Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Golden Vase

“This time, for the alchemical furnace, we need five ingredients, but we’re still short one,” Master Huang said, a malicious glint flashing in his beady eyes as he glanced at Steward Huang.

“My apologies for my ineptitude, Master. I’ll see to it at once!” Steward Huang immediately felt a chill run down his spine, quickly snatching the list off the floor and backing toward the door.

But just as he reached the threshold, Master Huang seized him by the collar with one hand. With the other, he clawed at the base of the steward’s back.

A large, yellow, furry tail was yanked out, filling the air with a pungent stench.

“Mercy, Master! Mercy!”

With a savage jerk, Master Huang tore the tail right off. Blood poured out as he stuffed the tail into his mouth, chewing noisily—his sharp teeth nothing like a human’s—as he spoke with satisfaction, “I was hungry; a midnight snack will do.”

Clutching the bleeding stump, Steward Huang fled the room for his life, heading off to find the final cultivation offering that matched the required hour.

...

The next morning.

Wu Dalang returned home with a spring in his step, pressing Pan Yinlian again for her favor. Pan Yinlian refused, and as a result, Wu Dalang beat her viciously. She fought back with all her might, and Wu Dalang fared little better.

Sitting by the window, gazing at the empty street below, Pan Yinlian’s heart was filled with bitterness. She could not help but picture the elegant figure of Su Yang over and over again.

If only she could fly away with Lord Su—even dying would be worth it.

As for her current home, she truly could not bear another day.

In the days that followed, Wu Dalang spent his nights at the brothel with Li Ge, his health declining. Pan Yinlian suffered several more beatings; bruises mottled her body. Luckily, by threatening to die, she managed to stop Wu Dalang from truly forcing himself on her.

Name: Su Yang (Quasi-Immortal)
Incense Value: 20
Realm: Seventh Rank, Muscle Conditioning
Techniques: [Incense Division] [Qi Sight] [Mindworm Control] [Root Measuring Art]
Manuals: [Wild Ox Long Fist]
Reference: [Gynecology Compendium]
Lifespan: 73+
Family Offspring: 1
Long-term Progress: The family is flourishing. For the healthy growth of offspring and to better care for them, assign a maid to each pregnant lady. Each assignment grants 20 incense!
Family Progress: The family is thriving. Have your third consort conceive an heir to gain 30 incense!

...

The system’s interface had not changed in quite some time, stuck on the task of having the third consort conceive a child.

That morning, Su Yang reflected that it was still too soon for Xi Chun to be pregnant, as their union had been so recent.

Within the [Gynecology Compendium], however, was a method of pulse-taking, capable of detecting pregnancy as early as ten days—something unthinkable in his former world.

“My lord, are you going out today?” Xi Chun asked as she tidied Su Yang’s robes after breakfast.

“I’m heading to the Dongmen Mansion, as I mentioned a few days ago. The time has come.”

“Please be careful on the road. Would you like Wang Han to accompany you?”

“No need. They’re not as skilled as I am; bringing them would only be a burden. Better for them to stay and protect you all at home—that puts my mind at ease.”

“By the way, Miss Black Lotus is already up and walking again.”

“Mm.” Su Yang nodded. Black Lotus must have recovered her ninth-rank strength by now.

Although Black Lotus had maintained her aloofness toward him, she got along with Peach Blossom, Plum Blossom, and the others, often sitting nearby and watching them laugh and chatter, even if she still wore her cold facade.

Su Yang marveled that even in courtship, he found himself relying on the help of his wives and concubines.

“Stretch out your arm, let me see if you’re pregnant,” Su Yang said.

It had been ten days since his first night with Xi Chun, enough for the [Gynecology Compendium]’s pulse-reading to work.

“Oh, isn’t it a little soon?” Xi Chun blushed, but obediently extended her fair, lotus-like arm.

He placed his fingers lightly on her wrist, feeling for the pulse.

“Well?” Xi Chun asked curiously.

“Can it be...?” As Su Yang sensed the pulse, shock bloomed across his face. “My beloved, you’re pregnant.”

“What?” Xi Chun’s eyes widened in disbelief as she covered her mouth. “My lord, are you sure your pulse-reading is accurate?”

“Of course it is.”

It had worked on the first try. Su Yang could hardly believe it himself. That first union with Xi Chun had succeeded—what a coincidence.

Peach Blossom, Plum Blossom, Xi Chun...

Something felt odd. His women all seemed to conceive with remarkable speed. Could his physique be special?

No, perhaps he was simply too vigorous.

In the end, Su Yang and Xi Chun accepted the truth—she was indeed pregnant.

Now, two chamber maids and a concubine were all expecting, leaving Su Yang once more without a place to lay his head. The yellow-haired maids he’d recently purchased were still thin and frail, not yet settled in.

However, the original household girls—Xue Yuan, Ping’er, Qiu Ju, and Rui’er—were all...

Name: Su Yang (Quasi-Immortal)
Incense Value: 70
Realm: Seventh Rank, Muscle Conditioning
Techniques: [Incense Division] [Qi Sight] [Mindworm Control] [Root Measuring Art]
Manuals: [Wild Ox Long Fist]
Reference: [Gynecology Compendium]
Lifespan: 73+
Family Offspring: 1
Long-term Progress: The family is flourishing. For the healthy growth of offspring and to better care for them, assign a maid to each pregnant lady. Each assignment grants 20 incense!
Family Progress: The family is thriving. You now possess a household, but your family’s strength is still too weak to protect your women and offspring. Acquire twenty household servants stronger than the average man to gain 50 incense!

...

The incense value on the system panel had risen to seventy—thirty from having the third consort conceive, and another twenty for assigning a maid to each pregnant lady, totaling fifty. Added to the previous twenty, that made seventy incense.

Additionally, a new family progress task appeared—acquire twenty servants stronger than ordinary men. This was a simple matter. With a handful of servants already at home, he could purchase more, have them train with Wang Han for a few days, and feed them well. The task could be completed in at most ten days.

...

With these thoughts, Su Yang set out and made his way directly to the Dongmen family’s manor.

A servant led Su Yang inside. After all, Dongmen Qing was a sixth-rank martial artist—even during the rebel siege, no local ruffians dared provoke him. The home was lavishly furnished, filled with maids, servants, and even some well-bred young pages.

“Lord Su, it’s been a few days—do you still remember me?” came a woman’s voice, soft and seductive to the core despite her petite, delicate frame.

It was Golden Vase.

...

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Heavenly Silkworm and Heavenly Bean
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