"What great news, young Taoist Qingyi! If you like, I can even put in a few good words about you to Young Master Yang. He can help you with the initial selection process!"
A big smile took over Tianran's face, but Qingyi denied it with a firm gesture.
"You don't need to worry about that. I plan to pass the tests on my own abilities."
"Ah... of course, a pure man like young Taoist Qingyi would never resort to such unworthy methods!"
Tianran shook his head, turning his attention to the road and slapping the horses' bridles to speed up the march.
They soon arrived at the great central gates of the Golden Cloud City.
The large central street that welcomed them was made of meticulously polished stone, wide enough to fit a hundred people side by side.
With a broad, enthusiastic gesture, Tianran began to introduce Qingyi to the city.
"That's the Thousand Petals Pavilion over there. It's the largest cultivation store in the entire outer region of the Blue Moon Continent! They buy and sell everything!"
He pointed towards a colossal building that stretched into the horizon, towering over ten stories high and dominating an entire city block all to itself.
Its roof tiles were a vibrant red, and its golden wooden structure reflected brightly in the rays of the morning sun.
"Looks expensive..." Qingyi muttered, observing the large stream of cultivators entering and leaving the majestic building.
Most seemed to be in the Foundation Realm, many so powerful that he couldn't even sense their presence.
"It is! My father once came to buy a cultivation technique at an auction here and nearly bankrupted our family!" Tianran let out a nervous laugh and scratched his back awkwardly.
"Luckily, Young Master Yang was around and helped us out of that situation, hahaha."
"Speaking of him, we are almost at the Yang Family's territory," he turned his face, pointing to a large mansion rising imposingly in the distance.
In front of the residence stood an arrogant-looking young man, accompanied by a man whose aura was so deep and oppressive that just watching him was enough to make Qingyi shudder involuntarily.
'At least in the Golden Core Realm... System, can I see his information?
[Negative, only women's information can be observed].
'I see...' he replied to the system, and soon an explosive voice charged with Foundation Realm aura snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Mo Tianran, you pig! I told you you were supposed to be here at nine in the morning! Do you know what time it is? Where's your uncle?"
Young Master Yang roared as he advanced a few steps.
He was a young man with noble features, but his beauty was nowhere near Qingyi's.
"Ah... I'm sorry, Brother Yang. It's just that we were attacked by a spirit beast on the way. Uncle Wuchen stayed with the guards to defeat it while we fled..."
'So that's why such a wealthy family traveled unescorted,' Qingyi reflected, but soon felt a crushing pressure fall on his body when Tianran pointed in his direction.
"The wheel of the carriage also ended up breaking in the middle of the road. Luckily, the young Taoist Long Qingyi was nearby and helped me put it back together and accompanied us here."
At that moment, Young Master Yang's gaze fixed on Qingyi.
He hadn't even noticed the other person next to Tianran, but now that he did, his heart was filled with jealousy.
Qingyi was stunning, even in another man's eyesight, and that made Young Master Yang shudder instantly.
What on earth was a man like that doing traveling with his future wife? Was he trying to steal her away?
The Yang heir's gaze quickly turned to pure fury.
"And you still allowed some commoner to walk around with my Feixue? An engaged woman! I should castrate him for that."
With a fluid movement, Young Master Yang drew his sword, taking a threatening step towards Qingyi, who immediately regretted not leaving as soon as they arrived in the city.
Why on earth had he accompanied Tianran here?
Tianran stepped between them, urgently trying to explain:
"Young Taoist Qingyi is a pure and good-hearted man, you-"
"Enough!" Mo Feixue's cute, high-pitched voice interrupted Tianran as she gracefully stepped out of the carriage, her tight qipao replaced by a long, conservative dress.
Young Master Yang froze, watching her beauty with his mouth hanging open, almost drooling.
His Feixue was finally there and in a few days, she would be his alone!
"This Qingyi is just some commoner, husband. He doesn't deserve your attention," Feixue declared, taking confident steps and throwing herself into Young Master Yang's arms, sealing their lips in a passionate kiss.
Watching that scene, Qingyi felt his stomach turn.
Feixue had sucked his cock just a few minutes ago, and he was sure there was nothing to rinse her mouth with in that carriage.
Didn't that mean that Young Master Yang had just indirectly kissed his...?
"Ugh..."
Qingyi shuddered at that thought, and as he looked up, he saw Young Master Yang's flaming eyes focused on him.
The nobleman's expression was brimming with arrogance as he took Feixue's lips.
It was almost as if he was trying to... provoke jealousy in Qingyi?!
'Brother, you've just indirectly kissed my cock and you really think I'm jealous of you? You're not even married and you're already one of the biggest cuckolds I've ever met!'
The thought crossed Qingyi's mind, but obviously, he didn't have the courage to express it out loud, just lowering his head in false submission.
"Husband... Qingyi helped us a lot to get here on time... don't you think you should reward him properly?" Feixue pulled her lips away from her future husband's and turned towards Qingyi, a complicit smile lighting up her beautiful face.
"Oh... of course, dear!"
Young Master Yang pulled out a small bag of coins and threw it towards Qingyi. "Now get out of here before I change my mind," he declared arrogantly as he wrapped his arms around Feixue's waist and led her inside the mansion.
Qingyi just shook her head before examining the coin purse.
'Twenty gold coins!' he exhaled as he counted. That was more than ten years' wages for an ordinary peasant! Even his master barely had two gold coins on him.
'Young Master Yang seems arrogant, but he really is a kind man...' Qingyi thought.
What kind of man would not only willingly kiss his wife's mouth after she had just sucked another man's cock, but also reward him for it?
Qingyi's heart couldn't compare to that of Young Master Yang.
He would never be able to stand as such a proud and generous cuckold...
Taking one last look at Young Master Yang retreating back, he put his fists together and made a respectful bow.
"Don't worry, Young Master Yang. If you ever take another woman as your wife, I'll pay her a visit too. That way they'll all have my taste!" Qingyi murmured, just loud enough for his own ears to pick up.
Then he turned and started walking towards the city center.
He was sure of one thing: he would never, ever accept a woman who didn't possess the faithful trait.
He could fuck other girls, sleep with them and extract all the lust points he could, but his wives, the ones who would truly receive his love and affection...
All of them, without exception, would have the faithful trait.