The fairy always tries to corrupt my Dao heart.

Chapter 9 "More money is needed!"

"Is Young Master Li a disciple of the Daoist sect?"

On the way back to Luoxia City, Luo Qi asked curiously.

“It used to be.” Li Qingan had already prepared his answer: “I don’t like the current Dao Sect.”

He doesn't yet know how to get Luo Qi's business to repay this favor, so he doesn't mind laying the groundwork first. If they encounter a real danger that Huang Yunzhao can't handle, he can ask Granny Ji for help.

After all, the strongest cultivators of the declining Chang Geng Realm and the declining Dao Sect were only True Monarchs at the eighth realm of Returning to Truth.

Upon hearing this, Luo Qi didn't delve any deeper, but she could guess what it was all about.

Li Qing'an has a good reputation, and it is likely that he left the Dao Sect because he could not stand its current actions.

Luo Qi then asked, "Has Young Master Li been out slaying demons for the past five months?"

According to their young mistress, Li Qing'an had been missing for five months and had not returned to Luoxia City during that time.

Based on his feelings for Saintess Su... this is very illogical.

Li Qingan replied succinctly: "Breakthrough."

Breakthroughs require time and opportunity, and this moment provides Li Qing'an with the best reason.

Because he had indeed reached the late stage of the sixth realm, the extraordinary realm.

"I see."

Luo Qi suddenly realized something, but still felt something was off. Based on the information she had heard from the young lady, this was hardly something Li Qing'an would do. After all, his feelings for Saintess Su were indeed very deep, so deep that he went to see her every day without fail...

Forget it, there's no need for me to keep asking. I'll probably find out what happened when I get back to Luoxia City.

Thinking about it, Luo Qi joked, "Then let's speed things up. You must be eager to go back and see Saintess Su, right?"

Can't wait?

Li Qingan glanced at Luo Qi without showing any emotion: "Do I look like one?"

"Yes, it's similar." Luo Qi smiled slightly: "After all, you pursue her every single day without fail."

Unwavering... pursuit?

Li Qingan twitched the corner of his mouth, only to hear Huang Yunzhao chuckle: "My good disciple is quite affectionate?"

"You're overthinking it," Li Qingan said calmly. "If someone were truly a simp, even with amnesia, certain feelings would still pass through their mind like 'muscle memory,' but I don't have that kind of conflicted emotion."

"so?"

"So you'll know when you get back to Sunset City."

……

The group approached Luoxia City the following evening.

Although they encountered several more groups of demons on the way, in a place like Yanzhou, the demons' strength posed no threat to them whatsoever.

After the heavy rain stopped, Luoxia City was brightly lit under the night sky.

Li Qing'an looked calmly at the largest city in northern Yanzhou, his mind racing.

He had been here before, remembered many people, and even knew that he had bought a house here, but he still had no impression of Saintess Su.

Although he was speechless at the coincidence of his blackout, Li Qing'an was too lazy to investigate further since things had come to this point.

After paying the city entrance tax, Luo Qi, who was visiting Luoxia City for the first time, saw his caravan pass through the city gates unharmed.

Li Qingan surveyed the bustling night market, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the brothel where several brightly dressed young women stood at the entrance.

Even those who cultivate immortality still have brothels... that's perfectly normal.

According to Li Qing'an's understanding, most brothels in the world have some degree of connection with various sects of the Hehuan Sect.

The cultivators of the Hehuan Sect need to cultivate, and some cultivators also need to release their desires. They hit it off and enjoyed each other's company, thus fulfilling their supply and demand.

As for whether there was any secret trafficking... Li Qing'an had at least not heard of it in the Chang Geng Realm, because the Dao Sect had indeed not condoned it in this regard.

I heard that there used to be a case of false accusation and forced sexual assault at the Drunken Village in Luoxia City, and then... the Drunken Village went out of business.

Then came a long period of poor business.

That's true now, otherwise why would these flamboyant female cultivators who practice fasting need to personally solicit customers at the door?

"Oh, my dear disciple wants to go inside and have a look around?"

"just looking."

Li Qingan smiled, and was just about to look away when—

"Oh, Young Master Li is back!"

The brothel madam's voice at the door was like the tinkling sound of a pebble falling into water, which then created ripples.

"Young Master Li, you're alive! We thought something had happened to you and looked for you several times. It's good that you're back safe and sound..."

"Hey, hey, Young Master Li is back."

"Really? Where? Where?"

"It really is Young Master Li! You're still alive! That's wonderful!"

"Now Saintess Su will come to Luoxia City again."

"I am back."

Li Qingan dismounted with ease and greeted everyone, temporarily ignoring any information about Saintess Su.

Sitting in the carriage, Luo Qi stared blankly at the scene: "He's really more popular than I imagined."

A strange glint flashed in her eyes. She had originally thought that these people would only tease Li Qing'an about his feelings for Su Shengnu when they saw him, but to her surprise, no one mentioned it.

Luo Qi learned from the young lady that Li Qing'an was helpful, but this was far from being helpful.
Otherwise, why would others be so kind?
'If we could invite Young Master Li when our business opens in Luoxia City…'

Luo Qi seemed to be deep in thought, having already made up her mind. Then she heard Li Qing'an say, "If it weren't for Miss Luo's business, I'm afraid I would have been seriously injured."

Upon meeting Li Qing'an's gaze, Luo Qi quickly dismounted from the carriage. As a businesswoman, she certainly wouldn't let such an opportunity slip by.

They were naturally even more grateful to Li Qingan. They hadn't expected such a good start to their arrival.

"My dear disciple, that woman to your left has been staring at you and beckoning. What, your old mistress? Not bad."

"You're really good at thinking."

Although Li Qing'an had forgotten about that woman, he still apologized and led the silver-scaled horse over.

Someone who could earn Huang Yunzhao's praise of being "not bad" must not be a local from Chang Geng Realm.

As for his safety... he and she obviously knew each other, so it was impossible for her to have any murderous intent towards him.

As we entered the alley, the woman in the black and white dress asked directly, "Where did you go?"

"I'll find an opportunity to break through," Li Qing'an replied calmly.

The woman naturally sensed the yin energy emanating from Li Qing'an and immediately said, "Although we settle accounts monthly, you can't just leave without saying goodbye. I know that cultivation level is important, but you can't be without the spirit of the contract. Considering that you are the only one who can truly catch Lingyin's eye, I will let it go this time. But if there is a next time, it won't be so easy to let it go."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingan raised an eyebrow. With his meticulous mind, he had already connected Luo Qi's words and deduced the general situation from the woman's few words.

Lingyin is most likely the Saintess Su, and my feelings for her stem from the contract.

In short, it's about getting paid to do something.

"I told you I wasn't a simp."

Li Qingan replied to Huang Yunzhao while also feeling somewhat emotional.

I never imagined I'd meet a wealthy family one day.

Therefore, it can be inferred that the wealthy woman encountered in the cultivation world is most likely someone who has experienced worldly life and cultivation, that is... someone who has followed the path of transcending worldly emotions.

Li Qing'an didn't reject this kind of path, but he was worried that Su Lingyin might take a different path and become a heartless one, like killing her husband to prove her Dao.

So a feeling of rejection arose in my heart.

She was afraid of getting too deeply involved, and also worried that the other person might be a yandere.

More importantly, in a place like Chang Geng Jie, the number that can be given is definitely limited.

While pondering, Li Qingan said, "I don't want to do this job..."

The woman's voice rang out at the same time: "You left at the end of February last time. This is the settlement for that month. Five million spirit crystals. Count them."

As she finished speaking, she tossed a storage ring to Li Qing'an.

As Li Qingan reached out to take it, the words of refusal were immediately stuck in his throat.

How much?
Five million spirit crystals?!

Li Qingan glanced into the storage ring and saw that it was filled with high-grade spirit crystals, and it even came with a storage ring of considerable space...

This rich woman is incredibly wealthy!

Even Huang Yunzhao was surprised. Such a small job was worth five million high-grade spirit crystals. Whose young lady would come to such a remote place as Chang Geng Realm to disrupt the market?

Five million high-grade spirit crystals are a sum that only the Dao Sect in the Chang Geng Realm can afford to spend so readily.

"My dear disciple, you wanted to refuse, didn't you? But then again—"

Huang Yunzhao gave a meaningful look, and Li Qingan smiled and said something that surprised even Huang Yunzhao: "I'm sorry, I won't be taking this job anymore. Let's terminate our cooperation."

"No, you really refuse?" Huang Yunzhao sat up from Li Qing'an's sword heart: "You need spirit crystals to refine your body. The body refining method I gave you consumes even more. You won't take such a quick way to make money?"

Hearing Huang Yunzhao's voice, Li Qing'an confirmed another thing: his memories were not erased by Huang Yunzhao out of 'jealousy'.

Otherwise, she definitely wouldn't let me answer.

'I know what I'm doing, you just watch.'

Li Qingan replied to Huang Yunzhao, then looked back at the woman opposite him.

"What did you say?" The woman's voice was even colder: "You said you're not going to answer?"

"No." Li Qingan smiled slightly: "What I mean is that I've been away for five months, and I can't guarantee that Saintess Su will treat me the same way as before."

“If that’s all, you don’t need to worry.” The woman breathed a sigh of relief: “Since you disappeared, Lingyin has never come to Luoxia City. You can imagine your importance in her heart.”

She was genuinely worried that Li Qing'an would refuse, after all, Ling Yin only held him in high regard, and her cultivation had clearly improved during the two months she spent with Li Qing'an...

Although she had made progress over the past five months, the progress was small and even stagnated for a period of time, so she really didn't want Li Qingan to refuse.

But he didn't dare to pressure him. If he pushed him too far, Li Qing'an would tell Ling Yin about the contract, and then he would be in big trouble.

At this moment, Li Qingan was also pondering a question.

This woman must have looked for him, but couldn't find him?

The sealed land of Fallen Phoenix Mountain... can only be discovered by myself?

Despite his thoughts, Li Qing'an still said, "Although Saintess Su still cares about me, I have just broken through to a higher realm and am preparing to attempt to reach the seventh realm, the Divine Travel Realm, so I really don't have time."

"I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he turned around and left.

"stop!"

Li Qingan paused, turned around and smiled slightly: "Is there anything else, senior?"

The woman stared at him expressionlessly: "Tell me, what do you want for me to renew the contract? Spells? Magical artifacts? Or something else? I'll agree to anything you ask!"

“Senior, I don’t lack spirit crystals anymore, and isn’t the reason we settle accounts monthly precisely because we can terminate the cooperation at any time?”

Li Qingan spoke calmly: "Furthermore, even though Saintess Su is a woman of unparalleled beauty, she only gave me a second glance. As the saying goes, people aren't plants or trees; how can they be without feelings..."

"Get to the point!" The woman interrupted Li Qing'an directly. Judging from his rambling, she knew he didn't want to end the cooperation so easily, so she cut him off.

Li Qingan smiled slightly.

"You have to pay more!"

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(End of this chapter)