Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 97 - 92: Exiting Seclusion

In the rear garden, where birds sang among fragrant flowers and clear springs cascaded into waterfalls.

By a lake as brilliant as gemstones, a young woman in a flowing, sky-blue dress, with picturesque features and a pure, endearing innocence, leaned against a stone table. Her limpid eyes stared blankly at the lonely, distant, azure Celestial Vault.

A few steps away, the teapot on the red clay stove had begun to sizzle, faint white steam puffing from its spout.

"...Sister Lan, hiding out here all by yourself, brewing tea?"

A crisp, pleasant voice rang out beside her as Ling Menghuan, dressed in a pale cyan gown, approached with light steps. She appeared shy and gentle.

Song Xuelan turned her lovely head to glance at her, a faint smile appearing on her fair, delicate face.

"The Young Master hasn’t come out of seclusion yet, and I’ve already finished my cultivation for the day. I had to find something to do!

"This Spirit Tea was a gift from the Young Master. It tastes quite nice. Why don’t you have some with me?"

Ling Menghuan agreed and sat down at the stone table.

Looking at Song Xuelan’s expression, Ling Menghuan hesitated for a moment before asking in a low voice:

"Sister Lan, Senior Brother... he must be close to Foundation Establishment, right?"

Even though she had been here for some time, Ling Menghuan continued her old habit of calling Ling Changqing "Senior Brother."

Song Xuelan, on the other hand, had always called Ling Changqing "Young Master," consistently regarding herself as just a maid.

Song Xuelan shot the younger woman a meaningful glance and said,

"Perhaps. But some things... it’s best if you just understand them yourself. Don’t mention it to others, especially not to your relatives and friends."

Ling Menghuan looked up at her, surprised. "Sister Lan, you... you know everything?"

Song Xuelan smiled. "I just happened to see. Since you’ve arrived, quite a few of your family and friends have been finding excuses to visit, haven’t they?"

"..."

Ling Menghuan fell silent.

Song Xuelan was right. Ever since her branch of the family had learned of her situation, many of her clan members had acted like they’d had a complete change of personality, running over to her place every few days.

Many of them were people Ling Menghuan had never even met before, yet now they were beating around the bush to claim kinship and curry favor.

Although Ling Menghuan was a bit naive, she wasn’t a fool. She could guess their true intentions without them having to say a word.

The real target they wanted to latch onto and flatter was Ling Changqing. She was just being used as a stepping stone, a tool.

After all, with Ling Changqing’s potential, reaching Foundation Establishment was almost a certainty. Plus, he was a Pill Master. Any disciple of the Ling Family would need connections like that.

What’s more, the Patriarch held Ling Changqing in exceptionally high regard. As long as they could get on good terms with him, it meant they might have a chance to get close to a Golden Core Master in the future.

"Sister Lan, in your opinion, how should I deal with them?"

After a moment of silence, Ling Menghuan finally asked.

Her parents had died when she was young, and she was raised by her uncle, Ling Zifeng, and his wife. Her living conditions had been better than Song Xuelan’s, but she was indeed lacking when it came to worldly wisdom.

Song Xuelan laughed. "Isn’t that simple? From now on, just refuse to see any of them. It’s not like they can help you with anything, so you don’t need to care about their feelings!"

’They’re just a bunch of opportunists, anyway. Is there any need to stay in touch with them? It wouldn’t be a big deal to drive them all away.’

Ling Menghuan blinked her large, clear-as-water eyes, looking thoughtful.

"Sister Lan is right. Other than Senior Brother, I really don’t need to care about anyone else’s attitude right now."

’Senior Brother is the one taking care of me, and he’s the one providing me with Cultivation Resources. As for those distantly-related friends and relatives, they can go get lost.’

At this thought, Ling Menghuan breathed a sigh of relief. In truth, she was already sick and tired of being pestered by them. Cutting ties directly would save her a lot of trouble and worry.

"Next time they come looking for you, I’ll just say you’ve gone into Cultivation in Seclusion and won’t be out for a year or two. Let’s see what they can do then," Song Xuelan said with a laugh.

Ling Menghuan nodded lightly. "Good, let’s do that!"

By now, the Spirit Tea on the stove was ready. Song Xuelan stood up and began to busily, and skillfully, prepare it.

"Sister Lan, you’ve served Senior Brother Ling for so long. Do you have any plans for the future?"

Taking the teacup and taking a sip, Ling Menghuan asked softly.

"What plans could I have?"

Song Xuelan laughed. "Right now, I only worry about three things: serving the Young Master well, my own cultivation, and managing this Cave Mansion Hall. Nothing else has anything to do with me!"

"But... you have a family too. What about them?"

Ling Menghuan asked hesitantly.

She remembered Song Xuelan’s family situation. Not only were both her parents alive, but she also had two younger brothers who were now old enough to begin their cultivation.

"Them? I send back twenty Spirit Stones every month. That’s more than enough to repay my parents for raising me!"

Song Xuelan’s expression was indifferent. "As for my two younger brothers, they have to walk their own paths. I can’t manage everything for them!

"Don’t expect me to be some kind of Brother Supporter. That’s impossible!"

Mm, the Young Master was the one who taught her the meaning of the term "Brother Supporter."

Although she had never experienced it herself, Song Xuelan had heard stories about it when she was working at the Ling Family Bank.

A certain Sect’s Female True Inheritor Disciple had the "Brother Supporter" attribute. As a result, she was endlessly drained of all her resources by her good-for-nothing younger brother, who even severely dragged down her own cultivation progress.

In the end, that female disciple, who possessed an Earth Grade Spirit Root, had her cultivation halted at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, never to reach the Golden Core Realm.

Even so, her family was still full of complaints, criticizing her groundlessly. Their various wretched and vicious expressions were unbearable to behold.

’Song Xuelan had no desire to end up in such a state. If her own relatives weren’t sensible, she would just cut off all contact at worst.’

Ling Menghuan sighed, her tone tinged with envy.

"Sister Lan, your disposition... you truly live with such clarity. You’re so much better than me! Perhaps in the future, your achievements on the path of cultivation will be greater than mine, too?"

Song Xuelan smiled, looking her up and down.

"Don’t say that. As long as you understand that nothing matters more than your own great path of cultivation, you won’t have to overthink other things, and naturally..."

"What are you two talking about?"

A gentle and calm voice came without any warning.

The two women turned their heads in astonishment, only to see a handsome youth in purple robes appear before them. He had a regal bearing and eyes as black as lacquer, and he wore a gentle smile.

"Young Master, you’ve come out of seclusion?"

Song Xuelan stood up with a look of pleasant surprise and, without any hesitation, threw herself at Ling Changqing, wrapping her arms around his waist and rubbing her full, voluptuous body against him forcefully.

Ling Menghuan’s face flushed red as she stood up timidly to greet him.

"Senior Brother Ling, you’ve finished your seclusion?"

Ling Changqing acknowledged her and said gently,

"Have you reached the Qi Cultivation 5th Layer? Are your injuries mostly recovered? You look a lot healthier than before."

Compared to the thin, frail girl who had first arrived, the young woman before him was now full of vigor, her eyes bright and spirited, and her figure had become much fuller.

"Mm, it’s all because the conditions here with you are so good, Senior Brother!"

Ling Menghuan said, her lovely face slightly red, her voice shy and timid.

’With no shortage of Elixirs, abundant Spiritual Qi in the Cave Mansion Hall, and being nourished every day with good food and drink—all of it precious Spirit Rice and Spirit Beast Meat—it was only expected that her body would recover well.’

Ling Changqing nodded. After talking for a little while longer, he left with Song Xuelan.

"...Young Master, what are we going to do in a bit?"

Song Xuelan asked, her beautiful face blushing as she held Ling Changqing’s arm.

’Having been with him for so long, she was naturally familiar with Ling Changqing’s habits. After being in seclusion for such a long time, he was probably feeling quite pent-up and needed to blow off some steam as soon as possible.’

Ling Changqing said, "I need to go see the Patriarch. I haven’t been over there in months, so I don’t know what’s been going on."

’Since he had been in Cultivation in Seclusion, Ling Qiyue and Tang Qiu Yao must have been missing him dearly.’

"Alright..."

Song Xuelan’s smile froze, and she couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. "In that case, how about this servant helps you bathe first, Young Master? And give you a leg massage to help you relax!"

Ling Changqing shook his head again. "There’s no rush for that. We can talk about it after I get back."