Future Worries

"This is the residence the gang has allocated to you."

On the edge of Changyuan Street in the eastern part of the city, Feng Yue pointed toward the courtyard before them.

Ever since Ye Li broke through to the Body Tempering Realm, Feng Yue had set aside his senior airs, choosing instead to converse as an equal.

Upon seeing the quadrangle courtyard, Ye Li could not help but draw a sharp breath.

The traditional layout, composed of two longitudinal courtyards, formed a "sun" character shape, covering an area of approximately 500 square meters.

It featured a main room, two side rooms, and two wing rooms for living, with exquisite furnishings and both inner and outer courtyards separated by a hanging flower gate for leisure.

Whether it was the prime location or the decor, Ye Li was left stunned. "This place must have cost a fortune."

"Indeed, it's worth about 500 taels."

Feng Yue narrowed his eyes and cautioned, "This is a subsidy for core disciples. The deed remains with the gang; you may live here, but you cannot sell it."

"As for servants and laborers, you will have to pay for them yourself."

"Is that so..." Ye Li felt a tinge of regret.

If he sold his 50 Body Tempering Pill, he would have had the resources for the middle stage of the Body Tempering Realm.

In the time that followed, Feng Yue led Ye Li through the upper and lower levels of the courtyard before patting him on the shoulder.

"That's about it for today. I'll wait for you at Spring Return Alley at the hour of the dragon tomorrow morning to show you the ropes."

"Ah! Instructor, are you serious?"

Hearing the mention of Spring Return Alley, Ye Li was bewildered. Could he really be expected to visit a brothel?

"Of course I'm serious. Every core disciple in the gang must live in Spring Return Alley for half a year. You'll understand once you go." Thinking of what would happen tomorrow, Feng Yue wore a wicked smile.

"Remember, get your home affairs settled quickly. I'm leaving now; you have plenty to do tomorrow, such as taking over the management of ten shops."

After giving a few more instructions, Feng Yue rose and departed.

Silently watching Feng Yue's retreating figure, Ye Li took the keys to the courtyard and headed toward the south of the city.

His aunt and uncle still did not know about his breakthrough. Now that his circumstances had changed so drastically, it was time to return home.

The sky was dim, the sun had set, and the pedestrians were thinning out.

Filled with nostalgia, Ye Li moved with the speed of flight as he hurried home.

Having broken through to the Body Tempering Realm, his physique had increased significantly, allowing him to run with the speed of a legendary low-level primordial saint... ten meters per step!!!

Passersby only felt a blur flash past; in the blink of an eye, Ye Li had taken several steps to cover dozens of meters, disappearing into the horizon with a few shifts of his body.

At full sprint, it took him only the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn to run from the east side of the city back to the south.

In the dilapidated residence in the south of the city, Ye Cunmang and his family of three were having dinner at an eight-immortal table.

Yet, compared to the tension of a month ago, there was a touch of composure between the brows of the two adults.

They no longer needed to worry about tomorrow or their next meal.

And they both knew that the foundation for all of this was brought by the nephew who was not currently at the table.

As for Ye Duo, at eleven or twelve years old, she remained as carefree as ever, her mind still replaying the day's play with her companions.

Since she had taken the windmill Ye Li gave her a few days ago to show off among the girls, she had garnered many envious gazes.

Just as the family was enjoying their meal, the front door was pushed open with a bang. Ye Li strode in, shouting, "Aunt, Uncle, I'm back!"

The interruption startled the three of them. Seeing it was Ye Li, their joy at his return quickly gave way to concern.

"Why are you back on the seventh day? Did you suffer some grievance at the gang?" Ning Qiu asked instinctively.

Ye Cunmang thought less of it and slapped the table. "It must be that the money wasn't enough. I told you one tael a month wasn't enough to eat your fill, so you came back for more."

Watching the concern of his relatives—the kind that would make any loser jealous—Ye Li smiled brightly and spoke without reservation:

"Not at all! I'm a core disciple now, so I don't have to live at the gang's headquarters anymore."

"From now on, I'll be bringing in dozens of taels a month. You two can finally live in comfort."

Though Ye Li's heart was as vast as Tang San's, and he was incomparably cruel to his enemies, he was also fiercely protective of his own.

To his enemies, Ye Li never considered them human.

But to the two relatives who had raised him, Ye Li naturally traded sincerity for sincerity.

If someone stood on his side, even a rolling pin in his house could be promoted to the rank of a police baton.

If the opportunity arose in the future, he would try to bring his aunt and uncle onto the path of cultivation.

After all, just because his people lacked talent, did that mean they couldn't practice martial arts?

"Clatter!"

Upon hearing that their nephew had become a core disciple, it was like a thunderclap exploding in their minds; Ning Qiu and Ye Cunmang's chopsticks slipped from their hands.

As for Ye Duo, upon hearing about the income of dozens of taels a month, her eyes widened, and she let out a loud, "Brother, so you're rich now?"

"It's not that much." Ye Li waved his hand modestly.

"The more you earn, the more you spend, and the less you have left. So, the more you earn, the less you actually save."

As he spoke, Ye Li's expression turned solemn. "The gang has allocated a courtyard to me in the east of the city, but you likely won't be able to live with me there."

Seeing Ye Li's serious face, Ning Qiu, who had just been overjoyed, asked with concern, "Is there some kind of problem?"

"As you know, the stronger my strength grows, the greater the trouble I invite. Your family is my Achilles' heel; there is no guarantee that someone won't use you to threaten me."

Ye Li sat at the dining table and, after sending Ye Duo away, briefly explained the situation regarding Li Xi.

He then added, "Now that I've joined the gang, conflicts like this will only become more frequent. You must be careful from now on."

"I have a friend in the gang whose family are merchants. If it becomes absolutely necessary, you can join their merchant caravan and stay in another city for a few years. Once I have mastered my divine arts, I will bring you back."

At the dining table, Ye Li laid out the potential dangers and his preventative measures in full.

After hearing this, the joy Ye Cunmang and his wife had felt was slightly dampened; only then did they realize that even though they had become masters, they were still not in control of their own fates.

Upon hearing that their nephew was in constant danger of losing his life, Ning Qiu suddenly said, "Since you are living on the edge, Li, why not take a concubine first and produce an heir just in case?"

Ye Cunmang, sitting to the side, nodded in strong agreement.

The two held rather conservative views; upon hearing of a mortal threat, their first thought was how to ensure the Ye family line continued.

"Take a concubine?" Ye Li was stunned for a moment before waving his hand decisively.

"That is not something I am considering for now. Time is tight, and I must focus on my martial arts to achieve a breakthrough as soon as possible."

Ye Li had no interest in such a suggestion; he was currently in a period of rapid career growth, and he had no time to waste in a bed of comfort.

He did not possess a method to grow stronger through dual cultivation, and consummating a marriage would only deplete his essence, slow his cultivation progress, and increase his probability of death.

Even in the natural world, creatures lower their birth rates when the environment is harsh; Ye Li was not so driven by his lower instincts that he was worse than an animal.

To have a child now? Wouldn't that just be creating a weakness for himself?

Of course, he was not against marriage, just delaying it.

When the opportunity arose in the future, he would certainly enjoy himself to the fullest!

After much persuasion to temporarily dispel the old couple's notions, Ye Li finished a few quick bites and, without a moment's hesitation, turned and ran back to practice his martial arts.