Chapter 18: Why Don’t I Have a Simp Like That?

“Fellow Daoist Ye, you haven’t yet mentioned the reason for your visit today. If it’s something private that shouldn’t be overheard, would you prefer to speak in the room?”

Lin Ke’er couldn’t watch any longer and decided to interrupt. Although she didn’t have much affection for Ye Chen, seeing how eager Lu Jing was toward him made her uncomfortable. She and Lu Jing were hardly close friends. They were merely acquaintances. They had happened to meet while renting the house; both were short on spirit stones, and it was a mutual, practical arrangement.

Of course, Lin Ke’er wasn’t worried that Ye Chen would be taken from her. What bothered her was the thought of Ye Chen being deceived by Lu Jing.

Lu Jing was a woman with suitors. Ye Chen was so innocent, so it was easy for Lu Jing to use him as a pawn. Lin Ke’er directly interrupted their conversation, intending to take Ye Chen into her room.

Lu Jing’s mature face broke into an even wider smile upon hearing Lin Ke’er’s words. But she didn’t say anything, merely smiling seductively at Ye Chen.

As for Ye Chen, he wasn’t particularly eager for the chance to enter Lin Ke’er’s room. He had also noticed Lin Ke’er’s sudden interruption and her less-than-pleased expression.

Ye Chen had experienced his fair share of women in his past life. He understood the psychology of someone like Lin Ke’er all too well. Even if she didn’t care for a simp, she’d still be uncomfortable if someone else showed interest in “her property.” After all, they may not like simps, but in their eyes, a simp was still something that belonged to them.

As for Ye Chen, he didn’t care much for Lin Ke’er’s thoughts. To him, Lin Ke’er and Lu Jing were no different. If anything, Lu Jing was a bit bigger— ah, better. Besides, both had the same gift multiplier. Why not lick in whichever one seemed best?

Cough… not lick, but invest!

Glancing at the darkening sky, Ye Chen didn’t want to stay too late. He had a bright future ahead, and if he got stuck in some alleyway on the way back, that would be a huge loss.

So Ye Chen spoke directly, “There’s nothing urgent, no need to discuss it in the room. Since you’ve broken through to the Qi Refining Mid-Stage, I can now refine Qi-Nourishing Pills. In the past few days, I’ve refined ten medium-grade Qi-Nourishing Pills. I’ve brought them here for you, Fellow Daoist, to assist in your cultivation. After all, the mountains are dangerous, and the stronger you are, the more at ease I will be.”

With those words, Ye Chen took out the pills he had prepared earlier and handed them to Lin Ke’er.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ke’er’s face lit up with joy. Qi-Nourishing Pills, and medium-grade ones at that?

Since her breakthrough to the Qi Refining Mid-Stage, the effects of Qi Gathering Pills had diminished. But Qi-Nourishing Pills were priced twice as much as Qi Gathering Pills. With a month’s worth of cultivation, she would need three low-grade spirit stones. Her expenditures had doubled compared to before. Not to mention the additional costs of cultivating external techniques and consuming spiritual rice.

This had made Lin Ke’er more and more strapped for resources, her savings dwindling bit by bit. It made her feel increasingly anxious, wishing she could immediately head to the mountains to earn more spirit stones.

And now, Ye Chen had unexpectedly sent her Qi-Nourishing Pills, and they were even medium-grade! This was certainly a pleasant surprise.

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Lin Ke’er had long grown accustomed to Ye Chen gifting her pills, so she didn’t refuse, instead expressing her gratitude with a joyful smile.

Seeing her accept the pills, Ye Chen heard the system prompt and smiled back: “In that case, I’ll be on my way! You don’t need to see me off.” With that, he nodded at Lu Jing, who wore a knowing expression, and left the courtyard, heading back toward One Leaf Pill Shop.

The sky had darkened, and the number of female cultivators in the alley had increased.

Ye Chen couldn’t help but sigh. The employment prospects in the cultivation world were truly grim.

“Fellow Daoist Lu, I’ll be on my way!” Ye Chen called out as he left.