Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

If some cultivation method were to allow him to master the power of extreme Yin in the future, then he would be essentially cultivating the path of extreme Yin, or in short: the Yin path!

Qingmei was completely bewildered by the conversation between the master and disciple, and she asked worriedly:

"Are Young Master Chu and Sword Immortal Zuo both people who dislike Buddhism?"

Zuo Qiuchi is very pragmatic; she only shows favorability towards factions with high-value members.

"I originally had conflicts with one faction of Buddhism and felt displeased whenever I saw people worshipping Buddha, but after meeting Miss Qingmei, I regained a slight liking for Buddhism."

Chu Mingkong gave a thumbs up: "Me too."

Zuo Qiuchi looked at him suspiciously and asked:

"So, if the prince you beheaded in the street was actually a woman disguised as a man, you would have developed feelings for him immediately?"

Qingmei, standing between the two, couldn't even get a word in edgewise; she felt like the one who was superfluous...

Chu Mingkong replied without hesitation:

"That's absolutely impossible. Since you've harbored the intention to harm your master, even if the Crown Prince is secretly the most beautiful woman in the Heavenly Realm, I will still kill him."

[System Treasure has arrived, 300 points of unspoiled filial piety (Zuo Qiuchi).]

I'm shocked. It's been a long time since I've seen such undiminished filial piety from Zuo Qiuchi.

"You're quite filial. Then I'll grant you a hug with my woman." Zuo Qiuchi placed Qingmei, whom he was holding, on Chu Mingkong's lap.

She was secretly saddened. In fact, she didn't want to give it to him, but Zuo Qiuchi noticed that this courtesan kept glancing at Chu Mingkong, her heart was with him.

It's as if Zuo Qiuchi is some kind of wealthy country bumpkin who has taken this woman's body and is preventing her from seeing her lover.

My heart aches so much. It's so comfortable to hold this pretty girl. Regardless of her background, this beautiful courtesan is on par with Shangguan Rong, whom Chu Mingkong often meets.

It's all his fault for telling such a good story; he stole all the limelight from me.

Chu Mingkong, while eating what was in his bowl, was also thinking about what was in the pot, and asked with innocent eyes:

"Since I am so filial, how can I ask my master to give me up? How about this, you hold Qingmei, and I'll hold you, so that we can both be holding Qingmei together."

Qingmei: "......"

I feel like I'm still superfluous.

Zuo Qiuchi scoffed, "You're dreaming! Let's talk about it another time!"

The master and apprentice finally finished their back-and-forth conversation, and the boudoir fell silent for a moment. Seeing this, Qingmei started a conversation to liven up the atmosphere.

"Young Master Chu, you are gentle and refined, so why are there rumors of your tyranny and ferocity? Could the story of you killing the Crown Prince be a hoax?"

"What you hear and see may not be true; only what you believe is true. This is often the case. Is there a conflict between killing the crown prince and being filial to my master?"

However, the name "Qingmei" doesn't quite match her personality.

Chu Mingkong took out several plates of rare pastries and gave them to Zuo Qiuchi, and also said to Qingmei, "Eat whatever you want, no need to be polite."

"Qingmei" is her stage name, given to her by the madam; the name of a courtesan inevitably carries a hint of glamour.

Thinking of Chu Mingkong's literary talent, Qingmei was curious about what he thought her name should be.

"In your opinion, Young Master Chu, how does my name best reflect the impression I leave on you?"

Forget about naming the baby. Naming is what Chu Mingkong fears most. If he has a baby in the future, he'll probably ask the baby's mother what fruits she likes to eat, and then name the baby after the fruits, like peach, pomelo, or honeydew melon.

However, when Chu Mingkong glanced at the words "Thus have I heard" she had written, and thought of the two characters "Qingmei" in her stage name, a line of poetry actually came to mind.

He knew that he had inadvertently shown off today and stolen the limelight from Zuo Qiuchi who came to play with the courtesan. To make up for it, he had to resort to this method!

“Miss Qingmei, you and my master are destined to be together. I suddenly remembered that when my master was admiring the scenery, he once casually said a line of poetry: ‘I see the green mountains as charming, and I suppose the green mountains see me as such.’ The ‘Qingmei’ matches, and the ‘such’ matches.”

Zuo Qiuchi was taken aback, not expecting Chu Mingkong to help her gain attention like this. She was secretly pleased, but this poem was clearly something Chu Mingkong had heard in some teahouse again. What if the person in question came knocking on her door?

She was secretly pleased but dared not be too pleased, and declined with a slight smile, saying, "You flatter me, you flatter me!"

Qingmei listened and murmured the poem aloud, clearly liking it very much. However, she felt that the poem was something Chu Mingkong had come up with for his master, Zuo Jianxian.

He was nice to me, actually just to please Zuo Jianxian and win his smile.

If I want to gain the prince's attention, shouldn't I cater to his preferences and make Zuo Jianxian happy?

Such a complicated relationship...

Qingmei got up and sat in Zuo Qiuchi's lap, making Zuo Qiuchi even happier.

Seeing this, Chu Mingkong praised the courtesan for her quick thinking and, taking advantage of Zuo Qiuchi's good mood, pulled the two women, both with soft fragrance and gentle touch, into his arms.

Now all three of them are happy!

Qingmei remembered the story and asked, "Young master, what kind of healing method did Miss Zuo in the story discover that made her look so solemn?"

Chu Mingkong hugged Zuo Qiuchi and answered without much thought, feeling very happy:

"Dual cultivation with a disciple."

Zuo Qiuchi: "?"

Chapter 101 The Gun Broken (1/17)

Chu Mingkong realized what had happened and was secretly startled, not expecting that he had accidentally blurted it out.

Facing Zuo Qiuchi's focused gaze, Chu Mingkong remained relaxed, tightening his arm around her waist to prevent her from getting distracted again. He said:

"Is there anything wrong with this? This story was made up on the spot. Master, didn't you always want to find me a female bodhisattva who practices the joyful meditation in Buddhism to see if she could help me heal my injuries?"

The story continues, and Miss Zuo's heart sank. He actually wanted to use dual cultivation! Where was she supposed to find someone who could help him with dual cultivation?

Although Zuo Qiuchi was suspicious, Chu Mingkong's words made a lot of sense. The story was mostly about things she had done, and there didn't seem to be anything wrong with it.

She didn't ask anything more, and Chu Mingkong was happy to have some peace and quiet. Taking this opportunity, he hugged Zuo Qiuchi tightly. The two of them together were a bit heavy, but it felt just right. Chu Mingkong wasn't so weak that he couldn't even hold two slightly plump women.

With Qingmei's weight in Zuo Qiuchi's arms, the sensation of Zuo Qiuchi's snow-white, fleshy buttocks pressing against Chu Mingkong's thigh became even clearer.

The only word to describe Chu Mingkong's feelings at this moment is happiness.

Only a plump, fleshy buttocks like that can feel good. Back when Chu Mingkong was drinking the apprenticeship wine with Zuo Qiuchi in Xiling, he hugged a brothel woman who was known for her slender figure. Her buttocks were so bony that they pricked his thighs a little.

I really didn't expect that the woman Chu Mingkong had the most fun with at the brothel was his own master. I had this feeling back then. It seems that I will have to bring Zuo Qiuchi with me next time I come.

...Hmm, Qingmei is good too. Her weight is just right, which is great!

However, we really need to find a way to improve our relationship. It's not enough for the filial piety he received to change; our relationship also needs to change.

He tried hard to think, but his mind was occupied by the sensuality of his Sword Immortal master, leaving him no time to think. Chu Mingkong had no choice but to give up.

Zuo Qiuchi and Qingmei finished their snacks, one piece at a time. The sword-wielding woman then asked her disciple:

"Mingkong, why are all the girls from the brothels outside saying that you crippled those women and that you're going to buy their lives to redeem them?"

Most people would be sad and angry to hear that their own people are being slandered, but Zuo Qiuchi is not so sentimental. She always takes pleasure in Chu Mingkong's rumors. She would laugh happily when he reported his setbacks with the girls after he returned to the Prince's Mansion. She is truly carefree.

But rumors are always modified and exaggerated based on a certain basis. Everyone outside is saying that Chu Mingkong "supermarket" has two women, so there must be a similar reality that they can exaggerate.

People in this era like to go to teahouses to listen to gossip, rumors, and stories about the lives of important figures. But pure fabrications won't convince them; they'll throw banana peels and spit on them. Usually, they'll only go to teahouses to listen to these exaggerated but true stories after a reliable source has been leaked and verified by the actions of officials.

When Chu Mingkong heard Zuo Qiuchi mention this matter, he recalled how Han Jing had reluctantly and eagerly asked him for medicine twice. His suppressed Gun Immortal realm stirred for no reason, giving Zuo Qiuchi a boost.

Zuo Qiuchi slammed the teacup on the table, signaling him to behave.

"Chu, Ming, Kong! I remember you once recited something like 'Broken halberds lie buried in the sand, their iron still uncorroded,' you want to break one, don't you? Don't move!"

"Ok."

Chu Mingkong originally wanted to suppress it, but Zuo Qiuchi warned him like this, so he couldn't struggle and had no choice but to keep resisting Zuo Qiuchi.

"Didn't you hear me?" Zuo Qiuchi felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, and the needles she spoke were sharp and menacing. "You really don't know how to repent and won't put the things away?"

"It was you, Master, who told me not to move. I've been sitting upright the whole time and haven't moved at all."

Even if his lips don't curl in a smile, his filial piety towards his master will show in other ways. For someone as devoted to filial piety as him, it's obviously easier to keep quiet than to suppress it, provided he can hold Zuo Qiuchi in his arms.

Chu Mingkong pulled out the courtesan as a shield:

"Besides, there's no way around it. Master, the Qingmei girl you're holding in your arms has a character that suits my taste, so I can't help but lose my composure."

Qingmei looked bewildered, but also somewhat pleased, thinking, "Although I don't know what the young master is talking about, he must be expressing satisfaction with me?"

Zuo Qiuchi suddenly sat up from Chu Mingkong's lap, supporting Qingmei with one hand. She reached out and grabbed little Chu Mingkong, laying him down with a "click" before comfortably sitting back down.

Chu Mingkong's injuries were severe, impacting his overall strength...

His face was ashen, as if he were pale and desperate, but the moment when Zuo Qiuchi's tender hand grasped his was something to savor.

This minor injury is easy to heal, but the despair it caused is truly unforgettable.

Zuo Qiuchi acted as if nothing had happened, embracing the courtesan's slender waist and inhaling her fragrance, feeling utterly blissful. Just in terms of body odor alone, the courtesan was far superior to ordinary brothel women. Outside, it was difficult to escape the scent of cosmetics, while even the most alluring courtesan possessed a fragrance that emanated from her very being.

"Mingkong, where were we?"

"I...I forgot." Chu Mingkong felt both pain and pleasure.

Qingmei said to Chu Mingkong, "Buy your life to redeem yourself."

"Oh!" Chu Mingkong suddenly realized, and remembered despite the excruciating pain, "It was all a misunderstanding. Those two women without names were chosen for me by my elders, who told me to get closer to women and settle down to find a good match to carry on the family line."

"If you have this idea, why would you choose girls from the brothel for you? Wouldn't it be the same to just have their maids?" Zuo Qiuchi asked.

Maids are not contractual long-term workers; the contracts they sign are called indentures. Becoming a maid is basically selling yourself into servitude, but you can still get a stipend. This is the same everywhere in the Tianji Empire.

"They were desperate for medical help, worried about my injuries. They heard that my injuries would make me have a lot of 'evil fire,' but girls without cultivation couldn't withstand me, so they secretly chose two virtuous women from the brothel with cultivation for me, saying it would help me 'cool down.'"

Qingmei was surprised, her heart stirred by the emotion, and she asked:

"Would someone of your status, a young master, really consider a woman who has entered the brothel to be innocent?"

"This doesn't mean they're no longer innocent just because they're married. They were just normal married couples, raising children and doing nothing wrong, yet they were implicated by their husbands' families, imprisoned, and sent to the brothel. What I see is innocent misfortune, not filth and disgrace."

Moreover, those two women were from Xiling. They were just feeling unwell and had fainted due to stress, and I simply wanted to redeem them.

Somehow, the rumor spread that I killed people to buy their lives, but it doesn't matter. Their husbands' families are gone, and they'll probably be treated like servants by me in the future. Buying lives is buying lives, so be it."

Chu Mingkong spoke frankly and openly, but he was still a little guilty. Although he had used the "essence of yin" to remove the "yang poison" from their bodies, Han Jing had still used her lips twice, so he couldn't say that he hadn't touched them at all.

Chapter 102 Aunt Gu Regrets It (2/17)