They didn't spend much more time in the bathhouse. After almost three days of a relaxing experience, Yasenia, Lidia, Meng Lihua, Chen Xueli, Cai Xue, Luan Feixue, Ao Xianlan, Lady First, and Tatyana left together.
Chen Xueli and Luan Feixue actually hit it off together quite well, becoming close friends. During these three days, Chen Xueli also became slightly more distant from Yasenia.
It wasn't because she didn't like Yasenia, but the difference in status between them was just too much, making even the innocent and easygoing Xueli feel awkward when interacting.
Noticing her attitude, Yasenia didn't push and kept a proper distance, treating her as a close junior rather than a potential friend.
"Now that we are outside… Let's talk proper business."
Yasenia opened up, her clothes and hairstyle being the same as those she used when she first came to the sect. The revealing and elegant white kimono and half-updo with crossed hairpins felt quite comfortable for her.
Meng Lihua frowned slightly. "After all the interactions, I would be a fool if I didn't know your intention of coming here. Still, you must know that it's not easy to let go of a genius of Lidia's caliber. We've spent plenty of resources on her to just agree with your desire to bring her away."
Yasenia nodded calmly. She expected this reaction. If they hadn't reacted like this, she would have been suspicious of some kind of conspiracy brewing in the back.
"I know. After staying here for a while, I know that Lidia has been living comfortably. Any conflict she experienced was within reason, so there is no need to feel pressured because of it."
Listening to those words relaxed Meng Lihua quite a bit. Lidia was someone important that the Radiant Flow Sect had considered becoming a future pillar of the sect. Therefore, they had not held back in the slightest when supporting her growth, even using some precious one-time treasures.
Lidia spoke softly. "Master, don't worry, I probably won't leave anytime soon. And even if I leave, I'll eventually come back here."
Her words surprised Yasenia and Meng Lihua. Lidia, seeing their reactions, chuckled to herself. "I've spent a full century here, Master, Yasenia. Someone can grow fond of a pet staying by their side for a year, not to mention a hundred. The sect is also more than a pet; it's a family. I've been taken care of and protected, and there were times conflict arose when opposing sects knew of my existence and tried sending assassins to get rid of me."
Yasenia stayed silent for a moment and sighed softly. "Angel misses you a lot."
"And I miss her too." Lidia smiled back.
"It's just…" Looking around, Lidia's green eyes softened. "My ties have become too entangled with this sect to cut them off. I would never forgive myself if I left and never repaid the sect's goodwill."
Yasenia didn't answer, while Meng Lihua felt a little emotional. She didn't expect that they had become important to the degree of being compared to her real family.
The dragoness was slightly confused. In her opinion, there was nothing more important than family. Still, she could somewhat understand her point of view.
"I can't relate to your thought process, Sister-in-law," Yasenia stated honestly, her golden eyes looking ahead thoughtfully. "But… I'll respect it. I came here initially to see if you were doing well. After that, if you wanted to go back with me, I would naturally put pressure on the Radiant Flow Sect."
Meng Lihua's lips twitched. Yasenia glanced at her and smiled. "Don't expect a dragon to be reasonable, especially with those she considers close."
Meng Lihua shook her head. "Don't worry. I know. Moreover, you have the bigger fist this time, so I can't really do anything even if I wanted to."
Yasenia nodded, accepting her words. "Still." Yasenia clearly enunciated. "As long as Lidia wants to stay here, I won't do anything like taking her away forcefully. That would be silly."
Lidia knew that Yasenia was talking to Meng Lihua as a senior, so she didn't speak up this time. Yasenia might be her sister-in-law, but she was also a terrifying Third-Level Transcendence powerhouse admired by billions.
Meng Lihua understood where Yasenia was going with her words. "Don't worry, I am the second strongest in this entire sect. Only Sect Master is stronger than me. With me as her master, the only ones that can pressure Lidia are those outside the sect."
"What if the Sect Master wants to forcefully marry Lidia to one of his sons in the future?"
Yasenia suddenly asked out of nowhere.
"He wouldn't do that." Meng Lihua frowned, feeling a bit displeased. Regardless of status, disrespecting the Sect Master was not something that would sit right with her.
Yasenia didn't know the Sect Master's character, so she couldn't be as clear-cut as her. So, ignoring her expression of displeasure, she pushed. "I know that I am being presumptuous. Still, I want to hear your thoughts. Lidia is not only talented, but she is also beautiful. Her beauty is also one that attracts desire. Even if Lidia usually wears a stern expression, once it melts away, she is an adorable, soft woman. Any man who sees her would want to understandably court her."
Meng Lihua frowned. "Even if they want to, they won't force her."
"Why not?" Yasenia asked. "She is someone without a background. Even if you are her Master, the fact that you didn't answer me straight that you'd protect her the first time I asked shows that conflict exists in your heart."
Yasenia looked at Meng Lihua, and seeing her stare back, she spoke without a change in her expression. "Lady Meng, I want to remind you that, in this world, greed for beauty is the third most wanted thing in the cultivation world. The first is strength, the second is treasures, and the third is beauty. And I know firsthand how that beauty can affect others to the point that they, sometimes, place beauty before the former two."
"That's because you are too beautiful." Meng Lihua insisted.
Yasenia didn't let her escape, though. "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. You wouldn't call a ten-meter flaming demon with a body as wide as it is tall 'handsome,' but for those of his species, he might be the most handsome demon in the universe. You can't guarantee that there won't be someone who one day sees Lidia and becomes crazy for her. And you can't also guarantee that someone won't be one of the sons of the Sect Master."
She was silent for a moment. Yasenia's words rang true, even if slightly far-fetched. Meng Lihua knew that she had been placing excuses until now. It wasn't because she didn't want to protect Lidia, but because she also knew those sons Yasenia spoke about, and she had a very good impression of them.
If any of them wanted to court Lidia, she would actually support it. However, what if Lidia didn't want to? What if the Sect Master became someone stubborn?
If things began spiraling out of control in that direction, and one day she stood in the middle of the conflict, which side would she choose?
Even if she asked herself that question, she couldn't answer straight away.
Yasenia, seeing her expression, didn't push further. "I know it is difficult to choose when you are torn between two people you know. However, I want to remind you that if I ever come back here in the future and find out that Lidia has been either forced or expelled because of such matters…" Her tone became cold as her slit pupils in her golden eyes thinned. "I'll raze this place to the ground. Indiscriminately."
Meng Lihua couldn't help but feel her heart trembling. Yasenia's golden gaze was piercing to the extreme, prickling one's soul.
After pondering for a few moments, she frowned. "You are making it difficult with the expulsion condition."
Yasenia counter-argued with ease. "If Lidia, without a background, gets expelled because of such a conflict, those who were involved won't leave her alone. They would most likely send people behind your back to either deal with or capture her once she is expelled. Those who become obsessed would rather have what they want broken than allow it to get away from their clutches."
Meng Lihua frowned again. "Aren't you too paranoid?"
"Am I?" Yasenia asked, surprised. "I can't say that my experience is normal. Nor can I say that those influenced by my beauty will react the same when influenced by other women. I can perfectly see the greed of cultivators. After all, how could a tournament involving top powers around the world be created that quickly just to steal my treasures? The treasures of someone who was previously thought to have no background?"
Yasenia smiled disdainfully. "Were it not for my exceptional strength and talent and background, wouldn't I have become a fugitive? Without Mom's Astral Death Sect, I could've only run around while being hunted by the Demons, Divines, and even Dragons."
Ao Xianlan didn't refute. After all, it was a fact that the Dragons had initially joined hands with the Demons and Divines to steal Yasenia's treasure.
Meng Lihua didn't show any expression. Eventually, though, she sighed. "In the very unlikely case of those upright people becoming that stubborn, I'll make my best effort to protect Lidia. That's all I can promise." She added. "Even when I say this, I am sure those boys won't be so forceful. They have been taught well, and you insinuating anything else is very inappropriate."
Yasenia's expression relaxed as she smiled at Meng Lihua. "That's all I needed to hear." Then, she bowed slightly. "I am sorry for pushing the matter to this extent. I understand that I was being slightly unreasonable to force you to wallow in an unlikely hypothetical. However, I wouldn't be at rest without knowing that such a… common way for beauties to fall wouldn't happen to Lidia."
Meng Lihua sighed and waved her hand. "Alright, I know. Don't bow to me. The gazes of your three seniors are making my hair stand on end. I don't want to become a victim of an 'accidental' sneeze."
Yasenia chuckled and straightened her back. Then, she looked at Lidia's thoughtful expression and smiled. "Don't become too paranoid from what I said. I am just being overly cautious. As long as you find someone who you find interesting, you are more than welcome to try loving them. Now that you can be a bit at ease, knowing that I will get Angel soon, you can just focus on living your life."
Lidia stopped thinking too hard for now and smiled. "I know. Thank you. Make sure to visit with Aurelia and Angel after you return to this Heavenly Layer."
Yasenia nodded with a smile.