"Li Dage, then we'll see each other tomorrow?"
Shu Chan's cheeks were flushed, and she brushed aside the hair by her ear, looking at Li Chen with misty eyes, her gaze as gentle as water, her expression full of reluctance.
It seemed she had already deeply fallen in love with this neighbor who had only arrived half a year ago and with whom she had not spent much time.
Li Chen smiled and nodded at her, "Chan'er, see you tomorrow."
Gulp!
Gulp!
Shu Chan left, and in the simple house, Little Fatty raised his wine pot and gulped it down.
Cough, cough!
He drank too quickly, and the wine spilled from the corner of his mouth, choking him until his face was red and his neck thick, coughing incessantly.
Li Chen looked at Han Mao, but did not offer comfort.
"Heh heh… heh heh…"
Han Mao gave a bitter laugh, then turned to Li Chen, his tone sad with a hint of self-mockery, "Brother Chen, do you know?"
"I've liked her for a long time."
"From the first moment I saw her, I liked her, but I didn't dare to tell her."
"She's so beautiful, and so gentle, her cultivation is higher than mine, and she's even better at washing clothes and making Spiritual Paper. I feel like I'm not worthy of her."
"Every night, I wished for dawn to come quickly, because after dawn, I would be able to see her."
"Every morning, what I most looked forward to was hearing the sound of her opening her door. That way, I could see her smile and say good morning to her."
"I know she won't belong to me."
As Han Mao spoke, he lowered his head, his voice choked with emotion, "I never hoped to possess her, as long as I could see her smile and hear her voice every day, I would be content."
"I also knew she would have a Dao Companion someday, but I never thought this day would come so quickly, and even less did I imagine she would fall for Brother Chen."
Li Chen pursed his lips.
Shu Chan fell for him?
Li Chen didn't think so, nor did he believe he had such great charm.
In the mundane world, Li Chen was a big shot, charming many female martial artists. Some of those female martial artists were drawn to his powerful martial arts, some to his Jianghu status, and others to his handsome face.
But the Cultivation World was different.
Li Chen didn't think he had any competitiveness in the Cultivation World.
The affection Shu Chan showed was an act.
In his previous life, at nightclubs, Li Chen had met actresses like Shu Chan, some even better at acting.
The tenderness in her eyes, the love in her gaze, and that budding shyness—these could all be acted out, and Li Chen could discern it.
Towards such actresses, Li Chen naturally wouldn't exchange true feelings for true feelings, but he didn't dislike it either.
Shu Chan was the same.
Shu Chan was trying to curry favor with Linglong Fairy through Li Chen, or wanted to gain benefits and Cultivation resources from him.
What Li Chen wanted was simple.
Li Chen never thought about Shu Chan's affection; he only needed Shu Chan to bear him a child with a Spiritual Root, so he could complete the System's first side mission.
If Shu Chan hadn't mistakenly believed he had a connection with Linglong Fairy, Li Chen was certain she wouldn't have given him a second glance.
However, there was no need to tell Little Fatty these things.
"Wuwuwu…"
Little Fatty cried very sadly, sobbing as he muttered to himself, "Actually, this is good too. If she really becomes Brother Chen's Dao Companion, I can still see her often."
"I never asked for too much to begin with."
As he spoke, Little Fatty looked at Li Chen, his eyes red, "Brother Chen, promise me, if you really get together with her, you must treat her well."
Li Chen remained silent, and under Little Fatty's gaze, he finally nodded helplessly.
Treat Shu Chan well?
They weren't even together yet, were they?
If Shu Chan really bore him a child with a Spiritual Root, Li Chen wouldn't mind treating her well; after all, she would be the child's mother.
It's just that this Little Fatty was truly pure-hearted!
"Brother Han, you're drunk. Go back and get some good sleep first."
Looking at the wailing Little Fatty, Li Chen advised him to go back. If Little Fatty kept staying here, pestering him about his feelings for Shu Chan, would he still be able to Cultivate?
He might not Cultivate, but Li Chen still needed to Cultivate.
The Immortal Path was difficult, and one could not be negligent if they wanted Immortal Ascension; even with the System's assistance, Li Chen would not be negligent.
"Lust does not bewitch, people bewitch themselves; wine does not intoxicate, people intoxicate themselves… I seem to be drunk… Heh heh… I'm really drunk…"
"Brother Chen, you must treat Chan'er well, don't let her suffer any grievances…"
Han Mao, holding the wine pot, swayed unsteadily, his eyes full of tears.
Li Chen, after much persuasion, finally managed to send Han Mao away.
Inside Shu Chan's room, Shu Chan watched through the crack in the door as Li Chen sent Han Mao back.
Her gaze lingered on Han Mao for a moment, a hint of guilt in her eyes, and she shook her head, muttering softly, "Little Brother Han, I'm sorry."
"I know your feelings for me, but I don't feel the same way about you."
As she spoke, Shu Chan turned her gaze to Li Chen, a sweet smile appearing on her face, "Although Li Dage has a Nine-Rank Spiritual Root, I just like someone like Li Dage who is more steady and more manly."
"Besides, Li Dage is most likely Linglong Fairy's relative from the mundane world. If I become Li Dage's Dao Companion and receive Linglong Fairy's support, perhaps I might even have a chance at Foundation Establishment?"
"Even if I can't reach Foundation Establishment, at least I'll be able to wear Magical Robes and use Magical Artifacts."
Li Chen detected Shu Chan's peeking.
Although Li Chen had just entered the Dao and was far from developing Divine Sense, he still sensed Shu Chan's gaze.
Perhaps this was due to his relatively strong Divine Soul and astonishing intuition?
His ability to carve out a bloody path in the mundane Jianghu and reach the Peak of the mundane Jianghu was inseparable from his powerful Divine Soul and astonishing intuition.
Li Chen returned to his room and took out the jade bottle given by Linglong Fairy.
Emptying his mind and putting himself in a state of no distractions, Li Chen poured out a round Medicinal Pill and swallowed it.
The Qi Cultivation Pill entered his stomach, and a vast Spiritual Power dispersed and integrated into his Dantian, causing his internal magical power to grow rapidly.
The next day, at dawn.
Li Chen awoke from his meditation, and the originally faint magical power in his Dantian had become thicker, which greatly pleased Li Chen.
The Qi Cultivation Pill truly lived up to its name as a Medicinal Pill used by Qi Refining (3rd level) cultivators to break through Bottlenecks; just one pill significantly increased his magical power.
This bottle of ten Qi Cultivation Pills should allow him to quickly Cultivate to Qi Refining (2nd level).
It was a bit wasteful for a Qi Refining (1st level) cultivator to use Qi Cultivation Pills, but then again, he had a Nine-Rank Spiritual Root, didn't he?
If a Nine-Rank Spiritual Root didn't Cultivate by taking pills, what kind of Immortal would he Cultivate?
Li Chen could already imagine that he would most likely rely on pills for Cultivation in the future.
Fortunately, he had the second-tier Alchemy Legacy gifted by the System.
Li Chen pushed open his door and saw Han Mao and Shu Chan talking and laughing, a humble yet satisfied smile on his chubby white face.
"Brother Chen, you're awake. Did you sleep well last night?"
"I couldn't sleep well all night; my mind was filled with your presence."
Upon seeing Li Chen, a surprised smile appeared on Shu Chan's charming face.
She quickly walked to Li Chen's side and linked her arm through his.
Li Chen glanced at the beautiful woman beside him and said with a light chuckle, "Since you couldn't sleep well yourself, why don't you move in and sleep with me tonight?"
"The houses in this shantytown are simple, and they still cost one Spirit Stone a month. If you move in with me, you can save one Spirit Stone each month."
Shu Chan's jade-like cheeks instantly turned crimson, and she playfully punched Li Chen's chest with her delicate fist, scolding him sweetly, "You're so naughty."
Li Chen's eyes were unreadable; Shu Chan's demeanor involuntarily reminded him again of the actresses he had met in nightclubs in his previous life.
Li Chen quickly regained his composure, lifted Shu Chan's chin with one hand, "You haven't said if you're willing yet?"
Shu Chan first lowered her head, then looked up, then lowered it again, shyly saying, "Brother Chen, we haven't become Dao Companions yet."
"At least give me a proper title first."
Li Chen waved his hand and said with a smile, "The Cultivation World is not the mundane world; becoming Dao Companions doesn't require mundane rituals."
"If you're unwilling, or think my cultivation is low, then let's just pretend I didn't mention it."
Shu Chan's eyes flickered, and she finally bit her red lip lightly, nodding in agreement.
Li Chen touched Shu Chan's cheek, his smile bright, "Chan'er, I'm going to the Divine Pill Pavilion first. Wait for me to come back."
With that, Li Chen called out to Little Fatty, "Brother Han, we should go."
Han Mao forced a smile, clearly in low spirits, and followed Li Chen towards the Divine Pill Pavilion in the central area of Yin Mountain Market.
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