Morning sunlight leaked in through the cracks of the fancy wooden shutters.
Li Qingmu lay flat on his back on the floorboards as he stared up at the ceiling.
He looked like it was the last thing he'd ever see.
His eyes were glazed.
His soul had left his body hours ago.
His limbs trembled.
His spine ached.
His pride was dead.
His innocence had been taken behind the shed and beaten to death.
All he could picture now was the mounds of sweaty flesh he had to pull apart just so he could find her extremely private parts between her pudgy legs. Even when he tried to make her penetration sensual she twisted his jade stalk like it was some sort of elastic cucumber.
He didn't move for a long time.
He just breathed… sharply, like a man who had sprinted from a demon.
"…never again…"
His voice cracked as he closed his eyes.
More memories rushed back like a plague.
Zhen Rou's manly laughter.
The way her sweaty hands grabbed his waist so he would stab her with more pleasure.
Her breath smelled like fermented shrimp.
But they weren't worse than the kisses.
Just thinking about it made him gag loudly and slap a hand over his mouth as he felt bile rise.
He had already vomited in his mouth at least six times last night and every time he swallowed it back down because if he dared cough or dry-heave in front of her, she would have pounded him into paste.
Her enthusiasm was the true nightmare.
She enjoyed it.
The only proof he needed was the blue notification that had appeared to him.
[You've gained 20 affection points for successfully satisfying your wife!]
He whimpered.
He turned his head slightly.
Zhen Rou slept soundly on the massive bed. She occupied the entire thing from corner to corner… like a sleeping mountain spirit who had crushed the earth beneath her.
Her snores shook the room.
He had tried sleeping on the edge of the bed.
She threw him off with one lazy kick.
And informed him, in her deep, manly morning voice.
"Peasants sleep on the ground. Know your place."
So he slept on the floor.
Like a proper piece of dirt.
He breathed out a pitiful sigh.
"I survived."
That alone was an achievement worthy of a shrine.
══════
By noon, Li Qingmu had limped his way back down to his small courtyard on the lower mountain.
He walked like someone who had been hit by the horns of a bull between the legs.
When he finally reached his shabby room, he fell onto a straw stool and groaned as he inspected the damage.
"Ah—ahhh—my ancestors…"
His private area was swollen.
Red, itchy, and dear heavens, the smell—
He gagged.
"Why does it smell like… rotten fish…!?"
He splashed cold water on it.
Didn't help.
He applied ointment.
Didn't help.
He desperately stuffed blocks of ice from the kitchen girls around his robes.
A little better.
He exhaled shakily and dragged himself outside to sit on his battered courtyard chair. Wind blew gently through the pale clouds drifting around his tiny residence.
He relaxed for about three seconds.
Then a ding! came out of nowhere.
A bright-blue panel exploded in front of him.
[Congratulations, Host!]
[You have successfully slept with Zhen Rou!]
Li Qingmu's eyelid twitched.
"…Thank you for reminding me"
[Reward Granted: Stage 1 Peach Blossom Pill]
A golden gift box appeared on the screen.
It glowed invitingly.
Li Qingmu blinked while his heart pounded.
He reached out a trembling finger.
Tap.
The box burst open in a puff of gold mist.
A pale golden pill gently floated into his palm like a fairy blessing from the heavens.
Right after, an information board materialized.
[Stage 1 Peach Blossom Pill]
‣ Effects:
- Clears acne, blemishes, and facial impurities
- Induces mild weight loss
- Brightens skin tone and enhances softness
- Removes minor toxins and regulates appetite
- Improves hygiene instinct and body scent
- Raises appearance score significantly
- First step toward awakening Peach Blossom Immortal Bloodline
‣ Appearance Increase: High
‣ Side Effects: None
‣ Warning: To maximize effects, do NOT inform target it is a beautification pill. The Family System will not help you if you get strangled.
Li Qingmu's eyes twinkled.
His smile stretched wider and wider.
Then he shoved the pill into his robe with both hands like a thief protecting treasure.
"Hehehe… good… very good…"
He rubbed his palms greedily.
"Once my cream finally nurtures her egg…"
His eyes sparkled viciously.
"…I'll finally have a child."
Most normal men would feel deeply ashamed for being more excited about the benefits of their future child than the child itself.
Not Li Qingmu.
He deserved this.
After everything he had suffered?
He deserved ten lifetimes of blessings.
He smiled to the heavens and nodded proudly.
"A man must endure."
══════
The following weeks was a success.
To everyone's shock, Zhen Rou began developing a soft spot for Li Qingmu.
It was slow, very slow. But it was happening.
Not love. Definitely not love.
But a kind of grudging attraction.
A confused, irritated, embarrassed kind of fondness that made her hurl slightly less food at his face.
He took care of her.
He washed the five dozen plates she ate from daily.
He kneaded her shoulders even though her back muscles were harder than ironwood.
He clipped her toenails.
He shaved her leg hair.
He massaged ointments into the warts on her feet.
He made sure her food was always hot, always flavorful, always to her liking… even when she threw dishes at him because she "felt like it" for some reason.
He bowed deeply every morning and greeted her with sincerity, even when she refused to let him eat anything and made him watch her devour loads of spirit chicken.
Blue Spirit Chicken was good for fertility.
"I won't be denied a child!"
So he fed her a lot of it.
Little by little… her attitude shifted.
Her Affection Level rose.
10… 20… 30… 45…
Finally, it happened.
[Affection Level: 55]
Li Qingmu stared at the screen.
Then smiled.
"It's time."
He knocked on Zhen Rou's chamber door.
"Enter…" she growled.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Zhen Rou lounged on her bed like a lazy boar.
Her voice rumbled with annoyance.
"What do you want, peasant? I'm about to start my afternoon sleep."
Li Qingmu immediately dropped to his knees.
He presented the pale golden pill with both hands with his head lowered respectfully.
"Wife… this humble husband saved up money for some time and bought you a medicinal pill. It can help cure the… warts… on your legs."
Zhen Rou stiffened.
Her face twitched.
Her insecurities roared inside her.
"Hrmm, at least it's not a beautification pill."
She would murder him on the spot.
But… a wart-healing pill? That was acceptable.
Li Qingmu chuckled gently.
"Ahh, ahhh, you're already beautiful, Wife!"
His throat tightened from the lie.
Zhen Rou pointed at the Outer Sect disciple.
"You. Get it for me."
"Of course, my lady!"
The bald cultivator with dead eyes took the pale golden pill and presented it to her.
She took the pill and studied it with narrowed eyes.
The Outer Sect disciple before her was stunned.
『To think she would even collect a gift from him…』
He nodded approvingly and stood beside her.
Zhen Rou cleared her throat.
"You… bought this? For me?"
Her cheeks turned a faint shrimp-pink.
"Y-, Yes!"
Li Qingmu said with a small smile.
"I wished to help you feel more comfortable."
She took a deep breath then reluctantly spoke.
"Th-, Thank you…"
Li Qingmu froze.
The bald cultivator froze.
Even the heavens froze.
He bowed deeply.
"You honor me, Wife."
"Hmph. Get out before I change my mind."
Li Qingmu backed out, closed the door carefully, then turned around—
His smile immediately turned vicious.
"As long as she swallowed it, that's all that matters!"
He forced himself not to laugh arrogantly.
"Huu, she will awaken the Peach Blossom Immortal Bloodline soon…"
He rubbed his palms as he walked down the hall.
══════
The next morning.
Li Qingmu happily whistled as he stepped into his small and humble courtyard.
Life was good.
His plan was progressing beautifully.
He reached the center of the courtyard and froze.
A young man stood in the center of the courtyard.
A stiff-backed and stone-faced senior disciple.
He wore the Inner Sect uniform, and a deep frown sunk lines into his face.
That alone would've been more than enough to ruin anyone's day.
But that wasn't why Li Qingmu's smile instantly died.
He recognized this disciple.
This was Ye Zichen.
A dao protector of Ye Lingxiao, one of the fiercest young masters in Heavenly Sun City.
His legs grew weak and he instinctively took a few shaky steps backward.
"No…"
He couldn't believe it.
Back when they were still disciples of the Imperial Academy, Li Qingmu had gotten into some trouble with Ye Lingxiao and his circle.
The issue wasn't small either.
He had been trying to get close to Zhen Mei as he hoped to win her heart.
Unfortunately for him, Ye Lingxiao had the exact same idea… but far less talent in romance.
And since Zhen Mei was not only the Heavenly Governor's eldest daughter but also a top genius, even someone like Ye Lingxiao didn't stand a chance.
But the real problem started when Zhen Rou chose Li Qingmu as her future husband.
Overnight, the useless "bottom-ranked" disciple had now become a protected figure of one of the strongest families in the Eastern Reaches.
Ye Lingxiao despised that.
He had always dreamed of that kind of backing.
Even if it meant marrying someone like Zhen Rou.
The same woman he had once laughed at and compared to an "unhygienic cow."
Before graduation, Ye Lingxiao had warned Li Qingmu.
"Next time we meet, you're dead."
And now, seeing Ye Lingxiao's dao protector standing silently in his courtyard…
Li Qingmu knew this wasn't a friendly visit.
It was surely a warning!
"Wh-, What are you doing here…?"
Ye Zichen scoffed.
"You dare question me?"
He reached over his shoulder.
Shing!
A cold, gleaming sword was drawn.
He pointed it at Li Qingmu's throat.
"Your miserable life ends here—"
Before he could finish—
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
Heaven split open.
Clouds tore apart.
A massive, ancient voice thundered from the sky to shake the entire mountain.
"SON-IN-LAW LI QINGMU! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR THE DEATH OF LADY ZHEN ROU—DAUGHTER OF HEAVENLY GOVERNOR ZHEN!"
Li Qingmu blinked.
His mouth hung open.
He pointed at himself slowly.
"…eh?"