NOVPUBChapter 133: A Date, a Date, Another Damn Date!
“Do you have plans tomorrow morning?” he asked.
Seeing his silence, Ye Lingxuan tilted her head, her gaze searching his. Her usual calm demeanor was tinged with a hint of anxiety. No matter how mature she seemed, she was still a young woman, feeling a flutter of nervousness after initiating a date.
“I don’t have plans, but I might after I get back,” he said, looking at her with a forced, gentle smile. “I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.”
He felt a sudden wave of dread. To be safe, he should have refused her invitation. After all, Bai Ruoxi had been present when the peak lord of Dao Peak had mentioned the legend of the Pilgrimage Palace. She was surely interested. She had even invited him there during the inner disciple selections.
He had to deal with this carefully. Tomorrow with Lingxuan, the day after with Ruoxi, and the day after that, Qian’er’s seclusion should be over. And then he could try inviting Mengrou. Even if she rejected him, he would still get a disapproving glare. It was a win-win situation. A good boyfriend had to consider the feelings of every girl, giving them equal attention and affection. It was tiring, but it was worth it… for them.
“You seem unhappy,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of concern. “Did I burden you?”
He snapped out of his thoughts, smiling. “I was just thinking about how to make you happy tomorrow. It’s my first time going on a date.”
She rolled her eyes, scoffing.
“Don’t scoff. Call me Brother Mu,” he said, playfully pinching her nose.
She swatted his hand away, blushing as she noticed the other disciples watching them. “Don’t do that here.”
“So you’re saying I can do it back home?” he asked, sensing an opportunity.
She glared at him, exasperated by his playfulness. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
They walked back to the Jade Glass Palace, their footsteps silent against the golden bridge. He escorted her to her pavilion, then, looking around the empty hall, he asked, his voice filled with mock concern, “Are you used to sleeping alone?”
“If not, I can stay with you—”
She felt a flutter in her chest, sensing the warmth in his eyes, but she gently pushed him away. “No, you should go.”
If he stayed the night, who knew what he might try? She wasn’t ready for that. And being intimate with him here… it would make her feel guilty. This place reminded her of Qian’er. She had warned her sister to be careful around him, and now… She sighed inwardly, her heart filled with a mix of emotions.
“I’ll go then. Get some rest. Cultivation is important, but you should also take care of yourself,” he said softly, his gaze lingering on her.
She nodded, and he lingered, chatting with her for a while longer, nurturing their bond before finally taking his leave.
He returned to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony and entered his study, opening his personal interface. The five achievements were clearly displayed.
“I was right. Lingxuan’s Natural Spirit Body and Ruoxi’s Sword Immortal Protection… they’ve become my achievements,” he murmured. But he didn’t understand what the “Pseudo” after them meant. “Does it mean I only received a portion of their physiques?”
He closed his eyes, sensing the surrounding spiritual energy. It seemed more active than before. He could even control a small portion of it, drawing it into his Vessel.
“This physique is overpowered,” he thought to himself, amazed. It was like having a second wind during a battle, even when his spiritual energy was depleted. It was an essential ability for a protagonist, allowing them to fight on par with, or even surpass, those at higher levels. And it also enhanced his cultivation speed and his alchemy.
Sword Immortal Protection was even more straightforward. It granted him an exceptional affinity for swords and allowed him to wield a portion of Bai Ruoxi’s bronze sword’s power.
“So, the closer I am to these girls, the more achievements I gain?” he wondered. If that was the case, it was perfect for his current path. He had been planning to find a wealthy woman to support him, and now these achievements were practically free.
“I wonder if I’ll unlock more achievements if I get closer to Senior Sister Lan,” he thought to himself. “And Mengrou… If I can gain achievements from all of them, even just a portion of their abilities, it would be sufficient.” He studied his interface, lost in thought.
After a moment, he shook his head, clearing his mind. He would take things one step at a time. His current priority was planning tomorrow’s date, and the dates after that. For the next three days, he only had one thing to do: dates, dates, and more damn dates! Fortunately, Qian’er was still in seclusion. Otherwise, tomorrow would be tricky. Taking two sisters on a date at the same time… it wasn’t feasible yet.
He retrieved the second-grade formation from his storage ring: the Hundred Birds Chain Formation. He opened the jade slip, and the formation’s structure and instructions flowed into his mind. It was surprisingly simple, just a brief description and a diagram. But despite its apparent simplicity, he sensed its potential, the countless variations it could generate.
He had studied it, and he felt like he had learned it, but also not. He was confused, but he wasn’t discouraged. Formations were different from cultivation techniques. They required time and understanding. He couldn’t master it overnight. Master Yan had said he could ask her if he had any questions.
He put away the jade slip, stretching.
BOOM!
Thunder rumbled in the distance. He looked up to see storm clouds gathering over a specific area of the sect, lightning flashing through the dark sky. It was a Pill Tribulation, and it seemed to be coming from Two Polarities Peak.
“Someone’s refining pills on Two Polarities Peak?” he wondered. “Is it Senior Sister Lan, or the sect master?” He quickly looked away. He would ask them next time.
Ruoxi and Mengrou weren’t back yet, but Lin Ling was still here… He had to maintain their relationship. He had to keep Senior Lin Ling happy.
He spent an hour preparing some food, then he went to her room, knocking gently. “Senior Lin Ling, I made some snacks. Can I come in?”
There was no response. He knocked again, then opened the door. The room was empty. She had left a message on the table: “Hungry. Went out.”
“No one fed her, so she went to find food?” He placed the steamed buns he had made on the table, then left the room.
He looked up at the sky, sighing. Ruoxi and the others would be back soon, but he was bored. But it was fine. He could use this time to plan his date with Lingxuan. He returned to his study, deciding to make a checklist.
But as he opened the door, he saw a paper crane on his desk. Now that he was in the Two Polarities Sect, messages traveled much faster. He could sense Senior Sister Lan’s aura on the crane.
“She finally replied.” He chuckled, taking a seat, glancing at the sky. The storm clouds over Two Polarities Peak had dissipated. It seemed the pill refinement was over. “I could ask her if she had been the one refining…” He opened the crane.
“Congratulations on becoming an inner disciple. Master Yan rarely recruits disciples. She must see great potential in you.”
“She’s well-informed…” He smiled, continuing to read.
“The path of cultivation is long and arduous. Stay humble and diligent. The elders, including Master Yan, dislike arrogance. Remember that.”
“Her words are filled with a concern that was unusual for her. She must see me as one of her own…” He smiled, his heart warming, then he continued reading.
“I promised you a reward if you became an inner disciple.”
“Come to the Pilgrimage Palace tomorrow. I have a gift for you.”
“She’s so nice, even giving me a gift…” His smile froze, and he stared at the letter, his mind reeling.
“Tomorrow…?”
