Volume One, Chapter 2: The Daughter Who Was a Born Drama Queen
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The summer heat was intense.
A waterbed stood in the center of their private pavilion.
Ye Bufan held Nie Yushan in his arms. She was as soft and warm as jade, and the delicate fragrance of her body kept drifting toward him, stirring his desire.
Nie Yushan noticed.
“Husband, let me do it…”
Ye Bufan shrank back a little. “Ah, wait.”
He had no choice but to make an excuse. “You’re still in confinement after giving birth. It wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?”
He certainly did not dare act recklessly now. He knew that one encounter could cost him twenty years of life—something he simply could not afford!
Nie Yushan said shyly, “I know you don’t want another child right now, Husband, so we can’t do that. But… there are other ways, aren’t there?”
…
After the child was born, Ye Bufan also made inquiries about cultivators, and the result greatly surprised him.
Cultivators here had frequent contact with ordinary people. Whenever demons or evil spirits caused trouble, cultivators would come to suppress them.
In particular, every six years there was a spiritual-root examination. People from the sects would set up a venue, and all children who had reached the age of six, as well as young people no older than thirty-five, could take part.
Thinking of this put him in a cheerful mood. By then, his daughter would surely astonish everyone and be fought over by the sects. He might even benefit from it himself.
That afternoon.
In the main hall, Master Sun said, “Little Ye, the child was delivered safely. You’ve rendered a service this time, and you deserve a reward.”
“You’ve always wanted to see what a spirit stone looks like. Today, I’ll give you five. Keep them safe—they’re extremely valuable. Even our family doesn’t have many.”
Ye Bufan examined the spirit stones and exclaimed, “Aren’t these just like silver? They’re only a little brighter.”
Master Sun said, “Yes, you could say they are silver.”
“Silver is simply spirit stone that has lost its essence. I heard that spirit stones contain some kind of essence, which those immortals absorb. Once the essence is gone, the stones change into silver, and they no longer have that dazzling luster.”
“Still, I’ve held these spirit stones every day for several years, and I’ve never managed to absorb even a trace.”
“Sigh. It seems I simply wasn’t born to be an immortal. If you like them, take them. They can be exchanged for five thousand ounces of silver outside.”
Since his father-in-law was being so generous for once, Ye Bufan grinned and thanked him repeatedly.
“Thank you, Father-in-law. It really is best when we’re all family.”
The moment he touched the spirit stones—
[System notification: An energy substance has been detected. Absorb it?]
Ye Bufan’s heart jolted. After taking his leave of his father-in-law, he returned to his room.
“Absorb.”
In the blink of an eye, the five spirit stones in his hand vanished.
[System notification: Five energy points obtained. They may be exchanged for five years of lifespan. Exchange them?]
He was delighted and astonished.
Spirit stones could actually be exchanged for lifespan! This was wonderful. At last, he no longer had to worry about dying young. There would always be a way to obtain more spirit stones.
“Confirm exchange.”
One year later.
The little girl crawled at astonishing speed, chasing Ye Bufan around as they played.
“Hee-hee… Da-da.”
She could not speak clearly, yet she tried with all her might. She was utterly adorable.
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“My Feifei is so clever. She’s almost talking already. You’re amazing!”
Ye Bufan was making a wooden walker for his daughter.
The child was named Nie Feifei.
“Da-da.”
The little girl stretched out both arms and struggled to stand. She had barely taken one step before losing her balance and squatting down again, appealing to her father for help.
“Good girl. You’re so well-behaved and clever.”
Ye Bufan extended one foot to support her like a handrail.
“Daddy’s making you a little cart. Don’t be in such a hurry.”
Before long, Feifei grabbed a cloth doll.
“It’s ill… it, it’s sick.”
Ye Bufan laughed. “Are you trying to say that it’s sick?”
She nodded.
Then she gazed at him with wide, innocent eyes.
“Then shall we treat it?”
She picked up the doll and pressed it to her ear.
“Thump, thump.”
“What does that mean?”
“Heart… heartbeat.”
“Baby, are you saying it has a heartbeat?”
She nodded vigorously.
Watching his daughter seriously diagnose the cloth doll was so amusing. Ye Bufan had a feeling that she would grow up to be quite the performer.
Nie Yushan watched father and daughter playing and smiled happily.
Yet something was missing from that smile.
Having been reborn so many times through a secret technique, the thing she was most satisfied with was this husband of hers. He was gentle and considerate, and he was handsome as well. Unfortunately, he seemed to have fallen ill. Ever since she had given birth, he had refused to share deeper intimacy with her.
Sigh. It was truly agonizing.
The next day.
Breakfast had just ended when Master Sun said sternly, “Little Ye, another year has passed. Why hasn’t there been any news from Yushan’s belly? If you don’t work harder, I’ll deduct your monthly allowance.”
Ye Bufan had grown accustomed to being scolded. Even though he believed that he would one day become an immortal while his father-in-law was merely an ordinary mortal, he still did not dare resist. The very thought of resisting never even occurred to him.
With a mournful expression, he thought, I can’t help it! I don’t dare continue. I want to work harder too—I’ve been holding back for two whole years. You have no idea how miserable I am.
Every day, he could only watch helplessly as his wife’s lips glistened with alluring fragrance.
But if they had another child, one encounter would cost him twenty years of life.
He could not afford it! It was far too expensive!
Seeing that Ye Bufan remained silent, Sun Yaowei turned to reprimand his daughter.
“And you! If your husband won’t make an effort, does that mean you won’t either?”
“If he won’t take the initiative, then force him!”
“Honestly, none of you are sensible. For the sake of the family’s future, the two of you must work harder.”
“Matron Rong, come in.”
“Greetings, Master. Why have you summoned me?”
“Starting this month, you will stay in the young mistress and young master’s room. Keep watch over them. If the two of them still refuse to make an effort, punish them according to family law.”
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Matron Rong wore an awkward expression.
Ye Bufan and his wife reacted very differently.
Nie Yushan, in particular, was suffering in silence.
She wanted to make an effort too, but if her husband refused to act, what could she do? Could she really force him?
She could not even live a decent married life.
Sigh. Her heart was full of苦—of grievances.
She had been wronged, yet she could not bring herself to mention such matters in front of her father.
All she could do was glare at Ye Bufan, as if to say, Let’s see what you do now. Hmph.
Matron Rong said, “Master, this… this doesn’t seem appropriate.”
“What’s inappropriate about it? Don’t worry. Watch them boldly.”
“But, Master, I’m afraid.”
She thought, If I watch them every day, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself. When that happens, who will deal with me?
Master Sun assumed she was afraid to supervise the young master and young mistress, so he said, “With me standing behind you, what are you afraid of?”
“Ah? You’ll be behind me?”
Her gaze toward Master Sun instantly filled with tenderness, and she even cast him a flirtatious glance.
The moment Sun Yaowei saw her expression, he knew she had misunderstood him. His face darkened.
That night.
“Young mistress, young master, hurry up. I won’t watch from inside the room. I’ll just listen from outside.”
Ye Bufan: “…”
He would risk it. One more time, and he could still live another twenty-five years. Besides, six years from now, his daughter would be eligible to take the sects’ spiritual-root examination. She was certain to enter a cultivation sect, and by then, they would surely have access to spirit stones.
The most recent six-year examination had just taken place this year, when Feifei was only one year old. She would have to wait until the next one.
Grunt, grunt—the bed curtains swayed.
A dozen breaths later—
[Ding! System notification: Option One selected automatically. Twenty years of lifespan consumed to strengthen the offspring.]
Perhaps out of boredom, Ye Bufan casually asked, “System, if I do this again, can I avoid losing lifespan?”
[System notification: No additional lifespan will be consumed before the child is born.]
“You…”
Ye Bufan’s mind exploded.
So that was how it worked.
Did you have any idea how I’d spent the last two years?
“System, did you do this on purpose? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Do you know how difficult these past two years have been?”
[System: You never asked.]
Ye Bufan shouted, “Damn it! Come out here—I’ll beat you to death!”
His wife, who was still caught up in the moment, knew nothing of this exchange.
Nie Yushan’s smooth, slender waist twisted enticingly.
Her hands slowly climbed up her husband’s thigh and began to caress it gently.
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