"Mother, is it..."

Zhao Mengli didn’t finish her sentence, but her eyes were already turning red.

In her heart, she’d already suspected it for some time, but she just didn’t want to believe it.

Her father...wasn’t coming back.

Yin Qinghe knew what she was asking, but she didn’t answer.

This was something that couldn’t be hidden forever.

Moreover, in the days ahead, Danxin Herb Hall’s situation would only get more difficult. Wouldn’t that be a double blow for Zhao Mengli?

So she chose to acquiesce.

Zhao Mengli didn’t cry out loud, but her tears still fell in big, heavy drops.

Yin Qinghe originally wanted to comfort her, but the girl stubbornly said, "Don’t worry, Mother. Li’Er will become an Alchemist as soon as I can!"

She was going to shoulder the burden!

Because Zhao Mengli knew well that her mother, limited by her Root Bone, could never become an Alchemist.

She was already their only hope!

With that, she returned to her spot and began working to improve her Cultivation.

To become an Alchemist, you didn’t just need Spiritual Power talent—you needed enough Cultivation to support it!

She had an Upper Grade Mortal Bone. Reaching the Qi Refining peak was only a matter of time.

Qin Yu actually stopped cultivating the moment she walked in. He saw everything his senior sister did, clear as day.

Honestly, he was a bit surprised.

Originally he had thought Zhao Mengli was a delicate flower, sheltered and pampered, but unexpectedly, she could accept reality so quickly and adjust her mindset accordingly.

In this brutal world, to survive, to find your footing...it was all so hard.

Let’s keep refining Spirit Stones to improve cultivation!

Shen hour.

"Buzz!..."

As the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi around Qin Yu undulated, his aura surged, immediately drawing the attention of Yin Qinghe and Zhao Mengli.

Clearly, this was the sign of a Realm breakthrough.

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Third Layer]

Qin Yu felt the rise of both his Spiritual Power and Spiritual Power within.

A breakthrough meant an increase in ’quantity.’

Qin Yu felt his Meridians and Dantian had expanded—at least twice as much as Qi Refining Second Layer!

Which meant, now, if he were to refine a batch of herbs, he could save a lot more time. The exact number would have to wait until he actually did it, though.

He’d expected this, after all, since he could literally track his progress toward a breakthrough. So Qin Yu didn’t feel much emotional fluctuation about it.

Yin Qinghe simply glanced at him, then closed her eyes to rest again.

"Congratulations, junior brother."

Zhao Mengli spoke up to offer her congratulations.

Though the girl appeared unchanged on the surface, Qin Yu could see her eyes had lost some of their former spirit.

Sigh.

He wanted to comfort her, but didn’t know where to start.

Better wait a few days before trying. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

In a blink, a month passed.

Early morning.

When Qin Yu woke, as usual, he glanced at the flame.

The flame didn’t seem much changed. Like the only beacon in the darkness, it looked as if it could be swallowed by that surrounding dark at any time, but still burned stubbornly on.

[Flame Point: 552]

[Lin Qianqian Romantic Point: 85 (Heartfelt)]

[Yin Qinghe Romantic Point: 18 (Initial Acquaintance)]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Third Layer (87%)]

[Root Bone: Top Grade Mortal Bone (Flame Point 552/5000)]

[Spiritual Power: Middle Tier Beginner (Flame Point 552/1000)]

In just a month, Flame Points had increased considerably—all thanks to...those supplements.

Shows just how diligent Qin Yu was.

His Cultivation Realm had also improved rapidly; by his calculation, just a few more days and he’d break into Qi Refining Fourth Layer!

Once, he might never have made it to this realm before dying of old age. Now, it only took a bit more than a month.

Qin Yu was just about to get up, when he felt something strange on his chest.

It turned out Lin Shuishui was lying on top of him.

The young girl was still deep asleep, curled up against him like a little kitten. Whatever dream she was having, she was even drooling, soaking through his clothes.

It thundered again last night, and Lin Shuishui was weeping alone in the next room. He had no choice but to let her in, which was why he only gained one extra Flame Point last night.

Qin Yu was resigned, but couldn’t bring himself to scold this little sister-in-law.

Worth mentioning: Lin Shuishui had already broken through to Qi Refining First Layer halfway through the month and was now a true Cultivator!

He tried to move her aside.

The little girl, however, clung tightly to him, even frowning in her sleep.

"I’ll go make you something to eat!"

Qin Yu grumbled in her ear, and only then did the girl let go of him.

What a little foodie.

Strange thing was, she never seemed to get fat; it’s like all those nutrients went to...

Qin Yu took a glance, but climbed out of bed without a ripple in his heart.

Lin Qianqian was already making breakfast.

Qin Yu walked over and hugged her from behind.

"Stop it, Shuishui might come in..."

A simple, cozy morning indeed.

[Emotion Point from Lin Qianqian +8]

Qin Yu left the house, only to find Mistress and Senior Sister waiting for him in the courtyard.

"Mistress!"

"Senior Sister!"

He greeted them as usual, though with a lot more casualness now.

After a month together, the three of them weren’t as distant as before.

However, since that furnace explosion, Mistress’s attitude toward him had stayed lukewarm, as if she was keeping a deliberate distance.

Really seemed like she intended to treat what happened that day as if it never occurred.

Seeing Qin Yu come out, Yin Qinghe couldn’t help but snort softly.

This past month, she was the one who suffered most!

This guy, vowing right in front of her that he’d become an Alchemist in five years, but then indulging every night!

Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration.

But in some respects, Qin Yu really was frequent—extremely frequent!

Tossing about three or four times a night!

Poor Yin Qinghe was put through hell.

And contributed some...Flame Points for Qin Yu, too.

Though not many.

Yin Qinghe really couldn’t understand it. With talent this good, such an excellent Root Bone, why waste time on such utterly pointless things!

She felt a little disappointed in him.

If she had Qin Yu’s talent and Root Bone, she’d have become a real Alchemist long ago—no way would she ever waste so much time on that kind of thing!

That would only slow her pace, hold back her progress.

She, Yin Qinghe, was wholeheartedly committed to the Dao!

But that infuriating disciple just wasted his talent and ruined his precious time!

At least she had a good night’s rest last night.

Today was important, so she’d gotten up early and was waiting for Qin Yu in the yard—never guessing that after rising early, this rascal would actually...

Start morning exercise!

Sneaking a look at Zhao Mengli, who was so timid she didn’t even dare look at Qin Yu, Yin Qinghe felt a fresh worry.

Her little cabbage...that delicate frame...

Could she endure that kind of wild storm?

She was very worried.

With that thought, she stood right up and coldly ordered, "Come with me!"

"Alright!"

Qin Yu answered, and together with Zhao Mengli, followed behind Yin Qinghe out of Danxin Herb Hall.