“38, what did you say? Dual cultivation??”
Chu Xuan suddenly opened her eyes, thinking she had misheard.
【Yes, host. Within seven days, you must engage in dual cultivation with any of your Beast Husbands, otherwise you will be eliminated by the system.】
System 38 confirmed the mission with Chu Xuan while secretly praising itself for being clever.
Last time, Chu Xuan had found a loophole in the mission, so this time it specifically changed the keywords to the professional terminology of their Hehuan Palace – dual cultivation. This time, it wanted to see how the host would find a loophole, hehehe…
Chu Xuan was truly bewildered this time. Usually, the system asked her to gain the Beast Husbands’ favorability and occasionally tease them, but dual cultivation? What was this?!
Although she had never practiced dual cultivation with anyone before, having grown up in Hehuan Palace, even if she hadn’t eaten pork, she had seen pigs run. She naturally knew what it entailed.
But… how was she supposed to ask a Beast Husband to practice dual cultivation with her?
This was a difficult problem.
Noticing Chu Xuan’s dilemma, System 38 secretly encouraged:
【Host, you need to perk up. Don’t be afraid. You’re the young mistress of Hehuan Palace. What’s dual cultivation to you? It’s as common as daily meals in your sect. You need to be brave and just pounce on them directly.】
Chu Xuan: “Damn system, shut up.”
38 chattered incessantly with no intention of stopping: 【Host, I’ve checked. Currently, Shen Lingjun, Mo Jingxing, and Jian Ze have the highest favorability towards you. Why not start with these Beast Husbands? You’ll definitely succeed. Go for it, host. I believe in you.】
“Let me calm down first. I need to think carefully,” Chu Xuan said, leaning against the bathtub.
Regarding Shen Lingjun, Mo Jingxing, and Jian Ze – Chu Xuan could feel their attitudes towards her. They didn’t dislike her as much as before.
As for Yu Jinglan, he usually spoke to her kindly. While his contribution to her favorability wasn’t as high as the other three, his attitude towards her was different from before.
And Xie Xingwen – his eyes were only set on becoming stronger. Chu Xuan felt that even if she stood naked before him, he would remain unmoved and might even think she was disturbing his pursuit of strength.
No, no. When it came to dual cultivation, Xie Xingwen had to be excluded first. He wouldn’t work.
Yu Jinglan wouldn’t work either. That fox usually appeared quite cunning. Better to choose between Shen Lingjun and Mo Jingxing!
As for Jian Ze, Chu Xuan felt he only interacted with her when cooking, and he always maintained a rather gentlemanly distance, as if he never intended to get close to her.
Having made up her mind, Chu Xuan decided to observe Shen Lingjun and Mo Jingxing more carefully over the next few days to see which one would be easier to approach.
Early the next morning, after Chu Xuan and the Beast Husbands had breakfast, the others went hunting in the mountains while Chu Xuan and Jian Ze went to cultivate the wasteland together.
Jian Ze transformed into his true form, wrapped his tail around Chu Xuan to place her on his back, and then they set off.
Jian Ze’s true form was a white tiger, larger than both Shen Lingjun and Mo Jingxing’s true forms. Riding on his back, stroking his smooth fur, Chu Xuan found the texture extremely pleasant, like petting a big cat, and couldn’t help but stroke him a few more times.
Jian Ze noticed Chu Xuan’s movement, his back stiffening slightly before quickly relaxing, allowing her to stroke him.
The wasteland wasn’t far from their dwelling, so Jian Ze wasn’t in a hurry, carrying Chu Xuan slowly toward the barren land.
Only when they reached the destination did Chu Xuan reluctantly slide off Jian Ze’s back.
Surveying the vast stretch of uncultivated land before them, Chu Xuan said, “A’Ze, use your earth ability first—let’s loosen the soil across this entire area.”
In the Beast World where no one practiced cultivation, Jian Ze naturally had no experience, but he followed Chu Xuan’s instructions without question.
As directed, Jian Ze activated his ability and began turning and aerating the soil.
Having never been tilled before, the ground required immense effort to break up. After a full day’s work, only a small portion had been loosened.
Seeing daylight fading, Chu Xuan and Jian Ze returned home just as the other Beast Husbands gradually trickled back.
“A’Ze, I’ll handle dinner tonight. You’ve worked hard all day—go rest!”
Since the soil-tilling had been solely Jian Ze’s task that day, Chu Xuan felt it improper to leave all chores to her Beast Husbands while she remained idle. She volunteered to cook for them.
But Jian Ze responded, “It’s no trouble. I’m not tired. Serving our Female Master is our duty as Beast Husbands. Please rest instead.”
With that, he strode directly into the kitchen and began deftly preparing the meal.
Seeing Jian Ze truly needed no assistance, Chu Xuan went to the courtyard to practice sword forms.
Over the following days, the other Beast Husbands continued hunting while Chu Xuan and Jian Ze persisted in reclaiming the wasteland.
.
Soon it was time for the Mutual Market to open again. Chu Xuan and her five Beast Husbands reserved some game for winter stores and brought another portion to trade at the market.
During these days, Chu Xuan had also prepared various pastries to bring for Gui Lianjun to sample.
As they prepared to depart, Jian Ze asked, “Female Master, who would you prefer to accompany you today?”
Almost before his words faded, a snow-white tail coiled around Chu Xuan’s waist, and in the next instant, the woman and leopard vanished from everyone’s sight.
Jian Ze: “…”
Mo Jingxing stomped in frustration: “That damned leopard! How dare he snatch her again? He shows no respect for our Female Master’s wishes!”
Except for the previous market trip when the Female Master had consciously chosen him, every subsequent outing had ended with the wretched leopard seizing her—utterly shameless.
Yet Chu Xuan herself didn’t overthink the matter. Had she been forced to choose while facing Jian Ze and Mo Jingxing’s expectant gazes, she’d have been truly torn.
Shen Lingjun’s tactic had inadvertently spared her the awkwardness.
When the group arrived bustling at the Mutual Market, they immediately drew numerous stares.
“Eh? Look at that female—her dress is stunning!”
“Indeed! It shimmers under sunlight, so beautiful!”
“What material is her garment made from? It’s extraordinarily lovely.”
Su Jin had arrived early at the market awaiting his “plump little sheep.” Spotting Chu Xuan from afar astride a snow leopard, clad in Jiao Silk robes that glittered under the sun with skirts flowing in the wind, her poised figure resembled a sacred goddess descending from heaven. Su Jin nearly gaped in mesmerized stillness.
Only when murmurs arose around him did he snap back to reality, clutching his own Jiao Silk bolts as he sprang forward and proclaimed loudly:
“It’s made from my family’s Jiao Silk, my family’s Jiao Silk, very affordable. Just one high-level beast can exchange for a set of Jiao Silk. Come take a look, everyone! Wearing clothing made from my family’s Jiao Silk, you can be as beautiful as this pretty young female.”
Trading one high-level beast for a set of Jiao Silk was still quite extravagant for many Beastmen.
Only a very few Beastmen with considerable strength could hunt high-level beasts, and among these, even fewer were willing to exchange one for Jiao Silk.
Yet, Mo Jingxing was one of those extravagant few.