Chương 42: That twist at the end

The sand scorpion Venerable seemed to be much too clever for my tricks, but the soft lamb had just invited herself. Now, why did her 9th generation ancestor offer up this sacrifice? I openly moved my hand forward and touched the young girl's wrist to sense her meridians. I waited for Tian to conclude his analysis. Right. That would be a good reason. Living in the desert, constantly under the Sun, which meant Yang energy. A Six-Yin Body physique would practically suck in all heat.

So they bought something very Yin from the Frozen Pavilion, which is why the box stayed closed.

"It's not your fault, little Yao. Sometimes the Heavens give us a heavy burden to carry, but in doing so we become much stronger. Too bad you can never get married..." I whispered in a kind voice, and saw the Venerable tense up as my fingers got drained of heat.

"You really are a good Alchemist, Pef Tian. It took hundreds of famous doctors and alchemists to figure out why Yao Chen is like this. And you noticed in a second?" she wondered with a real voice, unlike the fake velvet she used for trade." If you have to leave, the Lotus Milk will solve half the problem, at least." I proposed with my medical voice, and another woman joined my table. The eyes were similar enough that this should be the mother.

"Is it true? You have a cure for my girl's condition?" she asked in a desperate voice. I turned to measure the mother for a long minute. Only Peak Foundation? Something didn't fit here.

"Hand" I demanded like a medic. Lady Chen looked amazing too, boobs as large as Lina, long legs like Jin, a pretty face matching Fenghue... my dick wanted to play doctor again. As the confused mother placed her hand in mine, Tian got to work again. A Three-Yin Meridian. She would be actually perfect for the ice fairies. Easy path to Nascent Soul too, especially with my Core method.

"Where is the father? You're perfectly healthy otherwise, my lady." I asked curious. The mother glanced at her ancestor, then looked down.

"It was a random meeting, hero. A beast tide, a dashing hero... a bright moon." she answered poetically. So, she got punked. That explained why she was not given resources to ascend. But then I was a dashing hero too. I kept her hand in mine, and turned towards the Venerable.

"Your clan doesn't value this woman. May I take care of her instead? Yao Chen would be my step-daughter then." I proposed directly. Fenghue and Qiunhue both pinched my back in revenge, possibly thinking I was thinking with my genitals like them. I wasn't. This Lady Chen, a single mother with no support... well. My heart felt her pain.

"And we get this bottle of Lotus Milk?" the Venerable agreed directly.

"Yao Chen will benefit a lot from it. But... the trade is not fair. I still need a Nether Fruit." I demanded while gently floating my new woman in my arms. The young daughter stared at her mother sitting in my lap, then at the milk bottle.

"Mother..." she pleaded in a small voice.

"It's all right, little Yao. This hero, Pef Tian... he will take good care of me. Your health is more important." the mother answered in a kind, loving voice.

"Just drink the milk, my daughter! Too much drama!" I demanded and pushed the milk forward. Under the surprised looks of numerous Elders and Venerables, my new daughter opened the bottle and drank all the milk, and began glowing. Her eyes especially, once brown like her mother's turned bright blue and the emergence of enlightenment was only half coincidence. With a Six-Yin virgin Body like hers, it was basically a 50% chance. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

A dharma construct like a blue lotus appeared inside her for a second, and the girl stared in a distance, much like Lin had done before.

"Worth a Nether Fruit, Ancestor-in-law?" I asked with a wry voice. The purple-robed woman turned to glare at me.

"I'll be back in an hour. And I'll test your lotion too." she growled and flew away, taking the bath water with her.

"Sect Master, I humbly request a wedding for my new wives. Mei and Lady Chen never wore a red dress. It's not right, in the eyes of Heaven!" I demanded in a loud voice.

"... There's no need, hero. I am already a mother..." the woman in my arms mumbled in fear. I knew better though. The Heavens will take her oath, and dispel other commitments. As for my new step-daughter... there really wasn't anything I could do now. Even a Body Integration cultivator would be drained of heat. However, once she ascended into Nascent Soul, her lifespan will increase. I may be able to return in 500 years with a solution.

"Be obedient, my sweet wife. I want to raise you into a Nascent Soul, but you do need to listen. Our daughter needs strong parents!" I urged her with parental advice. Quinhue sighed and came to hug us both.

"Lucky you had that Lotus Milk prepared, my heroic husband. Your daughter has gained enlightenment... that's a rare gift from the Dao."

"Lucky indeed. Come with me, Lady Chen. Let's try on a red dress... and I guess I can be your maid of honor too." Fenghue spoke with an amused grin at me. Quinhue poked me in the ribs.

"What did I say? Behave? No more pretty flowers?" my wife growled in fake anger.

"Go bring Mei. Her father is still waiting for his sweet daughter to wear the red dress like I promised." I asked instead, then moved closer to place my hand on Yao Chen's forehead. My own milk wasn't doing much, but that single petal of the lotus... I guess it was indeed related to the Bodhi. There were 11 petals left, and then I would need to plant the lotus somewhere and let it grow back. Good thing plants were a regenerable resource. As long as you took care of them...

maybe that's why we were called cultivators. So we would cultivate the right plant. And while cultivators are quite fast, preparing for a wedding still took time. Feasts took time to cook, drinks had to be prepared and chilled, tables, festive flowers... The Sect Master sat beside me and drank some tea.

"I last saw an enlightenment 41 years ago. When Fenghue finished her ascension. Minghue didn't get one. Is your milk that strong?" she asked to make sure.

"It depends on who drinks it, Sect Master. Qin Lin also had an enlightenment a few months ago. But it could also be a coincidence. Third time, we'll know for sure." I answered with a smile.

"Then... I want three bottles. What will it cost me?" the Sect Master asked in a serious voice. I sighed inward. Even a Sect Master would scam herself.

"I don't know what you have. Tomorrow we can visit your treasury, and I will pick something. Anyway, Lady Chen... she will become strong. The Three-Yin Meridian is the best I've seen so far. She will need training with ice spells." I said with a gentle tone.

"What is wrong with your step-daughter? Another strong Meridian?" she asked instead.

"Not at all. She has a Sacred Body. In general, she just needs to sit in the sun and her cultivation will grow. With some milk, the imbalance is restored for a while. Sadly, unlike the meridians... anyone who touches her gets drained of heat. I would die in a minute or less." I answered with a shrug.

"I see. You would have prefered the younger one, if it wasn't for this problem." The Sect Master whispered with a friendly voice. I shook my head.

"Only a child makes a choice. An adult takes them both." I said with a calm tone, shocking the old woman.

"... Dastardly scumbag. I wonder how Quinhue doesn't break your dick."

"She held Fenghue in her arms for me to put my..." I began to answer when the Sect Master turned glacial.

"I really don't want to know. If Quinhue approves, it's her choice." she said coldly, and walked off in a huff. Come on! I was getting to the best part! Venerable Chen sat beside me next, and poured me tea. Huh. I didn't notice her return.

"How old are you, Pef Tian?" she asked a familiar question. I took a sip from the tea, and found a drop of honey inside. So she did listen.

"When we are all alone, in a cave, under concealment... we can talk more. It's how I conviced Venerable Quinhue to marry me." I nodded towards my fairy wife, who sat with Mei and talked crap about me. Then I placed my finger on her wrist, for medical reasons. Tian lit up like a volcano. A Nine-Yin Meridian. Basically the best woman for dual cultivation you can find, before it becomes too deadly.

"So, I guess you tried the lotion. Does it work, for you?" I asked instead. The purple-robed Nascent Soul sipped her honey tea.

"Alone in cave, you say. I guess we can talk later." Yeah. We were certainly going to talk a lot, alone in a cave. My dick pulsed with need, but luckily I did have a wedding on the way, and a brand new wife to dip myself in.