Chapter 104: There's a Way

Late at night, the candlelight flickered, casting the shadows of the two onto the wall.

Jiang Huai was the first to speak, summarizing:

“So, this world is called the Jade Ai Realm. Nearly half of its territory has been swallowed by an otherworldly calamity known as the Xie Tide, turning the beings within into Monstrous Beings.”

“The remaining half is protected by Cultivators, but all those who can cultivate and wield the power to fight these Monstrous Beings are women. The men are all mundane.”

“Years upon years of existential threat have crushed everything under the weight of survival.”

His gaze swept over the books on the table depicting servant techniques, and he murmured softly:

“The value of men here is entirely internalized, focused on serving with all their might, pleasing the female strong cultivators who protect them, in hopes of gaining more shelter and offspring capable of fighting.”

“The Five Provinces Continent isn’t that extreme, because it lacks such overwhelming external threats. Male cultivators exist there, albeit fewer than female cultivators, but they can still practice.”

“But here, the culture has evolved into a fanatical worship and desperate prayer for the source of life and protection.”

Zhu Siyao leaned against the edge of the desk, resting her chin on her hand, and mumbled:

“So you really have become the only male cultivator in this world.”

She frowned, pondering:

“That ‘Xie Tide’ sounds a lot like the ‘Outworld Heavenly Demons’ recorded in ancient texts.”

Jiang Huai’s thoughts stirred, and he asked, “Outworld Heavenly Demons? What are those?”

Zhu Siyao shrugged, her tone tinged with uncertainty:

“I’m not exactly sure either. It’s an extremely ancient secret.”

“All I know is, the legends say the Outworld Heavenly Demons dare not invade the true Immortal Realm. That place is the only absolutely safe haven.”

Having said that, she seemed reluctant to dwell on such vague matters, stood up, and walked toward the bed to begin her cultivation.

Her plain sleepwear accentuated her slender figure, and her fair bare feet stepped softly on the cool sheets, the delicate curve of her calves tracing gentle lines.

As she crawled onto the bed, she suddenly turned her head and asked:

“Do you think Mother will come to get us once she knows?” [“Do they even have the ability to come?”

The Five Provinces Continent indeed has connections to other worlds, but those have existed since ancient times, each with its own passages.

No one has ever heard of anyone crossing the void to reach another world.

Never.

At that thought, her heart fluttered in panic. Her fair jade-like feet instinctively curled, and her fingertips flushed with a faint pink.

Will she never see Mother again in this lifetime?

Jiang Huai was silent for a moment, then shook his head: “I don’t know.”

But then his tone grew resolute:

“But as long as I’m alive, I’ll find a way back.”

Hearing this, Zhu Siyao snorted coldly, her voice sharp:

“Are you going back to see my Mother, or to see Qin Qingyue?”

Jiang Huai stood up, beginning to change his clothes without evasion, speaking frankly:

“I miss Qin Qingyue. I want to go back to see her, no matter how long it takes, I will definitely go back to see her.”

Before him, the image of the restless black Dragon flickered in his mind, swinging its tail anxiously.

“I think she’s probably anxious too, trying to find a way to reach me.”

Zhu Siyao immediately grew furious, her pink fists clenched the bedsheet beneath her tightly, angrily demanding:

“What about my Mother?! What place do you put my Mother in?!”

“I want her too,” Jiang Huai said calmly, then seated himself cross-legged at the side of the bed, assuming a cultivation posture.

“So I want to go back.”

“You greedy male cultivator!” Zhu Siyao scolded angrily.

“Then why did you have to provoke my Mother in the first place? You could have just spent your life with Qin Qingyue!”

Jiang Huai closed his eyes, his breath deepening. He replied lightly:

“It’s hard to explain to you now, but you’ll understand in time. Once I reach the Great Ascension Stage, I’ll understand everything.”

“The strongest Great Ascension cultivators in the world can protect all the women at that level.”

“What if my Mother and Qin Qingyue can’t come?” Zhu Siyao suddenly changed her question, her voice carrying an unintentional hint of probing.

If they truly can’t come, she inwardly didn’t want to see Jiang Huai by anyone else’s side.

Marrying off her Mother to Jiang Huai? That seemed to be the saying popular in this world.

Without opening her sharp eyes, she said: “Don’t say such discouraging things. I’m certain I can go back.”

“What if you really can’t?” Zhu Siyao pressed stubbornly, turning slightly toward him.

“Would you… find another woman in this world to be with?”

At the mention of this, Jiang Huai finally opened his eyes, thoughtfully recalling Qin Qingyue’s arrogant smile, shaking his head:

“I won’t think about that. As long as there’s even a sliver of hope, I’ll go back.”

“Sometimes, all you can do is keep trying.” He didn’t want to make too many plans for such an uncertain future.

Hearing this, Zhu Siyao sneered coldly, her words growing sharp:

“You’re so obsessed with going back! But I heard the misfortune on Qin Qingyue has already dissipated.”

“If you’re gone, who knows if she’ll just turn and find another man? Who would go to all that trouble to find you?”

“Waiting a lifetime to go home? Will Qin Qingyue wait for you a lifetime? Maybe she’s already found an opportunity to ascend to the Immortal Realm!”

The angrier she got, the more she sensed the unusual persistence and trust Jiang Huai held for Qin Qingyue in his heart.

But that baseline and obsession were not solely about her Mother.

“No,” Jiang Huai’s voice remained calm, unfazed by Zhu Siyao’s harsh words.

“I know her, just as she knows me.”

“As long as even one possibility remains, we will find a way through countless obstacles to reunite.”

Zhu Siyao was speechless with anger. Turning away from him in frustration, she sat down cross-legged in cultivation, silent.

The candle flickered with a faint crackle; the room was filled only with the light, shallow, and separately restless breaths of the two.

The whole night passed without a word, with only the moonlight silently spilling through the window frame.

Five Provinces Continent, Longyin Hall.

Qin Qingyue paced restlessly like a rampaging Dragon.

Her usually arrogant and teasing vertical pupils were now filled with terrifying scarlet, swirling with uncontrollable panic and rage.

“Can’t find them! How come we can’t find them!”

“How is this possible? Where is she?!”

Su Yingman supported Zhuxin, watching Qin Qingyue’s current state with silent dread.

Their Mistress’s anger was truly terrifying.

Compared to her, Wu Zhaohua appeared exceptionally calm.

She stood quietly by the window, gazing outside with a dignified posture, a faint sword aura swirling around her.

Zhuxin stood nearby, her red armor dulled.

Her usually radiant and fiery face was pale and colorless, her eyes unfocused, hands tightly clasped with knuckles whitening from force.

Her husband and daughter were gone, taken to another world—how could she accept that?

Losing the people close felt like life had lost an anchor.

Su Yingman quietly sat beside Zhuxin, softly comforting her, casting worried glances toward the agitated Qin Qingyue and the silent Wu Zhaohua.

“Can we find them? How do we search?”

Qin Qingyue asked the cold girl White Dew, who was busy analyzing formations.

White Dew glanced at her faintly without speaking, continuing her work with Chi Hong on the formation.

After a while, she finally said slowly:

“There is a way.”