“Brother Ye Kong, you’re awake? Five days without waking, you really scared us to death.” As soon as dawn broke in the morning, Lu Qin came over worriedly.

“Don’t worry. This was just me practicing martial arts. In the future, I might even meditate for longer. You all shouldn’t worry needlessly.” Ye Kong sat at the table, but his heart was troubled. This was only five days. If in the future he sat for a month at a time, who knew how worried they’d be.

“That’s right. How can you go five days without eating or drinking? You’d starve to death. Don’t do this again in the future. It’s too frightening.” Chen Jiuniang said while doing her embroidery work.

When people worry, they become confused. Ye Kong smiled bitterly. “Mother, Little Qin, you don’t understand. This is cultivation. I absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. What’s a few days without eating or drinking? When I cultivate to the next realm, I’ll be able to practice inedia. You know what inedia is?”

“What buttocks and not buttocks? Little Qin is still here. Don’t talk nonsense. You have no filter on your mouth.” Chen Jiuniang threw him an eye roll.

Ye Kong was about to faint. “Inedia means not needing to eat food or drink water.”

“Doesn’t that mean you’ve really become an immortal?”

“I’m cultivating immortality to begin with. What’s strange about that? But you absolutely must not tell anyone visit our site else, or it will bring me life-threatening danger.” Ye Kong had no choice but to explain it to them.

Letting Chen Jiuniang know he was cultivating immortal arts was actually good. At least she wouldn’t worry anymore, and it was good for her to understand some precautions.

“Didn’t they say Wanxuan True Man said your aptitude was laughably poor? How can you cultivate immortality now?” Hearing her son was cultivating immortality, Chen Jiuniang naturally had a bunch more questions.

After Ye Kong finally finished explaining to her and returned to his own room, Lu Qin walked in with her head lowered, looking like she had something to say but couldn’t get it out. After holding it in for a while, she finally said, “Brother Ye Kong, I… can I cultivate immortality?”

Ye Kong looked at her and slowly shook his head. “Little Qin, you’ve also heard me say that cultivating immortality requires aptitude. If you can’t sense spiritual energy, how can you cultivate immortality?”

Lu Qin dejectedly lowered her head and went to bite that beauty mark on her lower lip again.

Ye Kong couldn’t bear seeing her like this. He smiled and said, “Not cultivating immortality doesn’t matter either. You practice Shadow Dance well. If you master Shadow Dance, you can also punish evil and promote good to protect your family. Oh, and also, I can teach you to draw talismans. Talismans are almost the same as immortal techniques.”

Ye Kong suddenly thought, since paper talismans didn’t require spiritual energy at all, could ordinary people learn them? Since ordinary people on Earth could draw talismans, couldn’t ordinary people on the Cangnan Continent do it too?

If Lu Qin learned it, then when he went out noodlesto cultivate in the future, she could also protect his mother.

“Draw talismans? Like what you used to cure my mother’s illness?” Lu Qin’s eyes brightened when she heard this.

“That’s right. That was called a Bright-Eye Talisman, it can cure people’s eyes. There are many other talismans too. Clear-Heart Talismans, Peace Talismans, Anti-Malaria Talismans, and even Fetus-Protection Talismans. If you learn them, you can also treat people’s illnesses.”

“Fetus-Protection Talisman?”

Ye Kong smiled. “That’s a talisman used when women give birth.”

“Brother Ye Kong! Saying these embarrassing things again!” Lu Qin said reproachfully with a red face.

“What’s embarrassing about that? Come, let’s start learning now.”

Ye Kong had Little Lu Qin stand at the table, then he stood behind her. Using his hand to grasp Lu Qin’s small hand, he gripped the brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and taught her the art of talisman drawing hand-over-hand.

“You see, it’s like this. The brush tip can’t pause. stolen content Write it in one stroke. Don’t use force in your arm, use your wrist…”

Holding Lu Qin’s soft little hand, Ye Kong spoke while writing. But he suddenly discovered the little girl’s face was flushed red.

“When making talismans, the mind must be undistracted.” Although Ye Kong gave this reminder, his own heart suddenly became chaotic.

On a summer morning, the sun hadn’t yet risen. A breeze quietly blew in through the window lattice.

The fragrance of the young girl’s youth wafted over in waves. Those few strands of hair caressed back and forth on his cheek. Combined with Lu Qin’s bashful pink face and peach cheeks, how could it not make a young man’s heart pound?

A beautiful young girl in his arms. With just a slight pull of his arms, he could embrace this soft jade-like body. Ye Kong’s breathing became somewhat irregular. Lu Qin’s breathing was also chaotic. She’d already sensed Ye Kong’s emotional change. She held her breath, as if waiting for something…

“Whoosh!” His spiritual power became chaotic for a moment. The paper talisman being written turned into a ball of flame and instantly burned up completely.

“See, this is the result of being half-hearted. Books say that before drawing talismans one must bathe, burn incense, and bow in worship. Actually, that’s just to give the talisman maker time to adjust their mental state.” Ye Kong took a breath, expelled his stray thoughts, and lectured clearly.

He didn’t embrace Lu Qin. He knew he wouldn’t accompany her for long. [stolen content]Why provoke her emotions? A girl like Lu Qin was soft on the outside but tough on the inside. She wouldn’t be like 21st century Earth girls who easily changed boyfriends. If he provoked her, she would wait her entire life.

He didn’t want this girl’s youthful beauty to turn to white hair while gazing with longing eyes. He even less wanted to be thinking about a woman while cultivating in the wilderness someday. So he could only let go.

For Lu Qin’s sake and for his own, giving up family affection, friendship, and love, perhaps this was the price of cultivating immortality.

“Screw his immortal ancestors! Today isn’t the day for drawing talismans. I burn one for every one I draw! You just practice copying the ones I drew!”

Ye Kong cursed to disguise the turbulence in his heart. He let go of her hand. Looking at Lu Qin’s graceful back, he cursed inwardly: I’ve really become Liu Xiahui. This isn’t my style at all. Better to wrongly kill a thousand than let one escape.

But another voice in his heart said, “Do you want to constantly think about a woman slowly aging, waiting for you to return in loneliness during your future cultivation?”

Ye Kong’s spirit suddenly contracted. Since he wasn’t a heartless person and couldn’t just play around and be done with it, he could only sever emotional bonds early. Cut off feelings and abandon love. Only then could he cultivate in peace!

“Oh, Brother Ye Kong, my brother said the Fan brothers want to invite you to Treasure Spring Pavilion for drinks.” Lu Qin suddenly spoke, interrupting the internal battle in Ye Kong’s heart.

“Really? I’m not going. Those two Fan brothers aren’t good people. No banquet has good intentions.” Ye Kong snorted. During this half year, the Fan brothers had invited him several [stolen content]times and he’d refused them all. It was obvious Fan Jiushe had ill intentions.

“But the person who brought the message said Fan Jiushe said it’s a great opportunity that will be very helpful to you. You must go, or they’ll come to the Ye Manor to invite you.”

“Damn! Threatening me!” Ye Kong said angrily, but inwardly he muttered, looks like not going isn’t an option. I wonder what good thing they have?

Before Treasure Spring Pavilion in the evening, people came and went. It seemed Southern Capital City wasn’t lacking in wealthy people. Young masters and nobles in fine silk clothes went in and out. Those old, faded women pulled and tugged at people at the entrance. However, the truly wealthy wouldn’t pay attention to these women. The real top courtesans wouldn’t stand outside showing off.

“Young master, let this slave serve you. This Green Lotus was once a top courtesan at Treasure Spring Pavilion.” A heavily made-up woman pounced over like a hungry tiger, grabbing Ye Kong and not letting go.

These women of the wind and dust were quite accurate at sizing people up. Although Ye Kong’s outfit was neat, it wasn’t luxurious. He definitely couldn’t throw gold around freely. Such customers were precisely the consumption focus of these second and third-tier women.

Seeing Ye Kong unmoved, the woman hurriedly said again, “Young master, I can tell you’re new here. You don’t know the prices of those red-card courtesans. Elder sister here is cheap. I’ll give you a discount, only five taels of silver. I guarantee you’ll have a good time, pleasure melting into your bones.”

Ye Kong smiled. The prostitutes of the Cangnan Continent were just like Earth, very direct. They came up and talked price right away. After negotiating, they did the deed. In one night, they might sell goods to several families.

However, he hadn’t come today to seek pleasure, and besides, ​unauthorized copy​these women were too worn and wilted. He quickly shook off the woman’s hand and smiled. “Elder sister, I’m not even an adult yet, and I didn’t bring any silver in my pocket. You’d better not waste your time.”

After Ye Kong finished speaking, his figure flashed and he escaped the woman’s pestering. He walked into Treasure Spring Pavilion, leaving only that woman to curse alone: “Little pauper! No money and still wants to play with red courtesans. Go inside and get fleeced to death!”

As soon as Ye Kong walked through Treasure Spring Pavilion’s door, a Dragon-Snake Gang subordinate who’d been waiting hurriedly came forward. He cupped his fists and bowed, saying, “Eighth Young Master, both gang leaders have been waiting for a long time. This way please.”

“Good, much obliged.” Ye Kong waved his hand lightly and followed the subordinate up to Treasure Spring Pavilion’s third floor.

He pushed open the door. When Ye Kong walked into the Fan brothers’ regular private room, the fat Fan Jiushe hurriedly walked over, smiling. “Fellow Daoist Ye graces us with your presence. Jiushe is honored. Half a year since we last met, Fellow Daoist Ye has broken through again. Haha, please, quickly.”

During this half year, the Fan brothers had long since grown impatient with waiting. But they feared Ye Kong’s spiritual power was too shallow. If they absorbed him, it wouldn’t be enough for Fan Jiushe to break through, so they could only wait patiently.

Who knew that several days ago, their informant at the Ye Manor said Ye Kong had been alone in his room for several days without coming out, not eating or drinking. This was unprecedented.

Fan Jiushe immediately guessed Ye Kong was about to break through, so he immediately wanted to use an excuse to invite Ye Kong out to see for himself.

With one look, he discovered Ye Kong had indeed broken through to Qi Refinement Layer 2. Fan Jiushe’s heart was overjoyed. He thought to himself his good fortune had come. If he absorbed Ye Kong’s spiritual power and broke through stolen contentto Qi Refinement Layer 4, he’d be able to control his flying sword magical artifact.

One must know that having or not having a magical artifact was extremely important for cultivators. Relying on spells alone made it difficult to kill people. But with a magical artifact, attack power would step up to a new level. Killing early Qi Refinement cultivators would be effortless. Even encountering cultivators of the same period, he could fight them.

If the magical artifact was formidable and powerful, it could even compensate for deficiencies in one’s own realm. When facing cultivators higher than oneself, one wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.

If he could truly succeed, his future immortal cultivation path would be smooth sailing. He’d continuously kill people, seize treasures, and elevate his cultivation. Wow, I can also live forever!

As Fan Jiushe thought about this, he was overjoyed. While greeting Ye Kong to eat and drink, he continuously used his eyes to steal glances at Ye Kong. The more he looked, the happier he became, as if looking at some peerless treasure.

“Come, taste this Flying Thorn Silver Fish. This is a rarely seen delicacy, extremely delicious in flavor. I heard the fisherman who caught it had his son buried in the fish’s belly before catching just these one or two.” Fan Jiulong also enthusiastically greeted him, his greedy eyes also continuously looking toward Ye Kong.

Fan Jiulong was excited too. If his younger brother became more capable, he’d find him furnace cauldrons for cultivating immortality and leveling up. At that time, he could also enjoy longevity, travel on flying swords, so carefree.

Being looked at by these two brothers made Ye Kong’s heart crawl with unease. Although he still wasn’t clear what exactly they were plotting, Ye Kong knew that showing excessive courtesy without reason meant either treachery or theft. These two being so polite to him definitely didn’t harbor good intentions.

“Sending away a son’s life to catch Flying Thorn Silver Fish, I don’t know what [visit our site]this fisherman was thinking.” Ye Kong ate a bite of fish meat and said, shaking his head.

Fan Jiulong’s fat face puckered in a smile. “Probably a chance encounter. If he’d known early on there were Flying Thorn Silver Fish there, maybe he would have sailed around early on.”

Ye Kong smiled. “Not necessarily. The so-called ‘profit makes wisdom confused.’ Often many people see the benefits first. Under heavy profit, they forget to look at the risks. By the time the fish dies and the net breaks, wanting to regret is too late.”

Ye Kong spoke with underlying meaning, reminding the Fan brothers that wanting to move against him was dangerous. You better weigh it carefully first.

When Fan Jiushe heard this, his heart understood. But Ye Kong was a suitable furnace cauldron he’d rarely encountered. Whether his immortal cultivation path could progress further depended on this one move. How could he let go?

So he smiled. “Fellow Daoist Ye speaks reasonably. But without taking some risks, how can one make big money? If everyone acted as Fellow Daoist Ye says, how could we taste such delicious food?”

Ye Kong’s heart stirred. Could these two be planning to move against him today?