Hai Dali sat cross-legged on the bed, holding a Spirit Gathering Pill in his palm, hesitating for a moment.
According to Chen Muxue, this Spirit Gathering Pill could help him advance one minor realm. It would probably be most cost-effective to take it at the 7th or 8th stage of the Qi Refining Realm.
Although he did not know which stage of the Qi Refining Realm he was currently at, he was certain he had not yet reached the late stage.
He also wondered whether the Spirit Gathering Pill was precious and whether it would cause resistance if taken too often.
Then he remembered that the pill had been given to him by Chen Muxue. With her personality, she would not casually give him something truly valuable.
His cultivation was too low right now. Increasing his strength was the most important thing. Thinking this through, he stopped hesitating and swallowed the Spirit Gathering Pill.
The moment it entered his stomach, a warm current spread through his limbs. Hai Dali immediately began circulating the Great Yin-Yang Unity Art.
After the medicinal effects were fully refined, Hai Dali felt puzzled. He could clearly sense that his cultivation had improved, but it had not increased by an entire minor realm.
Chen Muxue would not deceive him in this matter. Could it be because of the cultivation technique he was practicing?
If that were true, then would he not need far more cultivation resources than others in the future?
But then he thought again—if he was stronger than others at the same realm, that would make up for it. With that thought, he felt relieved.
Hai Dali suddenly felt sticky all over. He scratched his body and immediately peeled off a thin layer of grime.
He was completely stunned. Had he not already undergone body cleansing? How could his body still expel impurities?
Had the previous cleansing not been thorough?
Then he suddenly realized that it must be the Great Yin-Yang Unity Art expelling the impurities from the Spirit Gathering Pill.
This made Hai Dali sigh once more at the power of the Great Yin-Yang Unity Art. His future was promising.
Early the next morning, Hai Dali found a bookstore and successfully bought Qingfeng City Records. He also purchased a basic book on cultivation knowledge.
Since he did not have much money in his pocket, Hai Dali admired the street scenery of Qingfeng City for a while before heading back.
As he was about to return to the Chen Residence, Hai Dali suddenly noticed a familiar figure.
Qingzhi walked out of the Chen Residence holding a small cloth bundle. She looked hurried, glancing around nervously as if afraid of being discovered.
Seeing Qingzhi’s guilty expression, Hai Dali’s eyes shifted slightly and he quietly followed her.
Qingzhi entered a secluded alley and approached a young man who looked around seventeen or eighteen years old.
“Brother.”
The young man saw Qingzhi and immediately walked toward her with a grin, eagerly snatching the cloth bundle from her hands.
Qingzhi showed a helpless expression but did not stop him.
At first, Hai Dali did not follow too closely. Watching from a distance, he even thought Qingzhi was meeting a secret lover. Get faster updates on g.com.
He concealed his aura and carefully moved closer. Only after hearing their conversation did he realize that the young man was actually Qingzhi’s younger brother.
Qingzhi’s brother spent his days idling around, indulging in gambling and debauchery, and had accumulated a mountain of debt.
Whenever he needed money, he would go to his sister. If she refused, he would cling to her endlessly until she gave in. Every time, Qingzhi would soften and give him a sum of money.
This time was no different. He had only come to her yesterday, and today she had already brought the money.
“In the future, you really cannot gamble anymore. I’ve already used up all the money I saved over the years to repay your debts. I have nothing left.”
Qingzhi looked at her brother’s shameless grin as he happily counted the money and felt completely at a loss. He was her only brother, spoiled excessively since childhood.
Now he had turned into a rogue. She sighed and could only repeat her usual warning, even though it had never worked before.
“Alright, alright, I know. I won’t gamble anymore. Besides, can’t you just take some of your Second Miss’s jewelry to sell?”
Qingzhi’s brother was completely indifferent. He only felt that his sister was unwilling to give him money.
This made him somewhat irritated. In his eyes, Qingzhi was living comfortably in the Chen Residence. Supporting her younger brother was only natural.
The moment Qingzhi heard this, she hurriedly told him not to speak nonsense and glanced around to see if anyone had overheard.
When Hai Dali saw Qingzhi looking around, he immediately shrank back slightly. He had heard almost all of their conversation.
His eyes lit up. He had been worrying about how to deal with Qingzhi. Now the opportunity had come on its own.
At first, Hai Dali had looked down on Qingzhi’s brother, but now his impression of him improved slightly. The younger brother was indeed useful.
“You can’t touch the Second Miss’s things anymore. I can’t stay away from the residence too long. Go back first. And remember, you absolutely cannot gamble again.”
Seeing her brother’s indifferent attitude, Qingzhi knew he would not listen. She could only remind him once more before letting him leave.
“Alright, I’ll come see you next time.”
Having already received the money, Qingzhi’s brother was eager to leave and enjoy himself, so he agreed readily.
Qingzhi watched her brother’s departing figure with a face full of worry. How had he become like this?
“Qingzhi, you don’t want the Second Miss to find out that you stole her jewelry, do you?”
A faint voice suddenly sounded in Qingzhi’s ear, instantly turning her face pale as she looked toward the speaker.
“Hai… Hai Dali, why are you here?”
Hai Dali nodded and said with a smile, “I followed you here. I didn’t expect you to be so obsessed with supporting your brother.”
Qingzhi did not understand what “brother-obsessed” meant, but she knew that everything she and her brother had said had been overheard. She hated Hai Dali for following her.
Yet when she thought of the Second Miss’s personality, if she found out that her jewelry had been stolen, Qingzhi did not even dare imagine the consequences.
The thought alone filled her with fear. She grabbed Hai Dali’s arm pleadingly.
“Brother Dali, can you please not tell the Second Miss?”
“As long as you help me hide this, I’ll repay you. I… I can speak well of you in front of the Second Miss.”
“In trouble it’s Hai Dali, when there’s something to gain it’s Brother Dali. How realistic.”
Hai Dali muttered inwardly. He directly took Qingzhi’s small hand and gently toyed with it, looking at her tenderly as he said, “Repay me? Don’t you understand what Brother Dali wants?”
Qingzhi struggled twice to pull her hand free but failed. Afraid of angering him, she finally let him hold it.
Hearing his words, she naturally understood his meaning, but she still pretended to be ignorant and said softly, “Brother Dali, what do you mean? I don’t understand.”
“Playing dumb at a time like this is meaningless.”
Hai Dali was not about to let her feign ignorance.
“I can help you in other ways. I’ve followed the Second Miss for many years. I can definitely help you.”
Seeing that she could not fool him, Qingzhi could only continue pleading.
“What do I need your help with? With the Second Miss’s personality, what can you possibly help me with?”
Hai Dali said disdainfully.
“I… I…”
Qingzhi stammered, unable to respond. Having served by her Second Miss’s side for years, she knew her temperament well. Calling her selfish and self-serving would not be an exaggeration.
Seeing that the timing was right, Hai Dali delivered a final blow. He released Qingzhi’s hand, turned to leave, and muttered, “If the Second Miss finds out tomorrow that someone sold her personal belongings, I wonder how furious she’ll be. I wonder if others will be implicated?”
Hearing this, Qingzhi collapsed to the ground. She knew Hai Dali was reminding her that she still had family in Qingfeng City. Even if she wanted to die, she could not. Despair flooded her heart.
Hai Dali did not bother with Qingzhi anymore. His words had already made it clear that she had to come find him tonight at the latest.
Otherwise, he would report her to the Second Miss. Given Qingzhi’s fear of the Second Miss, she would definitely compromise.
Hai Dali wondered briefly whether he was being too despicable, threatening a young girl like this. But then he reconsidered—what was despicable about it?
She was the one who had made the mistake first. Should mistakes not be punished? He was simply a righteous judge.
With that thought, Hai Dali’s mood brightened instantly. Humming a tune, he returned to read and study.