When the female cultivator left with the black cat,
Chen Ye had mixed emotions and took a long time to look away.
He wondered,
If this Dao couple hadn’t injured his past self, would he have crossed over?
The gaze with which Chen Ye stared at the female cultivator’s back was noticed by his two apprentices.
"Master is shy..." The little girl furrowed her soft eyebrows, muttering, "Master, didn’t you dislike women?"
The white-furred ball was really confused.
Previously, the master wouldn’t even glance at female cultivators.
He used to have only two hobbies,
drinking wine and hitting the ball.
Then more drinking, and more hitting the ball!
The older girl, for once, did not stop Qing Jun’s "disrespectful remarks," pursing her lips, equally puzzled.
Realizing that the two had caught him peeking,
Chen Ye chuckled and maintained his composure.
Food and lust are parts of human nature, why hide it?
"What’s past is past, and now is now! Besides, the master was just distracted, not intentionally staring, don’t talk nonsense!"
Wait a moment...
As he finished speaking, a spark flashed through Chen Ye’s mind.
His past self wasn’t interested in women, so why would he flirt with a female cultivator?
He endured a headache and began to recall.
At that time, his past self was drunk.
Thus, this memory was hazy and fragmented:
The strong aroma of Cyan Bamboo Wine, with spirit plants curled and leaves darkened on the table.
In a drunken state, he picked up the Disease Removal Saber Technique, the blade precisely slicing the tiny insect between the leaf veins.
Then, there came the sudden palm wind.
The memory ended there.
"Why does it feel like my past self was framed?"
The more Chen Ye thought about it, the more he felt something was off,
but his past self drank too much, leaving the memories blurry.
He really couldn’t remember if, in his drunken state, his past self had been inappropriate with the female cultivator.
"This pair of cultivators, I remember, they’re from out of town and not from the Stone Mirror Association, are they..."
...
"Pardon the intrusion."
The woman in the white dress smiled while holding a sandalwood food box filled with exquisite pastries.
The young man in black clothes beside her scanned the courtyard arrangements, then impolitely sized up Chen Ye.
Noticing his average cultivation, he visibly flashed a look of disappointment.
He forced a slight smile:
"I am Xue Chengjun, and this is my wife, Lin Qiongyu. We’ve been busy with association affairs lately and couldn’t visit before, please excuse us."
Neither of them recognized Chen Ye.
But thinking about it, this was natural.
His past self was unkempt, grimy like a street beggar, and his face gaunt like one recovering from a long illness.
Whereas Chen Ye took care of his appearance,
and practiced the Heavy Body Technique, his physique becoming more robust; coincidentally, he broke through with the Evergreen Technique, making his aura increasingly clear.
With all these transformations, though it was the same body, his appearance was quite different.
Chen Ye returned the courtesy with a bow: "We’re neighbors, no need for such formality. My humble home may be unrefined, but we have excellent tea. Why don’t you both come in for a seat?"
Since this Dao couple didn’t recognize him, Chen Ye had no intention of foolishly revealing his identity.
"No need to trouble yourself."
"We just wanted to meet, and since we’ve now met..."
Xue Chengjun was a bit impatient, ready to take his leave.
But Lin Qiongyu glared at him,
The young man’s face turned embarrassed, and he promptly shut his mouth.
Chen Ye raised an eyebrow, chuckling to himself.
He observed Xue Chengjun, who was burly and strapping, yet unexpectedly, hen-pecked?
Lin Qiongyu’s beautiful face displayed a friendly smile:
"Senior, I brought these pastries from the Cloud Clothing Pavilion for the two children. Qiongyu sincerely respects the senior, who can still take care of two children in the Yunxi District."
Her eyes were full of admiration, like a rippling lake.
If it were any other middle-aged cultivator, under her gaze, they’d probably be hopelessly flattered.
But Chen Ye remained calm,
No other reason than, although the two children in his home were still young, they were already more exquisite than Lin Qiongyu.
"Qiongyu..."
Xue Chengjun was a bit jealous, but seeing the look Lin Qiongyu gave him, he immediately put on a pleased smile.
Absurd!
This female cultivator is too absurd!
Chen Ye was startled, politely accepting the pastries: "Thank you, fellow Daoist."
Lin Qiongyu covered her mouth and laughed lightly: "What fellow Daoist? In the future, just call me Qiongyu, Senior. By the way, I am a dance master at the Cloud Clothing Pavilion, and Chengjun is a Demon Hunter Cultivator. I wonder, Senior..."
She hesitated, looking unsure.
After a moment, she bit her red lips: "If it’s inconvenient, then forget it."
Her demeanor was petite and soulful, eliciting tenderness from others.
Chen Ye understood, this was the main reason.
Lin Qiongyu came specifically to probe his background.
Yet, though it seemed presumptuous, behavior like this is normal.
Among Loose Cultivators, sharing their trades and skills ensures mutual benefits in the future.
For example, everybody in the shelter area where Chen Ye used to live knew he was good at the Spirit Plant Technique, so whenever there was a problem with spirit plants, they would come to him.
It was convenient for Chen Ye to earn spirit stones and provided peace of mind for these Loose Cultivators—they were all acquaintances, after all, they couldn’t run away.
Chen Ye waved his hand: "I know some skills in tending spirit plants, so if you two need anything in the future, feel free to find me."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Lin Qiongyu stopped biting her lips, the smile on her face slightly distant: "I see..."
She initially thought Chen Ye, since he could take care of two kids, might have skills in Alchemy or Talisman Making.
But she didn’t expect it to be the most ordinary Spirit Plant Technique.
Xue Chengjun suddenly laughed derisively, cutting in:
"Qiongyu, do you remember the Loose Cultivator we met in the shelter area some days back?"
Lin Qiongyu’s face changed, continually shooting glances at Xue Chengjun.
But Xue Chengjun was already keeping a grudge,
For Lin Qiongyu to give him the cold shoulder over a stranger Loose Cultivator, he could bear it if this Loose Cultivator had some skills.
But just a Medicinal Farmer, he couldn’t tolerate it one bit.
If he couldn’t vent his anger at Qiongyu, surely he could at someone else?
He gazed challengingly at Chen Ye:
"Fellow Daoist, we likely won’t require your services later."
"There’s a Loose Cultivator in the shelter area skilled in spirit plants. After getting the plant treated, randomly find an excuse, like flirting...then there’s no need for spirit stones. If he’s unyielding, just beat him up! Unyielding or not!"
Chen Ye smiled: "There are actually such cultivators under the sky?"
Xue Chengjun laughed heartily: "In the muddy ditch of the shelter area, there are all sorts of timid cultivators! That Loose Cultivator has a notorious reputation; you can easily throw mud at him, and others won’t doubt it, just applaud."
"By the way, what’s that Loose Cultivator’s name?"
"Seems to be Chen? Who would remember the name of such a person..."
...
After this young Dao couple returned.
Lin Qiongyu’s beautiful face showed a frosty expression:
"Fool! You dare speak of such matters to others?"
Xue Chengjun scratched his head, giving a simple and honest smile: "Qiongyu, you know...I just can’t stand you smiling at others."
Useless!
Lin Qiongyu fought off the irritation in her heart, her tone softening:
"Chengjun, I didn’t mean to be harsh on you, but this time, you were really too reckless."
She sighed silently, revealing a bit of pity on her face,
"I’m just worried that if you don’t change your ways, you’ll offend people in the future...then what will I do!"
Seeing Lin Qiongyu care so much about him, her demeanor tender and moving,
Her beautiful eyes almost on the verge of tears, she looked as if about to cry.
Xue Chengjun felt both touched and guilty in his heart.
He anxiously paced in circles: "Qiongyu, don’t be sad, I’ll change, I’ll change! Oh, by the way, this is the reward from the Stone Mirror Association!"
He carefully took out a pill bottle from inside his robe, which contained five Qi Nourishing Pills.
As he took them out, a hint of reluctance flashed in Xue Chengjun’s eyes.
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