Chapter 188: The Pavilion Master’s Surprise
Chapter 188: The Pavilion Master’s Surprise
.
Hearing her words, Zhu Rong nodded before saying,
"Hmm, too, believe everything turned out for the best, certainly better than it could have," he said, referring to an event that had taken place in the future involving Ye Ning.
Lin Xian immediately understood what he meant.
Based on the memories he had shown her before, she quickly drew some conclusions, and as soon as she did, her eyes widened as she asked with a mix of anticipation and anxiety,
"What do you mean?"
Although she asked, she had already reached her own conclusion, she just wanted confirmation now.
"It’s just as you’re thinking," he replied. "Her soul, too, is most likely beginning to awaken."
***
Zhu Rong had indeed come to check on how things were going in the city, and on how Ye Ning was doing, and he had to admit, he was satisfied with what he saw.
Not only was she advancing in her cultivation at a tremendous pace, but her business and employees were also thriving.
He noticed that the small area on the outskirts where they had originally purchased the inn had now been expanded into a proper small residential area, complete with other buildings, houses, and more.
It was a relatively secluded area, far from the city center, isolated enough for them to live in peace.
Of course, normally this might involve some risks, especially regarding safety, but with the group of elves, now all skilled cultivators of the third stage, that wasn’t really a problem.
At the center of this newly built residential area stood the inn, which now looked far better than before.
He had already renovated it once in the past when he built the underground training area beneath it, but now it shone with a new brilliance of its own, blending perfectly with its surroundings and serving as the centerpiece of their small community.
Zhu Rong didn’t bother questioning how they had obtained the permits or managed the bureaucratic aspects of building such a place for themselves.
After all, he had personally trained every one of them and knew better than anyone else what they were capable of.
Dealing with bureaucracy was probably child’s play for many of them, especially now that their wealth and status had grown thanks to their rapidly expanding business.
He was happy to see them doing well, so after a quick inspection of their situation, he set off toward his next destination.
***
In a secluded area of the Masters’ Pavilion, hidden from the eyes of the world, there was a small garden.
It was small but peaceful, filled with a serene atmosphere.
Beneath a tall tree with crimson leaves, a woman sat cross legged on the ground, as if in meditation.
Her breathing was calm, and with her eyes closed, one could easily have mistaken her for someone peacefully asleep.
She wore a simple yet elegant dress, comfortable but refined, though even its modest design couldn’t conceal her beauty, the kind that would make anyone’s heart race.
It was, of course, Huo Lian, the Pavilion Master.
In the last period, due to the various strange events that had shaken the province, she had chosen to remain here rather than go on yet another of her long journeys.
Though even these days had not been completely peaceful, she had at least enjoyed a brief period of calm,
one that, however, had been shattered earlier that very morning, when the heavens unleashed their fury upon the area where the portal to the secret realm had once been.
She had been among the first to rush there, not only to find the possible cause of the disturbance but also in the faint hope of seeing her master again, the one she hadn’t been able to meet since that day.
She wasn’t sure whether she was still in this city, or even within the province, but she knew her well.
After all, it was from her that she had picked up the habit of traveling around the world
That’s why she really had no hope of finding her there, and in the end returned empty handed, unable to find any trace of her, nor to discover what had once again caused the heavens to unleash their fury.
In the end, she could only return to her private garden to clear her mind, but who could have thought that even that would not be possible?
Her senses caught the presence of someone approaching, and her brow furrowed slightly as she opened her eyes.
"Who dares set foot here? Don’t they know this place is off limits?" she murmured, rising to her feet to see who was coming.
Normally, she allowed no one to enter this garden, no matter the reason. If there were urgent matters or communications, they could send a message through her communication talisman, but coming here in person was strictly forbidden.
And yet, there she was, watching as a male figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere in her garden.
He looked young, yet his presence felt deep and calm, a simple but elegant figure, radiating a quiet and unfathomable sensation.
At first glance, she didn’t recognize the figure, but soon the image of a certain someone she had met not long ago flashed in her mind, leaving her expression slightly confused.
’Could it be him? But he looks different... and wasn’t he supposed to have died in the secret realm?’ she thought, remembering how the Academy’s headmaster had been deeply shaken when he discovered that among the missing members of the group was none other than this young prodigy.
She remembered it well, not only because the headmaster had seemed genuinely disheartened by the loss, but also because she herself had met him once, and he had left a strong and favorable impression on her.
She, too, had thought it was a pity.
Though she had only met him briefly, he was still someone connected to the Masters’ Pavilion, and losing such a talent was not something she could simply ignore.
So seeing him now, standing before her, left her confused, especially given his appearance and the even more unreadable aura that now surrounded him.
In fact, she couldn’t tell whether the person in front of her was a cultivator or just an ordinary person.