Rouge Pavilion.
A crowd had gathered at the entrance, watching a man and a woman argue.
Yang Fengshan, short, chubby, and greasy, pointed at a good-looking female cultivator and shouted:
"Chen Jia, you clearly agreed to marry me, yet you suddenly demand a bride price. How can you be so untrustworthy?!"
Chen Jia snorted coldly, "Taoist Friend Yang, thatās not how it is. Initially, I asked for a bride price of 300 Spirit Stones and a Spirit Vein Immortal Mansion. You pleaded poverty, and I relented, allowing you to pay 150 Spirit Stones temporarily."
"But I never said that you didnāt have to pay the rest, did I? Now, seeing your struggles, I even considered dropping the Spirit Vein Immortal Mansion. Just give me another 200 Spirit Stones, and that will suffice."
"A female cultivator marrying is like a fairy descending to the mortal realm, enduring hardships. Iām already considering your sincerity by only asking for 350 Spirit Stones. Little did I know that youād be so shameless. If youāre incapable, donāt get married, and save yourself the ridicule!"
"You, you, you..."
Yang Fengshan pointed at Chen Jia. Seeing her lovely face, he finally gave up, his voice softening:
"Taoist Friend Chen, I really canāt come up with that many Spirit Stones. Could you lower it a bit?"
Chen Jia chuckled, "Taoist Friend Yang, many male cultivators are asking for my hand. I donāt have to choose only you. Iām giving you ten days. If you canāt gather the bride price, donāt bother seeing me again."
With that, she walked into the Rouge Pavilion, ignoring Yang Fengshan.
The Rouge Pavilion had considerable influence, so Yang Fengshan naturally didnāt dare to cause a scene inside. He could only leave in a hurry under the strange and mocking gazes around him.
Where will I find 200 Spirit Stones?
Yang Fengshan was distressed, yet he couldnāt bring himself to give up on Chen Jia.
He had cultivated for over thirty years, yet his cultivation was still stuck at Third-Layer Qi Cultivation, unable to break through.
He could only try the Dual Cultivation Method.
Thatās why Yang Fengshan went to the Marriage Pavilion for matchmaking.
At first sight in the Marriage Pavilion, he was completely smitten by Chen Jia. After persistent pestering, Chen Jia finally agreed to marry him for a bride price of 150 Spirit Stones.
With the invitations sent and the restaurant booked, the marriage was imminent. Yet now, Chen Jia suddenly demanded more for the bride price.
What should I do?
Suddenly, Yang Fengshanās steps halted.
The bronze furnace.
If I secretly sold that old bronze furnace and borrowed some from friends and folks in the workshop, I might gather most of it.
As for a scapegoat, I could use Old Man Fang or Qin Gengyun.
Right, Old Man Fang should have saved quite a few Spirit Stones to pay for his daughterās Cultivator Spiritual Institute tuition.
If he lends me a few dozen, thatāll be enough!
Chen Jia, just you wait!
...
p.m.
Qin Gengyun finished his duties on time and exited the Spirit Pill Workshop.
Yang Fengshan hadnāt come in all day, probably arguing with that lady from the Rouge Pavilion.
As to whether the woman who broke off her engagement with Yang Fengshan was indeed Chen Jia, Qin Gengyun wasnāt certain either.
Still, he decided not to visit the Rouge Pavilion for a while.
If it really was Chen Jia, and Yang Fengshan found out he had purchased an expensive Array Spirit Robe, it could be troublesome.
Also, he should avoid passing by Yihong House.
After all, spending fifty Spirit Stones to buy the courtesanās first night was a scandalous affair that could easily spread. But he hadnāt revealed his name that day, so as long as he stayed away for a while, the matter would be forgotten.
He took a slightly longer route to avoid Rouge Pavilion and Yihong House, safely returning to Narrow Rain Lane.
Opening the door, he suddenly noticed something was off inside.
Upon a closer look, Qiu Zhihe and Mo Xiaolan sat facing each other.
Qiu Zhihe was wearing that Hundred Pleats Cloud Pattern Skirt worth twenty Spirit Stones, with her hair styled in a matronās bun, adorned with a White Jade Lotus Hairpin, looking dignified, elegant, and stunningly cold and beautiful.
Qin Gengyun remembered that Qiu Zhihe was dressed in a simple skirt this morning.
Could it be that she changed specifically because Mo Xiaolan came?
Qin Gengyun naturally didnāt dare to ask directly. He smiled at Mo Xiaolan and said:
"Taoist Friend Mo, what brings you here?"
Mo Xiaolan stood up and said to Qin Gengyun:
"Taoist Friend Qin, Iām here to report back. The Treasure Hunting Team indeed needs high-quality Clear Wind Powder, and other treasure hunting teams want to procure it too. Iāve negotiated with them for a total of fifty bags, requiring the best quality kind to resist the black miasma of Celestial Ridge Mountain."
Pausing, Mo Xiaolan said:
"Iām selling it to them at four Spirit Stones per bag. Taoist Friend Qin, Taoist Friend Qiu, if you think selling it to me at three Spirit Stones is too cheap, we can discuss it again."
"No need. I never change what I say."
Qiu Zhihe interrupted her, glanced at Qin Gengyun, and said calmly to Mo Xiaolan:
"Taoist Friend Mo, Iāve made Spirit Flesh Soup. Would you like to stay and eat with us?"
Mo Xiaolan, slightly startled, also glanced at Qin Gengyun, then quickly got up:
"I need to set up my stall at the night market, so I wonāt bother you any longer. Taoist Friend Qin, Taoist Friend Qiu, farewell."
She finished, cupped her hands toward the two, and, upon reaching the door, turned back earnestly:
"Just from this sale of Clear Wind Powder, I earned fifty Spirit Stones. I owe it all to Taoist Friend Qin and Taoist Friend Qiu. Thank you very much!"
Qin Gengyun hurriedly said, "Taoist Friend Mo, youāre too kind. Youāve helped me plenty in the past. Itās only right."
Qiu Zhihe nodded indifferently and gracefully stood up, her red skirt swaying with her movements like undulating waves:
"Taoist Friend Mo, take care."
"Alright, Iām off." Mo Xiaolan instinctively glanced at Qiu Zhiheās prominent curves before hurriedly exiting.
Qin Gengyun lamented, "Taoist Friend Mo leaves early and returns late every day, yet still trains and draws talismans at night. Itās not easy."
Suddenly feeling two piercing gazes, he quickly moved to sit beside Qiu Zhihe, smiling and saying:
"Taoist Friend Qiu, you look truly beautiful in that skirt!"
It wasnāt mere flattery. Qiu Zhiheās figure had become even more alluring recently, her charm even more mature, and wearing this red Hundred Pleats Cloud Pattern Skirt only made her more stunningly beautiful.
If she took a walk outside, it wouldnāt be long before people came to compete with Qin Gengyun over her.
Qiu Zhihe heard his praise and remained expressionless, bringing out the soup from the kitchen.
"Dinner."
"Alright!"
Qin Gengyun laughed softly, lowering his head to sip the soup, suddenly recalling that Qiu Zhihe said coldly yesterday she didnāt like this skirt, yet here she was wearing it today.
He couldnāt help but chuckle.
Qiu Zhihe looked at him calmly, "Why are you laughing?"
Qin Gengyun replied, "Nothing, just thought of something happy."
Qiu Zhihe frowned, "Should I invite Taoist Friend Mo over tomorrow then?"
Qin Gengyun paused, chuckling, "Taoist Friend Qiu, youāve misunderstood. I was just thinking about how beautiful my wife is, and it made me involuntarily laugh with joy."
Qiu Zhihe was taken aback for a moment, then snorted softly, lowering her head and no longer paying him any more attention.
Her round, pretty face almost sunk into the bowl, and perhaps due to the heat from the soup, her delicate ears turned a subtle shade of pink.
After the meal, Qiu Zhihe took out seven Jade Spirit Flowers.
Qin Gengyun exclaimed in surprise, "Taoist Friend Qiu, you can now cultivate seven Spirit Grass plants in a day?"
Initially, Qiu Zhihe could produce one plant a day, then two, and later five plants a day. Now sheās up to seven a day.
The speed at which she improved her Spirit Plant Master abilities was faster than he, an Alchemy Master Realm cultivator with remarkable skills!
"Tonight, refine them all."
Qiu Zhihe said calmly.
"Taoist Friend Qiu, my Divine Sense and Spiritual Power arenāt enough to continuously refine seven Spirit Pills!"
Qin Gengyun felt troubled.
Qiu Zhihe cast him a sidelong glance, "If someone wanted to kill you, and you told them you werenāt ready for Magical Combat, would they stop?"
Qin Gengyun was speechless, cupping his hands towards Qiu Zhihe, "Understood, Iāll get to it now."