Logically speaking, Jiang Chen knew he should refuse.

Senior Sister Yu was undeniably captivating—an icy beauty who had just thrown herself into his arms. But the moment his mind drifted to the myriad secrets he harbored—the System, his lifespan manipulation, his true wealth—a bucket of cold water doused his rising heat.

He suppressed the physiological urge, his voice dropping to a calm, gravelly low. “Senior Sister Yu, I haven’t decided if I want a Dao Companion yet.”

Yu Caiqing chuckled softly, the sound like wind chimes. Her lips parted to reveal pearly white teeth. “Neither have I.”

She stepped closer, her voice gentle but firm. “Since neither of us is ready for that commitment, let’s not force the title of ‘Dao Companion’ upon ourselves. We remain friends. Just… intimate friends.”

She traced a finger along his chest. “We won’t play house. We won’t interfere in each other’s lives. But when we have a need… we can trust one another.”

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, understanding dawning on him. “So, similar to a hired Dao Companion?”

Yu Caiqing blinked, a playful half-smile dancing on her lips. “After I’ve said all that… do you still plan to refuse?”

She had laid all her cards on the table. She had defined the boundaries, the transaction, and the benefits.

Jiang Chen found himself unable to conjure a single valid reason to say no.

He took a deep breath, the scent of her orchid perfume filling his lungs. “Alright. I will do my utmost to assist you, Senior Sister. We will mutate your Spirit Root as quickly as possible.”

Their eyes met. No further words were needed.

Jiang Chen wrapped his arm around her slender, yielding waist, and guided her toward the stairs.

Wood serves as kindling, igniting a blazing fire.

In the dim light of the second floor, two distinct spiritual powers intertwined. One was the fuel, steady and enduring; the other was the flame, ravenous and consuming.

It was a dance of depletion and devouring.

Outside, the winter blizzard howled, the wind slashing against the stone walls like unseen blades. But inside the stone house, the air was thick, heavy, and as warm as the height of summer.

Meanwhile, miles away at the Red Leaf Valley market.

A crowd of cultivators gathered in the snowy streets, their faces flushed with excitement and rice wine.

Boom!

Fireworks from the mortal world ascended into the night sky, blooming in showers of gold and crimson light. The explosions echoed off the valley walls, marking the passage of time.

This night was destined to be anything but peaceful.

Morning arrived with a soft, pale light.

Jiang Chen lay buried in the comfort of his nanmu wood bed, the expensive silk quilt cool against his skin. In his drowsy state, a rustling sound tugged him from his sleep.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Someone was standing by the bed.

It was Yu Caiqing, of course.

Under the warm glow of the glazed lamp overhead, she was fully dressed, yet the robes did nothing to hide the memory of her exquisite curves.

Jiang Chen rubbed his eyes, surprised. “Senior Sister? You’re up early.”

Yu Caiqing offered a faint, professional smile. She reached for the Storage Bag at her waist. “I have matters to attend to at the Pill Tower.”

She flicked her wrist.

“This is your allowance for the month. One hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones.”

Thud.

A heavy pouch slammed onto the mattress. The sheer density of the spiritual energy inside made the sturdy nanmu bed shudder violently.

Jiang Chen, barely awake, stared at the pouch in a daze. One hundred Mid-grade stones. That was equivalent to ten thousand Low-grade stones—a fortune for any Qi Condensation disciple.

Before he could respond, Yu Caiqing was already moving. She descended the stairs with a brisk, elegant stride, leaving only a trailing scent of orchids in her wake.

The door clicked shut.

Only then did Jiang Chen snap out of his stupor. He immediately grabbed the heavy pouch, a pragmatic satisfaction washing over him.

“Not a bad start to the year,” he muttered, stowing the wealth away.

He leaned back against the headboard, savoring the lingering warmth of the bed and reflecting on the mechanics of the previous night.

Dual Cultivation was a precise art, generally divided into two stages.

The first stage was purely mechanical—a complementary exchange based on the attributes of one’s Spirit Roots.

It followed the Five Elements theory: Wood generates Fire. One party acts as the nutrient, the fuel; the other acts as the furnace, the absorber.

In this initial phase, when the two parties are unfamiliar or lack absolute trust, physical intimacy is mandatory. The body becomes the bridge for the Qi to cross.

The second stage was far more profound. It occurred when the partners became true Dao Companions—lovers who shared absolute familiarity and trust.

In that stage, hearts and minds are in harmony. The souls resonate on a spiritual level.

To put it bluntly, they catch feelings.

Once that emotional resonance is achieved, the risk of Qi Deviation drops to near zero, and the practice grants special, compounding enhancements to cultivation speed.

Currently, Jiang Chen and Yu Caiqing were firmly in the first stage.

Logically speaking, Jiang Chen had acted as the “Wood” fuel for Yu Caiqing’s “Fire” all night. His spiritual power should have been drained dry, leaving him exhausted.

But as he stretched his limbs, he felt a surprising surge of vigor coursing through his meridians.

While the Fire devoured the Wood, the heat of the blaze had also tempered him. The impurities in his Qi had been burned away, leaving his foundation denser and more robust.

It was a perfect trade.

Jiang Chen climbed out of bed, the silk sheets sliding off him. The morning sun filtered through the window, illuminating his stone house. He felt refreshed, wealthy, and powerful.

The new year had just begun, and the future looked incredibly bright.