Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

He took a few deep breaths and silently encouraged himself.

What kind of situation haven't I, Lin Zhu, seen? How could I let a few jokes throw me off balance? I must stay calm, and even... even take the initiative and lead their thoughts!

However, just as this ambition to "reverse the thoughts of four women" sprouted in his heart, before it could even unfold its first leaf, the light at the palace entrance dimmed and was then illuminated by the radiance of several graceful figures.

The four women had changed their clothes, wore light makeup and simple adornments, and arrived together.

Bixiao was the first to bounce in. She seemed to have just been busy in the kitchen, as she still carried a faint, fresh scent of herbs and plants, rather than the smell of cooking oil. Her long, unbound black hair cascaded down her back, making her face appear even whiter. Her round eyes were like black gems soaked in the spiritual spring of Kunlun, clear and bright.

She changed into a pale yellow short-sleeved shirt and a light green skirt, which made her look even more girlish and charming.

She spotted Lin Zhu sitting upright like a bell, chuckled, and without any hesitation, went straight to a low table opposite him and sat down. She rested her chin on her hands, her legs swinging restlessly under the table, staring at him with a bright smile, as if a wonderful flower had bloomed on his face.

Next up is Qiongxiao.

She moved with light steps and elegant posture, having changed into a simple, moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). The skirt trailed on the ground, and her movements were like a white lotus just beginning to bloom, untouched by dust. Her hair was simply tied up, with only a jade hairpin inserted diagonally. Her whole being exuded a clean and dignified air, as if she had washed away all artifice.

She sat down in the seat next to Bixiao, her back straight, her hands folded on her knees, her eyes slightly lowered, displaying the quiet demeanor of a well-bred young lady. However, the slight redness of her ears betrayed that her heart was not entirely at peace.

Yunxiao was the third person to come in.

She changed out of her gorgeous palace dress and into a light red, wide-sleeved, flowing fairy dress. The style was still exquisite, but it was less formal and more homely and gentle.

The faint trace of sorrow between her brows seemed to become an eternal adornment, adding to her pitiful charm.

She walked in gracefully, her eyes seemingly casually sweeping over the bamboo grove. That glance seemed to hold a hook, unspoken yet hesitant, full of twists and turns. Then, she gently and delicately sat down beneath the jade palace, her posture impeccably elegant, yet somehow giving the impression that every curve of her figure beneath her dress was telling a silent story.

Finally, there is Our Lady of Wudang.

She was still dressed in a black dress, the style of which was extremely simple and without any patterns, which only accentuated her snow-white skin and her aloof and elegant temperament.

She entered slowly, not heading to her assigned seat, but going straight to Lin Zhu's side.

Lin Zhu was feeling uneasy as the three women made their appearances, each with their own unique charm, when suddenly she felt a fragrant breeze wafting from her side, and a shadow loomed over her.

Before he could react, a cool and soft hand gently took his arm.

"Why are you sitting so far away?" The voice of the Holy Mother of Wudang was calm and light, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

With a slight exertion of force, Lin Zhu was involuntarily led by her to sit in a spacious seat closer to the head of the table. Then, the Holy Mother of Wudang herself sat down beside him very naturally, so close that Lin Zhu could clearly feel the faint, cool fragrance emanating from her body and hear the subtle rustling of her dress.

In an instant, Lin Zhu's straightened back and the "male dignity" he had been trying to rebuild crumbled and vanished without a trace.

Bixiao's lively and direct gaze, Qiongxiao's dignified shyness, and Yunxiao's mournful charm, none of them could compare to the impact of the natural yet controlling intimacy brought by the aloof fairy beside her.

In a daze, he had a strange feeling that he had become an emperor in the mortal world, with an empress sitting beside him, and several beautiful concubines below him...

The thought startled him at first, then he found it absurd, but deep down, he couldn't help but secretly compare it to something else.

Hmm, in terms of appearance and demeanor, these four women are probably far superior to the Tang Emperor's harem at its peak, as recorded in history books. My own situation is even more... superior than that of the Tang Emperor?
"cough!"

Lin Zhu choked on her own bold association, quickly took a deep breath, and forcefully restrained her racing thoughts, focusing her attention back on the "serious matter." She couldn't let this ambiguous atmosphere lead her astray any longer!

To break the silence that made his heart race, and to find a safe topic, Lin Zhu blurted out, his voice dry and distorted with nervousness.

"Um... I wonder... how are the yellow plums growing these days? Are they... alright?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to bite his tongue. What a stupid question! Huang Zhongli has innate spiritual roots; why would he need to ask about "growth" or "well-being"?
Sure enough, his incoherent question immediately drew a response.

Bixiao was the first to burst out laughing, shaking her head.

"Lin Zhu, you're so silly! Huang Zhongli isn't sick, of course he's fine!"

Qiongxiao couldn't help but smile faintly, glancing up at him with a kind of amused look in her eyes.

Yunxiao let out a soft sigh, a sigh that lingered and successfully drew everyone's attention away from Huang Zhongli and back to herself.

She half-covered her face with her sleeve and looked at Lin Zhu with a sorrowful expression.

"Young Master Lin only cares about the spiritual root and immortal fruit when he arrives, but doesn't ask about the current situation of us sisters? It's really heartbreaking."

Lin Zhu felt a chill run down his spine, realizing he was in trouble, but he forced himself to continue.

"It was my oversight... I wonder how all of you fairies have been these days?"

"well?"

Yunxiao's brows furrowed slightly, as if she were bearing immense sorrow.

"I'm afraid that's not true. Over the years, for some reason, I've always felt weak and tired, and I can't sleep well at night. I'm often disturbed by nightmares, and when I wake up, I'm covered in cold sweat and can't fall back asleep."

As she spoke, her gaze seemed to drift towards Lin Zhu, and she spoke softly, her words carrying a hidden meaning.

"I've heard that... if someone with abundant yang energy and blood is by your side, their pure yang energy can calm your mind and spirit, allowing you to sleep soundly through the night. Unfortunately, on Mount Kunlun, yin prevails over yang, so finding a suitable 'calming pillow' is... quite difficult."

The words "calming pillow" were uttered by her in that soft, seductive voice, and the implication was so blatant that Lin Zhu felt extremely uneasy.

He felt the heat that had just subsided rush back to his face, and hurriedly waved his hand, forcefully pulling the topic back onto the table with rapid speech.

"Ah! That... Huangzhong plum! Right, I suddenly remembered that the last time I saw the Huangzhong plum, its branches and leaves seemed exceptionally green, so the fruit it bore must have been extraordinary! I wonder... I wonder if any of them are ripe this year?"

He was determined to keep the conversation focused on Huang Zhongli no matter what. If Yunxiao continued to "complain" like this, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to leave the main hall of Kunlun Mountain today. The Holy Mother Wudang took in Lin Zhu's embarrassment and, seeing that he was indeed struggling to cope, finally stopped letting Yunxiao continue to "tease" him.

Her cool gaze swept over Yunxiao, implying a warning. Only then did Yunxiao slightly restrain her outwardly mournful demeanor and sit up straighter. However, the half-smile at the corner of her mouth showed that she had not really given up.

"Alright, stop teasing him."

The Holy Mother of Wudang spoke, her voice steady yet carrying the power to stabilize the world, and the subtle atmosphere in the hall immediately became solemn. "The three of them have indeed had moments of unease in recent years, simply because they have been living in Kunlun for a long time and are feeling a bit bored, and they often think of certain people who are not around now."

She spoke subtly, but it was obvious who she was referring to as "certain people who are not in front of you".

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhu breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt somewhat apologetic, and quickly offered her suggestions.

"If you're feeling bored, why not go out and travel around? Right now, the Buddhist sect in the Western Paradise is busy with the Journey to the West, and most of the members of the Chan Sect have also retired. I'm sure no one will deliberately stop you fairies from traveling around and relaxing."

The Holy Mother of Wudang shook her head slightly, her gaze falling on Lin Zhu, her eyes calm yet profound.

"Mountain and water scenery, once seen too often, is nothing more than stubborn rocks, flowing water, clouds, and mist. The most beautiful scenery in the three realms..."

She paused for a moment before speaking slowly.

"It is never an inanimate object. If there is no scenery that appeals to you, what is the point of going on a trip?"

Lin Zhu felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, sensing that her phrase "the most beautiful scenery" had a hidden meaning. Not daring to think too deeply, she could only remain silent.

The Holy Mother of Wudang did not continue on this topic, but changed the subject.

"You are concerned about Huang Zhongli and have also mentioned cultivation. We know a little about your background and opportunities. If you want to move freely in this increasingly turbulent Three Realms, protect yourself and those you care about, and raise your cultivation to the Quasi-Saint realm as soon as possible, that is the right thing to do. Only when you reach that realm will you be qualified to participate in many things and have the power to control them."

As she spoke, a faint hint of surprise flashed across her eyes.

“When I approached you just now, I vaguely sensed that you seemed to be surrounded by an unusual ‘sacredness’. Although it was extremely weak, it was incredibly pure, which surprised me. It seems that you have had an extraordinary experience on this trip.”

Lin Zhu's heart skipped a beat, realizing that the Holy Mother Wudang was referring to his connection with that "mysterious senior," and the slight saintly aura he might have acquired as a result. However, he couldn't say it outright, so he could only give a vague reply.

"Your Majesty, I am truly fortunate. As for cultivation, I will do my best."

The Holy Mother of Wudang nodded and did not ask any further questions.

With a slight flick of her wide sleeves, a white jade plate appeared out of thin air on the jade table in front of her. There was no exaggerated scene of rays of light or a fragrant aroma on the plate; it simply held three fruits quietly.

The fruit was shaped like a pearl, pale yellow in color, as if an embryo was growing within the fruit. Its texture was warm and smooth, like a piece of fine jade, and it seemed to have a hidden, precious light flowing within it, as if it were alive. It was the sacred fruit that the innate spiritual root produced—the Yellow Plum.

The Holy Mother of Wudang gently pushed the jade plate towards Lin Zhu. "These are three newly ripened yellow plums, a complete set. Since you need this to strengthen your foundation and boost your cultivation, take it."

Lin Zhu's attention was immediately and completely drawn to it.

Overjoyed, he quickly rose and solemnly bowed. "Thank you for your generous gift, Holy Mother!"

Then he carefully reached out with both hands to hold the jade plate.

When fingertips touched the edge of the warm, white jade plate, they inevitably and gently touched the three yellow plums inside the plate that were emitting a faint warmth.

The touch was incredibly wonderful, neither gold nor jade, yet it possessed a life-like softness and elasticity, with a pure and indescribable spiritual charm seemingly transmitted through the fingertips.

Lin Zhu was excited, but then realized that her action seemed a bit abrupt, so she quickly withdrew her hand, only holding the edge of the jade plate, and explained with a slightly flushed face.

"I...I didn't mean to touch...it..."

His cautious and apprehensive manner, as if he had received a priceless treasure, drew suppressed chuckles from the guests.

Bixiao laughed the loudest, Qiongxiao covered her lips, Yunxiao's eyes sparkled, and even the corners of Wudang Shengmu's mouth curved upwards in an almost imperceptible arc.

Outside the hall, the clouds and mist of Kunlun Mountain drifted leisurely, while inside, the yellow plums on the white jade plate emitted a faint glow and warmth.

Lin Zhu held the rare spiritual fruit, his heart filled with a mixture of joy and wariness. Ahead of him, four peerless beauties, each with their own thoughts, all had their eyes on him. It seemed that his time on Kunlun Mountain had only just begun.

The clouds and mist of Kunlun Mountain remain serene, like an eternally tranquil painting, but the forests and bamboo groves within have no time to appreciate it.

He carefully put away the three warm, yellow plums, but his heart was far from at ease.

He knew that he had fallen into a seemingly idyllic, but in reality invisible, prison.

Bixiao's innocence and carefree nature are undisguised affection. She would often suddenly pounce on him from behind, hug his neck, or slip her cold little hands into his collar while he was meditating, giggling as she watched him jump in surprise.

Beneath Qiongxiao's dignified demeanor lies a more subtle form of "torture." She personally concocts various spiritual teas and immortal brews that are said to "strengthen the foundation and cultivate vitality" and "purify the Dao heart." The flavors are bizarre, sometimes as sweet as honey, sometimes as bitter as bitter herbs, and one must drink them in front of her, looking into her shy yet unwavering eyes.

Lin Zhu had no choice but to force herself to drink it down, and afterwards she would often have to circulate her qi for a long time to dispel the chaotic spiritual energy or that strange smell in her body. Yun Xiao's charm was even more alluring; she always seemed to find a reason to get close, whether it was "her sleeve got caught" or "she suddenly felt a little dizzy," and her soft, warm body would lean in, whispering mournfully or letting out a faint sigh.

And those eyes that seemed to suck away one's soul constantly tugged at Lin Zhu's taut nerves. As for the Holy Mother of Wudang, this fairy as aloof as the snow-capped peaks of Kunlun, her "torture" was the most direct and left Lin Zhu utterly powerless.

She would regularly check Lin Zhu's cultivation progress. With a light tap of her jade finger, a pure yet domineering stream of magical power would surge into Lin Zhu's body, forcibly guiding him to circulate his energy through his body, euphemistically called "helping you to regulate your meridians and solidify your foundation."

The process was akin to tearing and rebuilding his meridians time and time again, causing him immense pain. Yet, after it was over, he could feel that his cultivation had indeed improved, making it seem ungrateful for him to even complain.

These four individuals all possessed cultivation levels at the late stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. Even a mere trace of their aura, if unintentionally revealed, felt like a mountain pressing down on Lin Zhu, who had not yet reached a higher realm.

They harassed his body and mind in various ways, using laughter, anger, gentleness, and cruelty as their methods.

Lin Zhu was in excruciating pain, as if trapped in a net woven from tenderness and absolute power, each struggle futile, only tightening the entanglement. (End of Chapter)