't even need to find a chef separately.
"…I can cook a little. Although I'm not very skilled, I'm willing to learn for you, My Lord."
Ao Lan had initially thought that he was going to ask something important, but it turned out to be about cooking? After a brief moment of confusion, she nodded quickly, indicating that she knew a little about cooking and was even willing to learn. She was afraid that Chen Daoxuan might dislike her lack of skill, so she hurriedly added that she could learn.
"Alright, as long as you can cook."
He wasn't too concerned about how good she was. At the very least, she should be able to steam spiritual rice! They hadn't even tasted the spiritual rice from the Heavenly Dao Pavilion yet. Once this problem was solved, they could take care of the rest gradually!
"Since that's the case, come with me, back to the Heavenly Dao Pavilion."
Chen Daoxuan didn't want to waste any more time. After all, his disciples were still waiting for him.
As he got up, Ao Lan, being considerate, helped him put on his clothes, tidying them up before arranging her own attire.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Chen Daoxuan noticed traces of fallen petals where she had been lying earlier. He was slightly surprised.
"My Lord… You don't think that Ao Lan is not… um, a virgin, do you?"
Ao Lan noticed his strange expression and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, her face turning red.
"Then, how did you acquire so much knowledge? And you seem quite skilled at it too?"
Chen Daoxuan opened his mouth, looking puzzled.
"…Maybe it's a case of self-taught expertise. And besides, since I was young, I was sent to this northern region. Although there are some formidable demonic beasts in the Illusory Void Mountain, as noble member of the Dragon Clan, I wouldn't care about them…"
Ao Lan was afraid he wouldn't believe her, so she hurriedly explained.
"That makes sense. It seems you're quite talented. Not bad!"
Chen Daoxuan nodded, giving her a thumbs up and praising her.
"By the way, from now on, you'll be staying in the Heavenly Dao Pavilion. What about these precious treasures in the cave?"
Chen Daoxuan surveyed the heavenly treasures within the cave and the top-grade spirit stones that paved the floor.
"Now that even Ao Lan belongs to My Lord, all these are naturally at your disposal. You can do as you please!"
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