Chapter 1119: Soft Feelings Like Water

“My sister left,” Jing Yingmeng said, watching Ye Mo and Ning Qingxue, “She said she’ll find you three days later at the pill association.” Her discomfort was palpable.

Ye Mo felt a pang of sadness. He wanted to ask her to return with him. She clearly knew he had come for her, yet she left. It was obvious she wouldn’t return to Xin Zhida’s small yard. He looked towards Gu Wenqian and Xin Zhida, but found them already surrounded by cultivators.

Gu Wenqian was ecstatic, his decision feeling profoundly wise. Had he not served Ye Mo as a master earlier, he would never have attained this position. Countless others desired Ye Mo’s tutelage, but only he had succeeded.

Xin Zhida, beside him, blushed. When had high-ranking pill masters, pill kings, and high-level cultivators ever shown interest in a Foundation Establishment cultivator like her? Now, because her master was a Level Seven Pill King, they flocked to her.

Ye Mo, without calling to the pair, took Ning Qingxue back to their yard. In the bedroom, he embraced her, apologizing, “Sorry, Qingxue. I offended the Lightning Cloud Sect and Infinity Sect, and dared not contact you. I was afraid…”

“I know…” Ning Qingxue silenced him with a kiss. She understood his reasons for not contacting her or her sister, Luo Ying. She felt his worry, his longing.

Ye Mo abandoned his explanation, lifting Ning Qingxue effortlessly. The room's temperature rose rapidly; Ning Qingxue was lost in his arms. After their long-awaited reunion, her emotions surged. She forgot everything as her body trembled and moaned against his.

Ning Qingxue’s soft, fragrant body overwhelmed Ye Mo. Soft feelings flowed like water; their reunion felt like a dream. The outside world quieted; no words passed between them, yet their tranquil silence spoke volumes.

Ning Qingxue slept more soundly than ever before. Previously, aside from thoughts of Ye Mo and her parents, her life was consumed by cultivation. This morning, she awoke to find Ye Mo gazing at her. She realized, with a blush, her dress was torn.

When they emerged, Gu Wenqian and Xin Zhida awaited, eager to greet their new mistress. Ning Qingxue took a liking to Xin Zhida.

Over the next few days, Ye Mo began teaching Gu Wenqian the spirit sense pill spell and the basic whirlpool technique. Although the whirlpool pill concoction technique originated from the Illusion Cloud Sword technique, Ye Mo deemed it impractical to teach Gu Wenqian the sword technique itself. He separated the pill concoction method, creating a unique system, and taught it to Gu Wenqian.

He planned to alter Ning Qingxue’s cultivation method after she reached the Nascent Soul stage, transitioning to a new method derived from the Three Birth Chant and the Three Birth God Water Chant. While she possessed a pure water spirit root, her late start placed her behind other cultivators with pure spirit roots. This wasn't a concern for Ye Mo; he believed her progress would rival Su Jingwen's with this new method.

Before meeting Ye Mo, Ning Qingxue had diligently cultivated, yet felt something was missing. Now, with him, that feeling vanished, and her progress accelerated. Although Ye Mo lacked a Dihua beast inner core, he possessed ample Blue Wen pills—sufficient for Ning Qingxue’s cultivation needs.

Unfortunately, Ning Qingxue informed him that Luo Ying was in solitary cultivation. Nevertheless, Ye Mo decided to visit the Black Ice Sect representatives at the pill association and inquire about her.

The day after the pill king tournament, Ye Mo was urging Ning Qingxue to replace her ordinary storage ring (from Luo Yue City) with a newer one, when Gu Wenqian announced the arrival of the Lightning Forgery Sect leader.

Ye Mo was surprised; he hadn't scheduled a meeting. With his current standing, ordinary sects wouldn't simply visit. He hadn't sought fame for ostentation, but for protection. Expanding his connections was advantageous.

When Gu Wenqian ushered in two cultivators, Ye Mo instantly recognized them and understood their visit. They likely feared his reprisal. The Golden Core state peak-stage cultivator was Huang Yushan, whom he had encountered in the herb valley, extracting spirit herbs as a “road toll.” Huang Yushan had possessed three Five-Colored Lotuses; Ye Mo had taken two.

With his current power, he could effortlessly cause trouble for a 6-star sect, yet he harbored no such intentions. Even if he did, his target would have been Huang Yushan, not the sect. And he had long since forgotten the incident.

The sect leader, a red-faced cultivator at the Hollow Spirit state peak stage, immediately saluted. “Lightning Forgery Sect’s Dong Xuanming greets Pill King Ye. I’ve brought my delinquent disciple, Huang Yushan, to seek forgiveness.”

Ye Mo gestured dismissively, when Dong Xuanming produced a Five-Colored Lotus. “We have nothing better,” he said. “Hearing you collect lotuses, we’ve brought this. Please, don’t refuse…”

“A Five-Colored Lotus!” Gu Wenqian exclaimed. Though only a Level Five spirit herb, its value was clear to a pill king.

Ye Mo had intended to refuse, but seeing the Five-Colored Lotus, he halted. Only he knew its true worth. Without hesitation, he accepted it.

Saluting Dong Xuanming, he replied, “Sect Leader Dong, I do indeed require this; thank you. But its acceptance has nothing to do with Brother Huang. I’ve forgotten the herb plain incident. Don’t worry, I’ll return to Mo Yue City soon. If the Lightning Forgery Sect needs my assistance, please come to Mo Yue City. I will do what I can.”

Dong Xuanming was overjoyed. He had come only to apologize. While he naturally desired to connect with Ye Mo, a 6-star sect wouldn’t normally approach a Level Seven Pill King without a compelling reason. Ye Mo's words signaled approval for a connection between their sect and Mo Yue City.

The Lightning Forgery Sect, a 6-star sect, possessed two Body Condensation state peak-stage elders but lacked the Kun Filling Pill necessary for their breakthrough. Obtaining it could elevate them to a 7-star sect.

Dong Xuanming wasted no time, quickly thanking Ye Mo before departing with Huang Yushan, eager to gather the necessary spirit herbs to commission Kun Filling Pills.

Fortunately, no further visitors arrived. They likely knew Ye Mo was enjoying a reunion with his wife and wished to avoid disturbing them.

Three days passed swiftly. Ye Mo took Gu Wenqian to the pill association. As top-fifty contenders, they were required to concoct pills for three days. Ning Qingxue and Xin Zhida remained at the yard to cultivate.

“Ye Mo,” a strikingly beautiful nun stopped them at the association’s entrance. Ye Mo was certain he’d never seen a nun so lovely; not even Ling Xiaoshuang compared.

“I’m Shan Bingfeng,” she continued. “You may not know me, but you’ve likely heard of my disciple, Ling Xiaoshuang.”

Ye Mo remained silent; he had nothing to fear from anyone.

“I wish to speak with you alone,” Shan Bingfeng smiled.

Ye Mo nodded towards Gu Wenqian. “Go on ahead. I’ll have a chat with this Shan qian bei.”