Chapter 38: The Boundless Power Soup (Please Bookmark)

In the end, Li Guanxuan obtained over three thousand spirit stones, and with the nearly five thousand he had just gained, his harvest from this venture outside the city totaled eight thousand spirit stones, as well as a manual for the art of puppet-making, "Mysterious Gold Flying Puppet." Truly, a windfall!

Of course, he owed this success to the Black Bamboo Stronghold and the three brothers of the Qiu family. Without their relentless labor day and night, Li Guanxuan would not have enjoyed such a surprising gain.

Yet Li Guanxuan did not choose to purchase the materials for crafting the "Mysterious Gold Flying Puppet" directly. Instead, he planned to wait a few days and have Qin Jiyue buy the supplies in batches and bring them back to him. After all, Zheng Huangjin already knew he was a mid-tier first-rank alchemist and a high-tier first-rank talisman master. If Zheng were to learn that he was also a mid-tier first-rank artificer, he might suspect Li Guanxuan had encountered some extraordinary opportunity.

To avoid any unexpected shifts in their relationship, Li Guanxuan preferred to keep some things unsaid. The heart hides secrets, and no one can predict what the future may hold. Fathers may turn against sons, friends may betray each other—such things are not unheard of.

When venturing out, it is wise to speak seven parts truth and keep three parts in reserve, leaving yourself a way out.

After leaving the Pavilion of Myriad Phenomena, Li Guanxuan soon encountered Qin Jiyue, who was in disguise. Without a word, Li Guanxuan slapped a purification talisman onto her chest. Seeing nothing amiss, he finally relaxed a little.

"Did you forget something?" Qin Jiyue snorted softly and held out her delicate hand. "I contributed the most—seventy percent for me, thirty for you."

She had no intention of claiming all the spoils, since Li Guanxuan had already given her plenty of spirit stones.

"We're family, aren't we? Why fuss over such trifles?" Li Guanxuan wore a wounded expression, sighed, then tossed her a pouch of spirit stones. "They're all gone. I had the Pavilion's steward help with the sale; he took ten percent. I ended up with three thousand spirit stones—split fifty-fifty, you get fifteen hundred."

"That's all?" Qin Jiyue eyed him suspiciously.

"What else did you expect?" Li Guanxuan replied earnestly.

Qin Jiyue let it go; it was all unexpected profit anyway. If Li Guanxuan ever needed spirit stones, she would generously help him—after all, they were family now.

Suddenly, Qin Jiyue blinked, hooked Li Guanxuan's arm, and cooed, "Did I frighten you today, husband? Don't worry—tonight I'll become Qin Wujie to comfort your tender heart~"

Li Guanxuan's face darkened. "If you dare, I'll sleep in the master bedroom every night from now on."

"Alright, alright, I won't—let's go shopping. We'll look at clothes and buy some pretty outfits for Sister Rongxin… something sexy, something playful, what do you think?" Qin Jiyue blinked, eager to please.

"Now that's more like it."

...

After their shopping trip, Li Guanxuan couldn't help feeling Qin Jiyue was a sucker. These few cool garments cost a hundred spirit stones? Yet Qin insisted they were from a famous brand, the price was the same everywhere, and the materials differed from ordinary clothes—they could keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.

Li Guanxuan touched them; the fabric was indeed unusual, but it wasn't a magic robe. Spending a hundred spirit stones on these clothes and lingerie… He might as well tailor some himself.

Still, it didn't matter—these were windfall gains, and as long as Qin Jiyue didn't use them to recruit spies, it wasn't a waste.

He couldn't help but grumble inwardly: all Qin Jiyue's hard work developing informants, yet it was easier for him to simply approach Zheng Huangjin directly…

When they returned home, Wen Rongxin had already prepared a delicious, lavish meal.

"Sister, wait before you eat—look at these clothes I bought for you, aren't they beautiful?" Qin Jiyue displayed her purchases.

Wen Rongxin blinked, then nodded gently. "They… they're lovely, but…"

"But what?"

"It's winter now—aren't they a bit unsuitable?"

"Oh, what's unsuitable? We're cultivators; with a touch of magic, we can ward off the cold!" Qin Jiyue laughed. "Besides, husband won't let us wear these outside anyway—at most, we'll wear them at home for him."

"They must have been expensive," Wen Rongxin whispered.

"Not at all—today I happened upon some unexpected profit. Why not buy you a few outfits?" Qin Jiyue replied.

Wen Rongxin glanced at Li Guanxuan, her eyes still full of concern. Even though times were much better now, she remained thrifty as ever, unwilling to buy herself even a single new garment.

"Just accept them—it's Jiyue's heartfelt gift. Besides, you haven't bought new clothes in years; it's nice to dress up for me now and then…" Li Guanxuan smiled and sat at the table, eyes suddenly widening.

He noticed a pot of soup, its ingredients including pork kidney, chicken testicle, ox penis, wolfberry, red dates… All brimming with spiritual energy, clearly an expensive dish.

"Is this the legendary soup—men who eat it, women can't handle them; women who eat it, men can't handle them; boundless magic in a bowl?" Li Guanxuan was dumbfounded.

Wouldn't a pot of this leave you sweeter than first love and blissfully lost?

Wen Rongxin blushed, quietly explaining, "It's to nourish you, husband… and also for me and sister, a little nourishment."

After all, she needed to dual cultivate frequently now; without some supplementation, she truly couldn't keep up.

"This soup is wonderful—I love it!" Qin Jiyue laughed heartily, helping herself to a bowl, then serving Wen Rongxin as well, paying no heed to the head of the household.

Li Guanxuan didn't mind; as long as Qin Jiyue continued to treat Wen Rongxin kindly, he had nothing to say.

"Husband, here." Wen Rongxin ladled a bowl for Li Guanxuan, then looked to Qin Jiyue. "Sister, how does it taste?"

"It's delicious!" Qin Jiyue gave a thumbs-up. "After this soup, someone will be flat-out tonight!"

"Yes, yes…" Li Guanxuan sipped the soup, nodding with admiration as warmth surged through him, banishing all traces of winter chill.

Wen Rongxin smiled happily.

During dinner, Li Guanxuan considered suggesting a certain plan for the night, but the words stalled in his throat.

Wen Rongxin was too shy—she wouldn't refuse, but would be stiff and unable to relax when it came to intimacy.

Qin Jiyue was too forceful and domineering—though she might not refuse, she would likely compete fiercely, never conceding, and voraciously absorb experience. When it came to Wen Rongxin, there would be little left.

Ah, better to handle one at a time.

Li Guanxuan sighed to himself. After all, they were not mere tools.

After dinner, Qin Jiyue changed into her new lingerie, dragged Li Guanxuan into the side chamber.

As they grew more accustomed to living together, Qin Jiyue sometimes skipped the protective talisman—enjoying herself first, then worrying about it later.

Wen Rongxin tidied up, listening to music, her delicate face flushed, legs crossed as she stood.

...

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