Clan Cultivation: Starting from Beast Taming

They still feigned shock and concern, however, to prevent Taoist Mingxia from suspecting anything.

Zhou Mingde said with a worried face, "What should we do? If this is the case, couldn't the Dragon Transformation Sect possibly send more people to capture Zhengchun?"

"Whether the Dragon Transformation Sect will send more people to capture Little Friend Zhou is uncertain. Lord Temple Master suggests that, for Zhou's safety, it would be best for him to cultivate in my cave for a while. By the time the armies of the three sects set out to attack the Dragon Transformation Sect, there will be no need to worry about this matter anymore," the protector explained.
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Taoist Mingxia said this while looking meaningfully at Zhou Chun, who stood beside her.

Hearing her words, both Zhou Mingde and Zhou Chun showed hesitation.

Zhou Chun immediately said, "Taoist Friend Mingxia and Lord Temple Master, I am profoundly grateful for your kindness. However, the Clan Leader is currently in seclusion, pushing toward the Purple Mansion, and with the impending war, the Zhou Family has many matters to attend to. If I go to cultivate at Green Lotus Temple now, I fear it would delay important family affairs!"

"What? Without Little Friend Zhou, is the great Zhou Family unable to function?"

Taoist Mingxia's expression darkened slightly, and her tone sharpened suddenly.

"That's not the case. It's just that Zhengchun, as Vice Clan Leader of the Zhou Family, is indeed more suitable for handling family matters than others."

Zhou Mingde quickly shook his head to justify Zhou Chun's concerns, then turned to Mingxia and gave a respectful gesture, saying, "However, since this is Temple Master Qingwei's intention, the Zhou Family will naturally comply."

"So be it. Little Friend Zhou, prepare yourself and you can return with me to the sect," said Mingxia, waving her whisk and making the decision then and there.

Seeing this, Zhou Chun had no choice but to reluctantly call over the Elder Zhou Daoquan from Pagoda Peak to take charge of the family affairs on his behalf.

After collecting all of his roaming spirit pets, he left the Zhou family with Taoist Mingxia.

In fact, he truly did not wish to go and cultivate at the Green Lotus Temple.

Because, as part of the exchange, they had informed Lin Hongyu about the benefits given by the three major sects to the top thirty families from the "Hundred Families Gathering."

Of course, Lin Hongyu would definitely claim to have coerced this piece of information from a Purple Mansion mid-phase cultivator of the Jiang Family.

Having learnt of this, the Dragon Transformation Sect must have realized that a battle was inevitable.

At this juncture, why would they continue to send a high-ranking cultivator to capture Zhou Chun deep behind enemy lines?

After all, they didn't even know how their previous protector had died.

Unfortunately, this was not something he could discuss with the Green Lotus Temple.

Therefore, even though Zhou Chun was reluctant, to avoid offending the Green Lotus Temple and raising their suspicions, he had no choice but to accompany Taoist Mingxia on this trip.

Upon arriving at Green Lotus Temple, Taoist Mingxia arranged for Zhou Chun to stay in a courtyard within her cave, where he could only move within the cave and was not allowed to go outside.

"This is all under the Temple Master's orders. My master is also doing this out of necessity. I hope Taoist Friend Zhou understands," said Liu Shiyun, who had been instructed by Mingxia and had come to comfort Zhou Chun.

After listening to her, Zhou Chun responded calmly, "Miss Liu, rest assured, I understand everything and would not dare to harbor any complaints."

"Then, Taoist Friend Zhou, you should rest now. I will come to visit you again tomorrow," said Liu Shiyun, glancing at him before turning to leave.

Zhou Chun casually surveyed the courtyard and released his three spirit pets, allowing them to frolic and train. He then entered the house to sit down and cultivate.

When one cannot help being somewhere, they must make peace with the situation.

Since he couldn't leave for the time being, he would use this rare opportunity to focus on his cultivation, and work on secret techniques and skills to increase his cultivation level.

In the following days, Liu Shiyun indeed showed warm enthusiasm, bringing him meals daily, discussing cultivation insights, and listening to his tales of adventures within the Cultivation World.

Even though Zhou Chun couldn't leave the Green Frost Cave, every once in a while, Zhou Mingde would send an elder to deliver a letter, keeping him informed about the family's situation.

After about a year in the Green Frost Cave, Zhou Chun finally received the good news that Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi had successfully entered the Purple Mansion Phase.

Yet Zhou Mingde had asked him in the letter to keep it a secret and not to reveal the matter for the time being.

Because according to Zhou Mingde's statement, the Cultivators from the three major sects had already shown signs of significant mobilization, and it was likely that a major war would erupt within half a year.

He was worried that if Zhou Daoyi came out of seclusion at this time to announce the good news, both Purple Mansion Cultivators from the Zhou Family might be conscripted.

Therefore, he asked Zhou Daoyi to continue his seclusion, preparing to announce the good news after the battlefront had engaged.

By then, unless the situation at the front was particularly dire, the Green Lotus Temple would have no reason to continue drafting the Zhou Family's Cultivators into the war.

Zhou Chun also agreed with Zhou Mingde's approach; the Zhou Family's current situation indeed required a Purple Mansion Phase Cultivator to be constantly stationed within the family.

So, even though he was overjoyed, he did not show the slightest hint of it in front of others and longed to return to the family to congratulate Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi.

Even Liu Shiyun, who often visited him, could only vaguely sense that his mood had improved.

Three months passed in this way, when Taoist Mingxia suddenly summoned Zhou Chun.

"With the war impending, Little Friend Zhou, you should return home to prepare. In the upcoming conflict, you will likely need to participate in the battle!"

Inside the cave dwelling, Taoist Mingxia waited for Zhou Chun to finish his greetings before speaking directly to the point of his summons.

She knew Zhou Chun had been waiting a long time to hear this.

Sure enough, after hearing her words, Zhou Chun first showed surprise, then with a face full of joy, he quickly bowed deeply to her and said, "Yes, junior obeys the command, thank you, senior, for your protection during this period!"

After speaking, he left the cave dwelling, filled with elation.

Once outside, Zhou Chun hurriedly tidied up his dwelling and went to find Liu Shiyun to bid farewell.

When he explained to Liu Shiyun that he was returning home, he also bowed sincerely and said, "Miss Liu, thank you for your care during this past year. If you have some free time in the future, you are welcome to visit my family. When that time comes, I, Zhou, will do my utmost to hospitably entertain you!"

At this moment, Liu Shiyun was suddenly informed of his departure and was still somewhat failing to react.

Undoubtedly, during the more than a year they had spent together, her feelings for Zhou Chun, with whom she had already harbored some thoughts, had deepened significantly.

Although they had known each other for a long time, they had rarely met face to face. Even when they occasionally exchanged letters, they mostly discussed formal matters and seldom talked about everyday trivialities.

Over the past year, while often bringing food to Zhou Chun, their conversations about each other's past experiences had enabled her to understand more about Zhou Chun's personal character.

In her eyes, a Loose Cultivator herself, Zhou Chun was an upright and kind-hearted man with a sense of loyalty and righteousness.

Most impressively, she realized, looking back on their conversations from when they first met to the present, that regardless of the former gap in their Cultivation Levels or now that they were on par, Zhou Chun had never displayed an air of superiority in front of her. He had always treated her with ease and equality.

This trait, so different from other Cultivators, attracted her greatly.

It even made her occasionally feel unworthy of Zhou Chun, and she did not dare to express her affection easily.

So, when she suddenly heard that Zhou Chun was about to leave, her heart was immediately filled with an unpleasant sensation, feeling an intense reluctance to part.

It was only when Zhou Chun noticed her distracted state and called out to her that she snapped back to reality.

Then, taking in a soft breath and staring intently at Zhou Chun, she said, "Taoist Friend Zhou, I have taken your words to heart and will definitely visit when I am free in the future to chat."

"Then I, Zhou, will wait at the Zhou Family to receive Miss Liu," he replied.

Zhou Chun nodded, responded, then left Green Frost Cave with Liu Shiyun, who accompanied him to the gates of Green Lotus Temple.

On the way, Liu Shiyun, leading the flight, frequently looked back at Zhou Chun.

Zhou Chun asked her several times if something was the matter, and each time she said there wasn't.

It was not until they reached the entrance of Green Lotus Temple, at the moment of parting, that Liu Shiyun seemed to muster up the courage and suddenly said to Zhou Chun, "Brother Zhou, take good care of yourself. I can only accompany you this far."

After speaking, she quickly turned away without daring to look at the astonished Zhou Chun, and left swiftly.