Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 142: Chapter 113: Fortune and Misfortune are Intertwined

”Mm.”

Chen Jianghe nodded. His gaze fell on Zhou Xiaoxuan’s cheek for a moment before moving past her to Zhou Miaoyun.

”Fellow Daoist Zhou, I’ve kept you waiting.”

”We just arrived as well.”

Zhou Miaoyun’s gaze toward Chen Jianghe was full of envy. With her niece beside her, she yearned even more for youthful vitality.

She had once been as radiant as her niece.

But now, her beauty had faded with age. In contrast, Chen Jianghe seemed as youthful as her niece, his looks unchanged, as if time itself could not leave a mark on his face.

’Youthful Grass?’

’A Youthful Pill?’

For her, at this point, neither held any appeal. She had already missed the best time to use them.

Of course, burdened by her family’s responsibilities, she couldn’t afford to buy such useless extravagances anyway.

”Xuan’er, please show your Uncle Jianghe to the private room first.”

”There’s no hurry. We can all wait for Fairy Peiyao together.”

Whenever others were present, he always addressed her as Fairy Peiyao, a sign of respect.

”Very well!”

Zhou Miaoyun’s heart tightened. Even Chen Jianghe addressed Gao Peiyao as a Fairy, and now this same Fairy was presenting the Zhou Family with such a massive opportunity.

This made her feel all the more grateful.

「Half an hour later.」

Gao Peiyao finally arrived, fashionably late. By her side was another beauty in a long, green dress. Her features were exquisite, her skin as white as snow, and her eyes as bright as stars. There was a hint of charm between her brows, and a beauty mark graced the lower right corner of her lips.

”Brother Jianghe, Sister Miaoyun, sorry to keep you waiting.”

”Fairy Peiyao, you’re too kind. We only just arrived ourselves.”

Chen Jianghe and Zhou Miaoyun both cupped their hands in a salute, their voices respectful.

This time, Gao Peiyao didn’t correct their form of address, simply offering a faint smile. Zhou Miaoyun then invited everyone into the Qinghe Tavern.

They arrived at the private room on the second floor.

It had to be said, Zhou Miaoyun was far more generous than Chen Jianghe.

She had ordered a table full of Spiritual Cuisine made from Demon Beasts, along with a pot of High-Grade Immortal Spirit Wine. The spread was only a single notch below the feast at Alchemist Zhuang’s home.

This table of Spiritual Cuisine, plus the High-Grade Immortal Spirit Wine, had to cost at least fifteen Spirit Stones.

But on second thought, Gao Peiyao was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who was helping the Zhou Family secure an opportunity. If the arrangements were subpar...

...and she became displeased and left, the Zhou Family’s loss would be immense.

”Fairy Peiyao, this is my niece, Zhou Xiaoxuan.”

Zhou Miaoyun first introduced her niece to Gao Peiyao, then shot Zhou Xiaoxuan a look. ”Hurry and greet Fairy Peiyao.”

”This junior, Zhou Xiaoxuan, greets Fairy Peiyao.”

Zhou Xiaoxuan bowed respectfully to Gao Peiyao, her gentle voice exceedingly pleasant to the ear.

”Mm, she certainly has a fine Charming Appearance.”

Gao Peiyao looked at the beauty in green beside her and chuckled. ”Senior Sister, what do you think?”

”Indeed, she has a natural Charming Appearance. She meets the Master’s requirements.”

Liuu Zhining nodded in satisfaction and said to Gao Peiyao, ”I have you to thank for this, Junior Sister. Otherwise, I would have had a hard time finding such a bewitching woman.”

”Once the Master bestows his reward, I will make sure you get your share, Junior Sister.”

”Fairy Peiyao, this is?”

Zhou Miaoyun had overheard the conversation between Gao Peiyao and Liuu Zhining. It seemed her niece happened to meet some requirement of Liuu Zhining’s master.

A sliver of worry entered her heart; she was afraid she might have brought harm to her niece.

”This is also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Celestial South Sect. She is my Senior Sister, Liuu Zhining. Her master is also a Steward in the Celestial South Sect and happens to be looking for a disciple with a natural Charming Appearance.”

”I remembered the niece you mentioned to me once, so I recommended her to Senior Sister Liuu.”

Gao Peiyao wasn’t particularly close with Liuu Zhining, but she had been bosom buddies with her younger sister, Liuu Zhirou.

However, two years ago, Liuu Zhirou had attempted to break through to Foundation Establishment. Unprepared and without a Foundation Establishment Pill to protect her Dantian, she had perished.

”Sister Miaoyun, after Xiaoxuan goes, she’ll have to start as a servant disciple, but her future prospects for reaching Foundation Establishment are very promising.”

Gao Peiyao saw the worried look on Zhou Miaoyun’s face and offered a reassuring smile.

”This girl is a natural Fox Charm. The Master will definitely like her. If she receives his true teachings, her chances of achieving Foundation Establishment in the future are very high,” Liuu Zhining said with a light, captivatingly charming laugh.

At this, Zhou Miaoyun looked toward Chen Jianghe. She knew he was level-headed and wanted his opinion.

But she found him with his head lowered, seemingly oblivious to her gaze.

’Listening to Gao Peiyao and Liuu Zhining’s conversation, and seeing the overt coquettishness in Liuu Zhining’s every word and action, I feel something is off about this master of Liuu Zhining’s. If the master is a woman, it might be fine. But if it’s a man, his purpose in accepting such alluring female disciples is obvious. However, I can’t say anything at this moment. A single slip of the tongue could offend a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. When that time comes, even with Gao Peiyao’s protection, there would be no guarantee I wouldn’t be suppressed. I’d likely find it impossible to take even a single step in Qinghe Marketplace. Therefore, all I can do is keep my head down and say nothing. It’s best to act like a wooden dummy, a mere decoration.’

”Aunt, I want to go to the Celestial South Sect with these Fairies.”

At that moment, Zhou Xiaoxuan spoke with determination. ”This niece is useless staying at home. This might be a way out for me. I want to try.”

The wrinkles on Zhou Miaoyun’s face twitched.

She knew her niece’s fate was even more wretched than her own. To ensure the Zhou Family could establish a foothold in Jingyue Lake, she was destined to be a bargaining chip in a marriage alliance.

She had taken her niece to Jingyue Lake, only for her to be cast aside by Yun Wuniu.

She felt deeply for her niece but was powerless to help. As women of the family, they had no choice but to step forward when the family was in peril.

Just as the men had to fight to the death for the family.

”Alright. Auntie respects your choice. After you go to the Celestial South Sect, you must be obedient. Don’t be willful, and cultivate diligently.”