18: Chapter 18 Ordinary Twin Tail

Ten days later.

Xiao Ye returned to Qingshan Town, bringing Gu Sanniang with him.

After that, the Xiao Family was once again—for the umpteenth time—decorated with lanterns and streamers.

Red lanterns hung throughout the courtyard, firecracker debris blanketed the ground, and the festive sound of the suona blared through the air. The entire street knew—Old Ghost Xiao was taking another concubine.

The guests sat at the tables, their expressions shifting from initial shock to later numbness, and now to... anticipation for a good show.

"How many does this make now?"

"The fourth, isn't it?"

"Who cares how many? I just want to know—with his old bones, can he still handle it?"

The Master of Ceremonies shouted loudly, and Xiao Ye led Gu Sanniang onto the stage.

The guests' gazes swept over in unison, and then—

There was a momentary silence.

Immediately after, whispers surged like a tide.

"Tsk tsk, look at Old Ghost Xiao's appearance."

"How did he get so old again? Wasn't he quite energetic a while ago?"

"Exactly. His hair is white again, the wrinkles are back on his face, and he's even wobbling as he walks."

"I told you, even if an immortal master helps him with Alchemy to prolong his life, it can't withstand him courting death like this."

Everyone looked at Xiao Ye's haggard old face, then at the radiant, voluptuous, and charming Gu Sanniang beside him, and a single thought popped into their minds—

This woman has probably sucked Old Ghost Xiao dry.

"I heard this one is a real Qi Refining Fairy, from the Hehuan Sect."

"A Qi Refining Fairy? Old Ghost Xiao is just a Mortal; he married a Fairy?"

"Is that the point? The point is that this Fairy is from the Hehuan Sect. Tsk tsk tsk! Tonight..."

"Right? Won't he just ascend to the heavens on the spot?"

"I doubt it. With that frail body of his, it's hard to say if he'll even be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning."

"Get out of bed? He'll be lucky if he's still breathing."

Low laughter circulated among the tables, a mix of jealousy and schadenfreude filling the entire courtyard.

Xiao Ye held Gu Sanniang's hand and sat down at the head table. A few comments drifted into his ears, making his face darken further.

This lot couldn't wait for him to die.

Gu Sanniang leaned close to his ear and whispered with a smile, "Husband, they don't seem to have much faith in you."

Xiao Ye's mouth twitched. "And?"

"So you'd better show some backbone tonight." Gu Sanniang winked. "Otherwise, the whole town will be saying that you, Old Ghost Xiao, died in bed tomorrow."

Xiao Ye: "..."

In the following days, Xiao Ye stopped running around and focused on tilling the fields at home.

After all, it was too dangerous outside!

After breaking through to Qi Refining and gaining decades of life as a reward for having children, he only had a few years left after using the Crimson Flame Blood-Burning Technique. If he kept gallivanting around, he'd definitely kick the bucket.

Zhang Waner was already five or six months pregnant, so there was no need to worry about her.

As for Liu Qianqian, Bai Susu, and Gu Sanniang, he had to look after them in turns.

After two months of hard work, he finally managed to plant the seeds in all three fields.

Only then did Xiao Ye breathe a long sigh of relief.

And yet, a few days later, he faced a new problem—where should he sleep at night?

Waner had a large belly, so it wasn't convenient. Qianqian, Susu, and Sanniang had also just become pregnant, so they couldn't be touched.

Four women, and not a single one could be touched.

Xiao Ye lay on the chaise longue in his study, staring at the ceiling beams, falling into a deep sense of emptiness.

Just then, Li Fu came running in excitedly.

"Master! Master! I found one!"

Xiao Ye sat up abruptly, his eyes lighting up. "You found one? Where?"

"She's waiting in the front hall! I personally went to the countryside to find her. Her looks are absolutely beyond reproach!"

Xiao Ye rushed to the front hall in a few strides and took a look inside—

A girl with her hair in twin-tails stood there timidly. Her palm-sized face was set with a pair of large, watery eyes. She had a baby face and looked soft and frail, like a little porcelain doll that would break at a touch.

The System popped up a line of text—Comprehensive Score: 80 points.

Xiao Ye looked her up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on her chest before looking back at her youthful face. He asked somewhat uncertainly, "What is your name? How old are you?"

"Ma... Master Xiao, my name is Li Linglong. I'm eighteen." The little lolita nervously pinched the hem of her clothes, her voice like the hum of a mosquito.

Xiao Ye turned to look at Li Fu, his eyes filled with the question, "Are you sure?"

Li Fu leaned in and lowered his voice. "Master, that's how it is in the countryside. They're poor and don't get enough to eat, so naturally, they develop late."

Xiao Ye glanced at that baby face again, then at that unremarkable flatness, and had his doubts.

This isn't developing late; she hasn't developed at all, has she?

Although the System gave her an 80, even with his thick skin, he really felt a bit hesitant to bring himself to lay a hand on such a young girl.

"Forget it," Xiao Ye waved his hand. "Li Fu, send her back."

"Master!" The little lolita grew anxious and fell to her knees with a thud. Her eyes were red, and her voice carried a sob. "Please don't send me away! I really am eighteen, it's just a lack of nutrition... please, I beg you, let me stay!"

Xiao Ye was taken aback and looked at Li Fu.

Li Fu cleared his throat and scratched his head. "Well... Master, her family has already accepted the betrothal gift and spent it all on medical bills."

Xiao Ye: "..."

He stared at Li Fu expressionlessly, his gaze sharp enough to kill.

"You've actually learned how to act first and report later?"

Li Fu shrank his neck, not daring to make a sound.

Xiao Ye took a deep breath, looked at the little lolita kneeling on the ground, then at the guilty-looking Li Fu, and fell silent for a long while.

"Fine," he sighed. "Take her down first and make sure she eats well these next few days."

He added, "Arrange the concubinage ceremony for five days from now."

The little lolita broke into a smile through her tears and kowtowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

Li Fu also breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly led her away.

Sitting in the front hall, Xiao Ye watched those bouncing twin-tails as she skipped away, suddenly feeling as though he had been played by his old butler.

Dammit.

I'll have to dock his wages later.