Chapter 81 - 79: Meeting Again

Zhang Deming smiled. "I need materials for three aspects: speed, binding, and defense.

The Spirituality must be high enough—at least from Demon Beasts at the Intermediate Apprentice Realm. A higher realm would be even better.

The quantity will be quite large. I need at least five to ten Spirit Stones’ worth of specialized materials. This is just the initial trade; if I’m satisfied, we can arrange for a stable, long-term supply. Can you handle that?"

Qin Shizhong was overjoyed. He quickly nodded and said, "Never mind ten. I can get you specialized materials worth up to fifty Spirit Stones."

Zhang Deming nodded. "In that case, you can deliver them to my door. I’m at Qingyou Pool.

But let me be clear, if I’m not satisfied with the materials, you’ll have made the trip for nothing."

Qin Shizhong nodded. "Alright, Senior Brother. I’ll deliver them this afternoon. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.

Oh, right. If it’s convenient, could you tell me, Senior Brother, are you doing Artifact Refining, Refining Array, or Puppet Refining?"

Zhang Deming gave him a questioning look. "What, do you need to know every last detail just to sell some materials?"

Qin Shizhong quickly waved his hands. "No, no, Senior Brother, please don’t misunderstand. I’m just asking so I can filter the options and provide you with materials that are a better fit.

As you know, the required material properties vary greatly depending on what you’re refining."

Zhang Deming waved his hand. "Aside from the binding materials, which should ideally be plant-based, I have no other special requirements. The more abundant the Spirituality, the better."

Qin Shizhong grew even more delighted. With requirements like these, not only could he gather the goods quickly, but he could also keep his costs to a minimum.

After all, for many materials with similar levels of Spirituality, their price is heavily influenced by what type of refining they are best suited for.

Qin Shizhong nodded and promised, "In that case, I guarantee your satisfaction, Senior Brother."

Zhang Deming stood up. "I hope so. I’ll be waiting to hear from you. You don’t need me to give you detailed directions to Qingyou Pool, I assume?"

Qin Shizhong smiled. "I’m well aware of the four premier spots on Little Hui Peak, Senior Brother."

Zhang Deming nodded, then turned and left.

Back at Qingyou Pool, he reflected that it had been several days since he’d had a chance to properly laze around.

’Running back and forth has me covered in sweat. These Outer Disciple robes really aren’t good enough.’

’It only has a minor self-cleaning effect. If it’s not too dirty, you can just hang it up overnight and it’s like new again, which is pretty nice.’

’But on a hot day like this, there’s no cooling effect. Thumbs down.’

’When I have some influence in the future, I’ll definitely have to make a suggestion: the Celestial Spirit Sect’s Daoist Robes should be warm in the winter and cool in the summer, self-cleaning, and come with their own built-in special effects for dramatic entrances.’

’Oh, and they should be customizable, too. You know, with background music, a wind-machine effect, that sort of thing.’

While indulging in these wild fantasies, he moved a lounge chair out of the house and placed it under a large tree by the pool.

Without a second thought, Zhang Deming stripped off his clothes and leaped into the cool waters of Qingyou Pool.

The refreshing chill instantly dispelled the sweltering heat. Feeling completely invigorated, he swam a few laps before turning over to float on his back.

’A summer day, a clear pool, a secluded mountain ravine... so incredibly relaxing. This is the life.’

’If this were an ordinary world, I would gladly laze my life away in a place like this and start my retirement right now.’

’But alas, this is the Cultivation Realm. The temptations of eternal life and the power to look down upon all mortals are too great.’

After floating leisurely for a moment, he began to feel drowsy. His hands flew through a series of rapid hand seals, and from a pocket in his clothes on the bank, several vines slithered out.

They made their way across the water directly beneath him, then quickly coiled around, automatically weaving themselves into a raft of vines.

The moment the raft lifted him just enough for his face to break the surface, the vines stopped moving.

Zhang Deming stretched out comfortably and, just like that, lying on the vine raft, he drifted off to sleep.

With the hot summer sun beating down, his body submerged in the cool pool water, and the vine raft gently rocking, Zhang Deming was fast asleep in moments.

...

When Zhang Deming awoke, the hottest part of the afternoon had already passed.

He sat up, stretched, dismissed the vine raft beneath him, and swam toward the bank.

"Living the good life, aren’t you, Junior Brother?"

Zhang Deming had just reached the bank and was about to walk over to his clothes when an adorable voice suddenly reached his ears.

Zhang Deming whipped his head around. He saw that at some point, someone had occupied the lounge chair he had set out by the pool to relax in.

The person was lying with their head tilted, staring at him unabashedly.

Zhang Deming instinctively clapped a hand between his legs. "Senior Sister Ling’er? Long time no see! How did you get in? Don’t you know, Senior Sister? This was originally a job for several people. Now I’m doing it all by myself without a single day off. How can you call this a ’good life’?"

’You can’t let outsiders think your job is easy. That’s just basic office politics.’

The adorably clueless Ling’er ignored his barrage of questions, instead looking him up and down appraisingly. She said,

"You’ve kept in good shape. Looks like farming has its perks."

Zhang Deming’s brow furrowed. "Senior Sister, isn’t it a little inappropriate for you to be checking me out so brazenly?"

Ling’er nodded. "Hm, you’re right, it is a bit inappropriate. After all, a boy has to protect himself when he’s out and about. Can’t just let anyone take advantage."

She seemed to reply almost subconsciously, but the moment the words left her mouth, both of their expressions changed.

"You... The little white snake in the herb garden... you raised it?" Zhang Deming instantly realized what was going on and asked.

"Uh... I actually have something I need to do today. Let’s chat next time!"

With that, she shot to her feet. The unique Spirit Wind of the Agility Technique swirled around her feet, and she vanished from Qingyou Pool in a flash.

"Hey! Next time we meet, I’d prefer to be wearing pants!" Zhang Deming yelled after her disappearing figure.

Zhang Deming didn’t give chase. His brows knitted tightly as flashes of the past several days ran through his mind. Many things that had been unclear suddenly made sense.

That phrase she’d just used wasn’t just some random remark.

Back in the day, Zhang Deming’s father and Panx Juan’er’s father were best friends—the kind of inseparable buddies who would take a knife for each other without a second thought.

Zhang Deming could still remember their intense bond.

In fact, their families had even built their houses right next to each other.

For all these reasons, their child betrothal had been arranged even before Zhang Deming was born.

The two men had gotten married around the same time, and their wives became pregnant around the same time as well.

They had even made a pact: if both children were boys, they’d be sworn brothers; if both were girls, they’d be sworn sisters; and if it was a boy and a girl, they would be husband and wife.

So, from a very young age, Zhang Deming had a fiancée. Coupled with the Innate Wisdom from his past life and certain experiences, he had resigned himself to his fate. From the time they were toddlers, he had always treated her as his future wife, looking out for her.

Of course, it wasn’t anything weird; he just took exceptionally good care of her.

As a result, from the moment she could form memories, Panx Juan’er was exceptionally clingy with Zhang Deming—the kind who would practically hang off his leg like an ornament.