A month had passed in the blink of an eye since Consort Yu had heroically captured the assassin.
Today, in the main hall on the second floor of Heaven Pavilion No. 2, Yu Xian lay back in an armchair, holding a yellow-skinned wine gourd and taking an occasional sip.
Inside the gourd was a nourishing medicinal wine prepared for him by Doctor Huang, known as the "Ten-Perfect Tonic." The name sounded remarkably tacky, but it was highly effective, providing noticeable benefits even to an Immortal Cultivator like himself. Perhaps because of the honey added to the ingredients, it even had a faint, sweet aftertaste upon careful sipping.
The affairs of the Prince’s Estate were numerous and complex, but there was almost nothing that required the attention of a Heaven-grade consort. Thus, Yu Xian’s days were exceptionally idle, and he thoroughly enjoyed this leisure. Being provided with food and lodging, collecting a salary for doing nothing, and even having a home and a woman provided—it was the dream of any modern wage earner.
Soft, alluring music played in his ears as a beauty sang and danced before him. Yulan, the dancer, was a classic Oriental beauty: petite, exquisite, and with delicate, well-defined features. She was currently at the prime of her youth, the most beautiful age, which allowed her natural charm to shine through completely.
Yu Xian couldn't help but feel a sense of novelty. Even though he and Yulan were intimate every day, he still felt a sudden impulse to see what kind of beautiful body was hidden beneath those dancing robes. He quickly took two more sips of the medicinal wine. It seemed he would have to work hard at his cultivation again today!
As a thought crossed Yu Xian's mind, his cultivation progress for the month appeared before him:
【Name: Yu Xian】
【Cultivation: Qi Condensation Layer 6 (11/130)】
【Daoist Companion: Yulan (1/1)】
In just one month, he had actually broken through another realm, reaching Qi Condensation Layer 6, only a step away from the Qi Condensation Late-stage. In the world of bottom-tier Immortal Cultivators, the late-stage was considered a minor expert, enough to serve as a deacon in small or medium-sized cultivation families, managing important affairs.
The steward where he had farmed in the past was a late-stage cultivator. He would do nothing all day but wait for the harvest to collect rent from tenant farmers like them. They had to grovel and flatter him, fearing that he might miscalculate their harvest figures. He had envied him so much back then. Perhaps it was that very envy that had led him to underestimate his own determination to cultivate. Not only had he failed to keep to his "once a day" bottom line, he had actively increased his practice to twice or even three times a day.
Every time he finished, Yu Xian would deeply hate his own lack of restraint. But when it came to cultivation—sometimes, once you start, you just can't stop. Seeing his cultivation progress bit by bit, Yu Xian felt greatly comforted, realizing that his efforts had not been in vain. Consequently, he had no choice but to ask Doctor Huang to increase the dosage. The thousand-tael silver note he had received from the Prince was quickly converted into gourd after gourd of the Ten-Perfect Tonic. If he didn't have the backing of the Prince’s Estate, a top-tier influential power, it would have been difficult to collect those medicinal materials alone.
The dance ended.
"My Lord, how did I do?"
Yulan hopped into Yu Xian’s arms with a spring in her step. Gone was her former reserve; she was like a domesticated cat, allowing him to stroke her as he pleased. Ever since her master had requested her deed of indenture from the Prince’s Estate and restored her freedom a few days ago, she felt as though she had lost her freedom instead. But this time, she was willing. Even though she knew her master was mostly infatuated with her body, she was happy to indulge him, doing her best to show off the beauty of her youthful frame. To someone like her, whose life had been like duckweed, even the smallest shred of affection was worth a hundredfold, a thousandfold return. Not to mention that her "Lord" was so handsome and gentle. He had never treated her as a base slave and would sometimes tolerate her little acts of willfulness and boldness. She had become increasingly like a child, longing for more affection.
As for the Princess Consort’s task of spying on Yu Xian? Sorry, she now only had one master.
"It was alright, I wasn't really looking closely."
Seeing Yulan pout, Yu Xian chuckled, flicked her crystal-clear nose, and leaned into her ear, his voice laced with temptation.
"Because I was just thinking about how to devour you in one bite."
Yulan’s ears turned red instantly. She shifted from annoyance to delight, burrowing into Yu Xian’s arms with a coquettish expression.
"My Lord, you only know how to tease me."
"Xiaoyi, do you want to join us?"
Yu Xian, feeling stirred, suddenly turned and asked Chen Yi, who had just been playing the accompaniment on the zither. Ever since he had persuaded Chen Xiao to purge the poison from Prince Fu, and Chen Xiao had only agreed to suppress it, this sister of Chen Xiao’s had come to his courtyard, saying that there was no room for her in the estate and, since he had promised Chen Xiao, he should take care of her.
Yu Xian didn't mind. Having another beauty before his eyes was quite nice, and it was good to change things up occasionally. Thanks to the gossiping maids at the gate, everyone in the Prince’s Estate knew that Consort Yu was a notorious lecher; once you stepped into his pavilion, your innocence would no longer be intact. Since he was being accused of it, he might as well be guilty of it!
"No, no!"
Chen Yi stood up in a panic and hurriedly headed for the door; she wasn't ready yet. But before leaving, she looked back at the affectionate scene on the armchair and felt a pang of envy. Given her status, she didn't know when she would ever be able to curl up in someone else’s arms so carefree. Perhaps, never.
"Remember to stroll for an hour or two; don't come back before then, or I’ll take your silence as consent," came the irreverent laughter of Consort Yu from behind. Chen Yi stumbled, walking even faster.
"Hahaha..."
The laughter traveled far, making Chen Yi’s face burn.
...
As his palm gently caressed Yulan’s milk-smooth skin, a question occurred to him: if Yulan also embarked on the path of cultivation, would the cultivation points she provided him increase? Although his progress was rapid, the speed had begun to slow as his realm improved. Qi Condensation Layer 6 already required over a hundred points; what would Layer 9 require, or if he were lucky enough to enter the Foundation Establishment Realm? With only one Daoist companion and no way to increase that number for the time being, increasing Yulan’s cultivation might have unexpected effects.
Yu Xian wrapped his robe around his waist and strode into the bedroom next door to retrieve the *Everlasting Arts*, a book he had previously considered useless. It had been sitting there for a month, acting as bait. Neither Yulan nor Chen Yi had shown any interest in it. Yulan was lost in her own happiness, and Chen Yi hadn't received any orders, so he had been wasting his time.
"My Lord, what is this? The *Everlasting Arts*? Is it a Taoist method for health and longevity?"
Yulan had been carefully cultivated by the Princess Consort; not only was she proficient in singing and dancing, but she was also literate. Yu Xian didn't bother to correct her, following her lead: "Something like that. You should practice this cultivation method well. If you see results, I will reward you handsomely."
Yulan cast the manual aside. Regardless of her disheveled state, she draped her soft wrists over Yu Xian’s neck, looking languid.
"My Lord, I am very satisfied now. I don't want any rewards. But I will listen to you and practice hard."
"Really?" Yu Xian smiled, casting out bait. "What if I said that if you achieve success in your practice, I will marry you into the family?"
Yulan’s body stiffened, her voice trembling involuntarily.
"My Lord, what did you just say?"
Yu Xian stroked her long, soft hair, his tone calm yet like a demon offering a soul contract to a drowning person.
"If you succeed, I will marry you as my concubine."
He didn't say "legal wife"—Yulan wouldn't have believed him anyway. Yulan’s eyes suddenly turned red. She grabbed the manual as if it were her own life, then swore:
"My Lord, I will definitely make something of myself!"
"You're a grown woman, why are you still crying?" Yu Xian wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, making a beautiful promise. "I'm just asking you to try. If it doesn't work, it doesn't matter. Since you are with me, I will not abandon you."
***
As the saying goes, even the most delicious food will become tiresome if eaten every day. Yu Xian had once thought this was just a high-class boast, pure nonsense. *Damn it*, a full person doesn't know the hunger of a starving one. If he had a goddess in his arms, he would never tire of it.
But now, he could only say—he was tired of it.
Like a favorite toy, he loved it when first bought, but soon it was discarded in a corner to gather dust, unnoticed for a long time. Pure desire without the sustenance of love arrived with intensity and left without a sound. Furthermore, Yulan had entered "hard mode" in her cultivation to earn her status. Although she remained obedient and even tried to compensate him, her energy was limited. With so much spent on cultivation, she could no longer rack her brains to provide him with the constant novelty and temptation as before.
This was not a good sign. As his only designated Daoist companion for the time being, his perception of Yulan determined the quality of their dual cultivation. He began to look for ways to solve the problem, voluntarily reducing his daily contact with her under the guise of focusing on his cultivation to preserve some freshness.
But human desire was like a boulder rolling down a mountain; once it started, it couldn't be stopped. Yu Xian had obtained physical satisfaction, but his mental threshold for desire had been raised. Once it couldn't be satisfied, he would seek it elsewhere rather than exercise self-restraint. Because his relationship with Yulan was not one of equality, when the cost of a person’s mistake was zero, their betrayal seemed like a matter of course.
Just as Yu Xian stretched his claws toward Chen Yi one day and saw the tears in her eyes, he was struck with a sudden realization. He had almost become a puppet of his own desires! Of course, he felt little guilt about sleeping with Chen Yi—sleeping with her sooner or later was the same thing. But he would not allow desire to rob him of his reason and judgment.
So, after more than two months of absurd living, Yu Xian stepped out of the Prince’s Estate and looked at the bustling, prosperous world outside. He began to try to find things that would bring him genuine joy and emotion.
...
Changning Prefecture had a superior geographical environment with numerous converging water systems, the most famous being the Cang River. Within Changning City itself was a tributary of the Cang, known as the Changning River.
On a stretch of the Changning River, a covered boat glided by. At the stern, a boatman in a conical hat poled the oar, while under the canopy sat a scholar in a green robe and a cold, pretty maid—Yu Xian and Chen Yi.
Yu Xian leaned back against the boat window, his swagger undiminished. Seeing the vast river surface and the rippling water, with the vastness of nature all around, he felt his heart and soul cleansed. He couldn't help but sigh:
"Long confined to a cage, I have returned to nature. Coming out for a stroll truly benefits both body and mind. My original troubles have all blown away with the wind."
"Boatman, please slow down, I’d like to fish."
"Right away, sir!"
The boatman shouted a reply, slowing his movements and letting the river carry the small boat forward. On the deck at the bow, Yu Xian pulled out a chair, cast his line, and watched it dangle into the water. As the float bobbed with the current, his heart slowly quieted.
"Want to join me?" Yu Xian held out a fishing rod to Chen Yi.
Chen Yi took it silently, her eyes fixed on the water, not daring to look at Yu Xian.
"I’m sorry. I thought I would take you at an ambiguous moment, not possess you so crudely." Yu Xian’s gaze drifted to the white mist on the water, his voice ethereal, like the mist itself, ready to dissipate at any moment. "If you have any requests, you can make them. Consider it a small compensation for my rudeness this time."
Chen Yi’s heart tightened. She shook her head expressionlessly and said: "Since I arrived at your courtyard, I have been yours. You were merely taking what belonged to you; you owe me nothing." She had been mentally prepared for the Prince’s orders to get close to Yu Xian. Furthermore, Yu Xian was handsome, powerful, and witty; being able to serve him instead of some pot-bellied official old enough to be her grandfather was, to her, a stroke of luck. What she couldn't accept was that after that first time, Yu Xian had never sought her out again. Even though his needs were so great. Chen Yi bit her lip secretly, nursing her anger. Was she really inferior to Yulan?
"You must let me do something, just to satisfy my hypocritical conscience." Yu Xian smiled faintly, with a hint of self-mockery. "And I advise you to seize the opportunity, because my conscience is often lost; I don't know when it will appear again."
Upon hearing this, a look of struggle appeared in Chen Yi’s eyes. For her, this was perhaps an opportunity, but it could also be a test. After a long while, her eyes grew resolute, and she said to Yu Xian with great sincerity:
"I want to cultivate. I want to cultivate just like Yulan!"
Only by becoming a legendary Immortal Cultivator could she possibly obtain the freedom she wanted.
Yu Xian paused, somewhat surprised. "I thought you would beg me to save your brother."
"I..."
Yu Xian’s words flashed through Chen Yi’s mind like lightning. Her face turned pale, her eyes filled with despair. He had found out! Just as she wanted to explain, she was interrupted by Yu Xian’s seemingly casual wave of the hand.
"But this is good, too. Otherwise, I would have really struggled with whether or not to change my mind; after all, I'm quite comfortable in the Prince’s Estate right now. When we return, you can practice the *Everlasting Arts* with Yulan. But I won't give you much help; you’ll have to rely on yourself."
Chen Yi bit her lip and nodded silently. "I understand."
"Since you’ve accepted my compensation, you can’t keep a cold face toward me anymore. Come, give me a smile."
Yu Xian wrapped his arm around Chen Yi’s shoulders and pulled her onto his lap, his words flowery while his hands grew restless. Although experiments had proven that dual cultivation with non-Daoist companions didn't bring him cultivation points, it brought him pleasure. Now that his interest in Yulan had waned, and combined with his increased cultivation and Doctor Huang’s secret recipes, he was no longer the "hollow young master" of the past. Adding Chen Yi to the mix was a piece of cake.
Chen Yi seemed to feel the warmth of his large hand through her clothes. Her face flushed red, and she protested in a small voice: "No, not here."
"Good girl, come closer. I want to touch your heart."
As Yu Xian flirted, his other hand was not idle. With a flick of his rod, a large, bright red carp leaped out of the water.
"Got you!"
"Boatman, do you have a stove? I want to eat grilled fish."
"I certainly do, sir!"
The boatman, being a sharp fellow, saw the customer flirting and took the initiative to come over and help. He unhooked the carp, tossed it into the creel tied to the side of the boat, and asked, "Sir, my grilling skills aren't half bad. Would you like me to grill it for you right now?"
"It seems I am in luck today. I look forward to tasting your craft." Yu Xian stroked the girl, who was sitting cautiously in his lap like a kitten, and laughed.
However, it seemed his luck had been used up all at once. For the next half hour, he only caught a few small, unrecognizable river fish, and he lost interest. Just then, the boatman had finished grilling the fish. He and Chen Yi each ate half; the taste was quite good, mostly because it was fresh, the meat possessing a hint of natural sweetness.
And so, their pleasure sated, they returned.