Ignorance

As the trio sat sailing atop the giant avian creature, Qin Rui had adopted a reticent attitude. Yan Mei, on the other hand, seemed hard-pressed trying to restrain her joy, and for a brief moment, Lin Fei had been concerned about his own safety.

He recalled the time when he had argued with his mother in his previous life and left to journey on his lonesome. He had been proud of his looks, but a seed of arrogance had also taken root in his heart. Until he suddenly got into trouble.

A powerful female cultivator had been passing by when she chanced upon his. His looks had charmed her instantly, and she had tied him up and taken him to her residence.

Weeks of torture had followed. At times she would shower him with love, and other times she would make him experience the most detestable of pains. Regret had eaten him whole from the inside.

Until his mother arrived.

With a gaze cold as hell, she had swiped her sword and lopped the woman's head off.

Just recalling those days filled him with shudders, and seeing Yan Mei's attitude, Lin Fei dearly hoped it wasn't another yandere in the making.

They weren't that bad when portrayed in my first life? Maybe if she only stays at that level, then I can tolerate it.

It took them half an hour of travel time to arrive at the Green Soul Peak. Despite not flying too fast, the crane they traveled on was still faster than a mortal human's running speed. Yet, it had taken them so long to travel to what was essentially a neighboring peak.

"Yan Mei, would you be dear and prepare lodging for your junior brother while I discuss some things with him?" Qin Rui suggested with a faint smile that reached her eyes.

Yan Mei nodded enthusiastically, "Of course, Master."

Lin Fei already had some ideas on what Qin Rui wished to discuss, so he kept quiet throughout.

Right after they landed, Yan Mei jumped down and rushed in one direction. Then she paused, turned back, and waved at him before resuming her run.

"Clumsy girl," Qin Rui muttered while sighing fondly.

It was a small comment, but it spoke of the dynamic between the duo.

"Let's go." She dropped down and started walking, followed closely by Lin Fei.

As she led him to her room, she told him to find a seat while she retrieved something from her drawer.

Lin Fei sat on the chair and, while waiting, took a moment to appreciate the aesthetics of the room.

It was plain and simple, lacking any gaudy decorations that were so often found in the adobes of mighty cultivators. If Lin Fei had to describe it with one word, it would be 'humble.'.

Qin Rui came back carrying a tray, atop which sat a glistening clay pot alongside two cups.

"I hope you like tea." Qin Rui said as she took her seat opposite him.

That particular sentence made Lin Fei feel nostalgic. He had been a coffee addict in his first life, and the obsession had carried over in his second life. However, once he got a taste of the mind-calming magical tea, he realized coffee was practically mud in comparison.

"I absolutely love it."

"That's a relief to hear," she said, "as I don't have much else in my home."

She was living a simple life, much like a hermit.

"So, about what you wanted to talk about, master?" Lin Fei probed while picking his cup of tea.

Qin Rui took a sip from her cup and let out a warm breath. "Morning Leaf is an alchemical concoction famous throughout the world, as it holds the best mind-calming agents. It's also my personal favorite."

Lin Fei glanced down at the golden brown liquid in his cup and took a sip. It had a strong taste and seemed to light every nerve inside his body. "Wonderful, indeed."

Though it was nothing compared to Starleaf tea, his mother's original recipe, it was still better compared to many others he had had the pleasure of savoring.

"When I asked for your hand earlier, I discovered you have a powerful physique." Qin Rui spoke as she looked directly at him. "But you already know that."

Lin Fei raised a brow. "How?"

"Your master must have told you, seeing as you already have a varying degree of understanding toward different varieties of Essences."

"My master?"

"Yes." Qin Rui sighed, resting her cup on the table. "I wish for you to be open with me. I know you've a master, and that they are powerful Inscription Masters. I wish to meet them."

So she didn't come for me just because of Yan Mei, Lin Fei thought. She must've already known about me, and I already know how. The question is, who is she?

"She's not here." He answered.

"She?"

"Master."

"Is she out of the sect or out of..." Qin Rui trailed off, but Lin Fei understood her meaning.

"I have no idea." He shook his head. The entire story suspended on making his master a mysterious figure. Even if Lin Xinyue was strong, her current threat warranted no caution whatsoever.

"Why did you take me in as your disciple, master?" Lin Fei couldn't help but ask. Was it just to meet my 'master'? Or was it something else?

"You have a divine-ranked physique. Do you know what that means?" She asked.

Lin Fei shook his head. "Aside from helping boost my elemental comprehension, no."

Qin Rui sighed. "I thought so. Anyway, a physique's rank speaks of a cultivator's potential. Take, for example, Bai Rong, who has a noble physique. Even without much use of resources or guidance, she's destined to attain the Spirit Severing Realm at the very least."

Lin Fei nodded along, wearing an incredulous look on his face.

"And that's if she wasn't given much support." Qin Rui continued. "With support, it's uncertain as to what degree of heights she will attain. As for you, your physique exceeds hers by a whole two ranks, surpassing even my Sovereign Rank physique. Guess what sort of level you will achieve?"

Lin Fei had no need to guess. He already knew everything. He even knew how inconsequential having a Divine Rank Physique was when compared to his mother. Oh, the woes of the ignorant.