After disposing of the burly guard and his lean companion, Zhou Kai didn’t linger. He immediately led his group back to the central island of Minshan Lake, hiding safely behind the grand formation’s protective barrier.

Fu Weilun, growing increasingly desperate, sent several waves of scouts to infiltrate the lake area. However, the ancient formation held firm. No matter how hard they searched, they found nothing but mist and silence.

Eventually, Fu Weilun’s patience ran dry.

He concluded that “Han Cheng” and “Han Lan” must be making a break for the Calamity Abyss Valley. Abandoning the search of the lake, he moved his forces to the only main road connecting Minshan Lake to the valley, weaving a tight net of ambushes and waiting for prey that would never come.

…

Night fell, draping the world in a veil of dark velvet studded with sparse stars and a bright, hanging moon.

Outside the Crouching Tiger Mountain market, a streak of light slashed through the darkness. As the brilliance faded, a small, exquisite Spirit Boat descended.

Three figures stood at the bow: Zhou Kai, Chen Ziyi, and Lin Zhiwei, who had assumed the alias “Su Qingzhu.”

Below them, the lights of the market twinkled like a galaxy fallen to earth. Even from miles away, the faint hum of activity and clamor drifted up to them.

“We’re here,” Zhou Kai said, waving his hand to stow the Spirit Boat. The three of them landed gracefully, their toes barely disturbing the dust.

The market was far more crowded than when Zhou Kai had left. The air was thick with the interwoven auras of countless cultivators.

It seems the news of the ancient site really did attract every vulture within a thousand miles, Zhou Kai noted silently.

Chen Ziyi smiled gently, her hand finding Zhou Kai’s and squeezing it warmly. “Husband, let’s go home.”

Lin Zhiwei followed silently, her eyes scanning the Crouching Tiger Mountain market with a hint of hidden curiosity.

They navigated the winding streets until they reached their small, secluded courtyard. As Zhou Kai pushed open the heavy wooden gate, a refreshing breeze washed over him, carrying a complex bouquet of medicinal herbs.

He paused, sniffing the air. “Oh? It seems that girl Ziqing hasn’t been slacking off in her pill refining while I was away.”

Lin Zhiwei, following close behind, twitched her nose. A flash of surprise crossed her stoic features.

As a second-grade formation master, her senses were sharply tuned to the fluctuations of Spirit Qi. While the fragrances drifting in the courtyard were only from low-grade pills, the scent was a perfect blend of over a dozen distinct types. The aroma was stable and lingering—a clear sign that the alchemist possessed superb control and proficiency.

A top-tier first-grade alchemist… hiding in a Loose Cultivator’s household? She mused, her estimation of Zhou Kai rising yet again.

Creeeak—

The door to the inner room swung open.

A petite figure rushed out, illuminated by the soft moonlight. She wore a silk sleeping robe that hung loosely on her frame, the fabric slipping just enough to tease the sight of her snow-white calves. Her jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders in a state of carefully curated disarray, exuding a lazy, intoxicating allure.

It was Chen Ziqing.

She had sensed the courtyard’s restriction opening and knew her husband and sister had returned. She had prepared a barrage of coquettish, clingy words, ready to throw herself into Zhou Kai’s arms. But her momentum stalled the moment she saw the stranger standing beside them.

A woman. A beautiful woman with fair skin and an aura that far surpassed her own.

Qi Condensation seventh layer!

Chen Ziqing swallowed the sweet nothings poised on her lips. In a split second, her expression shifted from seductive eagerness to the picture of a well-behaved, adorable younger sister.

“Brother Zhou! Sister! You’re finally back!”

Her voice was sweet and sticky, pitched to perfection with just the right amount of innocent surprise.

Lin Zhiwei stood quietly to the side, a faint smile playing on her lips. She hadn’t missed the lightning-fast change in Chen Ziqing’s expression.

Chen Ziyi had already briefed her during the journey: Zhou Kai had another Dao Companion waiting at home—her own younger sister, Chen Ziqing.

Seeing Ziqing look over, Lin Zhiwei offered a polite, graceful curtsey. “This humble one is Su Qingzhu. Greetings, Sister Ziqing. I apologize for the intrusion.”

Chen Ziqing’s large, watery eyes scanned “Su Qingzhu” from head to toe.

High cultivation, excellent manners, and that face… She’s a formidable rival, Ziqing thought, her internal alarm bells ringing.

Zhou Kai stepped forward, smiling. “This is Miss Su, a good friend of mine. She’s encountering some trouble outside, so she’ll be staying with us for a while.”

“Sister Su,” Ziqing chirped with a radiant smile, looking as harmless as a bunny. “Welcome!”

“Ziyi, take Qingzhu to rest first. The journey has been tiring,” Zhou Kai instructed.

“Understood, Husband.”

As soon as Chen Ziyi and Lin Zhiwei disappeared through the moon gate into the guest quarters, the atmosphere in the courtyard shifted instantly.

Chen Ziqing’s mask of obedience vanished.

She marched up to Zhou Kai, her rosy lips pouted in a grievance that seemed to reach the heavens. Her eyes reddened instantly, a layer of mist gathering over her pupils.

“Brother Zhou, you’ve been gone for five months. Five whole months! I’ve been worried sick, waiting day after day, night after night. Look, my hair is almost turning white from the stress.”

She reached out with slender, jade-like fingers and tugged at his sleeve, her voice trembling.

“The first time Brother Zhou goes on a long trip, he brings back another beautiful sister… Has Brother Zhou… has Brother Zhou forgotten about his little Ziqing?”

A single tear threatened to spill from her eye, a weapon of mass destruction designed to shatter a man’s heart.

Zhou Kai chuckled inwardly. This girl’s ‘Green Tea’ cultivation has improved by leaps and bounds.

Feigning ignorance, he reached out and pinched her soft cheek. “What’s wrong? Who bullied you?”

“It was Brother Zhou who bullied me!” Ziqing cried out softly, the mist in her eyes thickening. “That Sister Su looks like an immortal from a painting, and her cultivation is so high… Not like poor little me. I have lowly cultivation and can only refine some minor pills to barely help out around the house…”

“Stop, stop, stop!”

Zhou Kai interrupted her performance, pulling her into his arms with a sudden jerk. Ziqing gasped as she collided with his chest.

“My dear Ziqing will become an alchemist renowned throughout the cultivation world someday! Just smell this courtyard—the fragrance of these pills is proof enough!”

Ziqing let out a little pfft of laughter, though the tear still clung artistically to her lash. She gently punched his chest. “Brother Zhou always knows exactly what to say to coax me.”

After a bit more playful banter, Zhou Kai’s expression turned serious. “How has the situation been lately at Crouching Tiger Mountain?”

Ziqing straightened up, her face gaining a rare seriousness. “Not long after you left, news about the ancient site spread completely. The market was in chaos for a while—fights and killings every day. Eventually, the Heavenly Spring Sect sent experts to forcefully suppress the violence. It’s settled down now.”

She paused, leaning closer. “But the population has exploded. Five out of every ten cultivators in the market are newcomers, all drawn by the rumors.”

Zhou Kai nodded. “And the Chen Family?”

“The Chen Family seized the opportunity. They joined forces with the Wang Family to expand the Baolu Pavilion. Business is booming incredibly well.”

“And the matter I asked Qiaoqiao to handle? The disguise?”

“Right after you left, Sister Qiaoqiao set it up,” Ziqing reported efficiently. “About ten days later, a mysterious ‘wandering second-grade alchemist’ appeared. Qiaoqiao gave him the title ‘Danyangzi’.”

“Danyangzi, hmm?” Zhou Kai raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. But Brother Zhou, the second-grade pills you left behind sold out in just over a month. Sister Qiaoqiao has been stalling, claiming Senior Danyangzi is traveling. She says if you don’t refine a new batch soon, Danyangzi might become a ‘person who cannot be found.'”

Zhou Kai pondered for a moment. “I have a plan for that. As for the Chen Family…”

Before he could finish, Ziqing suddenly wrapped both arms around his neck, pulling his head down. Her warm breath, scented with herbs and desire, brushed against his earlobe.

“Brother Zhou~” she whined, her voice dripping with coquettish charm. “What kind of reunion is this? You come back after five months and talk business immediately? Don’t you want to show me some affection first?”

Without waiting for an answer, she produced an exquisite jade vial from her sleeve and popped the stopper. A subtle, sweet pink mist drifted into the air.

“Look, Brother Zhou. These are some interesting new pills I developed.”

She blinked proudly. “There’s the Dream Bewildering Pill that makes people talk in their sleep. The Drunken Immortal Brew that makes a cultivator as drunk as a Mortal… And this one…”

She tipped a small, pink pill into her palm. It was the size of a longan fruit and emitted a scent that made the blood race. She waved it under Zhou Kai’s nose, then popped it into her own mouth, chewing slowly. A deep flush instantly bloomed across her cheeks.

“This is the Hidden Fragrance Pill. After eating it, the body emits a… particularly pleasant scent. It also makes the mood happier and the body… much more sensitive.”

Her voice dropped to a husky whisper, her eyes glazing over with rising heat. “Brother Zhou… do you want to test Ziqing’s alchemy skills?”

She pressed her body against his, her soft curves molding to his hard frame. The heat radiating from her was unnatural, fueled by the pill.

Zhou Kai looked down at the enchanting little temptress in his arms. A fire ignited in his abdomen, fierce and demanding.

This girl is getting better and better at provoking me.

He laughed heartily, sweeping Chen Ziqing up into a princess carry. “Alright! Tonight, this husband will properly ‘test’ exactly how much my dear Ziqing’s skills have advanced!”

He strode into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind him.

He tossed Ziqing onto the soft bed. She bounced slightly, her silk robe falling open to reveal the creamy expanse of her skin, now glowing with a faint, unnatural pink hue from the Hidden Fragrance Pill.

The scent in the room intensified—a mix of orchids and musk that assaulted the senses.

“Brother Zhou…” Ziqing writhed on the sheets, her hands wandering over her own body. “The pill… it’s working fast…”

Zhou Kai didn’t waste words. He stripped off his outer robes and loomed over her. “Let’s see if the taste matches the smell.”

He descended, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He inhaled deeply. The fragrance exuding from her pores was intoxicating, a potent aphrodisiac that spiked his adrenaline. When he licked her skin, it tasted sweet, like nectar.

“Ah!~” Ziqing arched her back, her fingers tangling in his hair. “It’s hot… Brother Zhou, help me cool down…”

“You want to cool down?” Zhou Kai smirked, his hand sliding down her stomach, past the silk fabric, to find the source of her heat. She was already drenched. “I think you need to burn a little hotter first.”

He entered her in one smooth, powerful thrust.

Ziqing cried out, a high-pitched sound of pure pleasure that echoed in the small room. Her legs instantly wrapped around his waist, locking him in. The Hidden Fragrance Pill had made her incredibly sensitive; every chaotic movement of friction sent tremors through her petite frame.

“Deep… too deep…” she moaned, her “green tea” facade crumbling completely, replaced by raw, unbridled need.

Zhou Kai moved with ruthless rhythm, his cultivation technique circulating instinctively. As they connected, he felt her Yin energy, enhanced by the medicinal power of the pill, flowing into him. It was a turbulent, spicy energy that nourished his meridians.

“Your alchemy…” Zhou Kai gritted out, driving into her harder, “is truly… top grade.”

Ziqing could no longer form coherent sentences. She was lost in the storm, her nails digging into his back, her head thrown back on the pillow as she surrendered to the dual cultivation.

The night was long, and the fragrance in the room only grew sweeter.