Back in his room, Ye Chen immediately retrieved the storage wristband from the system''s space. The wristband was silver, adorned with black markings that gave it an understated yet luxurious appearance. He tried putting it on, and to his surprise, it automatically shrank, fitting snugly around his wrist. There was no need to worry about accidentally losing it.


    Ye Chen''s mind became immersed in the sensation, and as he attempted to use it, he discovered that, for the first time, a drop of blood was required to activate it.


    This only pleased Ye Chen further. It even had an encryption function, far superior to a storage bag. He bit his finger, letting a drop of blood fall, and the bond was complete.


    Immediately, Ye Chen felt an unusual connection to the storage wristband. The method of use was simple as well. By merely touching an item with his palm, he could transfer it directly into the wristband.


    Soon, Ye Chen placed his own refined pills, medicinal herbs, and various miscellaneous books into the wristband, easing his mind.


    Ye Chen, thoroughly entertained, continued to toy with the storage wristband. He had even placed and removed his alchemy furnace several times, marveling at how there seemed to be no drawbacks. As long as there was space, anything could be stored within. The only downside was that it consumed a bit of mental energy.


    ...


    In the days that followed, Ye Chen''s life settled back into its usual pace. He followed his routine of cultivation and alchemy. The spirit stones continued to accumulate. Now, with both offensive and defensive spells in his arsenal, what he lacked was an escape technique.


    Ye Chen remained acutely aware of his safety. He was determined to become a well-rounded, all-purpose cultivator. No weak points allowed.


    As for Lin Ke''er''s return, it didn''t faze Ye Chen in the least. In fact, Lu Jing, who had received the storage bag, became even more enthusiastic. Every evening, she would visit Ye Chen after work. She''d bring things to cook for him.


    This made Ye Chen''s mood quite pleasant. Although he had acquired the simp system and was obliged to give gifts, there was a certain art to being a simp. If you were a desperate simp, the woman would never feel the need to guard her simp, and she would take you for granted. But if you played the role of a fickle simp, it was a different story.


    As long as the gifts you gave were valuable enough, the woman would feel the competitive pressure, intensifying her attention towards the simp, and even begin investing in you. Clearly, this was the case with Lu Jing. Having stolen Ye Chen from Lin Ke''er, she understood that she might also be replaced. So, she was extra attentive, often offering him little perks.


    As for Lin Ke''er? Ye Chen was curious to see just how long she could endure.


    ...


    Lin Ke''er, inside her room, looked visibly dejected. She had originally planned to rest after returning from the mountains, but three days had passed, and she hadn''t been able to sleep at all.


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    Every time she thought about how she had missed out on a spell and a storage bag just by making a brief trip into the mountains, she felt a gnawing sense of frustration. Surely, any cultivator would be unable to sleep under such circumstances. Not to mention, Ye Chen''s value far exceeded what Lin Ke''er had initially imagined.


    But now, it seemed that this simp, Ye Chen, had truly been taken by Lu Jing. That thought only made Lin Ke''er feel worse, as if she could burst into tears. She almost wished she could slap herself. She should never have tried to save a bit of money and agreed to share a room with that vile woman, Lu Jing.


    Lin Ke''er had been waiting for Ye Chen to come and apologize. As he had treated her well in the past, she was still willing to give him another chance.


    But despite waiting, Ye Chen never came. This left Lin Ke''er feeling uneasy, her heart racing with anxiety. Could it be that Ye Chen really didn''t like her anymore? Had he truly been so thoroughly captivated by Lu Jing?


    If Ye Chen had truly lost his value, Lin Ke''er wouldn''t care so much. But the truth was, Ye Chen''s value was simply beyond imagination. In such a situation, how could Lin Ke''er possibly accept losing Ye Chen, this simp, without a fight?


    Today, however, Lin Ke''er had gathered her things and was preparing to leave. It was the day she was supposed to collect her share from the herb-picking venture. When she first returned, she had been looking forward to it immensely. After all, it was nearly twenty lower-grade spirit stones. But now, the thought of it only left her feeling a sense of emptiness.


    Lu Jing had done nothing but show off a few times and received two middle-grade spirit stones as a gift. And herself? She had worked tirelessly for an entire month, only to earn twenty lower-grade spirit stones. There was a ten-fold difference between the two. How was that fair?


    With a complex mood, Lin Ke''er soon arrived at the captain''s courtyard. Her fellow herb-picking companions had also gathered, some already emerging from the courtyard with smiles on their faces, spirit stones in hand.


    The captain''s younger brother, Jin Wuqing, was greeting everyone. Upon seeing Lin Ke''er arrive, his handsome face broke into a smile. "Fellow Daoist Ke''er, you''re here! Why so late?"


    Lin Ke''er, however, kept her expression neutral as she looked at Jin Wuqing.


    Initially, Lin Ke''er had hoped to build a good relationship with him. After all, Jin Wuqing was no slouch in strength, already at the fifth level of Qi Refining, and he was the captain''s younger brother. It was certainly beneficial to be on good terms with him.


    But her thoughts had shifted. Her desire to go back into the mountains to gather herbs had already faded. There was no particular reason for it. It was simply that her own efforts, when compared to the gifts Ye Chen had given, now felt utterly meaningless. Since she didn''t even want to go into the mountains anymore, establishing a better relationship with Jin Wuqing seemed pointless as well.


    Jin Wuqing noticed Lin Ke''er''s indifference and furrowed his brow in confusion. When Lin Ke''er received her spirit stones, he followed her outside and said, "My sister is in closed-door cultivation. Next time we head out, we''ll wait for her to finish. I''ll inform you when it''s time."


    Lin Ke''er nodded, but her heart already had the thought of giving up.


    "Fellow Daoist Lin, how about we grab a meal together?"


    Jin Wuqing invited her since he had a good impression of Lin Ke''er. Her aloof demeanor, stunning beauty, and tall, graceful figure.


    Although Lin Ke''er was distant and somewhat aloof, Jin Wuqing didn''t mind. Another trip to the mountains would give him a few more opportunities for heroically rescuing her. Surely, he could make her heart waver.


    However, Lin Ke''er simply shook her head in response to his invitation. "Sorry, I''m not feeling well. Maybe next time…."


    Watching her retreating figure, Jin Wuqing furrowed his brow again. Something was different about Lin Ke''er since her return. He couldn''t quite figure it out, but he felt it.