Chapter 533: Never Will
"Master, you must have noticed it too—the time flow between the two worlds has changed."
Li Qingran's expression was solemn as she stared intently at Chen Huaian: "Do you know what this means?"
Chen Huaian was startled by the news about the time anomaly and momentarily blanked: "What does it mean?"
Li Qingran looked visibly shaken: "It means, Master, your disciple will age faster than you. Before long, I might become an old woman."
"Qingran, think of it this way—the accelerated time flow here means I can stay longer in the Cangyun Realm each visit, without having to rush back to Earth Star for urgent matters."
"Oh, that's true." Li Qingran paused, then moved closer to Chen Huaian, whispering in a voice only they could hear: "Then... Master must stay the night tonight~"
"Since the Ancestor is here, let's now study the exact time differential between the two realms!"
Zhang Mengchu and Li Ziping naturally had no objections, but after exchanging glances, they still asked: "Ancestor, though we know Gu Changsheng is surely safe with you, still..."
"I left him on Earth Star."
This statement stunned both Li Ziping and Zhang Mengchu.
Meanwhile, Su Qinian's eyes reddened as he slid forward to cling to Chen Huaian's leg.
"Ancestor!" He cried tearfully: "Ancestor, has this junior been lacking in some way? Why wasn't I the one left on Earth Star?"
Chen Huaian's mouth twitched.
How to explain? Staying on Earth Star might be good, but being tainted by the gray mist was definitely not.
Given the choice, he'd prefer Gu Changsheng to remain safely in the Cangyun Realm, unentangled in the cycle of death.
"It was an emergency decision with no alternatives. Next such opportunity will be yours." Chen Huaian forcibly extracted his leg and said exasperatedly: "Su Qinian, why are you so eager for Earth Star? Seeking adventure in a new world?"
"Ancestor, Earth Star has many washing machines, right?!" Su Qinian's face shone with hope: "Current washing machine speeds can't satisfy this junior anymore! I need higher RPMs, more thrilling experiences! Since using washing machines, my backache disappeared, leg pains vanished, and cultivation speed keeps increasing!"
"Hah..." Turns out people really do laugh when utterly speechless.
Chen Huaian directly kicked Su Qinian: "Get lost! Such pathetic ambitions!"
"Anyway, that's Gu Changsheng's situation—he'll stay on Earth Star to assist me... So how long has it been since he left the Cangyun Realm?"
"Reporting to Ancestor, twelve hours have passed." Zhang Mengchu pointed at the incense stick burned halfway on the table.
"That long?!" Chen Huaian was shocked.
So one Earth Star hour equals half a Cangyun Realm day?
This time differential is terrifying!
One Earth Star day equals nearly half a Cangyun month?
Wouldn't that mean missing critical events here?
Without further thought, he immediately opened the Electronic Girlfriend game interface, searching for possible causes.
Major changes usually relate to version updates, so he checked the update logs and quickly found a new unread announcement:
To enhance player experience in Electronic Girlfriend, we're testing time adjustments between Cangyun Realm and Earth Star. Current ratio: 1:12. Future adjustments will depend on player and Electronic Girlfriend performance. Please stay tuned for updates.
Chen Huaian secretly clicked his tongue.
They really quietly altered the time ratio between worlds.
But he sensed this wasn't as simple as the announcement claimed.
"Enhancing player experience"?
If they truly cared, they'd first restore his full bodily sensations so he could freely cuddle with Qingran and maybe even make babies—not adjust some time differential.
His instincts screamed something was wrong.
Yet his understanding of the Electronic Girlfriend system remained pitifully limited.
Though they interacted daily, the system never answered non-game questions, maintaining absolute mystery. Sometimes he suspected it was the Cangyun Realm's Heavenly Dao—but the Heavenly Dao was emotionless. Why would it care about his relationship with Li Qingran?
"Master, is there a major problem?"
Noticing Chen Huaian's troubled expression, Li Qingran quickly asked.
Chen Huaian glanced at her, then at the eagerly watching elders.
However unsettled he felt, he couldn't show it now.
He smiled casually: "This master just calculated—there's no real issue. The time difference relates to both realms' Heavenly Daos. It won't significantly affect us. Actually... it benefits me, allowing more time in the Cangyun Realm."
The crowd visibly relaxed.
"If the Ancestor says it's fine, then it's absolutely fine."
"Indeed, we rarely see the Ancestor. Having him frequently in the sect is a blessing for all disciples."
Li Qingran stared unblinkingly at Chen Huaian.
She knew him too well—things were never this simple.
Though fleeting, she'd caught the worry and confusion in his eyes.
As elders dispersed to spread news of the Ancestor's extended stay—and envy Gu Changsheng's luck (how'd that simpleton, neither smartest nor strongest, earn the Ancestor's favor?)—they speculated: if Moon Shadow Sect ever relocated to Earth Star, wouldn't Gu Changsheng have first advantage? At minimum, he'd become an Elder.
"Master, no matter what comes, Qingran will always stay by your side."
Before the sect hall, Li Qingran suddenly stopped, tightening her grip on Chen Huaian's hand.
She turned with a smile, autumn-pool eyes reflecting courtyard silverlight as moonlight traced her willow-leaf brows to nose tip, condensing into a radiant point.
In this moment, her beauty defied description.
When her luminous eyes—clearer than the full moon behind her—met Chen Huaian's, his breath caught.
Almost unable to meet that brilliant gaze, he squeezed her hand back: "What could happen? This master is a Great Ascension cultivator! Soon I'll reach the Second Tribulation, then Third. After ascension, who could harm me? Who could stop me? Who could hurt you?"
Li Qingran lowered her eyes, suppressing a smile.
"This disciple always believes in Master. But if Master ever disappears from the Cangyun Realm..."
"I'll search for you one thousand, two thousand, three thousand years... until my lifespan ends."
She stepped forward, burying herself in Chen Huaian's embrace.
The previously smiling girl now spoke with trembling vulnerability:
"Master must never abandon this disciple! Don't hide where I can't find you!"
"This disciple... hates searching for things!"
Chen Huaian held her tightly, breathing deeply as if embracing the entire world. Content orıginally comes from 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕·𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎·𝚗𝚎𝚝
He clearly felt her trembling.
The altered time flow frightened her.
She was genuinely afraid.
"Don't worry." He promised softly: "This master won't abandon you."