Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Chen Li finished his practice and returned from the wilderness.

By the time he got back to the city, it was already evening, and the streets were still bustling with people.

"This Soul Soothing Incense has become so expensive, can’t it be cheaper? If the price is reasonable, I’ll always buy from here in the future."

As Chen Li walked leisurely, suddenly a familiar voice reached his ears. He looked towards the source of the voice and couldn’t help but let out a light "huh"—wasn’t that Feng Min, who had disappeared for over half a year?

As for the Soul Soothing Incense she wanted to buy, it wasn’t any sort of malevolent item.

With its effect of calming the soul and stabilizing the mind, it was a common cultivation aid, and many cultivators had the habit of lighting a stick of Soul Soothing Incense before practicing.

Soon, Feng Min came out of a small shop.

She looked somewhat tired and seemed much more haggard.

Seeing Chen Li by the roadside, her face revealed a hint of surprise: "Chen, I didn’t expect to see you here?"

To be honest,

Chen Li really couldn’t tell whether the surprise on her face was genuine or not.

"It’s been over half a year since we last parted. Have you been traveling afar, Fellow Daoist Feng?" he probed.

"In these chaotic times, one dares not travel without caution. After I returned last time, I suddenly felt a loosening in my spiritual power that hadn’t progressed for many years, as if a breakthrough was imminent. I immediately went into seclusion, but alas, in the end, it was just wishful thinking," Feng Min said with some regret.

No wonder she looked haggard.

If it was seclusion, that explained it.

Chen Li slightly lowered his guard and laughed: "Since there’s already a sign, the breakthrough is probably not far off, just a difference of a day sooner or a day later."

"Then I’ll take your auspicious words," Feng Min said with a pursed-lip smile.

Afterward, Chen Li asked about her current residence, and Feng Min did not hesitate to tell him.

Chen Li discovered her residence was nearby, not far from the city gate.

Chen Li finally felt relieved.

It seems he had really been overthinking.

First, her residence was nearby, which didn’t seem like a contrived coincidence.

Second, if she did not trust him, she wouldn’t have casually revealed her dwelling place.

The two chatted a bit more, then parted ways.

...

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, summer turned to autumn.

Another three months had passed.

Chen Li would go out from time to time to practice flying, and during this period, he ran into Feng Min several times. As the encounters accumulated, their relationship quickly progressed from unfamiliar to familiar. Feng Min had a cultured and gentle demeanor, a pure heart, and was not lacking in insight.

On top of that, she was extremely beautiful.

Every interaction was engaging and pleasant, making Chen Li feel more and more fond of her.

Actually, Chen Li could subtly feel that several of their encounters had been intentional on her part.

But that was normal.

After all, he possessed a handsome appearance, especially after perfecting the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill, his aura gained an additional layer of celestial grace and transcendent poise.

If he went out and there weren’t a few female cultivators stealing glances, it meant only one thing—he had disguised himself.

It was just a pity...

He already had a family.

And she, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, clearly would not agree to be a concubine.

...

On this day, the two met once again. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Feng Min seemed to have just taken a bath, wearing a loose red robe, her slightly damp hair casually gathered behind her head, and her snowy skin glowed pinkish-white with a hint of shyness and temptation against the red of her robe.

"I heard you mention last time that you were collecting Second Order Spells. I looked around and found this—do you think it might be useful?" She handed over a scroll, looking at Chen Li with a smile.

Chen Li was momentarily stunned, accepting the scroll.

He quickly flipped through it; it was a Second Order Third Grade auxiliary spell called "God Disturbing Illusion Fog Skill."

It created a special foggy area, used to interfere with the enemy’s line of sight and Spiritual Sense.

"It’s useful, very useful to me!" Chen Li said.

"Then that’s good!" Feng Min smiled in response.

"A Second Order Third Grade spell like this would generally go for three to ten top-grade Spirit Stones at the auction in Red Pillar City, I can’t just take advantage of you for nothing, I’ll buy it," Chen Li said, getting ready to hand over some Spirit Stones.

"Don’t!" Feng Min hastily declined. "I’ve only made one copy and only used up some ink and paper. Besides, you didn’t accept my thanks last time. If you really feel bad about it, it just so happens that there’s a door in my residence with a squeaky hinge lately, and I don’t know how to fix it. Maybe you could help me with that."

Upon hearing this, Chen Li glanced at her, and Feng Min lowered her head shyly.

The two were very close, and Chen Li could smell the warm fragrance that lingered on her body after a bath.

His heartbeat quickened, and he vaguely sensed something, busily pretending to be nonchalant, "That’s just a trivial matter, I’m usually the one who fixes the doors at home."

"I thought you had servants in your house? Don’t they do this kind of work?" Feng Min couldn’t help but raise her head, asking curiously with a hint of embarrassment.

"I meant before, in the past," Chen Li explained somewhat awkwardly.

"Oh!"

After that, the two proceeded, one in front of the other, through the streets and alleys.

Feng Min walked ahead silently, seemingly very nervous, her head bowed so low that she was hardly stable on her feet.

Neither of them spoke again.

The atmosphere was charming.

Feng Min’s residence was not far from the main road.

It didn’t take long to reach the doorway.

However,

He felt the warning from his Fortune Seeking and Disaster Avoiding Skill.

Chen Li immediately felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him from head to toe.

His heart was utterly chilled!

Having been in this dangerous world, he had become accustomed to caution. Every time he went out, he would cast the Fortune Seeking and Disaster Avoiding Skill on himself. He didn’t expect it to prove its worth again this time, and a chill ran through his heart as he looked at Feng Min.

At this moment, all charm, pity, and compassion faded from his heart.

All that remained was a deep killing intent.

Even the delicately alluring face before him now seemed repulsive, with no allure left for him.

Unaware of Chen Li’s thoughts, Feng Min looked up shyly, "Please wait a moment, I’ll deactivate the Formation!"

The alley was full of passersby, with people moving past this place from time to time.

Chen Li feigned hesitation:

"On second thought, I better not. Fellow Daoist, you live here alone, and I have a wife and concubines. It really isn’t proper for a lone man and woman to be together."

Feng Min did not expect Chen Li to have such a sudden realization, her expression one of shock, momentarily unsure of how to respond, "But we’re already at the door..."

"Sorry, I need to go," Chen Li cut her off, not caring to pretend anymore, and turned to leave without a second glance.

Past a secluded corner in the alley, he swiftly cast a spell, creating an illusory body.

The illusory body soon vanished from sight and went to keep an eye on Feng Min’s residence.

Chen Li released three illusory bodies in succession.

Only then did he exhale a sigh of frustration.

"Damn, that was almost a trap!" Chen Li cursed silently.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

These remnants of the Tianxing Sect.

Every one of them was such a great actor.

First, it was the good neighbor Lin Qing, and now it was Feng Min. Chen Li couldn’t help but deeply doubt his own judgment, feeling that nearly everyone here was an acting emperor. In comparison, he seemed as naïve as a child.

They not only deceived his emotions,

but also insulted his intelligence.

"I’m still not ruthless enough. If I had eradicated them root and stem from the beginning, none of this would’ve happened," he reflected with regret.