Chapter 34: Li Jian’s Resolve

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Li Jian’s Resolve

After some time had passed, the three of them began their journey back.

Even after leaving the ruined village behind and returning to the forest path, Li Jian found himself repeatedly thinking about what had happened there.

The smell of blood still seemed to linger in his nose, and whenever he remembered the corpses scattered throughout the village, his desire for strength became even stronger.

It was no longer the vague ambition he had possessed when he first obtained the system.

After witnessing what had happened, that desire had become much more real and urgent, making him realize just how powerless he still was.

He needed strength... and more importantly, he needed a way to increase his strength as quickly as possible.

Fortunately, the fastest method available to him was already sitting inside the spatial ring on his finger.

The dual cultivation technique.

Spirit stones were limited, his talent was only average, and the Golden Marrow Tempering Pool had already been used up.

If he continued relying on ordinary cultivation methods, his progress would still be painfully slow.

But dual cultivation was different.

If he practiced it properly, he could improve both the quality and recovery of his qi much faster than he could by simply absorbing cultivation resources.

Thinking about this, Li Jian’s expression gradually became serious.

After what had happened today, he could no longer afford to remain satisfied with his current strength.

For most cultivators, the only real obstacle to practicing dual cultivation was finding a suitable partner.

However, Li Jian did not have that problem.

"..."

His gaze naturally fell on Su Qin, who was walking a few steps ahead of him along the mountain path.

Her full, rounded backside swayed seductively with each step, the outer sect robes unable to hide that soft and plump peach-like outline.

After everything that had happened during this trip... from their intimate encounters to the way she had gradually become more willing to listen to him... Li Jian no longer saw her merely as the arrogant outer sect beauty he had first encountered.

She was also the most convenient partner available to him right now, and more importantly, she represented an opportunity for him to increase his strength.

He glanced at Su Qin’s total Favor Debt.

[Favor Debt from Su Qin: 6,590]

With that much debt accumulated, convincing her to accept dual cultivation would not be difficult.

Li Jian continued staring at her swaying figure as he silently decided what he would do once they returned to the Purple Shade Sect.

He had no intention of rushing things while they were still on the road.

He would rather not waste this opportunity in the wilderness.

As much as he yearned for strength now, he was not in such a hurry that he would rush the process.

After all, if he was going to practice dual cultivation, he certainly would not mind enjoying the process along the way.

Once they returned to the sect, he would take out the jade slip, make a proper request, and begin practicing the technique.

Su Qin noticed his gaze after a while and eventually turned her head to look back at him with a frown.

"What are you staring at now?"

Hearing her cold tone, Li Jian withdrew his gaze and answered calmly.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about what comes after we return to the sect."

Su Qin gave him a suspicious look before turning her attention back to the path ahead.

Her figure continued to sway naturally with each step as they descended the mountain.

Behind her, Li Jian’s expression remained calm, but his thoughts had already drifted toward what awaited them after returning to the sect.

Slowly, a faint smile appeared in his heart.

’With her, things should go quite smoothly.’

—

_

_

The three of them continued along the mountain path, the return journey noticeably quieter than the trip there.

After seeing Qinghe Village reduced to ruins, even Su Qin had become much quieter than usual.

Han Jin still walked ahead as before, though his mood was clearly better than it had been on the way there.

Every now and then, he would circulate his qi, as if he still couldn’t quite believe that his foundation had truly changed.

Li Jian followed behind them, keeping his thoughts to himself.

And as night approached, they found a suitable place to camp and stopped for the evening.

Han Jin went to check the surroundings while Su Qin sat down beside the fire and stretched her shoulders, looking tired after everything they had gone through that day.

When she noticed Li Jian looking at her, she immediately frowned.

"If you want that again, just say it. Don’t sit there staring at me like a pervert."

Li Jian smiled faintly.

"It seems Senior Sister truly knows me best. But... not tonight."

Su Qin raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by his answer.

"...You’re actually holding back?"

"I have something more important to do after we return," Li Jian replied. "There’s no need to waste my energy while we’re still on the road."

Su Qin stared at him for a moment before snorting and turning her attention back toward the fire.

"Hmph. Good. At least you know when to stop being disgusting and save me the energy."

Li Jian simply smiled and didn’t bother correcting her.

Instead, he moved over and stood behind her before gently massaging her shoulders.

"Yes, yes. I apologize for troubling Senior Sister Su throughout the entire trip."

Su Qin was slightly startled by his sudden movement, but when she realized he wasn’t trying to make her kneel again, her shoulders gradually relaxed under his hands.

A faint, rather arrogant smile appeared on her face as she enjoyed the unexpected consideration.

"Hmph. At least you know how to apologize."

She thought he was simply showing some restraint.

In truth, Li Jian was only saving his next request for a more suitable place.

The night in the forest passed without much incident, and the following morning, the three of them continued their journey toward the Purple Shade Sect.

_

_

_

By the afternoon of the second day, the familiar light purple mist appeared in the distance, and the mountain range surrounding the sect gradually came into view.

Han Jin looked ahead and spoke in a noticeably calmer voice.

"We’re back."

Su Qin also let out a small breath, as if she had finally allowed herself to relax after being away from the sect for so long.

Li Jian silently looked toward the familiar mountains and touched the spatial ring on his finger.

The death mission was over.

Qinghe Village was gone, but he had returned alive... with a stronger foundation, a spatial ring, a dual cultivation technique, and two people who now owed him an enormous amount of Favor Debt.

His gaze lowered slightly as a thought quietly surfaced in his mind.

’Zhao Ming wanted me to die out there. Instead, I came back with everything I need.’

A faint smile appeared on his face as the outer sect gate gradually grew closer.

’In a way, I should probably thank him...’

Li Jian had always been a man who knew when to return a favor, and he would undoubtedly repay this particular "favor" a hundredfold.