The next day.

early morning.

Qin Gengyun opened his eyes and began to review his harvest from last night.

【Name: Qin Gengyun】

【Lifespan: 35/40】

[Cultivation: Qi training level 3, 0/500]

[Skills: First-level Alchemist, 3/200]

[Spiritual roots: Fire-type lower-grade spiritual roots (19/100), Ice-type lower-grade spiritual roots (25/100)]

[Available training points: 6]

I was crushed three times last night and worked hard all night... In fact, I only worked hard for five minutes and got 6 practice points. After calculating it this way, Qin Gengyun felt that it was quite a profit.

As for spiritual roots, the fire and ice elements have each increased by 3 points. It will take at least another 400 breaths of hard work to upgrade to medium-grade spiritual roots.

Thinking of this, my waist seems to feel even more sore.

"Plow hard, add some more!"

Qin Gengyun turned his head to look at Qiu Zhihe who had her back to him, and said something silently in his heart.

Added 3 points to [Cultivation] and [Skills] respectively.

After adding points, the panel properties will change immediately.

【Name: Qin Gengyun】

【Lifespan: 35/40】

[Cultivation: Qi training level 3, 3/500]

[Skills: First-level Alchemist, 6/200]

If the relationship between him and Qiu Zhihe did not improve, it would take more than two thousand breaths of labor to raise his cultivation to the third level of Qi training, and nearly a thousand breaths of labor to raise his alchemist level to the second level.

It is indeed a long and difficult road.

Qin Gengyun slowly stood up, supported his waist and got out of bed, looked back at Qiu Zhihe who had her eyes closed, and sighed in his heart.

How can we improve the intimacy between couples?

At this time, Qiu Zhihe opened her eyes, and his face was reflected in her clear eyes.

Qin Gengyun said apologetically: "Did I wake you up?"

Qiu Zhihe shook her head and sat up hugging the quilt. Her hair was disheveled and her pupils seemed a little dazed, with a hint of confusion on her round face.

He blinked, shook his head after a moment, and murmured:

"I fell asleep?"

"What?" Qin Gengyun asked in confusion.

"Nothing." Qiu Zhihe looked at him, her eyes turned cold again, and she covered her body with the quilt.

Qin Gengyun was stunned for a moment, then finally understood. He stood up and walked into the kitchen, put on his clothes, and then said outside:

"Are you dressed?"

"Um."

A cold voice was heard outside, and Qin Gengyun walked out of the kitchen.

Qiu Zhihe was wearing a black pleated Ruyi Moon skirt with a slightly low collar, and a light blue gauze dress on the outside. The graceful lines of her neck and the white and delicate collarbone were vaguely visible.

Her three thousand black hair were tied up into a bun, and a simple wooden hairpin was inserted in her hair.

Her pretty little round face already has the charm of a mature woman.

But the coldness in those beautiful almond-shaped eyes remained as they swept towards Qin Gengyun. He coughed, looked away, and didn't know what to say.

It was indeed strange to think about it. Qiu Zhihe would take the initiative to ask for it every night, like a resentful woman with insatiable desires, but she would immediately return to her coldness afterwards and would not have any physical contact with me even if we slept in the same bed.

It was even worse during the day, and I always kept at least one table's distance from him.

This feeling is very strange, as if I am just a tool for her dual cultivation.

But, it should be me who treats her as a tool, right?

Qin Gengyun shook his head. Qiu Zhihe and he had no love for each other. What they did every night was probably just fulfilling their duties as husband and wife, right?

"Fellow Daoist Qin, can you tell me more about the surrounding neighborhood?"

Qiu Zhihe suddenly said.

Qin Gengyun nodded and said to her:

"I told you about the neighbors on both sides yesterday. Then there's the house across the alley. It's inhabited by a female talisman master named Mo Xiaolan. She's hardworking and honest, but she goes out early and comes back late every day, so it's unlikely that you two will run into each other."

"The person living next door to Friend Mo's house on the left is a male cultivator named Feng Kai. He is at the third level of Qi training, but has been unable to make any progress for many years. He drinks all day to drown his sorrows."

"The room to the right of Fellow Daoist Mo was originally empty. It just had tenants move in a few days ago. Strangely enough, they are actually three male cultivators."

"A few days ago..." Qiu Zhihe's eyes flickered, and he asked, "Why is it strange?"

Qin Gengyun laughed and said, "That room is about the same size as ours, how can three people live in it?"

Qiu Zhihe stared at him for a moment, then asked, "Have you ever seen those three male cultivators?"

"I only saw them once. They were all wearing black robes and were in a hurry. I couldn't see their faces clearly."

Qin Gengyun thought for a moment and said, "Oh, I've seen it once before. I saw one of them going out to buy breakfast the day before yesterday morning."

"Buy breakfast?"

"Yes, you just arrived and you are not familiar with it. There are several breakfast stalls at the entrance of Zhaiyu Lane. I remember that man bought a few buns that day."

Speaking of buns, Qin Gengyun remembered that they hadn't had breakfast yet, so he said:

"I'm going out to get breakfast, what do you want to eat?"

Qiu Zhihe suddenly said, "I'll go."

After saying this, she got up and walked out without waiting for Qin Gengyun to answer.

"Fellow Daoist Qiu."

Qin Gengyun said from behind: "I want a bowl of beef noodles."

But the door was already closed, and I don’t know if Qiu Zhihe heard it.

Qin Gengyun was silent for a moment, then smiled bitterly and shook his head:

“The road to marital intimacy is long and arduous.”

Qiu Zhihe walked out of the house. There were already people walking in groups of three or four in the alley, and the soles of their shoes made a light tapping sound on the dew-soaked bluestone slabs.

White smoke rose from several breakfast stalls at the entrance of a distant alley. Familiar neighbors greeted each other with smiles, while some people argued over who was paying for breakfast.

Qiu Zhihe stopped and looked confused.

Just a month ago, Qinglian Mountain was also so lively. Walking among those chattering fellow students, she always felt it was noisy.

But now, such noise is no longer seen.

Suddenly, the door of the house on the opposite left side opened, and a tall and thin male cultivator in a black robe walked out and walked towards the alley.

This is the house where the three mysterious male cultivators lived that Qin Gengyun mentioned.

Qiu Zhihe's eyes regained their calmness and she followed the male cultivator calmly.

This person was very alert. He looked left and right as he walked, as if he was trying to prevent being followed secretly.

However, Qiu Zhihe was so skilled in tracking, killing, and concealing her aura that the male cultivator just glanced at her and paid no more attention to her.

The tall and thin male cultivator came to a breakfast stall at the corner of the alley, bought a tray of dumplings, then sat down and looked around, as if waiting for someone.

Qiu Zhihe also bought a tray of dumplings and observed the other person casually.

A moment later, another male cultivator in a black robe appeared. The tall and thin male cultivator exchanged glances with him. The two did not walk back, but walked out of the alley side by side.

Qiu Zhihe calmly withdrew his gaze and walked back to the narrow rain alley with the buns in his hand.

"Qinglian, although you can change your appearance and body shape, you still have to be careful. Those bastards in the righteous path may not believe that you are dead."

The master’s last words before his death emerged in his mind, and Qiu Zhihe’s eyes became even colder.

I walked to Qin Gengyun's house and was about to push the door open when I heard the sound of the door opening behind me.

It's the house directly opposite.

The door opened, and a female cultivator in plain robes and with long legs walked out. When she saw Qiu Zhihe, she was stunned for a moment.

Qiu Zhihe ignored her and turned into the house.

Mo Xiaolan stared blankly at the closed door opposite and murmured:

"Fellow Daoist Qin, have you really married?"