Qin Lu bolted back to his courtyard, sprinting as if his life depended on it.

Once inside, he collapsed onto a stool in the yard and gulped down a bowl of cool water. It took a full half-hour for his racing heart to finally settle.

What had happened today at Jishan Store was truly bizarre.

Whether it was Wu Hao practically forcing chips into his hands, or that absurdly high win rate, it all pointed to one conclusion: this was a setup.

“A conspiracy!”

“There is definitely something fishy going on!”

“But why target me? I’ve always paid my debts on time—do they still want to mess with me?!”

Bang!

Qin Lu slammed his fist onto the stone table, his expression twisted with anger.

Though he had no idea what the endgame was, one thing was certain: Wu Hao was targeting him.

“No matter what, I need to be extra careful lately. I’d better stay indoors more often—the outside world is just too dangerous…”

“I also need to guard against them coming to cause trouble at my doorstep. It looks like I’ll have to buy some warning talismans…”

“My cultivation level urgently needs an upgrade, too. Right now, I’m only at the third layer of Qi Refining—way too low…”

“Ugh… I hope Zhang Meng and her son aren’t caught up in this because of me…”

…

A flurry of chaotic thoughts swirled in Qin Lu’s mind, causing his brow to furrow deeply. A strong sense of crisis welled up within him.

He sat in the courtyard, his fingers lightly tapping on the tabletop, pondering how to respond.

He was lost in thought.

It wasn’t until Zhang Meng returned from outside the courtyard that he snapped out of it.

“Brother Qin, what were you thinking about just now?”

Zhang Meng carried a bag of fruit and sat down opposite Qin Lu.

“Nothing much, just random thoughts.”

Qin Lu gave a faint smile, signaling that everything was fine. After a pause, he asked curiously, “By the way, why did you finish work so early today?”

Normally, Zhang Meng finished around six o’clock, but now it was only three or four in the afternoon—considerably earlier than usual.

Zhang Meng took out a spiritual fruit, peeled it, and said softly with a smile, “Tonight, the second young master of the Wei family is throwing a grand banquet at the store. He rented out the entire restaurant. With so many regular staff not needed, they sent us home early.”

Qin Lu nodded slightly, showing his understanding.

The Wei family was indeed one of the five major powers in the marketplace, possessing the financial strength to rent out an entire venue.

“By the way! Today, a loose cultivator dining at the store experienced something amusing—he…”

Zhang Meng continued eating her spiritual fruit while cheerfully recounting the amusing incident she’d witnessed during her shift at the restaurant.

After spending time together, Zhang Meng had clearly become much more relaxed around Qin Lu. The two often laughed and chatted, their relationship growing increasingly close.

As Qin Lu chatted casually with her, seeing the smile on her face, he couldn’t help but laugh too. His previously tense mood had softened considerably in this moment.

A man really does need a home!

There was nothing wrong with him living together with Zhang Meng. He felt incredibly content now. In this monotonous life of cultivation, if there weren’t someone to talk to and share with, he would go mad.

Ever since Zhang Meng and her son arrived, he’d felt so much lighter. It was as if he’d found a glimmer of comfort in this world.

“Brother Qin…” Zhang Meng suddenly spoke softly.

Hearing this, Qin Lu came back to his senses and looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

“You were staring at me just now…” Zhang Meng lowered her head, blushing shyly.

“Ah!”

Only now did Qin Lu realize that he’d been captivated by her stunning smile, momentarily losing himself in thought.

“I…”

Qin Lu suddenly found himself speechless.

Zhang Meng smiled sweetly, stood up, and said, “I’ll go cook now. When Ziyun wakes up, we can eat.”

“Mm-hmm,” Qin Lu replied softly.

Zhang Meng turned and headed toward the kitchen. Qin Lu remained seated, his eyes involuntarily drawn to her graceful figure.

Tsk, tsk, what a beautiful body…

If only I could touch…

“Hey, hey!”

“What am I thinking?!”

This thought startled Qin Lu, and he quickly averted his gaze, looking up at the peach tree overhead. His face flushed slightly.

“Could it be that I’m feeling relaxed now that my debt is paid off?”

“Is it hunger leading to lust?”

“No, no way!”

“Women will only slow down my sword-drawing speed. Strengthening my cultivation should come first!”

Qin Lu hastily suppressed these stray thoughts.

After a pause, he silently summoned his attribute panel, which appeared without a sound.

【Name: Qin Lu】

【Lifespan: 36/107 years】

【Cultivation: Third Layer of Qi Refining: 85/100】

【Cultivation Technique:】

“Mystic Sun Mantra” (Master): 307/600

【Skills:】

Magic:

“Ignition Technique” (Grandmaster): 2/3000

“Finger Flick Technique” (Grandmaster): 3/3000

“Illumination Technique” (Expert): 32/600

“Cutting Technique” (Expert): 31/600

“Soft Wind Technique” (Novice): 90/100

Talisman Crafting:

“Water Qi Shield” (Expert): 242/600

“Purification Talisman” (Novice): 46/100

Swordsmanship:

“Gray Shadow Sword Art” (Novice): 99/100

【Talent: None】

Qin Lu stroked his chin, his thoughts beginning to flow.

“I’ve been focusing solely on talisman crafting lately, neglecting my magical skills entirely. Progress has been painfully slow…”

“But my swordsmanship is ready for an upgrade…”

“And my cultivation level is almost there too. Looks like I’ll need to save up for a pill and start aiming for the fourth layer of Qi Refining…”

“Whew~ From today on, all my debts are cleared. Every penny I earn from now on is mine!”

Qin Lu clenched his fists. Watching Zhang Meng bustling about in the kitchen and knowing Xiao Ziyun was sleeping peacefully in the room, a surge of pride swelled in his heart.

This little life he had now was truly wonderful. He was thoroughly satisfied and didn’t want to disrupt it.

After a moment’s reflection, Qin Lu picked up the 【Shangqing Sword】 from the corner and began practicing the long-neglected “Gray Shadow Sword Art.”

The sword technique remained as fluid and graceful as ever.

But just as Qin Lu was halfway through his practice, his body suddenly froze, as if stuck, unsure of how to execute the next move. His movements became stiff and awkward.

Yet, within ten seconds, his entire body flowed smoothly once more.

Unsurprisingly, this hitch was undoubtedly due to the skill upgrade. The upgraded “Gray Shadow Sword Art” had clearly reached a new level.

Not only had it become even more ethereal, but its destructive power had also increased exponentially. Each swing and slash already bore the unmistakable aura of a swordsmanship master.

…

Late at night.

Qin Lu sat at his desk, holding a brush and scribbling away, planning to clearly outline his upcoming goals. He intended to create a detailed work plan and then strictly follow it.

But just as he was halfway through writing, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Qin Lu got up and went to open it.

Standing outside was Zhang Meng.

Upon seeing her, Qin Lu was visibly stunned, for she was dressed rather… differently.

Her sleeve had slipped slightly, exposing a hint of her delicate shoulder. Her top was partially undone, revealing a glimpse of her soft bosom, her exquisite figure subtly visible beneath the fabric.

At this sight, Qin Lu swallowed hard and stammered, “Xiao Meng, what… what’s going on?”

“Brother Qin, what are you doing?” Zhang Meng asked softly.

“Nothing much.”

Qin Lu stared at her, his breathing quickening, his body growing increasingly stiff.

“C-can I come in for a bit?”

Zhang Meng lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her garment, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. If one looked closely, they would notice her cheeks were already flushed with a rosy blush.

“Ahem!”

Qin Lu immediately coughed, becoming somewhat incoherent. “O-of course you can! Then come in, little sister…”

Zhang Meng stepped lightly into the room, her face glowing with shyness, her eyes brimming with a seductive allure.

This…

Was happiness arriving too suddenly?

Qin Lu’s heart pounded wildly. He glanced twice toward the doorway, quickly closed the door, and then dizzily followed Zhang Meng to the bed.

“Brother Qin, I’ve… I’ve been with a man before—please don’t look down on me…”

Zhang Meng’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her charm mingling with a touch of vulnerability.

“I won’t.”

…

That night was utterly enchanting.