Burial Furnace

Zhang Yuan put down the teapot, leaned back in his chair, looked at the embarrassed girl in front of him, and sneered inwardly.

He's lived for eighty years, what kind of people hasn't he seen?

He didn't believe a single word the girl said.

It's true that rogue cultivators are poor, but even the poorest rogue cultivator shouldn't be so poor that they can't even afford two low-grade spirit stones.

Since she can kill people, she must have some skills. How could she not have spirit stones?

It's not that she can't afford it, it's that she doesn't want to pay.

Want to get something for free.

"I'm sorry, miss." Zhang Yuan picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said in a calm but firm tone, "Our profit margin is very thin, so we do not offer credit."

The girl bit her lip and remained silent for a long time. Suddenly, as if she had made up her mind, she said with a flushed face, "Then...then I'll let you hug me for a while, as payment, okay?"

Zhang Yuan was stunned.

His hand, holding the teacup, hovered in mid-air, and for a moment he didn't know how to react.

He couldn't help but scrutinize her closely.

I must say, it is indeed very beautiful.

Although his clothes were shabby, his face was extremely delicate.

Her features were exquisite, and her skin was as white as snow.

She also has a great figure; even though she's wearing a loose-fitting, coarse cloth dress, you can still see her slender waist and graceful curves.

Such a young, pure, and charming girl offered to let him hold her for a while in exchange for two low-grade spirit stones...

To be honest, Zhang Yuan was momentarily moved.

But he quickly calmed down and shook his head: "Two low-grade spirit stones for a short hug? That's two hundred taels of silver."

"Well... consider this the price for paying on credit. I'll definitely come back to pay you back in a few days."

She said shyly.

Zhang Yuan looked at her and secretly shook his head.

He bet that if he agreed, the girl would most likely never come back.

He not only lost two spirit stones, but also a customer.

"Miss," Zhang Yuan put down his teacup and said seriously, "If you are truly sincere, give me the spirit stones now. I won't charge you much, just two low-grade spirit stones."

"But I... I really didn't."

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

The girl bit her lip and remained silent for a long while, the blush on her face spreading all the way to her ears.

She looked up and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "I can let you kiss me too."

She paused, her voice even softer, almost inaudible: "This was my first kiss."

Zhang Yuan was stunned again.

He lived to be eighty years old, and apart from that one absurd night with Liu Ruxue, when had he ever encountered such an absurd thing?

Such a young and beautiful girl is willing to exchange her first kiss for two low-grade spirit stones...

He was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "Well... okay."

He didn't want to lose this client.

Even if she's stingy and unwilling to give spirit stones, he can still obtain the power of origin, increase his lifespan, and enhance his talent!

A hint of joy flashed in the girl's eyes, but shyness prevailed over it.

She slowly stood up, walked to Zhang Yuan, hesitated for a moment, and then gently nestled into his arms.

A faint, sweet fragrance wafted over, fresh and pleasant, like the scent of spring flowers mixed with the smell of sunshine.

Zhang Yuan felt a surge of emotion, and a rush of hot blood to his head.

He instinctively reached out and put his arm around her slender waist.

The girl raised her head, closed her eyes, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly, like two startled butterflies.

Zhang Yuan gently kissed him.

About five minutes later.

The girl gently pushed him away, lowered her head, and blushed as red as a ripe shrimp.

"Okay...okay, I'm...going."

Zhang Yuan gave a gentle smile: "Take care, young lady. Welcome to visit again next time."

He paused, then added jokingly, "Remember to bring spirit stones next time."

The girl glared at him, but there was no anger in her eyes; instead, she was more shy and embarrassed.

She walked quickly to the door, then suddenly turned around and smiled at Zhang Yuan.

That smile was like spring flowers in full bloom, bright and captivating.

"My name is Mu Qingqing."

Her voice was clear and melodious, with a touch of girlish liveliness.

"My name is Zhang Yuan," Zhang Yuan replied with a smile.

Goodbye, old man.

After finishing her sentence, Mu Qingqing quickly walked out of the shop, her slender figure soon disappearing into the night.

Only a faint fragrance remains, lingering in the air.

Zhang Yuan stood at the door, gazing in the direction she had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

He touched his lips; they seemed to still retain her warmth and sweetness.

"Mu Qingqing..."

He murmured the name over and over, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.

For the next three days, no business came in.

But Zhang Yuan was neither anxious nor nervous.

He has fourteen months to live.

Although a year is but a blink of an eye for cultivators, for an old man who once only had three days left to live, this year was like a blessing from heaven.

Every morning, he would go to Old Man Xia's shop for a bowl of hot fish noodles with two bird eggs, then leisurely stroll around the town, basking in the sun, admiring the street scenes, and buying a bunch of glistening purple grapes to eat as he walked.

Back in the shop, he closed the door, sat cross-legged on the futon, and began to circulate his energy, absorbing the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

He had almost used up all his spirit stones, with only a few left, and he dared not use them for cultivation anymore.

Although his talent was still very poor and his absorption of spiritual energy was ridiculously slow, he had nothing better to do, so he decided to cultivate as a way to pass the time.

It was late at night.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the rooftops of Aoki Town, casting a silvery glow over the sleeping town.

Zhang Yuan was sitting cross-legged when suddenly, an immense pressure descended from the sky, like an invisible mountain, enveloping the entire shop.

Zhang Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, his heart leaping in his throat.

This pressure is too strong.

It was so powerful that even breathing became difficult for him, a beginner who had just stepped into the threshold of cultivation.

He even had the illusion that an invisible giant hand was gripping his throat, and with just a little force, it could crush him into dust.

But he was not afraid.

On the contrary, an overwhelming sense of ecstasy welled up within him.

Such immense pressure indicates that the person who came is definitely not an ordinary character.

At least at the Golden Core stage, or even higher!

Nine times out of ten, business will come to us!

Zhang Yuan took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, stood up, and opened the door expectantly.

Under the moonlight outside the door, a woman stood quietly.

She wore a long black dress with a flowing hem that accentuated her breathtaking curves.

Her figure was absolutely stunning, with curves in all the right places to an exaggerated degree, as if God had generously bestowed upon her all the perfection when he sculpted her.

Her waist was as slender as a willow branch, as if it would break if pinched.

Her legs, encased in the long black dress, appeared exceptionally long, straight, and well-proportioned, like two meticulously carved jade pillars.

Her skin was as white as snow, gleaming faintly in the moonlight, like the finest white jade, without a single flaw.