One night passed without words.
Although Qin Yu had already guessed how to earn Flame Points, he didn't try again.
Because he was afraid of hurting Lin Qianqian.
When he woke up, he saw Lin Qianqian already cleaning the room, with her little sister helping her wipe down the walls.
Honestly, this place was so tiny there wasn't much to clean, but Lin Qianqian clearly didn't want to stop; she didn't want to appear useless.
"Qianqian!"
Hearing his call, Lin Qianqian stopped wiping and turned around. She looked at Qin Yu coming toward her, flustered, at a loss, her fair cheeks flushed as she bowed her head and whispered, "Qin... uncle, you're awake."
"Why aren't you properly resting?"
Qin Yu came over, took the rag directly from her hand, his voice a bit low.
His tone was stern, but his concern was evident.
"I..."
Lin Qianqian could easily hear it, and her heart immediately warmed.
"No excuses. Go sit down!"
Without waiting for her agreement, and before Lin Shuishui's puzzled gaze, Qin Yu took her small hand and led her to the bedside to sit.
Maybe because she knew her little sister was watching, Lin Qianqian's jade-like face instantly bloomed with the color of pink peach blossoms.
Evidently, she hadn't mentioned this to her sister.
"Why don't you lie down and rest for a while?"
Qin Yu frowned slightly.
To be honest, even he felt a bit rough, but it was mainly because the girl kept calling him... uncle.
It made him feel like a Hou Yi who'd just shot down the suns.
With lingering guilt and apology, seeing her busy again just after waking up made Qin Yu's heart ache for her.
If it left a lingering illness, how could that be good?
Even though he wasn't very experienced with these things, he at least knew that at a time like this, a girl should rest well.
So, he didn't mind if Lin Shuishui saw or found out about their relationship, almost directly making things clear.
After all, the three of them were going to live under the same roof. It's no bad thing to clarify things early on.
"N-no need."
As if afraid Qin Yu would make her lie down, Lin Qianqian panicked a little, raised her head, and looked at him with a pleading gaze.
With her sister watching, lying in Uncle Qin's bed... just thinking about it made her ears burn red.
"Then just sit and rest well."
Qin Yu observed her complexion, and seeing no sign of weakness, didn't push it further.
It really was odd.
Such a delicate young girl, after all that last night, was acting perfectly fine the next day, even walking without any issues.
How was this possible?
"You must be hungry. I'll make you both something to eat."
After finishing, Qin Yu said to Lin Shuishui, "Shuishui, stop wiping. Come take care of your sister."
After he went to cook, Lin Shuishui approached her big sister, glanced at her bashful face, then at Qin Yu, her mouth opening and closing a few times. Finally, she whispered in Lin Qianqian's ear, "Sister, should I start calling Uncle Qin 'brother-in-law' now?"
"Don't call him that nonsense!"
Just moments ago, Lin Qianqian had been shy; now she immediately raised her head, going to cover her sister's mouth while glancing nervously at Qin Yu, as if afraid to anger him by this.
She didn't have a cultivation root bone, only a mortal body.
Not to mention outsiders—even her own father treated her entirely differently from Lin Shuishui. If it weren't for her younger sister being small and needing care…
To put it cruelly, she might have been abandoned.
Things like that weren't unheard of in this region.
So, when she first came into the house yesterday, saying she'd serve Qin Yu tea and water, she'd already placed herself… as a servant girl.
Wife?
Concubine?
She hadn't dared hope for either.
"Shuishui can call him brother-in-law or uncle, whichever she likes."
From the kitchen, Qin Yu turned back and smiled at the two girls.
He'd originally planned to return to mortal life and marry, but Lin Qianqian had already far surpassed his expectations.
Besides, she could provide Flame Points, which made Qin Yu like her even more.
Lin Qianqian suddenly looked over, saw the warmth in his eyes, her small mouth opening slightly, but nothing came out.
If her sister called him brother-in-law, wouldn't that mean...
[Lin Qianqian Romantic Point: 15 (Initial Acquaintance)]
The sudden increase in Romantic Point made Qin Yu pause for a second.
He hadn't done anything, had he?
Looking over again, he saw Lin Qianqian had lowered her head in bashful shyness.
She looked just like a delicate newlywed bride.
The food was ready quickly.
When seated at the table, Qin Yu distinctly heard two grumbling stomachs.
Clearly, the sisters were both starving, but because he hadn't gotten up, they hadn't dared make food for themselves, instead forcing themselves to do chores on empty bellies.
He didn't say much during the meal; after, he pulled Lin Qianqian aside, "Here's the rice jar, and this one is for meat..."
"From now on, for all three meals, if I'm cultivating or making medicine, you two eat by yourselves."
"Don't miss a single meal!"
Three meals a day, each with meat.
If it were the old Qin Yu, of course he couldn't afford it.
But now he could earn Flame Points—as long as he improved his root bone, especially Spiritual Power, he'd be able to refine medicinal liquids in the future!
The price of purified medicinal liquid and regular liquid was worlds apart.
Even the lowest First Grade liquid steadily sold for twenty big coins per bottle!
The future was promising!
Lin Qianqian wanted to say something, but Qin Yu's tone hardened a bit, as he snorted, "Hmm?!"
"Got it."
When she looked back, the girl's gaze had become watery, carrying a budding affection.
Their life as a trio temporarily stabilized.
In the blink of an eye, four days passed.
After breakfast, Qin Yu went to the small side room alone.
Tsk!
For some reason, his waist felt a bit stiff.
On the other hand, Lin Qianqian seemed to grow more delicate and radiant, her whole aura, looks, and spirit improving drastically.
Was it really true what they say about oxen dying of exhaustion?!
Difficult...
Although he had become a cultivator, Qin Yu still felt his constitution hadn't improved much at all.
Not what he expected a cultivator to be like.
Could it be he wasn't really cultivating after all?!
Tossing these messy thoughts out of his head, Qin Yu focused on the flame in front of him.
[Flame Point: 10]
[Lin Qianqian Romantic Point: 15 (Initial Acquaintance)]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Second Layer (18%)]
[Root Bone: Lower Grade Mortal Bone (Flame Point 10/10) Can Break Through]
[Spiritual Power: Initial Stage (Flame Point 10/10) Can Break Through]
After these days of accumulating, he could finally upgrade.
"Break through!"
Without much hesitation, Qin Yu chose to upgrade his Spiritual Power.
The root bone was vital for a cultivator, and indeed for any living being, but the difference between a lower and middle grade mortal bone wasn't much for now.
So it'd be better to upgrade Spiritual Power. If he could purify medicinal liquids, he wouldn't have to worry about rent or food, and maybe even save some Spirit Stones for cultivation.
As the Flame Points were deducted, the fire wavered suddenly without wind, flickering as sparks fell. The next moment, Qin Yu felt a heat between his brows.
Then, it became scorching, as if his whole body was being baked over the fire.
"Tss!..."
The pain was different than anything physical, causing Qin Yu's face to contort.
Fortunately, it didn't last long.
[Flame Point: 0]
[Spiritual Power: Initial Stage—Initial Level (Flame Point 0/100)]
"Phew!..."
Qin Yu let out a long breath, didn't bother to change out of his sweat-soaked clothes, and eagerly sensed the change in his Spiritual Power.
In just a moment, he opened his eyes in delight.
His Spiritual Power had truly improved!
He'd awakened Spiritual Power long ago, but before, it was formless.
Like wind, but not wind.
Like mist, but not mist.
Wind and mist could affect outside things, so it was like—but not quite—the same.
Spiritual Power was like an extension of perception, allowing one to see details invisible to the naked eye.
Thus, it allowed better control of one's spiritual energy for refining herbs.
But now, things were different.
Qin Yu could clearly sense that his Spiritual Power had shifted from intangible "wind" to tangible "object."
He could use his Spiritual Power to touch things now!
He stretched his Spiritual Power to a rag not far off, and the rag wobbled and floated up, as if picked up by an invisible finger.
But it only rose halfway before falling back down.
Yet, not a hint of defeat was seen in Qin Yu's eyes. Instead, he was extremely excited. "So this is it! So this is what they mean by initial stage!"
Before, he had never quite understood the concept of "initial stage," or the difference it made.
But now, he could feel it clearly!
So this was it—the transformation from formless to formed.
This was a fundamental change!