Chapter 107

Chapter 107: Chatting and Sudden Changes

Zhou Garden, main hall.

Zhou Luo and Lin Jin Xuan sat at the head seats, while the other six concubines flanked both sides, leaning forward attentively.

As he narrated the unfolding tale, the wives and concubines felt transported, their emotions shifting alongside each development.

For instance, when he caused a formation master’s death while testing an antidote and was later held accountable by his family.

The women had heard fragments of this incident, yet hearing it firsthand from Zhou Luo left them breathless.

Especially the sequence leading up to his imminent flogging.

"Husband served the family faithfully. This punishment is wrong," Lin Yi Yi murmured, heartache lining her voice.

In her eyes, Zhou Luo had traded one life for hundreds, preventing greater losses for the clan. He deserved commendation, not rebuke.

That saving lives resulted in punishment struck her as profoundly unjust.

"It’s nothing. The Fifth Miss was lenient," Zhou Luo dismissed casually.

Lin Jin Xuan‘s beautiful eyes flickered. "You bore it admirably, husband. The Fifth Miss must be reasonable," she remarked gently.

These words actually carried a hint of testing.

As the Great Elder’s granddaughter, Jin Xuan’s focus diverged from Yi Yi’s.

She probed for her husband’s true sentiments toward this Fifth Miss.

Perceiving her intent, Zhou Luo answered lightly, "An example had to be made. To neglect it would chill the family’s heart. Since that day, I haven’t seen her."

"What happened next? Husband, tell us of the Immortal Sect!" Lin Yi Yi inquired eagerly, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Legends say it dazzles with myriad radiant hues, immortal cranes soaring among sages untouched by the secular world—a true celestial realm," Lin Fei Ying added with a soft chuckle.

Having only encountered the Immortal Sect in ancient texts, the women naturally envisioned it as transcendent, beyond mortal grasp.

Hearing this, Zhou Luo recalled his Master ushering them into the sect… and that disciple demanding a "toll fee."

"Wasn’t that exaggerated. Just more spiritual energy and higher-level cultivators," Zhou Luo countered mildly.

"Impossible! You’re deceiving us!" Lin Yi Yi declared, staunchly unconvinced.

Offering no defense, Zhou Luo simply resumed his account of entering the Immortal Sect.

As details flowed, the women gleaned a clearer picture, their faces lighting with yearning.

"If only I could glimpse the Immortal Sect’s beauty in this lifetime," Bai Zhi Yan whispered, voicing the collective longing.

The secular realm hungered for that immortal paradise—to them, it embodied ultimate perfection.

In broad strokes, this held true.

Yet to Zhou Luo, the sect was merely a larger "clan," bearing little distinction from mundane existence.

Identical needs: sustenance and rest. Identical complexities: human connections and politics…

"Sister Zhi Yan, your spiritual root is fine. Perhaps win the favor of the mother through the child—your chance might be real," Lin Fei Ying teased.

Among the gathered women, Bai Zhi Yan and Lin Jin Xuan alone bore mid-grade spiritual roots, positioning them best for bearing heirs of promise.

They didn’t dare tease Lin Jin Xuan, the main wife, but jesting with Bai Zhi Yan was perfectly acceptable.

Instantly, the women broke into laughter.

Bai Zhi Yan’s face flushed crimson as she lowered her head, too shy to speak.

Seeing this, Zhou Luo smiled and declared plainly,

"It’s merely the scenery of the Immortal Sect. Someday, I’ll take you all to see it."

"Husband, we’ll hold you to that," Lin Jin Xuan gazed at him sideways, beautiful eyes shimmering with delight.

The others nodded in agreement.

"Of course," Zhou Luo responded.

He then recounted his entry into the Outer Sect’s alchemy place for training.

Learning how he had humiliated the Lu Family and claimed two magical artifacts as forfeit,

the wives and concubines all marveled at their husband’s remarkable ability, their expressions filling with admiration.

Even the usually aloof Lin Qing Han couldn’t help glancing his way repeatedly.

Especially when Zhou Luo mentioned becoming a top-level first-level Pill Master—

utter astonishment swept over the women. Their fair, delicate faces glowed with nothing but reverence and awe.

Apart from Lin Jin Xuan and Bai Zhi Yan, they’d all been overlooked within their own families.

Their life’s sole aspiration had been to bear promising sons, gaining honor through them.

Only later, after Zhou Luo revealed his talent in alchemy and the whole family moved to Zhou Garden, did they realize they could rise through their husband’s success.

Now, as Zhou Luo became a top-level first-level Pill Master, the clan would prioritize his development. Their future had brightened considerably.

A deep sense of joy in their newfound fortune welled within the wives and concubines.

Lin Fei Ying and her two sisters were especially moved, eyes reddening as boundless admiration for Zhou Luo overflowed.

"Husband truly surpasses ordinary men. Our days of blessing have come," Lin Jin Xuan remarked gently.

The women nodded deeply.

As they chatted, dusk fell without notice.

Zhou Luo led his wives and concubines to the dining hall for supper. Seven children nestled in their mothers’ arms, watching him obediently.

"Daddy, where’s Little White?" Zhou Shi Yi leaned over her mother’s arm and asked.

Only then did Zhou Luo recall—Little White was still tucked in the pet bag.

He hastily pulled the creature out.

Meow—

With a spring, the snow-white feline leaped into Shi Yi’s embrace, submitting to her cuddles.

"Little White has grown so much bigger!" Lin Yi Yi stared at the furry bundle in surprise.

After a year of Zhou Luo’s care, the creature had reached its young stage, its ability to create illusions vastly strengthened.

"With all the good food and drink in the Immortal Sect, how could I not grow?" Zhou Luo said with a light laugh.

Normally, it should have taken a long time for Little White to enter its juvenile stage.

But daily doses of potions like Beast Spirit Pills and such helped greatly, so the growth cycle was shortened.

A joyful dinner came to an end.

Zhou Luo went to the front yard and looked up at the starry night sky.

Lin Qing Han quietly appeared beside him, gazed up at the stars, and said, "The moonlight is so lovely tonight!"

Zhou Luo paused for a moment, then instinctively responded, "The wind is gentle too?"

Lin Qing Han froze briefly, looking at him curiously, and asked, "Did you come up with these words yourself?"

"Well, kind of," Zhou Luo answered.

At least in this world, it was his own original thought.

"Um, I really like that sentence," Lin Qing Han said softly in reply.

Lin Qing Han gave a small nod, tilted her head, and gently leaned against his arm.

Zhou Luo smoothly reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

Under the moonlight, they nestled together silently. Only a light breeze brushed by, carrying a hint of tender affection.

"How are things at home?" Zhou Luo asked gently.

"Something happened…"

Lin Qing Han knew he wasn’t referring to Zhou Garden, so she softly recounted the events that had occurred in the Lin Family over the past year.

Actually, not long ago, many Hehuan Sect disciples had appeared in Maple Leaf City, causing widespread chaos under the pretense of revenge.

For a time, people were on edge and filled with alarm.

Lin Guangping, the Seventh Elder responsible for maintaining city security, led his subordinates to capture these individuals aggressively.

But there was a mistake; they fell into the Hehuan Sect’s trap, suffered a sneak attack, incurred serious injuries, and died several days later.

This incident deeply shocked the entire Lin Family.

Lin Xuanfeng, as the hall master of the Law Enforcement Hall, temporarily took over the Law Enforcement Hall’s leadership position and began a sweeping purge of the remaining Hehuan Sect forces in the city.

To this day, Maple Leaf City finally returned to a state of peace.

Yet the impact of an elder’s death was far from finished.

The Law Enforcement Hall couldn’t be leaderless for a single day, so the family called for an Elder Council meeting to elect a new elder.

Unexpectedly, the Great Elder suddenly went into Closed-Door Training.

As a result, the family kept delaying the Elder Council meeting, and the election of the new elder was repeatedly postponed.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuanfeng temporarily managed both halls.