Protect Our Chief-Chapter 646 - 71: Out of Place! Your Shamelessness~
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At the same time.
To the west of Southern Desert County City, there’s a sizable manor named "Qian Garden".
This garden is an estate established by the Zuoqiu Family in Southern Desert County, specifically for family members to stay when conducting business.
As an ancient Fourth-Grade Noble Family with nearly two thousand years of heritage, the Zuoqiu Family’s influence in Southern Desert County is not as significant as the local Purple Mansion Families, but it is certainly not without foundation.
In Southern Desert County, there are several estates similar to "Qian Garden". Though none are particularly large, their interior design and decoration are ingeniously crafted, fully showcasing the style and heritage of a Fourth-Grade Noble Family.
Usually, the Zuoqiu Family will send family members to oversee the estate, mainly responsible for trade and communication with various noble families in Southern Desert County, while also gathering local information.
This time, Zuoqiu Qingyun is staying in "Qian Garden".
To facilitate family members’ cultivation, a secret chamber for cultivation is specifically built underground in "Qian Garden". It is equipped with a small Spirit Gathering Array, which can gather spiritual qi for cultivation simply by embedding Spirit Stones.
In the absence of a Spirit Vein to rely on, it is only through such Spirit Gathering Arrays and elixir support that cultivation speed can be barely maintained. Therefore, to avoid delaying family members’ cultivation, those assigned to oversee the estates generally rotate every ten years, except for a few with lifespans nearing their end, who may settle in one place long-term.
Now that Zuoqiu Qingyun is residing in "Qian Garden", a room in the underground secret chamber naturally belongs to him for his regular cultivation use.
Normally, no one would interrupt him during his cultivation, not even the two Elders who accompanied him to Southern Desert—without permission, they wouldn’t set foot inside.
Inside the secret chamber.
Two beauties, their silk dresses disheveled, flushed faces, lie weakly on the Imperial Concubine’s Couch, already in a deep sleep.
The lighting of the Fluorescent Stone Spirit Lamp is adjusted to be somewhat dim, giving a touch of haziness. On the ground, intricate array patterns are flowing with a faint glow.
The atmosphere is ambiguous and alluring.
And that Zuoqiu Qingyun, usually graceful and dignified in public, at this moment sits cross-legged, shirtless, with closed eyes, cultivating quietly.
A strand of faint red aura, like the color of peach blossoms, rises from his body, lingering like mist, filling the entire secret chamber with an enchanting scent.
After a long time.
Zuoqiu Qingyun finishes his cultivation technique, his chest swells as he takes a deep breath like the Golden Toad Devouring the Moon.
In an instant, all the peach-red aura is absorbed into his body, and he feels that his cultivation has advanced slightly.
A moment later, he slowly opens his eyes, revealing a pair of captivating and wanton eyes.
Having shed his disguise, he now exudes an evil aura all over, with a presence that seems more oppressive instead of diminished, emanating a wave of discomfort and unease.
Casually glancing at the two sleeping beautiful women, a faint hint of disdain passes through his eyes.
These two women—one is the legitimate daughter of a Sixth-Grade noble family in Qeng’an County, the other is a senior from Qeng’an Academy. Their looks and charisma are top-notch, both possessing rare Little Celestial Pride traits with promising futures.
They could certainly be considered the goddesses revered by many Noble Family Descendants and academy juniors.
Earlier, Zuoqiu Qingyun went to significant lengths to acquire them, once viewed them as forbidden treasures, meticulously breaking down their defenses.
Yet now, he finds himself tired and weary of them.
Especially after hearing about the famous "Tianyan Fairy", Zuoqiu Qingyun felt he had found a Supreme Treasure and began his plan.
Celestial Pride is rare.
Whether among noble houses or academy direct disciples, any with Celestial Pride talents are highly valued by their family or academy, viewed as precious—despite being confident with his Abnormal Technique, he dares not easily cross that line.
But Tianyan Fairy is different; no matter how beautiful or talented she may be, she is merely a woman of the dusty world without a distinguished background or other support.
Once he successfully "captures" her, it would greatly benefit both his status and renown, as well as serve as a cultivation tripod for the "Golden Toad Treasure Manual".
"Heh~ Tianyan, oh Tianyan, you’ve repeatedly played coy, refusing to see me, yet this gentleman almost thought you were some chaste Ice Woman~~~" Zuoqiu Qingyun’s eyes flicker with strong greed, "Your strategy of feigning reluctance is mere self-destruction. Once you taste this gentleman’s unique technique ’Golden Toad Embracing Carp’... Hehehe~"
He let out a series of laughs commonly associated with villains.
Yet at this moment.
An elderly voice suddenly emerged from deep within his Spirit Platform: "Zuoqiu the Kid, with my centuries-old human experience, that little girl Tianyan likely has an intricate origin. Seeking a private meeting seems calculated and could mean trouble if you’re careless, you might suffer an unexpected setback."
"Elder Jiang, you’re awake?" Zuoqiu Qingyun paused, hurriedly restraining his expression, speaking with respectful consciousness, "Does Elder Jiang suggest I should abandon this excellent opportunity?"
The elderly voice "kindly" replied, "A Celestial Human Realm Celestial Pride indeed serves as an excellent cultivation tripod—it should not be abandoned lightly. Thanks to your diligence in recent cultivation, my Divine Soul has recovered quite a bit. Have you gathered all the herbs I instructed earlier?"
"Yes, Elder Jiang, though it took quite some effort, I managed to gather them all." Zuoqiu Qingyun’s eyes shone with intense excitement, "Elder Jiang, your power has already recovered to the extent that you can prepare the ’Golden Toad Soul-Softening Powder’? If so, Tianyan would be at my command soon."
"It’s barely feasible. Though it’ll consume sizable Divine Soul Power, any losses are worthwhile for accelerating your growth to avenge my past grievance," Elder Jiang spoke, a trace of hatred flashed in his voice, seemingly recalling some unforgettable event.
However, soon he regained his composure and said to Zuoqiu Qingyun, "Zuoqiu the Kid, hurry and relax your body and mind..."
"Thank you for your hard work, Elder Jiang."
...
That night.
In the deep of night, within the Southern Desert County City, there were already few lights, and outside the city, it had long been engulfed by the thick night.
The wind on the prairie was already strong, and as night fell, the hustle and bustle between heaven and earth gradually settled, the howling wind became the main melody of this world. Occasionally, a few wolf howls and horse neighs mixed in, making it all the more desolate and lonely.
By Dongchachah Lake, the pleasure boats that were usually full of singing and dancing every night were all mysteriously closed tonight, not receiving any visitors.
As the night deepened, distant guests had to leave disappointedly, and the lights on the boats gradually went out. There was not a single star in sight, only a bright moon hanging high in the sky, casting its silvery light, making the night even more desolate.
However.
Amidst this desolate night, by Dongchachah Lake, there was still a place where lights were on.
It was a small estate.
Compared to the rough and imposing estates common in the Southern Desert, this one appeared much more exquisite. It was built beside the lake, with small bridges over flowing water, pavilions, and unique-shaped exotic stones. Wandering within, one would see the dappled shadows, vegetation intertwined, with the gentle sound of flowing water in the ears, delicate and graceful, unique in style.
Such a garden was generally common south of the Golden Sand River in Lingbei, Longzhou, but extremely rare in the Southern Desert.
To build such a garden in the Southern Desert required an enormous amount of labor and resources.
To say nothing else, just the exotic stones scattered throughout the garden were not ordinary items, but "Desolate Marsh Exotic Stones" from the Great Wilderness Marsh, which needed to be specially transported from Lingbei a thousand miles away, and the transportation costs were quite considerable.
Moreover, the garden was planted with many plants unique to Lingbei and Longzhou, which would not survive in the Southern Desert without the careful care of a Black Tortoise Cultivator specialized in this field.
This estate was Tianyan Fairy’s private residence in the Southern Desert, named "Pengyun Pavilion," taken from the meaning "Gazing at the lonely geese riding clouds, leaning on the bridge to listen to the misty rain."
It was also the place where she was about to meet Zuoqiu Qingyun.
At this moment.
Inside "Pengyun Pavilion," in a pavilion with an antique charm, stood a qin stand.
A slender figure in a pearl-white long skirt, with a celestial grace, was sitting beside the qin stand. Her long, jade-like fingers gently brushed the strings, releasing a melodious sound similar to a rushing mountain stream, ethereal and pleasing to the ear.
The lingering qin sound, complemented by the lake scenery and pavillions, along with the bright moonlight, formed a perfect harmony.
The woman’s brows furrowed occasionally, her eyes deep and like there were a thousand worries lingering in her heart that couldn’t be dispelled, arousing a protective instinct in the observer.
This woman, naturally, was Tianyan Fairy.
In the distance.
Amidst the purple bamboo forest planted at great expense, beside the Desolate Marsh Exotic Stones, a few young men with tied hair and wearing ornate garments were sneakily peeking at the woman playing the qin through a monocular "Thousand-Mile Telescope."
However, although there were five individuals, there was only one telescope.
The current observer, wearing a purple crown and a red robe, was a handsome young man.
As he watched, he couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "Truly ’The chord sound can’t dissipate a thousand worries, the fragrant heart seems to express endless sorrow,’ Tianyan Fairy is really a captivating person, making one wish to hold her and cherish her."
"Junior Prince, let me have a look too." Wang Shihai next to him craned his neck eagerly, but could only catch a distant glimpse of Tianyan Fairy, feeling itchingly unsatisfied.
"Shihai, as they say, a brother should not covet another brother’s wife." The purple-crowned young man didn’t even glance at him, criticizing sincerely, "This Crown Prince has already decided to reserve a Heir Consort position for Tianyan Fairy. After my father passes, she will be one of the legitimate Princess Consorts. Shihai, stop harboring impractical hopes."
Wang Shihai rolled his eyes immediately, sarcastically thinking, thank the fairy for you, waiting for your father to pass... Your family’s prince is only in his three hundred and something years, when will it be your turn to succeed?
However, with the Royal Family being officially the Presiding Family of the Southern Desert, this Junior Prince Wu Jinghao is indeed the first heir of the Southern Desert County Prince’s Mansion. Wang Shihai couldn’t contend with him and said simply, "Junior Prince, tonight isn’t just for you to admire beauties. Did you bring your family’s ’Celestial Secret Recording Disc’?"
"Right, right, I have the Celestial Secret Recording Disc, such beauty and enchanting sounds cannot go unrecorded." Junior Prince Wu Jinghao took out a palm-sized jade disc and handed it to Wang Shihai, saying, "Shihai, you record everything for me, don’t waste even a single moment."
Wang Shihai took the recording disc with a twitch of his mouth; previously, he and the Junior Prince were known as the double Little Overlords of the Southern Desert and he didn’t find Wu Jinghao absurd, rather felt they were rare kindred spirits.
But lately, after spending every day with Fourth Grandpa Wang Shouzhe, his perspective broadened, revealing Wu Jinghao as truly quite absurd in behavior.
Another young heir next to him worriedly said, "Junior Prince, why did you steal the Celestial Secret Recording Disc of the Prince? Everyone in Southern Desert County knows it’s a cherished treasure of the Prince, with recordings of Master Yaoguang’s youthful endeavors. Aren’t you afraid of being reprimanded for erasing the existing recordings?"
"Am I supposed to fear this?" Junior Prince Wu Jinghao snorted coldly, "Not to mention I’m the heir of the Prince’s Mansion; everything in the Prince’s Mansion is handed down by the Ancestors, eventually that thing will be mine. Besides, that old indecent often sneaks into the study, secretly watching the Celestial Secret Recording Disc. Such undignified behavior, how will my mother be able to face it?"
"Today, using this Celestial Secret Recording Disc to uphold justice reveals its true value."
"Uh..." Wang Shihai was quite speechless; this guy claims his own Royal Father is indecent, as if he were very proper. As his awareness grew, Wang Shihai felt increasingly out of place with this guy.
...
