Facing Yu Qing's question, The Two Women, who were still in shock, suddenly snapped back to reality and subconsciously straightened their backs.
"Reporting, Your Excellency, I am Duan Xin!" The short-haired girl spoke first, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness.
"This concubine is Zi Ruyi." The purple-haired woman followed closely, her tone respectful.
Facing a Titled Douluo who possessed three hundred thousand year spirit rings, their hearts were filled not only with relief but also with excitement and reverence.
"Relax, I'm actually quite easy to talk to," Yu Qing said gently. "Seeing that you two are good people and were being bullied, I just lent a hand."
[Ding! 'Approachable' image successfully created. Duan Xin, Zi Ruyi's favorability +5.]
Oh? Even a casual remark can increase favorability? This Charm Halo is indeed a divine artifact. Yu Qing secretly rejoiced in his heart.
"Thank you, Your Excellency, for saving our lives!" Duan Xin's tone was incredibly sincere. "I have no way to repay this kindness. If you have any commands in the future, Duan Xin will never refuse!"
"Your Excellency, the kindness of saving our lives and enhancing our spirit power, this concubine will never forget." Zi Ruyi said, exchanging glances with Duan Xin, as if they had reached a tacit understanding.
"We wish to follow Your Excellency! We hope Your Excellency will grant our wish!" The two spoke in unison, their voices firm.
A trace of appropriate surprise appeared on Yu Qing's face. I was just wondering how to trick them, and they're offering themselves up?
He looked at The Two Women with a slight hint of confusion: "Follow me?"
The Two Women bit their lips, and Zi Ruyi explained, "Your Excellency has bestowed upon us a new life and is a Titled Douluo expert with heaven-defying strength. We yearn to become stronger, to control our own destinies, and no longer be at the mercy of others like today..."
"Me too!" Duan Xin nodded vigorously, her eyes burning with fervor. "I want to become stronger!"
"You want to become stronger?" Yu Qing murmured to himself, as if touched by their words. "A very good ambition. So, tell me about your backgrounds, innate Soul Power, and Spirits."
Duan Xin immediately replied, "I am from the Duan Family of Icefall City. My innate Soul Power is rank seven, and my Spirit is the Crimson Flame Dragon Lizard."
Zi Ruyi interjected, "My family situation is similar to Sister Xin's. My innate Soul Power is also rank seven, and my Spirit is the Purple Cloud Vine."
Yu Qing listened quietly. As expected, they came from minor families. Reaching Spirit Ancestor and Spirit King at this age with innate Soul Power of rank seven was considered diligent.
"What are your plans for the future?" he continued to ask.
"To become strong, to revive our families!" The two spoke in unison again, the same flame burning in their eyes.
A very classic goal. Yu Qing nodded inwardly. With desire comes motivation.
"Mm." Yu Qing nodded, saying nothing more.
On the way to find an inn, Yu Qing casually asked, "What are your thoughts on that Zhao Wuji?"
"Hmph! Of course, we want revenge!" Duan Xin's eyes sharpened. "We were almost beaten to death for no reason. How could we easily swallow this insult!"
"We women are very vengeful!" Zi Ruyi also coldly agreed.
Yu Qing raised an eyebrow and deliberately poured cold water on them: "Revenge? With your innate Soul Power of rank seven, when will you cultivate to Spirit Saint? Zhao Wuji's talent is much better than yours."
These words were like a needle, instantly piercing the courage they had just mustered. Their expressions instantly dimmed.
Duan Xin scratched her head somewhat unwillingly, looking at Yu Qing with hope: "Your Excellency, we have decided to follow you... Do you... do you have a way to accelerate our cultivation speed?" She asked with some embarrassment.
Zi Ruyi also immediately cast curious and longing gazes.
[Ding! Detected strong demand from potential Dao Companion (to become stronger quickly). Suggests host to display 'capital' at an opportune moment to deepen the binding relationship.]
Yu Qing smiled inwardly, but on the surface, he feigned contemplation. After a moment, he spoke with a hint of difficulty: "A method... it's not that there isn't one. It's just... this method is a bit special, and for you, it might not be very friendly."
"What method?" The Two Women's curiosity was instantly piqued to the maximum.
Yu Qing showed a somewhat peculiar smile: "Let's talk about it after we find a place to stay. This method... well, it's quite 'that'..." He deliberately spoke ambiguously, leaving infinite room for imagination.
His vague words and strange expression made The Two Women's hearts itch like a cat's paw, with various conjectures flooding in, and their cheeks unconsciously flushed slightly.
Soon, the three checked into a nice hotel. Yu Qing booked two rooms, but The Two Women still followed him like little tails.
Yu Qing opened the door to his room, then turned around and looked at them with a half-smile: "Are you... sure you want to follow me into the room?"
Only then did The Two Women realize, their cheeks instantly turning crimson. They quickly lowered their heads and responded in voices like mosquitoes: "Mm... oh no, we're going back to our room!" With that, they almost fled into the adjacent room.
Yu Qing watched their flustered backs, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth. Good effect... Comfortably soaking in the bathtub, Yu Qing completely relaxed. The warm water washed away half a year's worth of fatigue accumulated in the Star Dou Great Forest.
After soaking for a while, he retrieved an ancient storage bracelet from nearby.
Closing his eyes, he extended his mental force into it, and soon, he took out two leg Spirit Bones emitting a faint dark luster and astonishing energy fluctuations.
One left, one right, a perfect pair. These were two top-grade Spirit Bones, each eighty thousand years old!
[Ding! Detected host's 'Eighty-Thousand-Year Left and Right Leg Bones'. This item has a significant effect on increasing the target's favorability and can be used as a high-quality 'investment' item.]
Eighty-thousand-year Spirit Bones, if placed outside, would be enough to cause battles of Titled Douluo level. Yu Qing caressed the cool, smooth surface of the Spirit Bones with his fingers. Since he had decided to take them as Dao Companion, he had to offer some betrothal gifts, right?
After a thorough wash, Yu Qing stepped out of the bathtub, stood before the mirror, picked up a razor, and meticulously shaved off his full beard.
As the stubble fell, a distinct and exceptionally handsome face gradually appeared in the mirror. Sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, a high nose bridge, and a complexion that appeared exceptionally healthy from years of cultivation, combined with those sharp and profound eyes that had seen much, exuded an indescribable charm.
"Tsk, I'm really f*cking handsome!" Yu Qing ran his hand through his wet hair, looking at the mirror.
He had always been very satisfied with his face. Even later, when he traveled the continent, his good looks repeatedly caused him 'trouble,' forcing him to deliberately appear scruffy and seal away his irresistible charm.
But now, he had ascended to the realm of Titled Douluo!
Hehehe... now I'm the one who snatches from others! He let out a classic villain's laugh in his heart.
After admiring himself, he changed into a meticulously crafted black slim-fit robe. The robe perfectly outlined his tall, slender, broad-shouldered, and narrow-waisted physique.
Having tidied himself up, Yu Qing, feeling refreshed, opened his room door, ready to go find The Two Women—
Just as he pulled the door open, he saw Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi raising their hands, poised to knock but not yet knocking.
Yu Qing was momentarily stunned.
The Two Women outside the door were even more instantly frozen, their eyes staring fixedly at the refreshed Yu Qing, as if under a petrification spell. Their mouths hung slightly open, their faces filled with astonishment and disbelief.
Holy crap! Is the Charm Halo effect this potent? Plus my peerless appearance, comparable to that of a venerable reader... Yu Qing's ego inflated slightly.
He extended his hand and waved it in front of The Two Women, suppressing a smile as he asked, "Are you... looking for me?"
Only then did The Two Women seem to awaken from a dream, their cheeks instantly turning so red they almost dripped blood, their eyes darting around frantically.
Oh no, oh no! We actually acted like infatuated fools in front of Your Excellency! And we got caught red-handed!
Seeing The Two Women looking utterly mortified and wishing they were dead, Yu Qing's mouth twitched slightly, struggling to suppress his laughter: "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" The Two Women shook their heads like rattles.
Yu Qing stepped aside, clearing the way: "Come in first."
Seeing that he had no intention of pursuing the matter, The Two Women felt as if they had been granted a great pardon. They lowered their heads and followed him into the room, one after another, like two obedient little quails.
Closing the door, Yu Qing comfortably sat down by the bed. Seeing The Two Women still standing nervously, he pointed to the nearby sofa: "Sit down, both of you. No need to be so formal."
Only then did The Two Women cautiously sit down on the edge of the sofa, but their backs remained straight, and their hands nervously clutched the corners of their clothes.
Seeing this, Yu Qing stopped beating around the bush and decided to get straight to the point.
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping over The Two Women's flushed cheeks, and his tone became a little more serious:
"The method I mentioned earlier that can accelerate cultivation indeed exists."
The Two Women's eyes instantly lit up, and they looked at him nervously and expectantly.
Yu Qing paused, seemingly weighing his words, then slowly said:
"But that method is not an ordinary meditation method or medicinal aid. It is a... dual cultivation method for men and women."
"This method is profound, and it is also the fundamental basis for me to establish a family and clan in the future, and to cultivate core confidantes."
His gaze deepened, and his voice lowered a few octaves, carrying an undeniable implication: "Only my wives may practice it."