Chapter 60: Group Owner, Stay Steady

"Alright, just hang it here."

"Let it sun-dry."

"Set up a small barrier, and remember to replenish its Spirit Power every week, so it doesn't get pecked away by the sparrows you have here."

"In a few days, come and remove the astringency; once it frosts over, it can be eaten. It's very sweet. Hmm, by then it will be truly sweet, soft, and if done well, it will even have a molten center. That is, provided the weather doesn't suddenly turn bad these next few days; overcast and rainy days will ruin it."

Ning Qing looked up at the few small clusters of persimmons on the tree.

On top of the wall not far away, two sparrows stood side by side just like the two of them, their little black beady eyes staring at them and these few clusters of persimmons.

What could these two little fellows be thinking?

Are they preparing to eat the persimmons after we leave?

Or are they puzzled as to why we picked them before they were ripe, and then hung them back up after picking them?

Can their brain capacity even reach that far?

Or are they thinking nothing at all?

Ning Qing could not figure it out for the moment.

She had only just begun to practice Jingxin Dao; she would only be able to roughly guess the thoughts of these small animals after she practiced Taixin Dao in the future.

"Cooking, cooking..."

"Firewood, rice, oil, salt..."

Chen Shu walked into the kitchen talking to himself, looking very leisurely, even though no one responded.

Ning Qing had already fully equipped the kitchenware.

A sweet and sour Chinese cabbage, a tomato stir-fried with eggs, two bowls of rice—a very simple dinner, a plain yet extraordinary home-cooked taste, which happened to be the flavors she loved to eat; it was tangy, appetizing, and went well with rice.

Ning Qing watched what he made, not breaking her composure.

The same mistake would not be made twice.

After the meal, the dishwasher washed the dishes.

Chen Shu sat on the sofa, opening his messaging app while also opening the Ancient Cultivation Group.

Chen Shu: 【Image】

Chen Shu: Look, persimmons.

Chen Shu: Picked the persimmons from the persimmon tree in Demon King Sister's courtyard and made dried persimmons, but they definitely weren't ripe when you came to Yujing. When they ripen later, if they taste good, I'll mail you a few to try.

Xiaoxiao: Looks so delicious.

Chen Shu: They are astringent, not ripe yet.

Chen Shu: 【Image】

Chen Shu: I told Demon King Sister they were sweet and sour and let her eat one. I tricked her; look at her expressionless face, her tongue must be numb from the astringency.

Xiaoxiao: She is a fool!

Chen Shu: Yes, that's right.

This was a great victory for the brother-in-law and sister-in-law joining forces against the Great Demon King.

Worthy of commemoration.

Then Chen Shu switched back to the Ancient Cultivation Group.

Qingcai Keke: What are the big shots doing?

Grandma Always Says: Tracking Zhao Haojiang.

Qingcai Keke: Hard work, big shots. Hurry up and finish him off; I can't wait anymore.

Grandma Always Says: What's the rush? Even catching a rat takes half the night; people nowadays have no patience at all.

Qingcai Keke: Makes sense.

Qingcai Keke: Where is Senior Brother Wuming?

Nameless Person: I have nothing to do! Junior Sister Qingcai, what are you doing?

Qingcai Keke: 【Image】

Qingcai Keke: Just finished cooking. I've been so poor lately, I don't even dare to eat out.

Grandma Always Says: How can that be? Qingzhou Spirit Power hit the daily limit up five times in a row; you aren't even celebrating with a big meal?

Nameless Person: Junior Sister Qingcai is so virtuous! /Thumbs up

Nameless Person: Whoever marries you in the future will be truly blessed! /Folded hands

Nameless Person: /Fist bump /Heart gesture /Rose

Grandma Always Says: Why don't you go marry her then?

Nameless Person: /Smile /Smile /Smile

Qingcai Keke: The money I earned has to be saved to buy advanced potions. My family is poor; I'm so broke.

Nameless Person: Junior Sister is truly thrifty! /Thumbs up

Grandma Always Says: You lick the ground she walks on the moment you see a woman.

Nameless Person: /Confused /Confused /Confused

Chen Shu revealed a satisfied smile behind the screen.

A burst of light footsteps approached from afar.

Chen Shu instantly pressed the Mobile Phone screen dark, vigilantly staring at Ning Qing as she walked toward him. If he guessed correctly, this girl wanted to do as she had before—walk to his side and openly watch him chat. It was fine usually, but not today.

Ning Qing also stopped her steps, silently watching him.

Chen Shu reached out a finger and pointed at her, sternly accusing: "Wanting to watch me chat again! The desire to pry is so strong before we're even together; what will it be like in the future!!"

Ning Qing scrutinized his expression.

A few seconds later, she continued her steps, walked around from behind the sofa, sat right beside him, and turned her body to stare straight at him, with the posture of 'I am definitely watching, you had best not play on your Mobile Phone today.'

"You..."

"Too much!"

Chen Shu leaned his body to the side, openly hiding his Mobile Phone so she couldn't see it, while continuing to chat with the silly group members.

Grandma Always Says: @Qingcai Keke

Grandma Always Says: Do you know how to hide cameras and wiretaps?

Qingcai Keke: How to hide them? If it's physical concealment, it mainly depends on whether the size is small. If it's hiding Spirit Power fluctuations, I do know some small methods for Dark Silence that can fool most detectors on the market and some weaker Cultivators, but they won't fool military detectors or more powerful Cultivators.

Grandma Always Says: That's great.

Qingcai Keke:?

Grandma Always Says: I need to use this, I'll ask you for help when the time comes!

Qingcai Keke: But this is just Rune application, not a ready-made device; you can only mail the device to me, and I'll process it for you. Or go to the Deep Net to buy specialized Dark Silence cameras; it's said there are even cameras that don't use Spirit Power or Runes at all, only electricity, and the same goes for wiretaps.

Qingcai Keke: And I can't guarantee they won't be discovered, oh.

Grandma Always Says: We'll talk about it then.

Grandma Always Says: It's fine, so what if it's discovered?

Grandma Always Says: During the hunting process, the aggressive hunter side always possesses a higher fault tolerance.

Qingcai Keke: /Thumbs up

An old poser, spouting nonsense as soon as he opens his mouth.

Qingcai Keke: Also, big shot.

Grandma Always Says:?

Qingcai Keke: Sell the Cage Technique to me, I sold my stocks, I have money now.

Grandma Always Says: You just sold them?

Qingcai Keke: It's enough.

Grandma Always Says: You won't be able to afford four dishes and a soup in this lifetime.

Qingcai Keke:...

Qingcai Keke: My mom says girls don't need to be that rich, just marry into a good family later is fine, Senior Brother Wuming, don't you think so @Nameless Person

Nameless Person: /Thumbs up

Grandma Always Says: /Vomit

Chen Shu let out a happy laugh again.

Wait—

Qingqing is still watching from the side.

The laughter stopped abruptly; Chen Shu rubbed his face, met the gaze of the expressionless Qingqing, and said calmly, "Don't look at me like that, I'm not crazy, and I'm not chatting with wild women outside, I was just teasing a group of idiots, my heart belongs to you forever."

Qingqing didn't speak, just stared at him.

It was as if she could tell what he was doing from his eyes and his expression.

"Why are you staring at me?

"Staring won't help.

"I won't let you see."

Chen Shu continued to hide from Ning Qing and happily lurk in the group.

Grandma Always Says: /Transfer money

Qingcai Keke: Should I use this to transfer?

Grandma Always Says: It's very safe.

Qingcai Keke: I know, it just depends on what's convenient for you.

Grandma Always Says: Just use this, fifteen thousand.

Qingcai Keke: 【Transfer】

Grandma Always Says: This doesn't have a digital file, only a paper book; I will mail it to the group owner, and the group owner will mail it to you, you can just receive it then.

Qingcai Keke: Okay.

Grandma Always Says: Not buying other Confinement Techniques? What about other barrier-type Spells?

Qingcai Keke: I'll make them myself.

Grandma Always Says: The performance of ones you make yourself isn't good.

Qingcai Keke: It's enough for me to use.

Grandma Always Says: Can't tell you're quite awesome.

Haoran: I told you, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers in the group, don't look down on anyone.

Grandma Always Says: Lurking dog!

Grandma Always Says was muted for 1 minute by Haoran.

Chen Shu couldn't help but laugh again.

Look at you, knowing you'd be muted and still provoking him, is your mouth really that itchy?

Qingcai Keke: Senior Brother, don't always keep thinking about my living expenses, I need to buy cosmetics, buy bags, get my nails done, winter is here, I also want to buy a pair of black silk stockings with good warmth to wear, it's all very expensive...

Nameless Person: Must send photos!

Haoran:...

Qingcai Keke: What's wrong with the group owner?

Qingcai Keke: /Ying ying ying

Haoran: Nothing.

One minute passed.

Grandma always says: People still want to buy a pile of shit to eat...

Grandma always says she has been muted for 1 minute by Haoran righteousness.

Ning Qing then saw Chen Shu typing while letting out bursts of wanton laughter, as if he had gone crazy.

After a long silence, she finally got up and walked upstairs.

This person is already beyond saving.

Sushe 504.

Chen Shu returned covered in the smell of hot pot, playing with his Mobile Phone as he walked.

Meng Chunqiu said to him, "Brother Chen, where did you go last night? Why didn't you come back all night again?"

"Why?"

Chen Shu raised his eyes and glanced at him:

"Missed me?"

"?"

Meng Chunqiu was stunned by his question, feeling a bit bewildered; he knew that male friends in this society often spoke like this, but because he had always had few friends and looked rather feminine, basically no one had ever teased him like this.

For a moment, he was still a bit unaccustomed to it.

Chen Shu was quite natural, walking into the bedroom.

The clothes in the laundry basket were almost overflowing; he threw the clothes into the washing machine and also took Meng Chunqiu's laundry pod and threw it in.

Brother Meng's are high-end goods, while us Lao Chen are big, rough men, so I might as well use two.

At this moment, Jiang Lai walked over bashfully and said to him hesitantly, "Brother Chen, please help me design a Rune, I'll treat you to dinner tonight..."

"Hmm?"

Chen Shu operated the washing machine and looked back at him: "Sure, tell me the category and requirements."

"I..."

"Haven't thought it through yet? Do you want defensive or offensive? Most Martial Artists carve defense first, right? After all, it's a mortal body; being able to withstand a knife is very important."

"I want an offensive one."

"Which specific kind?"

"I don't know."

"You often fight in the Arena, how could you not know?" Chen Shu quickly figured it out, "Ask boldly, don't be afraid that I can't do it, and don't be afraid of trouble. I myself look for many problems to practice with when I'm free."

"A shock Talisman Array, is that possible?"

"The kind I saw that day."

"Hmm, is it possible?"

"It's very simple. The one he made was done very poorly; the speed of the shockwave was very slow." Chen Shu had his own confidence, "I can provide you with two plans. One type of shockwave is just like his, only able to push people away, but it will be more Spirit Power-efficient than his. The other is lethal; the specific power depends on how much Spirit Power you input, and the upper limit is very high, comparable to an explosive shockwave."

"!"

"Don't look at me like that. We're all from the same school; since you're so capable, I can't be that bad either." Chen Shu said, "Hurry up and choose."

"The second one!"

"Alright!" Chen Shu agreed readily; he couldn't tell that this shy roommate was actually quite aggressive, "Go get a Spirit Power test for a Martial Artist, and send the test data along with your specific requirements, focus, and usage preferences for the Rune to my messaging app. I can get it done in a week!"

"I, I'll treat you all to dinner tonight!"

"Deal!"

Jiang Lai had always been frugal and never ate out; it was quite rare for him to take the initiative to treat them to a meal.

Chen Shu paused, fearing he would feel embarrassed, so he added: "When the time comes, see how it works. If the effect is good, I won't even ask you to promote me in your circles; if anyone asks, just give them my messaging app. Maybe I can even earn some money."

"No problem!"

Jiang Lai blushed and agreed.

For him, asking for help and bothering others also required summoning up a lot of courage.