Chapter 103: This Is Spring Garden!
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Virtue Tower was a famous restaurant in Qingyang City. Most of the people who could enter and leave this place were Foundation Establishment cultivators and some cultivators with connections. Qi Refinement cultivators rarely came to such a place.
Today, Shen Ping came.
This was the third time he had been to Virtue Tower. The black-robed man was already sitting at a table by the window. The difference was that he did not have the familiar blood-colored mask. After sitting down, a voice sounded in Shen Ping’s ear. “I heard that this place is quite expensive.”
“It’s worth it.” He replied, then raised the wine glass that was filled on the table and said seriously, “Thank you for letting us leave the Cloud Mountain Swamp safely last time.” As he spoke, he drank it in one gulp.
The black-robed man had an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were similar to Bai Yuying. He also finished his spiritual wine and shook his head. “Senior, you’re too polite. What I did was insignificant. Senior, I’ll forever remember your kindness for sending my sister away first.”
Shen Ping smiled and cupped his hands. “I’m Shen Ping, a guest elder of the True Treasure Pavilion.”
The black-robed cultivator suddenly smiled. “Bai Yuxiu, a member of the Blood Silk Guards of Spring Garden.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Ping was not surprised. Previously, Bai Yuxiu could ride a purple flying ship and even speak up at the critical moment to make that Foundation Establishment Cultivator give way. Clearly, his status in Spring Garden was no longer at the edge.
The two of them were silent for a while. Bai Yu Xiu poured another cup of spiritual wine.
“Do you want to arrange to see your sister? She misses you a lot.”
“There’s no need. With my status, it’s destined that I’m not suitable to have any worries. Moreover, I can only stay in Qingyang City for a few hours.” Bai Yuxiu’s voice was low. Then, he took out a jade slip from his body. “Senior Shen, help me give it to my sister. In the future, well try our best to meet less. I’ll show my face when the time is right.” He raised his head and finished his drink again. Then, he stood up and left.
Shen Ping looked at his back. He sighed softly. It was not easy for everyone. Bai Yuxiu spoke very little, but there was concern for his sister, Bai Yuying, buried in his heart. His eyes revealed his desire to meet her, but Bai Yuxiu did not.
What kind of power was Spring Garden? Bai Yuxiu knew better than him. Since he had done this, there was a reason for him to do so.
He picked up his glass. Shen Ping looked at the bustling street outside the window. He drank half a cup of tea before the wine glass reached the bottom.
An hour later, at the entrance of an inconspicuous shop in South City. He looked up at the two words.
Spring Garden.
Shopkeeper Qu had once advised him to interact less with such a force. Even if he had connections, he had to pay more attention to avoid being scammed. But he had come anyway.
Stepping over the threshold, the rich and familiar smell of cosmetics wafted into his nose. He glanced around and saw that there were many cultivators waiting in front of the counter. Three to four of them were at the eighth level of Qi Refinement. There were quite a number of cultivators in Qingyang City who had such needs.
After a while, Matchmaker Ceng swayed her hips and sent a cultivator away. She glanced at Shen Ping from the corner of her eye, and the smile on her face widened. “Aiyo, I just arrived in Qingyang City, and Talisman Master Shen came to take care of my business. It’s really overjoying. Please come in!”
The other cultivators frowned and did not say anything.
Soon, the two of them sat down in the private room on the second floor.
Shen Ping smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist Ceng, it’s all thanks to your reminder last time. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the fortune to see you again.”
Matchmaker Ceng’s cultivation aura was thick. After not seeing her for a few years, she had clearly broken through to the late-stage.
“Talisman Master Shen, you’re being too polite. What kind of friendship do we have? Besides, it’s rare to see a generous Fellow Daoist like Talisman Master Shen nowadays.” Matchmaker Ceng waved the silk in her hand nonchalantly. She rolled her eyes and said with a smile, “I wonder what kind of Dao companion Talisman Master Shen needs this time. Tell me.”
When Shen Ping heard this rather confident tone, he could not help but joke, “Fellow Daoist Ceng, could it be that you can find me a Foundation Establishment Dao companion?”
“What’s so difficult about that?” Matchmaker Ceng leaned closer and continued, “As long as Talisman Master Shen is willing, not to mention Foundation Establishment, it’s not impossible for there to be a Golden Core Dao Companion!”
Shen Ping was shocked. He was just casually saying it just now and testing the strength of Spring Garden. He did not expect that she could even find a Golden Core!
In this cultivation world, a Golden Core Daoist could be considered a small expert in a region. He could enjoy a lifespan of five hundred years. Not to mention summoning the wind and rain, even in an Immortal Dao Sect like the Danxia Sect and the Acacia Faction, he could sit in an extraordinary position. Moreover, the number of female cultivators who reached the Golden Core Realm was even fewer.
It was very difficult for such a person to be restrained.
For Matchmaker Ceng to say this, he guessed that it was mostly an exaggeration. Of course, if it was in Cloud Mountain Parlour, she would definitely not dare to say the latter. Her status in Qingyang City had probably increased a lot.
But no matter what, even if a Golden Core Dao companion was placed in front of him, he would not dare to touch it.
“Fellow Daoist Ceng, you must be joking. I don’t have the strength.” He quickly said.
Matchmaker Ceng was a little disappointed, but her enthusiastic smile did not decrease at all. “As for Foundation Establishment Dao companions, Talisman Master Shen is different from before. You have to choose carefully when you marry another Dao companion. If she’s a mortal like the first, I’m afraid it won’t last long!”
Shen Ping suppressed his shock and shook his head to voice his thoughts. “I’ve been a little interested in puppets recently. I hope to find a Dao companion who’s good at making puppets. The other conditions won’t change. As for cultivation and strength, it’s fine at the middle and late stages of Qi Refinement.”
He raised his requirements for his Dao companion a little.
Matchmaker Ceng closed her eyes and thought for a moment. Then, she sighed helplessly and said, “It’s relatively difficult to master skills like Alchemy, Talisman, Weapon and Formations. It also takes time to accumulate. I believe Talisman Master Shen knows this better than me. For female cultivators, looks and cultivation will always be the first. Unless they have talent in skills, they rarely cultivate those skills.
“There are even fewer people who choose the Puppet Dao. There’s no one who meets Talisman Master Shen’s criteria for the time being.”
As she spoke, she smiled and said, “Talisman Master Shen, do you want to consider a Foundation Establishment Dao companion? Don’t worry, there will definitely be no trouble. You have already experienced the credibility of our Spring Garden.”
Shen Ping frowned slightly. There were indeed very few female cultivators with skills, but he did not believe Matchmaker Ceng’s words. Spring Garden was huge, and they could transport someone from the Ze Kingdom to the Wei Kingdom in a short period of time. How could they not find a Dao companion who met his criteria?
Just as he was about to emphasize that skills only needed to be elementary, Matchmaker Ceng suddenly said, “Talisman Master Shen, may I ask if that mortal called Wang Yun is still by your side?”
Shen Ping narrowed his eyes. “Fellow Daoist Ceng, what do you mean?”
“Just asking.”
“She’s still here.” Shen Ping did not believe that Matchmaker Ceng would ask about this on a whim.
Matchmaker Ceng laughed until her waist trembled. “Talisman Master Shen is indeed a person who values relationships. That day before we left Cloud Mountain Parlour, I could tell!” She cupped her hands and said, “I’m impressed! In the situation at Cloud Mountain Parlour, Talisman Master Shen didn’t even abandon the mortal wife. If I were twenty to thirty years younger, I’m afraid I would really disregard everything and become Dao companions with Talisman Master Shen.”
Shen Ping said calmly, “Fellow Daoist Ceng, if you have something to say, just say it.”
Matchmaker Ceng’s smile faded a little. “If Talisman Master Shen is willing to take in a Foundation Establishment Dao companion, I can give your mortal wife a chance to cultivate.”
This was a trap!!
The moment Shen Ping heard this, he instinctively became extremely vigilant. Mortals could not cultivate. This was destined. Even if Spring Garden had a huge background, it was impossible for them to defy fate.
However, his hand that was holding the teacup still trembled. It was as if he had returned to that night. His wife’s words echoed in his ears. “I’m just a mortal. I can’t accompany you for long!”
This sentence was like an explosion. Shen Ping closed his eyes. He knew that Matchmaker Ceng was definitely paying attention to all his reactions. “Fellow Daoist Ceng, goodbye!” He opened them again.
Shen Ping suddenly stood up and left.
Matchmaker Ceng sat on the spot with a faint smile. “I’ll definitely prepare a dao companion, who is in the early stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, good at making puppets and is obedient and sensible, and has taken the Beauty Pill, for Talisman Master Shen!”
He walked out of Spring Garden. He turned around and looked at the two words again. Shen Ping felt a chill run down his spine.
Mortals could cultivate…
Even when he stood at the entrance of Small Courtyard Al 3 in Huiquan Alley again, this sentence from the bottom of his heart still lingered in his ears.
“Will I go again?” Shen Ping asked himself. However, there was no response. The moment he crossed the small courtyard, he understood something in the depths of his sea of consciousness.. “I’m really being controlled this time!”