Chapter 7: Even Cultivating Immortality Requires a Powerful Father

“Liu’er, the fire is already lit,” Wang Chu said eagerly, gazing at the young woman.

Liu Cui’er withdrew her drifting thoughts and smiled warmly.

“Seeing you so anxious, if you like it so much, why did you refuse at first?”

Wang Chu hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Eating noodles every day can get tiresome.”

Liu Cui’er shot him a sharp look. “The one making the noodles doesn’t complain about the effort, but the one eating them is the first to grow weary?”

Feigning annoyance, she waved her hand. “Fine then. From now on, even if you want to eat my noodles, you won’t get the chance. This is no longer your business. Go wait outside; the noodles will be ready soon.”

Wang Chu rubbed the tip of his nose. “No need for my help?”

Liu Cui’er said, “Seeing you just annoys me. Why help? Besides, even if I asked, you wouldn’t know how. Just go sit somewhere properly.”

Wang Chu didn’t press the matter further. “Alright then. If you need anything, just call me.”

With that, he turned and left the kitchen.

He walked over to the bookshelf, casually picked out a book, and sat at the wooden table, engrossed in reading.

How long had passed, he wasn’t sure, when suddenly there was a soft “thud.”

A porcelain bowl was placed on the wooden table. Wang Chu put down the book and saw the steaming noodles inside.

The red cured meat and green vegetables contrasted vividly with the white noodles, while the faint aroma wafting up instantly awakened Wang Chu’s palate, causing his mouth to water.

With Wang Chu’s current cultivation, he naturally had no need to eat.

The only reason he indulged in food was for the pleasure of taste.

Liu Cui’er sat opposite him, holding another bowl of noodles and two pairs of chopsticks.

She placed one bowl and one pair of chopsticks on the table, then handed the other pair to Wang Chu.

“What do you think? Doesn’t it look good?”

Wang Chu took the chopsticks and nodded repeatedly.

“More than just good.”

Without another word, he eagerly lifted the noodles with his chopsticks and slurped them up, mouthful after mouthful.

“Mmm~ delicious!” he praised sincerely after swallowing.

Liu Cui’er picked up her chopsticks, smiling with satisfaction.

Wang Chu’s genuine compliment pleased her far more than any praise from the sect leader for her talents.

“Hehe, as long as it’s tasty, it means my cooking hasn’t declined.”

Wang Chu placed a glistening piece of cured meat in his mouth. After chewing and swallowing, he suddenly asked seriously, “Liu’er, was your marriage to someone else voluntary?”

Liu Cui’er, who was just about to lift her noodles, paused slightly.

“Hehe, of course it was voluntary. The son of the sect leader is handsome and elegant. A girl like me, from an ordinary family, has no reason to refuse. Besides...” She looked into Wang Chu’s eyes.

“Even if it wasn’t voluntary, what could I do? Could I resist? Or would you go against Qingcheng Mountain for me?”

Wang Chu was momentarily stunned and hadn’t answered when Liu Cui’er spoke again.

“Hehe, I’m almost married now, why bring this up? Here, eat the noodles.”

With that, she began eating the noodles unreservedly.

If any disciples from Qingcheng Mountain were here, they would surely be stunned.

In their eyes, Liu Cui’er was always a cold and noble Lotus Fairy, never so down-to-earth and full of liveliness.

“Liu’er, if you’re unhappy at Qingcheng Mountain, then leave. Marriage isn’t a trivial matter.”

After quietly eating for some time, Wang Chu suddenly put down his chopsticks and said.

Liu Cui’er’s chopsticks trembled in her hand.

“Is there really a chance to go back?”

Wang Chu smiled. “You can always start anew, anytime.”

Her eyes shimmered with emotion.

“Actually... I just want to prove something... Why should the daughter of a noodle shop owner only be destined to marry, raise children, and live a life of fifty or sixty years, without a chance to become an immortal?”

Wang Chu pulled a handkerchief from his clothes and handed it to Liu Cui’er.

“You’re right. As the saying goes, ‘Are nobles and generals born into their status?’ And you have already achieved that.”

Liu Cui’er took the handkerchief, tears flooding out uncontrollably.

“No, I haven’t achieved anything at all!”

She wiped her tears, growing a little agitated.

“When I first went to Qingcheng Mountain to become an apprentice, I was just an ordinary person without any cultivation talent. So, I was only allowed to be a lowly servant disciple. Every day, I had to serve the formal disciples, sweeping floors and cooking meals.”

As she cried, she recounted her experiences.

“Later, the elders of Qingcheng Mountain discovered that I had the rare double spiritual roots of water and wood, so I was promoted from servant disciple to a formal disciple.”

“I thought that from then on, as long as I worked hard in cultivation, I would surely rise above and become an immortal. Hehe...”

Liu Cui’er laughed, a laugh both bitter and helpless.

“Looking back now, I was so naive.”

“Cultivation isn’t just about talent, but also family background! Without any foundation in the sect, I had no chance to stand out. Those precious cultivation resources were always given to disciples with powerful backgrounds. No matter how hard I tried, the sect wouldn’t give me even a shred!”

Her spirit waned as she said this.

“So, I gave up. I compromised. Since marrying the sect leader’s son meant gaining resources, why not?”

Wang Chu stood and walked behind Liu Cui’er, patting her on the back.

“You’re right. The cultivation world today is all about who you come from. So, the fact that you’ve made it this far is already impressive.”

Liu Cui’er turned to look at Wang Chu’s gentle smile, feeling an urge to throw herself into his arms, but she held back, wiping her tears and smiling.

“Thank you, Brother Wang. I feel much better now.”

Wang Chu said, “Liu’er, if you don’t want to go, then don’t. If you don’t want to marry, then don’t. Just leave this place. What do you think?”

For a moment, Liu’er admitted she was almost persuaded by Wang Chu.

But soon, she thought of the consequences.

She, Liu Cui’er, was now without parents and didn’t worry about their retaliation—but Wang Chu...

“Hehe, it’s nothing, Brother Wang. I was just complaining. It’s not as bad as you think. The son of Qingcheng Mountain’s sect leader is more than enough for me, Liu Cui’er.”

“Hehe, Sister Liu is too modest.”

That voice was not Wang Chu’s but came from another man who suddenly appeared in the room.

Hearing the voice, Liu Cui’er instantly buried her vulnerability deep within and stood up to look at the man.

“Senior Brother Shangguan, you... why are you here?”

...