Chapter 194
Chapter 194: There Must Be Something Wrong With Your Physique
The next day.
Soft sunlight filtered in through the glass windows, bathing the main house in a quiet, enchanting serenity. The understated luxury of the room only added to the tranquility.
“It’s almost noon,” came a gentle voice, low and slightly hoarse, exuding an inexplicable allure.
Shi Zi Chu, her eyes half-closed, lifted her eyelids and glanced over.
Ye He Qi, already beautiful by nature, looked even gentler with his eyes lowered, giving off an innocent, harmless air—yet beneath that, he was a fox spirit that devoured humans!
“How long have I been resting?” Shi Zi Chu’s voice was rough, tinged with the lingering drowsiness of sleep.
She had arrived at the main house around the second watch of the night, and it wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that she finally drifted off to sleep.
If it weren’t for her appointment with Yan Yan and the others last night, she probably wouldn’t have been able to leave today.
“A little less than half an hour,” Ye He Qi answered, his hand resting on her waist, giving her a gentle pat to keep her from falling back asleep.
When Shi Zi Chu seemed to be waking up, he pulled his hand away.
Shi Zi Chu lingered a bit longer before finally sitting up. Seeing him lying comfortably with his eyes closed, she felt an inexplicable sense of imbalance.
Before she could do anything, Ye He Qi opened his eyes and looked at her. “Shall I pick you up from the tavern later?”
Shi Zi Chu’s questioning gaze caught his attention, and he lazily added, “We’ll have dinner, then go to Linlang Pavilion for a stroll.”
“I’ll empty it out,” Shi Zi Chu said, her tone teasing.
Ye He Qi chuckled twice, as if saying, ‘If that makes you happy.’
After meditating to circulate her spiritual power, Shi Zi Chu felt the aches and discomfort fade, and her cultivation neared the perfection of the Nascent Soul stage.
This wasn’t because Ye He Qi failed to supplement her; it was because he had withdrawn some of his power at the right time, otherwise, she might have already been struck by a Heavenly Tribulation.
Once done with her adjustments, Shi Zi Chu put on a new set of robes, quickly tidied up, and left, her movements seeming a bit like someone who had hastily pulled up their pants without admitting to it.
Tavern.
By the time Shi Zi Chu arrived, Qian Jin Jin had already finished discussing matters with the Jun Clan elder.
After Shi Zi Chu placed Mu Li aside, Qian Jin Jin immediately rushed over, throwing herself into her arms. “Good little sister! I really adore you!”
Sensing Qian Jin Jin’s joy, Shi Zi Chu smiled warmly. “Looks like things went smoothly?”
Qian Jin Jin released her and was about to speak, but then paused, as though struck by something. “Little sister Zi Chu, why do I feel like you’ve become even more beautiful?”
Her delicate and gentle brows now carried a hint of charm, her every expression radiating an irresistible allure. She resembled a blooming peony, breathtakingly beautiful yet noble.
Shi Zi Chu shot a playful glare at Qian Jin Jin.
The teasing gaze sent Qian Jin Jin’s heart racing.
Qiu Yue Bai slapped Qian Jin Jin on the head, waking her from her daze.
Yan Yan walked over and hooked her arm around Shi Zi Chu’s shoulder, her smile now tinged with a mischievous teasing. “Looks like our little obedient one had a great night last night~”
“Big sister!” Shi Zi Chu hummed, blushing.
Qiu Yue Bai and Qian Jin Jin, both experienced in such matters, immediately caught on.
“Seems like it was quite replenishing,” Qiu Yue Bai laughed. “This is the right way! The path of cultivation is long and grueling, and we women need to learn how to relax and enjoy ourselves!”
Qian Jin Jin offered an invitation. “There’s a courtesan at Warm Jade Pavilion. How about we go there tonight?”
“You two are so clueless! Our little obedient one is keeping her beloved hidden in a golden house. She won’t have time for you two at Warm Jade Pavilion.” Yan Yan laughed.
“Well, maybe another day!” Qian Jin Jin patted her chest. “Once I pass my exam, I’ll treat everyone! Little sister Zi Chu, you must come!”
“Definitely,” Shi Zi Chu smiled in reply.
When Lu Yun Zhen, Zhou Ji Ming, and Gu Bu Yan arrived, Shi Zi Chu and Yan Yan were already drinking.
“Hey! You guys are too inconsiderate! Drinking without waiting for me!” Zhou Ji Ming strode over, snatching the wine jug from Qian Jin Jin’s hand.
Lu Yun Zhen sat down beside them. Noticing how joyful Qian Jin Jin looked, he asked, “Is everything settled?”
“Of course!” Qian Jin Jin raised her hand, pointing at Shi Zi Chu. “My little sister Zi Chu is super reliable! She solved everything for me last night!”
Lu Yun Zhen followed her gaze. Shi Zi Chu was holding a wine bowl with both hands, looking up in slight confusion when she heard someone calling her.
She was innocent and soft, though little did they know, she was also a little drunkard.
Noticing Lu Yun Zhen’s gaze, Shi Zi Chu smiled and said, “Last night, I met Clan Chief Jun, so I helped Jin Jin big sister.”
Lu Yun Zhen nodded and looked away.
His gaze flickered to the veins rising on the back of his hand, and Shi Zi Chu lowered her eyes, taking a sip of wine.
“Little sister Zi Chu, ouch! Why is Big Sister Yan hitting me?” Zhou Ji Ming rubbed the back of his head, looking at Yan Yan with a hurt expression.
“Not keeping your mouth in check,” Yan Yan said with a sideways glance. “Taking advantage of Zi Chu’s young age to bully her?”
After a couple of reprimands, Zhou Ji Ming quickly realized.
Qiu Yue Bai and Qian Jin Jin, being women, could call each other big sister and little sister without issue, but he, as a man, shouldn’t have addressed her like that.
Zhou Ji Ming raised his wine bowl. “I misspoke. Calling you Daoist is too formal. Is it alright if I call you Zi Chu instead?”
“Of course,” Shi Zi Chu lifted her bowl in return.
As they drank and chatted, the time passed quickly.
By the time Shi Zi Chu managed to steady herself, she looked out the window and saw the beautiful glow of a fiery sunset on the horizon.
Evening had come.
After bidding farewell to the others at the table, Shi Zi Chu took Mu Li and left.
As she descended the stairs, Qiu Yue Bai stood up and casually leaned his elbow on Zhou Ji Ming’s shoulder. “So? Are you thinking about our little sister Zi Chu now?”
Zhou Ji Ming grumbled, “Am I that kind of person?”
“Not sure,” Qiu Yue Bai took a sip of wine, then raised his bowl with a bold grin. “But if I were a man, I’d definitely go and offer my services!”
Zhou Ji Ming scoffed, “You shameless fool.”
“You brat!” Qiu Yue Bai stretched out his arm and locked Zhou Ji Ming in a chokehold.
Watching the two old friends wrestle, Yan Yan lowered her eyes and took a sip of her drink.
Meanwhile, Shi Zi Chu, seated in the carriage, was lying on one side in a lazy manner, resembling Xue Gu.
Ye He Qi put down the documents in his hands and glanced over. Seeing her almost asleep with her arm propped up, he spoke in a gentle tone, “Zhi Rou suddenly took on quite a few tasks.”
Shi Zi Chu cracked open an eye, then closed it again, giving a soft hum to acknowledge she had heard.
Leaning back against the carriage wall, Ye He Qi spoke leisurely, “Peak Golden Core—that’s her current cultivation level.”
Before he could finish, Shi Zi Chu shot up, her eyes wide.
“Could be tonight, perhaps,” Ye He Qi chuckled.
Seeing him leave the topic hanging, Shi Zi Chu didn’t ask further but pondered what kind of encounter Chu Zhi Rou must have had.
In such a short time, she had already reached half-step Nascent Soul!
It was truly enviable!
Ye He Qi casually estimated, “By my reckoning, your cultivation level should be at least mid-stage Spirit Transformation now.”
“Master must still have some of his power that he hasn’t given me,” Shi Zi Chu guessed.
She looked at Ye He Qi. “What’s your cultivation level now?”
“Fusion Great Perfection.”
Half-step Great Ascension?
Does dual cultivation of water spiritual roots really yield such results?
Noticing Shi Zi Chu lost in thought, Ye He Qi sent a telepathic message, “There must be something wrong with your physique.”
It was his first time, so Shi Zi Chu had received a huge boost.
But Shi Zi Chu wasn’t the same, and despite only being at the Nascent Soul stage, the disparity in their cultivation levels had still given her a considerable benefit.
It wasn’t a matter of spiritual roots; it was more likely a problem with her physique.