Making Choices

Chen Wentian started by describing the exact circumstances that led to Murong Aiyin betraying them. He talked about the poisoning effect of the Frozen Netherworld Jade and how she sought treatment from Divine Blazing Mountain. He detailed how the plot had been brewing for months and how batches of women were sold.

Many of the women looked shocked and dismayed but he was surprised to see many that weren't. It seemed that the story had already been leaked. He glanced at his disciples and from their expression, guessed that they were partly responsible for it. They each gave him an apologetic smile while Xu Lanyi stuck out her tongue. He glared at her in particular for a moment but decided to continue with the story and punish them later.

He then went on to describe his discovery in Divine Blazing Mountain of Summer and Winter's Eternal Sutra and how the Eternal Winter Sutra and the Blazing Sun Art combined together to form a dual cultivation secret art.

He gave them two choices on how to proceed. The first was to cultivate Winter's Snow Dance without dual cultivation. Having lost their virginity, they were able to cultivate the higher and much more powerful stages. However, their cultivation speed would be the same as before as they would not benefit from dual cultivation. The second option was to seek out a dual cultivation partner and cultivate together. The advantage was that this would provide them much faster cultivation progress but the disadvantage was that they would have to overcome their trauma and accept another man into their life.

He saw their doubtful and worried expressions and quickly clarified that unlike Murong Aiyin's crazed sexual depravity, the true dual cultivation art only required one dedicated partner. He emphasized that doing it with as many partners as possible was wrong and led to cultivation deviation. He also tried to make the case that sex was a natural part of life and that it can help develop a bond between two willing participants.

"That is all I have. Please raise your hands if you have questions." Chen Wentian said.

Many hands shot up and he called on a middle-aged woman in the first row. She had been captured many years ago and she even had two children.

"Sir immortal, some of us are old and have suffered under the hands of men for too long. I cannot bear the thought of the second option. I would rather die." She said indignantly.

"I understand. I promise that I am not forcing you or anyone to choose the second option." Chen Wentian assured her, "The first option is perfectly fine."

He saw many hands go down and many nodding their heads in understanding. He proceeded to the next question which came from a young woman.

"Sir, if we want to choose the second option, where will we go to find a partner?" She said. "The sect has no men…"

"Dual cultivation with the Summer and Winter's Eternal Sutra is most effective with a dedicated partner, someone you trust and are intimate with. I think it's best to think of it like marriage. Basically, you have to find a husband who is also a cultivator and will cultivate with you." He explained.

The young woman blushed, along with many others. It seemed that although they had suffered, it was not enough to make them abandon thoughts of intimacy with a man. Chen Wentian felt this was encouraging and a good sign of their resiliency. They were also young and still held onto hopes as cultivators to breakthrough to a higher realm. Dual cultivation would indeed give them the best chance to do so.

"For others that are thinking about the second path, I see two possible options." He said, "The first one may take a longer time and there may be dangers. That would be to travel the world for a period of time and search for a loose cultivator that you can take as your husband. It will be a challenge but you may find a person you truly like."

Reactions were mixed to this, which he expected. Loose cultivators didn't have a good reputation in the eyes of immortal set disciples. They were people that were either kicked out of immortal sects for being trouble makers or ones that never had that talent in the first place.

"The second option is safer but depends on if you accept it or not. Since I am in full control of Divine Blazing Mountain, I have purged all the men who have harmed you in the past. But there are still many male disciples remaining and you are free to choose your partner from any of them. I have also stipulated that if a match is made, the male disciple has to divorce all of their previous wives if he has any. He is also not allowed to have any other wives in the future."

This was met by yet more mixed reactions. Chen Wentian sighed; these were the best he could come up with. They had the freedom to choose whatever they wished. Pretty much all of the questions had been answered and nobody else raised their hands. He told them to think about it and adjourned the meeting.

He turned to his disciples, "We're going back to the sect soon, so say your goodbyes for now."

"Yes, master."

After the five ran off, Long Yifei approached him. She had a curious expression on her face that he could not discern.

"Sir Chen… I have some things I want to ask, but can we speak about it in private?" She asked.

Chen Wentian was taken aback but he quickly nodded. The pair left the crowd of women and into an empty hallway.

Once they were sufficiently alone and out of earshot, she turned to him, "Sir, if I may ask, what would happen to the other disciples of the sect. Can we also learn the complete secret art?"

"Umm… sure?" He said lamely, not sure where this conversation was going. "But you'll have to choose someone to give your virginity to. You can then cultivate the complete art with that partner, if that is what you want."

Long Yifei stared at him silently for a long time. Chen Wentian felt a bit self-conscious as she seemingly took measure of every detail of his body and appearance. She must have seen something she liked because her next words left him dumbfounded.

She looked into his eyes and spoke with complete seriousness, "If that is the case, I have made my choice. Will you be my dual cultivation partner?"