Misty Rain of the Old Times

They had agreed to go to Wanku Mountain on the eastern coast to collect geomagnetic essence that day, but after finishing his activities and having breakfast in the morning, Chen Xuan went back to sleep and hadn't gotten up by midday.

The young girl and Du Juan were already used to this, and while waiting silently, they went about their duties.

Taking advantage of the good weather, Du Juan was moving chairs, benches, books, bedding, clothes and other items to air out. After a winter, things that are not used often are prone to getting damp and moldy, and airing them out can give them the scent of sunshine.

Meanwhile, the little girl was preparing for the trip, because Chen Xuan said that it didn't necessarily have to be for a long time. Collecting the Earth's magnetic essence depended on luck. It wasn't like she would be able to find it just by going there. If she was lucky, it would take three to five days, but if she was unlucky, it could take ten days or half a month. So she had to make sure she had enough supplies.

Various seasonings and spices are essential, as are bowls, chopsticks, and cooking utensils. Some rice should also be brought. The most important thing is money. She knows that her husband is used to being pampered and cannot be mistreated when he is away from home. As for ingredients, they can be purchased locally or hunted and gathered.

The little girl filled a whole bamboo basket with odds and ends, including writing brushes, ink, paper, an umbrella, and a blanket. Next to the basket were a bow and Chen Xuan's rarely used sword.

After carefully checking multiple times, the little girl was relieved to confirm that nothing had been missed.

Du Juan hesitated for a moment and asked, "Roujia, is it really necessary to bring so much stuff? Knowing Master's habits, he might be back in three to five days this time."

The little girl said, "Being well-prepared is never a bad thing; it's better than being caught off guard and having to deal with the hassle."

“That makes sense,” Du Juan nodded, silently remembering, repeatedly reminding herself that her status was different now, and she had to do her best to fulfill the duties of a maid and servant, putting the master at the center of everything, and not being able to travel light and make do as she used to.

Then, worried that there might be something she had forgotten, the little girl counted on her fingers, "The Gao family has already been informed. They will send someone to keep an eye on things after we leave, to feed the horses and prevent thieves from trespassing. This is very important. Last night, the master said that he knows a little about formations and has readjusted the mechanism of the Nine Yin Soul-Suppressing Bell, making its coverage area larger. If someone trespasses, someone could die..."

Du Juan listened and took notes silently, feeling that she still had a lot to learn in terms of serving the master.

After the young maid repeatedly confirmed that nothing had been missed, Du Juan looked up at the warm spring sun, then at the direction of Chen Xuan's room, and said, "The weather has been quite nice lately. Although it's still chilly in spring, the sun shines brightly at midday, and Master is resting comfortably."

Nodding, she knew that her master's comfort was the most important thing, but looking at the clear sky, a hint of worry appeared between her brows. "Sister Dujuan," she said, "have you noticed? It seems like it's hardly rained since the New Year. I wonder if I'm remembering wrong."

Seeing her worried expression, Dujuan asked, "It seems that's really the case, Roujia, what are you worried about?"

"It's nothing, it's just that if it doesn't rain, it will affect the spring planting soon. I used to live in the countryside, and every spring I looked forward to rain, but I was also worried about torrential rain. All year round, we relied on the abundant spring rain to plant the crops, and then we would have good weather for the whole year. Last year, I heard that several states in Rongguo in the south were suffering from drought, affecting the livelihoods of tens of millions of people. The whole of Rongguo was in turmoil, and people were living in misery. So it hasn't rained since the New Year. I'm worried that something like that might happen around us. If that happens... ptooey, ptooey, may the bad things come true and may the good things come true. God bless us, just pretend I didn't say anything." As she spoke, the little girl quickly corrected herself and secretly apologized.

So that's what she was worried about. Dujuan pondered for a moment and said, "Sister Roujia, these are not things we should be thinking about, nor are they things we can control. Don't think so much about it."

"Yes, I know," the little girl nodded. Having experienced hardship, she knew how terrible a drought could be, but worrying was useless. She could only hope that God would protect her.

At that moment, Chen Xuan's lazy voice came from the second floor: "I slept really well. I think I heard Sister Juan and you guys discussing the weather?"

"Master is awake. Did we disturb you?" Du Juan quickly asked, and went to get a hot water towel to help Chen Xuan wash his face.

Shaking his head, Chen Xuan said, "No, sir, I woke up naturally and overheard something. Just as Sister Juan said, some things are beyond our control, so there's no need to overthink it. Even if something does happen, we can still offer some protection within our power, but beyond that, we can't do much more."

To avoid upsetting Chen Xuan, the little maid helped him tidy his disheveled clothes and changed the subject, saying, "Master, everything is almost ready. Is there anything else we're missing?"

"You guys can handle the armor, I don't care. We'll pack up and leave in a bit. Oh, you even brought the bow and arrows? Mo Yu, when did you get into our house? I didn't notice." Chen Xuan said, looking at the bow box with a puzzled expression.

The young girl said, "It was here last year, always kept in the storeroom. I noticed it when I was tidying up. Maybe the Gao family gave it to Master when he moved. I wasn't with Master yet then. Is that bow called Moyu? I thought Master said Wanku Mountain was extremely dangerous, so maybe it would come in handy, so I took it out to bring with me."

"I really didn't notice that. Just bring it along, as long as you don't find it troublesome. Speaking of which, this bow was personally commissioned by me. It cost a lot of money, and it actually came back to me after all these years. I wonder how Zhuo Erniu and Wu Sanniang, who went to Camel Bell Town, are doing. As for Zhou Hong, he was exiled to Camel Bell Town. He should be dead by now. If he's alive, he's a threat and will definitely be eliminated." As he spoke, Chen Xuan's thoughts wandered, and he started thinking about random things.

Chen Xuan didn't bring up these past events, and they didn't inquire about them intentionally.

Du Juan hesitated for a moment, looked at the little girl and said, "Master, I have also heard of Wanku Mountain. It is extremely dangerous. Many famous Xiantian masters have gone in and never came out again. It is a dangerous place with almost no chance of survival. I don't mean anything by it, but Roujia's cultivation is still shallow. Isn't it inappropriate for her to venture into such a dangerous place?"

That's true; she was genuinely concerned for the little girl's safety.

Upon hearing this, the little maid volunteered, "Master, if it's really as dangerous as Sister Dujuan said, it might cause trouble if I go with her. Why don't I just stay at home?"

Chen Xuan didn't seem to care, saying, "It's alright, I'll take care of everything. Nothing will happen to you. It's not that I'm arrogant, but I'm actually quite afraid of my life. If it's really dangerous, I can just back down. There's no shame in that. Besides, Roujia is already fifteen years old. She needs to experience things gradually. Consider it as accumulating experience. And besides, you haven't seen the sea before, have you? I've never seen it in my life either. Let's go see it together. Oh, right, let's go eat seafood, eat our fill! Let's go, I can't wait! Let's get ready and set off!"

"Yes, sir, we'll move the things that were drying inside and put them away right away. It'll be quick."

Since Chen Xuan had said so, they had no objections and quickly got to work.

The tidying up was completed quickly, and the Nine-Tone Soul-Suppressing Bell was placed in place. Soon, members of the Gao family would come to patrol around the courtyard. Any petty thieves who dared to trespass would be asking for trouble.

After closing and locking the door, and taking what they had prepared, Chen Xuan waved his hand, and the group soared into the sky, heading east towards Wanku Mountain along the coast.

The young girl's cultivation was shallow, and she still dared not open her eyes even as she moved forward at great speed.

Du Juan, on the other hand, had no such concerns and had already gotten used to it. Looking at the pink and yellow dress Su Roujia was wearing, she said in surprise, "Roujia, this dress is really beautiful. Hmm? The fabric seems to be made of ice silk?"

"Yes, Sister Dujuan. Master gave it to me for the New Year. It's made of extremely tough fabric. Master said that even ordinary cultivators at the Houtian realm would have difficulty breaking through its defenses. My cultivation is shallow, so wearing it provides an extra layer of security," the little girl with her eyes closed nodded.

Chen Xuan immediately said, "Don't be too superstitious about the defensive power of the Ice Silkworm Silk in the Soft Armor, and don't just believe everything I say. It can only defend against some sharp weapons from those at the Acquired Realm. If it encounters blunt weapons or brute force, it still won't be very effective."

“I know, sir. I’ve had some free time lately and have been asking Sister Juan about martial arts. I’ve learned a lot and I won’t be careless anymore. I still have to serve you for the rest of my life,” the little maid said earnestly, her eyes still closed.

Chen Xuan said with a sigh, "You're so eager to learn from Roujia. I was thinking of waiting another year or two before having Sister Juan teach you these techniques. It's up to you. By the way, how's your practice of the Nine Absolutes Saber Technique coming along?"

"Master, I have already learned it and mastered it, but it's been too short to apply it in actual combat. Sister Juan said I still need to work harder. Even though the internal energy, lightness skills and swordsmanship that you taught me are top-notch, I couldn't even withstand a single move from Sister Juan. Sister Juan is really amazing," the little girl said with sincere admiration.

Du Juan comforted her, "Sister Roujia, you've only suffered from a lack of cultivation and experience. I've cultivated for nearly thirty years longer than you. With the unique skills Master taught you, I won't be your match in another year or two at most."

"How could that be? Although I don't know much, I understand the gap between myself and Sister Juan," the little girl said with a smile, knowing full well what she was doing.

Shaking his head, Chen Xuan said, "Alright, you two don't need to be so polite with each other. We're family, no need to worry about these things. Besides, I'm not a stingy person. As long as you have the energy, and as long as I have the resources, I'll teach you whatever you want to learn. I remember Sister Juan said she's good at swordsmanship, right? I suppose you've seen the Nine Absolute Swords at Roujia's place. If you want to learn, ask her to tell you. I'm lazy, so it'll save you trouble. Also, I'm usually forgetful and impulsive, so I can't be fair to everyone. There will always be times when I overlook things. So, when I have time, I'll arrange for Sister Juan to get some clothes made of ice silk."

"Thank you, sir, but there's no need to go to so much trouble. I'm already very grateful to have you take me in, how could I ask for more?" Du Juan immediately shook her head and said.

However, Chen Xuan ignored what she said and made the decision forcefully: "It's decided then. The fundamental techniques should not be changed. Besides, I only taught her the Soft Armor Azure Cloud Floating Floss Lightness Skill and the Nine Absolute Blades. If Sister Juan wants to practice later, she can demonstrate for you. We still have plenty of Ice Silkworm Silk at home, so don't try to save it for your master." Since things had come to this point, what could Du Juan say? She could only say that her master was too kind and that she owed him too much, and that she would have to be even more diligent in the future.

At this moment, the little maid said again, "Sister Juan, Master also gave me a maid outfit. I've been out all this time, so you haven't seen me wear it yet, have you? It looks very nice, though it's a little indecent, but Master likes to see it. If Sister Juan were on the boat, hehe, a lot of white cleavage would be showing, which would definitely make people blush and their hearts race. And stockings too. Oh, speaking of stockings, I'm wearing them now, but they're covered by my skirt."

"Is that so? Then thank you again, sir," Dujuan said sincerely, her heart stirred by the maid's words. Since the master liked to see it, she would definitely wear it. She was completely his now, and she would do anything to please him and make him happy.

Chen Xuan chuckled. They were having a nice chat on the way, but how did things suddenly become so inappropriate? But to be honest, he was also looking forward to seeing Du Juan's hot figure in a maid outfit. It would definitely look amazing.
He never hides his true self. Forget about being a hypocrite; he's a normal man too. Otherwise, what's the point of living? Being a womanizer isn't anything shameful.

With no outsiders around, they spoke freely. Having already entrusted the rest of their lives to Chen Xuan, his happiness was the most important thing, and shyness was simply not an issue.

It was only natural for Du Juan to give herself to Chen Xuan and dedicate her body and soul to him. After that day in the capital, Du Juan gave up the idea of ​​offering herself to him. She knew it would be disliked. Besides, given her personality, she still had the mentality that she was just a tool and would not do anything seductive.

Without thinking too much about it, Du Juan hesitated for a moment, remembering the little girl's shallow cultivation, and then changed the subject, asking, "Master, Sister Roujia has an exceptional talent for martial arts, even surpassing mine. I've only cultivated for a few more years than her. If she can make up for her shortcomings, she'll surpass me in just a few years. I know you are extremely skilled in alchemy, and my breakthrough in cultivation was only possible thanks to the pills you left behind. But why don't you give Sister Roujia some pills to improve her cultivation? That way, she can grow up quickly."

She was both serious and curious about this question. As the saying goes, those who are near the water get the moon first, but during this time, she had been with Su Roujia day and night and had never seen her take any pills.

Chen Xuan laughed and said, "Even though I've studied alchemy for seven years, I wouldn't dare say I'm an expert. I can only say I have a basic understanding. I can refine some pills that are sought after in the martial arts world and even cause bloodshed, but I'm still far from refining divine pills. As for not giving Roujia any pills, all medicines have some toxicity, and it's never good to force growth. Relying on external forces will affect the upper limit of future achievements. I think Sister Juan herself knows this well. Now that she has stepped into the Innate Realm, her cultivation improvement is far less than before, isn't it?"

Du Juan naturally agreed with what Chen Xuan said. After thinking for a moment, she sincerely said, "Master, I didn't mean anything by it, but have you considered that the Innate Realm is almost the limit for all martial artists? How many people in the world can reach the Grandmaster level? Take our Jing Kingdom for example, out of hundreds of millions of people, it might not be one in decades. So, isn't your requirement for the Soft Armor a bit too high? I hope you don't misunderstand. I just feel that instead of pursuing those illusory things, if we have the means, it's better to grow stronger as soon as possible, so that we can share more of your burdens. If I've said something wrong, I hope you won't blame me."

Hearing this, Chen Xuan realized that she was being sincere. He was moved and silently reflected on his actions, realizing that he had indeed been somewhat inconsiderate and even made some assumptions.

Yes, among all the martial artists in the world, how many can truly stand at the peak? The innate level is almost the limit. To become a grandmaster requires a combination of opportunity, talent, and luck; it cannot be forced.

In fact, if Du Juan's words were translated, it would mean that it was all about putting in the effort without real effort; not everyone has the talent of Chen Xuan.

After careful consideration, Chen Xuan felt that what she said made a lot of sense. He nodded and said, "Sister Juan has reminded me. It was indeed my oversight. Whether you cultivate on your own or take pills, your cultivation level is your own, and that can't be faked. As for the so-called hidden dangers and negative effects, they vary from person to person. Since the way of alchemy exists, it must have its reason for existing. As long as you don't do it recklessly, pills are, to put it bluntly, just an aid. In that case, if you need pills for your cultivation in the future, just leave them at home and take them yourself. I'm not a stingy person, but remember not to be impatient for quick results."

At this moment, Chen Xuan also understood that pills are only an aid. Not everyone has his own talent. As long as one doesn't act recklessly, a person's upper limit cannot be determined by pills; it's just that there aren't enough pills.

Moreover, if the pills really affect their potential or have negative effects, as my cultivation level increases and my understanding of alchemy deepens, wouldn't I be able to resolve such potential problems?

Furthermore, since his wife Zhou Qianning does not practice martial arts, Chen Xuan will definitely have to help her prolong her life in the future, and elixirs are one way to do so. If the two of them only have a few decades together and he has to watch her grow old, Chen Xuan himself feels extremely painful just thinking about it.

So he realized he had been biased. After reflecting on it, Chen Xuan suddenly understood.

"Master, that's not what I meant. I didn't dare to ask for too much. I just wanted to do my best to share your burdens," Du Juan said nervously, thinking that Chen Xuan had misunderstood her giving her the pills.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "Sister Juan, there's no need for that. I understand. Aren't you just trying to ease my burden? Those things are just sitting at home doing nothing anyway, so it's better for you to put them to good use."

Dujuan opened her mouth as if to speak, but didn't know what to say, feeling that things shouldn't be this way.

The young girl didn't think too much about it. She just wanted to do whatever the master ordered her to do, as long as he was happy...

As they spoke, Chen Xuan led them through many ups and downs, traversing thousands of mountains and rivers to the eastern coastal area of ​​Jing Kingdom, entering the territory of Quanzhou, the land where Wanku Mountain is located.

In the distance, they saw the vast and boundless sea, deep and magnificent, closely bordering the distant horizon and the sky, like an arc-shaped, unreachable azure mountain.

"Is that the sea? It's boundless and endless. Looking at it is like floating on the blue sky. How insignificant I am! I even feel a sense of fear rising in my heart," Du Juan murmured, her attention drawn to the vast sea, her expression moved and lost in thought.

Even Chen Xuan, a master of cultivation, felt a sense of powerlessness in the face of the boundless sea, and sincerely said, "Sister Juan's feeling isn't fear, but rather her awe of nature."

Du Juan nodded subconsciously.

Upon hearing this, the little girl yearned for it. Her tightly closed eyes opened subconsciously, and she looked at the sea in amazement, exclaiming, "The sea is so big, so wide, boundless and endless, with so much water!"

Chen Xuan...

Well, the little girl hasn't read many books; that's a true reflection of her inner self.

Naturally, she wouldn't laugh at him. She smiled and said, "There's a beach ahead. Let's go and experience the vastness of the sea up close. There's a small town not far away. After we've explored it, we can go to the town to ask about the exact location of Wanku Mountain. I only know that Wanku Mountain is on the eastern coast, but I don't know the specifics."

"When Master and Sister Roujia are playing on the beach, leave the task of finding out about Wanku Mountain to me," Dujuan volunteered, never forgetting her duty.

Chen Xuan didn't refuse, but said regretfully, "To be honest, although we're not heading south, the temperature here near the sea is quite a bit higher than in Yang County. It's a pity we won't be able to see any bikinis on the beach."

"What's a bikini?" the little girl asked curiously, her attention still on the sea.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "Roujia, you're still young. Don't pry into adult matters. By the way, it seems that Dongdaolou, one of the five major martial arts sects in Jing Kingdom, is located along the coast. I wonder if we'll run into anyone from Dongdaolou on our trip."

Speaking of which, Chen Xuan and Dongdaolou have a bit of a history. Zhang Lanlan is the goddaughter of the Dongdaolou leader and his wife. Chen Xuan met her once at Zhang Lanlan's house last year.

At this moment, Chen Xuan had already led them directly to the beach. The fine sand was free of any trash or pollution, making one want to roll around on it.

After landing, Dujuan said, "Master, you all have fun first. I'll go to town to inquire about Wanku Mountain."

"No rush, Sister Juan, is this your first time at the beach too? Let's take a look first. I guess it's because of the location, there aren't any coconut trees around..."

Before Chen Xuan could finish speaking, the little girl who had opened her eyes earlier felt an immediate wave of discomfort wash over her as soon as her feet touched solid ground. Her stomach churned, her face turned pale, and she quickly put down her things, covered her mouth, and ran to the side, saying, "Why don't I learn my lesson? Master, please forgive me, I'll be right back. Don't look, ugh..."

"Master, I'll go see Sister Roujia first." Seeing this, Dujuan temporarily abandoned her idea of ​​going to town and walked over to the little maid.

With her taking care of Chen Xuan, things were much easier. He simply kicked off his shoes and stepped onto the soft sand.

Facing the sea, he hesitated, then decided against it. He didn't have Xiao Gao's literary talent; he shouldn't force himself... (End of Chapter)