Elder Earns Money to Support Family, Disciple is Beautiful as a Flower

Destroy humanity!

Xiao Bai in the hot spring shuddered, nearly breaking his remote sensing monitoring.

His divine sense returned to his body, he glanced around to confirm no one had discovered him.

Reconnecting the remote sensing, he carefully switched perspectives to ensure he hadn't been exposed.

His wife not only wanted to overthrow the Snow Flame Sect, but also to destroy all of humanity?

Xiao Bai took a slow breath, feeling like he might have bitten off more than he could chew.

He'd thought his wife was just a teasing little vixen, but it turned out she was a super villainess bent on annihilating all of humanity!

Xiao Bai sucked in a cold breath, and the pool water warmed slightly along with it.

Those not of our kind are bound to have different hearts. Though Xiao Bai was a transmigrator, he was still human at the end of the day, and he could tell where he stood. He wouldn't betray humanity just because his wife had fair skin and a pretty face.

He'd need more pay!

Besides, there was the Heavenly Dao Grand Gift Bag waiting for him...

He had to thwart the Demoness's grand scheme and make her taste the iron fist of justice!

Of course, the prerequisite for Xiao Bai to wield that iron fist was to first fill his belly with soft rice.

As a dose of Good Medicine meant to heal Elder Yuhu, Xiao Bai knew full well that for now, he was just a tool, a fire-suppressing remedy.

"With proper nurturing, maybe he could destroy humanity"—that line was just an excuse, but it might have accidentally hit half the mark.

With a cheat device by his side, with proper nurturing, he could definitely Eliminate Demons and Defend the Dao!

Meanwhile, in the Underground Cave Abode, the two people, unaware that walls had ears, were still discussing racial issues.

Above the alchemy furnace, the Black Sheep Crone, bound by green smoke, let out a long sigh and said:

"Humanity is just a shell that conforms to the natural Dao. No one is born human. The Demon Race has never been a single race either. Coming from a Half-Demon's mouth, words like 'destroy humanity'... lack any conviction."

Half-Demon...

Xiao Bai caught a crucial keyword in the racial theory.

Half-human, half-demon, meaning a human-demon hybrid?

His wife was a human-demon hybrid?

Alright then.

On the wall, the projection of a Fox Tail drifted and swayed, like wind and snow howling.

Before the furnace, the Demoness held a tea cup, still as still water, with white hair and a youthful face.

"Maybe I mean it sincerely."

You can destroy humanity? The Black Sheep Crone didn't believe Yuhu's words, taking them only as an excuse for her beloved Dao companion.

"Your Medicine Techniques have already reached a level where you no longer need Charm Arts. Whether you're healing through dual cultivation or amusing yourself, I don't care who you pair with. But right now, we must take the Snow Flame Sect. That's the first step of the Demon Alliance's Plan."

The fox woman draped in white gauze slowly lifted her tea cup.

"Relax. The tea is almost cold."

On the surface of the tea, peach petals sank and slowly dissolved, dyeing the liquid a sinister crimson.

The black sheep collapsed, and the green smoke dissipated.

The woman's lips were as bewitchingly red as blood.

Xiao Bai immediately terminated the remote sensing.

He hadn't expected the first Female Lead bound by his cheat device to be no small fry. She was nothing like the typical fox demon—cold and restrained, as if even looking at her a moment longer through remote sensing risked being discovered.

Did she truly want to destroy humanity?

First step: take the Snow Flame Sect?

What exactly was the Demon Alliance's Plan?

If he could thwart the Demon Alliance's Plan, maybe he could get the Heavenly Dao Grand Gift Bag!

The Black Sheep Crone said her Medicine Techniques had already reached a level where she no longer needed Charm Arts...

Xiao Bai thought to himself, if she could teach him those Medicine Techniques, he'd become a great alchemist.

Considering he could perfectly comprehend any technique the Female Lead taught him, it wouldn't be surprising if he one day concocted the Elixir of Immortality.

Of course, staying alive was the most important thing right now.

Living with his wife was like living with a tiger—he had to pretend he knew nothing, to avoid being silenced.

Before the Demoness, you could expose your body, but you must never expose your inner thoughts.

Xiao Bai tried hard to calm his mind.

He also washed his face and brushed his teeth in the hot spring.

After all, the pool water was flowing, gushing from the spring, slowly draining through the stone cracks, forming a clear waterfall at the cliff's edge, cascading down into mountain mist.

"When did you wake up?"

Before long, the elder returned to the pool's edge.

Xiao Bai in the pool had long since washed himself clean, his heart spotless and utterly unruffled.

He turned his head to glance at the demoness.

Her clothes had changed from the thin gauze robe of earlier back to the wide blue-white overcoat he'd seen at their first meeting, her hair was once again coiled into a slanted cloud bun, and her demeanor had turned cold and pure.

He had to admit—an elder was an elder, an agent was an agent. After a night of dual cultivation that pleased her, a century-old charm demon had lost her body, yet she looked as if nothing had happened.

The vast chasm in their status kept their relationship in a bud state, with its flower heart still hidden.

This was the legendary "marriage first, love later," though it could also be "behead first, beat later"...

Regardless, since the woman was like this, it wouldn't be right for the man to hem and haw.

Xiao Bai, naked, propped his arm on his cheek against a smooth stone by the pool bank, facing the sea of clouds, and said without restraint:

"Just woke up. Was about to look for you, Elder."

Master Yuhu stood with her hands behind her back at the pool's edge, her gaze landing precisely on Xiao Bai's broad and sturdy shoulders.

—Though unremarkable, this man's cultivation had risen from Fetal Breath First Layer to the Second Layer!

Was it just from one night of dual cultivation?

She was somewhat surprised inwardly.

Dual cultivation couldn't possibly have such a clear effect on cultivation advancement, yet Xiao Bai had indeed broken through.

Was he hiding his cultivation, or hiding his talent?

She wished she could test it with dual cultivation right away!

But it was daytime now.

Not permissible.

Regardless... this man was no simpleton.

Shifting from her cold tone, Master Yuhu approached Xiao Bai and tentatively spoke with warmth:

"Sorry, my talking disturbed you."

Xiao Bai nodded. It's fine...

Like hell it is!

You demoness are up to no good!

Xiao Bai nearly fell for it. He turned sideways, staring at the elder's youthful, maiden-like face, and feigned surprise:

"Did Elder just say something?"

Master Yuhu's clear face rippled faintly, like fallen leaves stirring a calm lake. She shook her head and said:

"Just some muttering to myself. It's best you didn't hear it."

Hearing this, a perfectly appropriate curiosity flickered across Xiao Bai's handsome, innocent face.

After all, hearing the elder say such things—being too calm would make her suspect he had something to hide.

Curiosity was the normal reaction.

Even though he already knew the answer.

"Elder speaks so mysteriously, this disciple wants to know now."

Xiao Bai said with a smile.

Her long-lashed, snow-dusted clear eyes swept over Xiao Bai's curious gaze. Master Yuhu said impassively:

"Alchemy requires constant testing of medicines. Over the years, it naturally leaves root ailments and stubborn illnesses. And you, with your Balanced Five Elements Physique, are the good medicine to cure my afflictions."

Good grief, you mean to say you're expelling toxins into my body through dual cultivation?

As expected of you!

Xiao Bai feigned shock, stunned for a long moment before saying:

"This disciple only has one worthless life. I hope Elder will use it sparingly."

"If the dual cultivation method is proper, a Balanced Five Elements Physique will siphon off root ailments that aren't harmful to it, since they can't cultivate."

Having said this, Master Yuhu sat cross-legged on the pool bank beside Xiao Bai's right shoulder.

"But you're somewhat special—you can actually condense these ailments into cultivation... How do you do it?"

The scent of her skin, a blend of peach and snow, seeped into his heart. Xiao Bai felt that this demoness, though seemingly cold, was actually approachable, without much elder airs.

So he shamelessly Versailles'd:

"If even Elder can't explain it, then it can only be chalked up to this disciple's extraordinary talent."

Master Yuhu nodded and didn't press further.

The rest of her life was long; she had plenty of time to dig out this man's secrets.

Falling snowflakes, blooming peach blossoms, morning light and mist weaving vast smoke waves—as if spring has come.

"What do you want most?"

The calm female voice was like soft summer ice cream.

Xiao Bai's answer was as cold as the winter wind.

"Bride price."

Master Yuhu was slightly startled, taking a long moment to react, wondering if she'd misheard.

"...What bride price?"

What, did she think she could pair with a little immortal boy for free?

This rich woman really didn't understand the rules!

No matter, Xiao Bai patiently prompted:

"How about one million spirit stones?"

A ripple in her clear gaze—Master Yuhu never expected an outer sect disciple to be so insolent.

Yet somehow, she felt he might be testing her...

"You've got quite the nerve, but unfortunately all my spirit stones go to cultivating spirit plants and refining pills."

Xiao Bai smiled.

"That won't do. From now on, the elder handles earning the living, and the disciple handles being the pretty face."

"..."

Usually, someone so unorthodox was either a fool or a master.

Master Yuhu grew more convinced this boy was no simpleton.

Xiao Bai let out a disappointed sigh.

No million bride price—he'd have to take it slow.

Getting some pills, techniques, or something would do.

"Forget it. No bride price, but room and board... ahem, food, clothing, shelter—that's a must, right? This disciple is still just a mortal, after all. I need to eat and live somewhere."

At last, a normal request. Master Yuhu let out a sigh of relief, lifted her robe, and stood up, saying:

"Since we're dao companions, we'll naturally eat and sleep together. Follow me."

Eating and sleeping with the demoness...

Given the elder's otherworldly looks and sinfully treacherous figure, Xiao Bai worked hard to convince himself—barely accepting the arrangement of sharing bed and board with the demoness.

Once he got past that mental hurdle, the Fetal Breath Second Layer Water Noble, Xiao Bai, felt brimming with power.

With a flip, he leaped ashore; with a shake, he flicked off the water stains.

Proud and spirited, he threw on his gray laborer's cotton robe, strode past the blooming peach grove by the pool, and followed the elder into the depths of the bamboo forest.

Azure bamboo like swords, piercing straight into the clouds, arching into a dome, making the mere few dozen acres of bamboo grove feel lofty, vast, and deep.

The bamboo was dense at the edges, sparse within; a winding stone path cut east to west, lined with shade-loving spirit plants like Earth Treasury Flower, Mystic Ice Grass, and Purple Dragon Ginseng. Hummingbirds, butterflies, wild rabbits, and squirrels darted among them—a scene of spring.

Scattered snowflakes drifted through the bamboo dome and morning mist, landing on the elder's blue-white overcoat as she walked ahead.

Immortal.

But the moment Xiao Bai thought of the wicked figure hidden beneath that blue-white overcoat, immortal turned to demon.

Whatever. Immortal or demon, as long as she could assist his cultivation.

Xiao Bai hurried to keep up with the elder, stepping out of the bamboo forest.

West of the bamboo forest lay a vast medicine garden.

Between the garden and the bamboo grove was a clear lake.

By the lake stood a two-story bamboo hut, back against the bamboo grove, facing the lake and medicine garden.

This was the sleeping palace of the Pill Elder, Master Yuhu.

The spot Xiao Bai had sensed earlier—right beneath this very hut's basement!

He followed the elder into the bamboo hut.

A simple living room, with only a long table and some calligraphy and paintings.

The left room was a study.

The right room was a bedroom.

The second floor was a spacious meditation room.

No balcony, kitchen, bathroom, or any daily furniture—none at all!

The so-called "shared bed" bedroom had only a single bamboo bed, thick with dust.

In the bedroom, with a wave of the hand to brush away dust and cobwebs, Master Yuhu's expression remained unchanged: "This is the bedroom. I don't usually sleep."

Xiao Bai stared in disbelief. It would take decades at least to accumulate such thick dust and cobwebs. "Alright, cultivators really are monsters who just meditate and never sleep."

As he spoke, the bedroom had already become spotless, restored to newness. The housing problem was barely solved.

Glancing at Xiao Bai's clothes, Master Yuhu furrowed her delicate brows. Then she shook her head and personally brushed the snow off his cotton coat. "The cotton robes from the Errand Disciple Quarters are too ugly. I only have women's clothing here. You'll need to go to the Pill Pavilion halfway up the mountain to find Mu Yun. She'll make you two Daoist robes by hand."

Mu Yun was Elder Yuhu's Medicine Boy. Xiao Bai had seen her a few times within the sect—a naive and proud young girl, cute enough but annoyingly arrogant. "Yes." Xiao Bai nodded.

That settled the clothing problem. Next was transportation.

Master Yuhu added, "Traveling between the peaks of the Inner Sect requires sword flight. My sword would likely be too difficult for you to control. Go to the Pill Pavilion and ask the Onmyoji to custom-make a Rune Sword for you—one you can wield even without having reached Qi Refinement."

The Onmyoji was one of the Core Disciples of Hundred Herbs Peak. Xiao Bai had never met him... only heard he was an effeminate man who looked like a woman. As for sword flight, Xiao Bai thought it over. Among the three rules of eating soft rice, there was no clause about automatically mastering gifted weapons. A sword or whatever didn't matter at all. The key was the sword technique. He could find an opportunity later to learn a move or two from the elder and automatically max it out. "Yes."

As soon as the words fell, Xiao Bai's stomach growled loudly. Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—he'd forgotten the most important thing for a mortal: eating. A rice-eater's soul! As long as it was food or pills personally made by the Female Lead, he could absorb all the spiritual energy within and convert it into part of his cultivation.

Hungry, Xiao Bai shamelessly said, "Clothing, shelter, and transportation—you've muddled through all of them for this disciple. For the sake of this disciple toiling all night to dispel your ailments, Elder, could you make this disciple something to eat?"

You toiled all night...

Master Yuhu's clear face flushed faintly, but her eyes held an inexplicable chill. She hadn't spared any pain either! According to secular tradition, cooking for one's husband was a wife's duty. Master Yuhu wasn't skilled in cooking, but when Xiao Bai brought it up, for some reason, she found it hard to refuse. A nameless feeling stirred within her—a desire to fulfill a wife's duty well...

She had originally planned to test this strange-tempered Laborer Disciple step by step, but she always felt as if she were being tested in return. Helplessly shaking her head, she asked coldly, "What do you want to eat?"

Xiao Bai replied with a pure face, "This disciple likes noodles. I haven't had a taste in three years since joining the sect. Elder, would you cook me some noodles?"

Facing the almost pleading eyes and tone of her young Dao companion, Master Yuhu sighed softly, sensing it was a karmic entanglement. "...I'll try using the pill furnace."