Two Beauties in Trouble

Eldest Sister could only spare time occasionally, playing for a month or two before returning to handle infrastructure matters.

Then there’s Lingling.

After summer vacation, Lingling would assume her position as a professor and mentor at the music conservatory. Though she wasn’t tied to fixed courses, she couldn’t exactly slack off every day either.

So,

Lingling’s available time was limited to winter and summer breaks.

Mainly summer.

Because during winter, she usually received invitations from major state media and TV stations.

All in all, Lingling only had about two months a year to travel with Young Master Cao.

As for Second Sister,

her busy periods weren’t fixed, but the New Year season was always the most hectic.

Though she was no longer on the frontlines of criminal investigations, having long since been promoted, her responsibilities had also expanded.

Large-scale police operations, criminal task forces, meetings—she was constantly occupied.

Unless she took annual leave.

Over a year, she’d only have about a month free.

Third Sister had it a bit easier, able to take time off whenever she pleased.

As for The Fourth,

she was similarly free-spirited.

Naturally,

these two often ended up accompanying Cao Cheng on his travels.

But they had to be mindful of appearances.

After all, the other sisters were watching.

Staying in the car too long would earn them endless teasing back home.

Fortunately,

Young Master Cao wasn’t short on company.

Even if the four sisters at home were too busy to join him—including Tang Xin, who managed the household finances and kept a tight grip on Cao Cheng’s purse strings—

with daily transactions amounting to who-knows-how-much, she hardly had time to gallivant around.

So,

when no one from home was available, other ladies from the entertainment industry would step in.

The division of labor was quite clear.

A rotation of the Twelve Golden Beauties.

The two Western Region belles could take turns traveling too.

Then there were Little Jinmai and the others…

In short,

Cao Cheng’s massive RV, along with the support vehicle team, operated like a bus.

Onward it rolled,

with people boarding

and disembarking.

The only constant was Young Master Cao, the ever-present driver.

After a while on the road, Young Master Cao had fully embraced a life detached from worldly affairs, his focus solely on the scenic spots.

But after touring around, he realized some 5A-rated attractions weren’t all that interesting.

Take theme parks like Disney, for instance.

Fine if you’re bringing kids.

But for a grown man sightseeing with his ladies? A bit underwhelming.

Of course…

the fireworks shows or thrilling rides were still fun.

But you couldn’t spend a whole month there.

Other 5A spots, though, had real substance—far surpassing theme parks. A month was enough to see them but not to truly understand them.

Like the gardens of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with their varied architectural styles, layouts, and historical tales—even the placement of hills and streams carried deeper meaning.

To truly appreciate them required time and dedication.

Then there were Beijing’s tourist sites—the Forbidden City, Prince Gong’s Mansion.

You could skim through them in a few days,

but unraveling their historical stories?

That demanded far more time.

Natural landscapes, like Huangshan, depended on mood.

For those indifferent to scenery, a day or two sufficed.

But for Young Master Cao, the climate, the vistas, the vitality of these places—all aided his cultivation.

He’d have loved to linger in these mountain retreats for much longer.

On paper, each destination averaged a month.

But in practice, Young Master Cao allocated time as he pleased.

Some spots were worth just a glance or a quick visit.

Others warranted extended stays—not just for the sights but to soak in the local culture…

And Cao Cheng made a discovery:

The more he relaxed and wandered, the faster his cultivation progressed—at least three times quicker than lazing around at home.

It dawned on him then that the essence of the "Wolong Xiaoyao Chapter"

lay in freedom.

The freer and more unrestrained the spirit, the swifter the self-cultivation.

No wonder!

Cao Cheng recalled an old man named Xiaoyaozi from wuxia lore—the master of characters like the Heavenly Maiden and the like.

He founded the Xiaoyao Sect, then vanished to roam the world, never staying put.

His philosophy? Pure freedom.

Time flew like a fleeting steed.

The global landscape gradually shifted toward multipolarity, erasing the old "one superpower, multiple great powers" dynamic.

Thanks to the major nations’ efforts, the situation remained largely stable.

Much of this was due to the Eastern Bloc’s restraint.

Despite possessing the power to strike down any nation, it never instigated chaos.

Yet it grew more assertive.

Technology advanced by leaps and bounds.

In less than a decade…

the gap between regions had widened drastically.

Put simply:

Earth was still Earth.

But in some places, visitors felt they’d stepped into the future—maglev trains, suboceanic-air leisure crafts, flying cars… autonomous driving was child’s play.

And yet…

on the same planet,

some regions lagged behind conditions a century prior.

But these matters didn’t concern Young Master Cao.

He remained on his journey.

Even as the space elevator entered its final phase, he paid it no mind.

The music played on.

The dance continued.

That year,

in June,

Cao Cheng’s vehicle slowly crossed into the Western Regions.

Inside were two local guides—

the Western Region’s two beauties.

Beining once said that a life without visiting Sayram Lake was a life wasted.

So Young Master Cao had headed west, finally arriving in the Western Regions.

Ready to explore the "Jiangnan of the Frontier,"

to wander the Heavenly Lake of Tianshan,

to take in the lakes and landscapes.

To revel in nature’s beauty.

No need for tourist traps—just meandering with the two Western belles, stopping and starting at leisure…

Every moment was a delight.

At night, they feasted on lamb skewers, baked naan, and sipped spiritual wine from their stash.

Under the bonfire’s glow, the two beauties danced gracefully.

The feeling…

was pure harmony with nature.

The Xiaoyao Qi within him swelled,

and in that instant, he broke through a minor bottleneck.

The surge in power left Cao Cheng exhilarated.

True,

these days, he rarely needed to lift a finger—he hadn’t fought much in years.

But who’d complain about growing stronger?

Besides,

his newly enhanced body took some adjusting to.

He needed an outlet—

whether through martial forms or combat, anything to channel the excess energy.

And so,

that night,

the two beauties bore the brunt.

Luckily, they were no pushovers, their own skills and physiques honed over the years.

Young Master Cao had imparted the "Qifeng Qingxin Art" to them.

He was never stingy with those who’d proven themselves.

Though,

they’d only learned the foundational techniques.

Further teachings would come only after they broke through to the next realm.