I Was Forced To Marry The Phoenix Empress-Chapter 183: Elderly Lady

"Well, this looks pretty good." Yi Chen nodded, seeing how neat and tidy the room was.

There was a single-sized bed sticking to one side of the wall, a full-length mirror, a petite bedside table and a spacious cupboard to keep his belongings in.

Glancing at the neatly folded top sheet, he immediately pulled it open to check, and a few seconds later, sighed while shaking his head. A subtle annoyance was apparent on his face.

’So, Madam Gao was being playful yet again...’

The more time he spent with Gao Zhen, the more her playful nature became apparent to him.

"Luckily, I didn’t mess up and handled it well."

He muttered, feeling glad that he offered the two rooms to Zhou Lan and Xie Rou.

The next second, he took out his robes and other necessary items from his storage ring and began arranging them in the cupboard.

Although a storage ring was convenient, the practice of choosing out clothes from his cupboard was something he had long grown used to by now and found it comfortable.

The others also got busy with arranging their rooms and freshened up in the bathroom, which was attached to each room.

An hour and a half later, Yi Chen left his room and went to the hall to relax while waiting for lunchtime, since there was nothing much to do in his room.

Sitting on a chair next to a shelf of books, he glanced at the small table containing a finely crafted chessboard and smirked.

’If Father-in-Law were here, then he would have definitely loved a game of chess,’ Yi Chen thought to himself.

It had been months since he last saw him, and a little bit of longing had started to take root in his heart as well.

’After getting admitted to the sect, I’ll go and visit when I get time,’ he thought to himself as his focus was suddenly attracted by the sound of the door opening.

’...’

Yi Chen’s eyes raised subtly as he saw Gao Zhen in a completely different attire than he was used to.

Dressed in a light skin coloured Hanfu, her previous bold look was nowhere to be seen and was instead replaced by that of elegance.

"It seems Young Master Chen prefers Hanfu over Qipao," Gao Zhen teased with a bright smile and made her way to a seat next to him.

Seeing this, Yi Chen stood up the next moment and greeted her politely, "Greetings, Madam Gao. The Hanfu indeed suits you well."

Hearing his carefully articulated words, the smile on Gao Zhen’s face widened as she said in a pleased manner, "Thank you for your kind words, Young Master Chen. Did you find your room to your liking?"

As she finished her question, an amused expression formed on her face.

"Yes, it was much cleaner than I had anticipated," Yi Chen replied with a chortle while shaking his head. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

This reaction made up for Gao Zhen’s previous lack of amusement as she finally gestured to him to sit down and took her seat.

Hearing their voices from outside, both Zhou Lan and Xie Rou also soon came out of their rooms.

They were dressed in bright yellow and pink Hanfu, respectively, and carried the air of youthful cheerfulness around them.

Coming forward, they greeted Gao Zhen before nodding towards Yi Chen.

"Since everyone is here, let’s make the preparation for lunch," Gao Zhen said with a smile and the next second, a long table came out of the storage ring.

A few seconds later, several warm Qi-enriched delicacies appeared on top of it.

’Storage rings are indeed useful,’ Yi Chen thought upon seeing this. He too had bought several food items from the market and had placed them in his storage ring.

However, seeing the Qi-enriched food which was placed on the table, he entirely forgot about them and quickly dragged his chair towards the table just like the three of them.

’It’s not like they’ll go bad inside the storage ring...’ Yi Chen thought to himself with a hungry look on his face.

"I’ve brought enough servings to last several months, so don’t be shy if you have a large appetite." Gao Zhen chuckled and, after adjusting her chair, took her seat.

Yi Chen and the others followed suit, and soon the clicking of cutlery and chopsticks spread in the hall.

Using this opportunity, Gao Zhen informed them of the details of their journey.

"As I’ve already said before, we’ll be arriving at the spot where the Sky Devouring Tomb is going to appear in a week’s time.

After that, we’ll have to wait there out in the open until the tomb opens so as not to miss it. In the initial phase, this part is where several cultivators end up losing their lives due to carelessness."

"Even before the tomb is opened?" Xie Rou asked with a frown when she heard this.

"Indeed," Gao Zhen nodded and continued.

"It’s exactly because of that type of thinking that they all lost their lives. It’s not when one enters the tomb that they need to become alert, but rather from the point one arrives outside.

Knowing that many talented Meridian Refinement Cultivators would be arriving at that place, several opportunistic cultivators hide themselves in wait to kill one and steal their belongings if opportunity presents.

So, remember this carefully, the only ones you could trust there are the people who are sitting in front of you right now and no one else."

Gao Zhen finished her words with a grave tone.

An expression of realisation formed on all three of their faces when they heard those words.

’Since they already know about the Meridian Refinement Stage limit, those thieving bastards must be at least in the Ninth Level or Qi Absorption Stage.’

Yi Chen thought to himself.

Seeing a layer of understanding forming on their faces, Gao Zhen continued.

"So, it would be in your best interest to avoid explicit interaction with others, and if you’re forced by circumstances, make sure to do it within my vicinity. With my strength, I doubt anyone there would be able to pose a threat to the three of you outside,"

"We’ll keep Madam Gao’s words in mind," Xie Rou nodded with a tone filled with gratitude.

Zhou Lan and Yi Chen also nodded from the side the next second.

"Good," Gao Zhen nodded, seeing this, and said with a tone of utter disdain, "The last thing I want is for our plans to be ruined because of these pests."

With that said, the conversation on the table soon shifted to miscellaneous topics relating to their journey, and after finishing their lunch, they all went back to their rooms.

"Let’s start comprehending the Bursting Fire Steps, then,"

Yi Chen muttered after entering his room and, after sitting cross-legged, immersed himself in the task.

With just 10 days left for the comprehension buff to finish, he had decided to completely forsake his sleep for the next few days to enhance his efficiency.

’Since there’s no place to actively comprehend it while practising, this is the only method I can rely on for maximum progress.’

He thought to himself and soon closed his eyes.

The others were also busy with either their cultivation or their thoughts, and it was only when it neared dinner time that they met again.

Just like earlier, they had a hearty conversation during the meal and afterwards Yi Chen decided to play a game of chess with Gao Zhen after her suggestion.

"Then we’ll be leaving. Good night, Madam Gao," Zhou Lan and Xie Rou cheerfully wished her goodnight and then, nodding towards Yi Chen, left for the hallway.

’Hm?’

Yi Chen, who was about to focus his attention back on the chessboard, lingered past Gao Zhen’s shoulders for a couple of seconds longer.

Xie Rou had opened her room’s door, and just when Zhou Lan was making her way to her room next door, her arm was tightly grabbed by Xie Rou, who pulled her inside and slammed the door shut.

"..."

Yi Chen’s forehead immediately creased after witnessing this scene, before relaxing.

’It happens... It’s normal for them...I shouldn’t judge them,’ he shook those thoughts away from his mind the very next instant.

However, the momentary change in his expression was clearly seen by Gao Zhen, who had no clue as to what had just happened behind her back.

"It seems like Young Master Chen has thought of a great move to beat me," Gao Zhen said with a smirk.

"Haha...well, I do have a little experience when it comes to chess,"

Yi Chen chuckled while scratching the back of his head and continued with the game.

A few moments later, after being completely obliterated by Gao Zhen in chess, he soon returned to his room.

’Are the minds of these Qi Absorption Stage cultivators faster than a computer? Even against computers, I used to win at least once in hard mode...’

Yi Chen thought bitterly after being beaten by Gao Zhen for a continuous ten rounds.

Slam!

He opened the bathroom door in frustration to empty his bladder and later returned in a refreshed mood.

"Cleansing Arrays...." Yi Chen couldn’t help but mutter with pursed lips as an impressed expression had formed on his face.

Each and every corner of the bathroom was so thoroughly cleaned after every usage that no speck of dirt was left.

’I doubt I would be able to find such impressive sanitation even in five-star hotels back on earth...’

Yi Chen mused before sitting comfortably on his bed and taking out his skill book. His comprehension of the Bursting Fire Steps had reached 86%, and wanting to make it reach as close to 100% in the following days, he immersed himself in comprehending it the next moment.

Days kept passing by, and the daily schedule of the four of them followed the same pattern as the Sky Traversing Tapestry continued to tear through the sky, getting closer and closer without a moment’s stop.

Meanwhile, in a different realm.

Step.

Step.

Step.

An elderly lady was making her way through an enormous hallway. Each step appeared steady and deliberate as she respectfully made her way to the end of the long hallway while being saluted by the guards at the side.

A few moments later, standing outside an imposing door, she took a deep breath and knocked.