“Why aren’t you untying her?”
Jiang Huai looked at Zhuxin, whose posture was somewhat ambiguous as she was bound by ropes, and hurried forward to untie her.
Zhuxin turned her head, avoiding Jiang Huai’s gaze, a cold smile flickering in her mind.
One plays the stern role, the other the gentle?
As the head of a sect, wielding authority for many years, how could she not see through such a crude tactic?
It was nothing more than Qin Qingyue playing the villain, while this so-called “husband” acted the good guy, hoping to curry favor.
When untying, Su Yingman’s technique was exquisite, the bindings cunningly entangled.
Combined with her originally thin clothing, Jiang Huai’s clumsy untying caused a faint flush to uncontrollably rise on Zhuxin’s cheeks.
Especially when she keenly noticed Jiang Huai’s gaze briefly lingering on the contours of her body, a long-lost, mixed feeling of shame stirred quietly within her heart.
To keep her Primordial Yin Body pure and receive the Yin Yuan, she had practiced strict abstinence and bitter cultivation for hundreds of years, suppressing desires so deeply that ordinary people could hardly imagine.
The best way to guard her boundaries was complete isolation; Zhuxin had severed all contact with desire for years, her heart as calm as an ancient well.
But this strange and subtle touch was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, rippling forbidden waves.
Zhuxin exhaled softly, restraining her emotions.
Jiang Huai felt puzzled. “You guys kidnapped her, that’s one thing, but why tie her up like this?”
When he finished untying her, he found his fingertips seemed to glow faintly.
“Want to grab something to eat together?” Jiang Huai tentatively extended the invitation, trying to ease the atmosphere, quietly wiping his fingertips on himself.
“Although I know you high-level cultivators don’t really need to eat anymore,” he added with a hint of apology in his tone.
“But I think tasting good food is a kind of enjoyment. Want to join me?”
To be honest, Jiang Huai felt a bit embarrassed. Su Yingman was forcibly taken by Qin Qingyue out of concern that she might leak the secret of the Yin Yang Constitution.
The Zhuxin before him was probably forcibly taken by Qin Qingyue as well.
“No need.”
Once freed, Zhuxin simply declined Jiang Huai’s offer.
A flash of red flame flickered around her body, instantly transforming into a sleek, form-fitting crimson armor that covered her previously thin clothing.
Her posture straightened, fierce and heroic once more, the solar mark on her brow shining brightly.
Her sharp gaze regained its usual aloofness, as if the momentary embarrassment had never happened.
“Impressive.” Jiang Huai couldn’t help but admire sincerely.
This crimson armor was lighter and more fitted than Qin Qingyue’s battle armor, perfectly outlining Zhuxin’s agile and graceful figure, clearly more conducive to her martial arts.
“Thank you.”
Zhuxin merely nodded slightly in response to her “husband’s” praise, without a trace of a smile, maintaining an unapproachable and proud demeanor.
Qin Qingyue didn’t mind her cold attitude, but Su Yingman frowned deeply beside her.
“Well then, let’s eat.”
Jiang Huai didn’t linger and turned to eat; he was genuinely hungry.
The evening meal was quite lavish, as among the Dragon Maidservants Qin Qingyue had brought, some were skilled in cooking Ling Food.
After all, forming a sect required someone to handle chores.
While Qin Qingyue eagerly piled dishes into Jiang Huai’s bowl, she planned for the future:
“Our current main tasks are, first, to establish a sect — a big sect — to help you accumulate resources and connections.”
“Second, to help you cultivate quickly and ascend to the Immortal Realm.”
Jiang Huai looked at the small mountain of Ling Food rapidly piling up in his bowl and hastily pleaded, “No more, no more. I can’t eat that much.”
Qin Qingyue ignored him and kept adding food.
“Nonsense, eat more. These are all top-grade spiritual materials, very beneficial to you.”
She shifted her tone, a trace of hesitation appearing:
“By the way, in a while there will be a large Secret Realm suitable for those in the Foundation Establishment Period. I wonder if you can go.”
Jiang Huai paused mid-bite and turned to ask, “Secret Realm? For Foundation Establishment?”
“Yes,” Qin Qingyue nodded.
“These kinds of Secret Realms usually contain trials, inheritances, and even some rare Immortal materials seldom seen outside.”
“Every time one opens, someone gains a Great Fortune. I was no exception and gained a lot back then.”
She paused, frowning slightly.
“I’m a bit hesitant about letting you risk it, especially since you haven’t even established your foundation, nor reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer.”
Such Secret Realms were basically arenas for the top young talents of the Five Provinces.
Though Qin Qingyue came from a wealthy background, there were few supreme inheritances suitable for Jiang Huai.
She had fought her way out alone back then; her base was never as profound as some ancient legacies hidden in certain Secret Realms.
Wu Zhaohua couldn’t provide anything top-tier, and Qin Qingyue herself lacked anything especially suitable.
Besides, many rare Immortal materials unique to Secret Realms would not survive long outside their specific environments.
Even if she wanted to gather them for Jiang Huai, she might not be able to bring them out in time.
Jiang Huai thought for a moment, then asked curiously:
“There really are places like this in the Cultivation World? I would’ve thought resources would be monopolized by the big sects. Where do these Secret Realms come from?”
How could such good things exist, forming Secret Realms that give low-level cultivators a chance to rise?
Qin Qingyue was momentarily taken aback. Although she had been through Secret Realms, she didn’t know their origin either, so she instinctively looked to the well-informed Su Yingman.
Su Yingman immediately replied softly:
“Master, you may not know, but these so-called ‘Secret Realms’ are actually fragments of broken small worlds.”
“The Ancient Calamity shattered many worlds, and apart from the Five Provinces realm and the Immortal Realm which remained mostly intact, most other worlds were left in pieces.”
“Secret Realms are those world fragments, containing old sects, inheritances, and rare treasures.”
“Due to different domain laws, many Immortal materials cannot survive long outside the Secret Realm environment and must be used quickly.”
“Some powerful inheritances can only be obtained within these Secret Realms.”
After listening, Jiang Huai pondered briefly before saying firmly, “Then I’ll go. I have to go.”
Seeing his ambition, Qin Qingyue’s eyes brightened with satisfaction:
“Good, then go and see the talents of the Five Provinces.”
Qin Qingyue was, of course, extremely pleased by Jiang Huai’s eagerness.
Watching him diligently devour the Ling Food in his bowl, she felt a strange nurturing pleasure, her dragon tail unconsciously sweeping lightly over his head.
“Good boy, eat more.”
“But I haven’t established my foundation yet, and I haven’t even reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer,” Jiang Huai said.
“I’m not sure if I can catch up.”
Qin Qingyue propped her chin, brimming with confidence.
“You should be able to catch up. Just increase your cultivation intensity and work harder.”
During their conversation, Su Yingman interjected at the perfect moment, her tone meaningful:
“Master, I have a secret method that can help husband rapidly reach Qi Refining Ninth Layer.”
“This method is stable, aligned with the Heaven Dao, and absolutely without future drawbacks.”
As she spoke, her gaze subtly drifted toward the statue-like Zhuxin nearby, a barely perceptible smile curling on her lips.
Qin Qingyue’s interest was instantly piqued; she thought that forcibly bringing Su Yingman here was indeed the right choice.
“Tell me.”
Su Yingman glanced at Zhuxin standing not far off and said:
“Someone who has already borne offspring naturally has milk in her body.”
“The origin essence of a Grand Achievement stage practitioner, used to assist husband’s body refining, should be extremely effective.”
“As a concubine, feeding husband this is a matter of course, isn’t it?”
Upon hearing this, Qin Qingyue slowly turned her head, her deep dragon eyes narrowing with intrigue, her gaze solidly fixed on Zhuxin.
Zhuxin’s expression shifted slightly, her heart tightening.
‘Not good, it’s aimed at me.’