40 Chapter 40

◎Privately engaged◎

Pei Xueyan excitedly jumped onto Jiang Qiye's back, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and said in a sweet and coquettish voice, "Good brother, no, husband, sir, can you carry me down the mountain?"

The way he called out "husband" in such a soft and affectionate tone sent a shiver down Jiang Qiye's spine. All his doubts and bitterness vanished instantly, leaving only a burning joy in his chest.

The area around Yuanhua Mountain is rich in spiritual energy, and many wealthy merchants and cultivators reside here, so finding a place to stay is not difficult.

Jiang Qiye rented an elegant little courtyard without much effort.

The courtyard was small but extremely exquisite, with colorful exotic flowers planted on the ground. A faint fragrance wafted in the wind, making it exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

Every day, a special person from the immortal sect would deliver banquets and meals, saving a lot of trouble.

The two entered the main hall in the courtyard, which was unusually spacious.

A gentle breeze lifted the hanging gauze curtains, and the black wooden floor was spotless. In the center were two futons, presumably for those who practiced dual cultivation.

Immortals cultivate in a quiet and elegant manner, and many of them do not even use a bed, but instead rest on a futon all year round.

However, Jiang Qiye specifically requested a bed, knowing all too well Pei Xueyan's temperament; he was certain she wouldn't be able to sit on the futon for long.

In the room next to the hall, there was indeed a soft bed. Because the surrounding area was empty, only a curtain surrounded the bed to block some of the view.

Jiang Qiye was very happy, especially when he saw the soft bed...

"Ah Zheng, if you're tired, take a rest. I'll go buy some food and supplies and be back soon."

"Great! Great!" Pei Xueyan's eyes lit up, her mind filled with thoughts of passing on internal energy. She urged him quickly, "Go and come back soon, we'll teach you internal energy techniques when you get back, okay?"

He smiled and nodded.

Pei Xueyan rolled around on the bed, her mind filled with little schemes on how to completely trick him into giving her half of his cultivation.

She thought to herself that a kiss or a hug was nothing, as long as she could acquire real skills, she was willing to pay a small price.

Before long, Jiang Qiye returned, carrying a bulging bag.

Pei Xueyan immediately jumped out of bed and curiously leaned over: "Brother, what are all these?"

He smiled without saying a word, and simply took things out one by one.

Six thick red candles and a long red silk ribbon.

A set of red women's clothing, not a wedding dress, but a red dress.

There was also a pair of earrings and a hairpin, all in auspicious red.

Pei Xueyan frowned, her tone tinged with confusion: "Brother, didn't I say we'd exchange marriage certificates before getting married?"

"We need to go to the Temple of the Matchmaker together to get the marriage certificate. We'll go the day after tomorrow." Jiang Qiye picked up the red dress. "Wear this then, and we'll go together."

"Alright."

As long as she could gain cultivation as soon as possible, she didn't care about such formalities.

What remained were walnuts and peanuts, and a beautifully packaged pot of wine.

Pei Xueyan picked up the wine pot and took a big gulp.

"Hey, you?" Jiang Qiye looked at her in shock and quickly stopped her, "This is..."

"Let me try it and see how it tastes." Pei Xueyan smacked her lips; the wine was mellow and fragrant, and she wanted to drink more.

"This is the wedding wine, which we drink together on our wedding night."

Pei Xueyan waved her hand dismissively: "Just buy more."

This wine wasn't bought.

He had specially traveled hundreds of miles to a temple to obtain it, so it was of great significance, but she drank most of it at once.

Seeing that she was about to raise her hand to pour more wine, Jiang Qiye immediately reached out and snatched the wine pot back, holding it tightly in his hand: "Don't drink anymore, wait until the wedding night the day after tomorrow to drink."

She wasn't drunk at all, but felt she hadn't had enough. She raised her hand and patted his chest, scolding him playfully, "You're so stingy."

"Stop fooling around, eat something to fill your stomach first, and I'll pass on my cultivation to you in a bit."

Upon hearing the words "transfer your cultivation," Pei Xueyan's eyes immediately lit up, and she obediently nodded, "Okay, okay!"

Having magic is so convenient; the cakes are still steaming hot and smell wonderful.

After Pei Xueyan finished eating, she glanced at the red silk and the red candles placed on the bedside table.

His eyes then swept over Jiang Qiye, who was meditating cross-legged on a futon.

She tiptoed over, squatted down in front of him, and called out softly, "Brother? Are you asleep or cultivating? Brother? Husband~ my love~ please wake up."

Jiang Qiye slowly opened his eyes. "You look much better."

Pei Xueyan looked at him and smiled innocently: "If you say it's okay, then it's okay. Anyway, I don't know either. Aren't you a god?"

He was wearing a light purple Taoist robe today, which made him look aloof and somewhat mysterious.

A gentle breeze blew in from outside the palace, lightly lifting his hair and outlining his handsome features.

Pei Xueyan's eyes lit up, and she praised with a smile, "Wow, you're so beautiful!"

Jiang Qiye looked up at her, reached out and pulled her into his arms, rubbing her gently.

"This is a place for quiet cultivation; you mustn't act recklessly!" Pei Xueyan feigned a playful struggle, then tried to break free from his embrace.

Unexpectedly, he hugged her even tighter.

"Sit down, let me take your pulse first."

"Where should I sit? Hmm~ I'll sit on your lap."

Pei Xueyan nestled obediently in his arms, letting him touch her hand—no, her wrist.

She closed her eyes slightly and asked softly, "Are you really willing to share half of your cultivation with me?"

"Mm," he quickly replied.

"Why? Is it guilt?" She quickly laughed. "Just kidding, is it because you truly love me? Would you love someone so much that you'd give up everything?"

Jiang Qiye still felt her wrist, sensing her pulse, and replied in a low voice, "Azheng, if I'm in danger, will you risk your life to save me? If I do something wrong, will you forgive me?"

Pei Xueyan gave a drawn-out "Mmm," her tone playful: "That depends on the situation. If you kill me, lie to me, harm my master, beat me, or scold me, I definitely won't forgive you. But if none of these things happen, and you're in danger, I'll definitely do everything in my power to save you."

He could never get over lying to her and killing her.

Regardless of her initial motives, he was far more despicable than her in this marriage alliance.

He concealed his past sins, deceived her memories, and misled her true feelings at this moment.

She knew nothing yet, and was still telling the people who had hurt her that she was willing to do anything to save them.

"What if I've done something to hurt you? Was it because I had no choice, no other option, and I didn't mean to hurt you?"

Pei Xueyan opened her eyes, tilted her head to look at him: "Like what?"

He lowered his eyes and remained silent.

"If it's a small matter, I'll definitely forgive you. But if it's a big matter... well... then you'll have to coax me nicely, buy me lots and lots of osmanthus cakes, and take me to the temple fair. Maybe then I'll soften up."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, oblivious to the distress welling up in Jiang Qiye's eyes.

Okay, let's just leave it at that. Let's not dwell on it anymore, and stop feeling sorry for ourselves.

He gently released his hand from her wrist and pulled her closer to his chest. "Let's begin tonight. Go and take a bath first, and wear some light clothing. I'll teach you the basic breathing techniques first, and then I'll give you the sword control technique, the ability to manipulate spiritual power, and the internal energy cultivation method."

Pei Xueyan nodded obediently, picked up the clean plain clothes he handed her, and skipped and hopped towards the back hall.

The fairy boy quickly filled the water.

Through the screen, you could hear her humming a tuneless little tune; she was clearly in a very good mood.

Jiang Qiye walked into the hall, raised his hands to form a hand seal, and strands of pale golden spiritual energy intertwined in the air, forming a transparent barrier that enveloped the entire hall.

The transmission of cultivation skills requires more than ten hours, absolute silence is required, and no interference or prying by others is allowed.

He sat down on the futon and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of bathing behind the screen stopped.

Pei Xueyan walked out wearing loose, revealing plain clothes. Her long hair was tied up with a simple wooden hairpin, and water droplets were still dripping from the ends of her hair. Her cheeks were flushed with the moisture from the water.

"I'm ready!" She walked up to Jiang Qiye, twirled around, and her skirt billowed in the breeze. "Can we start now? I can't wait!"

Jiang Qiye opened his eyes, his gaze lingered on her for a moment, then quickly looked away: "Sit here. Take off your coat."

Pei Xueyan obediently sat down on the futon opposite him, her back ramrod straight.

She took off her outer garment, revealing her strapless bra.

Her master taught her martial arts for a whole day and night.

It will probably take a long time today.

"Close your eyes and clear your mind. When you inhale, focus your mind on your lower abdomen and let the breath flow through your meridians; when you exhale, slowly expel the stale air, and remember not to be impatient."

Jiang Qiye took the lead in demonstrating, and a faint spiritual light immediately enveloped his body.

Perhaps due to excessive excitement, Pei Xueyan's breathing was initially erratic, sometimes rapid and sometimes stagnant.

Jiang Qiye patiently corrected him, guiding him back to the correct breathing pattern.

"Relax, imagine your breath is water flowing naturally along your meridians, without any need for conscious control."

Pei Xueyan gradually calmed down, her breathing became more and more steady, and a faint white mist rose around her.

It was definitely much easier than having my master forcibly impart his skills.

Seeing that she had entered the state, Jiang Qiye placed his palm on her forehead and said, "I will transfer spiritual power to you. You should accept it by following the rhythm of your breathing. You cannot resist it, but you cannot be greedy. Just follow my guidance."

"good."

As soon as he finished speaking, a warm spiritual energy surged from his palm and slowly flowed into Pei Xueyan's brow.

She felt warm all over, and the spiritual energy that had been stripped away gradually returned, making her meridians feel warm and comfortable.

Round and round it went, getting smoother and smoother.

Transferring cultivation is inherently a matter of harming oneself for the benefit of others, let alone imparting sword control, spiritual power, and internal energy cultivation techniques all at once, where the losses increase exponentially.

Several hours passed, and Jiang Qiye's face began to turn pale, with fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

The sky outside the palace changed from dusk to midnight, and then gradually turned a pale white.

Inside the barrier, the spiritual light grew stronger and stronger.

Jiang Qiye's lips gradually lost their color, and the speed of his spiritual energy output slowed down, but he still did not stop.

The two seemed to have entered an endless dream, and no one spoke anymore.

Unable to distinguish the time and place.

The world spun around, time flew by, and it felt like decades had passed.

Pei Xueyan slowly opened her eyes and found that the spiritual energy around her spread out like ripples.

She tried to raise her hand, and a ball of pale pink spiritual energy gathered at her fingertips, even more concentrated than the one Jiang Qiye had given her the night before.

I'm so happy and joyful.

She didn't even see her pale-faced "husband" beside her, and ran straight to the courtyard outside the palace to try flying on a sword.

"No." Jiang Qiye had already woken up, and perhaps he was a little tired, his voice sounding weary. "Flying on a sword requires a mental cultivation technique."

"What? Your spell requires a mental technique to unlock before it can be used?"