Walking along the street, he saw cultivators hurrying by, their faces etched with discontent. It was clear that the pressures of society weighed heavily upon them, rendering them incapable of finding joy in their pursuits.


    In this regard, this world was similar to the world Ye Chen came from.


    Ye Chen reflected on this briefly before arriving at the front door of Lu Jing''s house. He knocked on the grand door. It swung open swiftly, and Lu Jing''s face brightened at the sight of Ye Chen. She promptly came forward to let him in.


    Today, Lu Jing herself was a sight to behold; her hair slightly damp, cascading down her back, her skin dewy. The dress she wore was particularly airy, as if she had just stepped out of a bath.


    When Ye Chen had first arrived in this world, it was winter. Now, months later, the air had warmed considerably, even showing signs of becoming hot.


    Lu Jing''s figure was undeniably striking. Her cool attire, though modest, couldn''t help but stir the imagination. Indeed, bigness truly was the top-grade truth.


    "Fellow Daoist Ye, you''ve come. Please come in. The meat has just finished stewing," said Lu Jing as her hand brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, every movement exuding a mature charm.


    "Thank you," Ye Chen replied politely, following Lu Jing into the room.


    Lu Jing''s home, much like Lin Ke''er''s, comprised a single bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Though not particularly spacious, it was well-organized.


    The dining table in the living room was already set with bowls and chopsticks. Lu Jing then entered the kitchen and brought out the stewed beast meat, filling the room with a delicious aroma. She urged Ye Chen to sit while she served the rice, quickly bringing out two bowls; one more generously filled than the other. The fragrance of the spiritual rice was equally enticing.


    Since his arrival in this world, Ye Chen had not cooked for himself. His reliance on shop-bought sustaining pills meant he hadn''t had a home-cooked meal in ages, and he was genuinely craving one now.


    After a brief chat, they sat down to eat. The stew contained not only the succulent beast meat, which was perfectly seasoned and chewy with a hint of spice that stimulated the appetite, but also a plant similar to potatoes from his previous life, which was surprisingly flavorful. The beast meat warmed his stomach as he ate, seeming to release threads of spirit qi that nourished his body.


    Ye Chen, making no pretense of modesty, ate heartily. Considering the expensive gifts he was planning to give, he felt entitled to enjoy the meal. The thought crossed his mind that he should find a cook to prepare meals daily, as this was far more enjoyable than consuming sustaining pills.


    Meanwhile, Lu Jing ate little, focusing instead on serving Ye Chen and watching him with a satisfied smile, as if seeing him eat was a pleasure in itself.


    "Fairy Lu''s culinary skills are truly exceptional," Ye Chen complimented as they finished their meal.


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    Lu Jing, beaming, responded, "If you like, Fellow Daoist Ye, you''re welcome to dine here often. It''s a pity I don''t have much beast meat at home, or I could have made your meal even more enjoyable."


    "In a few days, I''ll receive my wages and buy a larger piece of beast meat from the market to treat you again," she continued, before excusing herself to clean up the dishes.


    As Lu Jing gracefully moved to the kitchen, Ye Chen remained in the living room, reflecting on how Lu Jing''s maturity and sophistication indeed surpassed Lin Ke''er''s. Her display of modesty, like mentioning the scarcity of beast meat and spiritual rice, was all part of a strategy that many women employed to evoke a man''s sympathy and protective instincts.


    Ye Chen, understanding this tactic, chose not to expose it. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity to reciprocate with a generous gift, recognizing that this approach was effectively used on him.


    Lu Jing quickly tidied up the dishes and then sat down to chat with Ye Chen. As she took her seat, her figure appeared even more impressive due to the constraints of the chair.


    "Thank you for the delightful meal, Fairy Lu," Ye Chen expressed his gratitude earnestly.


    Lu Jing noticed that Ye Chen''s gaze had softened compared to when he first arrived, now filled with a hint of tenderness. Her heart leapt with joy. Yet, she feigned humility and shook her head, "Oh, not at all. I fear my hospitality was lacking, as you haven''t eaten your fill, Fellow Daoist Ye."


    Ye Chen shook his head as well, "You are too modest, Fairy Lu."


    "As I''ve come visiting without a special gift, let this be my offering to you, Fellow Daoist," he continued.


    At this, Lu Jing''s heart soared, though she quickly refused, "There''s no need for formalities, Fellow Daoist Ye. I invited you simply to forge a friendship. After all, in the cultivation world, everyone is busy cultivating or earning spirit stones. No one has time to mind others. Moreover, chatting with you, Fellow Daoist Ye, is always so engaging, especially since you''ve already gifted me a bottle of Qi-Nurturing Pill last time. How could I possibly accept another gift from you?"


    Ye Chen was resolute. "Since Fairy Lu counts me as a friend, you should accept this."


    Saying this, he pulled from his robe a jade slip, freshly purchased from the Green Cloud Shop and not yet warmed by his touch, and placed it before Lu Jing.


    Lu Jing was initially hesitant, but upon seeing the jade slip, she gasped in surprise.


    A jade slip? Regardless of its contents, it was certainly more valuable than any pill.


    Ye Chen began to explain, "This is a defensive spell called Golden Light Technique that I bought at the Green Cloud Shop. The steward there told me that all disciples of the Green Cloud Sect practice it because it''s much stronger than ordinary defensive spells. It''s said to be an ancient Buddhist external defensive technique."


    Upon hearing this, Lu Jing was astonished.


    A defensive spell that even disciples of the Green Cloud Sect practiced? How many spirit stones would that cost?


    Her heart surged with joy, as the gain far exceeded her expectations. Even though she was eager to accept it right away, Lu Jing still voiced her refusal, "This is too valuable, I cannot accept it!"


    Yet, Ye Chen was insistent, "It''s merely the price of a medium-grade spirit stone. If Fairy Lu truly considers me a friend, please don''t refuse."


    As he spoke, he assertively took Lu Jing''s soft, plump hand and pressed the jade slip into her palm. The texture of her skin, as smooth as silk, seemed almost unreal.


    Caught up in the moment, Lu Jing barely registered that Ye Chen was holding her hand. Clutching the jade slip, she felt almost surreal. This was a spell worth a medium-grade spirit stone, a sum that ordinary mid-stage cultivators might take half a year or even a year to earn.


    And now it was hers just like that? She had always known Ye Chen to be generous, but experiencing it firsthand truly highlighted the extent of his simping behavior. Ye Chen was undoubtedly the greatest treasure in the world.


    Lu Jing even felt a bit sorry for Lin Ke''er. To have such a treasure at her disposal and not make the most of it was sheer stupidity.


    At that moment, Lu Jing resolved not to repeat Lin Ke''er''s mistakes. She decided she must be more attentive to Ye Chen moving forward, securing him firmly as her very own dedicated simp.