Chapter 32: Returning to Purple Gold Town

After getting dressed, Lin Yang went outside for a stroll and saw little Jiang Chen practicing talismans. He began giving him some guidance.

“Time to eat,” Aunt Wang called out in a timid voice.

“Oh, coming! Let’s go eat first,” Lin Yang said, pulling Jiang Chen along with him.

As they sat at the dining table, Lin Yang noticed Aunt Wang’s cheeks were still a little flushed. “Aunt Wang, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t know you were coming in; otherwise, I would’ve put on my clothes.”

“It’s nothing, it’s my fault for not knocking,” she replied, blushing even deeper as she apologized. Perhaps it was just the heat of the day.

After the meal, Lin Yang suddenly said, “Aunt Wang, my injuries are healed now. I’m planning to head back.”

“Ah? Master, you’re leaving already? Can’t you stay a bit longer?” Jiang Chen was clearly anxious. Over the past month, Lin Yang had played with him and taught him so much.

“Xiao Chen, don’t trouble your master,” Aunt Wang said, uncertain herself. After all, her son was Lin Yang’s disciple, and Jiang Chen usually needed his care.

“How about you both come with me?” Lin Yang suggested. “Jiang Chen can continue studying with me.”

“But… wouldn’t we be bothering you?” Aunt Wang still hesitated.

“Nonsense, my place is more than spacious enough. And besides, I’ve gotten used to your cooking, Aunt Wang. I’d love for you to come.”

“Oh… well, if you insist,” she answered, her cheeks reddening once more.

“Chen, tidy up your things today. Tomorrow, we’ll go stay with your master,” Aunt Wang said, and after dinner, they began to pack.

Night soon fell, the atmosphere tinged with something unspoken. Lin Yang lay on his bed, gazing through the skylight at the brilliant stars overhead. The stars here shone so much brighter than in his hometown. He wondered what the sky was like in the world of cultivators—did it have an atmosphere, and beyond that, the vast universe?

He pondered how to logically divide this world into layers. Suddenly, he heard soft, shuffling footsteps outside. Aunt Wang entered, dressed in a thin, pink robe.

“Aunt Wang,” Lin Yang greeted her, taking in her appearance. Despite years of labor, her skin remained fair, her fingers slender, and she carried a gentle, calming fragrance.

Aunt Wang walked over and embraced him. “Don’t tell Jiang Chen, all right? From now on, consider me your concubine. I’m not worthy of being your wife, but I hope I can be by your side in this way.”

“Aunt Wang…” Lin Yang tried to speak, but her lips silenced him.

…

At dawn the next day, Lin Yang was awakened by the sounds of movement beside him. He watched Aunt Wang, admiring her graceful figure as she tidied up.

She noticed his gaze and blushed. “Xiao Yang, why are you looking at me like that?”

“How could I not, when you’re so beautiful?” he replied.

“Aunt Wang, after all this time, I still don’t know your name. That’s hardly responsible of me.”

“I’m Wang Ling’er,” she answered softly. “Ling with the gold radical.”

“Then I’ll call you Ling’er from now on. You can call me Brother Yang.”

“Oh, but… I’m seven years older than you,” Wang Ling’er protested, feeling a bit awkward about the age difference.

“Will you or won’t you?” Lin Yang scooped her into his arms again.

“Fine, fine, I’ll do it!” She gave in, unable to resist him.

“Say it, then,” he demanded playfully.

“Brother Yang…” she whispered, her whole body flushing with heat, shy and flustered.

“Good, now give me a kiss,” Lin Yang teased, taking advantage.

“You…” She could only relent, giving him a quick kiss.

“Alright, let’s finish packing and head home today.”

…

After breakfast, they packed everything into Lin Yang’s storage pouch. He then flew with the two of them straight to Purple Gold Town.

It had only taken an hour last time, but this time—with two people to care for—it took three.

When they arrived outside the formation, Lin Yang introduced his masterpiece to Wang Ling’er: the Five Elements Spirit Gathering Array.

Wang Ling’er gazed in awe at the five distinct, vibrant sections of the array, as if beholding five different worlds. Her opinion of Lin Yang rose even higher.

Lin Yang remembered the array’s recognition system and took out two tokens from his collection, handing them to Wang Ling’er and Jiang Chen. “These are your keys for entering and leaving. You’ll just need to put a drop of your blood on them.”

“Alright,” Wang Ling’er replied, preparing to do so.

“No need for now. I’ll take you inside, and you can do it yourselves later,” Lin Yang said.

Once inside, Lin Yang released Panpan. “Ling’er, Chen—this is my spirit beast, Panpan. He’s family, too.”

He patted Panpan’s head. Panpan was now as sturdy as a bear; even without standing upright, he was half as tall as Lin Yang. His fur gleamed with a metallic sheen, yet remained soft to the touch.

“Go on, you can eat as much bamboo as you want in the grove this time,” Lin Yang said, and Panpan bounded away.

They walked to the center of the Spirit Gathering Array, where a courtyard stood. It had four wings and a main hall. By the front gate were two small rooms; there was another room on each of the other sides.

Pushing open the door, one could see a single peach tree blooming in the courtyard’s flower bed—a rare sight in autumn.

Lin Yang’s spirit crane swooped down, pecking at peaches and leaving pits scattered across the ground.

Under the flower bed, Lin Yang had planted spirit herbs that bloomed all year round. All the blossoms were pink; Lin Yang preferred a single color over a chaotic mix.

He opened the left wing, placed Jiang Chen’s luggage inside, and made up his bed. “Stay here for now,” he said, “I’ll take your mother to see the rest of the place.”

Then Lin Yang led Wang Ling’er to his own bedroom, placed her luggage there, and pointed to his bed. “From now on, you’ll sleep here.”

“Aren’t you shameless,” Wang Ling’er said, exasperated.

Lin Yang pulled her down to sit beside him. “Ling’er, what kind of spiritual root do you have?”

“I have four roots—why do you ask?” Wang Ling’er was curious about his question.

“That’s not bad at all, better than mine,” he replied. “From now on, just focus on cultivating. Let’s grow old together—I don’t want to be a hundred and holding an old crone in my arms,” Lin Yang joked lightly.

“No, I can’t drag you down. My cultivation isn’t much use,” she said urgently, worried about being a burden.

“Nonsense, we’re family now! What’s mine is yours.” Lin Yang took out a large pile of cultivation pills from his storage pouch and handed them to her. “I’m an alchemist—use as many as you need. You’re my precious treasure now, my beloved.”

Wang Ling’er blushed furiously at his cheesy words. “Shameless,” she muttered.

…