A mere ten seconds later, Tang Qing quickly opened the door and then, with lightning speed, returned to his seat.
Upon entering, Lin Xiao discovered that the room's decoration was very modern, completely different from its exterior. Inside, there was a sofa bed on one side, a wardrobe, and further in, two gaming chairs and a long gaming desk with two computers side-by-side. Tang Qing was currently engrossed in an intense game of League of Legends.
"..."
Seeing this, Lin Xiao was momentarily at a loss for words.
He never imagined that the way Tang Qing had maintained distance from the Hehuan Sect disciples over the past year was by being a gaming otaku!
"Three, two, one, engage!"
Tang Qing shouted loudly, clearly playing with friends.
Lin Xiao didn't disturb him, instead sitting on the sofa bed. He noticed a projector on the wall and two speakers by the wall, likely a smart projection system. As he thought about it, he spotted a microphone nearby, seemingly for a home KTV.
Everything was present and accounted for…
This made Lin Xiao even more suspicious about why Tang Qing had gotten lost at the Hehuan Sect before.
He refused to believe that Tang Qing had no ulterior motive!
Finally, after waiting for more than ten minutes, Tang Qing took off his headphones with a satisfied expression. "Wait a moment, I have a guest. You guys start another round."
He walked over, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Lin Xiao. "Doctor Lin, do you find my place strange, out of place with the surroundings?"
"A little, but it's understandable," Lin Xiao replied with a nod.
"To be honest, Zhiyan and I met through gaming," Tang Qing casually said.
"Ah?"
Lin Xiao was taken aback, clearly unable to comprehend it at that moment.
"It was two years ago. Around that time, work was gradually resuming nationwide, wasn't it? My way of relaxing then was playing games. Since other places were inconvenient to visit, and I didn't want to add to the burden," Tang Qing sat beside Lin Xiao, a hint of nostalgia on his face. "Then I was matched with her in a game..."
The man had opened the floodgates, and Lin Xiao listened in astonishment.
What a gaming romance for Sect Leader Li!
So, this guy had gone to the Hehuan Sect to meet Li Zhiyan in person!
His phone had indeed been dropped…
That's why he got lost.
After a considerable effort, he found the Hehuan Sect's address, and he and Li Zhiyan recognized each other immediately.
Coincidentally, they also hit it off.
It started with online dating. Although they had each other's photos, neither knew if they were fake, and previously, Li Zhiyan had been hesitant to video call.
After meeting in person, Tang Qing and Li Zhiyan confirmed their relationship.
"..."
Lin Xiao silently drank his tea, interjecting a word or two occasionally. He needed time to digest these events, as some things he had believed would never happen… had seemingly occurred.
He truly couldn't believe that the Sect Leader of the Hehuan Sect and a renowned doctor of the new generation, a recipient of the third-class merit, were now together.
He had no choice but to believe and accept this reality.
"And then, during that period, I was truly exhausted. So exhausted that I wanted to retire directly. By chance, Zhiyan said that as the Sect Leader of the Hehuan Sect, she couldn't leave. If we were to be together, I'd have to live with her at the Hehuan Sect. So, I considered it and decided to start my retired life early."
Tang Qing seemed to be reliving the days shortly after he and Li Zhiyan got together, his face filled with fond memories.
Lin Xiao could understand this nostalgic feeling and empathize deeply, much like how he would think of Luo Qinghan and his beloved daughter when he was away.
"Your parents are quite open-minded…" Lin Xiao said with a dry chuckle, making a casual remark.
"Indeed. It wouldn't matter if they weren't. They started urging me to find a partner and have grandchildren when I was twenty, and for ten years, I was solely focused on medical research, with no time to consider such things. Now that I've finally found someone to marry, how could they possibly object?" Tang Qing said with a smile. "Zhiyan and I are already discussing starting a family."
"Timing, opportunity, and human unity," Lin Xiao nodded. Their journey to this point could be described as a series of fortuitous coincidences.
However, Lin Xiao suddenly lowered his voice and asked, "Haven't you ever minded Li Zhiyan's age?"
"I did, but only for a moment," Tang Qing replied. "Do you know how old Zhiyan is now?"
"Forty? Fifty?"
"Fifty-six," Tang Qing said. "But doesn't she still look like she's in her twenties? Moreover, her maturity is only that of someone in their twenties or thirties. After all these years spent in the Hehuan Sect, for both of us, romance and marriage are novel experiences."
Fifty-six?
That was quite a significant age difference.
"On one hand, the relationship between Zhiyan and me is truly good, and there isn't much of a generation gap. Also, I admit, I like looking at faces and figures, and Zhiyan is perfect in both aspects." As he spoke, Tang Qing seemed to recall something delightful, and his expression became enraptured.
"Mmm…"
The cultivation techniques of the Hehuan Sect allowed them to maintain their figures and appearances exceptionally well. Even disciples below the Grandmaster realm could achieve a certain level of youthful preservation, generally keeping their appearance at that of an eighteen-year-old.
Upon reaching the Grandmaster realm, with the transformation from acquired to innate, it was natural to extend one's lifespan by forty to fifty years. And in the Dong Xuan realm, one could live for several decades more.
Therefore, for Li Zhiyan, this age was quite suitable.
Both of them were mature individuals. Even if they were inexperienced in worldly affairs or deeply engrossed in their careers, they would at least not let minor issues escalate into marital conflict. Instead, they would sit down together and find solutions.
"What a perfect couple!" Lin Xiao exclaimed. "Will you still return as the Heavenly Doctor in the future?"
"Heavenly Doctor."
Upon hearing this term, Tang Qing instantly fixed his gaze on Lin Xiao. "Doctor Lin, I am just Tang Qing. Now, I am not the Heavenly Doctor."
"Understood."
With that, Lin Xiao stood up. "Alright, I won't disturb you any longer. I trust that with your medical skills, Doctor Li's recovery won't be something I need to worry about."
"Won't you stay for a bit longer?" Tang Qing quickly rose to see him off.
"Certainly not. Your eyes are already glued to the computer. If I stay any longer, I'll be the one out of touch."