The next day.
Qin Gengyun went to the Alchemy Workshop where he worked to request leave for a day and once again came to the Marriage Pavilion.
Although yesterday he viewed several female cultivators but was hindered by the dowry, to survive, he could only continue to the Marriage Pavilion to seek a Dao companion.
"A thousand-mile destiny is drawn by a single thread, good matches are right here at the Marriage Pavilion! Taoist Friend Qin, you came just at the right time, congratulations, congratulations!"
Matchmaker Wang saw Qin Gengyun and immediately beamed with joy, warmly pulling him to sit down.
"Taoist Friend Wang, in my situation, what is there to be happy about?"
Qin Gengyun asked with a bitter smile.
"Taoist Friend Qin, do you know about the Demon Sect's annihilation?"
Matchmaker Wang said with a grin.
"Taoist Friend Wang, are you referring to the Cyan Lotus Sect being eradicated by the combined efforts of the Zhenyang Sect, Feiyun Sect, and Thunder Sword Sect? Naturally, I have heard of it."
Qin Gengyun nodded.
"Shh, be cautious in your words, call it the Demon Sect!" Matchmaker Wang quickly reminded.
"I misspoke, it is the Demon Sect. But Taoist Friend Wang, what does the Demon Sect's annihilation have to do with me seeking a Dao companion?"
Qin Gengyun was puzzled.
"The Demon Sect has for many years captured and confined numerous female cultivators, now that the Demon Sect is defeated, these female cultivators have all been rescued. However, they have been trapped in the Demon Cave for many years, with damage to their body and cultivation, many are eager to find a suitable Dao companion as support, naturally not demanding too much dowry."
Matchmaker Wang looked around, and in a mysterious low voice said:
"Taoist Friend Qin, presently there are a few female cultivators rescued from the Demon Sect here at our Marriage Pavilion seeking a Dao companion. I thought, isn't this a heaven-sent opportunity for you? If you're interested, I will arrange it for you."
Qin Gengyun quickly said, "I'll trouble Taoist Friend Wang then!"
He wanted to marry primarily for dual cultivation, the background and experiences of the counterpart were not important, now he only wished to find a female cultivator whose dowry he could afford, that would suffice.
"Alright, Taoist Friend Qin, have a seat, I'll be right back!"
Matchmaker Wang cast a flirtatious glance at Qin Gengyun and swayed her hips as she left.
Qin Gengyun waited quietly, nearby were many male cultivators who came to find a Dao companion, some chatting, exchanging experiences. Qin Gengyun sat silently in a corner, listening to their conversation.
Most of it was complaints about female cultivators' excessive demands and high dowries, understandably, those seeking marriage here were mostly from the lower tiers of cultivation, how many could afford those exorbitant dowries?
These male cultivators' discussion veered off topic, starting to talk about the Three Great Sects' eradication of the Demon Sect.
"It's said that during the battle at Celestial Ridge Mountain, over a hundred Foundation Establishments fell, more than ten Golden Cores, and even a few Nascent Souls, only then were they able to kill the Demon Sect Leader and Demon Sect Saintess! That battle must have been extremely fierce!"
"Not just fierce, half of the Spirit Trees on Celestial Ridge Mountain were burned to ashes by that Demon Sect Saintess Xia Qinglian, half of the Spirit Beasts on the mountain were frozen to death by her, the Profound Ice and Li Fire Demon Technique is truly terrifying!"
"I heard that Xia Qinglian had half fire-red, half snow-white long hair, the appearance and figure were enchantingly voluptuous, soul-stirring, just dying like that, what a pity."
"That is a Demoness of the Demon Sect, be careful she doesn't suck your marrow dry."
As these male cultivators discussed the Demon Sect Saintess Xia Qinglian, each was excited, but Qin Gengyun remained indifferent.
He only wanted survival, anything related to sect grudges, Foundation Establishments or Golden Cores were too far away for someone like him.
At this moment, Matchmaker Wang returned and said to Qin Gengyun: "Taoist Friend Qin, arrangements have been made, follow me, please."
Qin Gengyun stood up and followed Matchmaker Wang to the second floor to a room.
Inside sat a female cultivator with average looks, with a slightly worldly look between her eyebrows, Matchmaker Wang simply introduced the two and then exited, winking at Qin Gengyun before leaving.
Qin Gengyun engaged in awkward small talk with the female cultivator for a while, finally getting to the point:
"Taoist Friend Liu, I wonder if you're willing to become Dao companions with me, exploring the path of cultivation together?"
The female cultivator examined Qin Gengyun thoroughly, seemingly unimpressed, but eventually said:
"I can become Dao companions with you, but there are some conditions."
Qin Gengyun quickly responded, "Taoist Friend Liu, please state your conditions."
The female cultivator said: "I have a child, and thus I do not intend to have more children in the future. I hope Taoist Friend Qin will treat my child as your own, is this possible for you?"
"This..."
Before Qin Gengyun could answer, the female cultivator continued:
"I know this is not very fair to you, so the dowry will not be high, just two hundred Spirit Stones. By the way, Taoist Friend Qin, I heard you rent a house in Narrow Rain Lane, I hope you will at least buy a residence on Caifeng Street, I don't want my child to suffer with me."
Qin Gengyun was speechless for a moment, the female cultivator frowned seeing this:
"Taoist Friend Qin, I have a sister, over forty, with two children, just last month married a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, dowry was one thousand Spirit Stones, a high-grade Flying Sword, a Spirit Vein Immortal Mansion. Seeing your situation, I've already lowered my expectations greatly, do not be ungrateful."
Qin Gengyun stood and bowed: "Taoist Friend Liu, someone as beautiful as you indeed should not settle down easily, never lower your standards. I'm sure one day you too will marry a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator. Farewell."
Saying this, he no longer acknowledged the female cultivator's gloomy expression and hurried out of the room, Matchmaker Wang greeted him:
"How did it go?"
Qin Gengyun briefly recounted the conversation, helplessly:
"Taoist Friend Wang, if the remaining ones are similar, then I'd better not disturb you."
"Hey, hey!" Matchmaker Wang quickly grabbed onto Qin Gengyun:
"Taoist Friend Qin, the remaining ones truly are female cultivators rescued from the Demon Sect, it's said they suffered terribly within the Demon Cave, their dowries are definitely not high, take another look, there might be a heaven-sent opportunity?"
Qin Gengyun thought about the Pill Poison within his body, sighed in his heart, and reluctantly nodded in agreement.
Matchmaker Wang was overjoyed, leading Qin Gengyun quickly to the next room.
"Taoist Friend Qin, I am quite satisfied with you, all I ask is two hundred Spirit Stones as dowry, and a new house with a garden."
"I cannot measure up to that, I wish you soon find your ideal match."
...
"Taoist Friend Qin, we share similar interests, let's halve the dowry, one hundred Spirit Stones, two Second Grade Spirit Pills, and a lower-grade Flying Sword."
"Farewell, Taoist Friend!"
...
Four two-hour later, the sky was already dark, and it began to rain again.
Qin Gengyun walked out of the last room, expressionless.
Matchmaker Wang also seemed fatigued, sighed:
"Taoist Friend Qin, let's call it a day, I will keep an eye out for you in the future, take care."
Qin Gengyun nodded silently, dragging his weary steps as he left, yet saw outside in the fine rain a female cultivator walking in.
Unlike many tall female cultivators with almond-shaped faces, this female cultivator is petite and delicate, with a round face. If not for her bulging upper body, one might almost mistake her for a young girl.
However, her complexion is pale, her expression numb, and her once beautiful long hair has been dampened by rain, sticking in strands to her forehead and covering her eyes, giving her a lifeless appearance.
Outside, there was a loud crash as thunder and lightning flashed, illuminating this female cultivator, making her resemble a spirit corpse emerging from the Northern Wilderness.
"Wh-What can I do for you, Taoist Friend?"
Matchmaker Wang was startled and quickly asked.
The female cultivator lifted her head, finally revealing her eyes that had been obscured by her hair.
Her eyes, shaped like almonds, should have been very lively but now appeared numb and stiff, filled with a sense of hopelessness as if she had lost all hope.
The female cultivator looked at Matchmaker Wang, her clear voice unwavering:
"I'm looking for a Dao companion."
Matchmaker Wang immediately plastered on a professional smile: "A thousand miles of fated connection, here at the Marriage Pavilion for a perfect match! You've come to the right place, Taoist Friend! What requirements do you have for a Dao companion? Appearance, height, cultivation, wealth..."
The female cultivator's delicate face showed no expression, her voice lifeless:
"Qi Cultivation Second-Layer, Ice and Fire Dual Spirit Roots, a male cultivator, that's all."
Matchmaker Wang was stunned and hadn't spoken when Qin Gengyun suddenly spoke up:
"Taoist Friend, I am at Qi Cultivation Second-Layer, with Ice and Fire Dual Spirit Roots. How much bride price do you require?"
The female cultivator looked up at him, confusion flickering in her beautiful almond eyes that were as stagnant as dead water, her pale cherry lips slightly parted:
"Bride price, what is that?"
...
...
"Taoist Friend, I don't own much, nor have any relatives or friends, so we'll have to make do without a banquet."
One two-hour later.
Narrow Rain Lane, the cheapest lane for rent in Yunling Town.
In a small, shabby tiled house, a table, two chairs, a single bed, and a small partition beside the bed with a stove and utensils.
This was all that Qin Gengyun owned.
Except today was slightly different; besides Qin Gengyun on the bed, there sat a woman dressed in bridal clothes, with a red veil over her head.
This was indeed the petite female cultivator who had walked into the Marriage Pavilion earlier.
When Qin Gengyun asked if she was willing to marry him, the female cultivator blankly looked at him and nodded in agreement.
Qin Gengyun then led her back to his rented house on Narrow Rain Lane.
Upon inquiry, he learned that this female cultivator had just arrived in Yunling Town today, with no residence or acquaintances here, so they didn't even have to arrange a banquet and simply worshipped Heaven and Earth before preparing for the bridal chamber.
Feeling uneasy, Qin Gengyun borrowed a bridal outfit from a pair of Dao companions next door for the female cultivator to wear.
The woman in red sitting on the bed finally brought a bit of joy to the cramped and plain room.
Upon hearing Qin Gengyun's words, the female cultivator quietly sat still, her expression hidden under the red veil.
But the delicate fingers tightly clutching her skirt and the small, raised veins on her pale hands revealed the tension and unease in her heart.
So Qin Gengyun decided to lighten the mood a bit first.
He coughed lightly and asked, "Taoist Friend, what's your name?"
The female cultivator had remained silent throughout the journey, not even revealing her name; she again did not respond to Qin Gengyun's inquiry.
Scratching his cheek, Qin Gengyun continued, "Why do you want a Dao companion who is at Qi Cultivation Second-Layer with Ice and Fire Dual Spirit Roots?"
Still silence beneath the red veil.
Qin Gengyun was not the talkative type, and now he didn't know what else to say.
The rain outside persisted, the atmosphere inside the room was somewhat awkward.
"My surname is Qiu, and my name is Zhihe."
After a long period, her clear voice suddenly broke through the stifling silence, gently lifting her red veil to reveal her continued voice:
"I was captured by the Cyan Lotus... Demon Sect and confined for years. After being rescued and left alone, I wish to find a Dao companion to live out my life together. Due to my special constitution, I can only marry a male cultivator with Ice and Fire Dual Spirit Roots."
Qin Gengyun felt joy in his heart; as long as she was willing to communicate, it was a good sign.
In this world, the cultivation techniques are controlled by the Major Sects and rarely leak out.
If ordinary loose cultivators want to embark on this path, the husband and wife must be in harmony, connect hearts and minds, to gain insights.
"Taoist Friend Qiu, you don't need to be nervous; let's chat for a while. Where are you from? Your parents, relatives..."
Before Qin Gengyun could finish speaking, Qiu Zhihe suddenly lifted the red veil, revealing her charming and cute round face. After a simple grooming, her face was pure yet alluring, quite enticing.
"Taoist Friend Qiu, you...ah?!"
Qin Gengyun intended to speak further, but was suddenly pushed down by the expressionless Qiu Zhihe...
The rain outside intensified.
...
Thirty breaths later.
Qin Gengyun lay on the bed, mouth agape, with a look of disbelief.
Turning to speak to Qiu Zhihe, he found her already turned away, evidently not wanting to talk.
Qin Gengyun felt a bit awkward.
He closed his eyes, focused his senses.
He had heard that if the Dao companionship was successful, afterward, one should distinctly feel an increase in spiritual energy and cultivation.
Qin Gengyun focused his senses for a long time, but the Spirit Field showed no signs of change.
"Have all paths... been cut off?"
Instantly overwhelmed with despair, Qin Gengyun felt an impulse to end it all himself, to avoid the further five years of mental and physical torture.
At that moment, phantom words suddenly appeared before his eyes:
[Couple Intimacy: 5/100. Intimacy too low, no bonus]
[Obtained Cultivation Points: 2]
[Cultivation Points can be freely allocated to cultivation progress or skill progress.]