Chapter 13 The Blessing of Having Multiple Women (Part 2)

Lin Yue took in Luo Ningshuang's silence, understanding it clearly in his heart.

He had already guessed it would be like this.

Luo Ningshuang was more calculating and guarded; she wouldn't give in easily.

However, the fact that her favorability could rise to 0 was already an unexpected joy, indicating that his strategy was working.

After fulfilling his promise to Su Qingyuan, Lin Yue turned his gaze toward the silent Luo Ningshuang.

He put away his previous playful demeanor, and his expression became serious: "Miss Luo, shall we talk?"

Luo Ningshuang raised her head and met his gaze: "Talk about what? What exactly are you plotting? Are you after us? Our bodies? Or..."

Lin Yue shook his head and answered exceptionally bluntly: "If I weren't after you or your bodies, why would I marry you?"

"Is it really that simple!?" Luo Ningshuang shook her head. "The cultivation techniques you gave to A He and Qingyuan are priceless. If you released those two manuals to the world, never mind us, even those favored daughters of heaven would likely break down the threshold of your Immortal Cave to get in."

In her view, there was no such thing as kindness without cause.

Lin Yue's rescue of the three of them from the marriage bureau was definitely not a whim.

Whether it was helping A He transform her constitution and teaching her cultivation methods, or giving Su Qingyuan the sword scripture, there must be a calculation involved.

What made her even more wary was what Lin Yue could possibly want from someone like her—a Disciple from an enemy Sect with shattered Meridians, a ruined Dantian, and a heart full of hatred for the Qingyun Sect?

Lin Yue looked at the silent Luo Ningshuang and suddenly smiled: "Since you called me husband, I will treat you as my wives. As for what you think, whether it's gratitude or suspicion, that's your business. Regardless, if you want to call me 'husband,' then do so; if not, I won't force you. However, I am a man of my word. If you don't call me that, I won't give you the Nirvana Pill Canon."

His frankness actually left Luo Ningshuang stunned.

There were no glib justifications, no threats or inducements—just a calm statement of fact and a choice laid out before her.

This attitude was harder to handle than any reaction she had anticipated.

She remained silent for a long time. Inside the Immortal Cave, only A He's cautious breathing and Su Qingyuan's faint murmurs as she immersed herself in the sword scripture could be heard.

Finally, Luo Ningshuang seemed to make a decision. She took a deep breath, her elegant face full of solemnity as she said word by word: "Lin Yue, if you can keep your promise and help me avenge the three hundred souls of my Baicao Valley by killing Elder Wu of the Qingyun Sect's Alchemy Hall and those executioners... forget calling you husband, even... even if I have to give myself to you and serve you wholeheartedly, I, Luo Ningshuang, will not say another word!"

This was the greatest promise she could give, and the deepest obsession in her heart.

Lin Yue listened quietly. His face showed no excitement or greed; instead, he shook his head: "Sincerity moves even mountains and stones. Miss Luo, since you ask me to do such a difficult and even dangerous task for you, yet you refuse to give even basic trust or utter the word 'husband' even as a transaction, how can you expect me to believe your promise?"

Luo Ningshuang trembled and stared blankly at Lin Yue.

His words struck the core, tearing away all her excuses for self-protection.

Indeed, she demanded that he give, yet she was unwilling to give even a form of address. Was this not a kind of selfishness and cowardice?

The path of revenge was incredibly difficult. If she couldn't even establish a basic bond of trust with the person who might be her only hope, then her hatred might truly be nothing but a castle in the air.

Another silence followed, longer than the last.

Luo Ningshuang's eyes changed drastically, filled with struggle, hesitation, reluctance, and resolve... finally, all emotions settled into a calm like a deep pool.

She took another deep breath and looked at Lin Yue with solemnity: "...Husband."

This "husband" no longer carried the previous humiliation or testing; it was a heavy, almost oath-like acknowledgment.

[Ding! Detected partner Luo Ningshuang calling out the specific title 'Husband' for the third time out of complex emotions (transaction, compromise, initial acknowledgment). Triggering 'Soul Bond' effect. Favorability increased by an additional 25 points! Current Favorability: 25 points (0+25)!]

[Detected partner Luo Ningshuang's favorability has reached 25 points, meeting binding conditions. Bind?]

"Bind!" Lin Yue did not hesitate.

[Ding! Binding successful! Host has successfully bound the third Dual Cultivation partner: Luo Ningshuang!]

[Binding basic reward issued: Nirvana Pill Canon First Volume (Incomplete Manual) Jade Slip x1!]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully binding three potential partners (A He, Su Qingyuan, Luo Ningshuang), achieving the 'Domestic Bliss' Early Stage achievement! Extra reward issued: Unlocked 'Breath Concealment and Essence Hiding' ability (Elementary)!]

[Breath Concealment and Essence Hiding (Elementary): Can actively hide the true cultivation and special Physique auras of the host and bound partners (such as Hundred Meridians Unblocked, Innate Sword Bone, Innate Pill Body, Azure Vine Mysterious Water Spiritual Root, etc.). Externally, only the appearance the host wishes to show will be displayed (e.g., Qi Refining Level 3, elderly and weak; partners with no cultivation or inferior Spiritual Roots, etc.). Cultivators below the Nascent Soul Stage cannot see through this.]

A series of System prompts made Lin Yue overjoyed, especially the last one, "Breath Concealment and Essence Hiding." It was truly a gift in a time of need, perfectly solving his biggest concern!

Meanwhile, after Luo Ningshuang uttered that "husband," her delicate body trembled slightly.

She clearly felt as if an invisible bond had connected her to the man before her. A strange feeling welled up in her heart, causing her perception of Lin Yue to undergo a subtle change.

The previous wariness and rejection still existed, but they were now mixed with an indescribable sense of security and...

A faint sense of belonging? She was horrified, not understanding why a mere title would bring such a change, and could only attribute it to the psychological effect of having made a major decision.

Lin Yue suppressed his excitement and handed a green Jade Slip, emitting a faint scent of sandalwood and covered in profound pill markings, to Luo Ningshuang, who was still shocked by the change in her own feelings: "Here, this is the first volume of the Nirvana Pill Canon. I hope it can truly help you achieve a Nirvana Rebirth."

Luo Ningshuang took the Jade Slip; it felt warm in her hand. The moment her Divine Sense entered it, a vast sea of alchemy knowledge, exquisite meridian-nourishing techniques, and the intent of "Nirvana" specifically targeting a damaged Dantian and depleted Dao foundation flooded into her Sea of Consciousness like a torrent!

It resonated strongly with the Origin of her Innate Pill Body!

She could feel that her deathly silent Dantian and shattered Meridians seemed to gain a tiny, almost imperceptible trace of vitality under the nourishment of the Pill Canon's knowledge!

"It really is... the Nirvana Pill Canon..." Luo Ningshuang murmured to herself.

She raised her head, her gaze toward Lin Yue complex to the extreme—shock, gratitude, confusion, and that trace of a bond quietly strengthened by the System were all intertwined.

This mysterious man, who exactly was he? Why did he have these lost treasures? And why... did he choose them?

[Ding! Detected host has established a deep bond with three partners. Triggering 'Symbiotic Cultivation' mechanism: Host's cultivation progress = Sum of partners' cultivation gains.]

The moment the words "Symbiotic Cultivation" exploded in his Sea of Consciousness, he clearly heard a cheerful vibration from deep within his Dantian—the section of Spiritual Vein that had been dying due to pill toxin blockage was now stretching and wriggling like a withered tree meeting spring!

The bottleneck of Qi Refining Level 3, which had stuck him for ten whole years, actually loosened at this moment like melting snow.

The spiritual energy gained from A He's cultivation, Su Qingyuan's Sword Qi, and Luo Ningshuang's pill essence all transformed into pure spiritual energy. Following the Soul Bond imprints deep in his soul, they quietly flowed into his own Meridians!

"So this is 'Symbiotic Cultivation'..." Lin Yue felt the surging spiritual energy racing through his Meridians. "No wonder the System emphasized 'Growth Value.' As long as they don't stop getting stronger, this old body of mine... can get stronger without end!"