Xie Hongchen released Huang Rang, his mind racing through countless thoughts, yet he had not even half a piece of information about this person.

He could not explain the震动 in his heart when he first saw this woman.

Huang Rang naturally noticed his distraction—having served him for a hundred years, even his smallest expressions could be detected by Huang Rang. She covered the wound on her shoulder and said through the pain, “This humble woman will repay the Sect Master’s benevolence later. I… I…” She pressed her shoulder. Of course she would not leave. She closed her eyes and fell backward—feigning unconsciousness. Naturally, Xie Hongchen would not let her fall to the ground.

He reached out to support Huang Rang. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Where is this young lady’s home?”

At these words, the crowd of villagers spoke all at once, practically wishing they could dig out Huang Rang’s ancestors going back eighteen generations to report to the Sect Master.

Xie Hongchen did manage to hear clearly where Huang Rang lived. He lifted Huang Rang horizontally in his arms and walked toward the Huang family home.

Huang Rang allowed him to carry her horizontally, from the town center all the way back to the Huang family residence.

This distance was nothing but a stone’s throw for Xie Hongchen. But for Huang Rang, it seemed extremely long. Back then on the Qi Lu Platform, when she acted especially coquettish, Xie Hongchen would occasionally carry her like this too. Walking from the small courtyard all the way to the bedroom.

That distance was even shorter, a mere hundred steps, yet it was the sweetness in her long, long years.

Huang Rang closed her eyes, all her bodily senses fully opened.

She could hear this person’s heartbeat, could smell the cold fragrance of orchids on him. Through the fabric, she could even feel the calluses on his palms.

In that instant, it was as if time had never run aground. She was still on Qi Lu Platform, and he was rarely tolerant and accommodating.

Xie Hongchen… this name was more like an incantation to her. It was just that she had recited it for over a hundred years, sometimes angry, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, sometimes resentful, yet it had never worked.

Ah, Hongchen, we meet again.

In the town, villagers had long since run ahead to report the news to Huang Shu. When Huang Shu first heard, he still didn’t understand and asked, “What?”

A quick-tongued villager said, “Tenth Miss just fought with a rat demon to save people and was injured. Sect Master Xie is carrying her back now.”

“Sect Master Xie? Which Sect Master Xie?” Huang Shu had already mentally run through everyone surnamed Xie within ten miles. He couldn’t think of any household worthy of his own daughter. He immediately felt somewhat reproachful—if some ignorant madman carried his daughter home, it would inevitably greatly reduce the bride price when discussing marriage in the future. Huang Rang’s price was not low, and he was still counting on the court granting him Immortal Tea Town as a fief!

Huang Shu was thoroughly displeased and quickly walked out the door. And just at that moment, someone entered from outside. Huang Shu looked up and was completely stunned.

Xie Hongchen wore spotless white robes, clear light emanating from him. That bearing was like stars and moon that could not be plucked. He carried Huang Rang inside and asked, “Where is the family head?”

His voice was ethereal, carrying the benevolence and condescension of one in a superior position.

Huang Shu ran before him and instantly became a head shorter. He hurriedly said, “This humble one is indeed the Huang family head. May I ask who you are…”

Xie Hongchen nodded and said gently, “Xie Hongchen of Yuhu Xuanzong pays respects to Elder Huang.”

This name struck like rolling thunder, stunning Huang Shu senseless. It took him a long while to say, “Oh… oh…” Then suddenly he jolted and reacted: “Xie… Sect Master Xie!”

For a moment, he didn’t even know what to say next. Huang Shu kept rubbing his hands together, and after a long while finally squeezed out, “How… how has your immortal presence come to Immortal Tea Town?”

Xie Hongchen frowned and asked, “What relation is this young lady to you?” He had already seen that the man before him was not concerned about the injured person.

Huang Shu hurriedly said, “She is my tenth daughter, Huang Rang. Oh my, what happened to her? Is she badly hurt?” He suddenly realized this was a good opportunity to latch onto Xie Hongchen! He immediately said, “Sect Master Xie, please quickly take her to her room. I’ll go fetch a physician right away.”

“No need.” Xie Hongchen followed his directions, carrying the person in his arms all the way into her small courtyard. Huang Rang… he silently repeated this name in his mind. It was so familiar, giving him a feeling of deep past-life karma meeting in this life.

Even holding her in his arms, there was only trembling, as if between them there had been inexpressible tender passion.

This… how could this be possible? He was a cultivator who viewed desire as the root of demons. Normally, no women served at his side.

Xie Hongchen entered Huang Rang’s boudoir. Huang Rang’s boudoir had gauze curtains sprinkled with gold, and two small blessing pouches hung on jade hooks. It conveyed the gentle loveliness of a young woman’s chamber. Xie Hongchen placed her on the bed, casually took out a pill from his storage treasure, and fed it into her mouth.

Huang Shu at the side drew in a breath, appearing extremely pained—a pill personally refined by Xie Hongchen, what a precious treasure that was!

The pill dissolved upon entering her mouth, requiring no swallowing at all. Huang Rang soon felt the medicine’s properties spreading through her body, her wound feeling cool and soothing. Xie Hongchen sat at the edge of the bed until Huang Shu said, “Since Sect Master has come, why not dine at the Huang family home and allow us to show a bit of our sincerity?”

Given Xie Hongchen’s character, he naturally would not linger in such a small town. Even someone as thick-skinned as Huang Shu held no hope when making this invitation. Yet Xie Hongchen said, “Then I shall impose on Elder Huang.”

Huang Shu could hardly believe his ears—the ancestral graves were emitting auspicious smoke! To actually have the fortune to host the Sect Master of Yuhu Xuanzong!

He quickly said, “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare! This humble one will personally arrange it right away!” His face glowing, meeting the eyes of all the fellow villagers, he hurriedly ordered servants to arrange the banquet.

Xie Hongchen sat at the bedside. Huang Rang naturally knew she should wake up too. She opened her eyes and tried to sit up. Xie Hongchen said, “Miss, the rat poison in your body has been neutralized. You need only bandage the wound.”

Huang Rang pulled his outer robe tighter around herself and said, “This time it was all thanks to the Sect Master’s intervention. Sect Master’s great kindness, Arang will certainly repay.”

Xie Hongchen made a sound of acknowledgment and asked, “Miss, as an earth cultivator, why do you read only sword cultivation techniques?”

He pointed to the texts in the room. It turned out that just now, he had already seen at a glance what was placed on Huang Rang’s desk. These scrolls were obviously only useful for martial cultivators.

Of course it’s… for you.

Huang Rang smiled inwardly, but appeared hesitant outwardly. After a moment, she got off the bed, clasped her hands toward Xie Hongchen, and said, “Only because I admire the bearing of sword immortals and have a heart to travel the mortal realm and uphold justice, I have been studying martial dao. I’ve made Sect Master Xie laugh.”

Xie Hongchen made a sound and pointed to an object on the desk, asking, “What is this thing?”

Huang Rang looked where he pointed—it was precisely that stinging caterpillar. She said with a smile, “Arang is naturally dull-witted and often becomes distracted during cultivation. This thing… can help me stay alert.”

Stay alert?

Xie Hongchen reached out to poke that stinging caterpillar and immediately drew back his hand. Obviously, he now clearly understood this thing’s effect. He laughed soundlessly.

Huang Rang appeared awkward and said, “A fool’s method, not worthy of the table.”

“You have a heart for learning. That is good.” Xie Hongchen didn’t mind at all. Of course he wouldn’t mind. In the hundred years outside the dream, he had always liked people with progressive hearts. He always gave special care to disciples who were eager to learn.

“Since you are so studious, why have you only obtained the foundation but not grasped the essentials?” he asked.

This was obviously him finding Huang Rang’s cultivation shallow. Huang Rang said, “Sect Master does not know—the Huang family are earth cultivators who make their living through breeding plants. Arang’s martial dao cultivation can only happen in spare moments. I cannot make a living from it.”

Xie Hongchen nodded. As Sect Master, he deeply understood the circumstances of these low-level minor spirits and casually said, “If so, that you have a stable foundation and cultivate by proper methods is already quite rare.”

Of course it is. How much effort had Huang Rang outside the dream spent to train Xie Jiu’er?

The painstaking effort she had invested—how could Xie Hongchen know?

Huang Rang showed a respectful expression and said, “I’m just copying the cat and drawing the tiger. Because I have no master to guide me, I dare not cultivate casually.”

Xie Hongchen was obviously satisfied with this and said, “The path of immortal cultivation is fraught with difficulty and danger. Cultivating merely by following books is indeed extremely dangerous.”

Huang Rang lowered her head, appearing somewhat disappointed, and said, “Arang was born of humble origins. How easy is it to find a famous teacher?”

Xie Hongchen nodded. He again surveyed Huang Rang’s room, seeing that on her walls and desk, many places recorded her cultivation insights. Actually, many of these observations were indeed extraordinary.

—This was natural. Huang Rang knew he would come today—how could she not prepare? And though she didn’t cultivate martial arts outside the dream, she had still been the Sect Master’s wife of Yuhu Xuanzong for a hundred years. If she hadn’t eaten pork, she’d at least seen pigs run.

Xie Hongchen felt this woman was extraordinary. According to his nature, he would likely already be proposing to recommend her to enter the immortal sect. But he didn’t know why—he suppressed this impulse.

He slowly stepped out of Huang Rang’s boudoir. Huang Rang could only follow him out.

Xie Hongchen looked around the courtyard, seeing many seeds being cultivated there. He casually asked, “Since you are born an earth spirit, have you bred any famous varieties?”

Huang Rang was slightly stunned, then said, “I… my aspirations do not lie in this. I have no excellent varieties to show the world.”

Xie Hongchen asked this question without particular intent. But Huang Rang answering this way was beyond his expectations.

—Yuhu Xuanzong had placed a type of Eye of the World Cave in Immortal Tea Town. Although this was just a small town, as Sect Master, he had also viewed it before. Huang Rang managed the entire Huang family’s business, yet had no famous varieties to her name. Wasn’t this very strange?

He said, “I heard the Huang family has an extraordinary woman who bred beam rice and saved the world during famine years. She is quite famous.”

Huang Rang made a soft sound of understanding and said, “Reporting to Sect Master, that is correct. This woman is named Dai Yue and is my personal maid.”

Xie Hongchen nodded and said, “I heard this woman has slave status, yet you as her master do not take credit for her achievements. This shows your pure character—truly rare.”

Is this rare? Hongchen, the truly rare things are still to come. Huang Rang said softly in her heart. But she remained respectful and dignified before him, saying, “This… Arang cannot bear such mistaken praise from the Sect Master.”

Xie Hongchen, after this brief conversation, had developed quite a favorable impression of Huang Rang.

This woman was not moved by his status and position, spoke appropriately, and had pure character. Moreover, looking at her boudoir, one could see she was studious and hardworking. She was good material.

It was difficult for low-level minor spirits to enter immortal sects, but with him present, naturally this was no problem.

Xie Hongchen didn’t know what he was hesitating about, but he just didn’t open his mouth.

—Huang Rang wrapped in his outer robe made him feel exceptionally close.

Just at this moment, Dai Yue entered. She walked to Xie Hongchen’s side and bowed, saying, “Sect Master Xie, the wine banquet is ready. The family head invites you to take your seat.”

Xie Hongchen nodded. Huang Rang then said, “Arang wishes to lead the way for Sect Master… but entering the banquet in this state would inevitably be improper. Please permit Arang to change clothes.”

She still wore Xie Hongchen’s outer robe, and inside her garments had been torn by the rat demon, so naturally she needed to change. Xie Hongchen found nothing strange about this and said, “You may.”

Huang Rang made a graceful bow to him and indeed went inside to change.

Dai Yue stole a glance at the two of them. In her heart, it was like a thorn lodged sideways. Again like this—last time with Officer Qiu it was like this, and now meeting Sect Master Xie… she was using the same old tricks again.

Xie Hongchen naturally didn’t know her thoughts. He stood quietly under the eaves, waiting for Huang Rang.

The eaves were blue-gray, while he was all in feathered white, his garments like snow, so clean they were untouched by dust.

Dai Yue didn’t even dare look a second time. She said, “Tenth Miss will likely need some time to change. Let Dai Yue brew a cup of tea for the Sect Master.”

“You are Dai Yue?” Xie Hongchen had just heard Huang Rang mention this personal maid, so now he couldn’t help but look at her more closely. Dai Yue hurriedly said, “This slave’s humble name—I dare not pollute the Sect Master’s ears with it.”

Xie Hongchen laughed. When he smiled, it was like a thousand snowfalls, like flowers blooming in the mortal world: “All people in the world are the same—how can there be distinctions of noble and base? I heard that in the early years of Chengyuan, you bred beam rice and saved countless disaster victims. Miss Dai Yue’s merit is immeasurable.”

Dai Yue only knew he was noble, but didn’t expect he would actually be so kind and approachable. She immediately said, “Sect Master Xie praises too highly. Dai Yue is ashamed and dare not accept this.”

Xie Hongchen said, “I observe that you have half-fox bloodline and are not born an earth spirit. To have such capabilities, you must have exceptional natural talent.”

How could Dai Yue dare accept his phrase “exceptional natural talent”? He was Xie Hongchen!

The first sword immortal of Yuhu Xuanzong was actually personally praising her? Dai Yue’s head felt somewhat dizzy, but this floating feeling was too wonderful. She didn’t explain the truth, but instead said, “This slave is ashamed.”

Xie Hongchen said, “Seeking welfare for all living beings—what is there to be ashamed of?”

Dai Yue’s heartbeat accelerated—Xie Hongchen’s words sounded like he had quite a favorable impression of her! If he could free her from this slave status…

The more she thought about it, the more her heart stirred. In this world, besides the court, probably only Yuhu Xuanzong could grant her a bright future. And everything she wanted actually only required one simple sentence from Xie Hongchen!

Thinking of this, her voice became desolate as she said, “Dai Yue is only a slave. Even if I have merit, it is still the family head’s merit. I naturally dare not take credit.”

Xie Hongchen appeared thoughtful and said, “Good deeds must bear fruit. Miss will certainly have blessings.”

He did not make any promises, but this sentence seemed to contain infinite possibilities.

Dai Yue was immediately filled with joy.

And just at this moment, Huang Rang had already changed her dress. She emerged from the room and made another graceful bow: “I have kept Sect Master Xie waiting. Sect Master’s robe… please allow Arang to keep it temporarily. After cleaning it, I will return it to the Sect Master.” She left herself a backup plan—if Xie Hongchen didn’t take the bait, she would at least have an excuse to seek him out.

“It’s no matter.” Xie Hongchen placed one hand behind his back and said, “Arang, lead the way.”

This address of “Arang” was perhaps too intimate. As soon as the words left his mouth, even he froze.

But Huang Rang acted as if she hadn’t noticed. She smiled faintly and said, “Sect Master, please.”

—Of course it would slip out naturally. A hundred years of marriage, several bouts of infatuation, several bouts of madness. All that bearing of the first sword immortal, all that refined elegance of a famous master, all that abstinence of an immortal sect master—these were all things that had been shattered to pieces and trampled into the mud on Qi Lu Platform by her.

At that time, Xie Hongchen, stripped of these either lofty or brilliant fancy garments, was merely this person alone.

Huang Rang walked ahead, Xie Hongchen followed slowly behind.

That day she wore a pale gold dress, gentle and soft, as if she had draped herself in all the May sunshine. A gentle breeze came, lifting the sash at her waist. The fabric fluttered and swayed, as if one could touch it by reaching out a hand.

Xie Hongchen silently averted his gaze.

Huang Rang led him all the way to the banquet hall.

Huang Shu was already pleased, and seeing Huang Rang arrive together with him, his eyes couldn’t help but light up. He hurriedly seated Xie Hongchen at the head position and deliberately had Huang Rang accompany him at the side. With such an arrangement, anyone with eyes understood.

Yet Xie Hongchen actually didn’t refuse.

Huang Rang felt surprised—this version of him entering the dream was much easier to approach than when they first met outside the dream.

At the table, Huang Shu talked at length about the Huang family’s achievements.

Xie Hongchen swept his gaze across the banquet and saw many guests—mostly Huang Shu’s children, with some collateral relatives among them. It appeared quite chaotic.

And Xie Hongchen had already quickly formed a judgment of this family—Huang Shu had numerous children with mixed bloodlines, showing he was fond of women. When Huang Rang was injured, his first concern was his own status, showing he valued profit. At the banquet he boasted endlessly, showing he was vain and unsubstantial.

And his children dined separately at the banquet, showing no closeness.

So this family must be discordant.

Beside him, Huang Rang poured a cup of wine for Xie Hongchen. Xie Hongchen said a word of thanks. Several other Huang family daughters saw this and hurriedly crowded forward to the low table, competing to pour wine for him.

Xie Hongchen frowned slightly. With his status, he had already seen all manner of human nature. Naturally he knew what these young ladies were thinking.

And Sect Master Xie was not naturally good-tempered either—his face was kind but his heart cold. He immediately said, “I do not like noise when dining. Please ask the young ladies to step back.”

Truly without mercy. Huang Shu couldn’t keep face and finally spoke up to reprimand them.

And by now, Xie Hongchen already understood his family discipline and character. Naturally he no longer wished to associate with such a person. He stood up and said, “Thank you for the family head’s hospitality. I still have matters to attend to, so I will not stay longer.”

“Ah, Sect Master Xie!” Huang Shu became anxious. He had finally encountered a divine immortal from the altar and hadn’t even spoken a few words. Of course he was unwilling.

It was Huang Rang who stood up. She showed an apologetic expression and made another bow, saying, “We have disturbed the Sect Master’s refined mood. It is all our fault.”

Xie Hongchen naturally would not take this matter to heart and said, “It has nothing to do with you, Miss.”

Having said this, he stepped forward to leave.

“You lowly sluts! Shameless creatures, driving away Sect Master Xie!” Huang Shu turned and vented his anger on several of his daughters.

Huang Rang paid no attention and left on her own.

But Dai Yue chased outside the door, extremely anxious—she wondered if this Sect Master Xie still remembered her matter.

Of course, if she knew what would happen next, she would definitely hope Xie Hongchen would forget her completely.

But as it happened, Xie Hongchen cherished talent.

The next day, he sent people to investigate Dai Yue. And the information brought back by the disciple who secretly investigated was extremely puzzling.

—Huang family slave Dai Yue absolutely had no talent whatsoever in breeding excellent varieties!

Over these years, whether it was beam rice, bitter lotus, the famous tea called Yi Ban Xin, and so on—none of it came from her hand.

Xie Hongchen was immediately furious.

Sect Master Xie of Yuhu Xuanzong—he cherished talent. But he equally hated evil like an enemy.