Chapter 42: Uncle Chen

Due to how slowly Feng Shuran was flying, Ting Ting wasn’t hurt when her body slammed into the force field of the base, preventing her from going forward. After all, she wasn’t a member of the organisation yet and needed Gu Chen to allow her to enter.

But while the crash didn’t hurt her, Ting Ting had very little hope of surviving if she landed on the ground after falling from this height. Her strength as a QI Gathering Realm cultivator wouldn’t be able to save her!

Feng Shuran came to an abrupt stop the instant Ting Ting fell off her flying sword. She looked at the girl, who was screaming with a horrified expression on her face, and immediately flew towards her with great speed.

She realised that it was the barrier around her master’s mountain that had blocked Ting Ting. The barrier had never stopped her before, so she didn’t expect it to affect Ting Ting since she was with her.

Feng Shuran arrived beside the falling girl and grabbed her hand before pulling her up and helping her back on the flying sword.

Ting Ting’s heart was beating frantically as she stood behind the sect master; beads of sweat ran down the side of her face as she looked at the space in front of them.

She couldn’t see anything, but Ting Ting now knew otherwise. After all, she had almost met her end just moments ago!

After bringing Ting Ting up on the flying sword, Feng Shuran flew forward once again, but this time, she stopped just before the point where Ting Ting got knocked off earlier.

Before she could say anything, a voice sounded in her mind.

[Come in]

Shuran’s eyes flashed with a glint; it was her master’s voice!

Without hesitation, she flew forward. Seeing the sect master fly forward again, Ting Ting was frightened and closed her eyes while bracing herself for impact.

However, after several seconds, she didn’t feel herself crashing into anything. Instead, all she felt was the cool breeze as they flew towards the top of the mountain.

They had passed whatever it was that had almost killed her earlier!

Meanwhile, inside his room. Gu Chen rubbed his face. Feeling slightly embarrassed.

Without his permission, the force field would stop anyone who wasn’t a part of his Bloody Rose from entering the base. At the moment, only he and Feng Shuran could enter as they pleased.

And since he didn’t sense Feng Shuran and Ting Ting earlier, the previous incident had played out. Only after that did he sense them and grant Ting Ting entry permission.

"I hope it didn’t scare her too much," Gu Chen mumbled softly and proceeded to finish up the plate of white rice and chicken stew he had purchased from the system.

After some time, two figures landed in front of the courtyard. Both of them stepped down from the flying sword, and Ting Ting looked around with curiosity.

’This is the sect master’s home?’ Ting Ting thought to herself as her large eyes reflected her surroundings.

Meanwhile, Feng Shuran bowed forward and said,

"Master, I’ve brought the disciple."

Standing behind Feng Shuran, Ting Ting almost jumped when she heard the sect master’s words. She was startled.

Master? The sect master had a master, and he or she was in this house?

The sect master was already so powerful and well known even beyond this region; many cultivators saw her as a terrifying existence.

Just what kind of scary person would her master be?

"Come in," a calm male voice came from within the courtyard.

Without qi to enhance his voice, it only travelled so far, and only Feng Shuran was able to hear it thanks to her good hearing as a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.

Shuran glanced at Ting Ting, who was next to her, and said.

"Follow me." She walked into the courtyard without waiting for a response.

Ting Ting quickly followed behind her.

Both women arrived in front of a door, and before they could go in, a handsome man with long black hair stepped out.

It was Gu Chen.

"Master," Feng Shuran said in a gentle tone as warmth returned to her face.

Meanwhile, Ting Ting was shocked beyond words when she saw Gu Chen and heard the sect master call him master.

She knew this person. Well, not in a familiar way; she had just seen him earlier today. After all, he had arrived with the sect master while holding hands!

Most of the disciples had thought that he was her lover or something similar; she didn’t expect him to be her master.

"M-master?" Ting Ting stuttered, her eyes wide in shock. She didn’t know how to react or respond to this sudden turn of events.

The handsome young man was the master of their sect master?!

Gu Chen looked at Feng Shuran and then at Ting Ting.

"Let’s go for a walk," he said and walked past the two women.

Feng Shuran took one glance at Ting Ting before following Gu Chen. Both of them walked side by side as they left the courtyard.

As for Ting Ting, it took her a while to recover from her shock. When she turned around, the sect master and the handsome man were already outside the courtyard.

She quickly turned around and chased after them. She caught up to them within a few seconds and walked behind them without making a sound.

Time ticked by slowly as the three strolled around the mountain. They passed the area where Feng Shuran practised the Formless Needle technique; pieces of shattered rocks were scattered everywhere, and it looked like a group of cultivators had fought her.

Ting Ting glanced around, secretly shocked and wondering what had happened here.

They passed through a garden of sunflowers where countless butterflies with beautiful wings danced around. A field of tall grasses swayed with the wind, and small beasts could be seen from time to time.

Gu Chen had to admit that he hadn’t really taken his time to tour this mountain of his; there was quite a lot to see.

Eventually, they arrived at the lake where Gu Chen usually took his bath, sometimes with Feng Shuran.

He stopped by the lake and stared into the water; there were ripples on the surface of the lake, which caused his reflection to distort.

Shuran stood next to him while Ting Ting was just a few steps behind the two.

For some reason, she felt like a young child walking behind an elderly couple.

After some time, Gu Chen finally broke the silence.

"Ting Ting," he called out.

The girl’s body jolted when her name was called, and she quickly stepped forward.

"Yes...Grand master?" She replied. A long pause before she added the last part of her response, as she didn’t know how to address this person.

He was the master of their sect master so she could only think of that way to address him.

Hearing her nervous voice, Gu Chen couldn’t help smiling slightly.

He turned around and looked at her.

"No need to be nervous; you can speak freely. Also, call me Uncle Chen instead." He said. He didn’t like being addressed as Grand master, and Ting Ting gave him the feeling of a younger sister or niece.

Anyways, he just wanted the girl to call her uncle Chen instead of Grand master.

Ting Ting was slightly surprised by his response but still nodded obediently.

"Okay, Uncle Chen." She said slowly.

On the side, Feng Shuran looked at the two of them with a calm face.

’So it’s like that; there’s nothing to worry about then,’ she thought, secretly feeling relieved.

Meanwhile, Gu Chen kept speaking.

"How old are you, Ting Ting?"

Suddenly being asked about her age, Ting Ting tilted her head to the side slightly and wore a thoughtful expression. After a few seconds, she looked at Gu Chen and said,

"Uncle Chen, I’m 17 years old this year."

Her tone was more natural even though she was still slightly nervous because Gu Chen was Feng Shuran’s master. Feng Shuran was a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator and was releasing a weak pressure even without noticing, and this made weaker cultivators uncomfortable around her.

Gu Chen was different; he didn’t have any cultivation, so Ting Ting didn’t feel uncomfortable with him. Only the mental pressure of knowing his identity made her nervous.

Meanwhile, Gu Chen nodded after hearing Ting Ting’s response.

’17, she only had three more years to live. She’s lucky that she came here,’ he sighed inwardly. Ting Ting was very fortunate.

On the other hand, Feng Shuran was surprised to learn of Ting Ting’s age. The girl was already so powerful amongst QI Gathering Realm cultivators of the sect, and she assumed that she must be over twenty at the very least.

She didn’t expect her to be only 17. Feng Shuran had to admit that Ting Ting was a rare talent even amongst powerful regions outside Oghara.

’No wonder master asked me to bring her; he had discovered her talent after seeing her performance.’ Feng Shuran said to herself, feeling proud.

As expected of her master.