After her initial delight, she became indignant. "Those people in the Sect spreading rumors are just awful! Nothing was wrong, but they described it so vividly, making everyone worry for no reason..."

"I saw you haven’t been back for a long time, Senior Brother, so your courtyard must be dusty. Let me help you sweep up and cook a meal, shall I? You must not have eaten well while you were away."

Chen Qing waved his hand. "Don’t trouble yourself. I can do it."

But Lin Xue was unusually insistent, her tone tinged with a hint of pleading. "It’s no trouble at all. You’ve taken care of me so much, Senior Brother. This is the least I can do. Please, give me a chance to repay you."

Without waiting for Chen Qing to refuse again, she took the initiative, picked up the broom from the corner, and began to sweep skillfully.

Seeing her firm attitude, Chen Qing didn’t stop her. He sat down at the stone table by himself and brewed a pot of tea.

"How has the Fishery been lately? Is everything going smoothly for you?" Chen Qing asked casually after taking a sip of tea.

While sweeping deftly, Lin Xue replied, "Thanks to you, Senior Brother, everything is fine. The new Steward Liu has been very considerate, and I’ve been able to complete all the tasks he assigns."

She paused, her voice growing softer. "I’ve already cultivated to the Transmutation Force realm. It’s just... I’ve been in the Outer Courtyard for three years and still haven’t been able to..."

Before she could finish, there was another knock on the courtyard gate.

Chen Qing got up to open the gate. Standing outside was Nie Shanshan.

She seemed to have composed herself, her expression much more natural than it had been in the Council Hall. She was holding a small, exquisite Jade Bottle.

"Junior Brother Chen, it was too crowded and chaotic in the Council Hall just now. This bottle of Clear Heart Pills might help stabilize your Heart and Spirit and calm your vital energy." Nie Shanshan’s tone was composed, carrying a faint hint of concern.

However, when her gaze went past Chen Qing and fell upon Lin Xue, who was bent over sweeping the courtyard, her composed expression froze for an instant.

Lin Xue also saw the Chief Disciple of the Gui Water Institute at the gate—a woman of cool temperament and outstanding beauty. She instinctively stopped what she was doing, tightened her grip on the broom, and lowered her head.

’The way I look right now... compared to this radiant Chief Disciple from the Inner Courtyard, we’re worlds apart.’

Nie Shanshan, meanwhile, froze in her tracks. For a moment, she was flustered, the thought of turning and leaving immediately flashing through her mind.

But the next instant, she thought to herself, ’Why should I leave? My conscience is clear. I came to visit a fellow sect member. If I leave now, it will just make me look guilty, as if I have some ulterior motive.’

In a flash, she suppressed her fluster and a faint, cool smile reappeared on her face. She said to Chen Qing, "It seems you have a guest, Junior Brother Chen? Have I come at an inconvenient time?"

Chen Qing stepped aside to let her in. "You’re joking, Senior Sister Nie. Please, come in. Junior Sister Lin is the descendant of an old friend. She saw I was back and offered to help clean the courtyard."

Only then did Nie Shanshan step inside. She gave a slight nod to the flustered Lin Xue, a silent acknowledgment.

The atmosphere instantly became a bit subtle and awkward.

Lin Xue quickened her pace with the sweeping, then said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, the courtyard is clean now. I... I’ll go make dinner."

With that, she hurried into the small kitchen nearby.

Nie Shanshan placed the Jade Bottle on the stone table, momentarily at a loss for what to say.

The two of them chatted about some inconsequential Sect matters and Cultivation Insights across the stone table.

Nie Shanshan’s visit was primarily to inquire about the specific details of Chen Qing’s "escape" back to the Sect, but with an outsider present, it wasn’t convenient for her to ask.

She glanced at Lin Xue’s back from time to time, pondering inwardly.

’Is this the type of woman Junior Brother Chen likes?’

’Could I be like her...?’ She instantly banished the thought from her mind.

’Nie Shanshan, oh, Nie Shanshan, how could you even think such a thing?’

Chen Qing noticed Nie Shanshan’s strange expression and asked, "Senior Sister Nie? Is something wrong?"

"It’s nothing," Nie Shanshan said, her composure restored.

Before long, Lin Xue brought out a simple meal of two dishes and a soup. The aroma was enticing, but she merely set out the bowls and chopsticks before saying in a low voice, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister Nie, please enjoy your meal. I... I’ll be heading back now."

She really couldn’t bring herself to sit down and eat with them in front of Nie Shanshan.

Nie Shanshan also stood up at once. "I should be going as well. There are some matters at the Gui Water Institute that need my attention. Junior Brother Chen, please enjoy your meal."

It seemed she didn’t want to stay and face the awkward situation either.

Chen Qing looked at the two of them and didn’t insist they stay. He nodded. "Alright. Thank you for the Pills, Senior Sister Nie, and thank you for your help, Junior Sister Lin."

The two women took their leave at almost the same time, even politely yielding to each other at the courtyard gate.

’Finally, some peace and quiet.’

After seeing them off, Chen Qing looked at the simple meal on the table.

After eating, he took out all the wealth he had acquired on his trip, along with his previous savings.

Silver notes, gold leaves, Jewelry, Elixirs, and the crucial Earth Essence Marrow Pearl... all laid out, their total value was astonishing.

’It was a journey fraught with peril, but the rewards were truly plentiful.’

Once Chen Qing finished taking inventory, he thought, ’Looks like I need to find some time to visit the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and exchange these items for useful resources.’

Then, he took out a small black notebook.

He dipped the tip of his brush in ink and wrote two names on a blank page.

Miao Zhicheng!

Yu River!

Chen Qing muttered to himself in a cold voice, "That palm strike... sooner or later, I’ll make you pay it back double."

He closed the notebook and put it away securely.

This trip, though perilous, had yielded far greater rewards than he had expected. Not only had he obtained the Earth Essence Marrow Pearl, but it had also given him a clearer understanding of his own strength. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The next step was to prepare to break through to the Astral Force realm, and even to explore the path of Five Elements Fusion.

The next day, as the sky began to brighten, Chen Qing headed straight for the Tingchao Armory.

When Elder Ma of the Armory saw Chen Qing, he immediately smiled. "Chief Chen, what brings you to the Armory today?"