Chapter 40: Power Surge, Welcoming Retainer Bai
Snow Moon Workshop.
As soon as Zhou Chen entered the door, he was spotted by the sharp-eyed Hong Jie.
Hong Jie gave a charming smile and walked over, swaying her voluptuous waist.
“Master, you’re here!”
Holding Zhou Chen’s arm, Hong Jie said with a beaming smile:
“Master, it’s been a while. The girls have been missing you terribly!”
“Really? It hasn’t even been that long!”
Zhou Chen chuckled and took out a piece of silver, slipping it into Hong Jie’s b*som.
“If the girls miss me, then a day apart must feel like three autumns!”
Hong Jie gave Zhou Chen a playful glare, her eyes like water, charming and alluring.
Although the medicine Zhou Chen sold made the girls at Snow Moon Workshop suffer a bit, it also made the business even more popular, attracting more customers.
No matter how capable an ordinary person is, there’s a limit to their strength.
The medicine Zhou Chen sold was just ordinary medicine; it couldn’t possibly transform an average person into a superhuman.
“Master, are you here for the usual today?”
Hong Jie led Zhou Chen upstairs, as he was now a regular customer.
He usually favored Miao Tong and Miao Yu.
“How about adding Hong Jie to the mix?”
Zhou Chen squeezed her arm, a smile playing on his lips.
Hong Jie was in her thirties, not old, and had once been the top courtesan. Her figure and appearance were naturally not bad.
“You’re so naughty!”
Hong Jie winced in pain, giving Zhou Chen a flirtatious glance. “My old bones can’t handle your torment, Master!”
Although she hadn’t tried it herself, she knew all the details from Miao Tong and Miao Yu.
Let’s just say Zhou Chen was not human!
Terrifyingly so.
【Romance Points +1】
Zhou Chen chuckled, having enjoyed the feel of her body. He said with a smile:
“Besides Miao Tong and Miao Yu, call two more!”
“How about Miao Yan and Miao Zhi?”
“Alright!”
“Miao Tong, Miao Yu, Miao Yan, Miao Zhi, come out and greet your customer, Master Zhou is here!”
Arriving upstairs, Hong Jie called out loudly.
A moment later.
Miao Tong and the other three emerged from their rooms, gathering around Zhou Chen. After instructing them to serve Zhou Chen well, Hong Jie hurriedly left, clutching her legs.
She didn’t know what kind of magic Zhou Chen’s hands possessed. Even though she was a veteran, she was always left flustered and helpless by him, unable to resist.
“Master, please come inside!”
Miao Tong and Miao Yu clung to Zhou Chen’s arms, one on each side. The softness and delicacy instantly filled his senses as he entered the room with them.
Miao Yan and Miao Zhi brought fine wine, delicacies, and fruits, attending to him attentively.
Zhou Chen let loose and spent a whole day indulging at Snow Moon Workshop, only returning home in the evening.
【Romance Points +999】
“Not bad!”
Zhou Chen was very satisfied. Although the women at Snow Moon Workshop were ordinary people, they made up for it with their numbers and variety, resulting in a substantial gain.
If he could just live peacefully like this for a few months, wouldn’t his cultivation soar?
He should at least be able to reach Foundation Establishment and Divine Power Realm.
Divine Power Realm was the second major realm after Body Refinement, where Qi and spirit fused to form Divine Power, enabling flight, and allowing one to split mountains and c*ack rocks with ease.
Returning home, he found Qin Hong Yu still practicing swordsmanship. Her entire body was drenched in sweat, and her face was slightly pale, showing her effort.
She was definitely overtraining.
Cultivation required a balance of work and rest. Excessive training would damage the body, achieving the opposite effect.
Zhou Chen walked up to her and put down her sword. “Cultivation requires a balance of work and rest. You’ll hurt yourself like this.”
“Brother Chen, how’s my training?”
Qin Hong Yu asked with anticipation, her heart filled with anxiety.
“Very good!”
Zhou Chen reached out to support the unsteady Qin Hong Yu. He used his Thunderclap Wish-Fulfilling Hand to massage her, relaxing her muscles, and healing any damage.
“Mmm!”
Her exhausted body felt incredibly comfortable under Zhou Chen’s massage, like eating ice cream on a scorching summer day.
Refreshing and invigorating.
“Alright, now you won’t wake up with sore muscles tomorrow!”
“Brother Chen, you’re so amazing. Does that mean I can train as hard as I want?”
“That’s right!”
Zhou Chen didn’t want to dampen Qin Hong Yu’s enthusiasm. As long as he was there, she wouldn’t have any problems even if she trained intensely during the day.
“But now we should practice another dual cultivation technique!”
Zhou Chen carried Qin Hong Yu back to their room, boiled water for her to wash up, and then they went to bed.
The night passed quietly.
Zhou Chen and Qin Hong Yu spent a harmonious and enjoyable night together.
The next day.
After breakfast, Zhou Chen taught Qin Hong Yu the second move, then let her practice on her own, while he went to visit Snow Moon Workshop again.
After all, he wasn’t short of a few taels of silver now.
He could afford to be capricious with his wealth.
In the blink of an eye, a week passed.
During this time.
County Magistrate Chen Fan rewarded Zhang Long, Zhou Chen, and the others for eliminating the Crouching Dragon Mountain bandits and rescuing Chen Feng. Zhou Chen received five hundred taels of silver and a first-tier treasured blade.
Zhang Long invited Zhou Chen to his home again.
Zhou Chen’s Romance Points soared this week, as he spent most of his time dual cultivating with Ji Feng Xia in the Wind and Moon Mirror space.
He spent his days at Snow Moon Workshop and his nights with Qin Hong Yu.
Now, Zhou Chen had become a well-known regular customer at Snow Moon Workshop in Qing He City.
“Twelve thousand Romance Points!”
Looking at the unprecedented number of Romance Points, Zhou Chen felt a surge of excitement.
“Upgrade Yi’s Archery to the fifth level!”
After consuming two thousand nine hundred Romance Points, Zhou Chen’s bones trembled violently, and his strength surged, finally breaking through the bottleneck. His B*ne Tempering was complete, and he advanced to the fifth level of Body Refinement.
Zhou Chen casually threw a punch, creating a sonic boom in the air.
Now, his tendons were like flood dragons, his bones like Vajra. His physical strength had surpassed one hundred thousand jin, making him like a prehistoric beast in human skin!
“Everlasting Spring Art, add points!”
Four thousand Romance Points were consumed as Everlasting Spring Art reached the fourth level, and his cultivation advanced to the fourth level of Qi Refinement. The magical power in his dantian surged significantly.
He was now considered a mid-stage Qi Refinement expert!
“My power has surged. Time to celebrate at Snow Moon Workshop, no, I mean, time to go to work!” After informing Qin Hong Yu, Zhou Chen slung his saber over his shoulder and headed towards the County Yamen.
His one-week vacation was over.
After clocking in at the County Yamen, Zhou Chen left.
He didn’t need to stay there all day.
“Hmm? Liu Ru Yi?”
Just as Zhou Chen was about to head to Snow Moon Workshop to earn some Romance Points, he unexpectedly saw the beauty he had encountered at S*i Bao Yu’s residence before.
“She’s still in Qing He City? Isn’t she afraid of S*i Lei finding her for revenge?”
Although Zhou Chen was the one who killed S*i Bao Yu, Liu Ru Yi, as the last person to have contact with him before his disappearance, was the prime suspect.
Moreover, given S*i Lei’s character, he would rather k*ll ten thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free.
“Could she have some ulterior motive towards me?”
Recalling how she had thrown herself into his arms when they first met, Zhou Chen grew wary.
Although he quite liked Liu Ru Yi’s charms, he wouldn’t be blinded by them.
“I have to find out!”
Zhou Chen swiftly moved to a secluded corner, quickly changing his clothes and equipment, and putting on a human skin mask.
After switching to his Han Fei Yu persona, Zhou Chen discreetly followed her.
They arrived at a quiet courtyard.
Liu Ru Yi suddenly stopped and said in a cold voice, “Since you’re here, why don’t you show yourself?”
“Was I discovered?”
Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow, unsure if she was bluffing or had truly discovered him.
However, he had no intention of hiding.
He had already changed his disguise.
He directly revealed himself, walked up to Liu Ru Yi, and asked directly:
“Miss Ru Yi, you have keen intuition. But why were you captured by S*i Bao Yu?”
“I’m sure you’ve guessed it, hero. I intentionally let myself be captured. I wanted to k*ll S*i Bao Yu to avenge a sister of mine!”
As she spoke, a fragrant breeze wafted over as Liu Ru Yi stepped closer, gazing into Zhou Chen’s eyes:
“I know you have many questions, hero. Would you believe me if I said I fell in love with you at first sight?”
“Do you think I would believe that?”
“To be honest, hero, I’ve taken a liking to you!”
Liu Ru Yi leaned closer to Zhou Chen, standing on her tiptoes, raising her delicate c*in. Her red lips parted slightly, her breath like orchids:
“Rest assured, hero, I have no ill intentions towards you.”
Her white jade-like hands gently slid down from Zhou Chen’s shoulders, brushing across his chest. Her beautiful eyes were filled with affection, stirring his heartstrings.
“What are you really trying to do?”
Zhou Chen pushed Liu Ru Yi away. He didn’t believe her words.
Taken a liking to him?
He was wearing a human skin mask; she didn’t even know what he looked like and she had taken a liking to him?
Nonsense!
“You were so passionate before, hero. Have you grown tired of me now?”
The rejected Liu Ru Yi’s beautiful eyes were filled with resentment, but then she gave a charming smile. “Actually, I can change my appearance!”
She waved her long sleeves, her waist swaying gracefully, exuding charm as she twirled in front of Zhou Chen. Her sleeve brushed lightly against his face, carrying a captivating fragrance.
“Do you prefer the seductive Hu Ji from the Western Regions’ taverns?”
“Or a demure and elegant lady from a wealthy family?”
As she spoke, her alluring aura vanished. Her hands folded neatly in front of her, she appeared demure and gentle, like a well-bred lady, elegant and serene.
“A solitary and aloof beauty, or a fiery rose with thorns?”
Liu Ru Yi’s charm transformed as she leaned close to Zhou Chen, their eyes meeting:
“Which type do you prefer, hero?”
Slap!
Zhou Chen reached out and grabbed Liu Ru Yi’s snow-white neck:
“Tell me, what are you really up to?”
“How can I tell you if you don’t let go?”
“Don’t try any tricks!”
Zhou Chen released Liu Ru Yi. With his strength, he wasn’t afraid of her playing tricks.
“Why are you so rough, hero? I just want a child, that’s all!”
Liu Ru Yi looked aggrieved, her voice full of resentment. “Don’t worry, I won’t pester you. The child will take my surname, and I’ll raise it myself. It won’t have anything to do with you!”
“As soon as I’m sure I’m pregnant, I’ll leave Qing He City immediately. We’ll go our separate ways!”
Zhou Chen was stunned. He didn’t expect such a bizarre reason.
But he didn’t fully believe her.
“Why did you choose me?”
“It’s simple. You saw my body that day, and you have good martial arts skills, you’re young, and you even rescued me. Instead of choosing someone else, I might as well choose you!”
“Aren’t you afraid that I’m a hideous monster under this mask?”
Zhou Chen knew that just by wearing a mask, anyone with a discerning eye could tell he was young, so he wasn’t surprised that Liu Ru Yi knew his age.
“A man’s capabilities are what matter, not his looks. Besides, judging by your physique, hero, you can’t be that u*ly!”
Liu Ru Yi curled her lip and said confidently:
“I trust my judgment of character!”
“Since you’re so honest, I’ll grant your wish!”
Zhou Chen grabbed Liu Ru Yi’s hand, about to tie her up.
“Don’t worry, I won’t remove your mask!”
Liu Ru Yi quickly said.
She didn’t have that kind of fetish; she didn’t enjoy being t*ed up.
Zhou Chen gave her a deep look, then scooped her up in his arms and strode into the room.
Of course, he wouldn’t actually give Liu Ru Yi a child.
Regardless of whether her words were true or not, Zhou Chen had already decided:
Free ride!
He had to admit, this woman was truly exceptional.
Zhou Chen was quite fond of her.
Time flew by.
The sun set, painting the sky with crimson hues.
Zhou Chen reached out and rubbed Liu Ru Yi’s lower abdomen, using his Thunderclap Wish-Fulfilling Hand to ‘thoughtfully’ take care of any potential consequences. Then, he left without hesitation.
Liu Ru Yi didn’t mind Zhou Chen leaving. After a long while, she finally recovered and looked at her slightly swollen belly with satisfaction:
“This should be foolproof, right?”
……
Meanwhile.
At the Qing He City docks, a large ship sailed in from the Qing River, slowly approaching the shore.
S*i Lei, the Branch Master of the Salt Gang’s Qing He Branch, led all the branch disciples in respectfully waiting.
Soon after.
An elderly man with white hair and beard but skin as smooth as a baby’s, accompanied by two beautiful maidservants, emerged from the ship’s cabin.
“Branch Master S*i Lei of the Qing He Branch, along with all the disciples, respectfully welcomes Retainer Bai!”
