Chapter 319: Emerging From Fake Seclusion
After hours of continuous, full-speed running, Shen Yu arrived at a secluded, rock-strewn gully hidden deep within the outer fringes of the Mist Cloud Forest.
Hidden beneath a dense layer of overgrown vines and heavy boulders was the secret entrance to the underground tunnel he had used to slip out of Thousand Waves City undetected.
With a flick of his wrist, Shen Yu cleared the heavy stones covering the passage and stepped inside the dark, damp cavern.
Once safe within the entrance, he collapsed the stone structure behind him, utterly sealing and destroying the forest-side opening so no unwanted guests could ever follow his trail.
Turning on his heel, Shen Yu dashed down the subterranean tunnel at a blistering pace.
Half an hour later, he reached a dead end, a solid, smooth stone wall carved into the bedrock.
Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a glowing green jade token.
Channeling a fine thread of Qi through the jade, he pressed it firmly into a small indentation at the center of the wall.
With a low, rumbling groan, the heavy stone slab ground upward, revealing the quiet, secluded interior of his personal cultivation room, the very room where the rest of the world believed he had been in deep retreat for weeks.
Shen Yu stepped inside with a faint, satisfied smile, pulling a hidden iron lever to seal the stone wall behind him once more.
Before stepping out into the public eye, he systematically prepared his appearance.
He swapped his pristine traveling clothes for a slightly worn, dust-dusted cultivation robe and tousled his hair, giving himself the distinct, slightly unkempt look of a dedicated cultivator who had just emerged from a long, arduous seclusion.
Pushing open the heavy main doors of the cultivation chamber, Shen Yu stepped out into the bright hallway.
The guards stationed outside flinched in sudden surprise at the heavy sound of the opening doors.
Their eyes snapped toward Shen Yu, and in an instant, their expressions transformed from shock to overwhelming reverence and awe.
The aura radiating naturally from Shen Yu’s body was unmistakably that of the 3rd Stage of Foundation Establishment.
Not only had their young master successfully broken through into the Foundation Establishment realm during his retreat, but he had also surged straight into the 3rd stage!
The lead guard dropped to one knee, his voice trembling with deep respect.
"Congratulations, Young Master Shen, on a successful and glorious cultivation session!"
Shen Yu looked down at the guard with a calm, tired expression, waving his hand offhandedly.
"Prepare a warm bath for me."
"At once, Young Master!" The guard bowed low, immediately rushing off to instruct the estate’s personal maids.
A short while later, Shen Yu stepped out of the steaming bathhouse, his long hair damp and his body cleansed of all travel grime, dressed in a fresh, comfortable set of light robes.
Waiting in the peaceful courtyard right outside were two beautiful figures, Mei Lixue and Mei Yilan.
The moment their eyes landed on him, their faces lit up with radiant, ear-to-ear smiles.
The weeks of longing and worry vanished in a single instant.
Unable to contain her excitement, Mei Lixue let out a delighted gasp and leaped straight into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as Shen Yu caught her with a soft, affectionate chuckle, pulling both the mother and daughter close into his embrace.
"I missed you so much, Yu’er," Lixue whispered softly, her voice muffled against his chest as she clung to him like a vine.
Beside her, Yilan didn’t speak right away.
She simply stepped closer, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and pressing her cheek firmly against his side, her trembling breath revealing just how deeply she had longed for his return.
Shen Yu smiled warmly, resting one hand on Lixue’s back and running his other hand through Yilan’s soft hair, soaking in the quiet comfort of their embrace.
After a few tender moments, the mother and daughter duo gently pulled back, their cheeks flushed with happiness as they led him toward the private dining hall.
The table inside was practically overflowing with a lavish spread of fragrant, steaming delicacies, tender spiritual beast meats cooked in rich gravies, rare cultivated vegetables, and delicate sweets.
The entire room was sealed under a heavy, glowing soundproofing formation, ensuring that not a single word spoken within could leak to the outside world.
As Shen Yu sat at the center of the table, Lixue and Yilan flanked him on either side.
Refusing to let him pick up a pair of chopsticks himself, they fed him with their own hands, taking turns lifting tender morsels to his lips.
Between bites, their eyes shone with eager curiosity, wide with anticipation as they pressed him for every detail of what had transpired in Crimson Iron City.
Shen Yu spoke smoothly, unspooling the intricate web he had spun from the very beginning.
He recounted his initial encounter with Bai Ruolan, his ruthless confrontation that forced the arrogant Ge Clan to shatter their marriage alliance with the Cao Clan, and his swift, seamless subjugation of the Cao Clan itself.
He detailed the strategic price war that bled the city’s markets dry, culminating in the complete, systematic collapse of the Golden Cauldron Merchant Union.
Lixue and Yilan couldn’t help but laugh aloud when Shen Yu revealed the grand irony of the climax, that Peng Kai, their long-standing enemy, had unwittingly served as the ultimate blade to slaughter the upper echelon of the Golden Cauldron Union and take the fall for the entire bloodbath.
As the laughter settled into fond, teasing smiles, both mother and daughter leaned in closer, their eyes sparkling with a mix of playful curiosity and possessive warmth as they began asking about their newest sisters.
Both women listened in absolute awe, gasping at the dangerous turns and smiling in pride at his brilliant tactical mind.
Once the last of the dishes were cleared away, the trio moved out into a secluded, open courtyard adjacent to their private quarters.
The night air was cool and refreshing, carrying the sweet scent of blooming night jasmine.
Shen Yu sat on a wide, cushioned wooden bench, leaning back against the handrail.
Lixue and Yilan settled closely against him on either side, each resting her head gently on one of his shoulders.
They talked quietly under the starry sky, shifting from grand politics to small, comforting details about daily life in the estate while Shen Yu had been "in retreat."
There was no pressure, no blood, and no scheming, just a peaceful, tranquil moment where both women could simply enjoy his warmth and voice.
For Lixue and Yilan, having him back home beside them was all that mattered in the world.
As they chatted in the tranquil night air, Shen Yu’s hands slowly slipped down, trailing along their smooth inner thighs beneath the folds of their silk skirts.
Finding the slick, burning heat pooled between the legs of both mother and daughter, a faint, knowing smirk touched his lips.
"It seems they missed me just as much," Shen Yu purred softly.
"A lot," Yilan whispered, leaning in before he could say another word to capture his lips in a deep, passionate kiss.