Chapter 191 : Change in Fate

Chapter 191: Change in Fate

“Your aptitude is far too poor. Under this Venerable’s guidance, you still couldn’t even break through to the tenth level of Qi Refining.”

A silver-white Illusion-Tailed Fox, about the size of a house cat, suddenly spoke. Its voice was charming, like that of a young married woman.

If Chen Beiwu had been here to witness this scene, he would surely have been astonished.

Illusion-Tailed Foxes were the most common first-rank low-grade exotic beasts in the Immortal Alliance.

This kind of exotic beast possessed a basic affinity for ice spiritual power. The fur on its tail could release a concealing art by following the changes of day-and-night temperature, which was how it got its name.

Its combat strength was not high, and its bloodline talent was unremarkable. Few ice-root cultivators were willing to contract them as companion beasts; most people kept them only as ornamental pets.

However, a companion beast capable of refining the crossbones and speaking human words had to at least be a second-realm little demon.

Some extraordinarily talented and powerful spirit beasts required even reaching the third-realm demon general stage before achieving such ability.

By reason, a first-rank low-grade Illusion-Tailed Fox could not possibly speak unless its bloodline had advanced and it had broken through to the second realm.

“Senior Hu, without cultivation resources, how am I supposed to break through the limits of Qi Refining?” Chen Qin cast a helpless glance at the Illusion-Tailed Fox.

It had indeed been a strange encounter. Her meeting with Senior Hu had been in a pet beast wholesale market.

The pet shop owner, finding the feed costs too expensive and unable to sell the Illusion-Tailed Fox, had planned to sell it to a butcher.

At that time, Chen Qin had just happened to pass by, when suddenly Senior Hu’s voice had sounded in her mind. She had thought it was merely an illusion caused by over-cultivation.

After several confirmations, Chen Qin finally realized that the seemingly ordinary Illusion-Tailed Fox in the cage, awaiting slaughter, actually harbored within it the soul of a powerful being who often referred to herself as this Venerable.

“If you lack resources, you can borrow from that childhood friend of yours.”

Senior Hu glanced at the news popping up on the phone and said solemnly: “The Lord of Fallen Dragon Prefecture rewarded him with fifty thousand spirit yuan. Even if you only borrow one-fiftieth of that, I am confident I can help you reach the tenth level of Qi Refining within a month.”

Chen Qin pressed her lips together but said nothing.

Seeing this, Senior Hu couldn’t help but sigh.

After three or four years of understanding her, she had figured out this girl’s temperament—everything else was fine, decisive in killing and cutting, but her bones were too stiff. She was unwilling to take the initiative to ask others for help.

As if sensing something, Senior Hu’s expression shifted. In a flash, she concealed herself inside the bedroom.

“Qin-jie.”

Two seconds later, a knock came at the door along with Chen Beiwu’s voice.

Soon, the door opened. Dressed in a long gown, radiant and captivating, Chen Qin walked out and gave Chen Beiwu a hug.

“Xiao Wu, congratulations on being admitted into the Yuqing Immortal Sect!”

As a faint fragrance swept past, Chen Beiwu clearly felt Qin-jie’s warmth, soothing and reassuring.

“Don’t just stand at the door, come in and have some tea.” Qin-jie pulled his hand, leading him into the room, and said with a smile: “How does it feel to become a celebrity?”

“At first it was a little exciting, but now that I’m used to it, it feels rather ordinary.” Chen Beiwu paused, then sat down on the sofa, speaking in a tone of modest pride.

“I heard from Aunt Huang that people visit your house every day to discuss marriage proposals. How did you find the time to come here today?” Chen Qin teased.

“Qin-jie, can’t I come to see you even if nothing’s wrong?” Chen Beiwu cast a subtle glance at the crown of Qin-jie’s head.

Good heavens.

In just three years apart, Qin-jie’s fate had actually transformed into an orange radiance.

Could it be that she had some fortuitous encounter in recent years?

“If you like, you can even stay here with me.” Qin-jie smiled and handed him a cup of hot tea.

“Has Qin-jie encountered anything unusual recently?” Chen Beiwu probed.

Chen Qin’s heart skipped a beat, but her face betrayed nothing. She blinked and looked at him with curiosity: “No, why do you suddenly ask that?”

At this moment, the Illusion-Tailed Fox hiding in the bedroom was also somewhat astonished.

Had this little fellow discovered something?

Impossible.

Even with ninety thousand years of cultivation wiped clean, leaving only a shred of remnant soul, she could still conceal herself from the Immortal Alliance’s Nine Heavens Star-Sealing Boundary Immortal Formation.

How could a mere cultivator who had exceeded Qi Refining possibly perceive her existence?

“I heard that unfamiliar cultivators have often lingered around your door recently,” Chen Beiwu said softly.

At those words, Chen Qin immediately relaxed inside.

These past few years, in order to help Senior Hu restore her divine sense, she hadn’t even been able to pay off the interest on her cultivation loan. Having cultivators come to demand repayment was only natural.

She simply didn’t know why those debt-collecting cultivators had suddenly quieted down in the past few days, no longer blocking her door.

Otherwise, she would probably still be hiding while working at Yayun Pavilion.

“Just some debt-collecting cultivators.” Chen Qin spoke lightly: “Once I succeed in enlisting in the army, they won’t dare bother me anymore.”

Enlisting could resolve her cultivation loan problem.

Even the most arrogant debt-collectors wouldn’t dare cause trouble within the Immortal Alliance army.

Hearing this, Chen Beiwu’s brows furrowed slightly.

The Immortal Alliance army was not a good place. Missions were often dangerous, and the rate of disability among recruits reached as high as forty percent. Very few cultivators willingly joined.

Those who did were mostly from impoverished backgrounds, hoping to gamble their lives for military merit and a better future.

Thus, the Immortal Alliance had issued a compulsory conscription law: high school graduates who failed to enter a sect academy must draw lots.

Those who drew a red lot were required to serve, while those who drew black lots could avoid enlistment.

In order to escape conscription, many young female cultivators who drew red lots would simply choose marriage and childbearing.

“Qin-jie, enlisting is far too dangerous,” Chen Beiwu said cautiously.

“If I don’t enlist, will you provide for me?” Chen Qin tilted her head, gazing at him unblinkingly.

Knowing Xiao Wu’s nature, he would never agree—only then did she dare to jest so.

Sure enough, under her gaze, Chen Beiwu lightly shook his head and suddenly pulled a slip of paper from his pocket.

When Chen Qin saw the familiar handwriting and her mother’s signature on the IOU, she froze in place, unable to stop a trace of warmth from rising in her heart.

“Qin-jie, why are you looking at me like that? This IOU isn’t a gift.”

Chen Beiwu teased: “Since we’re acquaintances, I won’t charge you interest, but you at least have to repay me the one hundred spirit yuan of principal.”

He had no choice. In order not to make Qin-jie feel it was charity and hurt her dignity, he had to collect at least a little, so she could save face.

“Wasn’t the principal two thousand spirit yuan?” Chen Qin bit her lip, staring straight at him.

“This IOU was delivered by the cultivation loan company boss himself, as a bit of extra interest.”

Chen Beiwu shook his head and tore up the IOU: “I didn’t spend a single spirit yuan to obtain it. It wouldn’t be right to charge you two thousand.”

“Thank you.” Qin-jie stood up and gave him a warm embrace.

Chen Beiwu’s heart was clear of distractions. His hand gently patted Qin-jie’s back, soothing her emotions.

Yet, what surprised him was that the orange radiance of Qin-jie’s fate actually grew brighter under his gaze, gradually shifting toward golden fortune.