Chapter 391: Chapter 391: Zhao Lingyin’s Analysis_1

The jade-like moon rolled through the dew, casting wet beams of light; phoenix pendants met on osmanthus-scented paths.

Under the moonlight, the celestial maidens wearing the phoenix-shaped pendants were none other than Zhao Lingyin and Chen Mengze. At this moment, they were deeply engrossed in their conversation, emboldened by wine, and discussing private matters that made even Shen Mo’s ears burn to overhear.

Fortunately, the scene he had anticipated, of the two women scheming against each other, did not occur.

Aside from unmentionable topics, they mostly chatted about insights from their cultivation, interesting experiences they’d had, beautiful robes and magic artifacts, Elixirs for preserving youth…

The conversation topics jumped about, and Shen Mo found no opportunity to interject.

The distinguished third-ranked core disciple of the Riverside Sect was momentarily reduced to pouring wine for two young women.

Just as the sky began to brighten, Chen Mengze bid farewell to them and flew off on her Flying Sword, heading out of the sect gate.

Shen Mo activated his Flawless Dharma Eye, watching her until she was three hundred miles away before muttering a pithy mantra and retracting the Dharma Eye.

When he turned back, he saw Zhao Lingyin smiling faintly at him. Feeling a little irked, he swept her up onto his lap and playfully bit her cheek.

Zhao Lingyin, with a look of mock disgust, wiped the saliva from her face, then picked up a fragrant Spirit Fruit and popped it into Shen Mo’s mouth.

Munching on the Spirit Fruit, Shen Mo mumbled indistinctly, “I thought you might be rather tense around Senior Sister Chen…”

“Didn’t you tell me you consider Mengze as family?” Zhao Lingyin’s eyes were clear, her tone sincere. “If so, I naturally want to have a good relationship with an elder sister in the family. I wouldn’t want to make things difficult for you.”

Shen Mo was touched and about to praise her.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Lingyin’s tone shifted, and she stated coolly, “Mengze… she has feelings for you!”

“Cough, cough…”

Only after swallowing the fruit pulp did Shen Mo manage to ask, “What makes you think that?”

“Whenever we talked about you, or anything related to you, her eyes and tone would immediately change.”

Zhao Lingyin rested her head on Shen Mo’s chest, as if listening to his heartbeat, and continued to murmur, “Also, the subtle fragrance about her would change.”

“When discussing other things, Mengze gives me the feeling of an ice-attribute spiritual medicine, somewhat like the scent of a snow lotus.”

“But when she spoke of you, her fragrance became more akin to a fire-attribute medicinal herb… Such a change wouldn’t happen unless her emotions were in turmoil.”

Shen Mo was rather taken aback.

He had almost forgotten that Zhao Lingyin’s five senses, particularly her sense of smell, were extraordinarily acute.

Back when he had emerged from the Alchemy Tower after refining Elixirs, it was the specific scent of the Elixirs on him that had allowed Zhao Lingyin to see through his disguise and recognize his true identity.

After a brief pause, Zhao Lingyin added, “Mengze herself might not realize it, but in her words, she remembers every single detail of her interactions with you with exceptional clarity.”

“From things as distant as over twenty years ago, when you were both children and you bullied her to tears,”

“To more recent events, like the words you exchanged with her at Wolf Howling Ridge…”

Shen Mo smiled, not rushing to refute her. He had already shared many of his heartfelt thoughts with Zhao Lingyin before; repeating them now would be pointless.

He raised his cup, filled with spiritual pulp, and took a large sip.

While Zhao Lingyin paused in her recounting of “evidence,” he leaned in and kissed her soft, alluring lips, passing the spiritual pulp from his mouth to hers.

A fragrant sweetness lingered, captivating the heart and soul.

GULP, GULP.

Zhao Lingyin swallowed the fragrant spiritual wine, her lovely face, and even her neck, flushing crimson.

The sight stirred Shen Mo’s heart, and he couldn’t help but draw her into an intimate embrace.

…

It wasn’t until noon that Zhao Lingyin emerged from the cave mansion, her face flushed and ears warm.

She shot Shen Mo a glance that was a mix of coyness and slight reproach before summoning her magic sword and flying off towards Spirit Gathering Peak.

Shen Mo watched Zhao Lingyin fly away, the ardent desire in his eyes gradually being replaced by clarity. Our hundred-year promise with Lingyin should be put on the agenda soon, he thought. Just nibbling around the edges like today won’t do in the long run. Once Lingyin and I formally become Dao companions, I’ll be able to share true happiness with her openly and rightfully!

By now, the messy array of cups and plates on the cliff terrace outside the cave mansion had been cleared away by disciples hired from the Dining Room, likely dispatched sometime that morning.

Because outer disciples could not freely enter the Inner Door, and it was extremely difficult for disciples at the Body Tempering Realm to even climb the cliff where the cave mansion was located.

Therefore, the Dining Room also employed many inner disciples to assist with catering for feasts.

The nature of such jobs was similar to the various tasks listed in the Deacon Hall. While the Spirit Stones awarded were slightly fewer, it had the advantage of being safe and easy, which was perfect for disciples at the Qi Gathering Realm who weren’t as strong.

Shen Mo silently complimented the efficiency of the Dining Room. Just as he was about to return to the cave mansion, he suddenly noticed an escaping light approaching him.

“Junior Brother Shen, my apologies for the disturbance!”

The spirit light dissipated, and an Elder from the Deacon Hall appeared before Shen Mo.

Shen Mo recognized him; it was Elder Lu Youwei. He had been the one to receive them when Ming Yu obtained her “alien minister” Identity Token.

It wasn’t surprising that Elder Lu addressed him as Junior Brother.

Unlike Lu Ming, Shen Mo didn’t have an obvious master-disciple lineage, so his generation within the sect was determined by his own cultivation realm.

The seniority of all disciples in the Riverside Sect was generally divided into three tiers based on their cultivation realms.

The Golden Core Realm patriarchs, namely the Supreme Elders, constituted one generation.

All Spirit Sea Realm experts, including the Peak Masters of the three Main Peaks, various Hall Masters, Elders, and core disciples, formed another generation.

The remaining Qi Gathering Realm and Body Tempering Realm disciples, encompassing both inner and outer disciples, Deacons, and so on, made up the third generation.

Of course, this was merely a broad categorization.

Because cultivators generally had long lifespans, the hierarchical systems common in worldly martial arts sects were not applicable to major immortal sects.

Determining an individual’s specific rank, especially among peers of the same realm, was quite complex. Factors such as master-disciple relationships, date of entry into the sect, cultivation realm, status and authority, and meritorious achievements were all taken into consideration. If it was truly unclear, it was acceptable to humbly address each other as “Senior Brother” to avoid offense.

Furthermore, situations like that of Peak Master Zhou Shili and his personally taught head disciple Jiang Lingfeng, where both master and disciple were in the Spirit Sea Realm, were common in the Riverside Sect.

If one had no direct connection to such a master-disciple line, individuals were generally addressed according to their own standing.

Shen Mo calling Jiang Lingfeng “Senior Sister” was merely a term of respect; it didn’t mean he was of a lower generation than Zhou Shili.

Now, having opened his Spirit Sea and risen to become the third-ranked core disciple, his status and position surpassed even that of ordinary Elders. Elder Lu couldn’t very well call him “boy.” Addressing him as Junior Brother was quite appropriate.

If Elder Lu didn’t wish to show closeness, he could also directly address him as “Shen Core,” which would also have been acceptable.

“Elder Lu, may I ask what brings you here?” Shen Mo returned the salutation and inquired.

Elder Lu Youwei had not been born into a wealthy immortal clan, and his Talent was mediocre. Having cultivated until now, he had only reached the third layer of the Spirit Sea Realm.

He did not dare put on airs of seniority in front of Shen Mo and responded with a chuckle, “If it weren’t an important matter, how would I dare to disturb Junior Brother Shen’s cultivation?”

“There are two matters I wish to discuss with you in detail.”

“The first concerns your cultivation mansion. The second is about asking for a means of livelihood on behalf of many outer disciples.”

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