Looking at Lu Jing, who stood at the door with a slightly flushed face, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel that her fear wasn't the issue here.

  Lu Jing wasn't afraid at all. She was clearly eyeing him. It didn't matter if she was truly scared or not. The fact that she had come to his door so late at night carried a different meaning altogether. Indeed, Lu Jing's eyes met Ye Chen's with a mixture of hesitation and determination.

  Lu Jing was different from Lin Ke'er. She wasn't fond of conflict, nor did she seek out an exciting life. Lu Jing only wanted to live a peaceful, stable life. To her, marrying a man who could offer her protection and a comfortable life was the ideal.

  Before, Ye Chen's cultivation was too low for her to feel secure in him. But now things had changed. Ye Chen had made breakthrough after breakthrough and was now far more powerful than she was. And his wealth… that had far exceeded her expectations.

  Magical tools, protective charms, and various kinds of gifts—he had showered her with them nonstop. This suggested that Ye Chen's standing in the Ye family was no doubt exceptionally high. While there might be more talented cultivators in the Silver Moon Market, would any of them treat her the way Ye Chen did? Would they be as generous, as willing to share their resources with her? It was clear that none of them would.

  After thinking it over, Ye Chen seemed like the best choice. However, Ye Chen's tendency to spread his affection around left Lu Jing feeling conflicted. At first, it was just Lin Ke'er, and that was manageable. But now, rumors were circulating that Ye Chen had also developed an interest in the daughter of the Green Cloud Shop steward. He had been throwing around wealth, buying her extravagant gifts, and courting her lavishly.

  This, of course, made Lu Jing disdain Ye Chen's lack of loyalty in relationships, but it also increased her sense of urgency. Lin Ke'er was different; they were both loose cultivators. Lu Jing felt confident in her ability to compete with her.

  But the Green Cloud Shop steward's daughter was another matter entirely. If she couldn't compete with her, if Ye Chen truly devoted himself to the other woman, what would happen to her then? Where would she go to cry?

  So, Lu Jing no longer minded Ye Chen's flirtations. She had decided to take the initiative. Even if Ye Chen remained fickle, it mattered little to her. What she wanted was for Ye Chen to take her to Green Cloud City.

  Green Cloud City lay right next to the Green Cloud Sect, a place where even the mighty Golden Core Ancestor presided. No cultivator dared act recklessly in Green Cloud City. Lu Jing truly did not wish to remain in Silver Moon Market any longer.

  The Ye family resided in Green Cloud City. If Silver Moon Market fell into turmoil, the Ye family would undoubtedly send someone to retrieve Ye Chen. She, too, wanted to leave! Thus, she had arrived tonight.

  Lu Jing had steeled herself. With a hesitant gaze, she looked at Ye Chen. "Fellow Daoist Ye, I'm a little afraid... would it be possible for me to sleep in your room tonight?"

  Ye Chen smiled softly. "It's fine, but I only have one bed in my room..."

  Lu Jing's fair face flushed a deep red. "If there's only one bed, then there's nothing to be done... Fellow Daoist Ye has been so kind to me. I trust you completely! You wouldn't do anything, would you?"

  Though her words were gentle, they rang hollow. Could it really be this simple? Sleeping in the same room—how could nothing happen? It was just like the theory from her past life, where beasts were still beasts, but some were even worse. Most men would certainly act like beasts.

  But Ye Chen was different. With Silver Moon Market in chaos and perhaps the death of the Mo family's ancestor, Ye Chen, too, harbored thoughts of leaving. Once back in Green Cloud City, he might never see Sun Ruoxin again. He had no idea what Lin Ke'er would choose.

  But Lu Jing's personality might just lead her to follow him. If he could win over Lu Jing, there would be no further complications—an outcome that carried its own risk. How long would it take to find someone suitable in Green Cloud City? For now, he could only play the part of the beast. But, if they were to share the same bed, it was only right to enjoy the benefits. After all, they would both find joy in it.

  Thus, Lu Jing settled into Ye Chen's room.

  …

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  The night passed without incident. Outside, no chaos arose as anticipated. Ye Chen, too, was uninterested in stepping out. He simply rose and began his cultivation. As for Lu Jing, her cheeks were still flushed as she returned to her own room. She had barely slept a wink.

  Meanwhile, Lin Ke'er had risen early, practicing her swordplay in the courtyard. When she saw Lu Jing emerge from Ye Chen's room, her eyes widened in shock. A woman, leaving a man's room so early in the morning—it was clear she had spent the night there...

  Lu Jing had gone this far to compete with her for Ye Chen? Now that they shared such a connection, would Ye Chen start giving gifts to Lu Jing first?

  Lin Ke'er's cold face revealed a hint of hesitation. She wanted Ye Chen's gifts. After all, Ye Chen had been growing increasingly generous. Every gift he gave was worth at least a middle-grade spirit stone. That was equivalent to a typical mid-stage cultivator's annual earnings. There was no way Lin Ke'er could let go of that. But now that Lu Jing had gone this far, if she didn't keep up, could she even compete? Yet, she couldn't bring herself to follow Lu Jing's example.

  Ye Chen, though not bad, was still not what she had envisioned. He was wealthier and more generous than she'd expected. His cultivation talent didn't seem as poor as she once thought. But Lin Ke'er's aspirations were not limited to the likes of a mere Qi Refining family. She hoped to reach Foundation Establishment, and for her future Dao partner to at least be a Foundation Establishment cultivator as well, only then could she truly establish herself in the cultivation world. Otherwise, she would remain a mere ant in the Qi Refining stage, drifting aimlessly. Ye Chen couldn't offer her the life she desired.

  After a moment of silent resolve, Lin Ke'er bit her lip lightly. She chose to ignore it and turned back toward her room.

  …

  After finishing his cultivation, Ye Chen glanced at Silver Moon Market. It remained eerily quiet. The flow of people was much sparser than usual. Most shops had yet to open, with only a few, like Green Cloud Shop, still operating. Clearly, everyone was still anxious about whether the Mo family's ancestor was truly dead.

  In Ye Chen's eyes, such calm would not last long. If the Mo family's ancestor did not make an appearance soon, many, who had kept their greed in check, would likely no longer be able to resist. That afternoon, Steward Zhang arrived. He was surprised to see Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er in the courtyard. A moment later, he sneered inwardly.

  Ye Chen was truly infatuated. At the first sign of danger, he hastily brought his beloved women here—two, no less. Such a young man, already consumed by lust. What future could he possibly have?

  However, Steward Zhang did not let these thoughts show. Instead, he discussed the current situation with Ye Chen. If the Mo family's ancestor had truly died, it was clear that Silver Moon Market could no longer remain peaceful. He had already sent word to his family. Should Silver Moon Market fall into chaos, the shop would undoubtedly be closed. The family would send people to help evacuate, bringing supplies and people with them. Ye Chen need not worry.

  Ye Chen nodded, thinking it was likely his father who would come to take him away. His heart felt at ease.

  That evening, Lu Jing once again knocked on Ye Chen's door under the pretense of fear. Ye Chen couldn't help but reflect on the truth that might always ring clear—when in doubt, size prevails. But after a while, Lu Jing looked particularly resentful. Just as she was about to speak, a voice from outside interrupted.

  "Kill…"

  "Loot the goods, the Mo family's ancestor is dead, and the Mo family only has seven late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. They won't be able to stop us."

  "This is our chance to become wealthy."

  "Wife, stay home with the children. I'll go take a look. If the opportunity arises, we won't have to live these hard days any longer."

  "Kill the Mo family first. Once they're gone, Silver Moon Market will be ours to plunder."

  The air was filled with cries of killing and chaos. Lu Jing's previously rosy complexion turned ashen in an instant. Ye Chen patted her comfortingly, quickly donned his clothes, and with a few swift steps, ascended to the roof. He activated the Five Elements Concealment, shrouding his figure, and surveyed the surrounding situation. Not far behind the commercial street was the Mo family's estate, a vast expanse that occupied nearly a quarter of Silver Moon Market.

  At this moment, a large number of cultivators had gathered before the Mo family's gates. The number of cultivators exceeded a hundred, and those standing at the front exuded a particularly fierce aura.

  Ye Chen used the Emperor's Qi Viewing Technique to observe and found that among them were at least ten late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Among them, there was even one at the ninth level of Qi Refining, though Ye Chen had no idea where they had come from. Behind them, some of the cultivators appeared to be mountain dwellers. There were also many who wore masks. Perhaps these were the cultivators of Silver Moon Market, seeing an opportunity and taking advantage of the chaos to loot.

  "It's clear now. Since the Mo family's ancestor hasn't shown up, he must have already died. The Mo family has dominated Silver Moon Market for thirty years, accumulating untold wealth. These were all things that should belong to us, the wandering cultivators. Now, we'll take them back with our own hands."

  At the sound of the leader's command, the fierce cultivators immediately began launching spells toward the Mo family's gates, attempting to breach the defenses. The Mo family had protective formations, which blocked these initial attacks. But inside the Mo family estate, there was still no sign of movement. This lack of response emboldened the attackers. More and more cultivators began to throw spells, and soon the Mo family's defenses appeared to be on the verge of collapsing.

  Ye Chen furrowed his brows, silently lamenting the fragility of order within the cultivation world. But just then, his eyes narrowed. A tall figure had quietly slipped into his courtyard, unnoticed by the others. Seeing that the person had no idea they had been discovered, Ye Chen's lips curled into a cold smile.