Chapter Fourteen: Advancing Without Pause

Gu Xiaopang was startled by Old Master Mu's series of actions, but after recovering, he thought to himself, "Looks like my skill with the Fire Technique isn't bad at all."

Afterward, Gu Xiaopang and Old Master Mu locked eyes, each pushing and shoving responsibility until, finally, the conversation shifted to other matters.

Knowing Gu Xiaopang was feigning modesty after taking advantage, Old Master Mu insisted on having him stay for dinner, even offering him a place to spend the night.

Hearing he could stay the night, Xiaopang naturally was delighted. His eyes fixed intently on Wan’er, making her cheeks flush crimson as she lowered her head.

“Ahem,” Old Master Mu cleared his throat with a fake cough.

He thought to himself, “Boy, your sly thoughts are as obvious as Sima Zhao’s ambitions—no, more like Old Gu’s intentions—everyone can see right through you. If I didn’t agree, you think you could succeed? Dream on.”

“Boy, tonight you’ll sleep in my room. You’ve only just scratched the surface of cultivation, and I need to guide you further.”

“Oh no, I want to sleep in Wan’er’s room. Her guidance is enough for me. You’re a busy man, you should mind your own business.”

Wan’er’s face grew even redder and hotter, her head drooping lower.

“You rascal, wishful thinking! Trying to take advantage of my granddaughter...”

Gu Xiaopang, naturally, knew it was impossible—he'd only said it offhand.

“However, I won’t say I’m not giving you a chance. If you want to stay in my granddaughter’s room, you must promise me one thing…”

Hearing there was a possibility, Xiaopang’s eyes lit up; he glanced at Old Master Mu, urging him to continue, then stared at Wan’er with renewed intensity.

“All you have to do is agree to take me as your master and learn alchemy from me,” Old Master Mu said, his face gleaming with the satisfaction of a successful scheme.

Wan’er, mortified, leapt to her feet, stomped the ground, called him an old scoundrel, and rushed off to her room.

“Agreed! Absolutely, I agree!” Gu Xiaopang seized the opportunity and accepted without hesitation.

That night, Gu Xiaopang truly got his wish to stay in Wan’er’s room, though not on the bed, but on a makeshift pallet on the floor.

Soft whispers and pillow talk carried them deep into the night. Their conversation eventually turned to the cultivation of the Fire Technique; one explained with growing seriousness, while the other listened with increasing focus.

After all, Wan’er was Old Master Mu’s own granddaughter, gifted in alchemy and skilled in fire control—more than capable of teaching the still-green Gu Xiaopang.

Though Gu Xiaopang had memorized the Fire Technique Old Master Mu had given him, what Wan’er shared now were hard-won insights from her own cultivation, holding nothing back.

As he listened, Gu Xiaopang gradually slipped into a meditative state. The fire spiritual energy in his body began circulating on its own, while fire energy from outside streamed into him. As Gu Xiaopang’s fingers moved through the gestures, the stone pendant on his chest flashed with a streak of light.

The spiritual energy within him grew stronger and purer, circulating faster and more smoothly. Gu Xiaopang’s skin glowed red, and in Wan’er’s room—already warmer than elsewhere in the Alchemy Pavilion—the temperature climbed higher still. Watching in amazement, Little Wan’er’s eyes widened, her mouth agape in disbelief.

As Xiaopang lost himself in cultivation, Wan’er unconsciously reached out a slender hand to touch him. At that moment, Old Master Mu slipped in. “Wan’er, don’t disturb him. He’s about to break through.”

Hearing this, Wan’er obediently withdrew to the side, watching Gu Xiaopang with anxious care, afraid he might have an accident during cultivation. Old Master Mu also sat cross-legged nearby, guarding him.

With a muffled crack, Gu Xiaopang’s aura surged to a new level. Old Master Mu, relieved and smiling, was just about to stand when he noticed the spiritual energy in Gu Xiaopang’s body circulating even faster, the absorption of external fire essence multiplying.

Just as Old Master Mu wondered if the boy was about to break through again, another dull crack rang out. The red glow and heat around Gu Xiaopang intensified, and his aura grew even stronger.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Gu Xiaopang finished his cultivation and opened his eyes, feeling better than ever before.

He was about to share his good news with Wan’er when he suddenly noticed Old Master Mu beside him and froze.

“What are you doing here?”

The question was naturally directed at Old Master Mu, for he’d thought only he and Wan’er were in the room.

“Rascal, why shouldn’t I be in my granddaughter’s room?”

“You clearly don’t trust me at all.”

The joy of his breakthrough forgotten, Gu Xiaopang was slightly vexed, suspecting that Old Mu had only agreed to let him stay so he could keep an eye on him.

If he’d really tried to do anything—like holding Wan’er’s hand or stealing a kiss—wouldn’t this old man have beaten him senseless?

“I absolutely don’t trust you—what are you going to do about it? Do you dare have any complaints?” Old Master Mu retorted shamelessly, putting on an air of indifference—as if, even if he’d been found out, so what?

“Listen to yourself! How could I possibly complain? Not only do I have no complaints, I should be thanking you for standing guard, shouldn’t I?” Gu Xiaopang replied through gritted teeth, thinking that if only he could beat the old man, he’d drag him outside and give him a good thrashing first.

“By the way, did you just break through two levels?”

“Yes, I’m at the seventh level of Qi Refining now.”

“That’s frighteningly fast! In just a few months, you’ve leapt from the third to the seventh level.”

“Oh, it’s nothing—third best in the world, maybe.”

“Tsk tsk, getting cocky, are you?”

“How can you say that? I’ve always been a modest gentleman—cocky, me? Never.”

“Though you’re only at seventh level, I bet you could match the newly initiated Foundation Establishment brothers in an arm-wrestle. At least, among the outer sect Foundation Establishment cultivators, I’m now unbeatable.”

“You little rascal! You really know how to brag,” Old Master Mu scoffed, and with two fingers, picked Gu Xiaopang up and tossed him out.

“Go back to your own place!”

“And remember, tomorrow you’re to come learn alchemy! You gave me your word—if you dare not show up, just wait and see how I deal with you.”

“Even your grandfather won’t be able to protect you!”

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