I long to return home!

Su Rong chuckled and sat down next to Murong Shuang, looking at the food she had bought on the small stone table. She felt extremely disgusted. "You wretched woman, I'll kick you out of the Murong mansion in a few days."

"May I ask what brings Madam Su to see Shuang'er?" Murong Shuang asked.

Su Rong hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, "Shuang'er, your father wants to see you in his study..." She paused, feigning ignorance, and continued, "It seems to be about Liu..."

Hearing this, Murong Shuang understood. She looked at Su Rong with a murderous glint in her eyes, her gaze finally settling on Shen Lian. Then she slowly stood up and said, "Shuang'er understands."

Shen Lian was about to go over with her when Murong Han grabbed his arm and pulled him down. Not only that, but Murong Han's protruding chest seemed to want to get closer.

"What do you want to do?" His eyes flashed with gold, and his tone became stern.

Murong Han felt a chill run down his spine and released his grip. Su Rong chuckled and said, "Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. Shuang'er and Father haven't seen each other for many days and have some things to discuss. Han'er just wanted to keep Your Highness company."

"No need for company. If there's nothing else, this prince will go to cultivate now," Shen Lian said calmly, turning and leaving.

He hadn't taken more than a few steps when Murong Han stopped him again. He quickly said, "Your Highness, if it's about cultivation, there are a few things I don't understand. I need to ask Your Highness for guidance."

Shen Lian watched quietly, his expression not changing much, and said calmly, "If it's about cultivation, how could the Murong family, being a family of cultivators, not know this?"

"Your Highness, what you say is true, but in terms of cultivation, how can I compare to Your Highness's profound knowledge?" Murong Han stopped her again, and only then did she show a shy expression, posing her body and trying her best to display her beauty.

To Shen Lian, this scene was like watching a clown. He had to admit that it was not much different from Murong Shuang, and even had some charm that Murong Shuang lacked, but he had no interest in it at all.

"I won't teach." He said those two simple words and left.

Seeing this, Su Rong quickly advised, "Your Highness, Han'er has been feeling guilty the other day, and has come here today to apologize to Your Highness."

"If Your Highness does not agree, I fear..." She paused, then, in the words of the cultivation world, "I fear your Dao heart will become unstable. I hope Your Highness will agree to Han'er's request."

Seeing Shen Lian's hesitant expression, Su Rong spoke again: "Your Highness, rest assured, when Shuang'er returns, Han'er will go and apologize."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian looked at Murong Han, who was nodding slightly, took a deep breath, and said, "Alright, may I ask if Miss Han has any questions about cultivation?"

Seeing this, Su Rong revealed a smug smile, "Your Highness, I will not disturb you any longer." With that, she got up and left.

As Murong Han's delicate body drew ever closer, Shen Lian dodged and said in a deep voice, "Miss Han, please stay away from this prince."

Upon hearing this, Murong Han gave a light snort, her cheeks immediately puffing out. If she were acting this way, most people would have already rushed to serve her tea and water.

Shen Lian showed no intention of indulging him. He returned to the stone bench and sat down, tapping the stone surface with his fingertips. His tone was slightly angry: "I will give you ten breaths. If you have no further questions, I will leave immediately."

Upon hearing this, Murong Han clenched his fists, his face turning cold. "After tonight, let's see if you can preserve your reputation as a prince." He then released his grip, and just as Shen Lian finished counting his breaths, he sat down, rested his chin on his hand, and asked, "Han'er would like to ask Your Highness what the end of cultivation is?"

Shen Lian was taken aback, not expecting the latter to ask such a question. No one can say for sure what the end of cultivation is. Some say it is to become a god, to pursue the Great Dao, and to have an endless lifespan.

Some say it is becoming an immortal, comprehending countless great laws and principles, and becoming eternally indestructible.

But do immortals and gods exist? If gods are just legends, then becoming an immortal is even more ethereal and unreal, or perhaps it doesn't exist at all.

He pondered for a long time, then his voice suddenly deepened as he spoke: "The Dao is boundless!"

"Cultivating immortality is about becoming an immortal. There are three thousand paths to immortality, but who has actually become an immortal to this day?"

"But we cannot deny that immortals do not exist, and the Dao is infinite. Only by upholding one's true nature and pursuing the Great Dao may there truly be a sliver of opportunity..."

Shen Lian shared all his insights into the Great Dao, and before they knew it, the time had come to an end.

Unexpectedly, Murong Han paid no attention to this groundbreaking discussion, his gaze remaining fixed on Shen Lian's handsome face with its sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes.

While Shen Lian was distracted, she looked infatuated and gently licked her lips with the tip of her tongue.

"Miss Han, is there anything else you don't understand? I, Shen, will tell you all at once," Shen Lian said calmly.

Murong Han smiled obsequiously and said, "Your Highness's words are something I still need to carefully understand. However, there is another reason that is troubling me this time."

Shen Lianjian frowned, looking at the latter's shy and pretty face, and asked in surprise, "What is it?"

"I am still resentful about the injury I caused Your Highness the other day. If I don't apologize, I'm afraid my resolve will waver. But Your Highness need not worry. I only wish to express my sincere apology to Your Highness with tea instead of wine. I hope Your Highness will not refuse," Murong Han said.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian was taken aback. His intuition told him that there was something strange about it, but he still readily agreed. Murong Han got up and left, and soon after, he bent down and handed over a cup of fine tea with both hands.

Looking at the steaming, fragrant tea, Shen Lian felt a vague unease. Glancing at the expectant Murong Han beside him, his unease deepened.

There's definitely more to this than meets the eye, but the Murong family has absolutely no reason to poison me. They know the consequences. Could it be that I'm overthinking it?

Shen Lian thought for a moment, then drank it under Murong Shuang's expectant and ardent gaze. The tea tasted a little strange, but there was no sign of poisoning. He immediately dismissed his doubts, assuming that he just didn't like the taste.

"The tea is finished, Miss Han, there is no need to worry about this matter anymore. If there is nothing else, I will go back to my room to rest."

No sooner had Shen Lian left than Murong Han inexplicably hugged him from behind, murmuring, "Your Highness, Han'er likes Your Highness. Please accept Han'er."

Shen Lian was startled. He used his spiritual power to push Murong Han away and said coldly, "Miss Han, please have some self-respect. I will pretend I didn't hear anything today." After saying that, he left.

Murong Shuang stood there quietly watching, a sinister smile creeping onto her face. "How profound your cultivation is! You've poured most of the bottle in, yet you're still sober." She chuckled a few times, then said, "It's alright, the real show is just beginning tonight."

After a short while, Shen Lian returned to his room, following his memories. He felt somewhat agitated, perhaps because he was still irritated by what had just happened.

He took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the windowsill, placed his hands on his knees with his fingers clasped together, and closed his eyes to cultivate by breathing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

...

Time flew by and it was already late afternoon; the sky was getting dark, and the sun would soon set.

There was a knock on the door, and with a creak, the door opened, and Murong Shuang walked in with a worried expression.