Peach Blossom Dual Cultivation

This explosive news came without any warning. Nie Qingyun was a rising star in Feiyun City’s political arena, and many believed he would be the next vice mayor. But unexpectedly, his career collapsed just like that.

In Feiyun City’s political circle, aside from Secretary Lei Gang, the other members of the Municipal Standing Committee only knew that Nie Qingyun’s downfall was due to his son, Nie Yuanxiong, being arrogant and offending General Qin. No one realized that Zhou Lang was the most crucial factor behind all of this.

As for Ye Qianqian, even fewer people understood why the city’s publicity department decided to ban such a popular star. Although many of her fans protested online and even contacted the publicity department, it was to no avail.

…

Zhongtian Group Headquarters, Chairman’s Office

A man in his fifties, slightly overweight, sat on a sofa with a furrowed brow.

Next to him sat Ye Qianqian, the singer who had become a sensation in Feiyun City and the entire western province of Yunnan over the past couple of years. However, Ye Qianqian no longer had the radiance she once possessed. Her eyes were dull and lifeless, completely devoid of the aura of a star. She knew that unless something unexpected happened, her career in the entertainment industry was essentially over.

This man in his fifties was Ye Qianqian’s father, Ye Tian, the owner of Zhongtian Group, and a very opportunistic man.

“Father, what should I do?”

Ye Qianqian asked Ye Tian, her spirit broken.

“The Zhou family has completely fallen. You could say Zhou Lang is now just an orphan with no support. That’s why I didn’t agree with your engagement to him and kept you from seeing him. But I never imagined that he would have such a connection with General Qin. We messed up this time. From now on, just stay home and don’t show your face in public anymore,” Ye Tian said.

“But Father, I still want to pursue my career in the entertainment industry. My lifelong dream has been to become a superstar in the spotlight. I can’t accept fading into obscurity like this. Besides, without the Nie family’s protection, Zhongtian Group’s development in Feiyun City wouldn’t be as smooth as it once was. We’ve made too many enemies in the past, and they will surely seize this opportunity to attack us. Whether we can even survive is questionable. If we don’t find a solution, our Ye family might as well be waiting for death,” Ye Qianqian said. As she spoke, she started to cry. As a singer and former public figure, she could fully imagine what kind of life awaited her. Even just going out in public might invite ridicule. If Zhongtian Group collapsed, she would struggle to maintain her comfortable lifestyle.

Ye Tian’s suggestion that Ye Qianqian stay home and not go out was meant to provoke her. Seeing that his daughter was sufficiently agitated, he said, “Yes, Zhongtian Group’s other businesses have long been struggling. We’ve only been making money from real estate. But now that the Nie family is gone, we’ve lost our backing and can’t even secure land anymore. I do have a solution, but I’m afraid it might be too much of a sacrifice for you.”

“Father, just tell me. For my own sake and Zhongtian Group, I’m not afraid of sacrifice,” Ye Qianqian said.

“There’s only one way: you must earn Zhou Lang’s forgiveness and establish a relationship with him. As long as Zhou Lang says a word to General Qin, your ban will be lifted immediately. However, this means you’ll have to flatter that scoundrel Zhou Lang,” Ye Tian said.

He was a very opportunistic man. Back then, he had gone out of his way to introduce Ye Qianqian to Nie Yuanxiong, hoping to climb the social ladder through the Nie family. Now that the Nie family had fallen, upon learning that Zhou Lang and General Qin were close, he began plotting to use Zhou Lang. If Zhou Lang could indeed become his son-in-law, he would gain significant political resources, and Zhongtian Group’s business would thrive.

“I can do that, but Zhou Lang already hates me. He called me a slut. The chance of repairing our relationship is practically zero,” Ye Qianqian said, feeling dejected. She thought her father’s plan sounded easy in theory, but it would be difficult to execute.

“Even a hero can’t resist the charm of a beautiful woman. Besides, Zhou Lang just got lucky by getting to know General Qin. With your beauty, what man wouldn’t fall at your feet? Moreover, I know a very skilled hypnotist. You can learn hypnosis from her, and then we could completely control Zhou Lang, making him work for us,” Ye Tian said. His scheming was indeed intricate, having planned everything out in advance.

“Father, do you think this plan will work?”

Ye Qianqian asked.

“Yes, I’ve already come up with a preliminary plan. Of course, the most important part of it is your cooperation,” Ye Tian said with a nod.

“Father, I look forward to that day. I can’t wait to see Zhou Lang become a puppet, a mere shell of a man,” Ye Qianqian said, her expression turning somewhat sinister. Her father, Ye Tian, was never a good person, and over the years, she had been exposed to plenty of dark deeds while with Nie Yuanxiong, which had turned her into a malicious woman.

…

On the same day that Nie Qingyun and Nie Yuanxiong were dealt with, General Qin and Qin Po Jun set out for the capital.

With the Nie family and Ye Qianqian both punished, Zhou Lang could focus on his cultivation. Additionally, he was helping Zhao Xiaorou practice martial arts and find a job.

Zhao Xiaorou seemed to have some talent for martial arts and was very determined. Under Zhou Lang’s guidance, although she wouldn’t become a cultivator, becoming a martial arts expert wouldn’t be a problem. However, she lacked professional skills and job experience. After wandering around the job market with her for two or three days, Zhou Lang couldn’t find a suitable, easy job for her as a woman.

She could have easily gotten a job as an office clerk, but she was repeatedly turned down because she didn’t have a diploma.

Zhou Lang initially thought of calling Secretary Lei Gang for help, but Zhao Xiaorou insisted on being self-reliant and finding a job on her own. So, he dropped the idea. Besides, it seemed a bit inappropriate to bother a city party secretary for something so trivial.

In the end, Zhao Xiaorou joined a real estate company as a sales agent.

Zhou Lang didn’t object. He figured that since he was working part-time as a bodyguard for the beautiful boss of Lover’s Bar, Li Mengxue, earning a monthly salary of ten thousand yuan, even if Zhao Xiaorou couldn’t sell any houses and earn commissions, it wouldn’t matter. With his income, he could afford to support Zhao Xiaorou.

With Zhao Xiaorou at work, Zhou Lang could focus more on his cultivation, especially since Li Mengxue hadn’t returned yet.

On Zhao Xiaorou’s first morning at work, Zhou Lang entered the Heaven and Earth Palace within his ancestral coin.

Normally, whenever he entered Heaven and Earth Palace, he would find the artifact spirit, Xiao Xi, diligently cultivating. But this time, he was surprised to see that although Xiao Xi had assumed the Five Stars Facing Heaven posture, she seemed distracted.

“Xiao Xi, what’s wrong? Do you have something on your mind?”

Zhou Lang asked curiously.

“Do you like Zhao Xiaorou? I’ve noticed that you spend more time with her than with me, and I feel a bit uncomfortable,” Xiao Xi said.

“Xiao Xi is jealous?”

Zhou Lang was startled, thinking, “Does this artifact spirit have emotions too? If Xiao Xi falls for me and storms out dressed like that to argue with Zhao Xiaorou, it could cause a huge mess. I should probably buy her a few outfits just in case.”

It was evening by the time Zhou Lang emerged from the ancestral coin. He felt stronger, with his vision and hearing significantly enhanced.

Now, by simply focusing his mind, he could see things clearly from several hundred meters away and hear even the faintest sounds within that range.

He was just about to go out and buy some groceries to cook dinner when his phone rang.

“Zhou Lang, I’m back. Come find me right away.”

The call was from Li Mengxue, the owner of Lover’s Bar.

They had arranged to meet at a restaurant, so Zhou Lang called Zhao Xiaorou before leaving the apartment and taking a taxi to the meeting place. This was his first official assignment since taking on the bodyguard job, so he wanted to arrive early.

When Zhou Lang arrived at the designated private room, Li Mengxue was already there waiting.

Today, Li Mengxue was dressed casually, wearing sunglasses, and exuded an air of elegance and sensuality. In Zhou Lang’s eyes, Li Mengxue was truly a beauty; she looked good in anything she wore.

“Zhou Lang, order some food,” Li Mengxue said.

“But I drove myself, so no alcohol.”

“Ms. Li, I can handle my meals; there’s no need to dine in such an expensive place,” Zhou Lang replied. Normally, a boss wouldn’t treat their bodyguard to a meal, and he didn’t want to break this unspoken rule. Otherwise, when he returned to Lover’s Bar, his colleagues might gossip that he had become a kept man for Li Mengxue.

“You saved my life last time. In public, we may be employers and bodyguards, but in private, you’re my benefactor,” Li Mengxue said, removing her sunglasses and smiling slightly. Her smile was like a blossoming flower, stunning to behold.

“If you insist, but you should do the ordering, Ms. Li,” Zhou Lang said, taking a seat at the table.

“Stop calling me Ms. Li all the time. I’m a few years older than you, so when we’re in private, just call me Sister Xue,” Li Mengxue said. She then called in the waiter and ordered three dishes and a soup.

“Sister Xue, has Li Qi been bothering you again?”

Zhou Lang asked.

“Not for now, but I know him well. He’s the kind of person who holds grudges and won’t let me off that easily. Zhou Lang, you’re going to have to work a bit harder from now on—pick me up and drop me off at work on time. As for when I’m at home, I have a security system and guards, so he probably wouldn’t dare to barge in,” Li Mengxue said.

Zhou Lang nodded in agreement. All he had to do was pick her up and drop her off at work, and occasionally provide protection when she went out. It didn’t take much time, but with a monthly salary of ten thousand yuan, it wasn’t a bad job at all.

After dinner, just as they left the restaurant, Zhou Lang, sitting in the passenger seat, said to Li Mengxue, who was driving, “Sister Xue, someone is following us!”

“No way! I just got back from out of town, and Li Qi is already on my trail?”

Li Mengxue was alarmed and asked Zhou Lang, “What should we do now?”