When Zhou Kai returned to his small courtyard in the Chen family, dusk was already approaching.
Several simple home-cooked dishes had been laid out on the table inside, still steaming.
Something indescribable stirred in Zhou Kai’s heart.
He had been born an abandoned child of the immortal path. With low-grade spiritual roots of metal, wood, water, and fire attributes, his aptitude doomed him to cultivate at a turtle’s pace, with limited achievements and no hope of the Great Dao.
He had refused to accept it. For that sliver of faint hope, for a little more cultivation resources, he had stepped onto a path of no return—becoming a rogue cultivator who robbed others.
Looking at Chen Ziyi sitting quietly at the table, looking at the warmth of this home, he suddenly remembered those days of licking blood from blades, living from one day to the next.
Every move had been a gamble. If he won, he gained a few spirit stones or spiritual herbs to barely survive. If he lost, it meant eternal damnation.
Until that battle with his enemy, when his dantian was severely damaged and his immortal path severed…
For a cultivator, it was no different from a death sentence. The faint trace of Dao he had left was completely cut off.
In despair, he had secured a position as Guest Elder in the Chen family, managing the Spirit Beast Garden. The authority was modest, the days stable and idle. For someone whose immortal road had ended, it seemed like the best possible destination.
He had thought he would spend the rest of his life like stagnant water in the Chen family, without a ripple.
Until Chen Ziyi appeared.
The meal was simple but delicious.
Chen Ziyi sat quietly beside him, occasionally picking food for him with practiced ease.
After dinner, they did not return indoors but sat on the stone steps at the entrance of the courtyard.
The night breeze blew gently with a hint of coolness.
Chen Ziyi hugged her knees and gazed at the sparse stars in the sky.
“Lord, I once saw an immortal Lord at the 4th stage Qi Refining Realm.”
Her voice was soft.
“At that time, my father bent his waist almost to the ground before him and didn’t even dare breathe loudly.”
Zhou Kai said nothing and let her continue.
“Before I was sent here, I was actually very afraid.”
Her voice grew lower, trembling slightly with lingering fear.
“I thought… I thought immortal Lords were always high above, unsmiling, and might even beat or scold mortal women like us at will.”
She stole a glance at Zhou Kai’s profile.
“But you are not what I imagined.”
“How am I different?” Zhou Kai’s tone was calm, without emotion.
“You… you let me sit at the same table to eat.” Chen Ziyi spoke softly, as if afraid to disturb something fragile. “Even in my own home, my father never allowed the women to sit at the main table.”
“And you even gave me spirit stones.”
Zhou Kai did not respond, simply looking at the night sky.
Once, he too had been someone who looked up at “immortal Lords,” willing to risk his life for a few spirit stones.
Now, he had become a different kind of immortal Lord in someone else’s eyes.
The world was truly strange.
He turned to look at the cautious yet resilient woman beside him. Get faster updates on g.com.
Under the moonlight, her cheeks glowed softly, her eyes clear and filled with complete trust.
Zhou Kai extended his arm and gently wrapped it around her shoulders.
Chen Ziyi leaned obediently into his embrace, like a small boat that had found its harbor.
With warm fragrance in his arms, Zhou Kai felt no inappropriate thoughts. The night breeze no longer seemed so cold.
They sat together, enjoying the rare tranquility.
After a while, Zhou Kai broke the silence.
“Tomorrow I will go out of the marketplace to hunt demonic beasts. I’ll be back in less than ten days.”
Chen Ziyi turned sharply, worry written across her face.
“Hunt demonic beasts? Isn’t that very dangerous?”
Her voice grew urgent.
“The path of cultivation is like this. There is nothing to fear,” Zhou Kai said evenly.
He was already accustomed to danger. Lacking strength was the real danger.
Chen Ziyi bit her lower lip, twisting the corner of her sleeve nervously.
“But, Lord…”
Seeing her anxious expression, Zhou Kai felt something stir in his heart. Perhaps the word “Lord” no longer suited their growing closeness.
He said, “Relax when you’re with me. There’s no need to be so cautious. Also… calling me ‘Lord’ all the time feels distant.”
Chen Ziyi froze, her cheeks gradually flushing red.
She lowered her eyes and remained silent for a moment.
When she looked up again, there was shyness in her gaze, but also solemnity.
“Then… from now on, I will call you… husband?”
As soon as the word left her lips, her heart skipped a beat, and her face burned even redder.
Zhou Kai was briefly stunned, then nodded as if nothing had happened.
[Chen Ziyi Favorability +12]
[Favorability: 82/100 (Affection)]
The system prompt sounded at the perfect moment.
The night deepened.
Zhou Kai did not rush to refine pills.
He had something more important to do.
“Ziyi, come here,” Zhou Kai beckoned to Chen Ziyi, who was sitting by the bed lost in thought.
“Mm?” She walked over.
“During the day, I gained some insights while refining pills, but I feel that my spiritual energy circulation is still slightly sluggish,” Zhou Kai said seriously. “As your husband, I need your assistance to consolidate my cultivation and exchange some insights. Only then can we lay a solid foundation for our future alchemical ambitions.”
Chen Ziyi responded softly, “Mm.”
Zhou Kai chuckled and pulled her down to sit, his large hand naturally wrapping around her slender waist.
Their figures intertwined into a tender nocturnal melody.
[Available Exchange Interaction Points: 16]
“Not bad, another sixteen points,” Zhou Kai said happily as he looked at the system panel.
Without hesitation, he added all the points to Alchemy.
[Hundred Arts of Cultivation: Alchemy (1st Grade 55/100)]
Zhou Kai did not immediately rest but went to the side room.
Taking out the furnace, he struck while the iron was hot and began refining pills again.
This time, his control over the flames was clearly more refined. The timing and amount of spiritual energy injected into the furnace were precise.
When handling several supplementary herbs that previously clashed in properties, he now fused them smoothly.
Two hours later, the furnace opened, and medicinal fragrance filled the room.
Zhou Kai counted the results, satisfaction in his eyes.
Seventeen Rejuvenation Pills and sixteen Qi Gathering Pills, all of good quality and at least Mid-Grade.
“Very good. With these pills, I’ll have more confidence heading to Hidden Beast Mountain this time.”
In high spirits, he stored the pills and returned to the bedroom.
Perhaps it was the mental exhaustion from alchemy, or the comfort of a beauty in his arms, but he soon fell into deep sleep.
The next morning.
When Zhou Kai woke, Chen Ziyi had already prepared hot water.
A simple bowl of spiritual rice porridge and side dishes had been made early in the morning.
After breakfast, Zhou Kai put on his treasured blue robe.
He had “earned” it long ago from an unfortunate soul during his rogue cultivator days. It was a Mid-Grade magical artifact with basic cleansing and defensive effects. Though its defense was not high, it was more than enough against low-grade demonic beasts.
Once worn, the fabric fit closely, faint spiritual energy flowing within it.
He looked much more spirited, less casual than before, with the competence of a cultivator and a faint, concealed killing aura.
“Husband looks very handsome in this robe,” Chen Ziyi said softly from the side.
Zhou Kai stretched and casually replied, “Clothes make the man.”
He walked to the door, ready to depart.
Chen Ziyi hurried over and handed him a small cloth bundle.
“Husband, I made some dried meat. You can eat it if you get hungry on the way.”
Zhou Kai had wanted to say he had Fasting Pills, but seeing the hope and concern in her eyes, he accepted it.
“Alright.” He ruffled her hair, more intimately than before. “Don’t worry. I’ll only stay in the outer areas of Hidden Beast Mountain. The demonic beasts there are low-grade. I’ll be fine.”
“Husband, you must be careful,” Chen Ziyi said seriously, looking up at him.
“I know. Wait for me to return,” Zhou Kai replied lightly.
He turned and strode away, his figure soon disappearing into the morning light.
Chen Ziyi stood at the doorway, watching until his back vanished at the end of the alley before slowly withdrawing her gaze.