In the world of cultivation, one grinds for proficiency and longevity.

Chen Changqing was not angry when he was driven away.

He's just a cripple trying to make a living by setting up a stall; he can't let people offend others over a mere two spirit stones!

Moreover, judging from his frightened appearance just now, it seems that no matter how many more spirit stones were added, he wouldn't say anything.

Chen Changqing fell into a deep silence.

But he did gain something; at least he confirmed that Manager Wu was definitely not a good person.

"Hey, Mr. Chen, don't take offense. Limpy Liu wasn't like this before. We've been setting up this stall together for over ten years, and there's never been a story he didn't know, let alone someone who would chase away a customer."

Seeing Chen Changqing's discomfiture, Old Man Sun, who had come with him, quickly offered an explanation.

"It's nothing, a small matter," Chen Changqing chuckled. "By the way, Brother Sun, do you know who broke Liu the Cripple's leg?"

"I don't know, but he was like that when I first met him, maybe it's just his nature."

Immediately, Old Man Sun chuckled and said:

"Master Chen, your boss is so harsh on you, he probably doesn't provide meals, right? Why don't you come to my house for a meal?"

"Don't let my wife's fierce appearance fool you, she's a really good cook."

Fearing that Chen Changqing might not go, he added another sentence.

It seems like they're trying to save face.

"No need, Brother Sun, thank you for your kindness."

Then he added, "Although my boss is demanding, he wouldn't dare let me go hungry."

Just then, Zhou Ruoyun was walking slowly towards them.

As closing time approached, she didn't dress up deliberately. Instead, she tied up her hair, rolled up her sleeves, and her face still showed traces of sweat.

Despite this, her graceful figure, stunning looks, and the unique elegance she exuded at all times still captivated those who saw her on the street.

Everyone would find themselves taking a second look.

Old Man Sun was no exception.

"Changqing, it's time to go back for dinner." Just before dinner, Zhou Ruoyun said to Chen Changqing, "Xiaoyue said you like stir-fried beef with green peppers, so I'll try making it. I don't know if it will suit your taste."

His tone was relaxed and natural, as if he were talking about something perfectly normal.

What!

The eldest daughter of the Zhou family personally cooked for you, a mere talisman master?

This completely stunned Old Man Sun.

What surprised him even more was that, as the two of them walked, Zhou Ruoyun took the initiative to hold Chen Changqing's hand!

An old man was left standing there, bewildered in the wind.

"Ugh! He even calls himself a 'junior talisman master,' he's clearly a 'kept man' talisman master!'"

……

In the evening, after the three of them had dinner, Xiaoyue left alone, leaving the two of them some more time to be alone.

Chen Changqing was somewhat agitated because he couldn't find out who was behind Manager Wu and their motives, and because Black Widow hadn't returned from looking for food.

"Changqing, is something on your mind?"

Seeing this, Zhou Ruoyun naturally suppressed her desire to be affectionate, "Are you too tired? It's okay, you can draw fewer talismans tomorrow."

"Ruoyun, don't overthink it, let me have some peace and quiet." Chen Changqing and Black Widow were of one mind. Sensing its approach, he was overjoyed and quickly returned to his room, gently closing the door, but not completely shut.

Zhou Ruoyun doesn't treat him like an outsider, and he doesn't necessarily have to hide his secret of keeping pets.

Fortunately, Zhou Ruoyun is a wise woman who understands that maintaining an appropriate distance between lovers is not a bad thing.

She has returned to her room to draw talismans.

Hiss, hiss~

On the rooftop, the Black Widow saw Chen Changqing enter the room alone, so she parachuted onto his head and started frolicking.

[Little master, I'm back after eating, and I've discovered a secret.]

"secret?"

[A highly poisonous feast! A highly poisonous feast is here!]

"What! Explain yourself!"

Deep in West Street, I smelled that deadly odor... and decided to investigate. It turned out that the person was the one who tried to harm your beloved that day.

"What does he look like?"

He's at the seventh level of Qi Refining; I only dared to look at him from afar, as I couldn't see him very clearly.

"Then how can you be so sure it's the same person?"

Black Widow panicked. "Of course, because I can smell things!"

"What does it smell like?"

Everyone has a unique scent. You carry my scent; your wife smells like a mixture of musk and heather, and she used to have a virgin scent, but you've ruined it...

And that Xiaoyue, her scent is...

"That's enough, I know you're capable. Has he been in contact with Manager Wu?"

[Little master, you guessed right, they had a brief interaction on West Street.]

"Can you hear what they're saying?"

I couldn't hear it, so I didn't dare approach. However, if I lay in wait beforehand, I should be able to next time.

"Don't take any risks! Where is he? Is there any trace of him?"

No. He went out, headed north, and hasn't returned yet.

North? Wasn't the north a primeval forest in the past?

No, before that, there was also Yufufang City!

Chen Changqing had memorized parts of the map of the State of Lu and knew them well.

"But Fukufu City is even smaller than this place. I've never heard of any major power here."

Even after learning the information, Chen Changqing was still confused.

I felt as if I was about to step into a huge conspiracy orchestrated by someone...

This feeling made him very uncomfortable.

If he were in the late stage of Qi Refining, he could take the initiative and wouldn't be in such a passive position...

【Little master, would you like me to go and scout out that market for you?】 Noticing that Chen Changqing was in a bad mood, Black Widow offered to help him out.

"No need. You're not grown up yet; I can't let you take such a risk."

While Black Widow currently possesses excellent stealth and reconnaissance abilities, her combat strength is only at the early stage of Qi Refining.

The only redeeming quality is its toxicity...

I wish I could advance to a first-tier spirit beast, but alas, I've only just advanced. I don't even know when I'll be able to advance again...

"Is there anything I can help you with? Like, maybe get you some pills?"

[I can get enough food in the market to support myself. As for pills... I'll call you if I need them in a while.]

"good!"

So, Black Widow automatically climbed to the rooftop and hid, acting as a surveillance agent...

"Seventh level of Qi Refining, peak of sixth level of Qi Refining..."

"By the way, why don't I try to find a solution through Ruoyun?"

"If she reaches the seventh level of Qi Refining, the situation will definitely be much better!"

On the surface, although the sixth and seventh levels are only one realm apart, there is a huge watershed between the sixth and seventh levels, with the latter having at least two to three times the combat power of the former.

Even the dantian capacity and spiritual energy quality of a peak sixth-level cultivator are far inferior to those of a seventh-level Qi Refining cultivator.

Not to mention the overwhelming superiority in terms of consciousness, physical body, and other aspects.

Therefore, in typical Foundation Establishment families, a sixth-level cultivator is only considered mid-level, while a seventh-level cultivator can be promoted to elder, and this is the reason why.

"The fusion of Yin and Yang is only truly effective the first time... After the fifth or sixth time, the increase in cultivation is almost negligible!"

"The only option left is to try and find a solution using elixirs!"

Having figured all this out, Chen Changqing went into Zhou Ruoyun's room.