Matchmaking

In the market towns around Cloud-Rain Marsh, introducing wives to Rogue Cultivators was an utterly commonplace affair.

Though they called it becoming Dao companions, in truth, it was more often two weak Rogue Cultivators banding together to make a living.

For instance, the Immortal Residence Fee was three Spirit Stones a month. Alone, you needed to earn three Spirit Stones every month.

With two people, earning one and a half Spirit Stones a month was enough.

And with another person—one who even shared your pillow—you had another source of support no matter what.

Thus, once many Rogue Cultivators reached the proper age, they would ask others to seek out suitable partners in the same market town or nearby ones.

Once they found someone, they would meet a few times and spend some time together.

If they got along, they would become Dao companions.

Quite a few Rogue Cultivators were willing to act as immortal matchmakers as well. Not only was there profit to be had, there was little danger involved.

Take Huang Laotou. Relying on his age and broad acquaintance among Rogue Cultivators, he had already earned quite a few Spirit Stones through immortal matchmaking.

Ji Yuan learned of this from the original owner's memories and turned to look at the female cultivator standing behind Huang Laotou.

Her looks could only be called average, but she had a fine figure. There was much sorrow between her brows, lending her a touch of pitiful charm.

Ji Yuan was sizing her up, and she was sizing Ji Yuan up as well.

The difference was that the moment she saw Ji Yuan, her eyes lit up... Handsome male cultivators like him were a rare sight in the market towns around Cloud-Rain Marsh!

Huang Laotou tucked his hands into his sleeves and was about to speak when three figures emerged from the courtyard to Ji Yuan's left.

They were the fisher Lin Youwei and his wife Zhou Ling, along with their only son, Lin Hu.

The moment she came out, Zhou Ling hurriedly said to Huang Laotou, "Uncle Huang, our Huzi is about the right age too. Could you help us see whether there are any suitable girls?"

Well, someone was even trying to snatch a bride... Ji Yuan grumbled inwardly.

"Easy, easy."

Stroking his beard, Huang Laotou smiled. "Miss Wu Qin right here is quite suitable. She is at the Second Layer of Qi Refining and originally came from neighboring Taian Ward. Her parents were swallowed by Cloud-Rain Marsh when they put out to sea, leaving her, a lone weak woman, unable to live easily in Taian Ward. That is why she came to our Zengtou City."

The moment Lin Youwei and Zhou Ling heard that, their minds began to stir.

A girl whose parents had both died was the best possible marriage prospect. There would be no troubles from another family, and once she married in, their household would gain an extra helping hand for nothing.

Not only would their own burdens lessen greatly, they could also hold a grandson sooner.

Listening to Huang Laotou introduce her, Wu Qin could not help lowering her head.

Unless one had no other choice, nobody wanted to be displayed like merchandise and left for others to pick through.

"Miss Wu, speaking of which, this lad Ji Yuan has had an experience rather similar to yours. He lost his parents as well."

As soon as Huang Laotou said this, Wu Qin lifted her head again. The look in her eyes as she regarded Ji Yuan carried several shades more warmth.

They could be considered fellow sufferers, sharing the same illness.

And if she truly had to choose between these two households, Wu Qin would choose Ji Yuan even with her eyes closed. Having no parents meant she would not need to serve her parents-in-law.

She and her husband would only need to live their own little lives well.

Besides... this Brother Ji before her was so handsome, unlike that person beside him, dark as soot.

Naturally, Ji Yuan could see the heat in the young woman's eyes. Unfortunately... he had no intention of finding someone to partner up with for everyday life.

His cultivation had only just begun, and the output from the Fish Pond and Chicken Coop was barely enough to sustain his own cultivation.

If he married, it would not only be easy to expose his secrets, but he would also have to set aside part of his resources for his wife... Ji Yuan had no such plans.

As for Lin Youwei and Zhou Ling, when they saw the eagerness in Wu Qin's eyes, they knew their son most likely had no chance.

Huang Laotou thought the same.

Wu Qin was also waiting for Ji Yuan's answer. And Ji Yuan did indeed answer... but his answer was beyond everyone's expectations.

"Sorry, Miss Wu. My parents passed away only a little over a month ago, and I truly have no plans to marry at present. Thank you for your kindness."

Ji Yuan gave an apologetic smile and cupped his hands to Wu Qin in an exceedingly polite salute.

The eagerness in Wu Qin's eyes dimmed, while Lin Hu's eyes blazed brightly.

A flicker of astonishment crossed Huang Laotou's face, but he quickly hid it with a cough. "Then what do you think of the Lin Family next door? The Lin Family is also well known in our Zengtou City as a... kind and decent household. Look at this boy Lin Hu—one look tells you he can endure hardship."

When it truly came time to introduce himself, Lin Hu instead rubbed his hands awkwardly.

Ji Yuan knew nothing of what happened afterward. Once he had spoken, he carefully shut his courtyard gate.

But before long, Huang Laotou knocked it open again. With a tone of exasperation, as though iron had failed to become steel, he said, "You brat really are short-sighted as a mouse!"

"A female cultivator whose parents are dead is such a rare marriage prospect! Especially since you are both in the same situation. Once you marry, you can live entirely for your own little days. You, honestly..."

"Most importantly, she does not need a bride price. She is a wife picked up for free! Otherwise, if you find someone to marry in the future, what female cultivator would follow you without twenty or thirty Spirit Stones as a bride price?"

Ji Yuan could tell Huang Laotou meant well. "But I truly have no plans for that right now."

"Even if you did, it is too late. She and Lin Hu took a liking to each other. They are holding the wedding feast tonight, and I still need to go back and bathe and change."

Having arranged a marriage, Huang Laotou would certainly receive three to five Spirit Stones as a matchmaking fee. No wonder he was so enthusiastic about it.

But... he clearly knew I could not even afford this matchmaking fee. Why did he still want to introduce someone to me?

Ji Yuan found it quite strange, because he knew Huang Laotou was the sort of man who would not rise early without profit.

Before long, Lin Youwei knocked on Ji Yuan's door as well. He told him that Lin Hu was getting married that evening and invited Ji Yuan, his fellow neighbor, to come as a guest.

Naturally, Ji Yuan did not want to go. If he went, he would have to give a wedding gift, and that would cost at least one Spirit Stone.

Ji Yuan did not have money for such a gift.

"Don't worry, we are not accepting gifts. It is just a few neighboring households gathering together to make things lively."

Lin Youwei had put it that way, so Ji Yuan had no choice but to go.

Three tables were set for dinner. Huang Laotou sat at the main table and, urged on by Lin Youwei and his son, drank himself into a helpless stupor. Ji Yuan sat alone in a corner, ate a little, and did not touch his chopsticks again.

During the meal, he noticed Wu Qin, dressed in bright red bridal robes, secretly looking at him several times. Her gaze was extremely complicated.

There was unwillingness, regret, and a trace of anger, but more than anything else, there seemed to be resignation to fate.

In this great age of contention, Ji Yuan could not even secure peace for himself, much less concern himself with others. Thus, after eating and drinking his fill, he greeted Lin Youwei, congratulated Lin Hu, and then left the feast to return to his little house.

That night.

Unable to sleep, Ji Yuan came to the backyard. Looking at his tiny Fish Pond and Chicken Coop, looking at this little patch of heaven and earth that was his, he felt something stir within him.

He drew upon the spiritual energy in his dantian and casually traced a line through the air.

Blue watery spiritual energy surged.

A water arrow formed as if wrought by heaven.

The Water Arrow Technique, which the original owner had painstakingly cultivated for years, finally reached great mastery today.