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

Amidst this joy, Chu Mingkong's gaze towards his sister Xiao Yunhan grew increasingly reluctant, wishing time could linger at this moment and not wanting it to begin moving on.

After eating her fill, Gugu fell asleep with a sweet smile on her face in no time. Chu Mingkong took the baby from Zhi'er's mother's arms and walked out of the room with Yunhan, preparing to take Gugu back to Aunt Gu.

As soon as he stepped out of the room, Chu Mingkong asked:

"Yunhan, are you about to leave?"

The aloof woman with a calm expression nodded, her gaze falling on Xiao Gugu and also on her younger brother, Chu Mingkong.

"Yes, we should have returned to our sect after leaving Kunlun, but we stayed a little longer because of Gugu's birth."

"I was thinking, since you've already stayed, you might as well wait until you see the baby of Consort Zhi's mother come out before you go back..."

"The cuckoo's arrival hadn't even cooled down much, and Yunhan, you're already planning to leave."

Despite his reluctance, Chu Mingkong's rationality told him that it was impossible for her to wait until her mother's baby was born. By then, the baby would have arrived at the Sword Dynasty, and the round trip would take almost a year.

Bai Niang flicked her tongue from Chu Mingkong's sleeve, peeking out her white head, and said:

“Then I will leave with Yunhan as well, so that we don’t leave one after another and leave behind more reluctance. It will also be good to escort Yunhan back for a while.”

Chu Mingkong was stunned for a moment, then sighed:

"The feeling of being left one after another, like being slowly boiled like frogs in water, is just as unpleasant as the feeling of both of you leaving at once."

Xiao Yunhan wasn't good at comforting people. In silence, she leaned closer to her younger brother and hugged him, sandwiching Xiao Gugu between them.

Chu Mingkong kissed Yun Han's delicate cheek, then quickly perked up:

"Then they probably didn't leave today, right?"

"Not today, we can stay for a few more days," Xiao Yunhan said, but she did not specify a time, since she was already staying in the Immortal Treasure Pavilion longer than originally planned.

Chu Mingkong nodded, then joked:

"It's better not to be so sad now. If you let your emotions pass by now, it'll be funny if you can't create a feeling of reluctance when you leave in a few days."

Xiao Yunhan spoke quite directly, saying:

"Then you should spend more time with me these next few days to make up for the regret of not being able to see each other in the future."

"..."

Chu Mingkong wondered if this meant he would have to spend all his time cultivating with them.

Although it was like this a few days ago, the arrival of Gugu slightly interrupted the siblings' cultivation habits. We couldn't just leave the baby aside and let them play by themselves, could we?

"Yes, I will. I'll go take Gugu back now and come find you later."

"Row."

......

Chu Mingkong carried the baby Gugu back to Aunt Gu's place. As soon as he entered, he saw the little cat clinging to Aunt Gu, nestled in her arms, her little face looking at Chu Mingkong with a wronged expression.

Incidentally, after last month's teenage kitten, this month it has regressed back to the age of toddlers learning to wear cloth.

"Oh~ What's wrong with Kitty? Why does your little face look so wronged?" Chu Mingkong said deliberately, while affectionately nuzzling the little Gugu in his arms.

Gugu chuckled softly in her little voice, seemingly dreaming of something, before falling back asleep.

The cat felt neglected and extremely sad when it saw its father now only caring about the baby.

Gu Jun Gui, somewhat annoyed, pulled the kitten closer to his arms and said irritably:

"Mingkong, you can't keep bullying Maomao like this. Maomao is getting really sad."

Chu Mingkong didn't dare to joke too much. Even a jealous person has a limit to their tolerance. He gently put down the fast-sleeping Gu Gu, lay down next to Aunt Gu, and picked up the cat to comfort her.

The best way to soothe a cat is to offer it some treats. The little one snuggles in his arms, munching on dried fruit like a little squirrel.

“Aunt Gu has just had a baby, so she has to spend a lot of energy on Gu Gu. Cat shouldn’t be treated so unfairly.” Chu Mingkong stroked his daughter’s hair.

Gu Jungui then scolded:

"Kitty, don't listen to your dad's nonsense. Aunt Gu still loves you just the same. Come see Aunt Gu whenever you want, okay?"

"Mmm..." Cat nodded in relief. She ate a few bites of dried fruit, then noticed that Gu Gu seemed to want to suckle Aunt Gu, so she also said in a spoiled tone, "Aunt Gu, Cat's mouth is dry..."

Her little scheme was just fooling herself; Chu Mingkong and Gu Jungui could easily see through Maomao's thoughts.

Chu Mingkong thought about getting her a glass of water to quench her thirst, but then decided against it and decided not to bother her this time.

With Gu Jungui's nod of approval, the two little ones huddled together around Gu Jungui's impressive figure, savoring the warmth.

Chapter Three: The Strange Events of the Sword Dynasty

The Immortal Treasure Pavilion had traveled countless miles along the way, and the flying house itself had become a scenic spot. Occasionally, wandering cultivators would come up and knock on the door, asking what it was for.

Immediately, a female cultivator knocked on the door, asking where the pavilion led and what faction it belonged to. Judging from this, the female cultivator had probably never been to the area surrounding the Heavenly Extreme Empire.

The feeling was somewhat strange. Many of the rogue cultivators they encountered earlier recognized the business of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, but after walking a certain distance, no one knew about it anymore.

It seems that he has now completely become a foreigner in a foreign land.

Since Qingse had nothing better to do, she decided to first investigate the local customs and traditions to avoid inadvertently breaking their rules (and affecting her business).

She was well aware that she was no longer protected by her "gang," and if she made a wrong move, she would be subjected to regional protectionism and malicious exclusion by the local natives. She should try her best to avoid this situation.

"Young lady, my name is Qingse. May I ask how I should address you?" Qingse gave a familiar business smile, which, while polite, was impeccably appropriate.

"Just call me Miss Li. I'm just a rogue cultivator. May I ask what this pavilion is for?" The female cultivator surnamed Li looked around curiously and met Chu Mingkong's gaze from the second-floor window. She nodded in acknowledgment.

Qingse immediately brought up the name of her Xianzhen Pavilion, but of course, being unfamiliar with the place, she didn't mention her family's various private businesses.

She was practically stating the story of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion she had envisioned building. Although it sounded a bit funny to those who knew the inside story, Qingse was in an unfamiliar place, and with her current resources, she might still have a chance to get on the right path.

Miss Li suddenly realized:

"I had heard that there was a similar auction house in the Tianji Empire. It seems that you hosted some kind of auction event in the East Sea. I have never traveled far from home, but I heard that the Immortal Treasure Pavilion is an island. Why do you only have one house flying around?"

Qingse choked, then said with a smile that concealed a dagger, "I think the Immortal Island flies too slowly and is inconvenient for movement!"

The young woman surnamed Li nodded in understanding, and then said:

"However, you just said you were going to the Sword Dynasty, but I'm afraid that's not possible. Something has happened there, and a sword domain has been erected across the entire country. Anyone who dares to trespass will suffer severe damage. It seems that they haven't allowed anyone to pass through for several months."

Chu Mingkong, who was enjoying the view from the second floor and planning to listen to some local customs and traditions, suddenly paused in surprise.

The Sword Dynasty isn't letting anyone in? What happened?

His figure instantly appeared on the first floor, greeted the rogue cultivator with a bow, offered him a few spirit stones, and then asked:

"Miss Li, could you tell me more about what happened on the Sword Dynasty's side? Even the smallest details are fine. Could it be that there's been some internal turmoil?"

Although Miss Li was a rogue cultivator, her family background must have been quite good; she did not accept Chu Mingkong's advances.

"I don't know much more. I'm just a minor cultivator living in seclusion in this area. The Sword Emperor Dynasty is still several months away from here, and I know very little about the situation there."

Even the news of the Sword Emperor Dynasty's closure several months ago only reached my ears after quite some time had passed.

Chu Mingkong felt regretful, but at least he learned some information.

Was the closure a few months ago related to the Kunlun incident? There should still be some connection.

Chu Mingkong stopped asking questions and let Ren Qingse continue to entertain the Miss Li, while he turned to find his master's precious treasure.

Upon hearing the news of the Sword Emperor Dynasty's closure, Qingse felt a sense of foreboding!

Is it really that bad? My Immortal Treasure Pavilion hasn't even arrived yet, and you're already starting to exclude me from your market? Isn't this a bit too much protection?

Considering that the area surrounding the Sword Dynasty was also a blank market, Qingse began to plan ahead:

"Miss Li, come and see what I sell here. I have elixirs and precious materials. Most of them will be to your liking!"

By the way, I'd like to ask what places are near the Sword Dynasty, and what kind of goods the cultivators here like?

Is there excessive pressure during spiritual practice, requiring methods to relieve physical and mental stress? Are the principles of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame strictly enforced?

The barrage of questions left Miss Li dizzy and overwhelmed, so she could only answer them one by one slowly.

Chu Mingkong quickly found Zuo Qiuchi's location. Having lost Elder Jiu, a newly acquainted drinking buddy with a similar taste in alcohol, Zuo Qiuchi, as usual, went to bother Yun Nongyu.

Especially after Yun Nongyu and Chu Mingkong developed various relationships, she became increasingly helpless in the face of Zuo Qiuchi's bear hug.

Inside the room, two beautiful women, each with their own unique charm, were embracing. To be precise, Zuo Qiuchi was casually holding Yun Nongyu, the blankets covering them creating a rounded, full silhouette, and two pairs of white, jade-like feet protruding from under the blankets.

Zuo Qiuchi was fast asleep, practicing his sleeping skills, while Yun Nongyu closed her eyes to cultivate, skillfully accepting the current situation and circumstances.

Chu Mingkong sat down beside her and, relying on his memory, accurately located Yun Nongyu's fair and beautiful feet, gently pinching her delicate, pearl-like toes.

Then, he pulled the large salted fish out of the blanket, held it himself, and asked:

“My dear Master, wake up for a while. I just heard some news about the Sword Dynasty.”

Zuo Qiuchi opened her sleepy eyes, glanced disdainfully at the rebellious disciple who had disturbed her sleep, and then said:

"What's going on? Have we already arrived? Don't scare me, let me sleep a little longer."

Is this Sword Dynasty a society that values ​​involution? Why is it that the closer Master gets to home, the more he seizes the time to sleep in?

"No, just now a rogue cultivator said that the Sword Dynasty is closed off, and it seems that outsiders are not allowed to enter. Do you know what this situation is?"

"Is that so? Then there's really nothing we can do. Let's head back to Kunlun now, or go to the Wenqing Pavilion. That way you won't have to suffer the pain of parting with Yunhan."

Zuo Qiuchi was overjoyed, but she was only joking. She regained her composure and asked again:

"Really sealed off? I don't know what's going on. We haven't been in touch for years. Let's talk about it when we get there. Who do you think I am? I won't let them seal off the country just like that."

Did that rogue cultivator say how the seal was placed? Did he just instruct his disciples to set up a cordon and prevent anyone from approaching, or something else?

"It's called a sword domain, but what is it?"

Zuo Qiuchi raised an eyebrow, puzzled:

"Such a grand formation! This sword domain can be considered a national protective formation. I wonder how many old sword immortals have poured their efforts into it. I heard that one old sword immortal even buried his own remains in it as the core of the formation."

I'd only ever heard of this thing; what happened?

Chu Mingkong felt uneasy after hearing this introduction. He had a family to support, with elderly parents and young children. Maybe he should just turn back and leave?

When will the Sword Dynasty settle down before we come back to "visit relatives"?

Yun Nongyu said, "Perhaps Your Highness could find a nearby market town to stop and inquire about the situation first."