The whole thing started that day.

Zhou Chen had a falling out with Liu Xiaowan and ran far away in a fit of anger. Liu Xiaowan was caught off guard, and it turned around and slipped into the kitchen.

Cultivators do not eat the five grains, and can sustain themselves with Bigu pills, but refining Bigu pills takes time and energy. Unless one specializes in pill refining, people generally don't casually eat them as regular meals.

Therefore, most cultivation sects have kitchens and hire village women from the foot of the mountain to help cook. So after Zhou Chen arrived at Mirror Sea Sect, this place became its favorite.

Ever since Zhou Yin brought it here, whenever Zhou Yin sat in meditation, the gluttonous furball would secretly slip over here and steal a slice of braised pork, a couple stalks of braised bamboo shoots, a few shrimp and potato cakes. The kitchen was busy with many people coming and going, all mortals.

The furball would use the concealment technique Zhou Yin taught, sometimes turning into chopsticks, sometimes into a steamed bun, evading the cooks' notice and then feasting to its heart's content.

As time passed, who knows if it was the food enlightening its wisdom or desperately developing its potential in order to eat, it had no other skills but the concealment and invisibility techniques were getting more and more refined. Every few days it would brazenly enter the kitchen for a big meal, then find a place to take a nap. Mortal life, no, chicken life couldn't be better.

With Zhou Yin gone, no matter how much it rolled around on the blanket, it couldn't find that familiar scent. On the contrary, few people ventured to the back mountains of Mirror Sea Sect, where spiritual energy was abundant and vegetation lush, which became the furball's favorite napping spot.

That day, it was lying sprawled out in the grass, sleeping soundly, when in a half-awake daze, it seemed to sense Zhou Yin's aura. It hurriedly opened its eyes to look around but didn't see anyone. Still in a daze, it crawled up and followed the faint aura forward.

Then, it saw from afar the scene of Zhou Yin being taken away by Chen Zhong and the others.

Its instinctive alertness overrode the innate excitement to pounce over. These days the furball's spiritual intelligence was gradually awakening and it understood that if it ran over now, not only would it be unable to save its mummy, it would very likely end up as a pot of gray chicken soup.

It followed from a distance the whole way. Relying on distinguishing Zhou Yin's aura, it actually made it without incident to outside the inn where they were staying.

Waiting until those two bad guys left, the furball excitedly used its newly self-taught spiritual power to open the window, only to find its body was too fat and wings too small, completely unable to fly up to the window.

After struggling for a long time, it finally managed to change its form and wriggle in step by step. The whole process could be described as full of twists and turns, ups and downs.

"What the heck is this thing?" Chen Yuanzhi gaped in shock.

The furball ignored her and chirped excitedly as it fluttered over to Zhou Yin.

Zhou Yin caught it and weighed it in his hand, raising an eyebrow. "Gained weight again."

The Soul-Locking Rope had been placed on him, making him unable to leave Wu Feng's range of control, but he could still freely move his limbs, which was at least better than being trapped in the carriage.

Zhou Chen twisted around in embarrassment, letting out a chirp, looking shy.

"I'm not in danger for now, you can't save me."

"Chirp chirp!" It was anxiously trying to express something, its fur nearly standing on end.

The little creature had obviously gotten much smarter and knew Chen Yuanzhi was present, so it didn't open its mouth to speak.

Zhou Yin said: "Since you were able to follow all the way here, it shows your spiritual intelligence has awakened and you have the ability to protect yourself now. You no longer need to rely on me. Go, if you find your family in the future, go back with them."

The furball pecked at his palm.

Zhou Yin was unmoved. "No."

The furball angrily crawled off him and onto the table, belly facing up, expressing a silent protest.

Chen Yuanzhi: "..."

Zhou Yin: "..."

Chen Yuanzhi came back to her senses. Temporarily ignoring the gray furball's unusual aspects, she said softly: "Actually, it wouldn't be impossible for it to follow along. It can stay with me for now. As long as it doesn't make a sound, my dad... and Elder Wu won't come search me. They still want me to go marry that Old Elder Lexian at Qinggu Sect, so they won't do anything to me for the time being. When the time comes, as long as I obey them, maybe I can find a chance to let you go."

For the first time, Zhou Yin looked directly at this girl who used to be the most favored at Mirror Sea Sect.

She actually wasn't stupid, just had things go too smoothly for her since she was young and never needed to be clever. Now facing a great calamity, while others were trying to figure out how to save themselves first, Chen Yuanzhi proposed this idea. Putting himself in her shoes, Zhou Yin had to admit he couldn't do the same as her.

"What about you then?" Zhou Yin asked.

"I don't know... Maybe listen to my dad and marry that Old Elder Lexian. After all, he did raise me," Chen Yuanzhi said softly.

Zhou Yin didn't speak. After a while, he said: "I don't need you to save me. If you're willing, you can come back with me."

He had always been a loner, disliking ties and constraints. For him to say such words was already extremely rare.

The furball hurriedly crawled up.

"Chirp chirp chirp?" What about me?

"What can you do?" Zhou Yin raised an eyebrow, looking at it.

"Chirp..." Zhou Chen sat dejectedly on the table, head drooping.

Zhou Yin couldn't help but lift the corners of his mouth, laughing out loud.

Let alone a smile, it was very rare to see any other expression on his usually impassive face. With this laugh, it was like a glacier melting. His originally refined and beautiful features became even more good-looking. Not only was the furball staring dazedly, even Chen Yuanzhi was slightly stunned.

It's just that this smile was fleeting. Zhou Yin's expression returned to that unperturbed state.

He rubbed the Sumeru Ring on his left ring finger and picked up the furball, stuffing it into the space inside.

Because it had recently been eating five or six meals a day, the whole furball had gotten much fatter, nearly unable to fit.

He had only discovered this secret recently.

This Sumeru Ring that looked inconspicuous even on the outside had shown no abnormalities when he first returned from the ancient times. The space inside was limited. After storing the Heaven Washing Brush and a small number of talismans, there was basically no room left.

But Zhou Yin gradually discovered that this ring would slowly expand along with the growth of the user's cultivation. During this time, although he was still at the mid Foundation Establishment stage, as his spiritual power gradually deepened and his magic techniques became integrated, his state of mind compared to when he cultivated in his past life seemed to have a completely different realization. The accompanying benefit was that the Sumeru Ring also gradually expanded its storage space.

Not only that, originally the Sumeru Ring could not hold living beings, but not long ago, Zhou Yin discovered that a bit of spiritual energy was gradually being produced inside. Although it was weak, it was no problem for Zhou Chen to stay inside for a few days.

So, those words earlier about chasing the furball away were, frankly, just teasing it.

That was all.

In the river-view seats on the second floor of the inn, a beautiful young girl gently strummed a pipa and sang softly. Her voice was graceful and enchanting, tugging at the heartstrings. Every person who came upstairs couldn't help but glance at her a few times. They saw her thick, smooth black hair cascading down, tied near the ends. Jade-like beads connected to tassels hung down, revealing her fair, white neck on the other side.

Wu Feng stared at her for a long time before finally turning his head and laughing, "Brother Chen, who are you putting on that face for? Since we're already out, you should cheer up and enjoy yourself. When we arrive at Qinggu Sect with the Jade Spirit Rhinoceros Horn in hand, won't we be able to get whatever we want?"

Having said that, he picked up some food with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, his eyes still drifting towards the singing girl.

The girl seemed to sense something and slightly raised her head, meeting Wu Feng's gaze. She hurriedly smiled shyly and lowered her head.

Chen Zhong sighed, "Yuanzhi is still my daughter after all... How about we forget about marrying her off as a concubine to Elder Lexian?"

Wu Feng sneered, "Are you crazy?! This matter was decided long ago. Qinggu Sect has even prepared the betrothal gifts. If you rashly go back on your word, offending Qinggu Sect would be no small matter. That Elder Lexian is known for being ruthless. Do you think just the two of us Core Formation cultivators can provoke a Nascent Soul cultivator with countless disciples?"

Chen Zhong fell silent.

Wu Feng softened his tone, "I know you still have fatherly affection for Yuanzhi. I'm also reluctant to part with her. But to accomplish great things, one can't be constrained by minor details. Offering a small favor like the Jade Spirit Rhinoceros Horn, others might quickly forget. Establishing a marriage alliance is most important. Yuanzhi has outstanding beauty and will surely gain Elder Lexian's favor. By then, our position in Qinggu Sect will be truly secure."

Chen Zhong, having thought it through, gradually came around as his brows relaxed. "You make sense."

Wu Feng laughed, "That's more like it. Come, let's drink. I've long grown tired of those days of pure cultivation and bitter training. It's a pity that a small sect like Mirror Sea can't even make good food, how can it compare to the biggest restaurant in Lingzhou City!"

As he spoke, he saw the singing girl stop her song, hug her pipa and stand up, not knowing where she was going. He quickly called out to her, "Miss, if you have no other business, why not come over and have a few drinks with us?"

Wu Feng looked to be in his forties, with a long beard and an otherworldly air. With his attire and bearing, he seemed like a disguised noble official.

The girl stopped in her tracks but didn't come over.

Wu Feng smiled faintly and took out a gold pearl from his sleeve, placing it on the table.

She hesitated for a moment before gracefully walking over and kneeling to pay her respects.

"Greetings to you two, sirs."

"What is your name? Where do you live and why are you singing for a living?"

"This humble one is called Qin Yi. I live in the Guo Family Alley in the east part of Lingzhou City. My elderly father is gravely ill, so I had no choice but to come out and sing. Fortunately, the owner of this restaurant is an old acquaintance of my father, so he was willing to take me in."

Even her way of speaking carried a pure charm. Although unintentional, her every movement was pleasing to Wu Feng's eyes.

He was known for his love of female beauty, but he had never encountered a girl that suited his tastes as much as her.

"Qin Yi, a truly wonderful name. You play the pipa well. This gold pearl is a reward for you."

The girl was a bit moved. She raised her head to glance at him before quickly lowering it again.

This timid weakness made Wu Feng laugh. He took her hand and placed the gold pearl in her palm.

"If you're willing to follow me, there will be more than just this gold pearl in the future."

The girl kept her head lowered and didn't speak, a blush spreading from her neck to her cheeks.

Wu Feng was very satisfied.

"Wait for me first in room 3. I'll be there shortly."

After the girl left hugging her pipa, Chen Zhong frowned. "We still need to hurry on our way. That woman isn't even a cultivator. Bringing her along will just be a burden!"

Wu Feng laughed, "Candlelit bed curtains, a moment of spring night passion... Brother Chen, after all these years, you still haven't learned to enjoy these ultimate pleasures of the human world. Although that girl is just a mortal, that figure of hers, tsk tsk, I dare say of all the women I've had over the years, none compare to her. With just a bit of training, she'll be a true beauty. If Elder Lexian also takes a liking to her, we can even use her to curry favor!"

"Alright, take your time eating. I'm heading back to my room first."

Having said that, he stood up, went downstairs and headed to his own room.