Arriving at the depth of the Valley of Hundred Beasts, the carriage suddenly stopped, and Chen Guan felt his body relax as he rolled out from the open carriage door.
Chen Guan felt strength return to his body and quickly leapt to his feet, but the sight before him left him momentarily stunned.
Chen Guan found himself facing an enormous castle, with structures connected like mountains, piercing straight into the clouds.
Upon closer inspection, he realized that this was no castle; it was a gigantic stone Lingzhi.
However, the stone Lingzhi was so abstractly shaped that it was even more exquisite than a real castle, with natural patterns etched upon it.
After letting Chen Guan down, the miniature carriage turned around with its eight horses and left, and it was then that Chen Guan realized that the carriage was grown from the stone Lingzhi itself.
While Chen Guan was filled with suspicion, he saw the gate of the Reishi Castle open, and two rows of beauties, as enchanting as fairies, walked out holding lanterns.
These were not ordinary lanterns; rather, each consisted of a Lingzhi cap with a Luminous Pearl on top.
Each of these beauties exuded National Beauty, wearing differently colored garments, emanating a fragrance so enchanting that they seemed like Immortal Fairies from the Celestial Palace.
Chen Guan had only heard the phrase "beauty to feast on" before, but never quite understood its meaning. Today, upon seeing these alluring beauties, he felt an instant of Enlightenment, gaining some understanding of the phrase.
At the end of the two rows of beautiful women, a beauty more ethereal than human, like a Celestial Immortal descended to the world, emerged from the middle.
Standing in front of the castle gate, her enchanting eyes and every smile and frown swayed people's hearts.
Chen Guan only felt the fragrance at his nose grow stronger, yet it was rich without being overpowering, fragrant but not gaudy, making him feel increasingly at ease in body and mind.
"Ling'er pays respects to the Young Master..." The beauty curtsied gracefully, her voice soft and alluring; not just men, but even women would find their legs weakened upon hearing it.
"Greetings, Young Master." The chorus of voices from the National Beauties resonated together, more melodious than any noble music.
Looking at so many beauties, Chen Guan suddenly understood why everyone wanted to be an Emperor, and why so many Emperors became tyrants.
With so many charming beauties coaxing one with "Your Majesty" daily, even the strongest resolve would weaken.
"Young Master, please follow Ling'er..." The fairy-like beauty named Ling'er came beside Chen Guan, her soft hand taking his, leading him into the castle with her gentle words, irresistible to any man.
Resolving himself, Chen Guan halted and asked Ling'er, "Your name is Ling'er, right? Why have you brought me here?"
Though Chen Guan wondered whether this celestial-like beauty fancied him for his looks and wished to make him her consort.
However, he was self-aware enough to know that even if such fortune existed, it wouldn't be his to claim.
Moreover, he already had Ji Nanhong, a good man should not be a second spouse. How could he become the consort of two women?
"Marrying two shouldn't be a problem, right?" Chen Guan thought involuntarily.
"Young Master, please save my ancestor's life..." Ling'er pleaded tearfully, her crystal tears welling up in her red eyes.
If Wang Lian was a beauty bringing pity, Ling'er was a celestial beauty evoking tenderness, one wouldn't bear to see her heartbroken.
Just watching her tearful expression, Chen Guan felt guilty, not knowing where he went wrong, but sure that he did.
"Who is your ancestor? How can I save him?" Although Chen Guan wanted to agree immediately to avoid upsetting this celestial being, he still asked.
"My ancestor is sick, only you can save him." Ling'er's tearful gaze wavered one's heart, compelling one to immediately grant any request.
"If they're sick, you should find a doctor. I can't help, I'm not skilled in medicine," Chen Guan confessed, not willing to promise something beyond his ability.
Truth be told, he didn't want to deceive this celestial beauty; speaking lies before her felt like sacrilege, causing intense self-reproach.
"Young Master, my ancestor's ailment can only be cured by you." Linger's words were firm and decisive.
Inwardly, Chen Guan thought, "This is strange, I haven't learned any Secret Technique to save people. I have some good Elixirs, but those, while precious, are obtainable with wealth; I'm not the only one with them, so how can only I save her?"
"Could Ling'er be trying to trick me into the castle to keep me imprisoned?" Chen Guan mused as he glanced at Ling'er, immediately feeling ashamed, "How could I entertain such sordid thoughts, truly deserving death."
Despite feeling very guilty, Chen Guan still didn't move towards the Reishi Castle, instead taking out the Elixirs he had and handing them to Ling'er, "See if these medicines are suitable, and take what you need."
Though he felt the loss of the expensive Elixirs, in front of Ling'er, he felt compelled to do his utmost, lest he feel uneasy.
Ling'er shook her head, "The ancestral illness cannot be treated with medicine."
Hearing this, Chen Guan's expression grew increasingly peculiar, "It's beyond medicine, so why seek me out? Even if I could heal, it surely can't be done."
Suddenly recalling a story, Chen Guan's face changed, "Could it be she wants me as medicine fodder?"
There was a tale about an ancient king whose many concubines fell ill, beyond medicinal help, uncured by numerous doctors.
Eventually, the king sought a Divine Doctor, who, after examining them, prescribed a remedy involving fifty young men entering the Royal Palace with medication.
Days later, the concubines were cured, but outside the Royal Palace, the king saw fifty young men collapsed, reduced from robust figures to skin and bones, unrecognizable.
The king asked the Divine Doctor for an explanation, to which he answered, "Medicine fodder."
If Ling'er were ill, Chen Guan might hesitate to become medicine fodder, but if it's for some old ancestor, likely aged and gender unknown, even humanity uncertain.
Even with compassion, Chen Guan couldn't become fodder.
"Young Master, you hold the Divine Master's inheritance, only you can save my ancestor, please save her..." Ling'er knelt before Chen Guan, joined by the other beauties, collectively pleading softly, even an iron heart would melt.
"Divine Master inheritance? What Divine Master inheritance?" Chen Guan grew increasingly puzzled.
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