Girlfriend?

"Zhou Yuling often went to his master's house to pick up pills for Zhou Ye. After a while, the two of them became familiar with each other..."

The memories that suddenly surfaced in Gao Xian's mind helped him figure out who she was and what their relationship was.

The original owner had been handsome and silver-tongued. He'd charmed Zhou Yuling until her heart fluttered, and the two of them had become boyfriend and girlfriend.

Zhou Yuling was rather conservative. At most, the two of them had held hands. This was the first time they'd ever been so intimate. Perhaps it was because they'd been reunited after a long separation...

That was how, because he'd been too affectionate, Zhou Yuling had given him a scolding.

Seeing Gao Xian staring blankly, Zhou Yuling grew a little uneasy. She gently nudged him. "Don't scare me. Are you all right?"

Gao Xian came back to his senses. Clutching his chest, he rasped, "You've smashed my heart to pieces!

"Do you know what comes out of my broken heart? Not blood—nothing but my love for you..."

Somehow, this greasy, cheesy line had flowed naturally from his mouth.

Zhou Yuling relaxed. If he could still tease her, he was fine. She knew she'd hit him too hard, and she still felt a little guilty.

She gently massaged his chest and said softly, "I didn't mean to, big brother. Don't blame me. I'll rub it for you..."

Zhou Yuling's voice was sweet to begin with, but when she softened it, it grew even more deliciously saccharine. Her bright eyes brimmed with laughter; she was lively and adorable, with a mischievous spark.

Gao Xian had Qiniang and Qingping, but they were both mature women. Neither had this kind of youthful charm.

His bones nearly melted, and his hand moved of its own accord, following her little hand as it wandered over her.

His Lightning Dragon Hand had even been too much for the iron-willed Zhu Qiniang. Zhou Yuling hadn't thought much of it at first. She'd wanted to make it up to Gao Xian, and figured there was no harm in letting him touch her a little.

But then Zhou Yuling felt as if a current had shot through her. She went limp all at once, collapsing against Gao Xian.

Her pretty little face flushed, and ripples of springtime desire flowed through her bright eyes.

Gao Xian secretly congratulated himself. With hands like mine, petting cats and picking up girls is a piece of cake...

"My father's here." Zhou Yuling felt herself losing control and hurriedly said it.

Gao Xian felt as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head. He jolted, and the little flame in his heart was extinguished in an instant.

If Zhou Ye caught them, he might beat Gao Xian to death on the spot.

He quickly let go of Zhou Yuling and smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes.

Zhou Yuling gently slapped his hand away, looking amused. "Look at you, scared out of your wits. My father meditates every morning to absorb yang energy. He's in a trance right now."

Though she said that, Zhou Yuling was still a little afraid Gao Xian might get carried away again. She stepped back a few paces, putting some distance between them, and huffed, "You're getting worse and worse!"

Gao Xian had no such thoughts now. He gave an awkward laugh. "You nearly scared me to death."

Then he explained, "I just missed you so much!"

"Hmph. You came to Flying Horse Market and didn't come to see me, and now you say you missed me? Try telling that to a ghost!"

Zhou Yuling poked him in the chest. "Your heart's gone bad!"

"No, no. I just got to Flying Horse Market myself. I didn't even know you were here."

Gao Xian hurriedly complained, "I'm the one who's had bad luck. First someone burned down my house, then I ran into an Evil Spirit..."

He recounted everything that had happened the day before in detail, emphasizing just how terrifying the Evil Spirit had been.

"If that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have come to the Spirit Talisman Hall, and I wouldn't have run into you. This was fate."

Gao Xian sighed. "I suppose every cloud has a silver lining."

"Evil Spirits are a real nuisance."

The smile disappeared from Zhou Yuling's face. Her father was skilled with Lesser Yang Talismans and had dealt with many Evil Spirits, so she knew how terrifying they were.

"Wait here a moment," Zhou Yuling said before hurrying off.

Before long, Zhou Yuling returned to the room and handed Gao Xian a crimson talisman. Lowering her voice, she said, "This is a Six Yang Talisman. Keep it to suppress the evil energy."

"Hm? Oh!"

Gao Xian accepted the talisman in surprise. This was the Six Yang Talisman Zhou Ye had said was worth fifty Spirit Stones!

As soon as the talisman touched his hand, he could sense its powerful, pure magic, even though it hadn't been activated.

"The Six Yang Talisman is a first-tier, high-grade talisman. Its intense yang energy is the bane of evil energy. Because of its special nature, it activates automatically when it encounters an Evil Spirit. It's like fire meeting water; they naturally overcome each other..."

Zhou Yuling spoke softly. "Evil Spirits are dangerous. Keep this Six Yang Talisman to protect yourself."

"This is too expensive."

Gao Xian was so touched he could hardly contain himself. No beauty had ever treated him this well. But he also felt embarrassed; he truly didn't dare accept a talisman worth fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones.

"Just borrow it for now. We'll talk when you have money."

"That doesn't seem right..."

Zhou Yuling grew a little impatient. "You're a grown man. Stop dithering. Take it."

Gao Xian couldn't bear to refuse her kindness, and he was genuinely afraid of dying, so he stopped arguing.

He'd accept this kindness, and he'd definitely repay her!

He said, deeply moved, "Ling'er, you're so good to me!"

Zhou Yuling proudly lifted her little chin, then poked him in the chest again. "You'd better remember how good I've been to you. If you can't, take a knife and carve it into your heart so you won't forget!"

"If you can't repay me later, then give me both your heart and yourself."

"Sure, no problem. They're both yours," Gao Xian said, feeling especially generous.

"That's more like it."

Zhou Yuling was satisfied with Gao Xian's attitude. She leaned over and kissed him.

Gao Xian's heart began to itch again, but before he could make a move, Zhou Yuling turned and left the room. Standing at the doorway, she made a shushing gesture. "My father's about to wake up. Behave yourself..."

With that, Zhou Yuling quietly opened the door and hurried away.

Gao Xian sat in the room, feeling conflicted. He was a grown man who'd lived two lives, yet a young woman had him wrapped around her little finger.

No, she wasn't exactly a young woman. Zhou Yuling was only a year younger than him!

He had to admit, lively and adorable Zhou Yuling had a real charm. Being with her was easy and joyful.

Women like Zhu Qiniang and Qingping were too mature. They calculated everything too carefully and always knew exactly where to draw the line. Spending time with them involved too many considerations; that pure, carefree happiness was missing.

Most importantly, Zhou Yuling was genuinely good to him, and expected nothing in return.

He almost felt unworthy of it.

Fortunately, the original owner, that scoundrel, hadn't mistreated Zhou Yuling. Gao Xian would graciously take over the responsibility and take good care of her.

But should he really give up all the other women in the world for Zhou Yuling?

Gao Xian thought about it for a long time, yet couldn't make up his mind!

Only then did he realize that he might be a bit of a scoundrel himself.

Gao Xian took out the Wind and Moon Mirror and found that his Humanity Aura had increased by nearly fifty points.

That proved Zhou Yuling really did like him!

It was the hour of the Snake, a little after nine in the morning, when Zhou Ye came to call for Gao Xian and took him to the main room for breakfast.

The Zhou Family had two elderly maids who handled the cleaning, cooking, and other chores. They lived in the West Wing Room.

Breakfast was nothing more than buns, pickles, and rice porridge, but everything was delicious. Even the ingredients contained spiritual energy.

Gao Xian ate his fill and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Once again, he sincerely envied Zhou Ye. At this level, with food and clothes taken care of and a comfortable life, that was what it meant to be a cultivator.

After breakfast, Zhou Ye sent the maids away and spoke warmly to Gao Xian. "Your teacher and I are old friends. I'll presume on our friendship and call you my nephew."

"Uncle Zhou, you're just like my teacher!"

Gao Xian might not have been the most socially adept, but when someone offered him a thigh to cling to, he knew better than to let go.

Zhou Ye nodded. The young man was clever enough and knew how to behave. More importantly, the Deer Antler Powder he made was genuinely effective.

After a whole night, its effects hadn't faded, and Zhou Ye still felt full of strength.

Ordinary Deer Antler Powder stimulated the blood and brought on an excess of yang, but it did so by consuming the body's essence. Gao Xian's Deer Antler Powder, however, strengthened that essence.

That alone made it incomparable to any other aphrodisiac.

What was more, Gao Xian's Deer Antler Powder left no pill toxins behind.

Medicines generally left residue in the body. After taking a pill like Deer Antler Powder, even the color of one's urine would visibly change, along with a whole host of side effects such as kidney pain.

Gao Xian's Deer Antler Powder strengthened yang and replenished the body without any side effects. That meant it could be taken long-term. It was truly extraordinary.

His morning meditation had been especially effective.

The talismans Zhou Ye was best at making belonged to the Lesser Yang Talisman line. To make a Three Yang Talisman, he needed to expend yang energy.

The higher the grade of the talisman, the more yang energy it consumed.

Gao Xian's Deer Antler Powder was incredibly useful to him. He needed to have a good talk with Gao Xian.

Zhou Ye said considerately, "I can give you the True Yang Spear without asking for any Spirit Stones. Just trade me some of your Deer Antler Powder..."