Let me explain, it's not what you think.

Due to her status, Zi Yao did not take a seat. She only stood at the entrance of the hall for a moment before turning and leaving.

After all, as a "senior," she also has her own reputation. Although she doesn't want to pretend in front of Lu Chen's relatives and friends, it's quite necessary in this critical moment.

Jiang Yu would never come; she's long gone.

Wearing a disguise mask, Yu Ning stood in the corner, serving wine and food to everyone like a real wet nurse, without saying a word.

Zhang Fan's gaze kept drifting towards her unconsciously. He would glance at her, take a sip of his drink, glance at her again, and then take another sip.

The person in front of him looked too much like Yu Ning; he thought of her.

Lin Tian was the first to raise his glass and toast Lu Chen.

"Junior brother, after spending these past few days together, I've realized that Fairy Ziyao and the others are truly good to you! As long as you're alright, that's all that matters. At first, I was genuinely afraid that she'd... devour you alive!"

Lu Chen smiled and drank a glass with him.

After the glasses were put down, everyone relaxed even more.

Lu Chen talked with everyone, sharing his "experiences" during this period in vivid detail.

As they drank, their expressions gradually darkened in different directions.

Hu Wei sat alone at the table, holding a glass of wine. He didn't clink glasses with anyone or say any toasts. He drank one glass after another in silence, clearly burdened by something.

It seems... to be related to the last test.

Lin Tian sat at the table next to Zhuang Jingbai.

But Zhuang Jingbai didn't look at him once after she sat down. She just kept her head down and ate her food, occasionally exchanging a few words with Jiang Huaiyu next to her.

Lin Tian looked at her without saying a word, and drank cup after cup.

He speaks so casually, but who can understand the pain in his heart?

Wang Feng sat opposite Lin Tian.

So he could also see Jiang Huaiyu, who was sitting upright and didn't look at him once from beginning to end.

"Ugh!"

Wang Feng still drank the wine. He picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp, as if he were trying to swallow something.

Then, he also started the "ton-ton-ton" mode.

But Zhang Fan was the one who drank the most.

Because that stranger's figure, his posture, the angle at which he tilted his head slightly when pouring wine were all... so similar to hers!

Sometimes he impulsively wanted to ask her what her name was and where she came from, but he just didn't have the courage to stand up, he couldn't even take a step, and could only drink helplessly.

Because she wasn't Yu Ning, such a presumptuous question would embarrass him and make everyone think he was a womanizer.

Lu Chen sat in the main seat, watching all of this unfold, and then sighed.

They still couldn't let go! But he had no other choice, because now... no one could turn back! It had to be a clean break!

In the end, the group got completely drunk, and Lu Chen arranged for them to stay in a palace guest room, right next to his own.

Yeah, next door.

Afterwards, he returned to his own palace.

They're leaving tomorrow, and he's feeling quite reluctant to part with them.

……

In Ziyao's boudoir.

Jiang Yu was sitting opposite her at that moment, discussing something with her.

"You've already reached the Integration Stage, while Lu Chen is hampered by inner demons and can't break through. You know that!"

"I know my husband has inner demons, but... how can I help him with this? Besides, our child is a top secret, so how did outsiders find out? My husband's identity was almost exposed!"

"The key point is Lu Chen's cultivation level! Can't you see that? Lu Chen is a gentleman, loyal and righteous, but the people around him...!"

"So, he's developed a mental block about this. If we treat the root cause, we can definitely help him break through to the Nascent Soul stage! Otherwise, with his lifespan of only a few hundred years, he wouldn't even amount to a fraction of yours!"

Upon hearing this, Zi Yao's eyes instantly cleared.

Yes, improving my husband's cultivation level is the most important task; everything else is just nonsense!

She stood up, pushed the door open, and walked out.

Zhuang Jingbai and Jiang Huaiyu were staying in the same guest room and were both surprised to see Ziyao suddenly visit.

Zi Yao didn't stand on ceremony.

She closed the door and stepped barefoot onto the ground.

"My husband is troubled by inner demons, so I need your help!"

"What happened?"

Ziyao briefly recounted what she had just discussed with Jiangyu.

After he finished speaking, the room was quiet for a while.

"Yes, it would be strange if someone as righteous as him didn't have inner demons after encountering something like this!" Zhuang Jingbai sighed.

"How can we help him?"

Zi Yao did not answer.

Even without her saying it, everyone present knew what the answer was.

Afterwards, the three women entered Yu Ning's room. Yu Ning, needless to say, even wanted to be the first to help her get rid of her inner demons!

Because of her inner demons, she has been unable to break through for so many years, wasting a lot of time.

"Listen, my husband isn't just my man, he belongs to all of us! So... we absolutely must succeed this time!" Ziyao said, extending one hand.

Zhuang Jingbai stared at her for a long time.

"I'm fine!"

Then she reached out and placed her hand on the back of Ziyao's hand, which was resting on the table.

Jiang Huaiyu and Yu Ning didn't say anything, but walked over and placed their hands on the back of their hands, expressing their determination through their actions.

...............

Looking at the serious-looking crowd, Lu Chen sensed something was wrong, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was.

Zi Yao didn't come because Lu Chen's inner demons didn't include him.

None of the three women spoke; they simply stared at Lu Chen, who had just woken up.

Lu Chen blinked, then blinked again, to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

"What...what are you doing?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Ning immediately walked over to him, squatted down, and took his hand.

"My husband, there's something we need to make clear to you."

"We...have never regretted it."

"And we will absolutely cut ties with them completely!"

"So, stop blaming yourself."

The three women's chatter left Lu Chen even more confused.

"No, what are you trying to do? I don't understand."

"My husband doesn't need to understand. You just need to know that we can support the Lu family!"

……

After being persuaded by everyone, Lu Chen's mindset did indeed change.

Jiang Huaiyu, in particular, was very resentful because he had not experienced anything else with the two women and wanted Lu Chen to give her a fair chance.

Lu Chen was also helpless; he couldn't do anything about this situation where people were worried about scarcity and inequality.

Jiang Huaiyu even arrogantly provoked Wang Feng!

In this environment, Lu Chen no longer had the same reckless attitude he had when facing Tantai Qingxue.

He began to pay attention to his inner self and wanted to know what he was really thinking.

Ultimately, he came to the conclusion that... they could never go back to the way things were.

Furthermore, he had developed feelings for all these women and couldn't bear to watch them leave him.

Since we can't watch them leave, then we can only...

He decided to take the initiative and change his current chaotic situation!

We can no longer remain passive and mindless like before, otherwise things will only become more and more irreversible as the Hehuan Sect continues to do business!