12: Chapter 12 Establishing a Firm Foothold and Ensuring Family Peace

"This is what they call 'sitting at home while trouble comes from the casino.' But to be fair, having fleeced them for so long, it's normal to be targeted."

In a place like Luofeng Town, the casino is the local overlord.

A direct confrontation might invite even bigger trouble, and running away would mean dragging Liu Qingmei into a life of displacement.

She had only just settled down.

[The second simulation continues.]

[Facing the encirclement, Chu Sheng did not panic; instead, he smiled.]

["It is my honor that Master Scar thinks highly of me."]

[His voice was calm, "However, although I am down on my luck, I have practiced a few tricks over the years, and they are barely passable."]

[Before the words had even faded, Chu Sheng took half a step with his left foot.]

["Crack!" The blue bricks paved on the ground cracked in response!]

Chu Sheng smiled.

"That stomp was brilliant. It demonstrated strength without actually starting a fight, leaving an exit strategy for both sides."

["Oh, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!"]

[Master Scar waved his hand to let the thugs back off, "So you are an expert like this, brother! My apologies, my apologies!"]

[He put on a smile: "Brother, with such skills, why bother with small-time gambling? The House of Joy is in need of talent like you!"]

["Usually, you can play however you like, and all the money you win is yours! How about that?"]

[Chu Sheng pondered for a moment.]

["I can look after the place. But I will not participate in harming people, nor will I do anything immoral. I will only ensure peace in the building and earn a little money on the side."]

["No problem! Brother Chen has integrity!"]

[Master Scar slapped his chest, "It's settled then! From now on, you are a VIP of my House of Joy and our own brother!"]

Chu Sheng did not fully trust Master Scar, but this temporarily resolved the crisis.

"This Master Scar is a sensible man. A seventh-grade martial artist is considered a top-tier combatant in Luofeng Town; if one can be recruited, naturally, one wouldn't clash head-on."

[After some time, Chu Sheng went to the House of Joy every few days.]

[His good luck remained at the gambling table, but he would stop after winning a little money, no longer attracting attention.]

[The name 'Master Chu' gradually spread throughout Luofeng Town. Everyone knew that a tough expert had arrived at the House of Joy, whom even Master Scar respected.]

[This invisibly reduced a lot of trouble.]

Chu Sheng was amused.

"This is the benefit brought by strength. When mingling at the bottom, sometimes reputation is more useful than fists."

[With external threats temporarily ceased, Chu Sheng put more energy into Liu Qingmei.]

[In the quiet time of the small courtyard, the two naturally came together.]

[There was no grand wedding. On the night of an auspicious day, they faced the bright moon in the sky and the land in the courtyard, each holding a cup of clear water, using water instead of wine, and solemnly bowed to heaven, earth, and each other.]

Chu Sheng watched the scene.

This is what you call low cost, high return.

A cup of clear water in exchange for a wife; this deal is worth it.

[After the ceremony, Chu Sheng held Liu Qingmei's hand and said softly, "Qingmei, today is simple, I have wronged you. Later, I will definitely make it up to you with a grand wedding."]

[Liu Qingmei chided him playfully, "What nonsense are you talking about? We are already married. With heaven and earth as witnesses, and your and my true hearts, this is enough."]

[For her, being able to escape her fate and live together with the person she loves is already the greatest happiness.]

[He didn't say anything more, just held her hand tighter.]

[Relationship fulfilled: Formally married to Liu Qingmei.]

Chu Sheng smiled.

"This girl is sincere. However, what I said in the simulation isn't just empty talk—once my strength increases, holding a wedding in reality is just a small matter, right?"

[After some time, Liu Qingmei became pregnant.]

[Liu Qingmei's pregnancy was exceptionally smooth, with almost no discomfort.]

Chu Sheng raised an eyebrow: "Many Children, Many Blessings is starting to take effect. But for the pregnancy to be this smooth... could it be the effect of the trait?"

[On a winter night, Chu Sheng and Liu Qingmei's first child was born, a boy.]

[The child's cry was loud, and his features combined the best traits of his parents.]

[Firstborn son born!]

[Named: Chu Chen.]

[Talent Check: Influenced by 'Many Children, Many Blessings', Chu Chen's meridians are unobstructed, and he has a faint affinity for spiritual energy! His bone talent is expected to reach High-Grade Mixed Spiritual Root!]

[Based on Chu Sheng's bloodline, this is a leap forward!]

Chu Sheng's eyes lit up.

"High-Grade Mixed Spiritual Root! Although it's still a mixed spiritual root, it's much stronger than low-grade. This child has hope of succeeding in Qi Induction!"

[The first powerful feedback has arrived.]

[Because the firstborn's talent is outstanding, 'Many Children, Many Blessings' feedback is generous!]

[Chu Sheng gained: Significant physical enhancement, martial artist bottleneck loosened. He successfully broke through to the Ninth-Grade Martial Artist realm! 'Nine Zhu Gong' began to advance toward the third level.]

[Chu Sheng and Liu Qingmei held the child, ecstatic beyond measure.]

[Achievement unlocked: Bloodline Sublimation (Blue).]

Chu Sheng looked at the feedback information, deep in thought.

As expected, the higher the quality of the offspring, the stronger the feedback.

This 'Many Children, Many Blessings' is a virtuous cycle.

"The child has good talent, I become stronger; I become stronger, I can provide the child with better training conditions..."

[In the following years, the joy of being a father again kept Chu Sheng full of energy.]

[Chu Sheng and Liu Qingmei did not stop their steps in expanding the family.]

[When Chu Chen was over two years old, Liu Qingmei became pregnant again.]

Chu Sheng laughed.

"This is called striking while the iron is hot. After all, it's 'Many Children, Many Blessings'; if we don't have a few more, how can we reflect the 'Many' part?"

[Second daughter born: Chu Yue.]

[Talent influenced by good luck, her bone structure is unique; although her spiritual energy affinity is not as good as Chu Chen's, her physical coordination is excellent.]

[Feedback: Chu Sheng's physique and energy were further optimized, and his control over the power of 'Nine Zhu Gong' became more precise.]

[After some time, the third child was born: Chu Yan.]

[Talent is steady and heavy, with obvious potential for earth-attribute spiritual roots.]

[Feedback: Chu Sheng's stance became steadier, his defense increased, and there was an added sense of stability in his Zhu power.]

[After another period, the fourth daughter was born: Chu Xuan.]

[Talent is lively and agile, with faint visible affinity for wood-attribute.]

[Feedback: Chu Sheng's recovery ability was improved, and the healing speed of minor injuries and pain accelerated.]

[In just a few years, they had four children.]

[Although Liu Qingmei was busy, her complexion was rosy, and her eyes were full of happiness and satisfaction.]

Chu Sheng looked at the lively small courtyard in the scene and suddenly felt some emotion.

"This scene... is in such stark contrast to the desolation of the previous simulation's ending. Indeed, choosing the right wife is very important."

That's not entirely fair to say; Xiao Huan was actually quite nice.

[Chu Sheng looked at his wife and children, feeling unprecedented stability.]

[His cultivation also rose with the tide, once again stepping into the Half-Step Qi Induction Realm—this time more solidly than in the previous life.]

[Chu Sheng never completely relaxed his vigilance against the Liu family and the Lin family. But surprisingly, these years were calm and peaceful.]

[He learned from merchants that not long after Chu Sheng and Liu Qingmei left, the Jin Xiao City Liu family quickly declined and perhaps even perished.]

[The Chen family was also implicated and could barely take care of themselves.]

[And the Qingshi Town Lin family, shortly after Chu Sheng "died," saw internal strife intensify.]

[The old family head Lin Tiannan had a mishap during cultivation, the family's influence shrank, Lin Hao lost power and was marginalized in the infighting, and Steward was missing.]

"There must be the influence of 'Strong Luck' behind this. However, changing our identities thoroughly was also key. Now, who could recognize us?"

[Hidden dangers faded: The Liu family declined, the Lin family was in internal chaos, and the past pursuit forces dissipated for various reasons.]

[After a few more years, Chu Sheng was twenty-seven years old.]

[He stood in the renovated small courtyard, with his wife, children, and a warm bed.]

Chu Sheng looked at this scene and nodded.

Relying on 'Many Children, Many Blessings' and 'Strong Luck', from a useless servant and a mountain savage, he had walked all the way to today.

He had a family, descendants, a relatively stable life, and constantly increasing strength.

But he knew clearly in his heart that this was only "blessing" at the mortal level.

The children.

Especially the cultivation talent shown on Chu Chen.

Chu Sheng began to plan; when the children were a bit older, he must find a way to conduct an official spiritual root test.

And find better paths for them.

"This is the right path. Since there is no hope for my own immortal cultivation, I will pin my hopes on the next generation. 'Many Children, Many Blessings' is, after all, for the benefit of future generations."