Chapter 84: The Sun and Moon’s Subtle Dance

To celebrate Song Zhiqiao’s breakthrough, having reached the fourth level of Qi Refinement, Wen Rongxin and Qin Jiyue personally cooked a meal. Song Zhiqiao, not idle, brewed a pot of fragrant Spring Mountain spiritual tea for her elder sisters, and a special pot of Sun Spirit tea for Brother Li.

After dinner, just as the hour of the dog arrived, Li Guanxuan asked Qin Jiyue and Song Zhiqiao to clean up the dishes, then, in front of them, he carried Wen Rongxin in his arms and headed straight for the main chamber.

The three women’s faces immediately flushed with embarrassment.

Even the boldest, Qin Jiyue, knew what would happen next.

This was to appease the rightful lady first, then turn his attention to the concubines.

However, neither Qin Jiyue nor Song Zhiqiao felt any jealousy toward Wen Rongxin.

For Wen Rongxin had stood by their husband from the very beginning, accepting them first; this home, though it could not do without Li Guanxuan, certainly could not do without Wen Rongxin.

“Sister Jiyue, do you think our husband will take in more concubines in the future?” Song Zhiqiao asked, her hands immersed in washing dishes.

“That depends on our abilities,” Qin Jiyue replied with a smile. “If we keep our husband so busy and content he has neither the time nor energy for new concubines, naturally he won’t take any more.”

Hearing this, Song Zhiqiao blushed, her peach blossom eyes shimmering, lovely and coy. She stammered, “I—I might not be skilled enough…I’m still inexperienced…”

“Oh~” Qin Jiyue drew out the syllable, smiling sweetly. “No matter. Tonight, sister will teach you well.”

…

Inside the main chamber.

Li Guanxuan was stirring waves, soft and languorous murmurs lingering in the air.

Once a traditional craftsman, now he was a master massage therapist.

Li Guanxuan pressed skillfully on acupuncture points, gently opening the channels and promoting blood circulation.

Though the patient was drenched in sweat, for a professional, such minor issues would not affect the proceedings.

“H-husband~” Wen Rongxin’s face was flushed as if bathed in blood, her large almond eyes glazed, revealing a unique charm.

“My dear, your husband is here. What’s the matter?” Li Guanxuan asked as he massaged, half-smiling, pretending not to know.

“Don’t…don’t press anymore…change, change to…”

Wen Rongxin became even more bashful, her delicate body trembling…

The scene was the embodiment of “Spring tides rush in late, laden with rain.”

Though long-married, being watched so intently by Li Guanxuan, Wen Rongxin felt embarrassed, covering her delicate goose-egg face with her hand.

“Change to what?” Li Guanxuan still feigned ignorance.

“You’re so annoying~” Wen Rongxin gently bit her lower lip, recalling his earlier teasing words.

Many phrases she could not bring herself to say, finally murmuring, “Change to something more intimate.”

Li Guanxuan laughed heartily.

He knew well that for his wife to take this step was already rare; if he kept feigning ignorance, she would likely pull the blanket over herself.

Soon, as that feeling arose again, Li Guanxuan took out a special massage tool, gradually sinking into bliss, love roots deepening.

…

He worked diligently until the start of midnight, two hours in all, before Wen Rongxin finally fell asleep.

Li Guanxuan withdrew, used his magic to remove dirt from the radish, and with a sweep of his spiritual sense, found Song Zhiqiao waiting in Qin Jiyue’s room.

A good little sister indeed—obedient, considerate, and thoughtful… Li Guanxuan’s lips curled in a smile. After so many years of longing, tonight he could finally fulfill his desire.

He wondered whether after this union, the Velvet Spirit Tree would grant other rewards.

Or perhaps, his spiritual sense and skills would be elevated, especially his alchemy, the most crucial, for soon he would need to raise the quality of Foundation Establishment pills to a thirty-five percent success rate…

Thinking as he walked, Li Guanxuan took two swigs of Deer Antler Spirit Wine to restore his vigor.

Then, he pushed open Qin Jiyue’s door.

---

As he entered, the two women, previously chatting and laughing while waiting to patch up gaps, immediately fell silent, turning to look at Li Guanxuan in tacit accord.

Song Zhiqiao seemed to anticipate what was coming, shrinking back, shy and bashful.

“Little ladies, your husband is here!” Li Guanxuan laughed heartily, like an ancient emperor, leaping onto the bed.

“Sister, you—you’re stronger, you go first…” The little green tea was extremely shy, gently poking Qin Jiyue, hinting she should go first to face the wolf.

Watching her husband with cleansing cream, Qin Jiyue smiled at Song Zhiqiao, saying, “Sister’s cultivation is high, but little sister’s agility is good enough to handle our husband… Sister’s spiritual sense isn’t just for show, you know.”

“Ah?!” Song Zhiqiao was stunned.

So, when she was working with her husband, someone was supervising nearby?

“Sister~” Song Zhiqiao called out shyly.

Since Qin Jiyue already knew her secret, she stopped pretending.

But seeing Qin Jiyue able to provide cleansing cream for her husband, while she herself only had a tablet, Song Zhiqiao’s peach blossom eyes showed a hint of envy.

“Don’t just stand there, the weather isn’t fully cold yet, who wouldn’t want a popsicle that won’t melt?” Li Guanxuan noticed Song Zhiqiao staring blankly and reminded her.

“Bad brother.” Song Zhiqiao blushed and spat lightly.

Now that she was in the wolf’s den, escape was impossible; she could only search up and down.

What followed was Li Guanxuan’s vivid demonstration of “out of the wolf’s den, into the tiger’s lair,” back and forth, again and again.

Qin Jiyue watched as the usually refined and reserved, scholarly Song Zhiqiao gradually succumbed to temptation, how she used her fourth-level Qi Refinement physique to contend with a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator.

“Tsk tsk, crazy, truly crazy,” Qin Jiyue sighed, shaking her head.

Song Zhiqiao knew who Qin Jiyue was referring to, blushing as she said, “Brother… Sister’s making fun of me.”

Li Guanxuan, embracing the petite and delicate little green tea, played tricks, freeing a hand to pat the plump, round posterior of the white-haired witch, saying, “Your husband is cold, come warm me.”

“As you wish~” Qin Jiyue’s eyes were seductive as she approached, but just as she did, she was attacked by the little green tea, ripples spreading.

“Sister is truly made of water…” Song Zhiqiao clung to Li Guanxuan like a koala, winking mischievously after her successful attack.

Qin Jiyue narrowed her eyes, “Believe I’ll join with our husband and sandwich you front and back?”

Hearing this, Song Zhiqiao imagined the scene, her face paling, apologizing hurriedly, “Sister… I dare not…”

Qin Jiyue laughed, then pampered Li Guanxuan, and freed a hand to tease the lotus seeds.

Li Guanxuan couldn’t help but sigh—such unions were indeed wonderful.

Afterwards, the two women took turns throwing themselves into his arms, Li Guanxuan sat back, fully embracing his status as master of the Li household.

He rewarded them with much gold.

Fortunately, in the cultivation world, gold was hardly worth anything.

…

It continued until the early hour of the snake.

With only fourth-level Qi Refinement, Song Zhiqiao was first to fall.

The white-haired witch, at the early Foundation Establishment stage, used all her skills to contend with the sword cultivator.

But when the sword cultivator unleashed the “Rainbow Pierces the Sun” technique, even the witch could only fall asleep in defeat.

“Fantastic!” Feeling the improvement in “Yin-Yang Foundation Life Art,” Li Guanxuan stretched, bones crackling.

Another three months of this, and he would reach the peak of Qi Refinement.

---

At that point, he could close himself off and attempt Foundation Establishment!

Li Guanxuan dressed and left the wing, finding Wen Rongxin already awake and waiting with breakfast.

After all these years, Wen Rongxin was accustomed to this rhythm of life.

Yet every time, she blushed and spat lightly at her husband.

“Big improvement?” Wen Rongxin asked softly.

She knew why Li Guanxuan did this; with Foundation Establishment imminent, only through intense dual cultivation could he hope to cross the threshold.

“Should be no problem,” Li Guanxuan replied with a smile.

Without a definite answer, Wen Rongxin looked slightly guilty. “I…”

“My dear,” Li Guanxuan pulled Wen Rongxin into his arms, kissed her forehead, and comforted her. “I know what you’re thinking, but such things can’t be forced. If you’re too restrained, unable to open your heart, then dual cultivation could do more harm than good. Understand?”

Wen Rongxin whispered, “I’ll try to adjust… I spend time with Jiyue and Zhiqiao, hoping that in the future…”

Li Guanxuan patted her small, pert bottom and smiled, “I understand. I see all you do—you’ve worked hard.”

Character is not something that can be forcibly changed.

Like twisting a melon from the vine: it may quench thirst, but it’s not sweet.

Wen Rongxin enjoyed a few minutes in Li Guanxuan’s embrace, then served him breakfast.

After filling his stomach, Li Guanxuan entered the cultivation chamber, calmed his mind, and inspected the situation within the dark space.

Gold and wood spiritual energy swirled around the Velvet Spirit Tree, dazzling and reassuring.

“In terms of aptitude, gold and fire roots are superb, wood root is mid-grade, earth root is still low-grade… Looks like I need to dual cultivate more with Zhiqiao.”

“Spiritual sense has reached about eight or nine zhang, still not quite at Foundation Establishment level—after all, first stage is thirty to forty zhang.”

“As for skills, talisman, puppet, and alchemy are still second-tier, lower grade; array is first-tier, mid-grade. But at this rate, in about half a month, alchemy will advance to second-tier, mid-grade.”

“‘Yin-Yang Foundation Life Art’ has reached the seventh layer…”

After checking his internal state, Li Guanxuan was satisfied.

After dual cultivation, his growth was indeed much faster.

Originally it would have taken a month to reach second-tier, mid-grade alchemist, now only half a month.

At this rate, puppet and array techniques could also be improved soon.

…

He stayed in the cultivation chamber until afternoon, nearly finishing refining the spiritual energy.

Then, he personally visited the Universal Pavilion, handing sixty thousand spirit stones to Zheng Huangjin to pass on to Liu Xiaoxian.

Zheng Huangjin refused to accept them, knowing well this was Li Guanxuan’s way of compensating Liu Xiaoxian for the three peak Foundation Establishment puppets.

“If I dared take this, the boss would string me up and beat me, trust me?” Zheng Huangjin said helplessly, “Brother, don’t get me in trouble. Take it back. Your task now is to improve your alchemy and break through Foundation Establishment.”

“In the future, if you can refine a Gold Essence Pill with over thirty percent success rate, that will be true compensation for the boss. Set your mind at ease, don’t feel pressured. At such critical times, a cultivator’s state of mind matters most.”

“All right…” Li Guanxuan nodded, then asked, “How’s Master?”

“No big deal. The Hua family can’t find her. The boss is more formidable than you imagine.”

“……”

After a few more pleasantries, Li Guanxuan felt completely at ease, ready to return home and improve his alchemy.

…

PS: Thanks to “Hero Xiao Feng” for the reward of 500 Starting Points, and to “Dark Night Star” for the reward of 100 Starting Points.

Yesterday I updated twelve thousand words, today ten thousand, but failed to reach the promised twenty thousand—so I owe you eight thousand words. After Qingming, I’ll start making it up~

(This chapter ends.)