I give a courteous nod back to both of the disciples while attempting to avoid Qin Cuifeng’s growingly hopeful eyes. It seems she has now noticed Senior Song’s gorgeous skin, as a product of the healing.

Both Senior Song and Elder Gu give light chuckles at this, easily recognizing from their experience Cuifeng’s train of thought. Almost teasingly, she ‘subconsciously’ strokes her face, highlighting her new skin’s smoothness.

The jealous redness of Qin Cuifeng’s eyes increases.

Elder Gu diplomatically changes the subject to avoid his disciple feeling too envious.

“Once again, thank you for coming over and assisting. I can see that you weren’t blowing air when you said you could help her earlier.”

He looks out, past his disciples, towards the center of the sect.

“I shouldn’t keep you longer than this, though… as there is likely much you will have to do to prepare your disciple for what’s coming.”

Senior Song looks in the same direction, her expression turning dark.

“Very true.”

They both stare out towards therefore a few more seconds, before speaking.

She is the first to speak.

“Well, we should head back to our towers, then. If I’m not incorrect, you’ll need to know them well for what’s coming ahead.”

Her robes flutter out as her body turns sharply towards the door. Elder Gu gives a slight nod as he whispers something in her ears as she passes.

“Thank you for accepting my words. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do more and wasn’t there for you when you originally needed me.”

“… That’s in the past now… Big Brother.”

Us disciples, stay quiet during this whole thing.

It’s not our place to speak.

As we pass, the two disciples give bows in our directions and Senior Song materializes the swords we came in on once we step outside.

Senior Song once again speaks, but this time in passing.

“As always, you and your disciples are welcome at my disciple’s towers or my own. Just give a warning before you do so.”

Despite her head being bowed, I can sense Cuifeng’s eyes shining dangerously, yet again.

I sense many headaches in the future from her, and others like her. At least our masters have a good relationship, though.

… wait.

Doesn’t that make me even more obligated to help her?

Almost immediately after these thoughts and our movement, our swords take off back to our towers. And just as quickly as we arrived, we leave their area, with the sword Qi that flows through the air like petals, slowly dimming away from our sight.

The ride gradually turns silent, as Senior Song looks to be deep in thought. It turns out to be good for me, as I have time to see some more features below us during this.

While it mostly looks like general valleys and varied biomes between the mountain peaks and other features, there is an elevated road that passes between the towers and peaks. Connected by a series of bridges built into the mountain tops and with gaps underneath, they all seem to connect to one of the central roads that heads up towards the sect.

It appears this is the way for normal people and, frankly, people of my cultivation level and below, to reach these towers.

The only thing is, just getting to this point for a normal person would take several days' journey.

Along these paths are ways down into the valleys and biomes below.

This gives a few methods to get sustenance and temporary shelter, if needed, but there are still dangers contained within.

Any spirit beast down there, which would normally be within the space for tamed creatures or farms, won’t attack the elevated roads.

But anything that goes within their territory down there is fair game.

Hmm… I’ll need to bring my tamed creatures here.

This environment will allow them to keep honing their skills and grow, while still having an open area similar to where they started. There are plenty of strong creatures in these areas, but I fully expect my creatures won’t be pushovers. Especially considering the fact I can already sense them bonding with each other.

That doesn’t even include the ones that are on my body right now. They are just cultivating with their spirit beast cultivation methods. Which is why they’re so still until needed. Also, being within such proximity to me is letting me heal them much more regularly and intensely. Allowing them to push a little harder on their cultivation journey.

Regarding the rest, I briefly consider just having the other tamed creatures at the ranch travel here, but having an army of creatures go through the city by themselves probably isn’t the best idea. Not only may it stoke unneeded fears, but it could also get them detained.

I’ll likely have to spend some money transporting them or lead them here myself.

…Though do I really need to?

I’m quickly reminded that I have other responsibilities to take care of that might be resolved by my new living situation.

The personal and allied groups.

Anyone in the personal group, I could probably take into my core disciple tower. All I need really need is just a single floor. Even just one floor is massive, so why would I need all the others?

Of course, there are uses I could have for it, just like any cultivator. But compared to the relationships I’m really wanting to build, it’s much more worth it.

And since I have to bring those people over here anyway, I might as well use the space.

The allied groups, on the other hand, I probably won’t provide any housing for it. But it allows them to come visit this area and maybe make them reconsider their choices.

But I’ll definitely be getting a contract before I do anything serious in this tower.

That will be priority one as I get everything set up. The good thing about this is that I have the backing of Senior Song.

While I all of this fuss is because of my mistake, I feel that I’ve won a lot of goodwill with this recent situation. And maybe I always had it, but she’s just sensitive about her (now) Big Brother.

Either way, there are a few ways to handle any situation that comes until I can get that sorted out.

But for now, I need to check to see if it’s alright with her for me to do so, in the first place.

Funnily enough, we just start on the approach, where I can see the buildings coming up now.

“Ahem.

“… Master Song?”

I can visibly see a full shiver go up her back, as I call out to her.

She rapidly turns to glare at me with a scowl, shocking me deeply. Her words, even more so.

“No.”

She vigorously shakes her head.

And I soon hear why.

“You are not to call me that.

“No. It will either be Senior Song or…”

She hesitates before finishing her words in a slightly lower tone.

“…or Sister Nuan. But only in private for the latter.”

…

…That’s the flag, isn’t it?

The romance flag, right?

The redness on her face and how cute she looks dazes me.

But just as soon as she had said it, she turns forward again and speaks again. I quickly get ahold of myself with her next words.

“With that said, what were you looking to say?”

Right. Let me get back to the point.

“Thank you, Senior…”

She looks at me.

“…I mean, Sister Nuan.

“May I bring my followers to my tower? I understand it’s under my purview, but I wanted to check with you before doing so.”

She nods before responding.

“Of course. Why else do you think that I’m going to be giving you all three towers?”

Wait. All three?

“…Yes, all three. Word gets around, you know. What else would you be giving a bunch of people who didn’t make the cut?

“At first, I was thinking it would be foolish to take on those people, but with your ability… and the right controls in place, you would have quite the follower group behind you.”

She already read my mind.

“With that said, I will not let you expose yourself that easily. Many people are going to be aware at least slightly of what you can do. So, the next person you’re going to heal is a trusted acquaintance of mine that deals in contracts. I already sent out a message to them, just before we left out from our tower originally.

“He's already agreed, so on the way over to them, we’ll head out over to him. You also will find an interesting surprise that I will not spoil for you.”

…

It’s likely that I have a shocked look on my face, and she gives a scoff and a smirk.

“You really have a lot to learn, don’t you? You may be cute, but the plans you make are too straightforward. Anyone could see this far. Let alone me.”

She gives a light-hearted sigh before continuing. Twirling her long black hair on her finger.

“I guess I’ll just have to make up for it and teach you how to make less obvious plans in the future. What a struggle this is going to be…”

She doesn’t sound irritated by this.

It seems I’ve really been underestimating the mental power of cultivators.

And probably overestimating myself…