Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Chu Mingkong inquired about the Zhong family's affairs on behalf of Sister-in-law Huang. Madam Hongxiang had lived in the East Sea for a long time and had little contact with the immortal islands, but she was generally aware of the situation.

The Zhong family was a cultivator family on Penghu Island. Madam Hongxiang even remembered that there was such a person as Zhong Feihuang. However, when it came to Zhong Feihuang's parents and family, Madam Hongxiang knew very little. She only said that the couple liked to travel and she hadn't heard any news about them for a long time.

She might have returned to the East China Sea sometime soon, but she doesn't know. It's also possible that she hasn't returned for many years; it's hard to say.

After the three female cultivators left, Chu Mingkong excused himself by saying he was "afraid of being seen by others visiting him again," and did not personally see them off. Madam Hongxiang and the others understood.

After they left the Xiaoxiang Qin Academy's residence, Chu Mingkong glanced helplessly under the table.

"Shadow, can you come out now?"

"Didn't I just get it for you? If you want it again, just beg me~"

"...I mean, could you come out from under the table first!"

Chapter 107 Coming Up to Find My Mother

After Twin Dragon Island, other sects and forces also visited. Some said they wanted to discuss marriage, some said they were just admiring them, and some went straight to the point and wanted to discuss that ancient artifact...

Perhaps because "Red Bull" is a rather special thing, most people would mind two grown men discussing it. Those who come to him are mostly female cultivators, ranging from petite lolis to graceful young girls to charming young women.

Although contact with women is a great pleasure, if the purpose is not pure, the interaction will be tiring, and Chu Mingkong was extremely annoyed by it.

Furthermore, he brought two stunningly beautiful women with him. Even without the Five Elements cultivation to "optimize" their physique and temperament, Xiao Zhi and Pei Mi were both first-rate beauties. Therefore, after rushing around to several events, Chu Mingkong didn't have any real in-depth conversations with either of them.

It was just a fleeting encounter, but after being bothered for so long, Chu Mingkong couldn't sit still any longer and decided to switch tactics.

First, they pretended to leave, and then moved from Xiaoxiang Qin Academy to the neighboring Wenqing Pavilion to divert attention!

"Ugh, this is so annoying. I wasn't going to stay for more than a few days anyway, and now I have to keep hiding from people like this..." Chu Mingkong sighed. He always hated social obligations and the like.

Even just spacing out in a social setting makes him feel like his time is being wasted, filling him with impatience.

“That’s normal. The higher you go, the more things you have to deal with. Mingkong, you’re doing pretty well now, right? Many things are handled by others.” Shangguan Rong accompanied him and helped him settle into his accommodation.

The plan to leave Donghai undetected was devised with the help of Shangguan Rong.

"I feel like Rong'er is implying something to me..." Chu Mingkong was very self-aware, but he was still very confident.

Although his two mothers and Rong'er handled matters in Xiling, and Qingse took care of economic affairs, he still felt a great sense of accomplishment.

"It's not an implication, it's an explicit statement!" Shangguan Rong didn't mince words, but her tone softened as she continued, "However, the things you handle are things that no one else can do for you. It's just that, from what I've read in books, in some gangs and organizations, someone like you, who doesn't get involved in anything, is easily sidelined."

Chu Mingkong thought for a moment and indeed managed to glean some stories from his memories. They were roughly about the top combatants at the top immersing themselves in martial arts, while the people below unknowingly sidelined their leader and went about their own business.

However, such things mostly happen in secular life and are rarely seen in the world of cultivation. A hard fist is everything, and the strong are the foundation of a power.

"I know Rong'er, you want me to pay more attention to those important matters, but my mind isn't on them. If I pay more attention, you'll be very motivated!"

Shangguan Rong thought to herself, "Paying more attention is just an excuse, but it's really true that I'm paying more attention." However, she figured there was no difference between the two for Ming Kong.

"By the way, did Qingse tell you about the investigation into the Moon River Goddess?" Chu Mingkong realized he had forgotten to ask today.

"No, Qingse spent a lot of money to ask the people in the city to keep an eye out for women dressed as Yueqi, but they were mostly merchants from the Crescent Moon Kingdom, with very few cultivators."

The Crescent Moon Kingdom used to be very chaotic, but under normal circumstances, it was extremely self-sufficient in resources and incredibly wealthy. The cultivation method based on totem worship meant that they didn't need to rely on external things and rarely went to "markets." They wouldn't even attend these century-old auctions, except for merchants.

Hearing that even a woman dressed suspiciously like Yueqi couldn't be found, Chu Mingkong felt a little melancholy.

He really wanted to find a biological mother for the cat, and now that the cat is a toddler learning to walk, it might want a biological mother to hold it even more.

As a result, ever since that brief encounter, when I glanced at his buttocks, nothing more was ever heard from him.

Even if he made a mistake back then, at least let him see who the real person is and put an end to that idea.

This way, he can leave decisively, instead of lingering here with lingering thoughts, hiding and fearing that someone might ask him for Niu Niu.

"If we stay here for two more days and still don't hear anything, we'll just run away."

Chu Mingkong made up his mind that he could not waste any more time here, but after he finished speaking, he belatedly felt annoyed. An essential point for keeping the girls on friendly terms was not to explicitly show any particular interest in any one of them.

Even if you don't want to neglect anyone, constantly talking about the same person can easily lead to misunderstandings and conflicts.

Expressing feelings requires actions, but it also requires words. In fact, speaking is more important than doing, because what you do may not be seen by the girl, and if she doesn't see it, she doesn't know.

This is an experience learned from my two mothers, whose conflicts were far more intense than those between the young ladies...

"Rong'er, you've been so busy finding a mother for the cat that you're not feeling bloated yet?" Chu Mingkong walked up behind her, hugged Shangguan Rong, and stroked her lower abdomen through her clothes.

Her flat, soft abdomen was exceptionally sensitive. As soon as Chu Mingkong touched it, he felt Shangguan Rong tense up with nervousness.

"...Mingkong, this is the courtyard, we're outside!" Shangguan Rong thought he was suddenly acting recklessly.

"I'm asking you seriously, not trying to get you to do me a favor..." Chu Mingkong found it both funny and helpless. This feeling was just like when they were in the academy's library. Shangguan Rong didn't even dare to show him her back, afraid that he would betray her!

Seeing that Chu Mingkong really didn't intend to force himself on her amidst the flowers at the Wenqing Pavilion's residence, Shangguan Rong breathed a sigh of relief; there were quite a few people here...

"I don't want to have children for the time being."

Why?

"It's probably because my mother is pregnant, and I don't want my baby to be around the same age as my younger brother and sister; it feels a bit strange. My mother only recently brought this up with me."

"I see." Chu Mingkong suddenly realized that perhaps Jin Yu could help Rong'er comfort her at this time.

Chu Mingkong inquired about Shangguan Rong's family situation from time to time. The Shangguan family had now returned to the capital. After the sect's strength entered the game, the capital became stable, and the "inheritance" that was supposed to be divided had all been snatched up. What was there to worry about?

However, the family's grand ambition, that of his father-in-law Shangguan Mingzhe, to become a prime minister was completely shattered.

Chu Mingkong also conveyed his message through Shangguan Rong, asking if the Shangguan family in the capital would be willing to come to Xiling. Arranging such a trip would be easy, as Chu Mingkong just wanted Rong'er to feel at ease.

Unfortunately, Shangguan Mingzhe still refused, feeling that the capital was always an "upper circle," and wanted to keep his family there. That was roughly the gist of it.

If anything happens, Chu Mingkong will just go and pick them up himself.

After escorting Shangguan Rong back to her room to rest, Chu Mingkong continued to stroll around the courtyard alone, pondering the matter of his demonic fetus and mentally asking the system for advice on whether there was anything he should be careful about.

The gaze from above interrupted Chu Mingkong's thoughts.

He peered in the direction of his gaze and saw his master's wife, Shen Xuejun, watching him from upstairs.

If he wanted to conceal his gaze, his master's wife's cultivation level would make it easy. Her directness was tantamount to telling him...

Come up and find me.

Chapter 108 Come over and help your master's wife take off her stockings

Chu Mingkong entered his master's wife's room and noticed that Shen Xuejun was observing him. He had been stared at like this before when he met his master's wife, but at those times her observation was indifferent.

He remembered that when he was cultivating this demonic fetus, he had wondered if his master's wife would have any special feelings for it.

This feeling wasn't the so-called "your aura is a bit strange," but rather "your current aura is similar to that of an infant," which was the effect Chu Mingkong wanted.

Previously, his master's wife had more or less wanted to manipulate and control him. To change this without damaging their relationship, the demonic fetus of the "Hehuan True Scripture" was a point of hope for Chu Mingkong.

Now is the moment to truly prove this!

"Master's wife, what is it?" Chu Mingkong walked straight over and sat down opposite her, without turning into a child.

The reason it was the same last time was that there were other people present, so there was an excuse. This time it should be a private meeting, so there is no excuse.

But we still need to be bolder and change course only if things don't look right!

The aloof and beautiful master across from me had her silver hair styled in a matronly bun, adorned with a shimmering, icy phoenix-shaped jade hairpin. Today, she wore her familiar white dress, her skin as white as snow, the whiteness complementing the dress perfectly. A ribbon around her slender waist outlined the graceful curves of her ample breasts. Certain areas of the dress were translucent from the cold air, revealing glimpses of her skin. This time, it was the lower edge of her breasts, where one could vaguely see the dark depths beneath her flawless whiteness—the abyss between her two peaks.

Chu Mingkong's gaze flickered over those faintly visible areas, not daring to look for too long, and finally he had to calmly return his gaze to his master's wife.

She sat in front of the carved window, with the bright light of the East China Sea behind her. In the backlight, this snow-white, cold and beautiful woman appeared unusually dark and gloomy. Her exquisite features and indifferent, snow-like eyes gained a mysterious and profound beauty from the change in light and shadow.

"Mingkong, you've cultivated your divine soul?" Her question was very simple.

Chu Mingkong felt relieved, but a new tension arose... He was relieved because his master's wife wasn't asking why he didn't shrink. Things shouldn't happen more than three times, and saying the same thing too many times would carry a blaming tone. But he was nervous because he couldn't explain the method of cultivating demonic thoughts.

The previous claims could be considered somewhat believable, but the demonic fetus is not such an ordinary matter; cultivation at the soul level is severed.

"Yes, I stumbled upon some secret techniques and tried them out." He said it rather vaguely.

Fortunately, Shen Xuejun did not press for the origin of the secret technique.

"Do you know the details of cultivating the soul? You are cultivating demonic thoughts, which may lead people astray."

The recent incident of demonic possession within the Taoist sect was caused by some alchemy elders who concocted demonic thought pills to draw demonic thoughts into their bodies to nourish their souls, but they themselves became possessed by demons.

Chu Mingkong was stunned. His master's wife spoke in a plain, descriptive tone, but could this be considered a sign of concern?

Observe whether he has been influenced by demonic thoughts and become possessed by demons.

"I roughly know that demonic thoughts have their drawbacks, but I haven't been affected yet, perhaps because of the power of extreme Yin?"

In fact, Chu Mingkong has not yet truly begun the cultivation of demonic thoughts. His body can indeed seek out and absorb demonic thoughts in the world, but he has not refined and retained them within his body.

The "True Scripture of Union" aims to extract demonic thoughts from the bodies of women who have been afflicted with demonic possession, thus achieving self-sufficiency. It also suggests that demonic thoughts in the world should be refined as little as possible.

It seems that the ancients hid evil things in the demonic thoughts of heaven and earth, and the situation is even more serious in Buddhism.

"It's good that you weren't affected." She paused, then emphasized, "Cultivating demonic thoughts requires caution, and even caution isn't enough. It's a very troublesome power, and by the time the effects occur, it's basically too late. Later, find some time to go to the Kunlun Daoist sect and see those Daoists who were affected by demonic thoughts."

Is becoming a demon really that troublesome? Chu Mingkong thought of the female disciples from Xiaoxiang Qin Academy who had inexplicably become demons before. It didn't seem like a big deal, right? They were just not in their right mind and their aggression increased.

But why would a woman like my teacher's wife, who rarely goesssip, spread alarmist rumors or fob him off with nonsense? I'll go take a look later when I have time.

If someone like him were to become a demon, he would probably become some kind of unparalleled, powerful demon, right?

However, what Chu Mingkong was more concerned about now was whether his master's wife had any particular feelings about her.

I'm a little hesitant to ask directly, so I'll try to get it to me indirectly.

"Ahem... Master's wife, I have recently been cultivating this demonic thought, and I have just reached the initial stage. It is somewhat like when I first started cultivating and felt the five elements of spiritual energy in the world for the first time. I wonder if Master's wife sees anything unusual about me?"

What I mean is, the idea of ​​demonic thoughts sounds terrifying. What if my master's wife sees me covered in black mist?

Last time, Shen Xuejun explained to Chu Mingkong directly why she was close to his childlike form, and this time she did the same without any pretense.

"There is no black aura, but unlike ordinary apprentices who have just sensed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, you give your master's wife the feeling of a child who is born with the ability to sense spiritual energy, just like when Yunhan was young, after seeing my icy spiritual energy for the first time, she was able to cultivate icy spiritual energy on her own."

"But what you're attracting now is demonic energy. Why is that?"

If there is a divine infant, then there will naturally be a demonic fetus; it's not unusual.

But this shouldn't happen to an adult man...