4: Chapter 4 Taking a Concubine

On the day of Ning Changqing's first birthday, the Ning Family set up a few banquet tables in their small courtyard and invited relatives and neighbors from the village to eat.

The little one was chubby and fair, with a pair of bright, dark eyes that were very lively. He smiled at everyone he saw and was very endearing.

"Brother Ning, your child has grown up so well; he will surely have a bright future!" Wang Dazhuang said loudly, holding his wine bowl.

Ning Yuan smiled but did not reply.

He naturally knew that his son would have a bright future.

After Ning Changqing was born, he had secretly tested the child's Spiritual Root—a Medium Mixed Spirit Root!

It was one grade higher than his own original Low-grade Mixed Spiritual Root.

What did this mean? It meant that after he consumed the marrow cleansing pill to improve his Physique, the Spiritual Root Aptitude of the children he sired would also correspondingly increase!

Over the past year, Ning Yuan's cultivation had also steadily improved. With his High-grade Mixed Spiritual Root combined with the Pure Yang Technique, a decent Cultivation Technique, his speed of Cultivating was not comparable to those Geniuses, but it was much faster than ordinary Loose Cultivators.

He was now at the Second Layer of Qi Refining.

Going from bringing Qi into the body to the Second Layer of Qi Refining in one year was considered above average among Loose Cultivators. Ning Yuan was not in a hurry; he knew well that his talent was limited, and it was almost impossible to reach a higher Realm relying solely on Cultivating.

"Master, what are you thinking about?" Madam Lin walked over holding the child, interrupting Ning Yuan's thoughts.

Ning Yuan came back to his senses and glanced at her.

Madam Lin had been living well this past year; her body had been well-maintained, her complexion was rosy, and she looked several years younger. It was a pity that she was born without a Spiritual Root; even if she consumed a marrow cleansing pill, she could not Cultivate and could only remain at the Mortal Physique.

"I am thinking that it is time to take a concubine," Ning Yuan said calmly.

The smile on Madam Lin's face stiffened slightly, but she quickly returned to normal.

She had long expected this day to come.

Ning Yuan was now able to Cultivate. Although she didn't know how high her husband's cultivation really was, the Aura that radiated from him every time he Cultivated made her instinctively feel awe.

How could a Cultivator have only one wife?

Moreover, the Cultivation Technique Ning Yuan practiced seemed to be related to descendants, making it even more necessary to have more children.

"Which family's daughter has the Master taken a fancy to?" Madam Lin asked calmly.

"Not yet, you help me keep an eye out," Ning Yuan said. "The conditions don't need to be too high; healthy and upright character will do. If she has a Spiritual Root, that would be even better."

Madam Lin nodded: "I will go back to my maiden home tomorrow to ask; there are a few girls in the neighboring village of the appropriate age."

One month later, Ning Yuan's second wife entered the house.

The woman's surname was Liu, and she was the daughter of a farmer from Madam Lin's maiden family. She was nineteen this year, and because her family was too poor, she had not been married off. She was of average appearance, but her body was sturdy; one look and it was clear she was a good woman capable of bearing children.

Ning Yuan gave the Liu family a betrothal gift of one hundred taels of silver, which was already an exorbitant price in Pingan County. The Liu family was filled with gratitude and joyfully married their daughter over.

On their wedding night, Ning Yuan did not rush to consummate the marriage, but instead first had Madam Liu consume a marrow cleansing pill.

Madam Liu endured the medicinal power of the marrow cleansing pill. Although she did not have an Awakening of a Spiritual Root, her Physique was greatly improved, and her fertility also increased significantly.

Two months later, Madam Liu became pregnant.

Madam Lin was not idle either. After giving birth to Ning Changqing, her body had been completely restored, and in the second month of Madam Liu's pregnancy, she also became pregnant again.

Ning Yuan was overjoyed.

With two wives pregnant at the same time, this meant that next year he would be able to add two more children!

Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, two more years passed.

The Ning Family's small courtyard was much livelier than it had been two years ago.

In the courtyard, two toddlers were chasing a speckled hen. The slightly older one was Ning Changqing, who was already three years old, wearing a small red cotton-padded jacket; when he ran, he looked like a rolling fireball. The younger one was his brother, Ning Changhe, born of Madam Liu, who had just turned two. He was not yet steady on his feet and stumbled along behind his older brother.

"Changqing, don't bully the chicken!" Madam Lin came out of the house carrying a basin of clean laundry and called out to her eldest son.

Ning Changqing giggled and gave up on the speckled hen, which had been chased until its Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and turned to pounce on his mother: "Mother, hold me!"

"You are already so big, yet you still want to be held." Madam Lin chided, but she still put down the wooden basin, bent over, and picked up her son.

Three-year-old Ning Changqing was already quite heavy. Madam Lin found it a bit strenuous to hold him for a while, but she couldn't bear to put him down. Since birth, this child had been sturdier than other babies, could eat and sleep well, and had almost never been sick. The old people in the village all said this child was easy to raise.

Only Ning Yuan knew that this wasn't about being "easy to raise," but the effect of the Spiritual Root.

Although a Medium Mixed Spirit Root could not be considered a good Aptitude, people who possessed a Spiritual Root were inherently stronger than Mortals and immune to all diseases. Ning Changqing had been enjoying the benefits brought by his Spiritual Root since birth, only he himself didn't know it yet.

"Mother, I want to be held too!" Ning Changhe rushed over and hugged Madam Lin's legs.

Madam Lin smiled and squatted down, gathering both children into her arms, one in each hand.

Madam Liu poked her head out from the kitchen. Seeing this scene, she wiped her hands and walked out: "Sister, you should rest; let me take care of the children."

"No need, you have also been tired all morning," Madam Lin said with a smile.

After getting along for two years, the relationship between Madam Lin and Madam Liu was quite good. Both were from farming backgrounds, had simple natures, and had no thoughts of scheming or fighting. Coupled with the fact that Ning Yuan managed the household well and never favored either one, the Ning Family's inner courtyard was harmonious.

Of course, this also had to do with Ning Yuan's "specialness."

Madam Liu had privately told Madam Lin that she always felt her man was not an ordinary person. Although Ning Yuan never revealed his Cultivation in front of them, the changes in his Aura could not be hidden—he was over forty years old, yet his skin was getting better and better, his spirit was becoming more and more vigorous, and he could work for a whole day without even panting.

Madam Lin just smiled and didn't say much. She knew more than Madam Liu. After all, she was the primary wife, and Ning Yuan trusted her deeply; although he hadn't explicitly stated some things, he hadn't deliberately kept them from her either.

She knew her husband was Cultivating.

She also knew that the Ning Family would not be just a small landlord in the future.

"The Master is back!"

Madam Liu had sharp eyes and was the first to see Ning Yuan walking in from outside the courtyard gate.

Ning Yuan walked into the courtyard carrying a bundle of firewood on his shoulder, wearing a faded short shirt; he looked no different from an ordinary farmer. But if one looked closely, one would notice that his steps were so light that it didn't look like he was carrying a heavy load; the bundle of firewood weighing dozens of jin seemed to have no weight on his shoulders.

"Father!" Ning Changqing broke free from Madam Lin's arms and ran toward Ning Yuan with his short little legs.

Ning Yuan put down the firewood, scooped up his son, and hoisted him onto his shoulders. Riding on his father's shoulders, Ning Changqing danced with joy, giggling non-stop.

Ning Changhe also ran over, looking up at his brother, jumping in his anxiety: "Father, I want to as well!"

Ning Yuan laughed heartily, bent down to pick up his second son as well, and walked into the main house with one in each arm.

Madam Lin and Madam Liu followed behind, watching this scene with smiles on their faces.