Chapter 44: Opportunity

Song Wanqing arrived before the vanity, combing her long hair with one hand. "In about a day or two, once I finish digesting the gains from our dual cultivation, I will form my Core."

Junior Brother Bai Ming picked up the clothes prepared on the floor. "So soon?"

Facing the bronze mirror, Song Wanqing wiped her face. "I have been away from the sect for a long time. If I don't form my Core soon, Master will likely blame me."

After putting on his clothes, Junior Brother Bai Ming stretched his body. "Is that so? My cultivation has also reached the third level of Foundation Establishment after last night. It is the perfect opportunity to refine it."

Song Wanqing finished combing her hair and inserted a hairpin. "Make sure to properly digest yesterday's gains; don't let them go to waste."

Why do I have such a strange feeling?

Am I overthinking it?

Junior Brother Bai Ming nodded, sensing the surging spiritual energy fluctuations within his body.

"By the way, I don't have a Master yet. How about I choose your Master, Wanqing?"

Song Wanqing's hand stopped, a smile playing on her lips. "Let's talk about that after I finish forming my Core. I will take you to see them when we go to the main sect. Choosing a Master requires careful consideration; it cannot be done so casually."

Junior Brother Bai Ming smiled. "I will listen to whatever you say, Qing'er."

After tidying her clothes, Song Wanqing paced over to Junior Brother Bai Ming and leaned down to kiss him.

The sudden kiss left Junior Brother Bai Ming somewhat dazed, his mind going completely blank.

Song Wanqing gave a playful smile. "I am leaving, husband."

Junior Brother Bai Ming felt a warmth in his heart, and an indescribable feeling in his chest—a heavy sensation, yet it felt very comfortable.

I must treat her well in the future.

…

Two days later. In the cultivation room.

Junior Brother Bai Ming sat cross-legged on the ground. Having finished digesting the gains from the dual cultivation, his aura was even more solid.

He opened the secret door of the cultivation room and discovered a young girl in white who seemed to have been waiting for some time, with something to report.

Xiaoxue smiled. "Young Master, there are people from the Yuqing Sect outside looking for you."

Junior Brother Bai Ming was somewhat curious. "Oh, people from the Yuqing Sect are looking for me?"

The two left the cultivation room and arrived at a guest hall in front of the Song Mansion.

They saw two young men in white with their eyes closed and focused, sitting cross-legged on the guest seats in the hall, waiting.

Upon seeing the two arrive, Junior Brother Su hurriedly stood up, no longer pretending to regulate his breathing with closed eyes.

He beckoned. "Junior Brother Bai Ming, come over quickly."

Junior Brother Bai Ming smiled and walked over. "So it is the two Senior Brothers. I wonder what brings you here to find me today?"

Xiao Yu slowly opened his eyes, noticing the solid aura on Junior Brother Bai Ming. "I did not expect that you had already reached the third level of Foundation Establishment, Junior Brother Bai Ming. It truly makes me feel ashamed."

Junior Brother Bai Ming waved his hands repeatedly. "It was just a chance encounter, not worth mentioning. In terms of techniques, I am still not as good as you, Senior Brother."

Xiao Yu nodded. "Junior Brother, you are still too humble. Actually, there is no major matter regarding this visit; I was simply entrusted by our Martial Uncle to come and check on Senior Sister Song's cultivation status."

It seems Qing'er has really delayed her Core formation for too long; the Yuqing Sect has actually sent people to urge her. It appears that according to their estimates, forming a Core is not a difficult matter for Qing'er.

Junior Brother Bai Ming bowed in apology. "This situation is all my fault. If I hadn't lost my memory, Wanqing should have formed her Core long ago."

Xiao Yu pondered. "Then it seems Senior Sister Song should be in the process of forming her Core now."

Junior Brother Bai Ming nodded.

Junior Brother Su's eyes lit up as he leaned in close to Junior Brother Bai Ming. "Junior Brother Bai Ming lost his memory? When did that happen!"

Junior Brother Bai Ming stepped back slightly. "Do you not know? I thought Wanqing had told you."

Seeing that Junior Brother Bai Ming did not seem to have any intention of hiding it, Xiao Yu became interested. "So Junior Brother Bai Ming had lost his memory. No wonder I always felt something was off when I first met you."

Junior Brother Su pressed. "And the complete lack of cultivation at the beginning must also be connected to the reason behind this, right?"

Seeing their intense interest, Junior Brother Bai Ming had no choice but to explain, telling them everything he knew.

Junior Brother Su tapped his hand. "So that's how it is, so that's how it is. I was wondering why Senior Sister Song suddenly had a childhood sweetheart, yet it didn't seem like that was the case."

"However, even with the memory loss, you two lovebirds still managed to become a couple. Fortunately, you didn't miss out. Congratulations to you, Junior Brother Bai Ming. Senior Sister Song is a top-tier prodigy of our sect, Junior Brother Bai Ming, you are quite lucky…"

A strike came, and Junior Brother Su only felt his back of the head ache.

Xiao Yu raised his hand. "Show some respect to Senior Sister Song and Junior Brother Bai Ming."

Junior Brother Su was dissatisfied. "I didn't say anything wrong, did I? Junior Brother Bai Ming and she are a match made in heaven. Can't I even offer a compliment?"

He turned his head. "By the way, this is my first time at the Song Mansion. Why don't you take us around for a tour, Junior Brother?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yu was about to stop him, but seeing that Junior Brother Bai Ming had already agreed, he had to retract his hand.

The two followed Junior Brother Bai Ming and wandered around within the second layer of the barrier, but since they couldn't go to many places, they had to give up.

There weren't as many restrictions in the first layer of the barrier, and the group could be said to be chatting happily.

Junior Brother Su nodded continuously. "The architectural style of the Song Mansion is truly imposing; it is completely different from the one in the sect."

Junior Brother Bai Ming smiled without speaking, leading the two around aimlessly.

A certain area attracted Junior Brother Su's attention. He pointed at it, signaling the others to go there.

Junior Brother Bai Ming was slightly surprised. "There is nothing worth seeing there. Are you interested in that, Senior Brother Su?"

Junior Brother Su gave a mischievous smile. "That's not necessarily true. In this Song Mansion where every inch of land is worth gold, the appearance of an empty plot of land for no reason—this is interesting."

Xiao Yu was calm. "You really… when building, they definitely leave some extra space for emergencies. Don't we have such places in the sect too?"

Junior Brother Su shook his head. "I won't keep you in suspense. Actually, I used a surveying technique and found that there is something underneath."

Xiao Yu's expression changed. "How dare you be so disrespectful."

Junior Brother Su hurriedly reached out. "Senior Brother, please listen to me explain."

"We all know that this Song Mansion is divided into two layers. The outer barrier only serves as a warning, which means the true core items of the Song Mansion are all inside."

He paused slightly. "And in the unimportant layer, there is actually something underground. This is interesting."

Hearing this, Xiao Yu felt it was deeply disrespectful and wanted to punish him, but Junior Brother Bai Ming beside him held him back, signaling him to continue listening.

Junior Brother Su's expression became slightly solemn. "Do you all remember the incident from a month ago, that flame-wielding youth who was killed?"

Xiao Yu crossed his arms. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Junior Brother Su guided. "Senior Brother, don't you find it strange? With his Qi Refining cultivation, how could he break through this second layer barrier? This is a powerful barrier that can withstand three attacks from a Nascent Soul stage cultivator."

Junior Brother Bai Ming pondered. "In other words, it is very likely he never broke through the second layer at all, because he was not in the second layer to begin with."

Junior Brother Bai Ming pointed downward. "But rather, he was beneath here."

Junior Brother Su laughed loudly. "Junior Brother Bai Ming is still the smart one. How about it? Shall we go down and take a look?"

Xiao Yu's expression was terrified. "Are you crazy? You know who was imprisoned down there, yet you still dare to go?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming raised his hand. "No, we should go take a look."

Junior Brother Su patted Junior Brother Bai Ming's shoulder. "Junior Brother Bai Ming is still the one who suits my tastes. Besides, hasn't that person already been killed by Patriarch Song? What harm is there in taking a look?"

Looking at that empty plot of land, for some reason, Junior Brother Bai Ming's heart tightened abruptly, as if some earth-shattering secret was buried beneath it.

A secret that was enough to change his life.

Subconsciously, he felt some rejection, even fear, toward that place; his spirit seemed to be telling him not to go over there.

Yet that place also weirdly held some kind of irresistible attraction for his body.