A Earth-Tier Qi Method—if word of this got out, even Dou Huang-level experts would fight over it.
And yet, Chen Mo had gifted such a priceless cultivation technique to her. Yafei found it hard to believe.
Even if he were trying to win her over, this seemed excessive. There was no need to use an Earth-Tier Qi Method to draw her in.
Although Yafei considered herself quite shrewd when it came to business acumen, she didn’t believe the value she could bring to Chen Mo was anywhere near worth an Earth-Tier technique.
After all, such a technique could easily win over a Dou Huang expert.
"This is far too valuable. I can’t accept it," Yafei said quickly, trying to refuse. It was simply too much—she couldn’t bear the weight of such a gift.
"To me, this Qi Method is nothing special. I said it’s yours, so take it," Chen Mo replied firmly.
Seeing her affection meter had reached 77, Chen Mo didn’t hold back. He reached out and gently grabbed her delicate hand, placing the Golden Spirit Heart Technique into her palm.
Ding! Affection +1. Received 1 Affection Coin. Intimacy Bonus Triggered: Obtained Tier 7 Magic Beast Core – Frost Giant Wolf.
Though Yafei often greeted men with a smile in public, it was always surface-level politeness. She had never had such close physical contact with a man she wasn’t intimate with.
Let alone having both her hands held .
Yet, oddly enough, she felt no aversion.
Instead, her cheeks flushed red, her heart began to pound uncontrollably, just like a startled deer caught off guard. The feeling she had been trying to suppress surged up again.
In that moment, she didn’t immediately pull her hands away from Chen Mo. Instead, she murmured, "This Qi Method is far too precious... I have nothing to repay you with."
For some reason, she didn’t dare meet Chen Mo’s gaze, and lowered her head shyly.
At this stage, Chen Mo’s image in her eyes was still that of a genius alchemist and a lofty expert. So, after giving her the technique, he let go of her hands respectfully and didn’t take further advantage.
He then sat down casually on a chair nearby, took a sip of tea, and with a half-joking tone (though he meant every word), said, "Then repay me with yourself."
Yafei’s face turned crimson in an instant.
She had dealt with all kinds of men and had heard her fair share of flirtatious remarks, but never had any of them caused a ripple in her heart. Yet now, a single line from Chen Mo stirred up waves within her, like a calm lake disturbed by a breeze.
A strange impulse to say "yes" welled up in her.
Suppressing the inexplicable emotions rising within her, Yafei gave a soft smile and replied, "If you say things like that, I might just take it seriously."
"Then take it seriously," Chen Mo smiled.
"Stop joking," she said, averting her gaze.
In the days that followed, Chen Mo began visiting Yafei almost every other day.
The two Dou Zhe Pills he had refined were also auctioned off—one was bought by Xiao Zhan, and the other by Gale Bi.
As time went on, Chen Mo and Yafei grew more familiar, and their "relationship" gradually deepened.
Nearly a month had passed.
Yafei’s affection toward Chen Mo had risen to 89.
Inside one of the VIP rooms of the Mittel Auction House, Chen Mo smiled gently and invited her, "I’ve been in Wu Tan City for quite a while now, but I’ve never had the chance to properly look around. If you have time, would you accompany me for a stroll?"
If he had asked her in the past, Yafei would’ve declined without hesitation. But this time, she only hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
And that hesitation stemmed only from shyness. She quickly added, "Give me a moment, I have something to take care of."
With that, she hurriedly left the VIP room.
When Yafei reappeared before him—
Chen Mo immediately understood what she meant by "I have something to take care of."
She had changed her clothes.
She now wore a form-fitting black qipao embroidered with gold patterns, with a sheer golden shawl draped over her shoulders. At her chest was an intricate golden floral design, and her loose red hair had been loosely gathered, with strands falling gracefully along her neck.
A small red gemstone hung delicately between her collarbones, complementing her look perfectly. A golden hairpin shaped like a flying phoenix adorned her hair, tinkling gently with each step.
She exuded a unique, seductive elegance.
To top it off, she had also applied some smoky makeup—making her appear even more alluring.
She wore black, gold-trimmed boots with slightly pointed heels, which clicked crisply on the clean stone floor as she walked toward Chen Mo. Her cheeks were faintly red as she said softly, "Let’s go."
"You’re stunning," Chen Mo said bluntly, eyes fixed on her. He smiled, then took a step forward to lead the way.
Ding! Affection +1. Received 1 Affection Coin.
Compliments were nothing new to Yafei—she’d heard them countless times. But hearing it from Chen Mo made her heart tremble unexpectedly.
Taking a light breath, her full chest rose under the tight qipao, looking exceptionally round and tempting. Calming herself, Yafei lifted her elegant face slightly, stepped forward in her heels, and followed him.
Thus, the two began their stroll through Wu Tan City.
To preserve the good mood, they stayed within the territories of the three major clans, where order was well-maintained.
Though Wu Tan City was just a border town, it was large in area and located near the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Many mercenaries came here to buy healing pills or sell all sorts of oddities.
It made for an interesting experience.
"Yafei, you’ve dressed so enchantingly. Standing beside you puts a lot of pressure on me, you know? Look at those guys—if looks could kill, I’d be dead a hundred times over," Chen Mo joked as he sensed all the fiery, jealous gazes around them.
Yafei blushed lightly at the teasing, but instead of being angry, she smiled sweetly and replied, "If you put on that Tier-3 Alchemist Robe, those girls would probably want to kill me instead."
As she spoke, she glanced at a group of young women nearby who were practically starstruck.
The two exchanged knowing smiles.
They continued wandering for a long time.
They didn’t run into any thugs trying to provoke Chen Mo for a dramatic show of strength.
There were no bullies harassing innocent women, giving Chen Mo the chance to play the righteous hero.
Nor did they stumble upon a mysterious treasure at a roadside stall, like some lost secret technique waiting to be discovered.
In short—it was a simple, quiet day.
But incredibly enjoyable.
Chen Mo bought a few trinkets for Yafei, and seeing her genuinely happy put him in a good mood as well.
As dusk settled in, they picked the most luxurious restaurant in Wu Tan City for dinner and ordered a spread of the finest local delicacies.
With a bit of wine, the atmosphere grew warmer. As they clinked their glasses and drank a few rounds, a slight blush appeared on Yafei’s cheeks.
Using the excuse of being tipsy, she began venting the grievances in her heart.
She talked on and on, sharing a torrent of frustrations.
Eventually, perhaps due to actual drunkenness—or something deeper—she murmured:
"Chen Mo... you don’t understand. For people like us, born into great clans... mutual love is a luxury. Marriages are arranged for benefits. If we’re lucky enough to meet someone we don’t despise—and the clan approves—it’s already a blessing..."
If you want to support me or read advanced Chapters (21+), consider checking out my pat.
patr*on.com/Salsita2k