541: Chapter 541 Those who know, know

In the spring courtyard, peach branches slanted gracefully, and the morning light filtered through the thin petals, scattering a layer of fragmented golden spots across the ground.

Just as Ling Hao sat down by the stone table, Mu Xiyao and An Ruosu walked in, one after the other.

Ever since the sugar painting incident yesterday spread throughout the Main City, the two women no longer avoided anything. They sat down on either side of him, as if they had planned it long ago.

Mu Xiyao made the first move.

She picked up a Spiritual Date from the food box, holding it by its stem between her fingertips, and brought it to Ling Hao's lips. Her sea-blue sleeve slid down, revealing half of her snow-white wrist, and the seashell bell chimed with the movement:

"Senior, try this."

Ling Hao lowered his head and took a bite. The date flesh was sweet and clear, its juice melting between his teeth, carrying a hint of cool Spiritual Qi.

An Ruosu, sitting on the other side, pursed her lips at the sight. After hesitating for a moment, she took a piece of peach blossom cake from her own food box and carefully held it in her palm, offering it to him:

"Senior... this, I made it early this morning. It's not sweet; it goes perfectly with tea."

Ling Hao lowered his head again and took a bite. The peach blossom cake was soft, light, and glutinous; it was indeed not sweet, complementing the fragrance of the tea perfectly.

Mu Xiyao glanced at An Ruosu and let out a laugh:

"Fellow Daoist An can make pastries? I certainly didn't expect that."

An Ruosu lowered her eyes slightly:

"My mother taught me."

As she spoke, she picked up another piece and brought it to Ling Hao's lips,

"If you like it, Senior, I will make it every day from now on."

Mu Xiyao's smile remained unchanged, and her other hand had already picked up a Spiritual Fruit to offer him:

"Senior, try this too. It's more refreshing than the peach blossom cake."

Ling Hao sat in the middle, taking a bite from the left, then a bite from the right, as if he were surrounded by two little birds competing to feed him, neither willing to fall even a step behind.

He was not in a hurry, accepting whatever came his way.

At another stone table not far away, Shopkeeper Shen Qingci and Senior Sister Bai Zijin sat opposite each other, each holding a cup of tea.

Shopkeeper Shen Qingci's gaze fell upon Mu Xiyao, then retracted a moment later. She lowered her head to take a sip of tea and sighed softly in her heart.

She had known Mu Xiyao for so many years; when had she ever seen this Young Miss be so attentive? Yesterday, she had told her, stubbornly insisting, "It's just business; I have to do this for the Mu Family." Yet today, she was feeding him personally—her intentions were practically written all over her Face.

Oh, Young Miss, my Young Miss, you say you don't like him, but your actions are clearer and more distinct than the ledger entries in our account books.

Senior Sister Bai Zijin held her teacup, her gaze also landing on An Ruosu.

Junior Sister Ruosu had been shy since childhood and, due to her talent, cultivated diligently every day, having no contact with male Cultivators. Now, she actually dared to compete with others for affection.

But her opponent just happened to be the Young Miss of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce... Senior Sister Bai Zijin lowered her head and sighed.

Oh, Junior Sister, my Junior Sister, this is the first time in your life you've competed with someone, and your opponent is the daughter of the Mu Family; the road ahead will not be easy.

Under the long corridor, Baili Rou, Zhu Jin, Bai Zhi, and Shu Lan were squeezed onto a single bench, each holding a slice of melon, watching with great interest.

"Sect Master likes sweet things," Baili Rou whispered, "that Spiritual Date should be more to his taste."

"The peach blossom cake is not bad either, it's light." Zhu Jin took a bite of her melon and replied indistinctly, "But which one does the Sect Master actually eat more of?"

"He ate two bites of the Spiritual Date, and three bites of the peach blossom cake." Bai Zhi spoke calmly, her gaze precise, "Sect Master prefers the peach blossom cake."

Shu Lan nodded, then her gaze fell on Mu Xiyao and An Ruosu, then back at her own Sect Master, and she tilted her head:

"What do you think? Does the Sect Master prefer them a bit bigger, or a bit smaller?"

"A bit bigger," Baili Rou said as a matter of course, "Look at Elder Nangong and Elder Baili, the Sect Master has certainly not— —"

"That's not necessarily true." Shu Lan shook her head, "I actually think the Sect Master also likes delicate ones, look at that Senior Grandma..."

"Shu Lan, what do you know? The Sect Master loves big— —"

"You all, restrain yourselves!" Baili Rou raised her hand and patted Zhu Jin on the shoulder, "The Sect Master can hear you!"

Ling Hao picked up his teacup and took a sip, the corners of his mouth curling upward. Suddenly, he looked toward the outside of Fusang Main City, his smile deepening.

"They're here?"

A thousand miles outside Fusang Main City.

A massive red-gold flying boat broke through the clouds. The hull was carved with a three-legged Golden Crow pattern, and a row of Cultivators clad in crimson armor stood at the bow, their Aura imposing. Wherever it passed, the clouds were dyed gold.

Inside the cabin, Saintess Yan Xueyuan leaned on a soft couch, her fingertips holding a Jade Slip, her expression indifferent.

Gan Yiyi knelt beside her and asked softly:

"Master, what does the message say?"

Saintess Yan Xueyuan put down the Jade Slip, her tone flat:

"It was sent by the Old Ancestor. She wants me to rush to Fusang Main City as soon as possible. Once I arrive, if I'm bored, I can go find Sister Xuewei. After the Golden Crow Saint arrives, I must obey him well."

She paused, the corner of her mouth twitching,

"She said the Golden Crow Saint will help me reach the Body Integration Stage. Heh..."

Body Integration Stage; she had already reached it.

Saintess Yan Xueyuan recalled those seven days, when that pervert used his most overbearing methods to soften, connect, and activate her body and heart, inch by inch.

After spending seven days without sleep or rest with that pervert, not only did she achieve a Breakthrough to the Body Integration Stage, but she also discovered that she could actually actively absorb Spiritual Qi.

How strange, his Chaos essence actually had such a magical effect? This thought flashed through her mind, but she maintained an indifferent expression on her Face.

Gan Yiyi watched Saintess Yan Xueyuan's silent profile and asked in a low voice:

"Master... are you thinking about the Lord?"

Saintess Yan Xueyuan turned her Face away:

"Who would think of him? That pervert wouldn't even let me go."

Gan Yiyi covered her mouth and chuckled:

"How could the Lord be a pervert? Master is so beautiful, isn't it only natural that the Lord wouldn't let you go?"

Saintess Yan Xueyuan couldn't be bothered to explain. The "pervert" she referred to didn't mean it in that way at all.

She meant that he knew she was a puppet but still insisted on being thorough, forcibly transforming her. That feeling of being turned inside out—even now, when she thought about it, her legs felt weak.

She lowered her eyes, but couldn't help wondering: I wonder if he has arrived at Fusang Main City yet? However, even if he had arrived, she couldn't openly go and find him.

When the flying boat passed through the final layer of clouds, the massive outline of Fusang Main City appeared outside the porthole. The city walls stretched out like mountain ranges, with pavilions stacked layer upon layer, and Spiritual light rising from all parts of the city.

The flying boat flew straight toward the tallest pavilion in the city—the Golden Crow Tower. This was the residence established by the Golden Crow Holy Land in Fusang Main City, entirely made of red gold. At the top of the tower, a three-legged Golden Crow was poised to take flight, glowing with a scorching light under the sun.

When the flying boat entered the city, some recognized it as the vehicle of the Golden Crow Holy Land and hurriedly made way, fearing they might accidentally cause a collision. The Cultivators on the ground below looked up, recognized the emblem on the flying boat, and immediately began to clamor.

"The flying boat of the Golden Crow Holy Land... That Saint hasn't arrived yet, why has the Saintess come first?"

"I heard that at the Fire Turtle Kingdom auction, the Golden Crow Saint personally promised to have the Golden Crow Saintess pay a visit to that Young Master Liu..."

The person next to him chimed in: "Pay a visit? That's right—having the Saintess pay a visit; if you know, you know."

Someone chuckled: "What do you say, after the Golden Crow Saint arrives, will he really send the Golden Crow Saintess to the Four Seasons Heaven and Earth Courtyard?"

"Hard to say..."

"That's the Dongming Liu Family; no matter how arrogant the Golden Crow Saint is, he wouldn't dare to openly reject the Face of the Liu Family, right?"

The sound of discussion rippled through the crowd like water.

On the flying boat, Gan Yiyi gripped her cuffs, her voice tight:

"Master... what those people outside are saying... is the Golden Crow Saint going to give you away to someone?"

Saintess Yan Xueyuan stood by the porthole, her fingers pressed against the cold cabin wall. Looking at the streets below, teeming with Cultivators, she pursed her lips slightly, and her Face turned slightly pale.