Chapter 182: A Bit Confused

“Big Aunt?” Mei Qing whispered to Bi Zhen, “Why is your aunt here too?”

“What are you talking about, silly?” Bi Zhen chuckled lightly. “Big Aunt has always been with Grandma. I’ve called her Big Aunt since childhood, but she’s not my real aunt.”

As she spoke, suddenly Bi Zhen slapped her forehead and exclaimed, “Oh right, I have to tell you, when you meet Grandma and Big Aunt later, don’t…”

Just as she said this, Bi Zhen suddenly froze, listened intently for a moment, then said unhappily, “Got it, I won’t say anything anymore.”

Mei Qing noticed Bi Zhen’s expression just now and knew that the last sentence wasn’t meant for him. It seemed that Bi Zhen had wanted to remind him of something, but was stopped by a telepathic message from either her grandmother or Big Aunt.

Mei Qing pondered what Bi Zhen had been about to say when telling him to be careful when meeting Grandma and Big Aunt. Was it to caution him not to talk recklessly, or to avoid angering them?

Looking at Bi Zhen, he saw her looking helpless and blinking rapidly, clearly too afraid to speak openly.

Entering this place, Mei Qing had already sensed the magical arrays surrounding them. Although his cultivation had improved greatly, such arrays wouldn’t really confine him anymore. However, since this was Grandma’s residence, he dared not act recklessly. Since Bi Zhen dared not speak, he decided not to probe further or try other methods. He would wait until he met Grandma to address everything.

Yet Mei Qing couldn’t stop calculating in his mind. Since Bi Zhen had repeatedly mentioned Big Aunt, it was likely that Big Aunt was an extremely important figure in Grandma’s eyes. When he met her later, he would indeed need to be cautious to avoid provoking any displeasure.

Entering the courtyard, he found it very quiet inside. The layout was quite different from ordinary worldly residences, more resembling a garden. Upon entering, a passage of rockeries blocked the view. Following a stone path around the rockeries, he saw winding streams and stone bridges. Wild trees grew thickly, following the natural contours of the hills, with several halls and courtyards scattered among them.

Bi Zhen signaled with her eyes, and the two quickened their pace toward the innermost courtyard.

“Auntie?” Mei Qing whispered to Bi Zhen, “Why is your aunt here too?”

“What are you talking about, silly,” Bi Zhen chuckled softly, “Auntie has always been with Grandma. I’ve called her Auntie since I was a child; she’s not my real aunt.”

As she spoke, Bi Zhen suddenly slapped her forehead and exclaimed, “Oh, I should tell you, when you meet Grandma and Auntie later, don’t…”

She paused mid-sentence, her expression shifting as she seemed to listen to something, then said with a hint of displeasure, “Got it, I won’t say more.”

Mei Qing, noticing Bi Zhen’s expression, realized that the latter part of her sentence wasn’t directed at him. It seemed Bi Zhen wanted to warn him about something but was stopped by a message from her grandmother or aunt.

Reflecting on what Bi Zhen was about to say before being interrupted, Mei Qing wondered: was she going to tell him not to speak carelessly, or not to upset them?

Looking at Bi Zhen, he saw her face filled with helplessness, blinking repeatedly, clearly afraid to speak out.

Upon entering the area, Mei Qing immediately sensed the restrictive aura of the surrounding formations. Although his cultivation had greatly advanced, and such formations couldn’t hold him, he still dared not act recklessly in his grandmother’s residence. Since Bi Zhen didn’t dare to speak, he decided not to probe further. Everything would be discussed when he met his grandmother.

However, Mei Qing kept calculating in his mind. Since Bi Zhen repeatedly mentioned this aunt, she must be an extremely important figure in front of Bi Zhen’s grandmother. He would need to be cautious when meeting her to avoid any displeasure.

Entering the courtyard, he found it to be very serene. The layout was quite different from ordinary residences, more like a garden arrangement. A rockery blocked the view upon entry. Following a stone path around the rockery, he saw a winding stream with a stone bridge. Wild trees were scattered around, following the terrain, with several halls and courtyards nestled among them.

Bi Zhen signaled with her eyes, and they quickened their pace, heading towards the innermost courtyard.

The small courtyard was modest, with three finely crafted wooden houses. As they entered, a young maid approached. Seeing Bi Zhen, she didn’t bow but whispered, “Madam says, please let Master Mei enter on his own.”

Bi Zhen anxiously said, “That won’t do…” but then stopped, pouting without finishing her sentence.

Mei Qing felt that today’s events were somewhat strange, but since they had come this far, it was no time to back down. He signaled to Bi Zhen that it was okay and stepped into the wooden house.

The house was entirely made of wood. Inside, the refreshing scent of raw wood filled the air. Windows were open on all sides, without paper coverings, allowing a gentle breeze to waft in. The bright and clean windows slightly eased Mei Qing’s initial nervousness.

Inside the room were two people, one standing and one sitting.

The seated figure was an elderly woman, presumably Bi Zhen’s grandmother. She was thin, with a face as dark as iron, covered in deep wrinkles. Her eyes were slightly closed, and she wore a simple, faded coarse cloth robe. Her hair was tied in a Daoist bun, secured with a thorn hairpin. She sat cross-legged on a rush cushion, her depth unfathomable.

The other figure was a young woman, pacing back and forth inside the room. When Mei Qing entered, he saw her graceful back, dressed in a light yellow outer robe with a pale purple long skirt. A jade belt cinched her waist, adorned with a pink sachet, its long tassels swaying with her light steps.

Hearing Mei Qing enter, the young woman turned to look, and Mei Qing was startled. Her appearance somewhat resembled Bi Zhen’s, but with a more mature demeanor. Her forehead and brows exuded a serene aura, her beautiful eyes calm and clear. Her movements revealed her cultivation level to be at the Qi Refining stage, seemingly even surpassing Mei Qing’s own.

Mei Qing was inwardly surprised. This young woman must be the “Auntie” Bi Zhen had mentioned. Despite her young age, she had already reached such a level of cultivation, no wonder Bi Zhen held her in high regard. Reflecting on Bi Zhen’s grandmother, who appeared no different from an ordinary old woman, her aura suggested a return to simplicity, possibly surpassing even Zhang Thirteen and Master Ku.

Not daring to stare too long, Mei Qing quickly stepped forward to bow, addressing the elderly woman on the cushion, “Greetings, Grandmother.”

Then he turned to the young woman, “Greetings, Auntie.”

As soon as he finished speaking, both women froze.

The elderly woman on the cushion opened her eyes, looking at Mei Qing with an inscrutable expression, neither smiling nor angry. The standing young woman stopped pacing, swaying slightly as if she had heard something extremely amusing, her sparkling eyes scanning Mei Qing from head to toe.

Mei Qing was somewhat surprised. In fact, he regretted not asking Bi Zhen about her grandmother’s preferences and details beforehand. Both of them had been so focused on what to do if the grandmother disapproved that they had forgotten the simplest thing.

Bi Zhen probably only remembered to remind Mei Qing at the door, but was interrupted. Now Mei Qing wasn’t even sure how to address them, so he just boldly called them “Grandmother” and “Auntie.”

After a moment, the elderly woman on the cushion spoke, “Are you Mei Qing?” Her voice was surprisingly youthful, not matching her aged appearance.

Before Mei Qing could answer, she continued, “Your cultivation is quite impressive—no need to feign modesty. At your age, reaching the Qi Refining stage, you’ll ascend in no time. Bi Zhen said you were just at the Foundation Establishment stage when you met. Is that girl lying for you?”

Mei Qing frowned, about to retort, but she continued rapidly, “Probably not, even the fastest cultivation doesn’t progress that quickly. You must have had some extraordinary encounter, right? I won’t pry into that, but with your rapid progress, you’re already much stronger than Bi Zhen. You won’t bully her in the future, will you?”

Mei Qing was exasperated, thinking that Bi Zhen’s grandmother, who looked venerable, spoke in such a manner. He replied somewhat annoyed, “Of course not!”

As soon as Mei Qing spoke, the standing young woman nodded repeatedly. The elderly woman on the cushion said, “You’re not bad, that was sincere. A man should be as good as his word, not resort to sweet talk and empty promises. Do you think women are easily fooled? Some say you’re frivolous, lazy, hypocritical, cunning, and arrogant… but you don’t seem that way to me.”

Mei Qing was nearly floored, also somewhat suspicious. Who was this “some” that Bi Zhen’s grandmother mentioned? Who had he offended to be described so negatively?

While Mei Qing was still puzzled, the elderly woman continued, “Alright, I’ve seen enough. You can go now.”

That was it? Nothing else? Mei Qing was momentarily stunned, staring at Bi Zhen’s grandmother’s aged face, speechless.

“You seem smart, but you’re acting like a blockhead. If I say it’s over, it’s over. Hurry up and call Bi Zhen in!” Before Mei Qing could react, a torrent of scolding poured out.

Mei Qing quickly bowed and took his leave, but as he did, he noticed the expressions on both women’s faces were quite peculiar.

“How was it?” Bi Zhen silently mouthed, her eyes sparkling.

“Nothing, Grandma wants you to go in,” Mei Qing said somewhat gloomily.

Bi Zhen hesitated, glancing at Mei Qing a few times before quickly entering the house.

Once Bi Zhen went in, the wait was long. Mei Qing, thinking of her grandmother’s loquaciousness, shivered, realizing that women, regardless of age or cultivation level, were all equally verbose.

Mei Qing waited in the courtyard, feeling bored. The maid at the door didn’t make eye contact or speak, so Mei Qing didn’t approach her, instead observing the surroundings.

Upon closer inspection, he found some interesting details.

The courtyard was also arranged with several formations, the most intriguing being a Yin-Yang Temperature Regulation Formation.

This formation was quite different from typical ones, not designed for combat but to maintain a comfortable climate within the courtyard. Thanks to this formation, the wooden house enjoyed a gentle breeze without window paper, protected from wind and rain, and maintained a spring-like temperature year-round.

Although Mei Qing had studied formations extensively recently, most of his focus had been on combat applications. He hadn’t considered using formations for living comfort. Seeing this today, he felt enlightened and began to study it in detail.

After an unknown period, he suddenly heard Bi Zhen calling him and snapped out of his reverie. Bi Zhen stood before him, smiling brightly.

“Finished?” Seeing Bi Zhen’s happy expression, Mei Qing felt relieved and quickly asked.

Bi Zhen nodded, pulling Mei Qing to walk slowly outside, softly laughing, “I thought it would be difficult, but it turned out to be quite easy.” Then she chuckled, “You’re quite bold, I heard you called her ‘Grandmother’ as soon as you entered?”

Mei Qing grimaced, “You didn’t tell me how to address her, what was I supposed to say? Isn’t your grandmother also my grandmother? It’s not wrong, is it?”

Bi Zhen smiled, pleased, and whispered, “Grandmother said you look good, seem to have a good temper, are capable, and truly care for me, but you’re a bit muddle-headed. I wonder what you did inside to seem so confused.”

“What could I have done?” Mei Qing protested, “As soon as I entered, your aunt was pacing around, making me dizzy. Grandma was sitting there, talking non-stop like a firecracker, I didn’t even get a chance to speak…”

“What did you say!?” Bi Zhen’s eyes widened in shock, “You called the seated one ‘Grandmother’ and the standing one ‘Auntie’?”

“Of course, wasn’t that right?” Mei Qing asked, surprised.

“Heavens!” Bi Zhen facepalmed, “No wonder Grandma said you’re muddle-headed, you got it backwards! The standing one is Grandma, and the one sitting on the cushion is Auntie!”

Bi Zhen looked anxious and said, “How can that be…” but then stopped herself, pouting silently.

Mei Qing found today’s events strange in many ways, but since he had come this far, it would be cowardly to back out now. He signaled to Bi Zhen with his eyes that it was alright, then stepped forward and entered the wooden hut.

The hut was entirely made of wood. Inside, a pleasant fragrance of natural timber filled the air. Windows on all four sides were left without paper, allowing a gentle breeze to waft in softly. The clean windows and bright interior helped ease Mei Qing’s previously tense mood slightly.

Inside the room were two women, one standing and one sitting.

The seated woman, an elderly lady, must be Bi Zhen’s grandmother. She looked thin, with a dark, iron-like complexion. Her face was lined with deep wrinkles, and her eyes were slightly closed. She wore simple homespun clothes, faded from countless washings. Her hair was tied in a Daoist bun, pinned with a plain thorn comb, and she sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, giving no indication of her cultivation level.

The other woman, young and attractive, was pacing restlessly inside the room. When Mei Qing entered, he saw only her graceful back. She wore a pale yellow outer robe and a light purple long skirt, with a jade-green belt around her waist. A pink sachet hung from the belt, its long tassels swaying gently as she moved.

Hearing Mei Qing’s entrance, the young woman turned her head, causing Mei Qing to startle slightly. He saw that she bore some resemblance to Bi Zhen, but her features were more mature. Between her brows was an elegant aura, and her beautiful eyes were calm and unblemished. Her every movement displayed a cultivation level at the Qi Condensation stage. Observing her composed demeanor, her cultivation seemed even higher than his own.

Mei Qing was secretly astonished. This must be the “Big Aunt” Bi Zhen had mentioned. So young, yet already at such a cultivation level—no wonder Bi Zhen held her in such high regard. Thinking further, Grandma’s cultivation level was even more unfathomable. She seemed like an ordinary old woman, but her aura had reached the state of returning to simplicity and authenticity, likely surpassing even Zhang Shisan and Master Ku.

Unwilling to stare too long, Mei Qing quickly stepped forward and bowed to the elderly woman on the meditation cushion, saying, “Greetings, Grandma.”

Then he turned and bowed to the young woman, saying, “Greetings, Big Aunt.”

As soon as he finished speaking, both women in front of him froze.

The elderly woman on the meditation cushion opened her eyes, looking at Mei Qing with an expression that was neither smiling nor angry. The young woman who had been pacing stopped, swaying slightly as if she had heard something extremely amusing. Her beautiful eyes glimmered as she examined Mei Qing up and down.

Mei Qing felt a little surprised. In fact, he already regretted not asking Bi Zhen more about Grandma’s preferences and background before coming. Both had been too nervous, only thinking about what to do if Grandma disapproved, and had forgotten this most basic preparation.

It was likely that Bi Zhen had only remembered to remind him when they reached the door, but was interrupted. Now Mei Qing had no choice but to boldly address them directly as “Grandma” and “Big Aunt.”

After a while, the elderly woman on the meditation cushion finally spoke, “You are Mei Qing?” Her voice sounded surprisingly young, not matching her aged appearance at all.

Before Mei Qing could answer, she continued, “Your cultivation is quite good—don’t pretend to be humble. Reaching the Qi Condensation stage at your age, if you keep going like this, you’ll ascend early, won’t you? Bi Zhen told me you were only at Foundation Building when you met her. This girl isn’t lying for you, is she?”

Mei Qing frowned, wanting to argue, but she rattled on, “Probably not. Even the fastest cultivation wouldn’t be this fast. You must have had some extraordinary encounters. That doesn’t concern me. But since your cultivation is so fast and you’re already much stronger than Bi Zhen, you won’t bully her in the future, right?”

Mei Qing was almost speechless. He thought Grandma looked venerable, yet spoke in such a manner. He replied somewhat indignantly, “Of course not!”

As soon as Mei Qing spoke, the standing woman nodded repeatedly. The elderly woman on the meditation cushion said, “You’re not bad. That was indeed sincere. A man should keep his word like a promise worth a thousand pieces of gold. Don’t try to flatter us with sweet words and grand oaths of eternal love, thinking we women are easy to fool. Someone said you’re arrogant, lecherous, unlearned, lazy, hypocritical, despicable, cunning, and arrogant… but I don’t think you look like that.”

Mei Qing nearly collapsed in frustration, also wondering who that “someone” was. Had he offended someone so badly that they described him so harshly?

Still puzzled, Mei Qing heard her continue, “Alright, I’ve seen enough. You can leave now!”

That’s it? It’s over? Mei Qing was momentarily stunned, gazing blankly at Grandma’s aged face without saying a word.

“You kid, you seem smart enough, so why do you have such a wooden head? Since I said it’s nothing, it’s really nothing. Why don’t you quickly go call Bi Zhen in!” Before Mei Qing could recover, another stream of scolding poured out.

Mei Qing hurriedly bowed to both and excused himself, but from the corner of his eye, he noticed their expressions changed strangely as he left.

“How was it?” Bi Zhen silently mouthed the question, her eyes gleaming.

“It’s fine. Grandma wants you to go in,” Mei Qing replied gloomily.

Bi Zhen hesitated, glancing at Mei Qing several times before quickly entering the room.

Once Bi Zhen went in, it took quite a long time. Thinking about Grandma’s talkativeness, Mei Qing couldn’t help shivering, thinking that women, regardless of age or cultivation level, indeed all shared the same tendency to be verbose and nagging without any difference.

While waiting in the courtyard, Mei Qing felt extremely bored. The young maid at the door remained impassive and silent, so Mei Qing didn’t dare strike up a conversation. He could only observe the surroundings of the courtyard.

Looking closely, he indeed noticed something interesting.

It turned out that several magical arrays were set up in the courtyard. What interested Mei Qing the most was a temperature-regulating array.

This array was quite different from typical magical arrays. Rather than being used for combat, it was designed to maintain a comfortable temperature and airflow within the courtyard. Thanks to this array, the wooden hut could enjoy a gentle breeze without window paper, without worrying about wind and rain, and remained spring-like all year round, making it a very pleasant place to live.

Although Mei Qing had studied magical arrays extensively recently, most of his focus had been on how to use them in combat. Seeing such a practical application for comfortable living was a new experience. Today’s observation opened his eyes, and he began to study the array with an open mind.

Not knowing how much time had passed, suddenly he heard Bi Zhen calling him. Mei Qing snapped back to reality. He saw Bi Zhen standing in front of him with a beaming smile, looking very happy.

“Finished?” Mei Qing saw Bi Zhen’s happy expression and felt reassured, quickly asking.

Bi Zhen nodded, pulling Mei Qing slowly outward while softly laughing, “I thought it would be difficult, but it turned out easy.” Then she giggled, “You sure have a thick skin. I heard you called her Grandma right away?”

Mei Qing frowned and said, “You didn’t tell me how to address her. What else could I call her? Isn’t she your Grandma, and thus also my Grandma? There’s nothing wrong with calling her that, right?”

“Auntie?” Mei Qing whispered to Bi Zhen, “Why is your aunt here too?”

“What are you talking about, silly,” Bi Zhen chuckled softly, “Auntie has always been with Grandma. I’ve called her Auntie since I was a child; she’s not my real aunt.”

As she spoke, Bi Zhen suddenly slapped her forehead and exclaimed, “Oh, I need to tell you, when you meet Grandma and Auntie later, don’t…”

She stopped mid-sentence, pausing for a moment before saying somewhat unhappily, “Got it, I won’t say more.”

Mei Qing, noticing Bi Zhen’s expression, realized that the latter part of her sentence wasn’t directed at him. It seemed Bi Zhen wanted to warn him about something but was stopped by her grandmother or aunt from saying it.

He wondered what Bi Zhen had wanted to tell him before meeting her grandmother and aunt. Was it to watch his words or not to upset them?

Looking at Bi Zhen, he saw her face filled with helplessness, blinking incessantly, clearly afraid to speak out.

As they entered, Mei Qing felt the restrictions of the surrounding formations. Although his cultivation had advanced significantly, and such formations couldn’t hold him, he dared not act recklessly since it was Bi Zhen’s grandmother’s residence. Since Bi Zhen didn’t dare to speak, he decided not to probe further. Everything would be discussed when he met Bi Zhen’s grandmother.

However, Mei Qing kept calculating in his mind. Since Bi Zhen repeatedly mentioned this Auntie, she must be a very important figure in front of Bi Zhen’s grandmother. He needed to be cautious when meeting her to avoid any displeasure.

Entering the courtyard, he found it very serene. The layout was quite different from ordinary residences, resembling more of a garden. A rockery blocked the view upon entering. Following a stone-paved path around the rockery, they saw a winding stream with a stone bridge. Wild trees clustered around, following the mountain’s contours, with several halls scattered among them.

Bi Zhen signaled with her eyes, and they quickened their pace, heading towards the innermost courtyard.

The small courtyard wasn’t large, with three wooden houses, quite exquisite. As they entered, a young maid approached. Seeing Bi Zhen, she didn’t bow but whispered, “Madam said, please let Mr. Mei enter by himself.”

Bi Zhen anxiously said, “How can that be…” She stopped mid-sentence, pouting and saying no more.

Mei Qing felt that today’s events were somewhat strange, but since they had come this far, he couldn’t back out. He signaled to Bi Zhen that it was okay and stepped into the wooden house.

The wooden house was entirely made of wood. Inside, he could smell the refreshing scent of raw wood. Windows were open on all sides, but without paper, a gentle breeze wafted in. The bright and clean windows slightly eased Mei Qing’s initial tension.

Inside, two people were present—one standing, one sitting.

The seated one was an elderly woman, presumably Bi Zhen’s grandmother. She was thin, with a face like black iron, covered in layers of wrinkles. Her eyes were slightly closed, and she wore a simple, faded cloth robe. Her hair was tied in a Daoist bun, secured with a thorn hairpin. She sat cross-legged on a cushion, her depth unfathomable.

The other, a young woman, was pacing back and forth inside. When Mei Qing entered, he saw her graceful figure, wearing a light yellow outer robe and a pale purple long skirt, tied with a jade belt. A pink sachet hung from her waist, its long tassel swaying with her light steps.

Hearing Mei Qing enter, the woman turned to look, and Mei Qing was startled. She resembled Bi Zhen but had a more mature air. Her forehead and brows exuded a serene aura, her beautiful eyes calm and clear. Her movements revealed her cultivation level—Qi Refining stage. Her composed demeanor suggested she might even surpass Mei Qing.

Mei Qing was inwardly surprised. This woman must be the “Auntie” Bi Zhen mentioned. Despite her young age, she had such cultivation, no wonder Bi Zhen held her in high regard. Thinking of Bi Zhen’s grandmother, he couldn’t gauge her depth at all; she seemed like an ordinary old woman. Her aura had reached a state of returning to simplicity, perhaps even surpassing Zhang Shisan and Master Ku.

Not daring to look too long, Mei Qing quickly stepped forward and bowed to the old woman on the cushion, “Greetings, Grandmother.”

Then he turned to the woman and said, “Greetings, Auntie.”

As soon as he finished speaking, both women froze.

The old woman on the cushion opened her eyes, looking at Mei Qing with an expression that was hard to read—whether amused or annoyed. The standing woman stopped pacing, swaying slightly, as if she had heard something extremely funny. Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she scrutinized Mei Qing from head to toe.

Mei Qing was somewhat surprised. In fact, he regretted not asking Bi Zhen about her grandmother’s preferences and situation beforehand. Both of them had been so nervous, focusing on what to do if the grandmother disagreed, that they forgot the simplest thing.

Probably, Bi Zhen only remembered to remind Mei Qing at the doorstep, but was interrupted. Now, Mei Qing wasn’t even sure how to address them, so he just boldly called them “Grandmother” and “Auntie.”

After a while, the old woman on the cushion spoke, “Are you Mei Qing?” Her voice was surprisingly youthful, not matching her aged appearance.

Before Mei Qing could answer, she continued, “Your cultivation is quite good—no need to feign modesty. At your age, reaching the Qi Refining stage, you’ll ascend soon, won’t you? Bi Zhen said you were just at the Foundation Establishment stage when you met. Is the girl lying for you?”

Mei Qing frowned, about to retort, but she spoke rapidly again, “Probably not, even the fastest progress wouldn’t be that quick. You must have had some extraordinary encounter, right? I won’t pry into that, but with your rapid progress, you’re already much stronger than Bi Zhen. You won’t bully her in the future, will you?”

Mei Qing was exasperated, thinking that Bi Zhen’s grandmother, despite her venerable appearance, spoke in such a manner. He replied somewhat annoyed, “Of course not!”

As soon as Mei Qing spoke, the standing woman nodded repeatedly. The old woman on the cushion said, “You’re not bad; that sounds sincere. A man should keep his word, not learn to be glib and make grand promises. Do you think women are easily fooled? Some say you’re frivolous, lazy, hypocritical, cunning, and arrogant… but you don’t seem that way to me.”

Mei Qing was almost knocked over, feeling both angry and suspicious. Who was this “someone” Bi Zhen’s grandmother mentioned? Who had he offended to be described so poorly?

While Mei Qing was still puzzled, the old woman spoke again, “Alright, I’ve seen enough. You can go now.”

That’s it? Nothing more? Mei Qing was momentarily stunned, staring at Bi Zhen’s grandmother’s aged face, speechless.

“You seem clever, but you’re acting like a blockhead. If I say it’s over, it’s over. Hurry up and call Bi Zhen in!” Before Mei Qing could react, a torrent of scolding poured out.

Mei Qing quickly bowed and took his leave, but as he did, he noticed the women’s expressions were quite peculiar.

“How was it?” Bi Zhen silently mouthed, her eyes shining.

“Nothing, your grandmother wants you to go in,” Mei Qing said somewhat gloomily.

Bi Zhen hesitated, glancing at Mei Qing a few times before quickly entering the house.

Once Bi Zhen went in, time dragged on. Mei Qing, thinking of her grandmother’s loquaciousness, shuddered, realizing that women, regardless of age or cultivation, were all equally verbose.

Waiting in the courtyard, Mei Qing felt bored. The maid at the door didn’t look at him or speak, so he couldn’t strike up a conversation. He decided to observe the courtyard.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed several formations, the most intriguing being a Yin-Yang Temperature Regulation Formation.

This formation was quite different from ordinary ones, not for combat but to maintain the courtyard’s climate. Thanks to this formation, the wooden house enjoyed a gentle breeze without window paper, protected from wind and rain, and kept a pleasant spring-like temperature year-round.

Although Mei Qing had studied formations extensively, his focus had been on combat. The idea of using formations for comfort was new to him. Seeing this, he felt enlightened and began to study it carefully.

After some time, Bi Zhen called him back to reality. She stood before him, smiling brightly.

“Finished?” Seeing Bi Zhen’s happy expression, Mei Qing felt relieved and quickly asked.

Bi Zhen nodded, pulling Mei Qing along as they walked out, softly laughing, “I thought it would be harder, but it turned out to be quite easy.” She chuckled again, “You’re quite bold, I heard you called her ‘Grandmother’ right away?”

Mei Qing grimaced, “You didn’t tell me how to address her, what was I supposed to say? Isn’t your grandmother my grandmother too? Was it wrong to call her that?”

Bi Zhen smiled, pleased, and whispered, “Grandmother said you look good, have a nice temper, are capable, and truly care for me, but you’re a bit muddle-headed. I wonder what you did wrong inside.”

“What could I have done?” Mei Qing protested, “As soon as I entered, your aunt was pacing around, making me dizzy. Your grandmother sat there, talking non-stop like a firecracker, not giving me a chance to speak…”

“What did you say!?” Bi Zhen’s eyes widened in shock, “You called the seated one ‘Grandmother’ and the standing one ‘Auntie’?”

“Of course, wasn’t that right?” Mei Qing asked, surprised.

“Heavens!” Bi Zhen facepalmed, “No wonder Grandmother said you’re muddle-headed. You got it backwards! The standing one is Grandmother, and the one sitting on the cushion is Auntie!”

“What could I possibly do?” Mei Qing protested, “As soon as I went in, your Big Aunt was pacing around, making me dizzy, and your venerable Grandma was like a firecracker, not giving me a chance to even get a word in…”

“What did you say!?” Bi Zhen’s beautiful eyes widened instantly, “You addressed the one sitting as Grandma and the one standing as Big Aunt?”

“Of course, isn’t that right?” Mei Qing asked in surprise, counter-questioning.

“Auntie?” Mei Qing whispered to Bi Zhen, “Why is your aunt here too?”

“What are you talking about, silly,” Bi Zhen chuckled softly, “Auntie has always been with Grandma. I’ve called her Auntie since I was a child; she’s not my real aunt.”

As she spoke, Bi Zhen suddenly slapped her forehead and exclaimed, “Oh, I need to tell you something. When we meet Grandma and Auntie later, don’t…”

She paused mid-sentence, her expression shifting as she seemed to listen to something, then said with a hint of displeasure, “Got it, I won’t say anything more.”

Mei Qing, noticing Bi Zhen’s change in demeanor, realized that the latter part of her sentence wasn’t directed at him. It seemed Bi Zhen wanted to warn him about something but was stopped by a message from her grandmother or aunt.

Reflecting on what Bi Zhen had started to say about meeting her grandmother and aunt, Mei Qing wondered what the warning could be. Was it to avoid speaking out of turn or to not upset them?

Looking at Bi Zhen, he saw her face filled with helplessness, her eyes blinking rapidly, clearly too afraid to speak further.

As they entered the area, Mei Qing could sense the restrictive aura of the surrounding formations. Although his cultivation had greatly advanced, and such formations couldn’t hold him, he dared not act recklessly in his grandmother’s residence. Since Bi Zhen didn’t dare to speak, he decided not to probe further. Everything would have to wait until he met Bi Zhen’s grandmother.

However, Mei Qing couldn’t help but strategize. Since Bi Zhen repeatedly mentioned this “Auntie,” she must be a very important figure in front of her grandmother. He would need to be cautious when meeting her to avoid any displeasure.

Entering the courtyard, they found it to be very serene. The layout was quite different from ordinary residences, resembling more of a garden. A rockery blocked the view upon entry. Following a stone-paved path around the rockery, they saw a winding stream with a stone bridge. Wild trees clustered around, following the contours of the land, with several halls scattered among them.

Bi Zhen gestured with her eyes, and they quickened their pace, heading towards the innermost courtyard.

The small courtyard wasn’t large, with three exquisite wooden houses. As they entered, a young maid approached. Seeing Bi Zhen, she didn’t bow but whispered, “Madam says, please let Young Master Mei enter on his own.”

Bi Zhen, looking anxious, started to say, “But how can that be…” then stopped, pouting without finishing her sentence.

Mei Qing felt that today’s events were somewhat strange, but since they had come this far, he couldn’t back out. He signaled to Bi Zhen that it was okay and stepped into the wooden house.

The house was entirely made of wood, and inside, the fresh scent of raw wood was invigorating. Windows were open on all sides, without paper coverings, allowing a gentle breeze to waft in. The clean and bright windows slightly eased Mei Qing’s initial nervousness.

Inside the house were two women—one standing, the other sitting.

The seated woman was an elderly lady, presumably Bi Zhen’s grandmother. She was thin, her face dark and wrinkled, her eyes slightly closed. She wore a simple, faded coarse cloth robe, her hair tied in a Daoist bun with a thorn hairpin, sitting cross-legged on a cushion, her depth unfathomable.

The other, a younger woman, was pacing back and forth inside the house. When Mei Qing entered, he saw her graceful figure from behind, dressed in a light yellow outer robe and a pale purple long skirt, with a jade belt around her waist and a pink sachet hanging from it, its long tassels swaying with her light steps.

Hearing Mei Qing enter, the woman turned to look, and Mei Qing was startled. She bore a resemblance to Bi Zhen but appeared more mature. Her forehead and the space between her eyebrows exuded a certain aura, her beautiful eyes calm and clear, her movements indicating she was also at the Qi Refining stage. Her composed demeanor suggested she might even surpass Mei Qing.

Mei Qing was inwardly surprised. This woman must be the “Auntie” Bi Zhen had mentioned. Despite her young age, she had already reached such a level of cultivation, no wonder Bi Zhen held her in high regard. Thinking of Bi Zhen’s grandmother, who seemed like an ordinary old woman, her aura was so natural and unpretentious, perhaps even surpassing figures like Zhang Thirteen and Master Ku.

Not daring to stare too long, Mei Qing quickly stepped forward and bowed to the elderly woman on the cushion, saying, “Greetings, Grandmother.”

Then he turned to the standing woman and said, “Greetings, Auntie.”

As soon as he finished speaking, both women froze.

The elderly woman on the cushion opened her eyes, looking at Mei Qing with an expression that was hard to read—whether it was amusement or annoyance. The standing woman stopped pacing, swaying slightly as if she had heard something extremely amusing, her sparkling eyes scrutinizing Mei Qing from head to toe.

Mei Qing was somewhat surprised. In fact, he regretted not asking Bi Zhen about her grandmother’s preferences and situation beforehand. Both of them had been so nervous, preoccupied with what to do if the grandmother disapproved, that they had forgotten the simplest thing.

Bi Zhen probably only remembered to remind Mei Qing at the last moment, but was interrupted. Now, Mei Qing wasn’t even sure how to address them, so he just went ahead and called them “Grandmother” and “Auntie.”

After a while, the elderly woman on the cushion finally spoke, “Are you Mei Qing?” Her voice was surprisingly youthful, not matching her aged appearance.

Before Mei Qing could answer, she continued, “Your cultivation is quite impressive—no need to feign modesty. At your age, reaching the Qi Refining stage, you’ll ascend in no time. Bi Zhen said you were just at the Foundation Establishment stage when you met. Is she lying for you?”

Mei Qing frowned, about to retort, but she continued rapidly, “Probably not, even the fastest progress doesn’t happen that quickly. You must have had some extraordinary encounter, right? I won’t pry into that, but with your rapid progress, you’re already much stronger than Bi Zhen. You won’t bully her in the future, will you?”

Mei Qing was exasperated, thinking that Bi Zhen’s grandmother, who looked so venerable, spoke in such a manner. He replied somewhat annoyed, “Of course not!”

As soon as Mei Qing spoke, the standing woman nodded repeatedly, and the elderly woman on the cushion said, “You’re not bad, that sounds sincere. A man should keep his word, not resort to sweet talk and empty promises. Do you think women are easily fooled? Some say you’re frivolous, lazy, deceitful, cunning, and arrogant… but you don’t seem that way to me.”

Mei Qing was almost speechless, feeling both angry and suspicious. Who was this “someone” Bi Zhen’s grandmother mentioned? Had he offended someone to be described so negatively?

While Mei Qing was still puzzled, the elderly woman continued, “Alright, I’ve seen enough. You can go now.”

That was it? Mei Qing was momentarily stunned, staring at Bi Zhen’s grandmother’s aged face, unable to speak.

“You seem smart, but you’re acting like a blockhead. If I say it’s over, it’s over. Hurry up and call Bi Zhen in!” Before Mei Qing could react, another barrage of words came his way.

Mei Qing quickly bowed and took his leave, but as he did, he noticed the peculiar expressions on both women’s faces.

“How was it?” Bi Zhen silently mouthed, her eyes shining.

“Nothing, Grandmother wants you to go in,” Mei Qing said, somewhat dejectedly.

Bi Zhen hesitated, glancing at Mei Qing a few times before quickly entering the house.

Once Bi Zhen went in, the wait was long. Mei Qing, thinking of her grandmother’s loquaciousness, shivered, realizing that women, regardless of age or cultivation level, were all equally verbose.

As Mei Qing waited in the courtyard, he felt bored. The maid at the door stood still, not saying a word, so Mei Qing didn’t approach her. Instead, he observed the courtyard.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed several formations in the courtyard, the most intriguing being a Yin-Yang Temperature Regulation Formation.

This formation was quite different from the usual ones, not designed for combat but to maintain the courtyard’s temperature and airflow. Thanks to this formation, the wooden house enjoyed a gentle breeze without window coverings, protected from wind and rain, and maintained a pleasant, spring-like climate year-round.

Although Mei Qing had studied formations extensively recently, most of his focus had been on combat applications. He hadn’t considered using formations for residential comfort. Seeing this, he felt enlightened and began to study it in detail.

After some time, Bi Zhen called out to him, snapping him out of his thoughts. She stood before him, smiling brightly.

“Finished?” Seeing Bi Zhen’s happy expression, Mei Qing felt relieved and quickly asked.

Bi Zhen nodded, pulling Mei Qing along as they walked out, whispering with a smile, “I thought it would be difficult, but it turned out to be quite easy.” She then chuckled, “You’re quite bold, I heard you called her Grandmother right away?”

Mei Qing grimaced, “You didn’t tell me how to address her, what was I supposed to say? Isn’t your grandmother my grandmother too? Wasn’t it appropriate to call her that?”

Bi Zhen smiled, pleased, and whispered, “Grandmother said you look good, seem nice, are capable, and truly care for me, but you’re a bit muddle-headed. I wonder what you did wrong in there.”

“What could I have done?” Mei Qing protested, “As soon as I entered, your aunt was pacing around, making me dizzy, and Grandmother was talking non-stop like a firecracker, not giving me a chance to speak…”

“What did you say!?” Bi Zhen’s eyes widened in shock, “You called the seated one Grandmother and the standing one Auntie?”

“Of course, wasn’t that right?” Mei Qing asked, surprised.

“Heavens!” Bi Zhen facepalmed, “No wonder Grandmother said you’re muddle-headed, you got it backwards! The standing one is Grandmother, and the seated one is Auntie!”