foundation obsessed cultivator

After Gu Zhi and Gu Xiao spent their last night with Bai Huli she finally left the estate. One year had passed since they hired her. The year was spent in practical secluded meditation as they had no other focus besides dual cultivation. 

This caused some really interesting rumors to spread.

"They spend the whole day in the bedroom"!

"Theirs three of them in the room".

"I wonder what type of scandal is going on in there".

"Three of them in the same room with noises like those, PLEASE it doesn't take a genius to know their fucking".

"Shush, even if that is true we can't say it".

"why can't we, they practically advertise it with those noises. A WHOLE year I've worked here its nothing but moans and more moans coming from that room. I would be surprised if word hasn't traveled beyond the estate".

"What would the word even be. Are we spreading the word that a married couple is doing what married couples do".

"YOU imbecile, Theirs THREE of them in one room. Yet a couple is made of only two people, I wonder sometimes how you even got this job".

The person who made the last comment looked silently embarrassed.

"The real question though, is what this means for us? Are we still going to keep our job. Or is this scandal going to be covered up by someone hushing us."

"Nothing's going to happen to us... I think. It makes no sense if they wanted to keep this quiet they would have taken some measures. Instead they made it plain to see, and easy to hear. Maybe it's a political play we aren't aware of, or they don't feel any shame because of a special identity that third person could have. In any case all we have to do is keep our heads done and pretend to be blind and deaf. I doubt nothing good will come for us if we bring it up, and if they bring it up act like you know nothing".

"That is the wisest move to make but I wonder what the public would think about this".

"Who cares. As long as we keep our job and live on this estate let them think whatever they want, It has nothing to do with us".

Thus a consensus was reached among the group of servants.

With one year of dual cultivation over, Gu Xiao and Gu Zhi had made rapid progress. Their cultivation speed was meteoric with the help of Bai Huli and their obsessive cultivation. With Bai Huli's help Gu Xiao was able to make enough progress to handle Gu Zhi much better than she was able to do so previously. With 2 years remaining till the opening of the palace of eternal love. Their was only one thing they could do: continue to dual cultivate. Thus two years passed by as the couple made themselves known in certain circles as the couple that never rested.

With time spent in company

An act of further harmony

Two lovers bound by love

For many years to come

An oasis for the body

the eye of the storm for the soul

A place of rest amongst the world

Accompanied by none other than your dearest love.

With time passed the time eventually came. Elder Ming went to visit them after leaving them alone for 3 years to dual cultivate. 

"I've heard tales about how busy you two were." Elder Ming said while sipping on tea in the tea room.

Gu Xiao blushed slightly.

"Ahem, we have indeed been very busy with the task the clan set out for us" she replied.

"Good, the time has come, I will be your chaperone during the trip as other clans or factions might make a move. We will head directly to the site on my flying device. Don't make things difficult for me, just don't get into any trouble and try to keep your... "fun nights" to a bare minimum until you enter the palace. I'm sure you will have plenty of time in there to do all you want".

"That'll be easy, as long as no one picks a fight with us, we can guarantee we won't make trouble for you."

"Un, then let's not delay any longer."

He then pulled out a small metal disk seemingly out of his robes as it rapidly increased in size.

"Hop on, time is precious let's not waste it. Oh, but before we go make sure to bring the demon fearing robes they will be important later" he said.

They quickly jumped up on the hovering metal disk as soon as Gu Zhi got the robes. Once he saw they were on he took off. The disk flew through the air at incredible speed. The wind almost threw them off before a wave of elder Ming's hand came down before the wind disappeared like smoke. 

"I should warn you about some people while we make our way there. There is two people you shouldn't kill and should avoid if you can. Not just due to their skills and talents but because of the backing they receive. Should you kill them, expect to be killed. Yun Mao and Ji Long are their names. One is the pride and joy of the Yun clan: A clan known for building bases and houses on clouds. They are very wealth and sought after for their skills. They chose a similar choice to ours by giving him a lot of resources due to his talent to try and score big at this years palace of eternal love. You are not to fight with them because we have good relations with the Yun clan and we want to keep it that way. For Ji Long he is the number one chosen of the rising sun sect. A large sect focused on sword techniques, vanquishing evil, and dual cultivation. They are one of the favorites to secure the most resources from the palace this time. Ji Long is known far and wide for his many skills. You are to avoid him because of this and if you were to ever kill him, the clan would have to act like we never knew you. Everyone else you can touch as long as you leave no witnesses and no traces. Just be careful about the "chosen" from the big sects, as they pack quite the punch. Make sure you wear the demon fearing robes in the palace as some of the past participants caused quite the ruckus with illusions and deceptions with bewitchment techniques and lies" elder Ming said.

As they traveled through the world Gu Zhi himself got to see just how big this world truly was.