Ever since Luo Yao established her dominance over Ding Nan, he had been eating all his meals with her.
Previously, Ding Nan’s expenses for food and clothing were not just modest—they were downright cheap.
The Spiritual Qi in this world was abundant.
Ordinary rice grew well and absorbed a bit of it, leading to good growth and yield, but it had no effect beyond filling the stomach.
Rice that could provide the Spiritual Qi needed for cultivation was called Spiritual Rice.
The same applied to meat and vegetables, which were known as Spiritual Meat and Spiritual Vegetables.
Although the Ding Clan cultivated these, they lacked a Spiritual Stone Vein, so their production was limited.
Qingquan City was quiet, and its industries generated mediocre income.
The Ding Clan lacked a deep foundation and had many mouths to feed.
Even though Ding Nan was the Young Master of the family, aside from his title and a few associated stipends, he lived much like everyone else.
He always had to ration his portions, whether it was Spiritual Rice, Spiritual Meat, or Spiritual Vegetables.
Without Luo Yao’s interference, Ding Nan estimated that if he still hadn’t reached the Qi Refining Stage by age eighteen, he would have had to leave the Ding Clan to make his own way in the world.
Thus, it was difficult for him to even afford a feast of meat, let alone adding a variety of strange medicinal herbs to his meals.
Now, however, he had everything: Spiritual Rice, Spiritual Meat, and Spiritual Vegetables.
There were even high-quality items that made the visiting Ding Wen drool.
Ding Wen was far more worldly than Ding Nan.
No matter how dense Ding Nan might be, he realized that Luo Yao was paying for all his current meals.
He suddenly understood why his cheap old man was so eager for a grandson.
By latching onto this rich woman, Ding Nan was able to eat Spiritual Vegetables every day.
Although Luo Yao would drain his Spiritual Qi as soon as it exceeded the middle stage of Qi Refining, the food was delicious, and he truly enjoyed it.
Today was no different. Ding Nan suggested he wanted to eat red chili oil, and the version Luo Yao prepared naturally used Spiritual Vegetables.
By noon, the kitchen was filled with the pungent, spicy aroma of peppers, just as he had requested.
Before long, Luo Yao returned to Ding Nan’s courtyard carrying the food.
After setting out the utensils and food boxes, she released Ding Nan from his room.
Ding Nan walked out, held by Luo Yao in a way that looked intimate but was essentially surveillance — and confinement.
With her support, he sat down at the stone table in the courtyard.
Looking at the plate of shredded chicken in red oil overflowing with Spiritual Qi, Ding Nan nearly let a ‘just as planned’ expression slip onto his face.
“Young Master, make sure you eat the spicy dish you asked for. Don’t think about anything you shouldn’t,” Luo Yao said, her face pressed against Ding Nan’s arm as she looked up with a smile.
Ding Nan trembled.
Though her smile was charming, he couldn’t feel any warmth. Instead, he felt threatened.
“Haha, how could I? It’s just that I’ve been eating too much greasy food lately. I wanted something spicy to clear the dampness, but since I can’t handle actual peppers, I asked for the oil,” Ding Nan said, scratching his head.
“Is that so? Then eat up,” Luo Yao said, releasing his arm.
The two of them ate. During the meal, Luo Yao stared at him from time to time.
Ding Nan could not find an opening.
“Yao’er, help me get some more rice.”
“Certainly, Young Master.”
Luo Yao took the bowl and turned to fill it.
Ding Nan lunged forward, dipping his fingertip into the red oil…
“Your rice, Young Master.”
It took her only three seconds to fill the bowl.
But Ding Nan was one step ahead.
As he reached out for it, he intentionally let his hand slip.
Crash!
The bowl hit the ground, and rice scattered everywhere.
“Young Master?”
“Sorry, my apologies.”
Luo Yao knelt and picked up a broom to begin clearing the shards and rice.
Ding Nan took the opportunity to draw the seal for a Hiding Talisman under the stone table.
Thanks to the wide sleeves of his clothing, both his movements and the oil were well-hidden from her sight.
She finished the task quickly and returned to her seat.
“Young Master, you didn’t do anything bad, did you?” she asked, her gaze piercing as she leaned against his neck.
Ding Nan feigned indifference.
“How could I?”
“Really? You better not be thinking about running away, or I’ll have to keep you locked in your room forever,” Luo Yao said.
Her eyes never left his, staring intensely.
Ding Nan forced himself to stay calm, but his expression became increasingly stiff.
“Anyway, let’s keep eating,” she said, her expression clearing like a sky after a storm.
“Uh, are there any other bowls in the food box?” Ding Nan asked.
“No.”
“Then I’ll go get one?”
“Young Master, you can just use this one.”
Luo Yao pushed her ceramic bowl to the center between them.
“Huh? Then what about you?”
“I’ll use it too.”
Ding Nan’s brain stalled for a moment.
“We’ll share it, Young Master.”
Ding Nan finally understood what she meant.
“That… that isn’t appropriate. It’s just a bowl; I’ll go get another,” Ding Nan said.
He felt hot, and sweat beads began to form on his forehead.
“There’s nothing wrong with it, Young Master. I already know the taste of your tongue, your inner cheeks, and every single tooth. Why does it matter?”
“Uh…”
Ding Nan stiffened his neck, looking at Luo Yao as she leaned against him.
She watched him with a hazy, mesmerized look in her eyes.
“Is the Young Master shy?”
Rather than shyness, Ding Nan felt a sense of crisis.
“Are you tired, Young Master?” she asked.
‘This is bad!’ Ding Nan’s mental alarms went off.
“Fine, I’ll just use the soup spoon,” he said hurriedly, picking up the spoon from the table and looking away.
***
In the afternoon, Ding Nan brandished his long spear.
After teaching him the Fire Cloud Spear Technique initially, Luo Yao would usually just watch him practice in silence.
Ding Nan mastered the technique rapidly because its philosophy was not only similar to the Sunset Sword Technique but also aligned with his way of thinking.
Spear shadows flickered as he performed the forms repeatedly until his muscles transitioned from aching to relaxed, and finally to exhausted.
Twilight arrived in the blink of an eye.
“Time flew.”
Ding Nan wiped the sweat from his brow.
Without him noticing, Luo Yao had already prepared his bathwater.
He went to take a bath.
While he was bathing, he suddenly heard a massive explosion, followed by thunder and lightning.
Then, a thunderous, powerful voice boomed.
“Stop fighting! You two, please, put away your divine powers!”
Ding Nan recognized the voice—it was the City Lord.
He finished bathing quickly, changed into new clothes, and rushed out of his bedroom.
The sky was leaden and flashing with lightning.
Two tiny figures were facing off on the horizon.
‘Holy crap, immortals fighting!’ Ding Nan gazed out.
But after a single glance, he stopped looking—his vision wasn’t good enough to see them clearly.
Then, he noticed something unexpected: Luo Yao wasn’t in the courtyard.
Usually, if he hadn’t finished bathing, she would be waiting with food already prepared in the yard.
Now, Luo Yao was gone, and the White Silk Ribbon was not on his body.
‘My chance!’
His eyes sharpened.
He hurried back to his bedroom to pack his gear.