Lin Yinyin was overwhelmed by Zhang Xian’s relentless generosity. At first, she was so excited that her legs wouldn’t stop trembling; later, she even started feeling numb. Staring at the densely packed treasures in her storage pouch, she felt a wave of dizziness.

She was now fully equipped with mid-grade magical artifacts, along with Foundation Establishment pills and various talismans and elixirs. After calculating everything, she realized that the value of the items Zhang Xian had bought for her exceeded five hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones. Suddenly, she felt that all her previous years of austere cultivation had been lived in vain. This newfound happiness felt like a dream.

Just who is this “Senior Brother Zhang”? What level of cultivation must he have reached to be so extraordinary?

Zhang Xian, on the other hand, felt refreshed and invigorated. This shopping spree had been utterly satisfying, and he couldn’t wait to return home and start cataloging his purchases.

He wondered what would happen if he consumed all the Foundation Establishment pills at once. Each pill alone was worth five mid-grade Spirit Stones! Perhaps he could save some for Xuanwei and Miaoyin—another round of returns awaited them soon.

As he indulged in these pleasant thoughts, he suddenly noticed Lin Yinyin tugging gently at the sleeve of his robe.

“Senior Brother Zhang,” she said softly, “you’ve given me so much today… I don’t even know how to repay you.”

This was already her fifteenth “Older Brother.” Yet compared to him, the previous fourteen combined seemed insignificant.

“Senior cultivator, there’s no need for such formalities,” Zhang Xian replied calmly. “I simply feel we’re destined to meet. Besides, you’ve also helped me select many excellent items—you truly deserve all this.”

Lin Yinyin’s eyes sparkled with shyness as she murmured, “Senior Brother Zhang, calling me ‘senior cultivator’ makes it sound so distant!”

“Well then,” he said with a smile, “I’ll call you Yinyin instead.”

“Mn!” Lin Yinyin exclaimed happily, immediately looping her arm through Zhang Xian’s. It was the first time in all her years managing her “fishpond” that she’d taken such initiative. She just couldn’t resist!

“Senior cultivator—or rather, Yinyin—today has been exhausting, hasn’t it? I’ve received your transmission; let’s meet again another day,” Zhang Xian said, eager to return home.

“Oh!” So he was leaving already. Lin Yinyin couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

Senior Brother Zhang is so strange! Why didn’t he say anything? I’ve already been so proactive—how frustrating!

She desperately wanted to open up and chat freely with Senior Brother Zhang. Who gives gifts without confessing their feelings?

Lin Yinyin was so anxious she wanted to stomp her feet.

Watching Zhang Xian’s figure gradually fade into the distance, Lin Yinyin bit her lip silently. If he isn’t going to take the initiative, why not take it myself?

“Senior Brother Zhang!” she called out, then hurried over to loop her arm through his again, saying sweetly, “Senior Brother Zhang, I still don’t know where you live—are you staying here in Shuiyun City?”

“Yes, just ahead, not far away,” Zhang Xian replied, pointing toward a mansion in the distance.

Lin Yinyin didn’t even need to look to know which area he was referring to—those were all grand mansions, each standing alone, surrounded year-round by Spirit Gathering Formations. The spiritual energy there was even richer than at the Shuiyun Sect itself. Such a property was worth at least a thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones.

Lin Yinyin came from an ordinary family; her parents were commoners incapable of cultivation, and they had passed away early. But because she possessed a Water Spirit Root, she managed to join the Shuiyun Sect as a registered disciple. As a registered disciple, however, she didn’t have a fixed master, nor did she have a proper place to stay—she merely lived in the dormitories at the foot of the sect’s mountain gate, requiring half an hour to reach Shuiyun City each time.

How I long for a home!

“May I… may I visit your home? And meet your sister too?” Lin Yinyin asked timidly.

At first, she hadn’t believed Zhang Xian had a sister, thinking it was merely an excuse for him to get closer to her. But now, seeing him buy everything in duplicate, she was starting to lose confidence in her judgment. Is she really his sister, or some random woman?

Even if he truly had a consort, Lin Yinyin wouldn’t mind—it was only natural, given his extravagant generosity. After all, in the cultivation world, strength reigned supreme, and it was quite common for powerful cultivators to have over ten consorts.

“Alright,” Zhang Xian agreed readily, surprised by her sudden eagerness. In his view, Lin Yinyin was nothing more than a walking ATM.

“My sister isn’t here; usually, I’m the only one living there. But there are plenty of rooms—so if you don’t mind, you’re welcome to stay.”

“Of course not!” Lin Yinyin replied, her heart pounding wildly with nervous excitement. Despite having so many “Older Brothers,” she’d never before shared a room with a man. Deep down, she was still an innocent young girl.

Oh dear, what if he… what should I do—refuse or accept? Her heart raced with anxiety and trepidation.

Their intimate gestures were inadvertently spotted by several mining friends who had come into the city together to purchase supplies. These men had all once pursued Lin Yinyin, eventually becoming her “Older Brothers.” Originally rivals, they had given up on winning her affection and gradually grown fond of each other, becoming friends instead.

“Hey! Isn’t that Lin Yinyin? And who’s that man with her?” To them, their common enemy had always been Zhao Jia, that despicable scoundrel. But now, she was arm-in-arm with someone else!

“No, not Zhao Jia! Wait, he looks familiar—isn’t that the pervert?”

“Which pervert?”

“The one who spent ten mid-grade Spirit Stones to buy Yinyin’s handkerchief! He used to trade high-value Spirit Stones at the mine, calling himself Zhang Xian—I recognize him!”

Zhang Xian’s behavior had already spread widely among the miners, as no one had ever heard of such a fool and pervert combined.

As for Yinyin, how could they bring themselves to criticize her? No one could refuse ten mid-grade Spirit Stones!

After all, each of them secretly kept a handkerchief of hers—a precious memento from the days when she’d handed them cloths to wipe their sweat while they worked selflessly in the mine. But surely, those handkerchiefs weren’t worth ten mid-grade Spirit Stones!

“No way! He must have used some special means! Yinyin isn’t the type of woman who’d sell herself for money—she even turned down Zhao Jia!”

They couldn’t accept it! Over the past few months, Yinyin hadn’t taken advantage of them, and they’d saved up quite a bit, planning to buy her something she loved to win her favor. But now, they’d witnessed this scene instead.

Seeing Lin Yinyin clinging to Zhang Xian’s arm, practically glued to him, the miners were devastated!

“No! We haven’t even touched Yinyin’s hand!”

Why would you fall for that pervert, of all people—and such an ugly one, too! Yinyin, is your taste really that extreme?!

Unable to bear it any longer, several of them followed Zhang Xian and Lin Yinyin all the way to a mansion in the western district.

So it was a rich pervert, after all!

Pfft! One miner with a weak constitution couldn’t hold back his tears and spat blood. His Goddess Yinyin was checking into a hotel with another man!

Damn rich people! Even Yinyin has been corrupted by money!

The miners pounded their chests and wailed pitifully before Zhang Xian’s mansion, grief-stricken beyond measure.

Yinyin has fallen, and our youthful innocence has ended along with her!

Neither Zhang Xian nor Lin Yinyin noticed they were being followed as they entered the mansion. One was preoccupied with the System’s returns, the other lost in thought about her own desires. Neither paid attention to anything else.

When Zhang Xian returned to his room, Lin Yinyin stood awkwardly at the doorway, her face flushed bright red.

What is Senior Brother thinking? Should I take the initiative again?

“Don’t overthink it,” Zhang Xian said, pointing to a row of empty rooms beside him. “These are all vacant rooms—feel free to choose one and move in. Just imprint your spiritual energy onto the lock, and you can come and go as you please. Treat it just like your own home.”

Why does this sound so familiar? Wasn’t this exactly the line I always used?

Could it be that I’m just a backup option too? Lin Yinyin was still dazed when she saw Zhang Xian close the door behind him.

Closed.

Lin Yinyin was utterly dumbfounded.

She mechanically selected a room on Zhang Xian’s left side, finding it lavishly furnished, far more luxurious than her tiny dormitory at the foot of the Shuiyun Sect. But she had no heart to appreciate it now—her mind was filled only with question marks and exclamation points.

Who am I? Where am I?