thefictionvixens Chapter 55: Extravagant "Kept Woman" and Sobering Growth
Chapter 55: Extravagant "Kept Woman" and Sobering Growth
We arrived at the magnificent banquet hall.
The long table was already laden with a dazzling array of delicacies, their aromas irresistible.
The spirit birds that fly in the sky, the spirit beasts that run on the ground, and the strange fish that swim in the water mostly exude energy fluctuations of hundreds or even thousands of years, which are obviously rare and nourishing delicacies, and the portion of each dish is exceptionally substantial.
"Chen, don't be shy, eat your fill! I know your appetite all too well!"
With a smile, Gu Yue personally used serving chopsticks to pick up a large piece of crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside, and fragrant century-old ribeye steak from the Wild Bull and placed it on Yu Chen's plate, her actions natural and affectionate.
Yu Chen looked at the extravagantly lavish banquet before him and hesitated for a moment:
"Moon, aren't we waiting for your elders? Besides, these ingredients... are too precious."
He showed appropriate concern in line with Gu Yue's background of "coming from a wealthy family".
Gu Yue remained calm and composed, having already prepared her explanation:
"They're usually very busy, and they only got together today because they knew you were coming. They already told us to eat first and not to wait. As for the ingredients... the first few dishes were specially prepared, the rest are just ordinary, so don't feel pressured."
She blinked, picked up a piece of tender and juicy fish and put it on her plate. "Eat it quickly, it won't taste as good when it gets cold."
"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony."
Yu Chen readily agreed and stopped asking questions, focusing instead on the food in front of him.
It must be said that these ingredients, rich in life energy, were like a long-awaited rain for him, who had just experienced tremendous depletion.
With each bite, you can feel a warm current flowing through your limbs and bones, nourishing your parched meridians and cells.
Gu Yue ate relatively elegantly, but at a fast pace. She seemed to enjoy serving food to Yu Chen, occasionally moving dishes that Yu Chen might like closer to him, or personally placing them in his bowl.
The two occasionally spoke in hushed tones, their eyes meeting in a tacit understanding and affection that needed no words.
The huge banquet hall seemed to have become a cozy corner just for them.
Time slipped away quietly amidst delicious food and soft whispers.
Two and a half hours later, the two of them had devoured all the dishes on the table.
Yu Chen let out a satisfied sigh, feeling that his depleted blood and soul power had been well replenished, and his condition had recovered to most of its former state.
Unfortunately, I don't know when I'll be able to enjoy such a nutritious and delicious meal again.
"Are you full?"
Gu Yue elegantly wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin and asked with a smile.
"Yes, thank you for the treat."
Yu Chen nodded, then remembered something, "Yue, it's getting late, shouldn't we go back to the academy? If we don't ask for leave, Teacher Wu might..."
Gu Yue smiled slightly upon hearing this and reassured him, "Don't worry, my boyfriend. I already asked Teacher Wu for leave through special channels, saying there was an emergency at home and I needed you to come back with me. We'll stay here tonight."
"Stay overnight?" Yu Chen was slightly taken aback.
"Um."
Gu Yue nodded, a hint of barely perceptible anticipation in her eyes. "There are many rooms in the castle, and I've already had them arranged."
As they were talking, the door to the banquet hall was gently pushed open, and Di Tian walked in.
He first waved to signal the waiters to be quiet and quickly clear away the remaining food. When only the three of them remained in the hall, he raised his hand and set up a soul power barrier to isolate them from detection. He then walked solemnly to Yu Chen.
"Young friend Yu Chen,"
Di Tian's attitude was more composed than before, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible respect (although he tried his best to hide it).
"What happened today was my rash and impulsive act, which almost led to a serious mistake. I offer this as a token of my apology, and I earnestly hope you will accept it."
He presented two simple wooden boxes with both hands and opened one of them first.
As the contents of the box came into view, Yu Chen's pupils contracted slightly.
It was not metal, but more like some kind of crystallized bone. Its shape resembled a human hand bone, but its entire body was covered with dark golden cloud patterns that looked like living things. It contained a powerful yet restrained soul force fluctuation, and it faintly carried a violent intent that could tear the sky and split the earth.
"This is... a soul bone?"
Although Yu Chen had not seen it with his own eyes, his intuition and knowledge told him the answer.
"Exactly."
Di Tian nodded, his tone tinged with complexity.
"This is the left palm bone left behind by the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear after it fell 100,000 years ago. For some reason, it failed to survive the 100,000-year Heavenly Tribulation, and all its essence was concentrated here."
"A 100,000-year-old soul bone! And it's the most domineering dark gold dinosaur claw bear paw bone!"
Yu Chen gasped and quickly refused.
"Uncle Tian, this is too precious! I cannot accept it. Moreover, today's events were mainly due to my own shortcomings and lack of control, and have no direct causal relationship with your test. You need not do this."
This apology is undeniably substantial; it's downright extravagant!
"Chen,"
Gu Yue suddenly spoke. She stood up, walked to Yu Chen's side, and gently lifted his chin with her slender fingers, making him look at her.
Her purple eyes held a smile, but her tone left no room for argument, "Take it. If you really feel unworthy of it..."
She leaned closer, her breath sweet as orchids, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, with obvious mockery, "Then consider this... part of your betrothal gifts when you 'marry into' our family, how about it?"
"Marry into the family?!"
Yu Chen was so shocked by the sudden mention of "betrothal gifts" that he almost bit his tongue. His face flushed red. "Yue, we...we're still young. Isn't it too early to talk about this?"
"what?"
Gu Yue seized on the loophole in his words, her eyes gleaming with even more cunning. "We're still young... does that mean that when we grow up, we can talk about 'marrying into' each other'?"
"No, that's not what I meant..."
Yu Chen was speechless for a moment, feeling like he had jumped into a pit he had dug himself.
Meanwhile, Di Tian, who had maintained a respectful posture and held the wooden box in his hands, felt as if the box weighed a ton and his back was being pricked by countless needles.
Could he possibly listen to the lewd and suggestive banter between the Lord and the Sovereign?!
He wished he could become deaf immediately, or simply disappear from the spot.
"Alright, no more refusing!" Gu Yue's joking expression vanished, but her tone remained forceful. She took the two wooden boxes directly from Di Tian and stuffed them into Yu Chen's arms without a word.
"This soul bone is just sitting idle. Here, besides someone with your top-tier dragon physique, who else can withstand its domineering energy? Absorb it tonight. And this one too."
She pointed to another, smaller wooden box. "Inside are several 'Spiritual Sea Urchins,' a good thing for nourishing spiritual power. Use them all together."
Under Gu Yue's persuasion, Yu Chen finally accepted the wooden box with both hands and said sincerely, "Thank you for your generous gift, senior. I was also impetuous in today's matter."
Di Tian waved his hand, glancing at Yu Chen and Gu Yue standing side by side with a complicated expression. The almost tangible intimacy between the two stirred up a multitude of emotions within him, which ultimately culminated in a barely audible sigh.
"You young people can chat. The room is ready, so get some rest."
After saying that, he turned and left, removing the soul power barrier.
Gu Yue glanced at Di Tian, who had seemingly been granted a pardon and instantly vanished into a black shadow in the hall, and said to Yu Chen:
"Come on, I'll take you to your room for tonight."
Holding the two priceless wooden boxes, Yu Chen looked at Gu Yue's matter-of-fact attitude and, recalling her joke about the "betrothal gifts," suddenly felt relieved. Fine, he'd accept them; he'd remember this kindness.
As for "marrying into the family"... if the person in question is her, it seems... not a bad deal?
Being kept by such a powerful and beautiful "rich woman"...
Ahem, stop!
"Okay, whatever you say."
Yu Chen finally nodded.
The waiter stepped forward at the right moment and respectfully led the two to the guest room area.
The castle’s interior corridors are spacious and deep, with classic wall lamps hanging on the walls, casting a warm, dim glow.
Gu Yue led Yu Chen through the elegant corridor to the guest room area. Her room was opposite Yu Chen's.
Arriving at the door of the luxurious guest room, Gu Yue pointed to the opposite side: "I'll stay there."
She didn't seem to have any intention of leaving immediately. With her hands behind her back, her toes lightly touched the carpet, and the arches of her feet, encased in black stockings, curved gracefully.
"Tonight... absorb the soul bone and sea urchin well. With my power and your own bloodline, there won't be any major problems."
She gave her instructions, then tapped her forehead again with her fingertip, indicating the connection of the soul contract.
"I know, don't worry."
Yu Chen nodded, looking at her exceptionally beautiful profile in the moonlight, and his heart stirred.
He reached out, joined his index and middle fingers together, and gently tapped her smooth forehead, just like Gu Yue had done before.
Gu Yue was taken aback, then her eyes lit up with an even deeper smile, and a faint blush rose on her cheeks.
"You're learning pretty fast, my boyfriend." She tiptoed slightly and, before Yu Chen could react, quickly planted a feather-light kiss on his cheek.
Goodnight, Chen.
Before Yu Chen could respond, she turned around gracefully like a light butterfly and ran towards her room.
The black stockings shimmered with light as she ran, and her jade-like feet, clad in small black leather shoes, moved with a light and quick gait, as if stepping on the very tip of Yu Chen's heart.
Yu Chen touched the spot where she had been kissed, staring blankly as her figure disappeared behind the door. After a long while, he chuckled and shook his head before returning to his room.
Upon entering the room, Yu Chen couldn't help but marvel at the "extravagance" of the Gu Yue family once again.
This wasn't a guest room; it was clearly a small luxury suite, spacious and beautifully decorated with a touch of elegance. Lying on the soft leather sofa, Yu Chen breathed a sigh of relief, but quickly became alert.
"They're really rich and powerful!" he exclaimed. However, he must not indulge in the current prosperity and comfort.
He always kept in mind that in this world, as long as he continued to grow, he would eventually face the world consciousness and the core of life, and behind them was the God King Tang San.
To fight against such an existence, one must always be vigilant and continuously improve one's strength.
With that in mind, Yu Chen didn't delay any longer and got up to walk into the attached cultivation room.
Compared to the training rooms within the East Sea Academy, the facilities here are undoubtedly more advanced.
The ceiling and floor were engraved with intricate and profound soul-guiding array patterns. As Yu Chen activated them, these patterns lit up one after another, emitting a soft glow. They began to efficiently draw in and gather the surrounding elemental energy and soul power, causing the energy concentration in the room to increase rapidly.
Sitting cross-legged, Yu Chen circulated his soul power within his body for several weeks to adapt to the environment. Then, he solemnly took out the wooden box containing the left palm bone of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.
Feeling the surging soul power fluctuations within, Yu Chen took a deep breath, slowly placed his left hand on the soul bone, and simultaneously channeled his own soul power to guide it.
The soul power within his body emitted a faint, dark black light, seeping into his soul bones in wisps and strands.
The soul bone was initially dormant, but then began to emit a deep, dark light. Dark golden points of light emerged from within, like stars, and began to merge with the black soul power.