At that moment, Wang Qingci finally noticed Lu Chen's presence. After all, he was the very reason she had come.
Seeing the aloof and peerless King of the North smiling faintly in her direction, Wang Qingci's heart surged with joy. Her plan was halfway to success—she had indeed caught his attention.
Now, all she had to do was wait.
She was confident that it wouldn't take long before Lu Chen came looking for her. With her appearance and charm, what man could resist?
She responded with a gentle smile of her own, full of poise and subtle allure.
Once the wedding banquet concluded, Lu Chen quietly took his leave. Mu Zixuan remained behind, engaging in polite conversation with the various women who had attended.
As for Lu Chen, he had already come to an understanding with Zhou Xiaoxiao and her sisters. There was no urgency to consummate the marriage. That could wait.
He headed straight to the main courtyard—the one where he had planted the Dragon and Phoenix Tree.
It had only been half a month since it was planted, but the tree had already grown to his waist. Despite its rapid growth, its appearance remained unassuming, no different from any ordinary tree.
Lu Chen carefully plucked a few leaves from its branches. He intended to brew them into tea for Zhou Xiaoxiao and her sisters later that night.
Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind.
"Chen'er, what are you doing here? Why aren't you with the Zhou sisters?" Chu Yuqin stood at the edge of the courtyard, watching him curiously.
Lu Chen paused, momentarily stunned by her presence. Then, an idea quietly formed in his mind.
He asked the system in his heart, "System, is it true that women who drink the Dragon and Phoenix Tea will become dependent on me and unable to leave me?"
[That's correct. Though it varies depending the person strength and intentions.]
[And once they've consumed the tea, they won't be able to harm you. Their strength will weaken when you touch them. However, if they harbor feelings for you, the tea will enhance their cultivation to some extent.]
Lu Chen raised an eyebrow in surprise. He had expected the tea to make women emotionally dependent on him, but hadn't anticipated its ability to boost cultivation as well.
Chu Yuqin already has strong feelings for me. If she drinks more of this tea, her strength will definitely improve…
With that thought, Lu Chen turned and smiled. "Why should I visit them in broad daylight? Or… does Aunt Chu expect me to do that before the sun even sets?"
Chu Yuqin rolled her eyes. "What nonsense are you spouting now? I just meant you should go talk to them—you're married, after all."
Her gaze shifted to the leaves in his hand. "What are those for? Don't tell me you're making soup out of tree leaves."
Lu Chen didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked around cautiously, then lowered his voice. "Aunt Chu, come with me. I have a secret to share with you."
Her interest was piqued immediately.
Recently, she'd noticed Lu Chen becoming more secretive. Every time she asked about his affairs, he'd brush her off, saying he'd grown up. She'd even wondered if he no longer regarded her as family.
Now that he was finally willing to open up, how could she not be curious?
She followed him eagerly as he led the way into his room. Once inside, Lu Chen placed the Dragon and Phoenix leaves into a teapot and began to brew them.
Chu Yuqin watched from the side, her curiosity growing with every passing second. What kind of secret involved tea brewing?
When the tea was ready, Lu Chen poured the steaming liquid into two purple clay cups and offered one to her.
"Aunt Chu, have a taste," he said with a mysterious smile.
Chu Yuqin blinked. "This is the secret you mentioned?"
Lu Chen chuckled. "Just drink it. Once you do, you'll understand."
To prove it wasn't anything strange, he lifted his own cup and took a sip.
Seeing that, Chu Yuqin hesitated no longer. She brought the cup to her lips and took a small sip.
A refreshing coolness spread through her chest the moment the tea entered her mouth.
And then, to her shock, she felt her internal energy begin to stir.
Her cultivation, which had stagnated at the ninth level for years, suddenly showed signs of loosening. With wide eyes, she quickly finished the tea in her cup.
She stared at Lu Chen. "Chen'er, the leaves you used just now… they're from that tree in the courtyard, aren't they?"
She had long noticed how much care Lu Chen gave that tree, personally watering it every day. It seemed ordinary at a glance, but now she understood—its leaves could actually boost one's cultivation!
Lu Chen didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "Aunt Chu, how do you feel?"
Chu Yuqin closed her eyes for a moment, then released a breath of pure internal force. A stream of energy surged from her body, and when she opened her eyes, they shimmered with disbelief.
She had broken through to the half-step grandmaster level!
Though still far from reaching the true grandmaster realm, this was a significant breakthrough after years of stagnation.
Lu Chen finally explained, "The tree is called the Dragon and Phoenix Tree. Tea made from its leaves can enhance a cultivator's strength."
He didn't mention the tea's other effects—there was no need to, at least for now. He had no intention of forcing Chu Yuqin into anything. Her soft temperament didn't call for such tactics.
Even so, Chu Yuqin was stunned.
Lu Chen not only possessed a weapon capable of killing a ninth-grade cultivator in an instant, but now he had somehow found a spiritual plant that could raise one's cultivation?
If word of this got out, the entire martial world would descend upon the Northern Palace like vultures.
Grandmasters… perhaps even those above the grandmaster level… might come to claim the tree.
She didn't press him for the details—she knew he wouldn't tell her anyway. Instead, she looked at him with concern. "Chen'er, does anyone else know what this tree can do?"
Lu Chen shook his head. "Only you, Aunt Chu. No one else."
She nodded solemnly. "Good. Keep it that way. If this secret gets out, the Northern Palace will face a catastrophe, and not even I will be able to protect it."
"I understand the risks, Aunt Chu. Don't worry—I won't be careless."
Satisfied with his answer, Chu Yuqin softened her expression. "Then go. Xiaoxiao and Youyou must be waiting."
"Alright," Lu Chen said with a nod, then turned to leave.
Chu Yuqin stood there quietly, watching his tall figure walk away.
For some reason… a faint unease tugged at her heart.
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