Chapter 1021: Long Ming: Keep a Good Distance with Elder Xinran

Chen Chuyang also felt helpless; his thoughts were laid bare to Elder Xinran, with no secrets.

Compared to Shang Hongxue, she understands him better; clearly they haven't met many times, nor have they deeply understood each other; most of their communication is about swordsmanship, and they never discuss personal matters.

Elder Xinran isn't interested in these matters, and neither is he; they maintained this tacit understanding, and over time they got along naturally. This time, Elder Xinran's visit broke that balance and understanding.

It's obvious she didn't come on a whim; she prepared for a long time, struggled personally, and only then decided to come find him, to decide her future direction. Going to Tianwai is not bad; many strong ones in this world take that step, but the question is when and with whom to go—this is a major subject.

As for those others, Elder Xinran doesn't trust them much, but she trusts this man before her completely; the earlier sword qi treatment is an example. Both cultivate the heart-sword Dao, and they understand each other quite well.

Chen Chuyang stared at her intently, and Elder Xinran gazed back just as intently. After exchanging a look, Chen Chuyang smiled and said: "Actually, the others aren't weak either; going to Tianwai with them poses no safety issues, so you don't necessarily have to go with me."

Elder Xinran shook her head: "No, it's not the same."

"If I go with others, I still have to worry about those around me; frankly, I don't trust those people, not even the old fogies of the Spirit Sword Sect—I don't trust them completely."

Chen Chuyang gave a bitter smile: "Then you trust me that much?"

"Not bad; I trust you a lot."

Elder Xinran said seriously: "You can see my true self without being moved, and remain indifferent toward me; based on those two points, I trust you greatly. Moreover, I am your sister's teacher, and in a sense I am also your half-teacher."

"Half-teacher"—Elder Xinran indeed wasn't wrong.

Chen Chuyang's heart-sword Dao was also learned from her; although it's completely different now, after all he learned it from her, so calling her teacher is not excessive.

"Huh?" Chen Chuyang gave her a sideways glance and said irritably: "You're trying to take advantage of me."

"No, no, you're overthinking it."

Elder Xinran waved her hand: "I don't mean that; you're just thinking too much."

Elder Xinran greatly enjoyed this moment, chatting while standing with Chen Chuyang, feeling very relaxed, with her mind and body more at ease than ever before.

This kind of ease, this kind of relaxation, truly makes people happy and also excited.

For some reason, upon seeing Chen Chuyang, her heart calmed down considerably.

Her sword qi also became gentle, no longer the violent state it was before.

"When do you plan to go to Tianwai?"

Elder Xinran asked again, to confirm Chen Chuyang's departure time so she could prepare in advance and accompany him to Tianwai.

This is a secret between the two of them, naturally cannot be let others know.

Elder Xinran knows Chen Chuyang well; at that time he will surely leave on his own, without bringing others, because he dislikes trouble and doesn't like being with others.

His several women won't go to Tianwai; in the short term they won't leave this world, and even if they wanted to leave, Chen Chuyang would not agree.

But she is different—her strength and all aspects make her an indispensable helper; Chen Chuyang needs her.

She also needs Chen Chuyang; the two rely on each other, and upon reaching Tianwai they will also be able to stand firm.

So they won't constantly be bullied by Tianwai's people; Elder Xinran also needs a stable environment for cultivation, and Chen Chuyang happens to be able to provide all of this—medicinal pills, formations, weapons, or swordsmanship, Chen Chuyang can provide them all.

Especially medicinal pills and formations; upon reaching Tianwai they need to find a foothold and need formation protection. Chen Chuyang's attainment in formations is high, and even in Tianwai it remains just as good; with his formation protection they can toil in peace, without fear of being discovered by Tianwai's strong ones.

Resource issues will be their biggest problem upon reaching Tianwai; even if they can obtain a batch of medicinal pills from Chen Chuyang before leaving, it's still not enough.

Following him, even if it's a clone, one can possess some of the main body's abilities, so there's no need to worry about the medicinal pill issue.

Elder Xinran's inner calculations are perfect; besides this, she has other ideas.

She won't say it outright; instead she stares at Chen Chuyang, waiting for his reply.

Chen Chuyang smiled and said: "I'll notify you then; it shouldn't be too late."

"Good."

Elder Xinran smiled, having obtained the answer she wanted, and was naturally very satisfied.

The two returned, where Chen Churan and his mother exchanged pleasantries and chatted.

Ming Jianzi stood to the side, smiling at this scene, showing no impatience at all.

After the three of them spent a night on Longshe Shan, they departed the next morning in a hurry.

After they left, Mother Long Ming found Chen Chuyang and asked in person: "Son, what did Churan's master want with you?"

"That woman seems off, and her relationship with my son appears not simple either."

As a woman, Long Ming feels there is a problem—not a small one, but a big one.

"What else could it be? She wants to accompany me to Tianwai."

"Together?" Long Ming's pupils contracted as she asked: "Did you agree?"

"Mm." Chen Chuyang nodded: "In a few days I'll send a clone ahead to Tianwai; then she'll follow along."

"This time coming up the mountain, she already said this?" Long Ming continued to ask.

"Not bad."

Long Ming took a deep breath, having received her son's affirmation, and softly said: "Son, you'd better be careful; after all, she is Churan's master, and you two should still be mindful."

Saying that, she gave Chen Chuyang a particular look, telling him to pay attention and not mess around—after all, that's your sister's master.

Chen Chuyang laughed helplessly: "Mother, there's nothing like that between us; you're overthinking it."

"Son, just because you haven't doesn't mean she hasn't; as a mother who's been through this, how could I not understand women?" Long Ming reminded repeatedly: "In short, you still need to be careful—don't… cross the line."

"Huh?" Chen Chuyang, at a loss for how to respond, looked at his mother.

Long Ming sighed: "Mother is also doing this for your own good; you, just listen to me and you won't be wrong."

"If you really take that step, you… well, I won't interfere anymore; you just manage your own boundaries, and if something really happens, you handle it yourself—mother won't help you."

Having said that, Long Ming waved her hand and said no more about it.

She isn't afraid of Elder Xinran, nor of her daughter; she worries about how her son Chen Chuyang will handle these relationships among women in the future.

He already has enough women around him; he can't add a few more.

On Hongxue's side, there are opinions; as a mother, she naturally wants to tell her son not to be too flirtatious.

Chen Chuyang felt helpless, gave a bitter smile: "Mother, really, you just… look at me like that? I am her son."

"However, it seems…"