Chapter 327 - 127: Afterglow

Chapter 327: Chapter 127: Afterglow

A breeze wandered through the gauzy twilight.

Fang Ling and her group had returned from their spring outing. The two young women, Fang Ling and Nannan, were now twenty-one or twenty-two—the prime of their lives.

Nannan followed the path of a Spirit Master. Her Green Talent, a one-in-ten-thousand rarity, had only just gotten her past the initial threshold. Her progress was slow. Even with her diligence and the resources Fang Rui provided, she was now only a Low Grade Spirit Master, roughly equivalent to a Martial Artist of the Eighth Grade.

Because she also practiced the Primordial Scripture, she was considered Qing Yan’s junior martial sister. Qing Yan, that kid, was blessed with Blue Talent and had already reached the threshold of a Middle Grade Spirit Master.

Fang Ling was at the Eighth Grade of Martial Arts, the Muscle Strengthening Realm. In truth, Fang Rui was far more familiar with Martial Arts, and there was no shortage of resources. The girl should have been progressing much faster, but she was afraid that getting stronger also meant getting uglier...

In the end, Fang Rui, a Medical Grandmaster, concocted special medicines for her. He also spent a fortune in resources—enough to cultivate several Low Grade Martial Artists—just to ensure Fang Ling’s looks wouldn’t be affected by her training.

Fang Rui called the two young women over and took out the Yun Jin, along with the little trinkets from Yu Song.

When unfurled, the Yun Jin shimmered, its colors shifting with the light. It was as beautiful as the iridescent clouds at sunset.

"It’s seamless, and the light flows over it so brightly... It’s gorgeous, but if you made it into an outfit, wearing it out would be far too ostentatious."

Fang Ling shook her head slightly, setting the Yun Jin down.

Having been under his influence since childhood, she had inherited some of Fang Rui’s cautious and prudent nature.

"Brother Ah Rui, this just looks like a regular mirror. Is there anything special about it?" Nannan asked curiously, peering at her reflection.

"It’s something like a beauty filter camera..."

"A beauty filter camera?!"

"Yes. It’s a terrifying Evil Technique that doesn’t deceive others, only yourself."

Fang Rui thought back to his previous life, to all the women who used beauty filters and then truly believed they were flawless fairies. Shaking his head, he explained the mirror to the two of them and smiled. "You two are in the prime of your youth and already have perfect looks, so of course it has no effect on you."

The mirror would have worked on the Third Lady, but she wasn’t the type to delude herself. She valued her appearance, but she could also face the prospect of aging with grace.

—Because Fang Rui had once told her that two people staying together, accompanying each other as they slowly grow old, was probably the most romantic thing in the world.

"Ling’Er, Nannan, come sit down. Let’s have a talk."

Fang Rui patted the spot next to him, gesturing for the two to sit. "Ling’Er," he asked, "what do you think of Qing Yan?"

"Bro~ther!"

Fang Ling drew out the word, her tone a mixture of shy protest and feigned annoyance.

"There’s no need to be shy about it. You’re both twenty-one, twenty-two. In an ordinary family, women your age would already have children."

Fang Rui paused. "Of course, I’m not trying to rush you into marriage. I can still afford to support you. I just want to know your honest opinion, Ling’Er."

"Oh, I see!"

Hearing Fang Rui’s words, Fang Ling’s expression grew serious. She thought for a long moment before replying, "About Qing Yan... well, I wouldn’t say I *love* him, but I have a favorable impression. I’m not really interested in any of the other young masters in the city. And besides you, brother, he’s the man I’ve spent the most time with."

"And there’s also the matter of the Primordial Scripture that you and Nannan are cultivating..."

"Don’t worry about that."

Fang Rui shook his head, deciding to be frank. "I took Qing Yan in because of my promise to Daoist Ge to raise him to adulthood. Over the years, I’ve done more than enough. I haven’t mistreated him, I’ve kept him from going down the wrong path, and I’ve guided his Cultivation. While I didn’t give him the Chaos Dragon Pearl Origin, I did provide him with other resources for a Spirit Master..."

"In short, while it’s true that Nannan and I cultivate using the Primordial Scripture, I don’t owe Qing Yan anything... and even if I did, that debt would be mine to repay."

"Ling’Er, Nannan, neither of you should feel any burden over this."

He then turned and looked Fang Ling right in the eyes. "Ling’Er, if you truly like Qing Yan, I won’t stand in your way. You have my blessing. I’ve observed him long enough to know that kid is probably someone you can rely on."

"However, I’d rather you be with someone because you genuinely love them, not for any other reason... If you just settle, you might regret it later."

"Of course, whatever you choose, your brother will support you. No matter what happens, in the future... I will never let anyone bully you. I will always be on your side."

"Because I’m your brother, that’s why!"

It was a feeling that perhaps only someone with a beloved younger sister or daughter could truly understand.

"Brother!"

Fang Ling smiled, tears welling in her clear eyes. Deeply moved, she hugged Fang Rui’s arm, tilted her head, and rested it on his shoulder. "It’s your fault, you know, brother. With you as the standard for comparison, no one else seems good enough."

"Years ago, after reading some novels, I even asked Mom if I was her biological child. She grabbed me by the ear and gave me a thorough scolding... Oh, by the way, brother, have you gone to see Mom?"

"I have. Physically, she’s fine. It’s a sickness of the heart."

Fang Rui sighed.

He was a Medical Grandmaster; if it were a physical ailment, it would be simple to treat. But this was a psychological issue, which made things difficult.

’The best solution would be to give Mom a grandson or granddaughter to distract her, to shift her attention... But after I reached the First Grade, it’s become even more impossible for Third Sister and me to have a child.’

’Then again, the disciples of the great clans preserve their "seed" when they’re only eleven or twelve, just as they start their training... Other Secret Techniques for childbearing require the woman to be at least Middle Grade. Otherwise, the Life Essence Qi of a First Grade Martial Artist is so potent that the developing fetus would drain the mother of her life force!’

Fang Rui mused to himself, shaking his head slightly.