The air froze instantly.

The gentle smile on Chen Ziyi’s face stiffened, her gaze turning complicated.

Chen Ziqing’s pupils contracted. Her mask of fragility cracked for a split second. Inside, her thoughts were venomous: Another one? And a Cultivation Vessel at that? Is she that desperate to climb into his bed?

Wang Qiaoqiao looked like her eyes were about to pop out of her head. Alarm bells rang deafeningly in her heart. She felt like she was staring at her own replacement—a younger, colder, more talented version.

Lin Zhiwei was utterly bewildered, standing there like a lost sheep, unsure of how to react.

Zhou Kai felt his throat constrict. He nearly choked on his own saliva.

He never expected Shen Hanyi to drop such a nuclear bomb.

Right in front of his four women, she declared she was his Cultivation Vessel?

Sword cultivators were all brain-damaged lunatics!

[Ding! Wang Qiaoqiao Affection -60]

[Target: Wang Qiaoqiao] [Current Affection: 10 (Acquaintance)] [Points Provided: 1]

Zhou Kai felt a vein throbbing violently at his temple. It bulged so hard it looked ready to burst.

He ground his back teeth together, roaring internally: Shen! Han! Yi! Give me back my Affection points!

His gaze swept over the system panel. Wang Qiaoqiao’s Affection had plummeted from a solid 70 straight down to 10. She had gone from a lover back to a stranger in one sentence.

Zhou Kai took a deep breath. Then another. He desperately suppressed the impulse to pack this blunt sword cultivator into a sack and toss her off the cliff.

Fortunately, Chen Ziyi and Chen Ziqing’s Affection remained completely unmoved, locked at full value.

It seemed that once Affection was maxed out at 100, it wouldn’t drop regardless of his scumbag behavior. That was the only silver lining.

“Ahem!”

He coughed loudly twice, forcing a strained, ugly smile onto his face as he looked at Shen Hanyi.

“Hanyi, that joke went a bit too far.”

He quickly turned to the others, trying to salvage the situation.

“…This is Wang Qiaoqiao. These three are all my Dao Companions.”

He then looked at Lin Zhiwei, intending to introduce her. “This is—”

“Are you also Senior Zhou Kai’s Cultivation Vessel?” Shen Hanyi asked Lin Zhiwei with utter, deadpan seriousness.

Lin Zhiwei froze. “Huh?”

She trembled, instinctively shrinking behind Zhou Kai’s back like a frightened rabbit. “Se-Senior Zhou…”

Another wave of furious throbbing assaulted Zhou Kai’s temples.

Gritting his teeth, he tried to maintain his composure.

“Shen! Fellow Daoist! This Young Lady Lin is my friend, Lin Zhiwei. She is not… a Cultivation Vessel!”

Hearing this, Shen Hanyi furrowed her delicate brows slightly. She knew the term “Cultivation Vessel” carried sensitive implications, but she was a person of her word. Since she had made a promise to Zhou Kai, she saw no reason to hide it.

However, she hadn’t anticipated Zhou Kai’s reaction would be so intense, nor that his Dao Companions would look so… bothered.

She pondered inwardly: Do they think I threaten their status?

Nevertheless, she gave Lin Zhiwei a slight nod. “My apologies, Miss Lin.”

An apology? Just like that? So casual?

Zhou Kai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This sword cultivator’s train of thought operated on a completely different frequency from normal humans.

“Fellow Daoist Shen, regarding the ‘Cultivation Vessel’ matter… could you please explain in detail? To avoid… uh… to avoid everyone misunderstanding me as some lecherous villain who specializes in Plucking and Replenishing innocent women.”

“I made a promise; I will not go back on my word,” Shen Hanyi said coolly, her tone serious.

Zhou Kai massaged his forehead. “I know you honor your promises! But you need to explain the context!”

Finally understanding, Shen Hanyi pondered briefly before recounting the events in a calm, flat voice.

“Several months ago on Crouching Tiger Mountain, I suffered severe injuries and nearly perished. It was Senior Zhou Kai who intervened, treated my wounds, and gifted me precious pills.”

“I, Shen Hanyi, always repay kindness. Senior Zhou Kai saved my life twice; such a debt is heavy. At that time, Senior’s cultivation was still shallow. I noticed Senior carried Yang Locking Pills. I surmised that if I served as a Cultivation Vessel to assist his cultivation, I could repay the favor.”

She looked around at the women, her expression frank.

“Therefore, I voluntarily promised that after my breakthrough, I would act as Senior’s Cultivation Vessel, allowing him to perform Plucking and Replenishing three times as repayment. This matter was never initiated by Senior Zhou Kai; it was entirely my own decision.”

Wang Qiaoqiao visibly let out a long breath, her tense shoulders dropping.

[Ding! Wang Qiaoqiao Affection +60]

Lin Zhiwei also felt relieved. Although “Plucking and Replenishing” still sounded a bit illicit, at least Senior Zhou wasn’t a villain forcing himself on women.

Zhou Kai glanced at the system notification. The heavy stone in his heart finally dissolved.

“Husband, Fairy Shen,” Chen Ziyi spoke up at the perfect moment. She pointed at the corpses littering the clearing, breaking the awkward atmosphere. “This isn’t the place for conversation. The bloody scent will attract beasts, and the Yin Ruins Sect might send reinforcements. Let’s board the Spirit Boat first.”

Zhou Kai nodded. He gestured to Shen Hanyi. “Hanyi, please.”

Shen Hanyi didn’t stand on ceremony. With a slight nod, she followed Zhou Kai onto the cyan-glowing Spirit Boat.

The vessel rose into the air, transforming into a streak of light as it sped away from the carnage.

Inside the cabin, Chen Ziyi played the perfect hostess, taking out a pot of spirit tea and pouring cups for everyone.

Zhou Kai took a sip of the tea and looked at Shen Hanyi.

“Hanyi, there’s something I need to tell you. I have left the Chen Family of Crouching Tiger Mountain. I am now a disciple of Calamity Abyss Valley.”

Shen Hanyi merely gave a faint hum of acknowledgment. “Noted.”

Zhou Kai pressed on. “This time… did you sneak out of your sect again?”

“I did not return to my sect,” Shen Hanyi said, dropping another surprise.

“What?” Zhou Kai blinked. “Then where have you been all this time?”

“Roaming freely. Tempering my Sword Heart,” she replied calmly.

Zhou Kai frowned.

“All alone? And your sect Elders are fine with that? You possess an innate Sword Embryo. Although your comprehension is terrifying… forgive my bluntness… your current cultivation level is still too low to survive alone.”

Sword Control seventh layer was equivalent to Qi Condensation seventh layer. It was decent for a junior, but the Eastern Region was vast and filled with monsters—both human and beast. Even Foundation Establishment or Golden Core cultivators walked with caution.

Shen Hanyi set down her teacup.

“The path of sword cultivation is to seek breakthroughs between life and death. A true sharp sword cannot be forged in a greenhouse.”

“My teachers know my temperament. They are happy for me to venture out, to verify my Dao with blood.”

She paused briefly, a flash of confidence crossing her eyes.

“Moreover… my constitution is special. Although I am only at Sword Control seventh layer now… reaching mid-stage Spirit Shaping—the second realm—is not far off.”

Spirit Shaping was the sword cultivator equivalent of Foundation Establishment.

Hearing her confidence, Zhou Kai inwardly nodded. An innate Sword Embryo was truly a cheat code. For ordinary cultivators, the gap between Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment was a chasm that could take decades to bridge. For her, it was just a matter of time.

“In that case, Fellow Daoist Shen, what are your plans next?” Zhou Kai asked.

Shen Hanyi looked at him, then glanced at the Chen sisters and the others. She seemed to hesitate.

“No specific destination. I follow where my heart leads.”

After a brief consideration, she added, “If you don’t mind, I might accompany you for a leg of the journey.”

She paused again. For the first time, that perpetually icy, aloof face revealed the faintest trace of embarrassment.

“…The pills and talismans bestowed by my sect were exhausted long ago at Crouching Tiger Mountain. As for Spirit Stones… I used the last of them recently to purchase a healing ingredient. I… possess nothing valuable at the moment.”

Zhou Kai stared at her.

He finally understood. She wasn’t just tagging along for companionship. She was broke.

This famed prodigy of the Lone Goose Palace, the heaven-gifted Sword Fairy, was currently a penniless hobo.

Did cultivating drive her brain silly, or do all sword cultivators live like destitute vagrants?

“Ahem.”

Zhou Kai cleared his throat, putting on a generous expression.

“Don’t worry about pills and Spirit Stones. Those are trivial matters. Since we are traveling together, mutual support is expected. We are heading to Wangchuan City ahead for a brief rest. You can recuperate properly there. We’ll discuss other matters later.”