West side of the backyard.

The room where the male disciples reside.

It was 9:45 PM, and soon it would be midnight.

They had just fought a cunning beast during the day—although most of them didn’t exert much effort, many male disciples were already in bed resting.

Unexpectedly, they were awakened by the chirping sounds of girls; they got up, opened their windows and looked out, instantly dumbfounded.

They saw their senior sisters and junior sisters following behind Xu Caihe, heading towards a room.

Shi Ying said curiously, "So late, who is Junior Sister Xu going to see?"

The Divinity Transformation Peak disciple who lived with him sneered, "Naturally, she’s going to see Junior Brother He!"

Shi Ying was puzzled, "Why is Junior Sister Xu going to see Junior Brother He?"

The disciple laughed again, "Senior Brother Shi, can’t you tell? Today, Junior Brother He showed immense power, conquering the hearts of countless senior and junior sisters, and Junior Sister Xu is among them!"

Shi Ying suddenly understood, quickly looked at the group of lovestruck junior sisters, and found that Ruo Mei was not among them. He was relieved.

As long as Junior Sister Ruomei wasn’t attracted by He Zhiqiu, I don’t care.

"What’s there to see? Let’s sleep."

On the other side, surrounded by senior and junior sisters, Xu Caihe blushed as she knocked on He Zhiqiu’s door.

Moments later, the door opened, revealing Lan Yin standing there, surprised:

"Junior Sister Xu, senior and junior sisters, what is it?"

Xu Caihe lowered her head, not daring to speak, while Zhou Ling’Er spoke for her: "During the day, Senior Brother He fought the Demonic Beast and ripped his clothes; Caihe was worried and specially brought a change of clothes for Senior Brother He."

There was a burst of light laughter around, Xu Caihe blushed even more but didn’t flee, her eyes full of expectation, looking into the room.

Lan Yin hesitated, smiled wryly, and said: "Um... Senior Brother He isn’t here."

"He isn’t here?"

Zhou Ling’Er wondered, "It’s almost midnight, where could Senior Brother He be?"

"Uh..."

Lan Yin pondered for a moment, smiled, and said:

"Senior Brother He has gone to find someone to practice with."

...

Midnight arrived.

Narrow Rain Lane.

He Zhiqiu stopped in front of the familiar old rental house, took a deep breath, changed his appearance, and reverted to Qin Gengyun’s form.

He slowly raised his hand, placed it on the door.

Creak, the door opened automatically.

Qin Gengyun stepped into the house, instantly greeted by a familiar aroma.

"Spirit Beast meat porridge?"

He recognized the aroma immediately, having smelled it many times before, and soon he saw a petite figure sitting at the table.

For a moment, Qin Gengyun felt dazed, as if time had returned to a year ago.

He had finished his shift at the Spirit Pill Pavilion, sold Pills at the Pill Talisman Tower, and returned home under the starlight. His wife had already cooked the meat porridge and was sitting at the table waiting for him.

That scene, just like now.

In front of the old, mottled table, the petite, delicate woman had her long hair styled in a matrimonial bun, adorned with a White Jade Lotus Hairpin. Her round face, almond eyes were like water, cherry-red lips, both adorable and charming.

Seeing him enter the house, the woman gracefully stood up and walked towards him.

The woman wore a black long dress, with fabric embroidered with peonies interwoven with green leaves, swaying gracefully with her every step.

The upper body was adorned with golden thread, with a cloud flying flower blooming atop a high-standing mountain peak.

The neckline was slightly low, revealing jade-like skin, covered by a gauzy exterior, subtly seductive amidst elegance.

Qin Gengyun remembered this was the first dress he bought for his wife with the money he earned from selling Pills at the Rouge Pavilion.

It was also the first dress he bought for her.

A year had passed, and the dress looked even more beautiful on his wife.

Qiu Zhihe’s waist swayed as she walked elegantly in front of Qin Gengyun, her voice cool:

"Why are you here?"

Qin Gengyun smiled and said, "Didn’t you hit me three times during the day, indicating that I should come here at midnight? How could I not come?"

Hearing his words, Qiu Zhihe’s beautiful eyes flickered, her voice softened:

"Let’s eat."

"Alright!"

Qin Gengyun nodded with a smile, they sat at opposite ends of the round table, just like before, Qiu Zhihe served him a bowl of porridge.

Qin Gengyun took it, tasted a sip, his eyes lit up:

"Wife, your porridge still tastes as good as before!"

Qiu Zhihe remained cool, her voice faint: "Just that the person isn’t as good-looking as before, right?"

Qin Gengyun was taken aback: "Why would you say that?"

Qiu Zhihe coldly replied: "It’s been just months since we were apart, and you’ve already attracted countless infatuated junior sisters, growing closer to your confidantes, even chatting freely with your younger kin."

"You often undress to tease the sect’s Fairies; the City Lord’s daughter gently and intimately interacts with you, unlike me, your once-beautiful wife, now old and unattractive and no longer drawing your attention, right?"

Qiu Zhihe reviewed the situation, and Qin Gengyun listened dumbfounded, quickly explaining:

"Wife, you’re so beautiful, and such a good helpmate. I’m happy to love you, how could I be entangled with other women? You’ve misunderstood!"

Qiu Zhihe snorted coldly, raised her hand, and a blue long robe flew into Qin Gengyun’s hands.

Qin Gengyun was puzzled, Qiu Zhihe said: "This is made from resilient threads, so it won’t tear easily from muscle strain, preventing those little vixens from seeing!"

Qin Gengyun laughed and cried, Qiu Zhihe said coldly: "What? Are you unwilling to give up alluring those junior sisters?"

"No, no, no, put it on right away, put it on!"

Qin Gengyun didn’t dare to delay, hurriedly removed his clothes, putting on the resilient cloth robe. Briefly, his muscular upper body was exposed, making Qiu Zhihe’s eyes brighten, and her pretty face reddened.

Seeing Qin Gengyun look her way, she immediately turned her head, snorted.

Unexpectedly, Qin Gengyun said seriously: "Wife, since you’ve already settled our accounts, I also have something to talk over with you!"

Qiu Zhihe suddenly turned back, incredulously looking at him: "You want to settle accounts with me? What accounts?"

Qin Gengyun stood up, walked to her, loudly saying:

"I’m your husband, yet you left Cloud Bamboo Mountain without notice and deceived me by saying you were sealing yourself in the Cyan Lotus Sect’s Relic, causing me to miss you daily."

"And you secretly infiltrated Zhenyang Sect, transformed into another person, met me multiple times but chose to hide it from me!"

"I ask you, what have you taken me, your husband, for?"

"Such deceit, do you think I have no authority as a husband?!"

It was Qin Gengyun’s first time speaking to her so sternly, Qiu Zhihe raised her head, looking dazedly at him.

After a moment, she finally reacted, angrily saying: "I haven’t finished with your flirting, yet you accuse me. Qin Gengyun, how dare you... Ah?"

In her exclamation, Qiu Zhihe was lifted horizontally by Qin Gengyun, instinctively wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck, though her mouth didn’t concede:

"What are you doing?!"

Qin Gengyun chuckled: "What am I doing? Properly teaching you a lesson for daring to deceive your husband!"

Qiu Zhihe widened her almond-shaped eyes: "You dare? Ah... husband, don’t, be gentle... um um um..."