Shen Ping nodded and said with a smile, "Yun'er is right. Fellow Daoist Bai, since you've entered my household, you'll be under my care from now on. However, there is one thing I must make clear to you beforehand."
The green-dressed girl sat anxiously, looking even more nervous than Wang Yun had been at the beginning.
After all, she was a cultivator.
Matchmaker Zeng had spent quite a bit on her, and she came with strict bindings. Should she dare show the slightest disobedience, Shen Ping could easily eliminate her.
Furthermore, there was a clear gap in their cultivation levels.
"Fellow Daoist Bai, let's eat first!"
Even cultivators needed mundane food; generally, they only consumed Inanition Pills right before entering seclusion.
Looking at the sumptuous dishes on the table, Bai Yuying felt her taste buds stir.
Wang Yun said softly, "Senior Bai need not be so formal. From now on, we are all family."
"Yun'er is my wife, and you are my concubine. Regardless of any future gap in our cultivation, I hope you will always keep this in mind."
Wang Yun's eyes instantly welled up with emotion, the corners of her eyes glistening. She understood the exact meaning behind her husband's words.
Bai Yuying never expected Shen Ping to hold a mortal woman in such high regard. This put her mind somewhat at ease, and she hurriedly replied, "Senior Shen, I will certainly keep it in mind."
"Alright, if we don't eat now, the food will get cold."
After the meal, Shen Ping did not rush to explore his Goldfinger. Instead, he went into the side room and devoted himself entirely to crafting talismans. He had wasted time during the day with his physical activities, and he needed to make up for it tonight. Dual cultivation and earning money both had to be balanced; he could not neglect one for the other.
Meanwhile, after clearing away the bowls and chopsticks, Wang Yun and Bai Yuying sat on the edge of the bed and exchanged intimate whispers.
As she gradually gained a general understanding of Shen Ping, a shy blush spread across Bai Yuying's cheeks. She had never expected that Senior Shen, a Middle-Grade Talisman Master, would be so vigorous in that regard.
Good heavens, how on earth did younger sister Yun'er manage to endure it? She hardly dared to imagine.
At the start of the Hai hour, Shen Ping finished crafting talismans and sat cross-legged to absorb Spiritual Stones in order to suppress the toxins in his body. By the time he finished all of this, it was already the end of the Hai hour.
The night was deep.
Seeing her husband walk out of the side room, Wang Yun skillfully stepped forward to massage Shen Ping's shoulders. "Husband, the hour is late, it's time to rest. Don't keep younger sister Yuying waiting too long."
Shen Ping glanced at the outline huddled beneath the brocade quilt, then gently grasped his wife's wrist. "Yun'er, you'll have to work hard tonight."
There was only one bed in the room, and since today was Bai Yuying's first night, Wang Yun could not share the bed with them.
"Hurry along, Husband," Wang Yun said with a smiling, beaming face.
A moment later, Shen Ping felt the scorching body beneath the brocade quilt. Without a word, Bai Yuying officially became Shen Ping's concubine.
When the storm of cloud and rain finally came to a rest, Shen Ping eagerly opened the virtual panel. Golden characters flickered upon it:
【You engaged in dual cultivation with your dao companion once. Gained Metal Spiritual Root aptitude +2, Wood Spiritual Root aptitude +2.】
【Current Dao Companion Affection: 60】
【Dual Cultivation Bonus: 0】
【Metal Spiritual Root: Low-Grade (324/1000)】
【Wood Spiritual Root: Low-Grade (218/1000)】
Seeing this, his eyes suddenly widened.
It actually increased Spiritual Root aptitude?!
This Goldfinger was simply too powerful!
One had to know that a cultivator's spiritual root talent determined the upper limit of their cultivation. Theoretically, his four mixed spiritual roots could at best allow him to reach the Mid Qi Refining stage; without medicinal pills, he would remain stagnant forever. Even with the qualifications, should he attempt Foundation Establishment in the future, his subsequent progress would be virtually halted barring some massive stroke of fortune.
Yet now, dual cultivation with his concubine could actually improve his spiritual roots! This meant that as long as he kept accumulating, his Metal and Wood dual spiritual roots had a very high possibility of reaching the top-tier quality in the future!
Top-tier spiritual roots!
Such roots were pitifully rare throughout the entire Wei State. Even though he possessed spiritual roots of other elements, his talent would still be extraordinary, and his cultivation speed would continuously accelerate.
One could say that the enhancement of his spiritual root aptitude would completely alter his future upper limit!
*Hoo.*
Shen Ping took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging excitement in his heart, and then mounted the horse once more.
Until the early hours of morning.
Inside the brocade quilt, heat was steaming. Looking at that sweet and lovely face, Shen Ping said softly, "Yuying, starting today, you are my dao companion."
Bai Yuying nodded shyly.
As expected of a cultivator; even at just the 1st Layer of Qi Refining, her physical strength was not something Wang Yun could compare to initially.
Stepping out of bed, he went to the corner and used a spell to cleanse his body. Only then did the two of them dress.
Wang Yun had slept in the kitchen last night. Hearing the movement, she opened her eyes and yawned, saying, "Husband, time to get up."
As soon as she spoke, she realized she wasn't in bed and couldn't help but laugh softly.
Shen Ping stepped forward with a smile. "You've worked hard, Yun'er. I'll cook today. Take Yuying out for a stroll to get familiar with the surroundings—just remember not to go too far."
***
Days spent in a nest of tenderness always passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, another month went by.
Bai Yuying gradually integrated into this small household.
April arrived.
The spring breeze blew, and tender green buds sprouted upon the withered branches of the jujube tree outside the door. In the distance, the previously barren peaks were full of lush greenery, making anyone who looked upon them feel relaxed and happy.
In the past, Shen Ping would never have paid attention to such trivial details. But now, with a promising future ahead of him, his gaze held an added appreciation for the world.
*Whoosh.*
Just as he was soaking in the vibrant spring breeze, a next-door neighbor poured out a basin of bathwater against the wind and teased cheerfully, "Fellow Daoist Shen is looking radiant these days, taking two wives and concubines in succession! Life is quite comfortable indeed!"
Shen Ping hurriedly replied, "Fellow Daoist Yu jests. I am merely snatching a moment of leisure from a busy life. As for the two wives and concubines, it's simply to continue the family line. Alas, after all, Foundation Establishment is beyond hope!"
Fellow Daoist Yu immediately dropped that topic. "Fellow Daoist Shen, you're constantly crafting talismans indoors, so you probably haven't heard the news outside. Fellow Daoist Gong of our Red Willow Alley has fallen!"
Shen Ping was startled. "Fellow Daoist Gong has fallen?"
Fellow Daoist Gong was the only Late Qi Refining cultivator in Red Willow Alley. His fall would have a significant impact; first and foremost, the safety of Red Willow Alley would become a problem.
For these past few years, the main reason bandit cultivators hadn't constantly kept their eyes on Red Willow Alley was the deterrence provided by Fellow Daoist Gong, a righteous and formidable cultivator.
"Is the news true?" he asked hastily.
Fellow Daoist Yu nodded. "It spread everywhere a while back. His cousin, Fellow Daoist Su, moved out of Red Willow Alley overnight; I heard she went to live in the Cultivation Market!"
"Not only that, more than half of the first batch of cultivators who went to clear the path in Yunshan Marsh died. That's enough to scare quite a few people, and now many in the third batch are getting cold feet."
"However, the price of talismans in the Cultivation Market has risen again!"
With that, she sighed heavily. "Days are going to get harder from here on out, Fellow Daoist Shen. Being a Middle-Grade Talisman Master, you'd better be careful."
Shen Ping offered a few perfunctory replies before returning indoors.
He opened his transmission talisman. It was a message from Manager Chen of Xiuchun Pavilion.
Asking about the situation at Yunshan Marsh, he found it was indeed much as Fellow Daoist Yu had described. Most of the cultivators who went to take risks and clear the path this time had died, but the Jinyang Sect had increased its welfare terms—specifically, the number of Foundation Establishment Pills had been increased to three!
"No wonder talisman prices keep rising!"
Shen Ping's expression turned solemn.
Most cultivators possessed a spirit of adventure deep in their bones; pursuing opportunities to break through their limits had long become a deeply ingrained concept. If one lacked aptitude yet was afraid of death, then they shouldn't harbor hopes of Foundation Establishment or longevity.
Now that the Jinyang Sect was dangling three Foundation Establishment Pills as an incentive, most cultivators would risk their lives to go, even knowing the danger.
"With the Jinyang Sect's incentive, the Late Qi Refining cultivators in the Cultivation Market will definitely all go take a gamble."
"Those bandit cultivators won't be eyeing the remaining bottom-tier cultivators in the Cultivation Market for the time being."
"Still, I can't let my guard down. From now on, I must be even more cautious when going out!"