Chapter 32: Rising Anxiety

“Don’t separate.”

Mu Qiuying was especially clingy today.

She not only cultivated until nightfall, but at the very end, she refused to part from Chen Juenian.

Even though it was already midnight, neither of them felt any hint of sleepiness.

“After you leave, I’ll take on the responsibility of raising the child.”

“Mhm.”

Chen Juenian just wanted to quickly move past the topic of Chen Dongxia.

The more Mu Qiuying brought it up, the more terrified he became.

He had no doubt that once he revealed the truth, he wouldn’t be able to leave tomorrow.

“And I’ll come to see you occasionally. I already know where your residence is in the First Stratum Beyond the Heavens.”

“What if I’m not there for a while?”

“Then I’ll wait. I’ll wait until you return.”

—

“Nian’er—”

Before the main hall, Xuanyuan Jiong finally saw Chen Juenian, whom she hadn’t seen for nearly two months.

Ever since she found him, she had never been separated from her child for so long.

Even just one day apart was enough to make her heart tremble.

“Nian’er, you’ve broken through to Foundation Establishment?”

“It’s all thanks to Senior Mu.”

It was only then that Chen Juenian noticed Xuanyuan Mingye had also come.

“Qiuying, thank you for taking care of this child these past few days.”

“No, actually, Xuanyuan Nian took care of me.”

Xuanyuan Mingye and Xuanyuan Jiong might not have understood Mu Qiuying’s meaning, but Chen Juenian did.

As for why Mu Qiuying made them wait outside for a full ten minutes.

“Oh? How did this child take care of you? Nian, would you mind telling us?”

Xuanyuan Mingye looked with a smile at Chen Juenian, who was being gently embraced by Xuanyuan Jiong.

She certainly wasn’t one to shy away from entertainment—after all, who doesn’t enjoy a good show?

“Ahem… I just… gave Senior Mu a small gift.”

“A small gift?”

Xuanyuan Mingye shifted her gaze back to Mu Qiuying.

Well, well, well.

The champion of justice, the bane of evil cultivators—Sect Leader Mu Qiuying of the Thousand Arms Sect—had actually accepted a gift from a junior?

“What was it?”

Mu Qiuying answered very honestly.

“It’s a treasure that Xuanyuan Nian personally gave me.”

“Where is it? Let me see.”

“Right here.”

Pointing to her abdomen, Mu Qiuying’s words made Xuanyuan Mingye understand instantly.

Ah, it was food. Little Nian could actually make things like this?

“Nian’er, you know how to cook? What was it? A pastry?”

“Yes—a pastry. Senior Mu liked it very much.”

“Then can you make some for your mother when we get back?”

Xuanyuan Jiong rubbed her cheek against Chen Juenian’s, then said something that made him very embarrassed.

Should he answer?

If he didn’t, or if he refused, it would definitely make Xuanyuan Jiong sad…

“Okay.”

“Mhm! Nian’er really does love Mommy the most!”

After chatting about trivial matters in front of the main hall, Chen Juenian and Xuanyuan Jiong bid Mu Qiuying farewell and left the Thousand Arms Sect first.

Xuanyuan Mingye stayed behind.

She had something to discuss with Mu Qiuying in private.

“You’ve seen that child’s talent as well.”

“I know.”

“The Palace Master and the Great Emperor of the Alchemy Tower both refused my request. Qiuying, your sister…”

“She won’t agree.”

Just as I thought.

Xuanyuan Mingye knew that helping a junior open his meridians so he could at least cultivate normally was an incredibly simple task for a Great Emperor.

But even such a simple thing, they both refused to lend a hand.

Frustrating and heartbreaking. How had this world become like this?

Even the Great Emperor at the Alchemy Tower refused to act.

Xuanyuan Mingye could clearly see that as soon as she mentioned the person in need of help was a boy, her expression immediately changed.

Sigh.

“Qiuying, you must really like that child, right.”

“Of course I do. He’s well-behaved, obedient, and very diligent in his cultivation.”

“Since that’s the case, for him to be able to cultivate normally in the future… we’ll have to think of something. Do you have any ideas?”

Mu Qiuying was silent for a moment, and Xuanyuan Mingye quietly waited for her response.

“It’s simple. I’ll just become an Emperor.”

“Huh?”

‘When did I never notice this cold woman had a bit of humor in her?’

“Well, it seems there really isn’t any way… Qiuying, thank you for taking care of Xiao Nian these past few days.”