Chapter 26: 25. The Homebody Neighbor

25. The Homebody Neighbor

"Manager Zhang has gone missing?"

Upon learning this news, Chen An could not help but slightly furrow his brows, his face showing a hint of astonishment.

His expression was not forced; it looked very natural.

The leading cultivator of the Bamboo Leaf Gang, a middle-aged man dressed in white, had been observing Chen An's facial expressions the entire time and found nothing unusual.

To observe further, he said:

"According to our investigation, the last time Manager Zhang appeared before others was when he left the Cheap Area in the carriage you used to move house."

Chen An did not hesitate in the slightest and replied truthfully, "That is indeed what happened."

"That day, I was moving to the Core Area, and since my pregnant mortal wife was traveling with me, I specifically bought a carriage for the trip."

"Considering that the Cheap Area had been very unsafe recently and fearing we might encounter danger on the road, I found Manager Zhang on the afternoon before we departed and paid him to escort us."

"The next day, after Manager Zhang escorted us to the entrance of the Core Area, he returned to the Cheap Area on his own, and we have not seen him since."

This account was ninety percent true and ten percent false.

The few Bamboo Leaf Gang cultivators heard nothing unusual and immediately dismissed Chen An as a suspect.

In fact, they had not really suspected Chen An from the beginning; they were just conducting a routine visit and investigation.

Firstly, Chen An had no motive to kill.

Secondly, Chen An's cultivation was too low; he simply lacked the ability to kill Manager Zhang.

There was truly nothing worth suspecting.

They were more inclined to believe that Manager Zhang's disappearance might be related to the Black Iron Villa.

Because the mole from the Black Iron Villa they had been secretly monitoring, Manager Ouyang, had coincidentally gone missing on the same day.

They suspected that Manager Zhang was also a mole for the Heitian Villa and must have received some news in advance, retreating along with that Manager Ouyang.

In any case, Manager Zhang's disappearance was highly likely inseparable from Manager Ouyang.

Just like that, after asking Chen An a few simple questions, these few Bamboo Leaf Gang cultivators left.

As they walked away, the leading white-clad cultivator said with some reluctance:

"Sigh, I wanted to cast a long line to catch a big fish, using that Ouyang Feng to root out the other moles from the Black Iron Villa and wipe them out entirely, but now, all our efforts have gone to waste."

The few people beside him heard this and could not help but shake their heads, feeling equally unwilling.

"Sigh!"

The white-clad cultivator sighed again, then made a final decision: "Forget it, let's close the net starting tonight and drag out every known Black Iron Villa mole within the gang!"

On the other side.

Watching the figures of those Bamboo Leaf Gang cultivators gradually fade into the distance, Chen An, standing before his courtyard gate, could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

That was truly dangerous just now.

It was fortunate that these people's investigative methods were poor.

If this were in his past life, anyone who had received nine years of compulsory education could have discovered he was lying just by conducting a casual visit and investigation.

After all, the carriage used for moving had been blown up, and all the luggage inside was gone; this was a major point of suspicion.

"Perhaps it is not that the other party is stupid, but that they never considered me a suspect at all; after all, my cultivation is truly too low."

Chen An mocked himself inwardly.

He then turned and returned to the house, nesting in the Alchemy Room to diligently refine pills as he did every day.

There was no help for it, as he was currently very short on money.

Not only did he have to pay a rent as high as 100 Lower Grade Spirit Stones every month, but he also had to save up to buy the "Mandarin Ducks Flying Together" manual, which cost 1,000 Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

He had to be diligent.

Of course, while being diligent, he would also properly reward himself.

He would seek out Gu Xinyue for daily interaction.

He would seek out Song Huaying to discuss different paths to immortality.

His days were fulfilling and carefree.

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month passed.

His little wife Song Huaying's belly was growing larger and larger.

Seeing this, Chen An reduced his alchemy time and spent more time accompanying her, often taking her for walks in the courtyard and chatting with her about topics related to the child.

【Spousal affection +1+1+1+1+1...】

That night, Song Huaying lay on the bed resting, and Chen An sat by her side telling her stories to help her fall asleep.

He told her some love stories from his past life.

For example, The Western Chamber, The Butterfly Lovers, The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, The Legend of the White Snake, Chang'e Flying to the Moon, The Peacock Flies Southeast, and so on.

Song Huaying listened, completely enthralled and unable to stop.

【You patiently tell your wife Song Huaying bedtime love stories; spousal affection +1.】

"Alright, let's stop here for tonight. I'll continue telling you tomorrow night. Ying, get some rest early."

Seeing that it was about time, Chen An urged Song Huaying to rest early.

Song Huaying was addicted to the story and immediately hugged his arm, acting like a spoiled child:

"Husband, I want to know if Xu Xian and Lady White ended up together. Please, just keep telling me, otherwise I won't be able to sleep."

Looking at his little wife's appearance, Chen An could not help but think of himself in his past life, often staying up all night reading novels.

Being in a dim student dormitory, curled up under the covers, checking how many hours of sleep he had left while thinking he would only read for another half hour.

As a result, he would keep reading until dawn.

Therefore, he knew very well that if he continued, his little wife would surely keep acting spoiled and begging to hear more until the next day dawned.

To prevent this situation from arising, Chen An chose to go straight to the point and tell her the ending of the story, telling a comedic ending he had made up according to her tastes.

He said that Fahai was moved by the love between Xu Xian and Lady White, chose to fulfill their wishes, let the two stay together for life, and they had children and grandchildren everywhere, the end.

Song Huaying was very satisfied with this ending.

But after listening, she did not obediently go to sleep.

Instead, she acted like a spoiled child again:

"Husband, I'm hungry, I want to eat a late-night snack~"

"Ying, you are pushing your luck now."

"But husband, I'm really so hungry."

"Alright then, I'll go to the kitchen and make it for you, but you must sleep after you eat."

"Husband is the best!"

"What do you want to eat?"

"I want to eat husband~"

Song Huaying looked at Chen An with her watery, beautiful eyes and smiled slyly.

Chen An flicked her forehead and said, "You little girl, read less of those kinds of books in the future."

"But husband clearly likes them very much."

"One thing is one thing, another is another."

"I don't care, I just want to eat."

"..."

【You interacted with your wife Song Huaying for a night, discussing different Daos of becoming an immortal, husband-wife affection +1.】

The next day, early morning.

Chen An came out of Song Huaying's room.

He planned to wash up, eat breakfast personally made by Gu Xinyue, and then go to refine pills.

But after eating breakfast, Gu Xinyue would not let him leave.

"Husband, are you sleepy?"

"What's wrong?"

Chen An was asked this in a somewhat baffled manner.

Gu Xinyue pursed her thin lips and said, "Nothing, I just want to know if you are sleepy, husband."

"Your husband just woke up, I am definitely not sleepy."

"You are sleepy, husband."

"?"

"You are sleepy."

Gu Xinyue said with a somewhat stubborn expression.

Chen An understood.

It turns out this icy little concubine wanted him to go to the room and sleep with her.

He reckoned it was because he had spent the entire night at Song Huaying's place, which made this icy woman feel unbalanced.

She wanted to sleep it back in the morning.

After figuring this out, Chen An was suddenly somewhat amused.

Seeing that her husband remained unmoved, Gu Xinyue became a bit anxious and once again gave him a frantic hint:

"Husband, you are sleepy."

"Yes, yes, yes, your husband is very sleepy, let's go, Yue will accompany your husband for a nap."

"Mm."

After the time it takes for one incense stick to burn.

【You interacted deeply with your wife Gu Xinyue, making efforts to branch out and scatter leaves, Divine Sense strength +1.】

"Creak—"

Chen An walked out of Gu Xinyue's room looking refreshed.

He had originally wanted to go refine pills.

But after tossing and turning from last night until now, he really didn't want to have any more consumption.

He decided to go outside for a walk first, breathe some fresh air, relax his mind, and then come back to refine pills.

Arriving outside the house.

Chen An subconsciously looked at the room of his neighbor, Wen Zhiyun.

This menopausal beauty was truly just as Manager Zhang said, a Bitter Cultivator.

Ever since she blocked his door to demand an explanation half a month ago, he hadn't seen her at all in the days that followed.

Not even a shadow could be seen.

He didn't know if she had been staying at home the whole time without coming out.

"It seems that being able to see her the first few times was purely my good luck."

Chen An shook his head and smiled bitterly.

He had originally thought about flirting with this beauty to see if he could trick her into becoming his Dao companion.

Because he was thinking, since this beauty was a Bitter Cultivator, her strength should be in cultivation.

If he could become Dao companions with her and interact deeply in the room together, wouldn't his cultivation be able to increase by +1 directly?

In this way, cultivation efficiency would be greatly improved.

That is what he thought.

But looking at the current situation, that is somewhat unrealistic.

Because this beautiful woman is too much of a homebody.

It has been so many days, and she has not even stepped out of the door once; even if he wanted to flirt with her, he would have no way to start.

Unless he did as he did last time, making a big commotion while staying up all night bonding with Gu Xinyue, causing this beautiful woman to be unable to sleep all night, and forcing her to come over the next morning to block his door and demand an explanation.

Or, he could take the initiative to find her, but there is a high probability he would get scolded.

Just as Chen An was thinking about these random things.

A man's figure suddenly appeared on the courtyard wall of Wen Zhiyun's house.

He was acting sneaky, not knowing what he wanted to do.

He looked like a peeping tom.

He looked like a flower-plucking thief.

Chen An narrowed his eyes to look, and to his surprise, he discovered that this sneaky man was actually a neighbor who had come to visit him that day, a sword cultivator with a cultivation level as high as Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

……

PS: Setting out my bowl, begging for monthly tickets and recommendation tickets!