Chapter 82: An In-Depth Discussion

Yet in stark contrast to his shock, the young women present all lit up with interest.

They exchanged glances and broke into soft laughter.

"Only someone who is truly devoted to the Dao would ask such a question."

"It seems this young master is indeed… destined for our Sect."

The green-robed girl who had been passing around pastries covered her smile with her sleeve and spoke up: "The art of dual cultivation emphasizes the harmony of yin and yang, the merging of spirit and flesh, and the joint ascent to greater heights. It is quite different from the superficial skills we rely on here."

The purple-robed girl strummed her qin strings and nodded with a smile. "Precisely. The way of yin and yang runs very deep indeed."

After a pause, she added with a touch of regret: "However, we are only Outer Sect Disciples… Our duties are to receive guests and manage the city's establishments."

"We only have a passing familiarity with our Sect's core text, the 'Secret Canon of Harmonious Yin and Yang.' We truly would not dare to speak carelessly about its deeper meanings to you, lest we lead you astray."

They spoke with graceful composure, their eyes clear and bright, carrying a quiet confidence in their own tradition.

Even the anxious Li Tiezhu, standing nearby, was left momentarily dazed by their explanation.

It seemed… completely different from what he had imagined.

"Well said. The way of harmonious yin and yang is subtle and profound — it truly cannot be conveyed in just a few words."

Just then, a fragrant breeze drifted in, accompanied by the soft chime of beaded curtains. Everyone turned toward the sound, and a woman in a moon-white gown stepped gracefully into the room.

Her features surpassed those of the other women present, and her bearing was refined and gentle.

The moment she appeared, the surrounding girls naturally dipped into slight bows.

"Senior Sister Lianyue."

The woman named Lianyue gave a small nod, then turned to Si Chen with an elegant curtsy. "I am Lianyue, the manager of Manyue Pavilion."

"Just now, from outside the door, I heard that you have considerable insight into our Sect's great Dao, and I was most impressed."

She offered a gentle smile and extended an invitation: "If you are truly interested, would you be willing to step into the inner chamber? There are too many ears out here for a proper discussion. Allow Lianyue to personally explain our Sect's philosophy to you in detail."

The breath Li Tiezhu had just managed to let out shot straight back up into his throat!

The inner chamber?! Alone together?!

W-wasn't this moving a little too fast?!

He had only just been educated that the Harmonious Union Sect was a legitimate Sect, but this turn of events was still very easy to misinterpret!

He instinctively reached out to tug at Si Chen's sleeve, the words "Master, please reconsider" already forming on his lips —

Si Chen had already given a straightforward nod. "Very well. Lead the way."

And with that, he turned and made to follow Lianyue.

"M-Master!"

Li Tiezhu couldn't help but cry out, his face flushed red, yet he had no idea how to stop this.

Si Chen paused at the sound and looked back, a puzzled expression on his face. "Do you want to come and discuss it too?"

Li Tiezhu: !!!

Discuss what?! I'm still a child!

Heishan frowned. "Why would the kid tag along? Didn't you hear them say they'd explain things in detail? It's clearly a profound subject — you won't understand any of it. Don't go disturbing your master while he handles serious business!"

Chifeng also gave a nod. As far as he was concerned, Si Chen always had his reasons, and besides, the woman's aura was pure with no trace of ill intent.

Li Tiezhu watched as Si Chen calmly followed that beautiful young woman and disappeared at the far end of the corridor leading to the inner chamber. His whole world felt like it had been turned upside down.

S-serious… business? In Uncle Heishan's eyes, discussing the "great Dao of dual cultivation" with a beautiful woman from the Harmonious Union Sect counted as serious business?!

He slumped back into his seat and stared at the exquisite pastries before him, suddenly finding them completely unappetizing.

His mind was filled with one thought…

Was he… about to have a new mistress… from the Harmonious Union Sect?

The moment that thought surfaced, he shuddered.

[Tsk, tsk, tsk.]

The System's electronic chime rang out in his mind at just the right moment, its tone dripping with the glee of someone watching a spectacle.

[Host, your thoughts right now are both dangerous and filthy. This System can sense that restless little heart of yours.]

"Shut up!" Li Tiezhu roared inwardly.

"I'm worried about my master! That inner chamber is clearly no ordinary place!"

[Oh? How so?] the System asked, unhurried.

"It just… it just feels wrong!"

Li Tiezhu couldn't put it into words, so he threw caution to the wind: "System, can you see what's happening in the inner chamber? Come on, give me a live feed!"

[……]

The System fell silent for an instant, and when its electronic voice returned, it was thick with contempt.

[This System has traversed countless worlds, and this is the first time it has ever encountered such an unfilial wretch who actively requests to spy on his own master!]

[Host, your moral floor has once again shattered this System's understanding of how low it can go.]

Li Tiezhu was left speechless: "I-I'm just afraid my master might be taken advantage of!"

[Taken advantage of?]

The System cut him off, its tone turning certain: [Not to look down on anyone, but in this world, something capable of tricking the master has yet to be born — and never will be.]

[You'd be better off worrying about your own debt…]

[Ding! The "Si Chen Clause" has intervened. Current debt balance: zero.]

System: [……]

Li Tiezhu: "……"

* * *

The inner chamber was a world apart from the lively noise outside.

It was furnished with exquisite elegance — the incense was light and subtle, the walls adorned with landscape paintings of distant, serene vistas, and one side held a bookshelf lined with numerous texts and volumes.

Lianyue invited Si Chen to sit at a tea table and poured him a cup of spirit tea with fluid, practiced grace.

She made no flirtatious gestures whatsoever. Instead, her expression turned serious, and she gave another respectful bow:

"The Harmonious Union Sect's Lianyue hereby welcomes Senior Si Chen to Baihua City, and offers her congratulations on your success in condensing the Nascent Soul…"

Si Chen showed no surprise at having his identity revealed. He accepted the teacup and offered his thanks. "There is no need for such formality, Miss Lianyue. What interests me more right now is your Sect's way of harmonious yin and yang."

Lianyue was momentarily taken aback. She had met many people who were drawn to the Harmonious Union Sect, including no small number of Cultivators from prestigious orthodox sects.

Whatever their reasons, most showed at least some degree of awkwardness when first approaching the subject.

But she had never seen eyes quite so… pure — as though he were simply exploring a fundamental truth of heaven and earth, entirely untouched by any romantic or carnal sentiment.

She broke into a warm smile, and the tension she had felt upon learning his identity eased considerably.

"Senior speaks plainly and directly — Lianyue admires that. Since you seek the Dao in earnest, Lianyue will speak without reservation."

She chose her words carefully and began to explain the foundational principles of the Harmonious Union Sect — steering clear of the core Cultivation Techniques and speaking only in broad terms about the mutual generation of yin and yang and the complementary exchange of energies.

Si Chen listened with great attentiveness, occasionally raising a question or two:

"Is the dominant role static, or does it shift dynamically?"

The question was so direct yet so precise that Lianyue's hand, holding her teacup, gave a small pause, and a faint blush crept quietly across her cheeks.

She steadied herself and maintained a composed smile: "Senior has indeed grasped the key point. It is not fixed… but rather… like water bearing a boat, and yet the boat guiding the water… It is a dance between two, not a solo performance."

This answer made Si Chen nod thoughtfully, as though another layer of mystery regarding the flow of energy had just unfolded before him.

Lianyue, meanwhile, used the motion of lowering her head to pour tea as cover for the warmth spreading across her cheeks.

* * *

After a lengthy exchange…

Lianyue gently set down her teacup and said with a touch of apology: "Please forgive me, Senior. The true essence of our Sect's core secret text, the 'Secret Canon of Harmonious Yin and Yang,' touches upon our fundamental Cultivation Techniques. Without the Sect's permission, Lianyue truly cannot reveal its deeper contents to an outsider."

A faint, unmistakable look of disappointment crossed Si Chen's face. He genuinely found this body of theory fascinating — he even felt that, for the human race, this was truly a grand and promising path.

Being unable to explore it further was like being handed an intriguing book and only allowed to read the summary.

Lianyue caught his disappointment and felt a stirring in her heart.

A Nascent Soul Cultivator this young, this powerful, and with such a pure and earnest curiosity toward the way of yin and yang — this was a once-in-a-millennium find!

If she could forge a connection between him and the Sect…

She drew a quiet breath, and her smile became more genuine, carrying a hint of careful, tentative hope. "Actually… if Senior truly wishes to explore this further, it is not entirely without a way."

"Oh?" Si Chen looked up at her, waiting.

"Senior might consider… joining our Harmonious Union Sect."

Having said it, Lianyue watched Si Chen's reaction closely.

Si Chen raised an eyebrow slightly. Before he could respond, Lianyue, fearing he might misunderstand, quickly added: "Of course, I don't mean for Senior to join as an ordinary disciple — that would be beneath your standing!"

"What I mean is… an invitation for Senior to serve as an 'Honorary Elder' of our Sect!"

She watched his expression carefully and rattled off the benefits: "An Honorary Elder holds an elevated and unconstrained position, free from the Sect's ordinary rules and regulations, with complete freedom to come and go. The only requirement is to lend assistance within your means should the Sect face a major crisis."

"In return, you would have unrestricted access to all of the Sect's non-forbidden texts — including the complete 'Secret Canon of Harmonious Yin and Yang' — as well as Elder stipends. Spirit Stones, Pills, Magical Artifacts — the Sect would supply them all as a priority."

To make the offer even more enticing, Lianyue added one more line, almost as if by divine inspiration:

"Furthermore, our Sect has many outstanding Junior Sisters who admire those of great strength. Should Senior be so inclined, the Sect can also make arrangements to find you a like-minded cultivation partner with whom to jointly pursue the Dao!"

Having said it, even her own face felt a little hot. That last part had gone somewhat beyond the scope of her usual duties.

But for the sake of recruiting this one person, she had thrown everything she had into it.

Si Chen listened quietly until she finished, a slight furrow forming between his brows.