Chapter 695: E and Su

As the Shang family of Xiuxiang was restored, people's hearts stabilized. Though many had died tonight, this was already the best outcome, given that they had been caught in a battle between Divine Blood Warriors.

But Li Yi knew that despite having taken eighty thousand taels of gold as temporary ransom, he had spared the other side.

Yet hatred had already taken root. Once Shang Xiuxiang returned and learned of everything here, he would spare no effort to retaliate—he could never swallow this humiliation. What kind of conflict would erupt between the two Shang lords, Li Yi could not say.

He was certain that one of the two Shang lords would die.

Since arriving in the Wildlands, Li Yi had come to understand something of the people's nature and customs here.

Seeing no other matters to attend to, Li Yi returned alone to his courtyard, intending to resume cultivation and strive to complete his body's transformation while reaching full cultivation of the Five Qi Realm.

At this moment.

Two beautiful, graceful concubines had been following Li Yi behind, eager to serve this esteemed guest and even hoping they might conceive a child of a Divine Blood Warrior. If Li Yi's Divine Blood purity was high enough, his offspring would be born as natural Divine Blood Warriors.

But unfortunately, these two concubines had no such opportunity.

"I wish to rest alone. You need not stay. You may return to your quarters." Li Yi told the two concubines.

The two concubines exchanged glances, both revealing regret and disappointment. They felt they had missed a chance to change their fate—here, the opportunity to serve a powerful Divine Blood Warrior was rare.

"Does our esteemed guest think we are unattractive, unworthy to remain and serve? Or is it because of what happened today that you refuse the lord's favor? Then we shall use our lives to resolve your displeasure." One concubine summoned courage to say.

Li Yi glanced at them.

These two concubines were indeed stunning. He had no doubt of Shang Xiuxiang's taste—no woman insufficiently beautiful would be kept as a concubine in a Shang lord's household; once they aged or lost their beauty, the lord would immediately sell them and replace them with new beauties.

Thus, the status of concubine was fleeting.

That was why these two beautiful women were so desperate to seize this limited time, hoping to alter their fate of being sold again—even if it meant angering the guest and losing their lives.

"What is your name?" Li Yi asked.

"I am E."

The concubine said: "The lord bought me and named me E Ji, for I am one of the most beautiful women in his household. He only allows me to serve the most honored guests. Great Yi is the first esteemed guest I have served."

Li Yi turned to the other concubine and asked: "What is your name?"

The other concubine was nervous and timid, lowering her head to reply: "I am Su. The lord calls me Su Ji."

"You two look somewhat alike. Are you related?" Li Yi asked again.

"E and Su both come from the long-extinct Changshan Tribe. Because our tribe's warriors were not strong enough, we were conquered by another tribe and sold to slave masters. E and Su were sold together for one hundred taels. The slave masters taught us to read, etiquette, dance, and music. Later, the lord spent two hundred taels to buy us back. E and Su have been in the lord's household for half a year." The concubine named E Ji spoke.

"No wonder I didn't see you the last time I came to Beihuang City—you hadn't been bought back yet." Li Yi said calmly.

Indeed, this world had its good side and its primitive cruelty: tribes swallowing others, selling captured populations to slave masters—it sounded utterly uncivilized.

The village of Shou Shan was probably the same: lacking strong warriors and having lost a Grand Priest, it too would be targeted, destroyed, and its people captured and sold to slave masters.

But Li Yi, as an outsider, though he did not understand this world's traditions and customs, would still follow them—that was called adapting to local ways.

He would never be foolish enough to challenge a world's traditions and customs.

"Since you two can read, that is good. From today, you will stay in my quarters and teach me to read. When Shang Xiuxiang returns, I will ask him to give you both to me. I believe he will not refuse my request." Li Yi said directly.

He felt it better to take these two concubines—after all, he would now have two servants at his side, rather than having to do everything himself.

Having two beautiful women nearby was preferable to being surrounded all day by burly men and muscular brutes.

Now that he thought of it, he still missed having a group of Golden Iris Guards around him.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, E Ji and Su Ji became excited, immediately responding and kneeling to bow before Li Yi.

They knew that with these words from this Divine Blood Warrior, their fates had already changed.

Even if Li Yi departed in the future, the lord would no longer treat them as concubines or servants—their status was now different.

Watching the two concubines follow Li Yi into the eastern courtyard, the other guards, servants, and retainers smiled and sighed in relief.

At least Great Yi still accepted the lord's favor.

If he had refused everything, it would mean Great Yi would not stay long in Beihuang City—the lord could not keep this esteemed guest, and when he returned, his mood would be terrible.

"What are you doing?"

Upon entering the bedroom, Li Yi saw E Ji and Su Ji already unfastening their robes. As their outer garments fell away, their thin undergarments revealed elegant, voluptuous figures.

Their skin was extremely fair, as if soaked in some substance, glowing faintly under the moonlight and starlight streaming through the window.

A faint fragrance filled the air.

No wonder Xiuxiang had been willing to pay two hundred taels.

Recall that when Li Yi had sought Jiang Mingtian, Zhao Fangji, and Hu Fei, the three slave masters had raised their price to one hundred taels total. Yet these two concubines, each, were worth one hundred taels.

Truly, people were not comparable.

"We naturally wish to serve Great Yi," E Ji said, offering a sweet smile.

Li Yi said: "No need. I fought a Divine Blood Warrior last night—I don't want to fight another battle with you two. If you wish to prove your worth, don't rely solely on your beauty."

"There is a saying: those who serve others through beauty lose favor when beauty fades; when favor fades, grace ends."

"We are concubines. Aside from serving Great Yi, we have no other skills," E Ji said. "Of course, we can bear you children. You are a noble Divine Blood Warrior—your offspring will surely inherit your Divine Blood."

"If I could bear a Divine Blood child for Great Yi, I would feel deeply honored," Su Ji added eagerly.

Li Yi replied calmly: "My Divine Blood is still gestating, transforming—not yet at its peak. So I have no need for you yet. It is late. Rest now. Tomorrow, begin teaching me to read."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, E Ji and Su Ji showed no disappointment—only obediently picked up their garments and prepared to rest on the stone bed.

"Wait."

Li Yi then pulled soft, clean bedding from his Five Elements Bracelet and tossed it to them. After the rebuilding, nothing was here—they couldn't sleep on cold stone.

"Thank you, Great Yi."

Both immediately showed joy and took the bedding.

Though it was a minor gift, it proved they were not disliked.

One day passed quickly.

When the next day came.

As dawn barely broke and the two concubines had not yet risen, Li Yi suddenly opened his eyes—he sensed another familiar presence nearby.

It was Dong Chong, the Divine Blood Warrior who had been defeated last night.

Also, Shang Liehou had arrived.

Li Yi immediately stepped out of the stone house.

At that moment, a guard hurried over and said: "Esteemed guest, the former Shang lord and the Divine Blood Warrior have returned again. This time, they brought ransom."

"I already know," Li Yi nodded.

People in this world still held high standards of trust—they kept their word.

Speaking of which, one must mention the naturally evil people of Earth.

Indeed, everyone's morality improved greatly after leaving Earth.

"In one night, the Xiuxiang household was rebuilt—this is no feat of craftsmen," Shang Liehou stared at the restored mansion, stunned for a long while.

The mansion was nearly identical to its pre-destruction state, only the materials had changed.

Previously, it had wooden beams and bronze decorations, with thick stone slabs on the floor. Now, all materials were stone—seamless, as if carved from a single mountain.

But that was impossible.

Where could one find a mountain in one night and carve it into a house?

At this moment.

A servant rushed over and informed Shang Liehou of what he had learned, explaining the reason for the mansion's sudden reconstruction.

"Did that Divine Blood Warrior, Great Yi, use some extraordinary method to rebuild this house in an instant?" Shang Liehou mused: "I once heard that Jiao people weave cloth with no seams, called 'heavenly garments' in some places—hence the saying 'heavenly garment without seams.' I never imagined Great Yi's divine art could build a house with no seams either. That must be a form of Divine Art."

Divine Art?

Hearing this, Dong Chong fell silent.

Though still wounded, his powerful physique and timely healing allowed him to move freely today—he simply could not yet fight.

"Only those with sufficiently elevated Divine Blood can awaken Divine Art—it is an ancient inheritance flowing in the blood of the gods," Dong Chong said. "It seems Great Yi has inherited the gods' knowledge and abilities. Last night's battle, he must have held back—he did not show his full strength."

"At least, he has not yet used the great bow on his back."

Upon hearing this, Shang Liehou's face showed resignation—he realized he had made a foolish decision last night.

Looking at the heavy chest behind him, though reluctant, he had no better choice to fulfill his promise of last night.

(End of Chapter)