3 a.m.
Narrow Rain Lane.
All is silent.
Three figures in black robes stumbled into the alley, quickly entering a house.
Closing the door, the three collapsed to the ground, with two of them having blood flowing from their thighs, groaning in pain.
"Who exactly is that female demon?!"
"Shh! Zhao Yi, it's said that the Heart-devouring Poison is like a Gu insect, allowing the one who poisoned to monitor the victim's actions and activate the poison within a thousand miles!"
"Senior, I misspoke just now, please don't blame me!"
The man named "Zhao Yi" with a horse-like face knelt down to apologize to an unseen senior.
He then got up and said to the other two: "Qian Er, Sun San, what should we do now?"
Qian Er, slightly plump and fair-skinned, and Sun San, thin with a sharp face, shook their heads bitterly:
"What else can we do? Naturally, we must strictly adhere to senior's orders and deliver the Pill Furnace to Willow Smoke Lane tomorrow at 1 p.m."
Zhao Yi's face showed humiliation, but he was helpless, so he stood up:
"Senior also instructed us to clean the Pill Furnace and remove traces of the Blood Pill Sect. Let's get started."
Saying this, he walked to the kitchen, pulled back a black curtain, revealing a bronze furnace to the three people.
Qian Er and Sun San had their thighs stabbed and grimaced in pain:
"We're both injured, can't you clean it up by yourself?"
Zhao Yi angrily replied: "You were the ones who said there were no experts in Yunling Town, allowing free robbery, or we wouldn't have encountered that female demon... Senior, at this point, are you two still trying to slack off? Watch out, I'll report to the senior tomorrow, saying you're defying orders!"
"Damn it!" The chubby Qian Er stood up abruptly:
"Zhao Yi, don't slander me, I'll come and clean!"
Sun San also had to prop himself on the wall to stand up, dragging his recently bandaged thigh, limping towards the bronze furnace.
The three of them endured their injuries and mental trauma, silently starting to clean the Pill Furnace.
Outside the window.
A tall red figure flashed by.
In the next moment, it seemed to enter a rental house across the street.
As the storm clouds cleared, moonlight poured down, and Narrow Rain Lane remained serene and quiet.
...
The next day.
Qin Gengyun opened his eyes and struggled to sit up from bed.
At the moment, he felt exhausted in the abdomen, and his waist and knees were weak.
Turning his head to look at Qiu Zhihe, who was turned away from him, he saw her breathing evenly, as if in a sweet sleep.
This can't continue anymore.
With a thought, Qin Gengyun's eyes revealed illusory text.
[Name: Qin Gengyun]
[Lifespan: 35/40]
[Cultivation: Qi Cultivation Third-Layer, 3/500]
[Skills: First Tier Alchemist, 6/200]
[Spirit Root: Lower Grade Fire Series Spirit Root (28/100), Lower Grade Ice Series Spirit Root (33/100)]
[Available Cultivation Points: 16]
The Fire Series Spirit Root increased by 9 points, and the Ice Series Spirit Root increased by 8 points.
Acquired 16 cultivation points.
"Gengyun, allocate points!"
Qin Gengyun allocated 8 points each to [Cultivation] and [Skills], resulting in the following attribute panel:
[Cultivation: Qi Cultivation Third-Layer, 11/500]
[Skills: First Tier Alchemist, 14/200]
Qin Gengyun sighed, ultimately needing to improve [Marital Relationship], otherwise he would die on the path of dual cultivation before he could refine the Ice Heart Rejuvenation Pill.
He got out of bed quietly, put on his clothes in the kitchen, and came out to see Qiu Zhihe still sleeping soundly on the bed.
Without waking Qiu Zhihe, Qin Gengyun quietly opened the door, slipped out, and gently closed it.
The day passes without words.
At night, Qin Gengyun went to the night market.
Mo Xiaolan had arrived early and waved to him from afar.
Qin Gengyun walked quickly over, smiling and cupping his hands:
"Taoist Friend Mo, you're here so early today?"
Mo Xiaolan had changed out of the tough uniform from her post house job during the day, and put on her usual plain robe, with a graceful orchid on her left shoulder, smiling:
"Taoist Friend Qin, didn't you say it's not peaceful at night lately? Let's check the Pill Furnace early and go back soon."
"Good, then let's hurry."
The two of them skillfully made their way to the stall at the very end of East Market; Taoist Friend Zheng was not asleep this time, standing in front of the stall, pushing aside the disheveled hair in front of his forehead:
"Taoist friends, come with me."
They again navigated through winding paths to reach the secretive room.
Sitting inside was indeed a bronze furnace, with a lower grade Fire-Control Spirit Fan beside it.
Circling the Pill Furnace, Qin Gengyun opened the lid and the medicine entrance on the side, examining them thoroughly, then sat down, used Divine Sense to enter the furnace, and inspected it inside.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, stood up, and nodded to Mo Xiaolan.
Understanding, Mo Xiaolan bargained with the messy vendor, negotiating and lowering the price by fifty spirit coins.
Eventually, Qin Gengyun paid Taoist Friend Zheng 11 Spirit Stone and 50 spirit coins, buying the bronze furnace and Fire-Control Spirit Fan.
Qin Gengyun felt joyful, finally owning alchemy equipment; once he refines Clear Wind Powder, he will truly become an alchemist!
"Taoist Friend Qin, let me help you pull the Pill Furnace back home."
"Taoist Friend Mo, much appreciated."
Neither of them had a Storage Bag, something only mid-period Qi Cultivators could afford; thus Mo Xiaolan found a wooden cart used for transporting goods, and the two lifted the bronze furnace onto it, pushing it back together.
"Taoist Friend Qin, wait a moment."
Before leaving East Market, Mo Xiaolan whispered to Qin Gengyun, turning back to secretly hand three Spirit Stones to Taoist Friend Zheng, cautioning again:
"Taoist Friend Zheng, be sure not to tell Taoist Friend Qin."
The messy vendor laughed: "Taoist Friend Mo, if it weren't for the fact that I already have three tigresses at home, I must figure out how to marry you!"
Mo Xiaolan chuckled: "Taoist Friend Zheng, you're joking. I only rely on my own cultivation in this life, never embarking on the path of dual cultivation."
Saying this, she turned to leave, joining back with Qin Gengyun, and together they pushed the cart back to Narrow Rain Lane.
By now, it was already 9 p.m., the full moon in the sky.
Perhaps worried about ghost cultivators ambushing, the alley was empty, as Qin Gengyun and Mo Xiaolan pushed the cart to the door.
"Taoist Friend Mo, I'm so grateful for your help; words are not enough to express my thanks!"
Qin Gengyun said, grateful to Mo Xiaolan.
"Taoist Friend Qin, why be so formal between us?"
Mo Xiaolan smiled warmly: "This Pill Furnace is heavy, let me help you move it into the house."
Creaaak!
The door opened, and a petite figure emerged.
She wore a plain cross-collar skirt, with her long hair coiled into a matron bun. Looking at Qin Gengyun, then the bronze furnace, her gaze finally rested on Mo Xiaolan.
Mo Xiaolan looked at her too, sizing her up. Whether by coincidence or not, both women wore plain clothes, appearing like a pair of sister flowers.
Yet, while their eyes met, neither spoke, creating a strange atmosphere.
Qin Gengyun hurriedly stood between them:
"Taoist Friend Mo, this is my wife, her name is Qiu Zhihe."
Mo Xiaolan cupped her hands to Qiu Zhihe: "Taoist Friend Qiu, my name is Mo Xiaolan; I live across the street, so feel free to come to me anytime if needed."
Qiu Zhihe's expression was indifferent: "Thank you, Taoist Friend Mo."
Mo Xiaolan pointed to the bronze furnace: "Then this Pill Furnace..."
Qiu Zhihe said: "I'll help him bring it home."
"Alright, Taoist Friend Qin, Taoist Friend Qiu, I'll be leaving now."
Mo Xiaolan bowed to the two, turned to her own house front, opened the door, and entered.
Qin Gengyun said to Qiu Zhihe: "Taoist Friend Qiu, let's move the Pill Furnace home."
"You do it yourself."
As soon as she spoke, Qiu Zhihe had already turned and gone inside, ignoring him.
Qin Gengyun: "?"