191: I can't live like this anymore.

Morning at the Daochu Sect.

In the center of the main hall, Su Lin opened his eyes.

But he couldn't move.

To his left, Su Hongling was straddling his waist, pinning him in place like a lock.

She was sleeping soundly, her drool soaking a large patch of the lapel on his chest, and she muttered in her sleep from time to time, "Hehe... meat... don't run."

To his right, Luo Ximei was like a black vine, her limbs entwined around the right side of his body.

Her face was pressed against the crook of Su Lin's neck. Although her platinum-colored right eye was closed, her eyeball moved slightly under the eyelid; she was clearly already awake and was restlessly rubbing the tip of her nose against the tooth mark bitten into Su Lin last night.

At his feet, Chu Weiwei curled herself into a ball, tightly hugging Su Lin's calf. Her cheek was pressed against his ankle, and the cold sensation felt like hugging a block of ice. She muttered, "Don't move... I'm giving you an injection..." And above his head... a burst of cold air rushed straight to his crown.

Su Lin struggled to lift his eyelids and look up.

Mu Qingxue remained in a cross-legged meditative posture, sitting above his head.

She wasn't sleeping. Her pale blue eyes were clear as snow, looking down at him, staring without blinking.

Seeing Su Lin wake up, the corners of Mu Qingxue's mouth curled into an extremely faint smile that nonetheless sent shivers down one's spine.

"Revered Master, good morning."

Her voice was very light, like the crisp sound of ice crystals hitting the ground.

"Your heartbeat faltered a total of three hundred and twenty-six times last night."

"Among those, it faltered a hundred times because Second Senior Sister was pressing down on you."

"One hundred and fifty times because Fifth Senior Sister was touching you inappropriately."

"And seventy-six times because Third Senior Sister was sleepwalking and tried to give you an injection."

She reached out with her cold fingers and gently smoothed the furrow between Su Lin's brows.

"It seems this way of sleeping together under one big quilt is not suitable for Revered Master's recovery."

"Tonight, I should just freeze them all."

Su Lin: "..."

He took a deep breath, trying to pull out his arm which had gone numb from being pressed on.

"Everyone, get up! The sun is already high in the sky!"

This shout finally woke up this group of wicked disciple, both the ones faking sleep and the ones truly asleep.

"Morning, Old Man!"

Su Hongling sat up abruptly. Her movement was so large that she almost gave Su Lin's handsome face a "makeover" with an elbow.

She stretched, her bones popping and cracking. Her red and white short-outfit was somewhat loose due to her unrestrained sleeping posture, revealing a large area of firm, wheat-colored skin.

"What's for breakfast? I want meat buns! The kind with thin skin and lots of filling!"

"Eat, eat, eat. Are you a pig?"

Luo Ximei lazily propped herself up, her black hair cascading down like a waterfall, covering the scenery on her chest.

She first gave Su Hongling a dirty look, then turned to Su Lin, her gaze instantly becoming longing.

"Revered Master, where's my morning kiss?"

She pointed to her own luscious red lips.

"No." Su Lin coldly refused.

"Stingy." Luo Ximei curled her lip. Taking advantage of the moment Su Lin stood up to straighten his clothes, she quickly stole a kiss on his cheek. "Then I'll give Revered Master one."

"I want one too! Me too!"

Chu Weiwei also woke up and scrambled over in a flurry, still holding two silver needles she had pulled out from somewhere, scaring Su Lin into taking three steps back.

"Put those needles away!"

"Oh..." Chu Weiwei put the needles away dejectedly and muttered under her breath,

"I just wanted to help Revered Master with his morning wood... I mean, morning exercise to clear his Meridians."

Su Lin stumbled, nearly falling over.

This life is unbearable... Su Lin stood in the half-collapsed side hall, looking at the rows of clothes on the racks and his predatory disciple, feeling a splitting headache.

"Wear this one."

Mu Qingxue held a snow-white robe embroidered with cloud patterns in silver thread, emitting a faint cold air.

"This is woven from Thousand-Year Ice Silkworm Silk. It has strong defensive power and... once worn, others won't dare to come within three feet."

Her implication was clear: if you wear this, no one can rub against you.

"No! It's too plain! It looks like mourning clothes!"

Luo Ximei shoved the white robe aside and pulled a black and gold robe from her storage ring.

This garment was extremely luxurious, with dark red magic crystals embedded in the collar and cuffs, and a baring-fangs-and-claws Dragon embroidered on the back.

"Revered Master is now at the Body Integration stage; you need to look the part! Wear this, it's overbearing! And I've added a Restriction to this clothing; only I can undo the buttons."

"You just want to lock Revered Master up, don't you?"

Chu Weiwei looked at the garment thick with Devilish Qi with disdain and brought out a pale green scholar's robe.

"I soaked this robe in Hundred-Herb Liquid for seven times seven, forty-nine days. It comes with its own toxic gas... I mean, medicinal fragrance. Insects won't touch it, and it repels all poisons."

"You're all too much trouble!"

Su Hongling rummaged through the pile of clothes and pulled out a short martial arts outfit that looked like a matching set with the one she was wearing.

"Wear this! It's easy to move in! Great for fighting! Plus, it shows off your arms and legs—it's cool!"

Su Lin looked at these four pieces of clothing, each with a vastly different style and hidden selfish motives.

The white one looked like a funeral, the black one like a villain, the green one like a poisonous thing, and the short outfit... like a blacksmith's.

"I have my own clothes."

Su Lin took out the most ordinary green robe from his storage ring.

No patterns, no special effects—just the simplest fabric.

"I'll just wear this."

"No!"

The four said in unison.

"It's too ordinary! It doesn't match Revered Master's current status!"

"The defense is too low! What if some vixen bumps into you?"

"Without my mark, I won't feel at ease!"

Seeing that they were about to start snatching again.

Buzz!

Starlight flashed on Su Lin's body.

The power of the Myriad Heavens Star Chart activated.

A layer of Dharma clothing condensed from starlight covered his body.

It was a deep blue robe adorned with countless tiny stars that flowed incessantly with his movements. It was both mysterious and noble, carrying a sense of divinity that made it hard to look at directly.

"Now, any objections?"

Su Lin looked at them indifferently.

The four were stunned.

"It's... it's beautiful..."

Su Hongling wiped her drool.

"This starlight..." A hint of infatuation flashed in Luo Ximei's eyes, "It's even more domineering than my Devilish Qi."

"A pity, I can't embroider flowers on it," Chu Weiwei said with some regret.

Mu Qingxue silently put away the white robe. A flash of defeat crossed her eyes, but it was immediately replaced by renewed fighting spirit.

"Since Revered Master chose the clothes himself."

She stepped forward and took out a white jade hairpin.

"Then the hair, surely I should be the one to tie it?"

"Why should you? I can braid! The kind with lots of little braids!" Su Hongling raised her hand.

"I can do a Flowing Cloud Bun!" Luo Ximei refused to be outdone.

"I'll... I'll wash Revered Master's hair!" Chu Weiwei pulled out some shampoo.

In the end.

Su Lin walked out of the side hall with a look where his hair was tied by Mu Qingxue, pinned with Luo Ximei's Ink-Blood Hairpin, tied with a red string forcibly added by Su Hongling, and smelling of Chu Weiwei's special shampoo.

He felt like a walking display rack... After breakfast.

Gu Qiuyue came over holding a stack of ledgers.

"Revered Master, Senior and Junior Sisters."

She spread the ledgers on the stone table.

"I've contacted the descendants of the Mohist School; they'll be here this afternoon to repair the Daochu Sect."

"However, there's a more important matter at hand."

She pointed outside the mountain gate.

"Because of Seventh Junior Sister's feat yesterday, turning those thousands of Cultivators into powder.

Rumors are spreading outside that the Daochu Sect is a demon's den. They say Revered Master is a Demonic Path tycoon and we are your demon concubines... uh, demon generals."

"Many Sects have already united, saying they want to form a Demon-Slaying Alliance to crusade against us."

"Crusade?"

Su Hongling, who was picking her teeth, spat out her toothpick and sneered.

"Let them come! I was just worrying about not having any sandbags to practice on! If one comes, I'll smash one; if two come, I'll smash a pair!"

"Second Senior Sister, killing people doesn't make money."

Gu Qiuyue sighed helplessly, "And it will ruin our reputation!"

"Then what do you suggest?" Luo Ximei asked nonchalantly, toying with her nails.

"It's simple."

A sharp glint flashed in Gu Qiuyue's eyes.

"I want to hold a Daochu Sect Grand Reappearance Ceremony."

"Invite all the Sects in the world to attend."

"First, to demonstrate our strength so they won't dare harbor ill intentions."

"Second, to take the opportunity to auction some specialties we brought back from the other world."

"Third..."

She looked at Su Lin.

"Revered Master is now at the Great Perfection of Integration Stage, just one step away from returning to the Mahayana stage.

We need an opportunity to let the whole world know that the invincible Su Lin has returned."

"Grand Reappearance Ceremony?"

Su Lin rubbed his chin.

This was indeed a way to settle things once and for all.

Instead of waiting for those flies to come and die in waves, it would be better to swat them all at once—or scare them to death.

"Approved."

Su Lin nodded, "You arrange the specifics."

"Alright!" Gu Qiuyue was instantly revitalized, her abacus clacking away. "Next, I'll assign tasks to my Senior and Junior Sisters."

"Fifth Senior Sister, you're in charge of security.

Use your Demon Pupils to set up a Restriction outside the mountain gate. Anyone without an invitation or with ill intentions gets thrown out directly."

"No problem." Luo Ximei snapped her fingers. "I'll let them know what it means to 'walk into Hell when there's no door'."

"Seventh Junior Sister, you're in charge of setting up the venue.

Use your ice Spells to tidy up the ruins. It's best to make it look a bit more like it's filled with Immortal Qi, rather than full of pits like it is now."

"I can do that," Mu Qingxue said plainly. "I will build an ice and snow palace."

"Third Senior Sister, you're in charge of... catering."

Gu Qiuyue paused, emphasizing, "Normal food and drink! No poisoning!

No drugging! No killing the guests! We need to collect their gift money!"

"Tch, boring." Chu Weiwei curled her lip. "Then can I at least put in some laxatives? To clear their bowels."

"No to that either!"

"As for Second Senior Sister..."

Gu Qiuyue looked at Su Hongling, feeling a bit troubled.

What should she do?

Moving bricks? A waste of talent.

Welcoming guests? Afraid she'd scare them away.

"What about me? What about me?"

Su Hongling looked expectant. "Do you want me to beat up everyone who doesn't give money?"

"Uh... you're in charge of..."

Gu Qiuyue's eyes darted around, "You're in charge of holding down the fort!"

"Just carry your greatsword and stand at the entrance of the main hall.

If anyone dares to cause trouble, just smile at them and stab your sword into the ground."

"Is it that simple?" Su Hongling was a bit disappointed.

"This is the most important task for you!" Gu Qiuyue bluffed. "You're our representative! Only your overbearing aura can suppress those small-time troublemakers!"

"Hehe, true."

Su Hongling was floating on air from the praise. She puffed out her chest, "Leave it to me! If anyone dares to even blink, I'll gouge their eyes out!"

With the tasks assigned, the Daochu Sect began to operate frantically... Was this rebuilding a Sect?

This was clearly four crazy women competing over who was the most capable and who loved their Revered Master the most, turning the Daochu Sect into their massive Spell-casting battlefield.

"Rise!"

In mid-air, Mu Qingxue, dressed in white as pure as snow, formed hand seals.

She didn't use wood or stone, but directly extracted the water vapor from a hundred-mile radius, condensing it into eternal Mystic Ice to construct the main body of the hall.

Translucent ice walls rose from the ground; they were beautiful, but far too cold.

The temperature of the entire Daochu Sect dropped to the freezing point, and even the newly planted Spiritual Plants shivered from the cold.

"Seventh Junior Sister, are you planning to raise penguins in the Sect?"

Luo Ximei stood to the side with her arms crossed, looking disgusted.

"It's so plain, it has no presence at all. This venerable one thinks we should add some color."

With that, she pointed a finger.

Rolling Devilish Qi transformed into black and gold streams of light, forcibly embedding themselves into the pure white ice walls, forming ferocious and overbearing demonic patterns.

The ice palace that was originally filled with Immortal Qi instantly turned into a bizarre structure that was half-holy and half-depraved.

"You ruined my design."

Mu Qingxue's gaze turned cold, an ice sword condensing in her hand.

"I'm helping you improve your taste!" Luo Ximei refused to back down, the phantom of a Demon God appearing behind her.

Seeing that the two were about to fight again.

"Out of the way! Everyone, move!"

A loud shout came.

Su Hongling was seen carrying a trunk of Thousand-Year Golden Phoebe wood, as thick as ten men's embrace and still smelling of fresh earth, charging over like an out-of-control bull.

"This is the main beam I pulled from the neighboring hilltop! I saw this wood was quite sturdy, just right to be a bed leg for the Old Man!"

She didn't care if anyone was in front of her or about aesthetics at all, swinging that giant timber and ramming it into the ice palace.

"Rumble!"

A massive boom.

The newly built ice wall was punctured with a huge hole.

The demonic patterns Luo Ximei had drawn shattered all over the ground.

"Su! Hong! Ling!"

Mu Qingxue and Luo Ximei turned their heads at the same time, radiating Killing Intent.

"Huh? Is it not sturdy?"

Su Hongling scratched her head, looking innocent. "Should I go pull an even thicker one then?"

"You stay right there!"

Meanwhile, in a corner, Chu Weiwei was squatting on the ground, watering the flowers and plants that had been damaged by the cold.

However, the water she poured was a strange purple-green color. After being watered, those flowers and plants not only instantly perked up but also grew fangs, snapping at a passing butterfly.

"They're growing so well..."

Chu Weiwei smiled with satisfaction. "This way, if anyone dares to enter Revered Master's courtyard casually, they'll be bitten to death."

Su Lin stood in the distance, watching this scene of chaotic madness, and silently crushed the teacup in his hand into powder.

"Gu Qiuyue."

"Your Disciple is here." Gu Qiuyue emerged from the ruins, her head covered in dust.

"Go post an announcement at the foot of the mountain."

Su Lin said expressionlessly, "Say that... the Daochu Sect is temporarily not accepting new disciple. I'm afraid of scaring them to death."

...