CHAPTER 548: CHAPTER 510: REUNION WITH ZHOU MENGJIAO

Everyone yearned infinitely for the new world, yet Tian Lin sang a different tune.

Mei Xiangu furrowed her brows, turned her head to Tian Lin and said: "A world where the Great Dao is complete is more conducive for a cultivator to comprehend Daoist skills. What is there to fear about such a world?"

Tian Lin shook his head, silent.

To Mei Xiangu and the others who had never been Hua Hualang, they obviously didn’t know how difficult it was for the weak to survive in a world where the strong were everywhere.

By rights, the sisters Cui’er should have the same feelings as Tian Lin due to their slave background.

But in reality, although both of them were born into the Tong Family as slaves, they hadn’t done any truly laborious work and had not experienced hardship like going without food.

For true Hua Hualang, their lives were simply like those of young mistresses of a normal household.

"In such a world, I’m afraid the competition would be even more brutal. It’s easier for mortals and Hua Hualang to be oppressed by aristocratic families."

Mei Xiangu sneered, "The law of the jungle is the rightful principle of the world. What cultivators should do is defy heavens, not complain about the unfairness of the world."

To Tian Lin, such talk of defying the heavens was indeed defiant against heaven.

And if the injustice of the world is not allowed to be complained about, then clearly, the world truly is unjust.

However, Tian Lin didn’t have much to argue against Mei Xiangu, because nowadays Mei Xiangu belonged to the stronger type within the law of the jungle — if in the new world, exalted ones like her and the Nascent Soul cultivators of the sect became the weak, they’d understand what true cruelty was after the roles were reversed.

"Even though I’ve never met Master Kong Wu, I have also heard him speak — that world is actually beautiful."

The Daoist Child frowned, not angry because of Tian Lin’s rebuttal but earnestly explained.

Tian Lin thought for a moment and said, "Master Kong Wu has lived in the Little Leiyin Temple for many years, surrounded by fellow disciples. The cultivation concept of his surroundings is not only different from the Taoist Sect and the world, but due to fellow disciples, he is naturally well taken care of —

The new world as seen by Master Kong Wu is actually different from the real new world. Besides, leaving one’s homeland is difficult — once we leave this world, all of us are Hua Hualang."

While talking, they arrived at a certain courtyard.

Zhou Mengjiao, clad in elegant clothing, walked out of the house. Although she still bore the appearance of a young girl, the naive air of earlier days was no longer present.

She held a round fan in her hand, approached with a smile, and politely greeted Tian Lin, Mei Xiangu, and the Daoist Child: "Two senior brothers and Sister Mei, what are you discussing?"

Mei Xiangu wasn’t very close to Zhou Mengjiao, but not displeased with her either.

She glanced askance at Zhou Mengjiao, unable to help but say: "Your current attire is much more like those women passionate about commerce in the secular world. Where is the aura of a cultivator?"

Zhou Mengjiao knew Mei Xiangu’s character, so she wasn’t upset by her words.

"Your junior sister’s talent only allows her to reach the pinnacle of the Golden Core stage. In terms of cultivation, your junior sister no longer has further pursuits and would rather follow Sister Wang’s example and manage her family well."

Mei Xiangu bluntly said, "You are unlike Wang Yanyu, who is much stronger than you."

She really couldn’t hide her disdain for Zhou Mengjiao. Fortunately, having followed Tian Lin for several years and experienced many upheavals, she was not as arrogant as before.

Zhou Mengjiao knew Mei Xiangu wasn’t too fond of her and thus refrained from indulging herself further.

Still smiling, she said to Tian Lin, "Brother Tian arrived in haste, and I couldn’t prepare much in time. However, I’ve had a residence built mirroring the appearance of Gourd Peak back then. If there’s anything else senior brother wishes to add, feel free to ask Cui’er and Yu’er to let me know."

After Tian Lin said ’thank you’, he continued, "Junior Sister Zhou’s matrimonial matters, I was away and didn’t hear of it in time, so I couldn’t personally come to ask for celebratory wine. I hope my junior sister will pardon me."

Zhou Mengjiao said, "I merely followed the family’s command and randomly found someone to spend my days with, so what is there to celebrate? Senior brother need not concern yourself with this, rather, your and sister’s return to the sect is truly a delight.

If brother has no plans in the coming days, allow me to invite you over so that us siblings may have a celebratory reunion?"

This return to the secret realm meant Tian Lin couldn’t leave for a while.

Encountering each other frequently, he couldn’t avoid a feast invitation, so Tian Lin nodded.

The Daoist Child escorted Tian Lin to his destination, then bid farewell and left with Mei Xiangu.

Once the Daoist Child left, Zhou Mengjiao led Tian Lin and Mei Xiangu to the cave mansion arranged for them.

She knew Tian Lin didn’t care much about luxurious living, so she had people carve out a cave mansion that followed the layout of Tian Lin’s mansion at Gourd Peak, bringing in stone tables and benches from the outside.

After inspecting the cave mansion, Tian Lin’s attitude toward Zhou Mengjiao was more sincere, thanking her once again.

Zhou Mengjiao understood the exhaustion from Tian Lin’s travels, and aware Mei Xiangu wasn’t fond of her, didn’t linger and soon bid them farewell with a smile.

"Some wish to escape worldly affairs, focus on cultivation, and establish a foothold in the new world. Some, for a time, are mesmerized by power, abandoning the Great Dao, and forsaking the fundamentals for temporary gains."

Mei Xiangu was actually satisfied with the cave mansion Zhou Mengjiao arranged, but it didn’t prevent her disinclination toward Zhou Mengjiao.

"Actually, Junior Sister Zhou has a point. Even if she pursues cultivation hard, unless fortune befalls, hoping to improve cultivation is a vain hope.

Given that, it’s better to embrace reality and enjoy life."

If he didn’t have entries, still filled with hope for cultivation, he might consider finding a place to hide and live a modest life.

Now, he was less concerned about whether the Guanghan Palace existed on the moon.

His current cultivation, besides wanting to see the moon, was driven by a desire not to have his fate controlled by others.

"Cultivation is to turn the impossible into possible! If one gives up due to insufficient talent and stagnant cultivation, how can one ever pursue immortality?"

Tian Lin didn’t argue with Mei Xiangu; he knew sometimes she just impulsively liked debates.

His gaze fell upon a white-clad woman walking alongside Zhou Mengjiao in the distant woods. The white-clad woman was holding the hand of a jade-carved little girl—

Mei Xiangu followed Tian Lin’s gaze and soon frowned: "Ghost baby? This is a secret realm, having a ghost baby is not surprising. What’s surprising is someone actually raised a ghost baby? Could it be that woman is from the Xiangxi Sect?"

Tian Lin shook his head, "That woman is my senior sister Bai from when I was in Class D, and the ghost baby she’s holding should be Elder Xue’s great-granddaughter."

Mei Xiangu was momentarily stunned. She knew Elder Xue had a great-granddaughter who was a ghost baby, but when that ghost baby was sent to her grandfather’s care, she had already come to the Wenda Sect.

Even returning to the Goddess Sect, she hadn’t seen the ghost baby.

She didn’t expect to see the ghost baby openly here upon returning to the Wenda Sect.

"Elder Xue initially sent the ghost baby to the Goddess Sect fearing the sect wouldn’t tolerate its existence. Now that Elder Xue has openly brought his great-granddaughter back, not only worrying about external safety but also suggesting a change in the sect’s attitude toward evil spirits. It seems the order within the Wenda Sect truly is somewhat chaotic now."