What bad intentions could my Daoist partner possibly have?

Chapter 8: I'll give myself to you as compensation, do you want me?

A dazzling light burst forth from the alley, like the rising sun.

"Why did you take all the spirit crystals out of your storage ring? Are you trying to count them one by one? I've already counted them for you, and the quantity is fine."

Huang Qingwu's speechless voice rang out, and Li Qingan coughed lightly: "Subconscious, subconscious..."

He really did take the spirit crystal out of his storage ring on a whim.

The impact of a mountain of spirit crystals is far greater than the cold, hard numbers Huang Qingwu speaks of.

This is all money!
A hard currency that can be used for both cultivation and spending!

Li Qingan stared intently at the spirit crystals that filled the alley; the glittering spirit crystals were simply the most magnificent color in the world.

Although it's not even the size of a palm, the texture and color... it's clearly a top-grade spirit crystal!
That's so much in just one month, plus they even gave away a storage ring... That's incredibly generous!
Li Qing'an was in a great mood, and Huang Qingwu's voice continued to ring in his mind: "That subconscious action was good. That woman immediately set up a barrier. Obviously, you do this often."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "I didn't expect you to be right. The money jumped to ten million next month, and you even made it in at the beginning of the month. Not bad."

"Of course, after all, it's the other party who needs something from us."

Li Qingan replied slowly and deliberately, "Five million wouldn't be enough for me to waste my emotions."

"good……"

"Stop praising me, just follow me and learn properly from now on."

"Ha ha……"

A woman not far away looked speechless. Although she was used to the guy's habit of emptying the bills as soon as he collected them, she really couldn't give him a good review.

In particular, besides settling accounts with me every month, this kid also does other tasks to earn commissions; he's practically obsessed with money...

Especially tonight, the price has gone up... If it were anyone else, I would have slapped them to death long ago, but only this person can catch the eye of the goddess, so I can only go along with him.

This kid must have been a greedy bastard in his past life!
Thinking of this, the woman finally couldn't help but ask, "Are you that desperate for spirit crystals?"

"My father disappeared, my mother died young, my sister is in prison, and I am broken."

As Li Qingan stuffed spirit crystals into his storage ring, he casually remarked.

"..."

The woman took a deep breath. This kid might as well go take the imperial examinations in the common people's court.

"Excuse me, Saintess Su, you don't mind that I've been missing for five months, do you?" Although he was certain that Saintess Su seemed unable to live without him, Li Qing'an still asked the question.

"There are quite a few people who wanted to take on this mission, but you're the only one who survived. Do I need to say anything more?"

?

Upon hearing this, Li Qingan's eyelids twitched. Was this job even life-threatening?

Will Su Lingyin be angry if I disappear for five months...? Who cares, as long as I get a lot of money.

Besides, since I'm the only one who survived, Su Lingyin might not be willing to harm me.

Thinking of this, Li Qing'an, who was speeding up his collection of spirit crystals, seemed to sigh, "I've spent a lot to break through to the Sky Ascension Realm, and I'm almost broke. I wonder how much more I can earn from you..."

The woman frowned: "Are you a glutton? You spent tens of millions of spirit crystals in just five months?"

“You know, I’m insecure. My poverty is relative,” Li Qingan immediately changed his tune.

The woman watched Li Qing'an's smug expression as he put all the spirit crystals into his storage ring, and snorted coldly, "You've counted them all? Not a single one is missing, right?"

"Nothing's missing, nothing's missing." Li Qing'an, who had a great harvest without doing anything upon returning, was in a very good mood: "Thank you!"

"Remember the terms of the contract. If anything goes wrong on your end, don't expect to see the sun rise tomorrow," the woman reminded him as usual before turning away.

"Okay, take care!"

"One last question," the woman turned to look at Li Qing'an, "Are you sure you haven't fallen for her?"

Li Qingan tossed the storage ring in his hand: "This is more practical."

He paused, then added, "If there's any more business like this, you can come to me again. I can do the work of two people without any problem."

"That's good." The woman nodded. "You're quite a genius, don't let love interfere with your cultivation..."

Li Qingan was taken aback; this boss was surprisingly nice...

"Otherwise, if we keep bothering Lingyin, it will easily delay her cultivation."

Li Qingan silently suppressed the momentary emotion that had welled up in her heart, turned around and left.

Watching Li Qingan's departing figure, the woman narrowed her eyes, realizing she had been overthinking things.

Normal people wouldn't genuinely like Lingyin because of this, since not only is there an agreement in the contract that they can express their feelings but not fall in love, but they also have to endure the strange or hostile looks from others.

Under this pressure, Li Qingan might actually feel disgusted inside...

But thinking about Li Qingan's beaming face when he received the money and his reputation, the woman felt inexplicably irritated.

This kid didn't show any signs of breaking down at all.

But then again, this kid is just a greedy little devil, so what I'm worried about probably won't happen.

Moreover, it seems that this kid really had a good opportunity this time. With the rich Yin energy on his body and the right method to refine it, he will definitely make rapid progress.

"Alas, Lingyin, how much longer until you are born?"

······
Li Qingan deliberately chose to weave through the less crowded alleys, heading straight in one direction.

As he continued to swim rapidly, he remembered where his house was.

“That girl named Su Lingyin is definitely not the Holy Maiden of the Luoxia Sect.”

Huang Qingwu's voice echoed in his mind: "That woman was at least at the eighth realm of cultivation, and she was very generous. Yanzhou is not worthy of such a 'great Buddha'."

"I can guess," Li Qingan replied. "She's probably a young lady from a prominent family who came down here for training."

"Kid, what do you think about if you could get both the person and the money..." Huang Qingwu's voice held a hint of amusement.

Li Qingan chuckled: "Hey, big sister, do you even know anything about romance?"

"Have you never eaten pork, or seen a pig running?"

"The problem is, you're a woman, can you put yourself in my shoes?"

"But I understand women's hearts," Huang Qingwu said calmly. "Otherwise, I would just possess that girl and have sex with her."

"..."

Li Qingan was speechless for a moment: "Big sister, you're not at your peak either. Are you doing this to make me die and be reincarnated sooner?"

"Just kidding." Huang Qingwu chuckled. "If that girl is too ugly, I won't sleep with her."

"Let's not." Li Qing'an remained noncommittal, then said, "I'm more concerned about where my tens of millions of spirit crystals went. Could they have ended up on Falling Phoenix Mountain? Do you know that?"

"You brat, you're clearly suspicious in your heart that I took it, but you're making it sound so nice."

Li Qingan's expression remained unchanged: "Otherwise what?"

After all, there were only two female ghosts left on Luohuang Mountain besides himself at the time. One of them died, and the other has now followed him, so it is normal for him to be suspicious.

"Then you may have made a mistake in your suspicions..." Huang Qingwu's voice suddenly lowered as she spoke, as if she were recalling something.

Sensing Huang Qingwu's silence, Li Qingan's tone became more melancholy: "That's tens of millions of high-grade spirit crystals! It's impossible for it to grow wings and fly away on its own. Sister, you must remember!"

"yes……"

Huang Qingwu's tone was also somewhat melancholy: "So many high-grade spirit crystals could force you to advance directly from the Qi Sensing Realm to the Soul Forging Realm in the path of body refinement..."

"Are you feeling melancholy now?"

"I'm thinking about it, don't rush me..." Huang Qingwu said, "Are you almost home?"

"It's almost here, right here..."

Li Qingan's voice abruptly stopped, and Huang Qingwu's voice also carried a strange tone: "Are you sure this nearly 100-acre mansion is your home?"

Li Qingan looked at the vermilion gate in front of him, his eyes filled with suspicion, but he still stepped forward and extended his right hand.

The protective barrier surrounding the mansion automatically activated, indicating successful recognition.

It really is my own room...

"You kid, you didn't spend all your spirit crystals on buying this mansion, did you?"

Huang Qingwu clicked her tongue: "Buying such a luxury house in the inner city of Luoxia City must cost a lot of money."

As Li Qingan pushed open the door and walked in, he said, "Converted to high-grade spirit crystals, it's only about two million..."

"Not necessarily."

The moment Huang Qingwu finished speaking, Li Qing'an felt a chill run down his spine, followed by a tall, dark shadow enveloping him.

He couldn't help but look up, and all he could see was a striking bright red wedding dress, but he still couldn't see Huang Qingwu's face.

But this time it wasn't because of the red veil, but because the lower edges of those two full and perky mounds blocked my view.

In an instant, Li Qingan thought of a word: magnificent and turbulent.

Huang Qingwu's voice continued: "Look at the flowers, plants and trees in this courtyard, they are all extraordinary. Most of the ornaments in the house are also treasures containing spiritual energy... The layout is simple and exquisite, but it is secretly luxurious, like a palace. All these things must amount to a considerable sum. You're quite concerned about your reputation, aren't you?"

Li Qingan took a deep breath and said as he walked, "That won't cost more than ten million high-grade spirit crystals. You should focus on remembering."

After saying that, he began to wander from room to room, looking for diaries or ledgers or similar items.

This process made him feel exceptionally comfortable, because after Huang Qingwu left the sword, his mind became much clearer.

After searching room by room, Li Qing'an returned to the main courtyard with a stack of account books. Just as he was about to go inside, he looked at Huang Qingwu and asked, "Do you remember now?"

"Let me fix this barrier for you first," Huang Qingwu said calmly. "This barrier was probably set up by the Luoxia Sect. Its power is average, and its privacy is also average."

"Thanks." Li Qingan asked another question: "Will other people be able to see you?"

"That requires a very high level of skill..." Huang Qingwu looked down at Li Qingan: "I'm only showing this to you, okay?"

"An old woman pretending to be young."

"Heh~ Looking for a beating?" Huang Qingwu sneered, "I kindly reinforced your barrier, and this is how you thank me?"

Li Qingan smiled slightly: "Sister, if you remember the whereabouts of the spirit crystal, I will definitely thank you properly."

"I'll continue thinking about it after I go inside."

As soon as she finished speaking, Huang Qingwu floated directly into the house: "Buying this mansion is a bargain for me. It's tall and spacious enough inside, otherwise it really wouldn't be able to accommodate me."

Li Qing'an entered the room and closed the door: "You don't have a physical body now, can't you shrink yourself with your cultivation level?"

"got used to."

Looking at the tall Huang Qingwu, Li Qingan thought to himself that her true form was most likely a real phoenix, after all, her surname was Huang.

"Can't demonic beasts control their height when they transform into human form?"

Li Qingan sat at the table, flipping through the account books, and asked a question.

"It's my nature, and I like it."

"Then you won't be able to sit down," Li Qingan joked. "There aren't any chairs that big at home."

"Not necessarily."

Huang Qingwu chuckled, and the 'Qingwu' that Li Qingan had placed on the table was drawn and became a 'chair' under her buttocks.

As she crossed her left leg over her right, the curve of her hips suddenly rose into an extremely alluring fullness beneath her slender, tightly bound waist, resembling a delicious, thin-skinned pear.

Combined with the strong and beautiful lines of her calves revealed from under the bright red skirt, it gave Li Qing'an a visually pleasing experience.

Judging solely from her fair skin and the way she looks in her eyes, one would never guess that Huang Qingwu is a female ghost.

Li Qing'an's gaze swept over Huang Qingwu's graceful waist and hip curves. Although she was just a ghost, when she sat on the sword, she not only didn't wear through the fabric, but also squeezed out beautiful, delicate curves on her long red dress, which was quite alluring.

"You've always dressed like this?" He shifted his body and quickly flipped through the ledger.

"Why do you think I married you?" Huang Qingwu gently swayed her toes in red embroidered shoes: "You can think of this wedding dress as the rule I have to accept when I come out with you."

Can the veil be lifted?

"Are you willing to go through the wedding ceremony?" Huang Qingwu's voice carried a hint of amusement.

Li Qingan shook his head: "Never mind what I said."

"Ha~ It's too late to hold the wedding ceremony now, we've already missed the auspicious time."

"So, do you remember where the spirit crystals went?"

“I do remember something.” Huang Qingwu crossed her arms, revealing large expanses of her fair, snow-white skin beneath the camisole in her hempen skirt, making her look deep and alluring. “I did use your seven million spirit crystals, but I can’t remember what I used them for… but I definitely used them on you and me.”

Li Qingan looked up at her: "An array?"

"Why do you ask?"

What were the four versions of myself with closed eyes that I saw in that ancient well?

Li Qingan asked slowly, this being his biggest question about his experience at Luohuang Mountain.

"Four of you?" Huang Qingwu asked, her tone tinged with doubt. "Are there four?"

Li Qingan stared at her intently for a moment, then, without saying anything more, refocused his attention on the ledger.

Huang Qingwu reached out and snatched a ledger, casually flipping through it a few times before looking slightly surprised: "You're obsessed with money, kid? You're taking on so many jobs? Even finding pet beasts for people? But..."

She then checked the rest of the ledgers: "There are no records about Su Lingyin."

“Definitely,” Li Qingan said noncommittally. “That woman gave me spirit crystals in private because she definitely didn’t want Su Lingyin to know. I’m even guessing that these two might be from the Path of Ruthlessness or the Path of Forgetfulness…”

Furthermore, since Su Lingyin might have been here before, it's best not to remember her.

"Now that she is the Holy Maiden of the Luoxia Sect, she might have come here during your absence. Aren't you worried that she might see these account books and become suspicious?"

After reviewing all the ledgers, Li Qingan chuckled: "But she might also think that if a money-grubber like me pursues her like this, wouldn't it show that I'm truly sincere and genuine, right?"

"You're quite good at flirting with girls?"

"If you're paid to do a service, you naturally have to ensure customer satisfaction; that's called the spirit of a contract!"

Li Qingan leaned back in his chair, his fingertips lightly tapping a ledger he had categorized: "There are several things in this ledger that I haven't fulfilled yet. Five months have passed, and I don't know if I should return the deposit..."

"Return what?" Huang Qingwu sneered. "You earned it through your own abilities, why would you return it?"
Besides, quite a few people in that book still owe you spirit crystals.

Li Qingan didn't reply, but instead looked at the ledger that Huang Qingwu had mentioned. This ledger was full of other people's debts and IOUs, and every single one was clearly recorded...

Judging from the ledger and the reputation of Luoxia City, he seems to care a lot about creating a good image. So what is his purpose in doing so?
Because he came from a Taoist sect?

Or should we simply record it?
The feeling of blacking out is definitely unpleasant.

Li Qingan suppressed his thoughts and looked at Huang Qingwu again: "Let's not talk about these trivial matters for now. We should talk about our relationship."

He leaned forward slightly: "You want me to help you get back to your peak, right?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Qingwu's tone became more serious: "That's right, but do you dare?"
"I'm not going to kill a small number of people."

"You dare?" Li Qingan smiled slightly. "You've already latched onto me. If this gets exposed, you'll at most be suppressed again, but I'll have to be buried with you."

Because Huang Qingwu followed him out, the karma associated with her also affected him. Even if he took the initiative to tell the important people about Huang Qingwu's existence, they might not let him off easily.

After all, "surrendering oneself" is only done when one is guilty.

Now that he is all alone, his biggest backer is Huang Qingwu, so this choice is the most advantageous for him at the moment.

"You're a promising young man." Huang Qingwu was quite satisfied with Li Qing'an's answer and was about to say a few more words of praise when Li Qing'an continued, "So, the first of the three rules is that we cannot kill innocent people indiscriminately, what do you think?"

“Okay.” Huang Qingwu agreed: “Every wrong has its perpetrator and every debt its debtor, but I prefer to leave no future troubles.”

"It's natural."

Li Qingan nodded. The choice between feeling guilty for a moment and living in constant fear for a lifetime was obvious.

Huang Qingwu swung her toes a little faster, clearly in a good mood: "The first thing is to help me find the Heavenly Origin Mirror. I'm sure this immortal artifact is in the Chang Geng Realm, but I don't know exactly where."

She paused, then added, "The Heavenly Origin Mirror is shaped like a bronze mirror, with two sides, Yin and Yang. It contains the true blood of the dragon and the phoenix. I suppressed the Yang spirit there."

"You...?" Li Qingan looked puzzled. "Weren't you suppressed?"

Huang Qingwu snorted coldly: "I am invincible. Even if I am suppressed, it is a voluntary suppression! Those bastards are either dead or seriously injured. In the end, they have gained nothing but water in a bamboo basket. Humph!"

Li Qingan frowned slightly: "So, your enemies are also actively seeking you out?"

"Don't worry, it hasn't been found after all these years, and it's even less likely to be found anytime soon," Huang Qingwu said calmly. "I've hidden it well!"

Li Qingan nodded: "Okay, I'll help you find it."

"So good~"

“The second thing,” Li Qingan’s expression turned serious again, “is that you have to compensate me for those seven million spirit crystals.”

He was met with silence.

After a long pause, Huang Qingwu said through gritted teeth, "I'm certain that some of that seven million was spent on you..."

Li Qingan spread his hands: "Using my money to give me gifts... do you think that's reasonable?"

"You..." Huang Qingwu took a deep breath, her voice suddenly becoming more alluring: "Would you like me as compensation?"

As she spoke, she gently pinched the hem of her bright red skirt, and as it slowly rose, her fair, rounded, and taut thighs were gradually revealed to Li Qing'an.

With the embroidered shoes removed, her jade-like feet, adorned with red nail polish, were slightly raised. Beneath her alabaster-like instep, her toes, like tender silkworm shoots, were glistening and slightly curled, complementing the soft, smooth, pale pink soles of her feet. The allure was undeniable.

"Are you testing me with this?" Li Qingan stared intently.

"I don't have any spirit crystals... so do you want some?"

Li Qingan coughed lightly: "Since you can't pay it back anyway, it's not impossible..."

"Okay." Huang Qingwu patted her thigh, causing a wave of soft, white flesh to ripple, which made Li Qingan feel dizzy.

"Then you should become my disciple."

"Uh-huh?"

What kind of logic is this?!
······
(End of this chapter)