The path to immortality through martial arts begins with being forced into marriage!

Tang'er peeked out and saw that Cui Yi was carrying something on his shoulder. She quickly opened the door completely and reached out to take the item from his shoulder.

Cui Yi was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised: "How did you know it was me?"

Tang'er had already taken the heaviest bag of rice. Hearing this, she looked up, smiled, and said, "Of course I can recognize the young master's footsteps!"

Hearing the commotion, Xu Yunyan came out from inside the house. Seeing that Cui Yi had bought so many things, she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him: "Yi'er, just buy some brown rice. You need to be careful with your money. There will be many more expenses in the future."

"Your body has just recovered and is in need of rest and recuperation. This is too much of a expense."

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, I know what I'm doing."

Since the family finally had meat, Xu Yunyan steamed a large pot of rice and also stir-fried some meat as a side dish, which was quite rare for her.

At the dinner table, Cui Yi considered his words carefully, but ultimately decided to lay his cards on the table.

"Today in town, I accepted the reward from the yamen for exorcising the demon in Black Wind Ridge."

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Yunyan's face turned deathly pale, and the chopsticks she was holding fell to the ground with a thud.

Tang'er, standing beside her, was also terrified. Her face drained of color, and her large eyes quickly filled with tears. She cried out in a trembling voice, "Young Master, are you going to kill a monster?"

"Will I end up like my parents, gone and never to return?"

The two women's strong reaction was within Cui Yi's expectations.

After all, the once-prosperous Cui family has fallen to its current state because of the demonic beasts.

"Sister-in-law, Tang'er, don't be anxious, let me finish."

"The reward is three hundred taels of silver. With this money, we can truly improve our lives. Sister-in-law will no longer have to work so hard taking on embroidery jobs, and Tang'er will be able to eat her fill and stay warm."

"Perhaps I can consult a doctor to properly treat my physical condition."

"Sister-in-law, you know the true colors of those people in the clan. If I continue to be sickly and incompetent, clinging to this meager possession, they will never give up."

"I can block it once today, but what about tomorrow?"

"Only by demonstrating strength sufficient to protect ourselves and even to instill fear in others can we truly safeguard this family and protect you and Tang'er."

After saying that, Cui Yi took out two oil paper packets containing rouge.

"Tang'er has nothing decent to offer me, so I can only give her some cosmetics."

"A girl should always have something of her own."

"Sister-in-law, I'm so grateful to you all these years. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please don't think it's too meager."

"This is all I can give you for now. As for the other clothes, jewelry, food, and toys, you can leave them for later."

"I'll make it up to you one by one when I get back from Black Wind Ridge."

In the end, Xu Yunyan gave in.

After all, Cui Yi is the head of the family and its pillar.

"Since you've made up your mind, Yi'er, Tang'er and I can only support you."

"When you go out, be careful. The reward or not is not important. The important thing is to survive."

"As long as a person lives, there will always be a day when they can rise up."

Because of this topic, what should have been a pleasant dinner became somewhat dull.

After having their fill of tea and rice, the three of them washed up and prepared to rest.

When it was time to rest, there was a slight awkwardness, because the Cui family's ancestral home had been in disrepair for many years, and the only room that was truly airtight was Cui Yi's bedroom.

Since the beginning of autumn, Cui Yi's condition has been poor. In order to take care of Cui Yi at night, the three of them have been sleeping in one room.

Fortunately, the large dormitory-style bed here is big enough for three people to lie down in, otherwise someone would have to sleep on the floor.

Cui Yi naturally couldn't sleep, so he told Xu Yunyan and Tang'er to rest first, while he sat cross-legged at the other end to prepare for intensive cultivation, hoping to improve his cultivation level before entering the mountain the next day.

Since entering the mid-stage of Qi Refining, he felt as if he had inexhaustible energy in his body. Even without relying on the Nine-Fold Pagoda to sustain him, he could cultivate on his own.

Under Cui Yi's guidance, the Qi-guiding technique, which had been deduced to a minor level, continuously inhaled and exhaled true qi to nourish the dantian and sea of ​​qi, and the degree of condensation of true qi gradually increased.

After an unknown amount of time, Cui Yi sensed a presence approaching him and immediately became alert.

But after sensing the familiar aura of the newcomer, the tense muscles slowly relaxed.

It is Xu Yunyan.

The moonlight outlined a slender figure. Xu Yunyan was wearing only a thin undergarment with a haphazardly draped outer garment over it. She walked barefoot and carefully approached Cui Yi.

Although there was a slight distance between them, the woman's delicate fragrance was already clearly audible.

In his meditative state, Cui Yi's five senses were greatly enhanced, and he could even feel her trembling slightly.

I don't know if it was the cold or something else.

Cui Yi was taken aback, not knowing what she intended to do, and could only continue to maintain his even breathing.

Time seemed to stand still.

Just as Cui Yi was considering whether to wake up and ask, Xu Yunyan's weak voice, tinged with suppressed sobs, rang very close to his ear: "Yi'er, you're not asleep, are you?"

Cui Yi knew he couldn't keep up the act any longer, so he slowly opened his eyes and met Xu Yunyan's tear-filled eyes in the dim light.

"Sister-in-law, what's wrong...?"

"Yi'er, take me tonight!"

Xu Yunyan directly took off her outer undergarment, revealing her beautiful figure.

"The Cui family has done a great favor for the Xu family! When my father was seriously ill, it was Uncle Cui who gave him all his money and saved his life."

"I've lived in the Cui family for so many years, this place has long been my home!"

"My parents treated me like their own daughter when they were alive. I... I can't just stand by and watch the Cui family line die out!"

"If something truly happens to you, at least there will still be descendants of the Cui family in this world, and I can say I've done right by my parents..."

"Tang'er should have come tonight, but I've thought about it carefully. She's too young, and her body hasn't fully developed yet. If she's really pregnant, she'll probably face a life-or-death situation during childbirth."

"I cannot risk her life just to leave an heir."

"That's why I thought I should do it. My body is already grown up, and I've been working hard all these years, so if I can succeed, the risk will be smaller."

Looking at the gleaming white body before him, Cui Yi's heart skipped a beat.

Actually, right now, marrying Xu Yunyan is the best outcome for her.

Older women who want to find a good family are often seen as having remarried or bringing bad luck, and their situation may not be better than it is now.

Having lived in the Cui family for so many years, she was seen by outsiders as being completely bound to the Cui family.

Even though Xu Yunyan was not defiled, gossip still had its consequences.

Thinking of this, Cui Yi didn't push away her cold, trembling skin any further, but instead gently wrapped his arms around her thin shoulders.

Cui Yi's actions made Xu Yunyan stiffen abruptly. After all, she was still a naive young girl, and it would be a lie to say she wasn't afraid.

"I, Cui Yi, will remember your kindness and the favor you have done for the Cui family."

Cui Yi didn't say any more high-sounding words; his actions spoke for themselves.

Xu Yunyan bit her lower lip tightly, suppressing a sob, but her tears flowed even more fiercely.

She did not resist, but like a drowning person finally grasping at the last straw, she used all her strength to hug Cui Yi back, so tightly that her fingernails almost dug into his back.

Just as the show was about to begin, Xu Yunyan suddenly cried out and quickly pushed Cui Yi away.

"Yi'er...I..."