Dual Cultivation System: My Cultivation Was Crippled, So I Rely on Intimacy to Level Up

Chapter 269: Waves Rise Before Plum Branch Alley

Zhou Kai held Mo Qianyuan’s hand, guiding her toward the southern district of the city.

His steps were steady and rhythmic, a stark contrast to Mo Qianyuan’s erratic gait. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around his, her knuckles whitening.

Her eyes no longer took in the passing street scenes. Instead, they stared fixedly down the length of the road, as if searching for something lost in the fog of time.

“Flying is prohibited within the city. Don’t be anxious,” Zhou Kai said, his voice gentle. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Just consider it a leisurely stroll to enjoy the night view of Meixi Slope. It has a unique charm.”

Hearing this, Mo Qianyuan’s tense shoulders dropped slightly. She let out a long, shaky breath.

She followed Zhou Kai’s gaze. The main street was strung with multi-colored lanterns, their flowing light casting a warm, ruddy glow on the faces of the passersby.

The cries of hawkers selling candied haws, the laughter of children chasing each other, and the rich aroma of street food washed over them.

Most of the people on the street were Mortals, but Mo Qianyuan could sense the distinct auras of cultivators mixed in the crowd. A few were even Golden Core experts, their presence flashing by like fleeting shadows.

The two passed through several streets adorned with plum blossom lanterns until, deep within the winding paths of Plum Branch Alley, they found it.

The Cloud Arrival Small Workshop.

The shopfront betrayed the modesty of its name. It was a substantial two-story wooden building, spanning a full 100 feet in width. However, the eaves were worn, the corridor pillars showed signs of rot, and the vermilion lacquer on the plaque was peeling, exuding the heavy scent of decay and time.

Unfortunately, the shop was dark.

The pitch-black doors were tightly locked. The plum blossom lantern hanging above the entrance remained unlit, making the building appear singularly lonely amidst the row of brightly illuminated shops.

Mo Qianyuan stood before the door. Her gaze was glued to the peeling plaque. In her eyes, there was nostalgia, but also a trace of detachment she herself hadn’t noticed.

Zhou Kai tightened his grip on her hand. “Let’s find a place to stay first. We’ll be here for a month or two. There’s plenty of time to figure this out.”

Mo Qianyuan was silent for a long moment. Then, she shook her head, her gaze turning clear and cold once more.

“No need.”

She took one last look at the shut doors, frowned slightly, and forcibly suppressed the intense sense of familiarity rising in her chest.

Zhou Kai glanced at her, surprised by her decisiveness.

“It’s just some vague childhood memories,” Mo Qianyuan said, her tone calm. “Not worth delaying my Dao for. Besides…” Her voice turned chilly. “The Shu Family here doesn’t seem to welcome us.”

“Husband is a Golden Core Great Cultivator representing Chief Li personally, yet those two reception disciples didn’t even offer to introduce us to the Elders. Since that is the case, we will deliver the gifts and leave. There is no need to waste time here.”

Zhou Kai nodded inwardly. This is my Qianyuan. Her Dao Heart is firmer than iron.

“As you wish. However… Qianyuan, you should rest in the inn. Do not go out. I will change my appearance and investigate for you. I won’t let this matter weigh on your mind.”

Mo Qianyuan looked at him. A trace of warmth flickered in her cool eyes, and she nodded gently.

They didn’t go far. They found an inn at the entrance of Plum Branch Alley, situated on higher ground.

The room wasn’t luxurious, but it was clean and elegant. Opening the window offered a view of nearly half the alley, including the silent, dark facade of the Cloud Arrival Small Workshop.

Zhou Kai wasted no time. With a wave of his hand, he layered several isolation Formations and Restrictions around the room, ensuring absolute privacy.

Then, with a thought, his figure shrank. His features shifted, transforming into a forgettable, ordinary face that would vanish in a crowd. Simultaneously, his vast Vitality subsided completely, hiding any trace of his body cultivation.

He disguised himself as a common Foundation Establishment mid-stage Qi cultivator.

In the cultivation world, Qi cultivators made up the vast majority. Body cultivators were rare, and pure sword cultivators like Shen Hanyi were practically unicorns. Displaying the realm of a Qi cultivator was the best way to blend in.

“I’ll be back soon,” he told Mo Qianyuan.

With a flash, he vanished from the room.

The night deepened. A cold wind carrying the scent of plum blossoms swept through the alleyways.

Zhou Kai walked back toward the Cloud Arrival Small Workshop. From a distance, he spotted a figure standing right in front of the shop’s entrance.

It was Shu Xingyao, the Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator who had received them earlier.

Gone was the restraint and nervousness he had shown before Zhou Kai. Now, he was slapping the shop’s defensive Restrictions with impatient, frantic hands.

Thud. Thud.

Dull impacts echoed in the quiet alley. With each slap, a faint ripple of spiritual light shuddered across the door.

“Xiaofu! Open the door! I know you’re inside!” Shu Xingyao hissed, lowering his voice. “Don’t be ungrateful! I’m giving you face here!”

Zhou Kai took one look and shook his head. The Restriction on the door was laughably crude, riddled with holes.

He didn’t even need to force it. Activating Cicada Chirp Steals Heaven, his Divine Sense slipped through the weak barrier like water, flooding the interior of the workshop.

The first floor was the shop proper, but it was dismally empty. The shelves held only a few low-grade Talismans and Pills—not a single decent Magical Artifact was in sight. In the corner, however, piles of raw materials for low-grade artifact refining gathered dust.

The second floor appeared to be living quarters.

A woman was pacing back and forth inside a room. Her cultivation was low, only around Qi Condensation fourth layer.

The knocking outside grew more urgent. Finally, the woman gritted her teeth. She stopped pacing and walked quickly down the stairs.

Creak—

The extinguished lantern outside the shop suddenly flared to life, casting a soft, warm halo.

The heavy doors cracked open.

The woman stepped out. She wore a plain dress and appeared to be in her early twenties. Her figure was graceful, her face possessing a tired beauty.

But when Zhou Kai saw her eyes, his heart gave a jolt.

They were Phoenix Eyes—identical to Mo Qianyuan’s. Clear, bright, and translucent. They lacked Mo Qianyuan’s ethereal “immortal aura,” replaced instead by the weary dust of the mortal world, but the shape was unmistakable.

“Shu Xiaofu, you finally deign to come out.”

“You and I are both from the Shu family. Why be so distant?” Shu Xingyao took a step forward, effectively blocking the doorway. His tone softened, dripping with false concern.

“Xiaofu, you’re just a Qi Condensation female cultivator with no one to rely on. What future can you have guarding an empty shop?”

Under the heightened perception of his technique, Zhou Kai could clearly hear Shu Xiaofu’s heart hammering against her ribs, betraying her calm facade.

“Thank you for your concern, Clan Brother,” Shu Xiaofu said, lowering her head to avoid his gaze. “Although the shop is empty, it is a memento left by my parents. Being able to make ends meet is enough.”

“Memento? Make ends meet?” Shu Xingyao sneered. He swept his hand toward the deeper parts of the alley. “Look around! In this Plum Branch Alley, which shop doesn’t have a Foundation Establishment cultivator—or even a Golden Core Elder—backing it?”

“Can your ‘memento’ get you a single sheet of high-grade talisman paper? Can it buy you refined iron for crafting artifacts?”

He leaned closer. “Xiaofu, face reality. Your shelves are bare. The scraps in the corner wouldn’t even tempt a Loose Cultivator. Without a supply channel, the Cloud Arrival Small Workshop will close within three months.”

“I have always remembered the family’s kindness,” she replied, her voice steady. “But my cultivation is low. I dare not trouble you, Clan Brother.”

Her words were flawless—neither yielding nor confronting.

“Your stubborn temper is going to ruin you.” Shu Xingyao’s patience was thinning. “I’m not forcing you. I’m pointing out a clear path.”

“Just nod your head and follow me. I guarantee I’ll open up supply channels for you. Pills, Artifacts, Talismans—I can’t promise everything, but filling your shelves will be easy. Even the Foundation Establishment Pill you want… I can find a way to get it for you!”

“Clan Brother Xingyao.”

Shu Xiaofu took a sharp step back, putting distance between them. A flash of anger finally broke through her composure.

“I, Shu Xiaofu, would rather close this shop and become a Clerk for another trading company than become your Concubine and ruin the last shred of dignity my parents left behind!”

Shu Xingyao’s face darkened instantly. The oily smile vanished, replaced by a vicious glare.

“I’ll make myself clear today. Either you come with me obediently, or I will ensure you can’t buy a single grain of rice in this alley! Let’s see who dares to sell to you when it means disrespecting me, Shu Xingyao!”

Zhou Kai, watching from the shadows, slowly straightened his posture.

He hadn’t intended to get involved in local squabbles. But the image of Mo Qianyuan’s eyes staring at the plaque flashed through his mind.

He couldn’t let this become a knot in her heart.

He adjusted his suppressed aura, letting it rise slightly. Though he still appeared to be at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, the pressure he radiated was now heavier, steadier—enough to crush Shu Xingyao.

Zhou Kai stepped out of the darkness, his pace unhurried.