Splendour Translations.
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Chapter 13: The Saint's Majesty:
The next day.
Upon waking up, Xu Ze felt full of energy.
After a night of absorbing spiritual Qi and breaking through a bottleneck, he entered the Spirit Gathering Realm.
Now, Xu Ze felt extremely comfortable all over. When he closed his eyes, he could even clearly hear Xiao Lan sweeping the courtyard outside.
“Ahem,” Xu Ze coughed.
Xiao Lan immediately put down the broom and pushed open the door, walking in.
“Holy Son, you're already awake?” Xiao Lan was a bit surprised because the Holy Son got up a whole hour and a half earlier than usual.
“Hmm, I cultivated for a while last night, and now am feeling energetic, so I have awoken early,” Xu Ze said, smiling as Xiao Lan helped him get dressed. He was in a good mood.
Xiao Lan blinked, curiously looking at Xu Ze, “Holy Son, did you... make a breakthrough?”
She could sense that Xu Ze's temperament and mental state were significantly different from the previous days. He looked even more handsome now.
“Don’t tell anyone, especially Master. I want to surprise her,” Xu Ze said, playfully flicking Xiao Lan's nose.
Xiao Lan blushed immediately, giving Xu Ze a sidelong glance. “Holy Son, please don't tease me. If the Sect Master finds out, I might get transferred.”
“Don't worry, Master wouldn’t do such a thing without reason,” Xu Ze laughed and then looked toward the door. “Isn't Gu Ling’er here?”
Xiao Lan’s expression froze, and she suddenly seemed a bit uneasy.
Xu Ze keenly noticed something. He glanced at Xiao Lan and said coldly, “What happened?”
Though Xu Ze was gentle with his people, as the Holy Son, he had long possessed an aura of authority that instilled fear even without anger.
Just a slight seriousness from him made Xiao Lan's body tremble unconsciously, making her feel nervous.
“Th-this…”
“Speak!” Xu Ze commanded harshly.
Xiao Lan had wanted to cover up, but Xu Ze's stern voice scared her out of her wits.
“It was the Sect Master! Last night, she transferred Gu Ling’er to the rear mountain tomb!”
“What?” Xu Ze's face changed.
Master? Why would she do that?
Seeing Xiao Lan tightly clutching her clothes, her face full of fear, Xu Ze's expression softened a bit. He gently patted her head.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you told me.”
Xiao Lan nodded quickly, looking at Xu Ze with pleading eyes, “Holy Son, please don’t tell the Sect Master... If you do, I might never be able to serve you again.”
Xu Ze nodded, turning to leave.
“Holy Son, breakfast isn’t ready yet…” Xiao Lan said nervously.
“I’m not eating, I’ve lost my appetite,” Xu Ze said, heading straight to Leng Youran’s residence.
...
At this time, Leng Youran was sitting at her dressing table. In the bronze mirror, her stunningly beautiful face was reflected. Behind her, a maid was nervously combing her waterfall-like hair.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Leng Youran gently stroked her eyebrows with a jade-like finger.
“Xiao Qing, do you think I still look young?” she asked.
The maid Xiao Qing trembled and quickly flattered her, “Sect Master, you are the number one person in the Mystic Dao, unmatched in both power and beauty!”
“However, I am still a few hundred years old…” Leng Youran sighed softly. “Though my appearance has remained at twenty since I practiced the Emotionless Divine Technique, my heart has long lost the vigor of youth.”
“I can’t compare with you girls in your teens.”
Leng Youran’s words left Xiao Qing puzzled, but she didn’t dare to say much and kept flattering, “That’s not true, Sect Master. Both your heart and appearance are youthful and vibrant!”
Leng Youran glanced at Xiao Qing through the mirror, “You’re good at flattery... But anyone can say flattering words.”
“I know you all subconsciously distance yourselves from me, right?”
Xiao Qing pursed her lips, not daring to reply. It was a question with no right answer.
Leng Youran said no more. Under Xiao Qing’s skillful hands, she finished arranging her hair and donned her luxurious robe.
“Leave now.” Wearing a phoenix ring, Leng Youran waved her hand, signaling Xiao Qing to leave.
Xiao Qing bowed and, upon reaching the door, saw Xu Ze entering the quarters.
“Holy Son,” Xiao Qing hurriedly bowed.
“Is Master inside?” Xu Ze glanced at her.
“The Sect Master is inside,” Xiao Qing replied quickly.
Xu Ze pushed the door open and walked in.
“Master!”
Inside, Leng Youran stood at her desk, preparing to cultivate her mind. Xu Ze took a deep breath, calming his face.
“Oh? Ze’er, why are you here so early today?” Leng Youran looked at him, raising an eyebrow. “Have you brokethrough into the Spirit Gathering Realm?”
“Master, I have not disappointed you. I’ve successfully brokethrough.” Xu Ze said calmly.
Leng Youran nodded, a barely noticeable trace of joy on her cold face. “Ze’er, you are indeed my best disciple. Achieving the Spirit Gathering Realm at twenty is a feat unmatched in the cultivation world, second only to me.”
Xu Ze didn’t respond. Leng Youran noticed his displeasure. Her hand, holding a brush, paused slightly as if she understood something.
“Ze’er, I’m in a good mood today. Some things are better left unsaid.”
Xu Ze looked up, meeting her gaze without fear, “No, Master. There are some things I need to tell you."
Seeing the unnervingly calm determination in Xu Ze's eyes, Leng Youran’s mind flashed back to his childhood, remembering his stubborn demeanor.
Upon waking up, Xu Ze felt full of energy.
After a night of absorbing spiritual Qi and breaking through a bottleneck, he entered the Spirit Gathering Realm.
Now, Xu Ze felt extremely comfortable all over. When he closed his eyes, he could even clearly hear Xiao Lan sweeping the courtyard outside.
“Ahem,” Xu Ze coughed.
Xiao Lan immediately put down the broom and pushed open the door, walking in.
“Holy Son, you're already awake?” Xiao Lan was a bit surprised because the Holy Son got up a whole hour and a half earlier than usual.
“Hmm, I cultivated for a while last night, and now am feeling energetic, so I have awoken early,” Xu Ze said, smiling as Xiao Lan helped him get dressed. He was in a good mood.
Xiao Lan blinked, curiously looking at Xu Ze, “Holy Son, did you... make a breakthrough?”
She could sense that Xu Ze's temperament and mental state were significantly different from the previous days. He looked even more handsome now.
“Don’t tell anyone, especially Master. I want to surprise her,” Xu Ze said, playfully flicking Xiao Lan's nose.
Xiao Lan blushed immediately, giving Xu Ze a sidelong glance. “Holy Son, please don't tease me. If the Sect Master finds out, I might get transferred.”
“Don't worry, Master wouldn’t do such a thing without reason,” Xu Ze laughed and then looked toward the door. “Isn't Gu Ling’er here?”
Xiao Lan’s expression froze, and she suddenly seemed a bit uneasy.
Xu Ze keenly noticed something. He glanced at Xiao Lan and said coldly, “What happened?”
Though Xu Ze was gentle with his people, as the Holy Son, he had long possessed an aura of authority that instilled fear even without anger.
Just a slight seriousness from him made Xiao Lan's body tremble unconsciously, making her feel nervous.
“Th-this…”
“Speak!” Xu Ze commanded harshly.
Xiao Lan had wanted to cover up, but Xu Ze's stern voice scared her out of her wits.
“It was the Sect Master! Last night, she transferred Gu Ling’er to the rear mountain tomb!”
“What?” Xu Ze's face changed.
Master? Why would she do that?
Seeing Xiao Lan tightly clutching her clothes, her face full of fear, Xu Ze's expression softened a bit. He gently patted her head.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you told me.”
Xiao Lan nodded quickly, looking at Xu Ze with pleading eyes, “Holy Son, please don’t tell the Sect Master... If you do, I might never be able to serve you again.”
Xu Ze nodded, turning to leave.
“Holy Son, breakfast isn’t ready yet…” Xiao Lan said nervously.
“I’m not eating, I’ve lost my appetite,” Xu Ze said, heading straight to Leng Youran’s residence.
...
At this time, Leng Youran was sitting at her dressing table. In the bronze mirror, her stunningly beautiful face was reflected. Behind her, a maid was nervously combing her waterfall-like hair.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Leng Youran gently stroked her eyebrows with a jade-like finger.
“Xiao Qing, do you think I still look young?” she asked.
The maid Xiao Qing trembled and quickly flattered her, “Sect Master, you are the number one person in the Mystic Dao, unmatched in both power and beauty!”
“However, I am still a few hundred years old…” Leng Youran sighed softly. “Though my appearance has remained at twenty since I practiced the Emotionless Divine Technique, my heart has long lost the vigor of youth.”
“I can’t compare with you girls in your teens.”
Leng Youran’s words left Xiao Qing puzzled, but she didn’t dare to say much and kept flattering, “That’s not true, Sect Master. Both your heart and appearance are youthful and vibrant!”
Leng Youran glanced at Xiao Qing through the mirror, “You’re good at flattery... But anyone can say flattering words.”
“I know you all subconsciously distance yourselves from me, right?”
Xiao Qing pursed her lips, not daring to reply. It was a question with no right answer.
Leng Youran said no more. Under Xiao Qing’s skillful hands, she finished arranging her hair and donned her luxurious robe.
“Leave now.” Wearing a phoenix ring, Leng Youran waved her hand, signaling Xiao Qing to leave.
Xiao Qing bowed and, upon reaching the door, saw Xu Ze entering the quarters.
“Holy Son,” Xiao Qing hurriedly bowed.
“Is Master inside?” Xu Ze glanced at her.
“The Sect Master is inside,” Xiao Qing replied quickly.
Xu Ze pushed the door open and walked in.
“Master!”
Inside, Leng Youran stood at her desk, preparing to cultivate her mind. Xu Ze took a deep breath, calming his face.
“Oh? Ze’er, why are you here so early today?” Leng Youran looked at him, raising an eyebrow. “Have you brokethrough into the Spirit Gathering Realm?”
“Master, I have not disappointed you. I’ve successfully brokethrough.” Xu Ze said calmly.
Leng Youran nodded, a barely noticeable trace of joy on her cold face. “Ze’er, you are indeed my best disciple. Achieving the Spirit Gathering Realm at twenty is a feat unmatched in the cultivation world, second only to me.”
Xu Ze didn’t respond. Leng Youran noticed his displeasure. Her hand, holding a brush, paused slightly as if she understood something.
“Ze’er, I’m in a good mood today. Some things are better left unsaid.”
Xu Ze looked up, meeting her gaze without fear, “No, Master. There are some things I need to tell you."
Seeing the unnervingly calm determination in Xu Ze's eyes, Leng Youran’s mind flashed back to his childhood, remembering his stubborn demeanor.
-To be continued!