The next day.
Early morning.
Qin Gengyun opened his eyes and began to review the gains from last night.
[Name: Qin Gengyun]
[Lifespan: 35/40]
[Cultivation: Qi Cultivation Third-Layer, 0/500]
[Skill: First Tier Alchemist, 3/200]
[Spirit Roots: Fire Series Lower Grade Spirit Root (19/100), Ice Series Lower Grade Spirit Root (25/100)]
[Available Cultivation Points: 6]
Crunched three times last night, working hard all night... Actually, it was only hard for five minutes, and got 6 cultivation points. Thinking of it this way, Qin Gengyun felt it was quite profitable.
As for the Spirit Roots, each Fire and Ice series rose by 3 points. Estimating the effort needed to upgrade to Middle Grade Spirit Roots, it seems at least four hundred breaths of hard work is required.
Thinking of this, his waist seemed to ache more.
"Gengyun, add points!"
Qin Gengyun turned his head and looked at Qiu Zhihe, who was turned away from him, and whispered to himself.
He added 3 points each to [Cultivation] and [Skills].
After adding the points, the panel attributes changed immediately.
[Name: Qin Gengyun]
[Lifespan: 35/40]
[Cultivation: Qi Cultivation Third-Layer, 3/500]
[Skill: First Tier Alchemist, 6/200]
If the relationship with Qiu Zhihe doesn't improve, elevating cultivation to Qi Cultivation Third-Layer requires more than two thousand breaths, and advancing the Alchemist realm to Second Tier requires nearly a thousand breaths.
Indeed, the road is long and arduous.
Qin Gengyun got up slowly, supported his waist, got out of bed, and looked back at Qiu Zhihe, who had her eyes closed, sighing softly in his heart.
How exactly can one increase [Marital Intimacy]?
At this moment, Qiu Zhihe opened her eyes, and his reflection appeared in her clear pupils.
Qin Gengyun apologized, "Did I wake you?"
Qiu Zhihe shook her head and sat up clutching the quilt, her hair disheveled, and her pupils seemingly still a bit unfocused, with a hint of bewilderment on her round face.
She blinked, and after a moment, shook her head, murmuring:
"I fell asleep?"
"What?" Qin Gengyun asked in confusion.
"Nothing." Qiu Zhihe looked at him, her eyes returning to coldness, covering herself with the blanket.
Qin Gengyun was stunned for a moment and finally understood. He got up, walked into the kitchen, put on clothes inside, and then called out:
"Are you dressed?"
"Yes."
A cold voice sounded outside, and Qin Gengyun walked out of the kitchen.
He saw Qiu Zhihe wearing a black Hundred Pleats Ruyi Moon Skirt, the neckline slightly low, draped with a light blue chiffon robe, her graceful neck and fair, delicate collarbone faintly visible.
Her flowing black hair was tied up in a lady's bun, with a simple wooden hairpin inserted among her lustrous locks.
Her charming round face already showed hints of mature womanly poise.
But those pretty apricot eyes still held a chill, sweeping over to Qin Gengyun, who coughed, looked away, and didn't know what to say.
Thinking about it, it was indeed strange. Every night, Qiu Zhihe took the initiative, like an insatiable, resentful woman, but afterward, she immediately became cold. Even sleeping on the same bed, she wouldn't touch him.
During the day, it was even more so, always keeping at least a table's distance from him.
This feeling was very strange, as if he was just her tool for dual cultivation.
But clearly, it should be me treating her as a tool, right?
Qin Gengyun shook his head; Qiu Zhihe had no marital feelings for him. Every night like that was probably just fulfilling the duty of a wife, right?
"Taoist Friend Qin, could you tell me more about the neighboring area?"
Suddenly, Qiu Zhihe spoke.
Qin Gengyun nodded at her and replied:
"I told you about the neighbors on both sides yesterday. Then, there's the house directly across the alley, where a female Talisman Master named Mo Xiaolan lives. She's hardworking and upright, but she leaves early and returns late every day, so the two of you are unlikely to meet."
"Living next to Taoist Friend Mo's house on the left is a male cultivator named Feng Kai. He's at Qi Cultivation Third-Layer but hasn't made progress for years and spends his days drowning his sorrows in alcohol."
"The house to the right of Taoist Friend Mo's was originally empty, but a few days ago, three male cultivators moved in. Interestingly, the house seems too small for three people."
"A few days ago..." Qiu Zhihe's gaze flickered, asking, "Why is that strange?"
Qin Gengyun chuckled, "That house is the same size as ours, how can it accommodate three people?"
Qiu Zhihe slightly narrowed her eyes and asked again, "Have you seen those three male cultivators?"
"I've only seen them once, all wearing black robes and moving quickly, so I couldn't see their faces clearly."
Qin Gengyun thought for a moment and added, "Oh, I also saw once, the day before yesterday morning, one of them went out to buy breakfast."
"Buying breakfast?"
"Yes, you're new here and unfamiliar. There are a few breakfast stalls at the entrance of Narrow Rain Lane. I remember that person bought some buns that day."
Speaking of buns, Qin Gengyun realized they hadn't had breakfast yet, so he said:
"I'll go out and buy breakfast. What do you want?"
Qiu Zhihe suddenly said, "I'll go."
Without waiting for Qin Gengyun to respond, she had already gotten up and went out the door.
"Taoist Friend Qiu."
Qin Gengyun called after her, "I want a bowl of beef noodles."
But the door had already closed, and it was unclear if Qiu Zhihe heard him.
Qin Gengyun remained silent for a moment, smiled wryly, and shook his head:
"Marital intimacy... the road is long and winding."
Qiu Zhihe walked out of the house. In the alley, there were already a few passersby. The soles of their shoes made soft clacking sounds on the dew-drenched bluestone slabs.
In the distance at the alley entrance, several breakfast stalls were emitting wisps of white smoke. Familiar neighbors greeted each other with smiles, some even quarreling a bit over who should pay for breakfast.
Qiu Zhihe stopped in her tracks, her expression bewildered.
Just a month ago, Cyan Lotus Mountain was also this lively. Among the chattering junior disciples, she always felt it was noisy.
And now, that kind of noise was no longer to be seen.
Suddenly, the door of the house diagonally across opened, and a tall, thin male cultivator in a black robe came out, heading toward the alley entrance.
This was the mysterious house with three male cultivators Qin Gengyun had mentioned.
Qiu Zhihe's eyes turned cold again as she quietly followed the male cultivator.
This person was quite vigilant, constantly looking around as if guarding against being secretly followed.
However, Qiu Zhihe was too skilled in tracking, assassination, and concealing aura. This male cultivator only glanced at her once and paid no further attention.
The tall, thin male cultivator arrived at a breakfast stall at the alley entrance, bought a basket of steamed buns, then sat down, looking around, as if waiting for someone.
Qiu Zhihe also bought a basket of steamed buns, observing the other party nonchalantly.
A moment later, another male cultivator in a black robe appeared. The tall, thin one exchanged glances with him, and instead of heading back, the two walked out of the alley side by side.
Qiu Zhihe calmly retracted her gaze, carrying the buns back to Narrow Rain Lane.
"Cyan Lotus, although you can change your appearance and form, you must be cautious everywhere. Those righteous path dogs may not believe you're dead."
The words of her master before his death echoed in her mind, and the coldness in Qiu Zhihe's eyes intensified.
When she reached Qin Gengyun's house and was about to push the door open, the sound of a door opening came from behind her.
It was the house directly opposite.
The door opened, and a long-legged female cultivator in plain clothes walked out, stopping in her tracks upon seeing Qiu Zhihe.
Qiu Zhihe ignored her and turned to enter the house.
Mo Xiaolan stood frozen, staring at the closed door opposite, murmuring:
"Taoist Friend Qin really got married?"