Marriage

"Brother Jianghe, you're here at just the right time. You really must talk some sense into Daniu. He's been like a man possessed over Xiao Niu's upcoming Spiritual Root test, moping around all day."

"I'm not like those other aunts, nieces, and sisters who beat and scold their husbands. I wait on him like a lord every day, as though I were the one who married into his family."

Once they began eating, Yun Huizhen seemed to open the floodgates, complaining to Chen Jianghe about Yu Daniu's unusual behavior lately.

"You must be joking, sister-in-law. Surely you know what Daniu is like-honest and kindhearted. Having received so many benefits from the Yun Household and married such an understanding wife, he must be hoping to have a few children with Spiritual Roots to repay the Yun Household for nurturing him."

Chen Jianghe smiled apologetically.

"Most importantly, it would give you a voice within the Lineage, too."

"I know all that. It just hurts me to see Daniu worrying his days away like this."

As Yun Huizhen spoke, her voice grew tearful. "I only want Daniu to be well, and our family to be well. It doesn't matter whether the children have Spiritual Roots. There are plenty of children in the Yun Household without Spiritual Roots. There's no need..."

"That's enough. Brother Jianghe hardly ever gets to visit. Why bring up these upsetting things?" Yu Daniu interrupted Yun Huizhen.

"Sorry you had to see that, Brother Jianghe."

"Daniu, your wife's feelings for you are sincere. Whether your children have Spiritual Roots is up to Heaven. You have a kind heart; Heaven won't treat you poorly. Perhaps all five sons will have Spiritual Roots."

Chen Jianghe offered a few words of comfort.

But he could not say too much.

Otherwise, it would seem as though he were talking while standing, not knowing the ache in another man's back.

After all, Yu Daniu had chosen the path of a live-in son-in-law. His path was to father children for the Yun Household-and children with Spiritual Roots, at that.

Only then could Yu Daniu receive more cultivation resources and break through to higher cultivation realms.

After chatting a while longer, Chen Jianghe rose to take his leave.

As a Senior Fisher-Farmer of the Inner Waters, he had a time limit on his visits to Heart of the Lake Island. He could not stay too long, or he would be punished.

Yu Daniu's family also knew this rule, so they did not insist on keeping him, merely inviting Chen Jianghe to come again next New Year's Eve.

Yu Daniu personally escorted Chen Jianghe to the harbor on Heart of the Lake Island.

"Brother Jianghe, what do you think of Huixiang?" Yu Daniu suddenly asked.

"She's very good. A fine young woman."

Chen Jianghe said this without meaning it, because he had barely paid Yun Huixiang any attention at the table. He had only looked her over when they were introduced and had scarcely glanced at her afterward.

After all, what guest would keep staring at his host's sister-in-law?

"Daniu, head back. We'll get together again another time."

Chen Jianghe boarded his boat and waved to Yu Daniu.

Only after watching Chen Jianghe's fishing boat disappear across the lake did Yu Daniu return home. He had just entered the courtyard when he heard his wife talking to her younger sister.

"Huixiang, what do you think of Brother Jianghe?"

"Not much. He's only a Senior Fisher-Farmer. At most, he'll reach the sixth level of Qi Refining in the future. If he married into our family, I could consider it."

"Your brother-in-law often says Brother Jianghe is a very good man, and that he has a real talent for raising fish."

"Sister, as women of an immortal clan, you and I both know that being a good person is useless in the cultivation world. You need cultivation and backing."

Yun Huixiang muttered discontentedly, "My future man has to be at least a late Qi Refining stage cultivator."

Then Yu Daniu saw Yun Huixiang emerge from the room. She greeted him and left.

"What happened?"

Yu Daniu looked at his wife, Yun Huizhen, and asked.

"You know my little sister has been spoiled since childhood, and she's met quite a few late Qi Refining stage cultivators."

Yun Huizhen looked helpless as she asked, "What about Brother Jianghe? What does he think of Huixiang?"

"Brother Jianghe said she was very good, but if your sister looks down on him like that, forget it." Yu Daniu shook his head.

Was Daniu trying to play matchmaker for me?

After returning to the Aquaculture Waters, Chen Jianghe settled down and thought over the day's events. What Yu Daniu had said while seeing him off seemed strange. Probably not. I'm not marrying into the Yun Household. Why would a Yun Household woman with Spiritual Roots marry beneath herself to a fish farmer like me?

Chen Jianghe shook his head and thought no more about it.

The next day.

Chen Jianghe came to the bow and stretched, facing the golden radiance spilling from the morning sun, his eyes gleaming.

"Thirty. The age to stand on my own."

He sighed with feeling. In the mundane world, someone his age should have married, established a career, and built a livelihood of his own.

Now, his cultivation had reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, and he had gained a foothold in the Talisman Dao. He had achieved some small success on the long road to immortality and was very satisfied with everything he had.

At the very least, it was much better than he had expected.

With a maximum lifespan of three hundred and sixty years, he was like a toddler at thirty. He had plenty of time; there was no need to rush.

By advancing gradually and managing things steadily, he would have everything in time.

The Talisman Dao, for instance-he had already crossed its threshold.

In another two years, he might become a Low-Grade Talisman Master.

Everything was developing in a good direction.

Splash~

Chen Jianghe leaped into the water and dove toward the lakebed. Now, when he cast the Water-Avoidance Spell, it could envelop his entire body.

The lake water could not wet any part of him.

"The Qi-Nourishing Pill is here!"

Xiao Hei swam over excitedly, tumbling through the lake water, his wide mouth spreading like a flower in bloom.

The cry of "The Qi-Nourishing Pill is here!" rang out in Chen Jianghe's Spiritual Platform, leaving him feeling rather helpless.

Not "Master is here"-the first thing out of his mouth was "Qi-Nourishing Pill."

As a Spirit Pet, he had no respect whatsoever for his master.

"Give it to me!"

Xiao Hei circled Chen Jianghe, impatiently urging him through voice transmissions sent via the Spiritual Platform mark.

"Here."

Chen Jianghe pursed his lips and took out the Qi-Nourishing Pill.

Instantly, its rich fragrance drew a school of Small Blue Fish, which came charging over with scarlet eyes and gaping mouths.

Thwack, thwack, thwack~

Xiao Hei abruptly lashed out with his short little tail, striking the Small Blue Fish viciously and knocking off great patches of scales.

"Hmph! Dare fight the Turtle Lord for food again, and I'll eat you."

A heavy viciousness suddenly appeared in the beady eyes of the previously harmless-looking Xiao Hei, frightening the Small Blue Fish into scattering in all directions.

"So protective of your food?" Chen Jianghe was surprised.

The Yun Household Magazine recorded that Black Crystal Mystic Tortoises were long-lived, intelligent, and gentle and friendly by nature.

Xiao Hei seemed to possess only the first two traits. As for the last... Chen Jianghe looked at the food-guarding Xiao Hei and shook his head.

The next instant, Xiao Hei swallowed the Qi-Nourishing Pill. Pale blue radiance immediately flickered over his shell before enveloping his whole body, seemingly locking all the medicinal power inside his flesh.

Even if he could not completely refine the medicinal power, his body would absorb it. In short, not a bit would go to waste.

An hour later.

The aura of fluctuating magical power around Xiao Hei suddenly intensified, becoming considerably stronger than Chen Jianghe's had been at the Qi Refining third layer.

Between human cultivators and Spirit Beasts of the same realm, Spirit Beasts were always stronger. Xiao Hei also had the Three-Turn Demon Ascension Art, making his magical power stronger still.

"Master, bring on the pie."

Having finished absorbing and refining the Qi-Nourishing Pill, Xiao Hei swam up to Chen Jianghe with his mouth spread wide, affectionately calling him Master.

He urged Chen Jianghe to draw him a pie.

(End of chapter)