I accidentally Married the Leader of the Noble Path

“Isn’t that just being a bully and taking advantage of someone?” Shangguan RouYue said.

“Indeed. Then why don’t you ask the other villagers?” Qin Nan replied.

“I’m not familiar with them. It feels awkward to ask such questions,” Shangguan Rouyue admitted.

Who would have thought that Shangguan Rouyue, usually so assertive with strangers, could actually be shy?

Qin Nan suggested she ask the neighbour’s Auntie, instead.

“Even if Yang Xiaoqi really is a boy, he’s so cute. Hubby, you wouldn’t have any… interest in cute boys, would you? You two seem to get along so well.” 

“Dear, can I discipline you?” Qin Nan face darkened with exasperation.

…

Somewhere deep in the mountains.

Qin Nan sat cross-legged on the ground, his lips slightly parted as he inhaled deeply and steadily.

For a while, his breathing formed a rhythmic vortex. A gentle breeze swirled around him, yet his chest didn’t rise or fall.

After drawing in a long breath, he exhaled slowly, taking his time to release it completely. Once done, he repeated the process, filling his lungs again before letting the air flow out deliberately.

To an observer, Qin Nan might appear to be simply breathing in and out, an action seemingly devoid of skill. But in truth, the air he inhaled circulated through his meridians, expanding and strengthening them while simultaneously enhancing his physique.

The essence of cultivation lies not in how much air is inhaled or exhaled, but in how efficiently it circulates within the body.

While most couldn’t perceive the internal processes, Shangguan Rouyue, standing nearby, saw everything clearly. Within Qin Nan’s body, the energy flowed like a small stream, continuous and unyielding.

Though faint, achieving this level in just three days was nothing short of remarkable.

His energy was close to circulating through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. Once that was complete, he would be able to guide it into his dantian and condense it into true qi.

At that point, Qin Nan’s cultivation would reach the Qi Drawing Realm

Body Refining, Qi Drawing, Core Formation, Spirit Building, Essence Refinment, and Nascent Soul—these are the cultivation realms of a cultivator, ranked from low to high, with each realm consisting of nine stages.

Currently, Qin Nan was at the second stage of Body Refinement, or so it appeared. In reality, he had already reached the Qi Drawing Realm.

When his breathing practice concluded, Qin Nan opened his eyes, which gleamed with vitality. His energy and spirit had improved significantly, leaving him feeling invincible.

“How do you feel?” Shangguan Rouyue asked.

“Great. I’m full of energy. Thanks for your guidance, dear.” 

“It’s nothing. You’ve been diligent in your practice, and your talent is exceptional. Honestly, I’m the one who’s happiest about your progress,” Shangguan Rouyue said sincerely.

“When I’ve mastered my cultivation, we’ll roam the world together as immortal lovers.” 

Shangguan Rouyue smiled softly, saying nothing. She believed that with Qin Nan’s talent, he would one day fulfill this promise.

With that goal in mind, she spared no effort in guiding him, sharing all her insights on cultivation.

If she weren’t worried about overwhelming him, Shangguan Rouyue would have gladly imparted all her knowledge to Qin Nan all at once.

…

That day, the two followed their usual routine of gathering herbs in the mountains. Because the spiritual energy there was richer, they also took time to practice cultivation.

Indeed, cultivating in areas with abundant spiritual energy yielded much better results.

Unfortunately, even the most spiritually rich spot in the vicinity was far from a true treasure trove.

As they prepared to descend the mountain, they encountered a spotted leopard.

Qin Nan claimed it was the same leopard that had attacked him previously and, with righteous indignation, vowed to kill it himself to settle the score.

Of course, that was a complete lie. He had never encountered such a leopard. Even if he had, it would’ve either been killed or scared off. What need was there for vengeance?

He was merely putting on a convincing show.

Shangguan Rouyue, unaware of the truth, saw Qin Nan’s eagerness as the confidence of someone who had recently gained strength and wanted to test his abilities.

Naturally, she didn’t stop him. Though leopards were fierce, they were manageable for a cultivator at the second stage of Body Refinement. Besides, she was there to watch over him.

If Qin Nan faced any danger, she would intervene immediately.

Qin Nan stepped forward.

The leopard, wary, did not attack right away, instead watching him intently with sharp eyes.

When Qin Nan hurled a rock that hit the leopard squarely on its head, the beast roared in fury and lunged at him.

Qin Nan quickly leaped aside, dodging the attack before countering with a punch.

His fist landed on the leopard’s body but had little effect, merely causing a slight jolt without inflicting substantial damage.

The leopard retaliated with its claws, aiming for Qin Nan’s head. A direct hit would have been fatal.

But just as Qin Nan tensed, ready to evade, it became unnecessary.

An invisible blade of energy sliced through the air, and the leopard was instantly decapitated.

“Are you alright, hubby?” Shangguan Rouyue approached, her tone filled with concern.

“I’m fine. Honestly, I could’ve continued the fight. You didn’t need to step in so soon,” Qin Nan said earnestly. Even without using his true strength, he could have managed the leopard with some effort.

“No, you were pushing yourself. With your current cultivation at the second stage of Body Refinement, dealing with a leopard is still challenging. At least wait until you reach the fourth stage,” Shangguan Rouyue said.

How little faith did she have in him? It was just a leopard! Did he really need to wait that long?

Still, Qin Nan realized her overprotectiveness stemmed from care. She simply couldn’t bear to see him hurt, even a little.

Rather than blame her for meddling, he felt warmth in his heart. Her actions showed just how much she valued him, a sentiment he hadn’t experienced in his previous life.

Shangguan Rouyue knelt down to examine Qin Nan, checking for injuries.

Qin Nan teasingly pinched her delicate nose, chiding her for being overprotective. She shot him an indignant look in return.

“Let’s head back to the village,” Qin Nan said.

“Alright.” Shangguan Rouyue instinctively embraced him, letting his head rest against her soft bosom as they flew toward Niu Jiao Village.

…

The next day, Qin Nan was up early in the medicine room, preparing for a trip.

He planned to leave Niu Jiao Village for a nearby town to sell medicinal herbs, earn some money, and pick up daily necessities.

Life in the remote village was harsh, and many items had to be purchased from outside. Reaching the town required traversing mountains and took considerable time. Villagers often ran errands for one another during these trips.

Having previously asked a neighbor to sew clothes, Qin Nan had promised to buy some items for her on his next visit to the town.

It had been two months since his last trip.

Normally, Qin Nan went to the town once a month. This time, he was delayed due to tending to Shangguan Rouyue’s injuries.

Two months had passed, and most of the daily necessities were nearly used up. It couldn’t be delayed any longer; they had to go to the city to buy more.

Qin Nan had already mentioned this to Shangguan RouYue last night. She didn’t object. Though she didn’t say anything directly, he was sure she would go with him.

If he didn’t let his wifey accompany him and made her stay at home, with her overprotective nature, she definitely wouldn’t be able to sit still.