In cultivation, besides talent, money and resources are indispensable, most notably reflected in the various medicinal substances used to aid one’s training.
Among the many medicinal bath formulas, the herbs required start from a hundred-year age, something ordinary people can’t even buy with money.
This is the greatest support the major sects can offer their disciples.
Take Luoshui City as an example: inner disciples enjoy two free medicinal baths, after which they must undertake various tasks to earn money for subsequent baths.
The core disciples who had previously defected were thoroughly cultivated by Luoshui City, never deprived of pills or medicinal baths.
Whenever needed, preparations were arranged for them without hesitation.
Chu Yin, lacking such disciple status, had to personally pay out of pocket and contact acquaintances in the Merchant Association to gather the herbs for the medicinal bath formula.
Without such support, even the best talent would find it hard to fully devote themselves to cultivation, forced instead to split their attention between earning money and training.
Although, with Madam Chunhan’s status, she could quietly withdraw from Luoshui City’s storeroom without raising eyebrows, she preferred not to resort to such measures.
Late at night, Chu Yin sneaked quietly into the courtyard.
Seeing the door slightly ajar, he knew his master’s wife had left it open for him, a silent reminder not to knock but to enter directly.
“Master’s wife, I’m here. I brewed a pot of tea for you.”
Chu Yin peeked through the door crack of her chamber, confirming she was sitting there and no awkward moment awaited him, then stepped fully inside.
“Drinking tea so late, afraid I won’t be spirited enough?”
“No, no, no, this is calming Huacha. Even if you don’t want to drink it, just lifting the lid of the tea kettle lets the aroma act as incense~!”
Chu Yin said proudly, having put a lot of thought into this, considering every detail.
The beautiful woman looked at him helplessly and chuckled quietly.
Indeed, she admired the boy’s attentiveness, and naturally felt gratified by his sincerity.
From this simple pot of tea, it was clear Chu Yin’s actions were more than mere polite gestures.
Not wanting to waste words, she pointed decisively at the wooden medicinal bath barrel:
“No need to be reserved. After taking off your clothes, just get in and soak. I can guide you in Energy Circulation to maximize the bath’s effects.”
Chu Yin wanted to carry the barrel back to his room, but upon hearing her sudden command, he hesitated before deciding to obey.
After all, dreams could be “saved” and “reloaded,” so no need to be shy!
He removed his clothes, leaving only a towel to cover himself modestly, then immersed himself in the medicinal water.
Madam Chunhan approached, intending to guide him in absorbing the medicine’s power.
Her keen eyes noticed the scars on his chest.
Judging by the wounds, they had once been extremely severe—almost fatal!
“How did you get these? Did you get into a private fight with someone in the outer sect?”
Her soft jade-like hand landed gently on the scars, the delicate touch making him shiver.
Flustered, he replied:
“Uh, I actually forgot how I got them… Master’s wife, don’t worry. I’m as lively as ever now!”
“……”
Thinking of how close those injuries had come to taking his life and preventing him from standing before her today, Madam Chunhan couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger.
But Chu Yin was unwilling to elaborate, so she sighed silently and began instructing him on Energy Circulation.
“The medicinal water will heavily stimulate your meridians. Keep your mind focused and observe the Qi flow through your channels. Don’t let your kidney Jing leak from the Zongjin—otherwise, the medicinal bath will be wasted!”
Zongjin, in traditional Chinese medicine, refers to a man’s most private essence.
Hearing this term from such an alluring woman embarrassed Chu Yin, but thinking it was part of cultivation, he forced himself to calm down.
This was a crucial step in strengthening himself; no childish giggling over such matters was allowed.
Every second of distraction now could drastically reduce the power he could bring back to reality!
With this in mind, all thoughts of gender propriety vanished.
Nothing was more important than cultivation—nothing could shake his firm resolve!
Soon, under Madam Chunhan’s guidance, Chu Yin led the medicine’s energy along his meridians.
He began circulating the medicinal power himself, while Madam Chunhan sat nearby sipping her Huacha, her gaze resting on his handsome features as she pondered deeply.
In these past days of interaction, Madam Chunhan had been subtly evaluating Chu Yin.
The result was undoubtedly satisfactory.
As an elder, she was very pleased with this boy and wished he were her own child.
Though his talent was slightly off, which was a great pity, Chu Yin’s character left no fault for her to find.
Since Chu Yin began accompanying her in the study to handle paperwork, those dull nights became lighter and more enjoyable.
During the day, Madam Chunhan would feign generosity, giving him chances to leave.
But after speaking those words, her heart would grow uneasy and regretful, afraid that Chu Yin might be dissuaded by the [Cloudwater Classic] and choose to leave Luoshui City.
Fortunately, Chu Yin was stubborn enough to stay, or else she really wouldn’t know how to ask him to stay.
Madam Chunhan also had a straightforward streak.
For someone like Chu Yin—pure-hearted and harmless—it was hard for her to do anything to harm him.
To forcibly detain him in Luoshui City would only stunt his talent in her eyes.
She was caught between two dilemmas, effectively trapping herself.
“Why didn’t I notice this boy sooner?”
If she had made contact earlier, Madam Chunhan could have found a High Master of Fate from outside to teach Chu Yin Divination, thus keeping him nearby without hindering his talent.
Now that Luoshui City had undergone upheaval, even with sincerity, those masters might refuse to come.
Thinking of this, Madam Chunhan recalled a recent discussion about the future city lord’s position.
“This boy seems quite fitting. When his Divination Technique matures, he’ll be even more suitable as city lord. Most importantly, his character is reliable—he still remembers that small kindness from back then to this day…”
“Indeed, we can match him with Weier. It’s about time to write her a letter and have her come back to prepare.”
The matter of the city lord’s successor couldn’t be avoided and needed to be established early.
Madam Chunhan had held this position for years but never regarded it as hers.
When it was time to pass it on, she would.
Better to finalize this sooner rather than later.
If Chu Yin could marry into Luoshui City early, she could move behind the scenes to assist him, helping build his reputation!
Luoshui City’s greatest crisis was the defection of the successor, leading to a looming gap between generations—but that crisis was still in the future.
For now, the loyal elders were alive and well, able to protect Chu Yin for over a decade until he firmly took root.
During that time, Luoshui City could slowly recover and rebuild!
The more Madam Chunhan thought, the more she felt Chu Yin had appeared just to solve her dilemma!
Unconsciously, the medicinal water’s color faded, its power mostly absorbed by Chu Yin.
Madam Chunhan asked softly, “Chu Yin, have you ever thought about your future marriage?”
At the mention of marriage, Chu Yin immediately recalled the Propitious Hexagram he had divined earlier:
“No, I haven’t thought about it. Right now, my focus is entirely on Master’s wife… I mean, concentrating all my energy on helping you bear your burdens.”