Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 162 - 132: Wisdom in Simplicity

October 18, 2017, evening

After a sumptuous and lengthy work lunch, Wang Jiu returned to the Shen Garden with his mount, ready to start her evening cultivation, but saw Shen Qingming wave her small hand: "No, today I'm too tired, I request to rest."

Wang Jiu was shocked on the spot.

An Immortal Cultivator, with Immovable Tyrant Body at the second heaven, Great Perfection, and late-stage half-step peak in the Wind-Rising Realm, after eating Drunken Immortal Tower delicacies all afternoon, tells him she's too tired? This is barely qualifiable even for a glutton.

"You're the glutton!" Shen Qingming retorted angrily, "And it's all your fault! Forcing me into some idol duo with her, and then having meals together, you know what Li Wanqing is like... eating with her is more torturous than cultivating Immovable Tyrant Body!"

Wang Jiu's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Shen Qingming nodded vigorously: "Really! Super exhausting!"

After a pause, to enhance persuasion, Shen Qingming added: "Just think about how many times I drank hot water this afternoon!"

Thinking about it, she still felt lingering fear. If it wasn't for her having reached Merit Perfection with the Immovable Tyrant Body's second heaven, along with being a cultivator in the Wind-Rising Realm, the sheer number of barrels of hot water consumed would have been enough to make her organs swell painfully and feel restless all afternoon.

"In short, dining with Sister Wanqing is like a showdown with a master in the ring—exhausting both physically and mentally."

Though Wang Jiu still didn't fully understand, since the mount emphasized so repeatedly, he decided to believe it, and nodded: "Alright, then let's replace the third heaven's cultivation of Immovable Tyrant Body with dining with Li Wanqing."

Shen Qingming jumped three feet high: "Damn you, you sneaky bastard!"

Wang Jiu said: "What do you mean?"

Shen Qingming stared at Wang Jiu for a long time, realizing there was nothing she could do against this deadpan guy.

"Okay, I'll be honest, I really don't want to be with Li Wanqing anymore, it's too dangerous! Just a slight lapse in concentration and... and I feel all dazed from her flirting... She has too much experience with women! She really makes people helplessly like her!" Shen Qingming blushed as she said this, but had to admit she couldn't resist Li Wanqing's various warm gestures.

Wang Jiu asked in return: "Then just like her, what's the problem?"

"Big problem!" Shen Qingming said angrily, "She's my sister! We're sisters by blood!"

Wang Jiu explained: "That's not really a problem. Theoretically, human prohibition of close marital relationships by blood is to avoid various hereditary diseases in offspring. But considering both you and Li Wanqing don't have any breeding plans..."

"It's not about breeding or marriage! We're both girls! I have no intention of becoming a lesbian!"

Wang Jiu said: "Such an interesting resistance. Actually, you don't really understand homosexuality, nor have you tasted the 'flavor' of being a lesbian, so why reject it so much?"

Shen Qingming was speechless: "I..."

Wang Jiu said: "Let's analyze it rationally. A person's evaluation of something mainly comes from two sources: their own related experiences, and others'. From your perspective, you've never had any romantic experiences in 14 years, whether it's homosexual or heterosexual... or even objectophilia. From the perspective of people around you, Li Wanqing's lifestyle can be considered happy and carefree—a positive case. Therefore, homosexuality should have more positive significance than negative for you, what reason do you have to resist it?"

Shen Qingming remained speechless for a long while, then said: "Because, because the vast majority of people are heterosexual! Homosexuals are very few!"

"Similarly, compared to most humans, cultivators are in absolute minority, the ratio is much lower than that of homosexuals. So why can you accept cultivation without resistance, but not homosexuality?"

"...I can't argue with you! I don't want to talk anymore!" Frustrated and ashamed, Shen Qingming, exerting one of the privileges as a mount: irrationality, decided to end the conversation.

Suddenly, Shen Qingming remembered something: "Ah Jiu, you didn't receive some benefit from Sister Wanqing to promote homosexuality, did you?"

Wang Jiu nodded: "She promised me, if I can persuade you to be her girlfriend, she won't cause any more trouble before the Cyan Cloud Competition, so I can explain to Sister Xin..."

Shen Qingming was dumbfounded, then furious: "So you just sold me out like that!"

"No, I thought this was a win-win result, that's why I agreed. On the one hand, Li Wanqing's obsession with you far surpasses other girls, so if you fully utilize your feminine charm and make her change her ways, you save other girls in a way..."

Shen Qingming, though a fool, was suddenly hit by inspiration: "Wait, what do you mean by 'save'? Just now weren't you glorifying homosexuality as something rare and wonderful? So why save?"

Wang Jiu said: "If you acknowledge the positive significance of homosexuality, then dating an expert in homosexuality like Li Wanqing is obviously beneficial for you. If you don't acknowledge the positive significance, then helping other girls escape homosexuality is undoubtedly a great merit. So you either win in love or win in merit, it's a gain either way."

"That means conversely, I either lose in merit or lose in love!?"

Wang Jiu was silent for a moment, then said, "Have you ever heard the parable about how optimistic people see a half-full bottle of water, while pessimistic people say there's only half a bottle left? I think, for someone like you who's going through a growth phase, you should build a more positive and optimistic outlook on life."

"Why do you always make sense!?" Shen Qingming was on the brink of collapse; just when she had a flash of inspiration and delivered a strong rebuttal, the initiative in the conversation still ended up with this whiteboard stupid swordsman!

Wang Jiu said, "That's a silly question, I already gave you an IQ test back in May..."

"Don't bring up that IQ test again!" Shen Qingming was increasingly embarrassed and infuriated, "Fine, fine, who told me to be blind back then and bring this dull sword home! Whatever you say goes! Tomorrow, I'll go start a relationship with Li Wanqing!"

——

Late at night, when Shen Qingming was tossing and turning in bed with a belly full of frustration, Wang Jiu gently and considerately used God's Regret Bell to help her fall asleep faster, then came to the desk to write a reply to Li Wanqing.

"Li Wanqing, as per our agreement, I've convinced Shen Qingming to try accepting her fate; now it's your turn."

A moment later, a Golden Sword came flying back with Li Wanqing's reply.

"Thank you, Mr. Wang Jiu; truly deserving the title of Honored Guest Elder, your word is worth a thousand gold. I will also follow our agreement and tone myself down, acting the part of a well-brought-up lady in Li Family Mansion, so that you can give Sister Xin an explanation."

——

The next day, when Wang Jiu left Shen Garden heading to the Inner Sect Training Ground in Li Family Mansion, he encountered a shocked Lu Xin halfway there.

"Mr. Wang Jiu, what did you do to Wanqing? It couldn't be some kind of powerful brainwashing technique, or magic like Soul Capturing, right?" Lu Xin said, sounding incredulous, "Just now, Wanqing actually came to greet a few elders, serving tea and apologizing for yesterday's Assembly Hall incident. My goodness, since Uncle Ruwen became bedridden, I've never seen that girl so polite and proper, going around apologizing and admitting her mistakes."

Wang Jiu said, "According to my agreement with her, she needs to tone down her personality shortly and play the role of a well-brought-up lady in Li Family Mansion, so that I can provide you an explanation. Do you need me to explain the principle in detail?"

Lu Xin originally wanted to nod but suddenly had a flash of inspiration and shook his head vigorously, "No, no, I think it's better not to know."

After a pause, Lu Xin added, "Oh, please give my regards to Qingming, tell her I appreciate her efforts."

"Sure."

——

A moment later, Wang Jiu arrived at the Underground Sword Cave of the Inner Sect Training Ground.

Li Chaolu, as always, arrived early at the Sword Cave, laid out snacks and drinks, and affixed ultra-thin super-absorbent bandages, waiting for Wang Jiu's new day's Whip of Love.

"Mr. Wang Jiu, good morning." The young girl tilted her head, smiling brightly, wearing a tight short-sleeved and long-pants outfit that showed off her beautiful figure, her half-exposed snow-white arms and calves glistening like jade in the dim Sword Cave.

The next moment, before Wang Jiu could reply, a woman's voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the Sword Cave.

"Morning, little sister Chaolu."

Upon hearing this voice, Li Chaolu seemed greatly frightened, she retreated three steps, tripping awkwardly over a stone.

"Sister Wanqing!?"

Li Wanqing entered gracefully, wearing a luxurious dress from Celestial Fragrance Pavilion woven with Shui Lingyun patterns. She first nodded courteously in greeting to Wang Jiu, and then approached Li Chaolu, sweetly smiling at her terrified younger sister, "I can't believe it, it's only been a few years, and little sister Chaolu has blossomed into such a graceful figure. Mm, your cultivation is also quite impressive, in another three to five months, you'll be advancing to Cloud Surge Realm, right? Here's a small gift from Yuqing Mountain."

With that, Li Wanqing handed over an exquisite little porcelain bottle, causing Li Chaolu's eyes to widen instantly.

"Heaven above, Yuqing Immortal Dew?! Isn't this the rejuvenating treasure that many Great Cultivators covet but can't obtain?"

Li Wanqing chuckled, "The Pavilion Master of Immortal Sound, who refines Immortal Dew, just happens to be my senior sister. Every month, I shamelessly ask her for a few bottles."

"Heavens..." For a moment, Li Chaolu didn't know whether to marvel at Yuqing Daoist's widespread influence, having so many disciples including the famous Pavilion Master of Immortal Music, or at Sister Wanqing's vast connections, able to obtain this invaluable Immortal Dew every month.

Without realizing it, she took the porcelain bottle and held it tightly, refusing to let go.

"Given your age and cultivation, refining one drop a week will rejuvenate you, and while refining, it's best to use Fire Element True Essence as the source..." Li Wanqing softly explained the usage of the Immortal Dew, prompting Li Chaolu to nod vigorously. Occasionally, Li Wanqing would tell a joke, causing Li Chaolu to shake with laughter.

In less than half an hour, the two seemed like old friends.