Chapter 359-360 On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 359-360 |
Qinglian City.
Qing Mei Niang lounged on her throne in the main hall, her robes loose and flowing, Luo Luo standing beside her, her head bowed respectfully.
“So,” Qing Mei Niang said, her gaze fixed on the man standing before her, “you’re going to the Upper Realm with Little Ling’er?”
Chen Yin bowed. “Yes. And since I don’t know when I’ll be back, I wanted to… fulfill my promise to Luo Luo, to give her a proper wedding.”
“You wish!” Qing Mei Niang slammed her hand on the armrest, her voice filled with a sudden anger. “Time flows differently in the Upper Realm! Who knows when you’ll return?! Do you want my Luo Luo to be a widow?!”
Chen Yin sighed.
Luo Luo glanced at her mother nervously. “Mother…”
“Don’t interrupt!” Qing Mei Niang glared at her.
Chen Yin knew her anger was partly due to her own… feelings for Master, but she was still his future mother-in-law. He had to be respectful.
“Are you forgetting something?” Qing Mei Niang said, her eyes narrowed slightly. “We Qing Foxes are not like you humans. Luo Luo is far more capable of surviving in the Upper Realm than you are. Take her with you.”
Her words surprised both Chen Yin and Luo Luo.
“Mother?”
“What?” Qing Mei Niang rolled her eyes. “If you don’t love your Young Master enough to follow him, then I’m happy to keep you here.”
“I’ll go with him!” Luo Luo immediately jumped up and clung to Chen Yin’s arm. “Wherever he goes, I’ll follow!”
Chen Yin looked at her, his gaze filled with a mixture of love and concern, then turned to Qing Mei Niang.
“Senior, this…”
“You don’t want to take her with you?”
He had initially intended to leave her behind. She was the youngest, the most vulnerable, and he didn’t want to risk her life.
But Qing Mei Niang had a point.
He had underestimated the Qing Fox Clan’s abilities.
“If you’re worried, don’t be,” she said, a smile playing on her lips. “When a Qing Fox fully awakens their bloodline, the barrier between realms is like a thin sheet of paper. And having Luo Luo with you will make it easier to communicate, if something happens.”
“Have you ever been to the Upper Realm, Senior?” Chen Yin asked.
“I went there once, out of curiosity,” she said, her brow furrowing slightly, as if remembering an unpleasant experience, “but I came back immediately. I wasn’t strong enough back then, and the journey is tiring. It’s not as wonderful as you might think.”
“What’s it like?”
“Stars,” she said, her eyes distant and unfocused, “and countless continents connected by chains. I didn’t visit those continents, but I doubt they’re any better than this world. It’s mostly barren and lifeless. Not even as lively as Qinglian City. The only advantage is the higher concentration of spiritual energy.”
Chen Yin nodded thoughtfully.
“I only took a quick look around. I didn’t even see the Dao Venerable. If you’re planning on confronting him, keep Luo Luo far away. I don’t want her to get hurt. …And Little Ling’er too.”
Chen Yin rolled his eyes. “If you can convince Master to stay behind, I’ll be grateful.”
“You better protect her, or I’ll…” she glared at him, her threat unspoken but clear.
Chen Yin shrugged, ignoring her.
After a moment of silence, her gaze softened, and she said, her voice filled with a quiet sadness, “…Protect Luo Luo.”
“Until my dying breath,” Chen Yin said seriously.
Qing Mei Niang nodded, then waved her hand dismissively. “Go.”
Chen Yin looked at her, then bowed respectfully. “Thank you for your understanding, Senior. For putting aside your personal feelings.” His sincerity surprised even Luo Luo.
Qing Mei Niang just snorted. “It’s not free. I want something in return.”
“What do you want?”
“Let me sleep with Little Ling’er for a night.”
“You can have me,” Chen Yin offered.
“I don’t want you, you smelly man,” she said, waving her hand in disgust. “Just go. You’re annoying me.”
Chen Yin didn’t argue. He took Luo Luo’s hand and left.
As the door closed behind them, Luo Luo glanced back at her mother.
Qing Mei Niang was watching her, her usual seductive gaze now soft and gentle, her eyes filled with unspoken words, a silent farewell.
The hall was empty, and Qing Mei Niang sat alone on her throne, her figure small and lonely.
“Young Master,” Luo Luo asked as they walked back to Mount Yu, “what did you say to Mother? Why is she letting me go with you, even though it’s dangerous?”
“Do you think your mother doesn’t love you? Do you think she’s afraid of dying?”
Luo Luo’s eyes widened, her voice filled with a sudden panic. “Of course not!”
“Then think about this,” Chen Yin said softly, “what if… we don’t come back? What if there’s no one left to protect this world? Someone has to guard the dimensional passage. If it were you, would you choose to spend eternity alone, guarding the passage, or would you choose to go with the one you love, even if it means risking your life?”
Luo Luo suddenly understood.
She would choose the latter.
And so would Qing Mei Niang.
But one of them had to stay.
She finally understood the look in her mother’s eyes, the mixture of love, resignation, and… blessing.
Qing Mei Niang had wanted to go with them, to fight alongside them, to die with them if necessary.
But she had chosen to stay, to sacrifice her own happiness for her daughter’s,
To guard the passage alone,
To protect the world, even if it meant spending eternity in solitude.
“Mother…” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
“It’s okay,” Chen Yin said, ruffling her hair gently. “If we return safely, she won’t have to be alone anymore.”
Luo Luo nodded, but her eyes were still filled with sadness. “Will we… come back, Young Master?”
Chen Yin hesitated. “I… might not. But I’ll make sure you come back.”
“What’s the point of returning… without you…?”
“Don’t say that,” he pulled her into his arms, “there are more important things to think about.”
Luo Luo looked at him, confused, then her eyes widened, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“Is it… time? Am I… old enough now?”
“Don’t leave any regrets,” Chen Yin said, his voice filled with a gentle warmth.
“Then wait!” She jumped up, her face crimson, her voice filled with a sudden panic. “I have to… I have to talk to Sister Xiang’er! And Sister Qingying! And maybe Sister Xiaoxiang! She’s a physician, she’ll know how to… make it less painful…”
Chen Yin remembered Nan Xiaoxiang’s tears on their first night and coughed. “I don’t think she can help you with that.”
“Oh…” Luo Luo’s head drooped, her tail swaying nervously.
“It’s okay. Just… relax. It’s not that scary.” He smiled and stroked her hair gently.
Luo Luo’s cheeks burned, and she lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll… I’ll do whatever Young Master wants…”
It was time.
He leaned down and kissed her deeply, his lips pressing against hers.
She moaned softly, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shimmering with desire.
“This is going to be a long story. A whole night’s worth.”
“It’s okay,” she whispered, her ears pressed against his chest, her voice soft and sweet,
“As long as it’s your story, Young Master,”
“I’ll listen.”
Two relatively minor events occurred during the following month.
First, Luo Qiaoqiao’s parents arrived at Mount Yu, demanding their daughter’s return. Chen Yin then learned that Luo Qiaoqiao had run away from home again. And this time, she had gone quite far indeed.
…She had ascended to the Upper Realm.
Luo Qiaoqiao’s cultivation had long since reached the level required for ascension. However, whether through a leak of information or a premonition, she had apparently grown worried that Chen Yin would ascend without her. Thus, she had taken matters into her own hands.
Chen Yin’s first reaction upon hearing this news was a headache.
…That girl is as impulsive as ever. She never thinks things through.
Her actions had caused her parents great distress. Mu Susu was inconsolable, and if Luo Daxian hadn’t restrained her, she might have ascended herself to find their only daughter.
Luo Daxian, distraught, came to Chen Yin, pleading for his help. “Chen Yin, I don’t know what to do anymore. You have to bring Qiaoqiao back! Her mother and I can’t live without her!”
Chen Yin could only offer words of comfort and reassurance. Since Luo Qiaoqiao had already ascended, he had no choice but to expedite his own plans. He began making preparations, every second counting.
The second event was Nan Xiaoxiang beginning her cultivation journey. Having already grasped the Dao, she faced no bottlenecks. Chen Yin provided her with ample resources to reach the Grand Clarity Realm and assigned Qingying to protect her during her seclusion. Bi Luo temporarily took over Nan Xiaoxiang’s duties at the clinic.
When Chen Yin visited to check on Nan Xiaoxiang’s progress, Qingying was ranting.
“Seriously?! How can she be so unfair?! She’s never cultivated before, and yet her progress is ridiculous! Just one week! From a mortal with no foundation, she’s already reached the Boundless Realm! At this rate, she’ll be at Grand Clarity next month!”
“It’s not that surprising,” Chen Yin explained, “she was almost chosen as a Sacred Child of the Wu Xuan Cave. If Bi Luo hadn’t crippled her, she would already be a powerful cultivator. And besides, she comprehended the Dao as a mortal, through her medical skills. That’s far more difficult than simply reaching Grand Clarity.”
Qingying pouted enviously, her arms crossed. “So you’re here to see how she’s doing?”
“There’s been a change of plans,” Chen Yin said after a moment of hesitation. “I have to leave sooner than expected.”
Qingying’s eyes widened slightly. “So soon? You’re not waiting for her?”
“Luo Qiaoqiao ascended without telling anyone.” He sighed. “I have to go after her. I’m worried about her.”
“But…” Qingying hesitated.
“What’s wrong?”
“Miss Nan will be heartbroken when she finds out you left without saying goodbye.”
Chen Yin sighed again. “Things don’t always go as planned. But she knew this day would come. She’ll be fine. What about you? Don’t you have anything to say?”
Qingying’s heart skipped a beat. “Me? What should I say…?”
Chen Yin looked at her, his gaze steady, seeing the unspoken question in her eyes.
“Don’t you want to come with me?”
“Even if I did…” she mumbled, her head lowered, her voice filled with a quiet sadness, “I’m not strong enough. My talent is mediocre, I haven’t even comprehended the Dao yet. And now that my System is gone… I can’t help you. I’ll just be a burden.”
Chen Yin looked at her, his heart softening at her dejected expression, and gently stroked her hair. “Don’t underestimate yourself. I wasn’t planning on taking you with me. But it’s not because of your cultivation. I have a more important task for you, here in the Lower Realm.”
Qingying looked up at him, her eyes questioning.
“There haven’t been any new Chosen Ones lately, but we can’t be sure there won’t be any more. Someone has to stay here and… take care of things.”
The most trustworthy person? Qingying’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of hope in their depths.
“Qingying, do you remember how we first met?” he asked, his voice softening as he pulled her into his arms, “a certain… overconfident assassin… tried to kill me… and I… taught her a lesson…”
Qingying blushed, remembering that humiliating encounter. “You… you have no shame! Always teasing me…”
“That’s because it’s fun,” he grinned.
Qingying bit his hand playfully.
“But… it’s reassuring to have you by my side. Even if it’s just… dirty work, like being my bodyguard… knowing you’re there… makes me feel safe.”
Qingying looked away, flustered by his intense gaze. “Why are you being so… sentimental…?”
“Thank you… for always being there for me.” He kissed her gently, his eyes softening. “This might be the last time I ask for your help. After I leave, you’ll be in charge of everything: the Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion, Mount Yu, the Mist Spirit Sect, even Qinglian City and the Heavenly Net Sect… they’ll all answer to you. Collecting the Heavenly Dao Fragments is dangerous. And no one in the Lower Realm knows more about Chosen Ones than you. If I don’t come back, or if new Chosen Ones appear while I’m gone… I’m entrusting this task to you.”
Qingying’s eyes filled with tears, but she quickly blinked them away and lowered her head. “I… I don’t know if I can do it…”
“Master and I both agree that you’re the best person for this job,” he said softly. “But it might be… unfair to ask you to stay here, waiting…”
Qingying shook her head. “I don’t mind waiting. But don’t say you’re not coming back. If you don’t, I’ll… I’ll follow you to the Upper Realm!”
Chen Yin sighed and ruffled her hair playfully.
“Then I’ll just have to bully you mercilessly when we get there.”