“Wa~ Master is so strong~”

  A surge of fervent desire welled up as Wei Er’s sight trailed over the rippling muscles of the man lifting and lowering large vats of water, one in each arm, his biceps flexing with each heave.

  Without even sparing his admirer a glance, Jia Shizi remarked dismissively, “With your master’s vitality, his strength shouldn’t be far behind.”

  Wei Er shook her head vehemently. “That twig-like man isn’t worthy of being Wei Er’s master! Only you are deserving of such a title!”

  A sneer twisted Jia Shizi’s lips, his eyes flashing with blatant disdain.

  “You better get your mind straightened out and act properly. Don’t fail to bring me nothing next time except for some gossip. See that he at least fills you right before you come next time. Otherwise…”

  Jia Shizi finally looked down, his gaze cold and condescending. “Don’t blame me for punishing you.”

  Most women might have felt fear at that moment, but the oblivious maid still nodded earnestly. “Wei Er will make sure to fulfill master’s wishes no matter what!”

  "Good," Jia Shizi grinned, taking his eyes away from the fallen and noncommittally added, "As for the information you'll deliver for credit... just tell him I have a weakness for women with violet hair."

  Some jealousy bubbled forth within Wei Er, but she bowed her head and eagerly conveyed her usefulness, “Wei Er will try to get close to that Lan woman and gather some clues for master.”

  The offer attracted Jia Shizi’s gaze back to her, but this time with a sinister light in his eyes.

  “If you can, try to get her addicted to the powder I prepared. Just a spoonful is enough per teacup. If you do well, I can grant your wish.”

  Giddiness overwhelmed the jealousy in Wei Er’s heart and she looked back up at the man she chose, “Master will teach Wei Er to cultivate?”

  With a face masked by his trademark grin, Jia Shizi’s eyes scanned her as if assessing her potential. “Yes, I can see you do have... talent. I can teach you the Sun Furnace Pheasant method next time if you prove yourself useful.”

  “Mm! Wei Er will wholeheartedly serve master and will not disappoint!”

  Pleased with her quick pledge, Jia Shizi grinned and beckoned to her, “Then come here and let me see if your wholehearted service matches your talent…”

  The scene blurred, the edges fading away into darkness and Bubai’s eyes snapped open.

  While a refreshing wave washed away the uncalled-for influences, Bubai helplessly mumbled, “Merlin’s beard. Can’t anyone just get along with me without planting traps left and right? Well… I’m not one to talk.”

  Scheming and plotting were second nature to most cultivators. He was no exception!

  Strength-wise, Bubai can’t claim he outclasses Jia Shizi, but when it came to scheming, Bubai had an edge!

  Dream fishing had its perks. Whether it be those sent in or those sent out, they could all serve as his spies!

  This way, Bubai had a much better chance of uncovering any hidden ambushes, allowing him to outmaneuver these hidden threats and even weave his own plans around them!

  So, the back and forth exchanges was… indeed quite useful. Too bad the same couldn’t be said for the goods themselves.

  Bubai’s sharp eyes shifted down to the petite Wei Er lying beside him, still knocked out cold. Sensing the package of drugs hidden in her womb, he couldn’t resist letting a sneer crawl onto his face.

  “Really willing to sacrifice ah. But… An inferior-grade fire root, even worse than her sister. So much for talent.”

  Even if she did have the talent, being taught to cultivate by an outsider isn’t a good thing. In fact, it could be said to be a dead end for her.

  Once she’s sent back and comes under scrutiny, it’s too easy for another cultivator to expose her.

  And the fate of a slave caught cultivating behind their master’s back… well, the end need not be mentioned.

  “Pity. Mortals are always so eager to grasp at straws they don’t even understand, but they are just disposable pawns in the end.”

  Rising to his feet, Bubai surveyed the large bathhouse, completely devoid of any incense smoke. “It seems like knock-out drugs alone are enough.”

  Of course, at his current mastery level, dream fishing still couldn’t be applied the same way to all victims in his sea.

  Using basic knock-out drugs only works wonders for mortals. Cultivators like Jia Fei still need incense to keep them under, a heavy dose at that.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  The less resistance, the easier the dream fishing.

  However, absorbing and being nourished by Qi would naturally build some resistance against external influences, and this was a cultivator’s first and foremost defense against the techniques of other cultivators.

  Mortals didn’t have this perk. Without a doubt, they had the weakest resistances, and their memories were the easiest to pry into.

  Well, this only applies for normal mortals – ones that didn’t have some hidden inheritance, mind defense, some reincarnation BS or mysterious persona like a certain demoness.

  Fortunately, his little maid didn’t have any of these. Thus, her memories were like an open book.

  The result? Well, he can save some money on incense and even splurge his sweet dream incense for purposes aside from dream fishing practice.

  Of course, for now, other purposes were strictly limited to keeping others in a long, deep slumber – something his cheap drugs and half-ass acupuncture skills can’t achieve.

  Drugs need to be administered, and Bubai can’t exactly force it down the victim’s throat once they were clued into the fact of their usage.

  On the other hand, basic acupuncture can be clean and sneaky, but it requires constant reapplication. Plus, its effectiveness will dwindle in the face of a cultivator’s resistance.

  Worse yet, if cultivators can maintain a lucid state, they could free or awaken themselves much sooner!

  So, for some places, it wasn’t that Bubai didn’t want to save money. It’s just that he can’t.

  While Bubai lamented over his expenses, he walked and arrived at the bathroom’s exit, just in time to see the door slide open.

  On the other side of the doorway was Xiao Lan, whose glassy eyes briefly flicked over the unconscious Wei Er before refocusing on Bubai in front of her.

  “Breakfast is ready.”

  “Good. Can’t wait. You do cook the best rice.”

  With a warm smile, Bubai took her hand that was as soft and cool as the voice of her announcement, making their way upstairs together.

  “By the way, how much rice is left?”

  “Half a pouch.”

  Bubai nodded, then added, "Be careful and don’t accept anything the twins feed you."

  Xiao Lan gave him a questioning glance, and he mouthed, "Drugs."

  Xiao Lan’s glassy eyes immediately sharpened. “Should I…?” She began, but Bubai shook his head and jerked his chin toward upstairs.

  Understanding, Xiao Lan bowed her head in silence for the rest of the walk up.

  Entering the lounge, Bubai was greeted by the sight of his petite maid setting the dining table, finishing it off by placing chopsticks next to two bowls of rice.

  Upon seeing them arrive, the composed Wei Yi gave a slight bow. "Master, please enjoy the meal."

  Bubai nodded at her and led Xiao Lan to their seats.

  Seeing her master settling into his chair, Wei Yi retrieved her ration from a pouch attached to her waist and silently walked toward the twins’ designated mat.

  At that moment, Bubai felt a nudge from his companion.

  Glancing at Xiao Lan, he saw her motion toward the empty seat across from them with a slight tilt of her head, mouthing the word "balance".

  Bubai instantly understood what she was getting at.

  Glancing at his leaving maid and sensing her brooding face that she did well to hide, Bubai called out, “Wei Yi.”

  At the sound of his voice, Wei Yi paused mid-step, and all her tumult emotions were left behind by the time she turned back. “Is there anything else you need, master?”

  Bubai returned a warm smile to his maid who loves wearing a composed mask, pointing at the seat across from them, "You can join us at the table from now on."

  Upon getting sudden invitation, Wei Yi’s composed face visibly brightened up.

  Yet, she still hesitated, shuffling in place and peeking at the mistress, until she heard him say, “Come, don’t make us wait.”

  With that, Wei Yi snuffed out her hesitation and pitter-pattered over to the ornate glass round seat, gingerly seating herself as if afraid she would break it.

  “Let’s eat.” Bubai lifted his chopsticks to scoop a bite of rice to his mouth.

  Xiao Lan followed suit, and Wei Yi nibbled on her dry ration while sitting prim and properly in her seat as if she was attending an interview.

  Chewing on the soft, fragrant grains of rice and remembering the taste of the dry rations, Bubai couldn’t help but lament inside.

  It felt like just yesterday when he worried about running out of rice.

  Now, although his stash was still limited, his accumulation of wealth in spirit stones had left little other use for his rice other than eating. Well, this wasn’t a bad thing.

  Without the sun in recent weeks, Bubai couldn’t thrive solely on his photosynthesis physique. Some sort of sustenance was a must.

  Eating was the most straightforward option, and eating spirit rice was preferable to normal rations because there are much less impurities involved.

  Both Xiao Lan and Shu Ling had hinted that impurities played an important role in the late stage of foundation establishment, though they hadn't explicitly explained why for one reason or another.

  So, it was best to ingest less and keep it low. That aside, Bubai didn't need to eat much in the first place.

  After all, he could sustain himself with his nourishing dew, which was the optimal option since even spirit rice had some impurities compared to his pure energy-based droplets.

  Hence, halfway through his bowl, Bubai fed a bite of spirit rice to Xiao Lan, earning a quiet look from her.

  “Eat more.” This rice was meant for her in the first place.

  His iceberg waifu didn’t argue, obediently slipping the bite into her mouth.

  However, while she chewed, she scooped up a bite from her own bowl, her chopstick making its way to his mouth, and she gave him that “you can’t refuse” look.

  Hence, their feeding session evolved into a back-and-forth game…

  Watching the lovey-dovey couple feeding each other rice from across the table, Wei Yi suppressed the envy brewing within her eyes, and nibbled on her rations quietly, doing her best to ignore the feeling of being left out.

  Time seemed to stretch infinitely, and she felt trapped in her own little world.

  However, her little world of loneliness was suddenly invaded by a chopstick, upon which sat a bite of spirit rice.

  Looking up in surprise, Wei Yi met her master’s doting eyes.

  “Last bite, hurry up.” Bubai prodded gently.

  With a bubbly feeling welling up inside, Wei Yi did her best to keep her blushing face composed and ate the morsel of rice from her master’s chopsticks, chewing it slowly as if wanting it to last forever.

  Bubai chuckled softly at her reaction. Well, even pawns deserve a little kindness now and then. It keeps them loyal. This way, it’s easier to keep an eye on someone.

  Speaking of keeping an eye on someone…

  Bubai’s eyes drifted out the lounge’s tall window, spotting another loner being left out.

  Well, it was about time he heads out.

  Setting down his chopsticks, Bubai rose from his seat. Retrieving a pouch of rice from his inner robe, he entrusted it into Xiao Lan’s hands.

  “I’ll be back for dinner.”

  Xiao Lan tore her eyes away from the blissful maid and nodded toward Bubai with her usual inscrutable expression. “En.”

  Leaving her a peaceful smile, Bubai turned to leave. Another important spy is awaiting his handling.