Currency Setting in This Story:
1 Low-grade Spirit Stone is equivalent to 1 yuan in modern currency.
1 Superior Grade Spirit Stone = 100 Mid-grade Spirit Stones = 10,000 Low-grade Spirit Stones.
In this story, whenever “Spirit Stone” is mentioned without specifying grade, it refers to Low-grade Spirit Stones.
Superior Grade and Mid-grade will be explicitly stated.
Chi Yu complained to the System: “To complete the tasks, I’ve really gone through so much hardship.”
She had already lost all her dignity.
The System comforted her: “Don’t worry, Host, this lifetime will pass quickly.”
After calming her emotions, she looked at Shen Yanzhou: “Let’s continue.”
This time, Chi Yu was much more cautious. When sinking Qi to the Dantian, she didn’t use too much force, finally salvaging a bit of her dignity.
While Shen Yanzhou appeared to follow her instructions, he secretly circulated his Spiritual Power, absorbing as much Spiritual Qi from the world as possible. The Spiritual Qi in the area automatically gathered around him, and his Cultivation Base continued to rise steadily.
At this rate, he could actually reach Foundation Establishment tonight.
But if his Cultivation Base grew too quickly and became higher than Chi Yu’s, how could he ensure she would protect him in critical moments and get injured for him?
Thus, Shen Yanzhou deliberately slowed his pace and finally stopped when his Cultivation Base reached the First Stage of Qi Refining.
When he stopped, he intentionally reversed the flow of Spiritual Qi within his body, immediately swaying and collapsing.
Chi Yu was greatly alarmed: “What happened?”
The ten billion must not be harmed.
The System quickly conducted a check: “Host, Shen Yanzhou’s Cultivation Base has reached the First Stage of Qi Refining. He absorbed too much Spiritual Qi, and his body couldn’t withstand it, causing this reaction. It’s nothing serious.”
Upon hearing this, she finally relaxed and said: “Let’s rest for today. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
He leaned half against her shoulder and whispered: “I want to cultivate as quickly as possible.”
“So I won’t burden you, and you won’t get injured.”
The night was cool like water, his voice low and clear, tinged with a hint of guilt and sorrow.
It seemed as if he was saddened by his inability to protect her, or perhaps afraid she would abandon him due to his lack of capability.
Combined with his exceptionally beautiful face, the impact was overwhelming.
Chi Yu: Who could withstand this?
She spoke softly and gently: “It’s okay. Even if you can’t cultivate and are useless, I’ll switch careers to collect scrap for you.”
Shen Yanzhou: “…”
Chi Yu helped him onto the bed and was about to leave when he grabbed her sleeve: “Can you stay and accompany me?”
Seeing his fragile appearance, she agreed immediately.
Shen Yanzhou’s eyes softened, a smile spreading within them, but inwardly he mocked relentlessly.
She indeed fell for this tactic.
Soon enough, she would become devoted to him.
Thinking of this, he closed his eyes contentedly, appearing asleep while secretly monitoring her movements.
Chi Yu gazed at the sleeping beauty on the bed. For a boy, sharp eyebrows and eyes were normal, but Shen Yanzhou’s features also carried a touch of delicacy, making him look even more refined.
Tsk tsk tsk, truly a feast for the eyes.
As the night deepened, she grew truly weary and eventually fell asleep on the edge of the bed.
Seeing that neither Chi Yu nor Shen Yanzhou showed any abnormalities, the System confidently entered a sleep state.
Since binding with Chi Yu, it had expended considerable energy and also needed rest.
The night was profound.
Shen Yanzhou slowly opened his eyes, gazing down at the person beside him.
That slender hand gently landed on her head.
Being killed by one’s beloved must be excruciatingly painful.
If he succeeded in reversing the conquest, Chi Yu would surely be devastated upon learning the truth.
He would then crush this skull, blood splattering everywhere, creating a truly spectacular scene.
Just as he was envisioning the future, Chi Yu suddenly sat up.
He immediately withdrew his hand, unwilling to let her notice anything unusual.
Yet she moved faster than him, almost like Gale, grabbing his wrist in a swift motion, then biting down on the back of his hand.
Shen Yanzhou gasped sharply: “Ah!”
She spoke drowsily, eyes closed, clearly not awake: “Shopkeeper, this pork knuckle isn’t stewed enough, not tasty.”
Shen Yanzhou: “…”
Now he truly wanted to kill her.
But considering that letting her die now would be too lenient, Shen Yanzhou forcefully suppressed his anger and pushed her away.
However, at that moment, she lunged onto the bed, pinning him beneath her.
Shen Yanzhou finally lost patience: “Chi Yu!”
But it had no effect.
She giggled, biting his collarbone.
“This braised pork rib is excellent.”
…
He couldn’t endure it anymore.
Shen Yanzhou reached out and pushed her away, watching her collapse onto one side of the bed, still smiling, looking utterly satisfied. He gritted his teeth in frustration.
If he had known she slept like this, he should have sent her back to her own room.
Yet, this was only the beginning.
Over the following hours, Chi Yu demonstrated her formidable sleeping habits.
After biting his collarbone, she also bit his neck, tore off his clothes, and finally kicked him off the bed.
Shen Yanzhou never imagined that Chi Yu would be the greatest danger when there was no danger.
How utterly absurd.
Looking at the person sprawled in a starfish sleeping position on the bed, after a moment, he resignedly lowered his head and lay sideways on the edge of the bed.
He would endure it for now, and repay her hundredfold later.
The sun rose at the horizon.
The System looked at Chi Yu on the bed and Shen Yanzhou beside her, disheveled and seemingly ravaged, questioning its existence: “Holy crap.”
The Host was so lustful, could she have unleashed her beastly instincts last night and done something to Shen Yanzhou?!
It had only hibernated for a few hours, and things had escalated like this??
Chi Yu was startled awake by its exclamation, sitting up drowsily with messy hair: “What happened?”
The System, too embarrassed to ask directly, opted for a roundabout approach: “Host, how did you sleep last night?”
She scratched her hair: “Not well, woke up several times feeling dry…”
The System: “…”
Its mind was in turmoil, then she spoke again: “The weather here is really too dry, there’s no water in the room, it’s unbearably dry, truly unfitting for the name Cloud Water Residence.”
And the shopkeeper charged her two hundred Spirit Stones for one night, utterly insane.
The System: “…Oh, it’s dry (gān) waking up.”
A dirty-minded System sees everything as dirty.
To itself.
Chi Yu, oblivious to its thoughts, got up to leave the bed, only to see Shen Yanzhou beside her.
His hair was also messy, with severe dark circles, a sallow complexion from lack of sleep, crumpled clothes, and injuries on his neck.
From the front, he looked like a victim; from the side, like a beggar.
Chi Yu tentatively asked: “Did you flee famine last night?”
Shen Yanzhou nearly spat blood in her face.
All of this was her doing, and she knew nothing about it!
For the first time, he couldn’t control his emotions in front of her, gritting his teeth as he said, “They’re all from you kicking me in your sleep. I didn’t sleep all night.”
“Impossible, absolutely impossible.”
Chi Yu firmly denied it.
Shen Yanzhou choked back his words.
Seeing his speechless expression, Chi Yu felt somewhat guilty.
Could it really have been her?
Her sleeping posture had always been very proper—how could this happen?
Seeing his exhausted appearance, she quickly got up and offered a rather insincere apology, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
What could Shen Yanzhou do?
Of course, he chose to smile and forgive her.
After tidying her clothes, Chi Yu returned to her own room. By the time the sun was high in the sky, she had finished her meal and was staring blankly at the Spirit Stones in her pocket.
She had just extended her stay at the inn for another day, and with expenses like food and clothing, the Spirit Stones she had left were pitifully few.
So poor.
Just as she was about to go out to look for ways to earn money, she locked eyes with Jiang Jiuming.
Seeing him carrying a cloth bag, Chi Yu asked curiously, “Where are you going?”
“To the trading market. I plan to sell some Spirit Talismans there to make some money, otherwise I won’t even be able to afford food.”
Jiang Jiuming sighed as well. The cost of living in Canglang City was too high—a steamed bun that would cost only one Low-Grade Spirit Stone in his hometown cost three here.
The Spirit Stones he had brought from home were almost all spent along the way.
If he didn’t earn some soon, he might really have to beg for food.
Chi Yu remembered that she had gathered quite a few spiritual herb pills from the Great Demon’s cave. Selling them all should bring in a decent amount of money, so she said, “We’ll go with you.”