Longevity: Starting From Getting Down The Mountain And Marrying A Wife

Changping Street, Wutong Lane, Zhong Mansion.

Zhong Yan returned home.

Zhong Xiaozhong, who had been guarding the outer courtyard, immediately greeted him, "Master!"

Zhong Yan glanced at the wound on his forehead and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, on the way to deliver the gift, I was knocked unconscious by someone in Pingshun Lane. The gift was opened, but nothing was taken..."

"I replaced the gift box and delivered it to the Lord's Mansion, but I couldn't go in. Zhang Shun came out to receive it and didn't pass on any message to me."

Zhong Yan nodded, "Go to sleep, let Madam Qi come to the cultivation room to find me tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Master. You should rest early too."

Zhong Yan went to the study and glanced at the floor and the neatly arranged desk. The papers he wrote during the day with the words "only for longevity" had all been cleared away.

He sat down on the chair and took out a stack of materials from the storage bag, reviewing them again.

A smile gradually appeared on his lips.

Today, he unexpectedly gained something - Yu Qingyao!

According to the information collected by Yang Yanqing, Yu Qingyao had been practicing for eighteen years but still remained a novice.

In her own words - she was so timid that it was unbearable. I couldn't bear to bully her.

Through the various descriptions of her experiences in the materials, Zhong Yan saw beyond her timidity and extreme caution - her innocence!

It was so rare.

Especially for a widow who had been married for almost thirty years, it was hard to believe.

In the world of cultivation, every cultivator was deep-minded, with at least seven hundred out of eight hundred schemes.

Zhong Yan had always been eager to find a female cultivator, but he had always had a worry - "satisfaction".

Unless it was a woman with spiritual roots who had not yet cultivated, it was difficult to make the other person wholeheartedly devoted once they reached the threshold of Qi Refining.

Unlike mortals, there was rarely absolute trust between cultivators.

Even intimate partners who shared the same bed would have some barriers if they hadn't experienced a certain number of life and death situations together.

Not to mention Zhong Yan himself and Li Henian.

The two had known each other since they were young, and their friendship had lasted for decades. They had saved each other's lives more than ten times, but they still held back. For example, the day they met the girl with spiritual roots, Li Henian never mentioned the specific hiding place.

And this was related to the issue of system experience points.

There were not many points for mortal wives and concubines, and the difference was not significant.

For female cultivators, according to Ruo Yun and Shuixian, they were all tens of points of experience.

If he married a female cultivator who couldn't truly devote herself, the difference would be unimaginable.

And now.

Yu Qingyao was a very suitable candidate.

This kind of innocent female cultivator, as long as he treated her sincerely and treated her well, it would be easy to gain her approval. Once she approved, given time, they would become as close as life and death.

"She may be a bit useless, but she's cautious enough. Keeping her at home shouldn't cause any major problems."

Zhong Yan chuckled. The only regret was that she had once had a partner, and it would take some time for her to forget.

Suddenly.

Zhong Yan's eyes flashed, and he furrowed his brows, then relaxed his expression.

The next moment, there was a surge of spiritual energy at the door of the study, and Yu Qingyao walked out of nothingness.

"I can help you, but I have a condition!"

Zhong Yan swept his gaze over her and blinked in surprise. He waved his hand to create a soundproof barrier that enveloped the entire study and said with interest, "Tell me."

Yu Qingyao looked around and felt puzzled. There was no need for such caution in her home, but she still needed soundproofing here.

Without thinking too much, she said seriously, "Five hundred low-grade spirit stones. After I finish the task, I will leave Qingyang and leave Yan Kingdom. We will have no further connection!"

Zhong Yan smiled, "You've learned to ask for a high price so quickly. I wouldn't even need that much to have someone kill Xue Shanhu."

After a moment of eye contact, Yu Qingyao pursed her lips and said, "Three hundred. The Xue Mansion has many people and it's dangerous. My value as a sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator is worth this price!"

Zhong Yan shook his head, "It's probably already the hour of the tiger. You've missed the best opportunity. You might not be able to give me the result I want."

Yu Qingyao was taken aback by this question. She had also thought about it along the way, "How are you so sure it's today?"

"It's not certain, but there's a greater possibility of getting results tonight. I've been to the market for several days, and there has been no movement in the city. When I returned yesterday, the Xue Mansion must have received news and would gather important people to discuss it."

"Just based on that?"

Zhong Yan was speechless and rolled his eyes in disdain.

Seeing this expression, Yu Qingyao became annoyed and blushed, "Tell me! If it makes sense, I won't be able to give you satisfactory results after tomorrow. You can give me fewer spirit stones!"

"How many?"

"Two hundred... One hundred at the lowest, no less!"

Zhong Yan pretended to think seriously.

Yu Qingyao was angry, "You can't just let me work for nothing. I need money to leave Yan Kingdom! Eighty, if you want less, find someone else or just kill me. I won't be threatened by you..."

As she spoke, her eyes widened, and she became dumbfounded.

What's going on?

Wasn't I here to ask for five hundred spirit stones?

In just a few words, not only did she voluntarily reduce the price by so much, but she even turned around and begged him!

Seeing Zhong Yan's smile that seemed both mocking and nonchalant, Yu Qingyao's face turned red with anger. This bastard! Fortunately, I also left myself a way out!

Zhong Yan smiled and said, "The reason is simple. I intentionally spent several days in the market, giving them time to plan and prepare. During this time, there were no abnormalities in the Zhong Mansion, the Lord's Mansion, or any other potential allies who could help me.

The Xue Mansion is bound to be suspicious, especially since I suddenly returned yesterday without bringing any reinforcements. This is contradictory in itself, so the Xue Mansion will naturally discuss it.

As for the matter of the tavern, my stance is clear. Except for Xue Shanhuzi and those who blindly flatter him, anyone with a bit of intelligence would not support his retaliatory killing.

This involves various forces in the city and the interests within the Martial Alliance. If you want to understand, you can investigate it yourself.

When there is a discussion, there will naturally be disagreements, and in the end, we will part ways without joy. This is the time when one needs to vent, regardless of gender.

And I happen to have information that Guo Qingxue and Xue Hongyi have an abnormal relationship. If you think about it further, it is not difficult to deduce..."

He paused, and Zhong Yan pondered, "Moreover, if we take it a step further, it is possible that these two might even have the idea of killing Xue Shanhuzi and taking his place. After all, their cultivation levels are decent enough for them to sit in the position of the Alliance Leader."

When a stepmother and stepson conspire together, the only result when discovered is death, there is no other possibility. It is only a matter of time before Guo Qingxue murders her husband.

"..." Yu Qingyao was shaken internally, as if the other party was present at the scene, even guessing Guo Qingxue's plan to murder her husband.

Zhong Yan glanced at her and smiled, "After telling you so much, do you think I would let you leave Qingyang City? Bring out what I want."

Yu Qingyao's face changed, "What do you mean?"

"The result I want, didn't you go to the Xue Mansion?"

"You!"

Yu Qingyao's face turned pale, and she took two steps back in a panic, as if she had seen a ghost. She quickly used her spiritual sense to scan her body, checking if there were any tracking restrictions placed on her.

Zhong Yan shook his head inwardly. It was truly a miracle that someone like her could survive until now.

In fact, he was a little surprised just now. The fact that she went to the Xue Mansion so quickly and then came back to negotiate with him was unexpected.

But when he thought about the distance between the Zhong Mansion, the Xue Mansion, and her home, everything became clear.

Seeing that she still hadn't realized, Zhong Yan smiled and said, "Are you playing dress-up? And the moss on your sleeve, it seems like you couldn't get it from your home to mine, right?"

"..." Yu Qingyao lowered her head and looked at her clothes. A bitter smile appeared on her lips, and she stumbled and fell to the ground, lost and disoriented.

She wanted to find an excuse to refute these obvious speculations, but her reaction just now had already revealed everything.

She felt a tightness in her chest and shortness of breath. She looked up at Zhong Yan, staring at him, "I have recorded the sound and images. Let me leave the city, and I will send you the message in seven days!"

Zhong Yan looked at her in silence for a moment, then waved his hand and said lightly, "You can go, there's no need to send it to me. I can handle it."

Yu Qingyao bit her lip forcefully, biting out a trace of blood. She suddenly squatted on the ground, sobbing and crying, "Why..."

Who knows how difficult her journey has been to reach this point, how much suffering she has endured.

She knew she wasn't smart enough, but just because of a small mistake, she had to sacrifice her freedom for a lifetime. She was unwilling, feeling wronged, and thinking that the heavens were unfair.

Zhong Yan: "..."

Truly speechless.

A Qi Refining sixth level facing a Qi Refining fourth level, yet she was so powerless and helpless. She was probably the only one in the world like this.

However, this pitiful and tearful appearance softened Zhong Yan's heart.

Taking the opportunity, he walked up to her, reached out and patted her shoulder gently, comforting her.

"Alright, I have taken a liking to you, so how could I bear to hurt you? If you want to leave, then leave the city."

Yuyao's shoulders trembled as she sobbed. After a moment, she stepped back and avoided Zhong Yan's hand, wiping away her tears as she stood up.

The more Zhong Yan said this, the less likely Yuyao felt that she could leave the city smoothly.

"Zhong Yan! Let's each take a step back. I will give you the things and promise to submit to you, listen to your arrangements, but I won't marry you. I will only be a guest official in your household. If you don't agree, then I will end it myself!"

If I stay, it's not up to you.

Zhong Yan chuckled, "You're a widow, do I really have to marry you?"

"..." Yuyao was taken aback, her eyelashes trembled, "Yes, I am a widow. I'll also tell you the truth, I still love my previous partner. Even if he's dead, I won't fall in love with someone else. If you force me to be your partner, we won't be of one mind in the future."

Zhong Yan felt a bit annoyed. When she was rejected by the Independent Cultivator team, only one person left with her and was willing to become her partner. That must have been true love.

But so what? In the face of time, it's not a problem at all!

"Bring the things."

Yuyao wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve and cautiously asked, "You agreed?"

"My Zhong family doesn't raise useless people!"

I'm not useless... Yuyao hummed in her heart, pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and took out the talismans and pushed them in front of Zhong Yan.

Zhong Yan held the two talismans and looked at her with a half-smile, "You didn't imprint a few more, I was planning to enjoy them."

The Sound Gathering Talisman and the Image Gathering Talisman, after imprinting the sound and image, can only be used once for viewing, and cannot be preserved afterwards. The disadvantages are significant.

Yuyao blushed, and scenes she had seen before appeared in her mind. After thinking for a moment, she took out two more talismans and threw them to Zhong Yan.

Zhong Yan teased, "Are you planning to secretly watch them at home?"

"..." Yuyao blushed, her lips moved but she couldn't argue. She just wanted to leave evidence and catch Zhong Yan's handle. At this moment, there was still a "Sound Gathering Talisman" in her arms that was being activated, and she deliberately stuck a "Lightness Talisman" on her waist to conceal her spiritual energy fluctuations.

Zhong Yan activated the talismans with a spell, and a surge of spiritual energy condensed into an image.

Suddenly, he exclaimed, "Wow, this posture, a young man pushing a cart!"

Yuyao turned her face away and said, "You guessed it right, they are planning to plot against Xue Shanhua and collude with the Deputy Leader of the Martial Alliance..."

She repeated what she had heard and asked the question she was concerned about, "How many spirit stones does being a guest official in the Zhong household for a year pay?"

The image dissipated, and Zhong Yan no longer listened to the sound. "Fifteen."

Yuyao angrily said, "You really know how to calculate! This is only enough for me to pay the rent and maintain the formation!"

"What else do you want? A mage's servant only gets twenty a year. If you don't want to do it, you can leave."

"..." Yuyao snorted lightly and turned to leave.

"Before doing anything, it's best to think it through."

Zhong Yan said lightly, then lowered his head and looked at the three talismans, pondering.

Yuyao's footsteps paused slightly, then she continued walking.

...