Chapter 484: Disciple Lin Pei Requests an Audience

After wandering around Feili City for a few days and experiencing some of its local customs, Lin Xun returned to Dragon City once more.

In truth, Lin Xun didn’t dare to stray too far from Dragon City.

After all, Peony was currently heavily injured; her combat power was likely so low that she couldn’t even defeat someone in the Immortal Realm.

If he wandered too far and someone in the Spirit Refining Realm launched a sneak attack, Peony would definitely be finished.

Actually, the local customs of Feili City weren’t much different from those of Dragon City.

Since they were both within the Desolate Domain, everyone’s way of life was essentially the same.

The only difference was that Feili City was mostly inhabited by races like strange dragons and birds, so their living habits were slightly different.

After returning to Dragon City, Lin Xun continued to tell stories to Peony.

Compared to before, the time Lin Xun spent telling stories to Peony grew longer and longer.

Peony didn’t have much to do anyway, as she was constantly recuperating; as for government affairs, she had her own specialized subordinate officials.

These subordinate officials were personally hand-picked by Peony and were fiercely loyal to her.

You could call them a girl group, but in reality, these women were the brains behind the entirety of Dragon City.

As long as Peony made the final decisions and kept a basic understanding of matters, there weren’t many problems.

In the past, the time Peony spent handling affairs wasn’t particularly long either.

She spent most of her time focused on her cultivation.

Now that she was injured, she naturally couldn’t cultivate, giving her even more leisure time.

Furthermore, Lin Xun was about to leave the Desolate Domain, so Peony wanted to hear more of the stories he told.

Specifically, the affairs of the man named Mujuan truly piqued her interest.

At present, Lin Xun didn’t have anything else he needed to do.

If he were to go anywhere else, it would naturally be deeper into the Desolate Domain.

However, if he were to go deeper into the Desolate Domain, it would definitely take a significant amount of time.

He had even heard from Peony that the deeper parts of the Desolate Domain were absolutely not places an ordinary person could go.

The further one traveled into the heart of the Desolate Domain, the greater the danger became.

Having a high Realm alone was not enough.

Many things among the races of the Desolate Domain involved certain Laws.

One could say that the stronger your power and the deeper you went into the Desolate Domain, the greater the difficulties you would face.

It scaled directly with your Realm, almost like a manifestation of the world’s will.

If Lin Xun insisted on going, it wasn’t impossible.

But it would consume a lot of time.

Thus, Lin Xun planned to stay for another five or six days before leaving; after all, he had already been away for too long.

Lin Xun was even worried about whether Qinger had actually returned to the Zilin Holy Land.

Did Qinger know he had left?

If Qinger knew he was gone and didn’t see him for so long, she would surely be very worried.

So, regardless of his own whims, he felt he had to hurry back to the Zilin Holy Land to take a look.

If Qinger wasn’t at the Zilin Holy Land, then he would go to the palace.

He at least needed to see Qinger’s current state and how Sister Mimi was doing.

Nearly a year had passed since he first set out.

Although for a Cultivator, a year was but a brief month or even just a single week.

But no matter what, a year was a year.

It wasn’t a short amount of time.

During the last few days before Lin Xun left, he still spent all day chatting with Peony in the palace.

For some reason, Lin Xun always felt that the way Peony looked at him seemed a bit off.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on what exactly was wrong.

It seemed like Peony had become gentler.

No.

Just calling it gentle…

Didn’t seem quite right either.

Because Peony’s tone with him sometimes wasn’t as polite as before; she even had a bit of a temper.

Yet this irritability gave him a sense of closeness.

Lin Xun couldn’t figure out what was going on.

“Are you leaving?”

On the day before Lin Xun’s departure, he was still telling stories to Peony.

However, on this day, Peony was in no mood to listen to his stories at all.

Instead, the mere thought of Lin Xun leaving made Peony feel very uncomfortable.

“Yes, I’m leaving. I’ve been here for a long time. If I don’t leave now, many people will worry about me.”

Hearing Lin Xun’s words, Peony fell into a slight silence.

After a long while, Peony finally looked up and slowly asked:

“Then, will you come back?”

“Hmm?”

“I mean, there are still many things I want to know about the outside world.

If you aren’t here, there won’t be anyone to tell me about them.

As for the story of that man named Mujuan, I still really want to hear it.

Even though that man is indecisive and quite frustrating,

It is indeed interesting, so I want to know when I can hear more next time.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is!”

Lin Xun smiled and shook his head.

However, Lin Xun felt like he had been insulted for no reason.

“I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back next time.

But I will definitely come back.

Because there are still many things in the Desolate Domain that I don’t understand.

Maybe when there’s an opportunity in the future, I’ll visit other parts of the Desolate Domain to investigate.

I always feel like something big is going to happen.

And I also really want to know what’s going on with that Seal in your Desolate Domain.”

As he spoke, Lin Xun smiled:

“If I figure out the principles of the Seal by then, I’ll have a way to take you out of this place.

You’ll be able to see the outside world with your own eyes.

That will definitely be much more interesting than the stories I tell you.”

“The outside world…”

Peony’s vertical pupils froze slightly as she looked up at the distant sky.

“The outside world… can I really go outside? To see the outside world? In my eyes, I’ll probably have to stay here for the rest of my life.”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

Lin Xun shook his head.

“No matter what kind of Seal it is, there will be a day when it weakens.

And no matter what kind of place it is, someone will eventually walk out.

What I’m worried about is, when you all walk out of this land, will you bring disaster to the rest of the world?”

“Are you suspecting that I’ll go outside and slaughter the innocent?”

Peony glared at Lin Xun angrily.

“That’s not it…”

Lin Xun denied it.

“I know you aren’t that kind of person.

Even if you left this Desolate Domain, you would never do anything to others.

But the other City Lords are different.

They have stayed in this Desolate Domain for far too long.

And they likely harbor resentment toward the outside world.

If they leave this place, there’s no telling what they might do.

But regardless, those are other people’s affairs.

At least in my view, if you were able to leave,

Then I would take you to some interesting places in the world to travel and meet different kinds of people.

I’m sure you would like them.”

“Hmph, we’ll see when that day comes!”

Peony huffed and turned her small head away, looking a bit tsundere, but Lin Xun knew that Peony was already looking forward to his words.

“You said it…”

Just as the two fell into a slight silence, Peony spoke up again.

“Hmm, what did you say?”

“I said, you said it—that you will definitely come back.”

Peony gave Lin Xun a look.

“Don’t lie to me. I’m still waiting for you to come back and tell me more interesting stories.”

“Ah? Oh, okay, no problem.”

Lin Xun was startled for a moment, then nodded.

He didn’t know why Peony had suddenly said that.

But it didn’t matter to Lin Xun.

He really did intend to return.

Telling her some stories and keeping her company for a few days wouldn’t be a problem.

The next morning, Lin Xun got up and prepared to leave the Desolate Domain.

As for Peony…

Peony naturally got up to see him off.

Since the recovery ability of the Dragon Clan was indeed astonishingly powerful,

And although Peony had sustained significant injuries in that great battle, they hadn’t damaged her life Origin.

Therefore, Peony’s injuries were healing exceptionally fast.

Lin Xun and Peony walked along the road, chatting as they went.

They mostly talked about things Lin Xun had experienced outside the Desolate Domain.

They also discussed what Peony planned to do next within the Desolate Domain.

According to intelligence, those three City Lords had gone to seek refuge with a City Lord named Yinjiu.

This Yinjiu was a Cultivator in the Spirit Refining Realm.

In other words, if Peony wanted to seek justice from those three fellows, she would have to go through Yinjiu.

However, if it were just Peony alone, she could protect her own territory from intrusion.

But to say she could kill those three City Lords while they were under Yinjiu’s protection was essentially impossible.

Yet, given Peony’s personality, Lin Xun knew she would absolutely not let them off the hook.

“Regarding those other three City Lords, you don’t necessarily have to resolve things with force.

Many times, things can be achieved through planning.

Regardless, don’t act recklessly.

You aren’t invincible.

This time was a lesson.”

Lin Xun was afraid that after he left, Peony would act recklessly without regard for the consequences.

It was also so that he could see this friend again the next time he came to the Desolate Domain.

Thus, Lin Xun gave Peony this reminder.

“I know, you’re really wordy. Do I look like the kind of person who acts recklessly?

Besides, last time was just an accident.”

To Peony’s ears, Lin Xun’s reminder sounded like he was scolding her for her previous recklessness.

“Fine, fine, you should get going. I’ll handle the affairs of the Desolate Domain; we can talk more when you come back next time.”

Seeing Peony’s disdain, Lin Xun smiled and shook his head: “In that case, I’ll be going now.”

“Go, go, you really are so wordy.”

Peony turned around.

Peony felt a slight breeze brush past her.

Soon, Lin Xun’s presence beside her completely vanished.

Peony turned back to look at the opposite shore.

By now, Lin Xun had already crossed the Han River and disappeared into the forest on the other side… After leaving the Desolate Domain, Lin Xun flew directly toward the Qianye Continent.

After more than a month, Lin Xun returned to the Zilin Holy Land on the Qianye Continent.

Even though he had only been gone for a little over a year, in Lin Xun’s mind, it felt as if he had been away for centuries.

Mainly because so many things had happened during this past year.

And he had traveled to so many places.

So, upon returning, he felt a long-lost sense of disorientation.

But in reality, for Immortal families, the year Lin Xun spent was but an extremely short period of time.

After all, a minor seclusion for a Cultivator would start at over a decade.

Thus, when Lin Xun returned to the Zilin Holy Land, almost no one realized he had been gone for long.

He returned to Saintess Peak.

Since everyone from Saintess Peak had moved to the capital of the Qian Kingdom and still hadn’t returned,

Saintess Peak remained empty.

Worried that Qinger might have asked people about his whereabouts and would be anxious to find out he was missing,

Lin Xun found someone to ask whether the Saintess had returned or anything of the sort during the past year.

“No, the Saintess hasn’t been back for over a year, and no one has come to Saintess Peak during that time either.”

Hearing this from the Cultivator on the neighboring peak, Lin Xun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Wait! You’re Lin Pei, right? Speaking of which, there is indeed a message I need to give you.”

The Cultivator seemed to suddenly remember something and spoke up quickly.

“Fellow Daoist, may I ask what it is?”

Lin Xun felt a momentary panic.

“It’s like this.

Although the Saintess hasn’t returned,

The Holy Master once came to Saintess Peak.

It seemed she wanted to see you.

However, the word’Seclusion’ was posted on your Immortal Cave.

So the Holy Master didn’t disturb you and left.

Then the next day, a female Disciple from Holy Master Peak came over and told me

To let you know to go visit the Holy Master once you came out of seclusion.”

“I see, thank you, Fellow Daoist…”

“Don’t, don’t, if anyone should be thanked, it’s you.

After all, it was something the Holy Master instructed me to do.

Fortunately, I ran into you today and remembered.

Otherwise, I probably would have forgotten.

I would have been punished then.”

Lin Xun exchanged a few more pleasantries with the Cultivator before returning to his own courtyard.

As for Jiang Yuerou wanting to see him, Lin Xun wasn’t overly worried.

After all, Jiang Yuerou didn’t know his true identity.

She was likely looking for him simply because he was a member of Saintess Peak.

She was probably worried about his cultivation and wanted to check on him on Qinger’s behalf.

Besides.

Qinger had originally recruited him as a Disciple on behalf of her master.

So, in a strict sense, was he actually her Disciple?

For some reason, Lin Xun always felt a bit strange about it.

At Saintess Peak, Lin Xun took a bath, then left the peak and flew toward Holy Master Peak.

He had decided.

After dealing with Jiang Yuerou, he would head to the palace of the Qian Kingdom.

“Holy Master, Disciple Lin Pei requests an audience…”

Outside the courtyard of Holy Master Peak, Lin Xun bowed with hands clasped and announced his visit.