Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

”I won’t say it then.”

The Empress Dowager pouted, looking unwilling.

Really, a foolish emperor, does she think I’m that stupid?

I’m wise beyond compare, unparalleled in cleverness, and these are all words straight from Qin Yu’s mouth!

Moreover, to let Little Ling’Er follow Qin Yu into a space even she couldn’t sense—according to the Empress Dowager, it was the Empress who was truly foolish.

A clear-cut foolish emperor!

Of course, the Empress Dowager didn’t have the courage to say these words in front of the Empress.

...

”Swish!”

Little Ling’Er looked blankly at the unfamiliar scene before her; in just a blink, the scenery had undergone a massive change.

”Little sister Ling’Er, welcome to our home.”

Lin Shuishui stepped forward, taking Little Ling’Er’s hand.

”Home?”

Little Ling’Er murmured, a hint of undisguisable envy in her beautiful eyes.

”Once you come in here, we’re like family from now on.”

Zhao Mengli also stepped forward.

There was warmth in their tone, with no trace of reservation.

All the wives knew exactly what it meant for their husband to bring Little Ling’Er into this space.

Aside from his wives, no outsider had ever entered here before.

Just like Yan Yu at the beginning; at first, she was a Guardian, but didn’t she become a sister later on?

”What a magical place.”

Little Ling’Er took a deep breath; even though she wasn’t holding Qin Yu’s hand, she could clearly feel that the Power of Dao Rhyme within her body seemed to be in a state of slumber with no signs of conflict.

Could it be that, in this space, she could maintain this state even without clinging to Brother Qin Yu?

Then, in the future, could she perhaps cultivate too?!

Maybe it’s possible here.

”Shuishui, you guys show Ling’Er around.”

Seeing the harmonious interaction, Qin Yu didn’t disrupt the atmosphere.

Yin Qinghe opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but in the end, she couldn’t voice it out, only giving a sidelong glance at that rebellious disciple.

How could he hand the Princess over to these two little girls?

The beautiful mentor hasn’t forgotten how she was dragged into this in the first place.

This rebellious disciple, does he truly intend to turn the Princess into one of their sisters too?

But.

She’s still so small, her body delicate and frail—how could she possibly bear it?

The beautiful mentor was very worried.

”Mentor, what are you thinking about?”

While Yin Qinghe was lost in her imagination, a hand gently wrapped around her smooth, jade-like shoulder, pulling her slightly into the rebellious disciple’s arms.

”Let me go.”

Not far away, the laughter of the trio was still clearly audible; Yin Qinghe’s heart was thumping wildly.

This guy, surely he’s not going to do this in front of the Princess?!

”Ling’Er hasn’t started cultivating yet, mentor, speak softly, she can’t hear.”

Qin Yu whispered into Yin Qinghe’s ear, inhaling the enchanting fragrance that intoxicated him.

The beautiful mentor remained ever so alluring.

”You... hush up!”

Yin Qinghe’s face turned bright red, embarrassed beyond words at this rebellious disciple’s doing.

The three young girls frolicked until Little Ling’Er was tired, and only then did they lie down on the lawn.

Little Ling’Er listened quietly as Lin Shuishui and Zhao Mengli shared interesting stories, her eyes twinkling.

She seemed to really enjoy this kind of interaction.

As a Princess of the Great Yan Royal Family, and with her older sister being the Great Yan Empress, she was always treated with the utmost respect wherever she went.

But no one ever would... or dared to, speak with her in such a natural and casual manner.

Even the Flame Guard was like this.

Only the Empress Dowager did, but she counted as an elder after all.

Lin Shuishui and Zhao Mengli were different; they were of similar age, interacting without any barriers.

”Ling’Er, is your body feeling better?”

Lin Shuishui propped herself up, asking.

They had heard Qin Yu talk about the hidden ailment within Little Ling’Er’s body.

”Yes.”

Little Ling’Er nodded softly, her demeanor relaxed and natural.

With the gaze of Lin Shuishui and Zhao Mengli on her, Little Ling’Er couldn’t resist and began sharing the changes her body had undergone since meeting Qin Yu, though she avoided mentioning any of her past sufferings.

”So just by being near your brother-in-law, it stabilizes?”

Lin Shuishui was a bit surprised.

According to Little Ling’Er, her internal ailment was something even the esteemed Empress and Empress Dowager couldn’t address, yet Qin Yu, by simply holding her hand, suppressed it?

This was simply incredible!

”After coming into this space, even if Brother Qin Yu isn’t by my side, my internal ailment remains stable,”

Little Ling’Er nodded.

Previously, if she was too far from Qin Yu, or away for too long, the Ice and Fire Dao Rhyme Power within her would start to show signs of chaos, yet now, she felt none of that.

”Maybe this space of Little Junior’s is special?”

Zhao Mengli mused, not overly surprised.

After all, the shock Little Junior had brought her wasn’t just once or twice, making even the most unbelievable things happening with Qin Yu seem natural.

Even if now he were to lure the Empress Dowager in, Zhao Mengli wouldn’t be surprised.

”Ling’Er, can your internal ailment be completely cured?”

Zhao Mengli asked with concern.

She knew Qin Yu very well, and naturally, she could also see the kind of... intimacy when Qin Yu was with Little Ling’Er.

Logically speaking, knowing that Little Ling’Er had a hidden illness, Qin Yu should try his best to help her treat it.

In Zhao Mengli’s opinion.

If you’re sick, you should get an injection and take medicine, it’s a very normal thing.

Wasn’t that the case with the master’s wife back then?

She was being so fussy and didn’t believe her, resulting in nothing but prolonging the pain.

”I don’t know either.”

Little Ling’Er shook her head.

Before meeting Qin Yu, she never imagined she could live so carefree one day.

As for a full recovery?

To be honest, Little Ling’Er had never really thought about it.

With the current state of things, she’s quite satisfied.

”Ling’Er, don’t you want to cultivate?”

Lin Shuishui curiously asked.

”Cultivate?”

Little Ling’Er was slightly stunned. She had heard the Empress Dowager mention it before.

She was an Innate Dao Spirit Body, and if she could cultivate normally, her speed would definitely improve rapidly, and with a natural dual-attribute Dao Spirit Body, she’d have considerable combat power once she grew up.

However...

For Little Ling’Er, such matters seemed too distant, and it seemed she had never considered cultivating.

”When the master’s wife was refining pills carelessly, she got backlash, and then there was Sister Xiyue...”

Zhao Mengli patiently recounted past stories to Little Ling’Er.

These were things she had witnessed herself.

Moreover, many things had happened to her, originally she was just an Upper Grade Mortal Bone, and now she has become a Top Grade Spirit Bone, and soon, she will possess a Dao Bone!

”Brother Qin Yu can also heal?”

Listening to Lin Shuishui’s embellished retelling, Little Ling’Er was a bit surprised.

”Of course, didn’t you see that day, even Yan Yu’s injuries that the Empress Dowager couldn’t manage, it was husband who helped her with injections and medicine, and she got better...”

Lin Shuishui continued to fan the flames on the side.

Little Ling’Er nodded heavily, yet she felt some confusion in her heart.

The kindness Qin Yu showed her, she could feel quite clearly. If he really had a way, surely he wouldn’t keep it a secret from her.

”Ling’Er, has husband ever told you the Journey to the West storybook?”

Lin Shuishui’s beautiful eyes sparkled with slyness, a meaningful smile on her face, much like the Big Bad Wolf looking at Little Red Riding Hood.

”Yes, he’s told it.”

”Then you should know why those monsters want to eat Tang Monk’s flesh, right?”

”Ah? Why?”

Little Ling’Er was a bit puzzled, it seemed she never thought about this topic.

”Because eating Tang Monk’s flesh makes one immortal and immune to all diseases.”

Zhao Mengli explained with a mischievous smile.

”What?”

Little Ling’Er felt like a whole new world was opening up to her.

No wonder there were so many ordeals on the journey to fetch scriptures... it turned out this was the reason.

”Ling’Er, seriously, if there really was Tang Monk’s flesh, and eating it could cure you, would you eat it?”

Zhao Mengli pressed on, seizing the opportunity.

”Yes, as long as you eat it, you can surely heal.”

Lin Shuishui nodded encouragingly.

”But... where would I find Tang Monk’s flesh?”

Little Ling’Er was quite perplexed.

Journey to the West, isn’t that just a storybook?

Where in the world would one find Tang Monk’s flesh with such effects?

”Of course there is...”

Lin Shuishui leaned closer to Little Ling’Er’s ear and whispered quietly.

Who knows what Lin Shuishui said, but the next moment, a blush quickly spread across Little Ling’Er’s delicate cheeks, and she shyly lowered her head, wishing she could cover her ears.

”Ling’Er, I’m telling you, junior brother already treats you like his wife, these things will eventually happen...”

”Yes, yes, and don’t be afraid, just in the beginning, it might feel a little bit...”

Zhao Mengli and Lin Shuishui alternated, imparting their understanding to Little Ling’Er.

The princess was so embarrassed she couldn’t even lift her head, yet there was a touch of curiosity deep in her heart, and some...

Expectancy.

Looking at Lin Shuishui and Zhao Mengli’s expressions, they didn’t seem to be lying.

Could it be that Brother Qin Yu is really that amazing and can cure the hidden illness in her body?

”But Brother Qin Yu said I’m too young, I have to wait a few more years...”

Faced with their probing, Little Ling’Er felt extremely shy, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum.

Qin Yu had no idea, the innocent Little Ling’Er was being corrupted, and she already had a vague understanding of certain things.

”What’s the harm, even if you can’t get an injection, you could always take medicine?!”

”Right, junior brother said that when Shuishui was your age, she was already thinking about eating Tang Monk’s flesh every day.”

”You... nonsense, I wasn’t!”

A blush instantly spread across Lin Shuishui’s pretty face, while she playfully pinched Zhao Mengli’s slender waist, talking about the time when Yin Qinghe was dragged into trouble.

”Shuishui, we agreed not to bring this up!”

Zhao Mengli rebuked with a laugh, retaliating without weakness.

Soon, the cheerful laughter of three young girls filled the lawn.

Meanwhile, on the mountain top, there was a faint, suppressed singing voice, intermittently drifting over.