Supreme Emperor of Mist

"Lu Yi, Zunjie, bring all of them to the Fire Elemental Bloodstone Mine to help. Assign a minimum quota they'll have to mine before they're given an antidote once a day. Inform You Qing about it and entrust him with the medicine." Qin Lan waved his hand at them, telling them to get out after he's done with what he was going to say.

Everyone soon left the hall except for Sun Wu Jian, Shan Xiong Xin, and Huang Ping.

"Brother Qin... Do we need to go to this extent?" Sun Wu Jian asked. Although he understands that such a method cannot be evaded if the situation gets worst, he'd still find himself unable to accept it instantly.

"Do you think I like to use this method to solve the problem? Unless we make them as an example, the same situation will repeat itself in the future. By that time, it will be irreparable because they'll be ready for us." Qin Lan replied.

(It takes ten thousand bricks to build a wall, but only one or two has to be taken out to make it fall...)

"Have you heard about this before?" Qin Lan asked.

"..."

They understand Qin Lan's word, but doing it is a different matter altogether. As the mood was no longer as good as before, their meeting quickly ended not long after Lu Yi and Huo Zunjie's departure.

Returning to his place beside the Pill Hall with heavy steps, Qin Lan's mood eventually gets better seeing his women waiting under the plum tree. Zhou Mei was still in the breath-taking blue dresses, but Hu Jia had changed back to her usual favorite color.

It was a simple red dress with some embroidery of clouds and mandarin ducks sewn around her sleeves, collar, and skirting.

But that didn't make her look pale in comparison. Instead, the red color seems to be a perfect match for Hu Jia's fiery personality. As if the color was created solely to be put on her.

"You're home." both of them said as they waited for him to come to them obediently.

"Heh... I'm home." Qin Lan chuckled. Nothing was better than coming home with his women waiting for him under the shade of a plum tree.

If there is...

Perhaps by making two women waiting into three.

Peeking from the edge behind the plum tree, Peng Yan wondered if she should come out and join the other two. But her status alone does not qualify her to do so. Nevertheless, the red dresses on her made her appearance remain stunning while hiding behind the tree.

"Did you girls have a good time talking with one another?" Qin Lan asked. He took a beautiful chest out from his spatial jade. Without informing her what's the content inside, Qin Lan passes the box to Zhou Mei and embraces her along with Hu Jia.

Peng Yan was still hiding behind the tree. From the look of it, she might stand there forever if Qin Lan doesn't call or respond to her.

Knowing that there's a worry and self-restraint in Qin Lan's mind, Hu Jia enjoyed her lover's embrace for a brief moment, then push herself away from him.

She circled the plum tree and caught Peng Yan's hand next. Pulling her over to where they're standing, Hu Jia forced the girl, a being of two higher layers in cultivation above her, into Qin Lan's arm.

This action made Qin Lan somewhat confused.

'Why would Jia-Jia behave in such a way?' Qin Lan wanted to ask her, but it seems he would have to wait until the next chance appeared.

"Don't you want to come along?" Qin Lan asked as he held both Zhou Mei and Peng Yan in his arms, leaving the middle open.

"Why would I be greedy? I had you myself back inside your Private Refining Hall, remember?" Hu Jia smiled.

Letting out a happy sigh, Qin Lan savored the blissful moment together. Since Peng Yan is not considered his woman yet, she returned to the room provided to her later that day. Zhou Mei offered to leave Qin Lan and Hu Jia alone as she knew that they will have many things to talk about.

Zhou Mei was the first to reach her room first. Placing the exquisite case on the table, she slowly lifted up the case's cover. She was shocked to see it was filled with Blood Genesis Pills, Spiritual Accumulating Pills, and Precelestial Realm Restructuring Pills.

And there's also a piece of a handwritten note on the cover.

{Take this opportunity to consolidate your cultivation. After advancement, use the Precelestial Realm Restructuring Pill to unlock your cultivating potential. It will strengthen your control over your Spiritual Sense Body)

What was written in the note was simple, but the meaning behind it held more significant intention towards her. The concern, the way he's giving this to her, made Zhou Mei smiled as she lifted the exquisite case with both hands until she sat on her meditation mat.

After taking the entire bottle of Blood Genesis Pill into her body, Zhou Mei started her attempted to break through into the Bone Reconstruction Layer.

As for Peng Yan, she reaches her room with a contemplating mood.

Although she was happy that Qin Lan was embracing her with Zhou Mei, there's still a gap between their heart. In between her happiness, there's a hint of emptiness, as if Qin Lan was absorbed with something else.

'Was it because I am a part of the Country of Wei's citizen?'

'Or because I am not considered as a woman of his interest?'

'Father... What is love? Why does it hurt my heart whenever I can't understand why I am doing this?' Peng Yan leaned on the bed the moment she's back into her room.

Then, she noticed a bulge on her waist. It was a Qiankun Pouch that was deliberately stuffed into her while she was unaware.

'What's inside?' Peng Yan opened the pouch by injecting a little Spiritual Energy into the treasure. Taking out the content from the inside, it was an exquisite case similar to what Qin Lan gave Zhou Mei.

The only exception is the Precelestial Realm Restructuring Pill is not inside. It was instead replaced by something different.

Opening the note that was deliberately left inside the box, Peng Yan read what Qin Lan was trying to tell her.

(Inside the bottle was a medicine known as Soothing Yin Pellet. Taking them whenever the side effect of your cultivating art flare-up will help alleviate the symptoms. If you finished it, always come back and get more from me. Remember, although our relationship is quite awkward right now, I hate to see a woman that soon is mine getting touched by another man. Don't ask me only when you're finished with them, because I'll get angry at you.)

'Psh!"

"Hahaha!" Peng Yan couldn't control her laughter after she finished reading the last sentence written on that paper. For the first time, she laughed to the point tears were rolling down from the corner of her eyes.

They were filled with a hint of happiness that she never felt before.

'I guess... That's how he shows his love. Not by words or action, but surprises and pills.' hugging the bottle of Soothing Yin Pill in her hand, she falls asleep.