New Year's Day

Ordinarily, Xu Changqing should not have refused. After all, Senior Sister Yu was beautiful and alluring, and she had even thrown herself into his arms. But the moment he thought of the many secrets he carried, he quickly calmed down, forcibly suppressing his physical urges as he said in a low voice, "Senior Sister Yu, I haven't decided whether I want to find a Dao companion yet."

Yu Caiqing chuckled at that, revealing pearly white teeth. "Neither have I."

"Ah?" Xu Changqing froze.

Yu Caiqing said softly, "Since neither of us has decided, then don't treat each other as Dao companions. We'll still be friends, only closer friends.

We won't need to share a life or interfere with each other's daily routines.

But when either of us needs the other, we can trust one another."

Xu Changqing suddenly understood. "Something like hired Dao companions?"

Yu Caiqing blinked and asked with a half-smile, "Then... do you still intend to refuse?"

She had already put it that plainly.

She had also made their future identities and relationship clear.

Xu Changqing seemed unable to find any reason to refuse. He could not help taking a deep breath. "All right. I will do everything in my power to help you, Senior Sister, and let your Spiritual Root mutate as soon as possible."

Their gazes met, and everything was understood without a word.

Xu Changqing wrapped an arm around her slender waist, and the two headed upstairs.

Wood became kindling, igniting blazing fire.

The two kinds of spiritual power intertwined; one was depleted, while the other devoured.

No matter how bitterly the cold wind howled outside, the stone house was warm as summer.

At the same time, over at Red Maple Valley Market, a group of cultivators had gathered together, eagerly awaiting the arrival of