Chapter 120 – Pursuit of the Dao

  Jun De quickly found himself in deep trouble.

  Ever since that fateful morning when Shen Ruolan and Lin Yue had seen Mu Yanyu leaving his room, neither of the young women had allowed him a moment of peace. If one wasn’t at his side, the other was, and more often than not, both were around him at once.

  Each of them was trying to claim his attention, and they were becoming more insistent with each day that passed. Their words to each other were polite and cordial, but Jun De was worried that violence would break out at a moment’s notice if he made the mistake of disrupting the balance of time he divided between them.

  Jun De could feel the pressure mounting, pressing against him from both sides. He had fought beasts and monsters, had endured Shen Weifeng’s ruthless training, and had faced the fury of Demonic Cultivators, but fending off the combined determination of Shen Ruolan and Lin Yue felt like the most exhausting trial of them all.

  And in the back of his mind, a new memory remained. It was one that Jun De would cherish forever.

  The night of Dual Cultivation with Mu Yanyu had been unlike anything he had ever experienced before. His intimacy with Lin Yue had been physical, but Dual Cultivation went beyond that. It was a joining of body and spirit, a merging of their Qi and an intertwining of their cultivation.

  Every breath, every surge of energy had felt as though it elevated him, carrying him to new heights as Mu Yanyu’s Qi buoyed his own.

  It had been incredible and made better by the fact that he could remember it in detail, unlike the last time!

  And Jun De couldn’t deny that Mu Yanyu was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen across both of his lives. Her elegance, her appearance and gracefulness, the way her icy exterior melted away when it was just the two of them alone, all of it convinced him that she stood on equal ground with Shen Ruolan’s exquisiteness, and Lin Yue’s delicate charm.

  Which only made his current predicament worse.

  Three extraordinary women all had their own expectations of him, and each had ties with him that Jun De could never sever.

  Jun De exhaled slowly as he stared up at the ceiling of his room in a rare moment of solitude.

  ‘How the hell am I going to survive this?’

  He managed to slip away the first chance he had, escaping the attentions of both Shen Ruolan and Lin Yue and almost running toward Shen Weifeng’s quarters aboard the flying ship. The former Elder had become his mentor amidst the chaos of cultivation, and Jun De relied on his sharp mind, worldly knowledge and decades of experience to help him whenever he felt cornered or lost.

  When he arrived, Shen Weifeng was seated in a chair by the large window in his room, sipping from a jug of wine while watching the rushing clouds passing outside. He barely reacted when Jun De knocked and entered, simply waving for Jun De to join him and producing another cup for his friend.

  Jun De bowed and took the cup of wine once the former Elder had finished pouring, before sitting next to him at the window and carefully considering his words.

  “Senior Shen.” Jun De began, and Shen Weifeng turned his eyes from the clouds outside and raised an eyebrow at the uncertainty in Jun De’s voice.

  “What brings you here today, Jun De. It must be serious if it has you wavering like reeds in the wind.” Shen Weifeng teased, as the corner of his lips raised slightly into a smile.

  “If you had people around you who…expected things of you, who were pressing you toward something that you aren’t sure if you could give, how would you handle it?” Jun De asked, pausing at times and shifting his tone so that his words carried enough weight to make his meaning clear without having to say what he meant outright.

  For a moment, Shen Weifeng studied him as amusement sparkled in his aged eyes. Then, all at once, he threw his head back and laughed. It was a full, booming cackle that filled the room and left the former Elder breathless.

  “Ahh, Jun De! It must be good to be so young!” Shen Weifeng roared, and he even slapped his thigh for emphasis. Jun De frowned, not entirely appreciating how his friend and mentor made light of his situation.

  “You think what you face is a problem? These aren’t troubles, but blessings! To be sought after, to have beauties turning their eyes toward you, chasing you down and fighting for your affection, you should cherish it! One day, when your hair is white and half your teeth are gone, you’re going to look back at this time and think of it fondly!”

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  “Hah! Perhaps you’ll even regret not enjoying it even more!”

  Jun De grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck. That wasn’t quite the answer he had been hoping for.

  “Senior Shen.” Jun De tried again, his voice holding a hint of pleading, but Shen Weifeng only waved a hand, and his grin widened mercilessly.

  “You want my advice? Then here it is, you shouldn’t run from it. Like all things in life, you must face your challenges head-on. The heavens blessed you with such fortune; it would be an insult to push it away. If you don’t know what to do, then just let things happen naturally. You would be surprised how many knots untangle themselves without effort if you give them time.”

  Jun De sighed deeply, and his shoulders slumped forward. It seemed his mentor thought his troubles were a joke.

  Shen Weifeng’s laughter went on for a while, finally tapering off into a low hum before he leaned forward toward his young friend and rested his hand on his shoulder.

  “Perhaps a bit of perspective would help.” Shen Weifeng said, and Jun De’s head rose sharply. Nodding, Shen Weifeng patted his shoulder before rising and pouring them both another cup from a new jug of wine that rested on a nearby table.

  “Tell me, Jun De. What is it that you want in life? Why have you chosen to walk the path of cultivation?” Shen Weifeng asked, placing the newly filled cup in Jun De’s hand and retaking his seat by the window.

  Seeing Jun De hesitating to respond, Shen Weifeng continued.

  “The pursuit of the Dao is a lifelong commitment, something that is personal to each Cultivator. It is why we would even fight against the heavens and fate itself. It is our entire reason for being.”

  “I initially chose to cultivate because of obligation and commitment to the Clan. But soon after I started, I learned that what it truly wanted in life was to challenge my limits, to prove to myself that I was who I was despite the Clan, not because of it.” Shen Weifeng admitted, and his expression hardened as the memory of his failure to reach Foundation Establishment weighed heavily on him.

  But, like the clouds outside, his dark emotions passed, and Shen Weifeng recalled that he was no longer chained by his past failures.

  “I want to live a long and happy life. To experience it to the fullest. I don’t want to die young and bitter, nor be bound by regrets of the things that I missed. That’s why I pursue the Dao.” Jun De said, and Shen Weifeng’s eyes lingered on him, weighing his words, before he nodded.

  “And is that life impossible if you find people to share it with?” Shen Weifeng asked. Jun De looked down at the cup of wine in his hands and shook his head.

  “I don’t know. You told me that the lives of cultivators are long. What if they expect things from me that I can’t give? People are convinced that Fate has a plan for me, and it seems like any time I’m ready for peace and quiet, things don’t work out that way.”

  Shen Weifeng chuckled softly.

  “You think too far ahead, Jun De. It can be a strength, but also a weakness. Remember that a strong Dao Heart is key, and that a cultivator must remain true to themselves above all else or fall to Inner Demons. If you abandon your heart, you’ll lose your Dao.”

  “You should not deny the good things in front of you because you fear tomorrow’s storms. Let those around you decide if they are willing to stay by your side while you pursue your Dao. If these young women around you know your heart, your worries, and your fate, and they still choose to walk beside you, then that is their decision.”

  “Let them choose and let yourself live.”

  Jun De was silent for a long time as Shen Weifeng’s words echoed in his mind. Finally, Jun De stood up and bowed deeply.

  “Thank you, Elder Shen. I will remember your words.”

  When Jun De straightened, he hesitated for a moment as a thought tugged at his mind. Before he could silence it, it slipped out of his mouth.

  “Although I don’t think the Shen Clan will be very pleased with you for saying this. I think they would prefer if I marry Shen Ruolan and settle down in Yunlai City with her.”

  For a heartbeat, Shen Weifeng froze. His usually sharp eyes went blank and lost focus. Then, with a bark of laughter, he reached out and cracked his knuckles against the top of Jun De’s head with a firm, but playful, strike.

  “Bah, you brat! My advice doesn’t apply to Ruolan! Don’t go twisting my words for your own amusement.”

  While Jun De was meeting with Shen Weifeng, Mu Yanyu was knocking at Lin Yue’s door. The Elder opened it before the Disciple could respond, entering her chamber aboard the flying ship to find Lin Yue seated at a desk with a manual on herbs and alchemy open in front of her.

  The young woman looked up sharply at the intrusion, and her eyes widened in surprise at seeing the Vice Sect Master standing in front of her.

  “Elder Mu!?” Lin Yue said, as she quickly stood up from her deck, knocking the chair she was sitting on to the ground in the process.

  Mu Yanyu didn’t waste any words as she explained why she was here.

  “I am aware that you have been intimate with Jun De.”

  The words struck Lin Yue like lightning. Her lips parted, but before she could say anything, Mu Yanyu was moving toward her as if teleporting the distance. Her hand extended, gripping Lin Yue’s delicate wrist with enough force to keep her in place, but not hard enough to hurt her.

  Mu Yanyu’s Qi brushed against Lin Yue’s meridians, and her own Qi stirred involuntarily in response.

  “I don’t intend to harm you. I am investigating Jun De’s constitution and the effect it has on others who come into close contact with him.” Mu Yanyu explained. Her eyes narrowed as her divine sense swept through Lin Yue’s meridians and Dantian.

  “As I thought, your Qi has changed slightly. The flow is smoother, and the quality has improved. This would explain your recent rapid advancement in cultivation.”

  Mu Yanyu’s hand lingered for another heartbeat before she released Lin Yue, who rubbed her wrist. She was torn between righteous indignation and unease over what Elder Mu had said.

  “You mean to say that my progress isn’t my own?” Lin Yue asked.

  “I mean to say that Jun De is not ordinary. Whatever secrets are contained within his body, and the effect it has on those around him, must not be revealed to anyone outside of this room. It is important that we keep this between us until I have finished my investigation.” Mu Yanyu explained, and Lin Yue frowned.

  “How would you…wait..have you and Jun De…?” Lin Yue’s voice trailed off as her eyes widened, while a faint blush appeared on Mu Yanyu’s cheeks.