11: Twin maids

"At least three Spirit Stones per year for one maid, that's too expensive!"

Lin Xue'er was somewhat hesitant; she didn't mind those little thoughts of Liu Xuan's, but she felt pained over the Spirit Stones.

Outsiders cannot enter the Red Pine Sect, so if one wants ordinary people to serve, they must go to the Dual Cultivation Hall to hire, or rather, buy them.

Two maids require at least six Spirit Stones to be paid to the Dual Cultivation Hall annually, plus food expenses, coming to a base of ten Spirit Stones per year.

"Xue'er, you don't need to worry about the Spirit Stones. I am going to be a Talisman master; what are a few Spirit Stones?" Liu Xuan continued to persuade her.

"A Talisman master also needs a large amount of Spirit Stones to buy Materials to study, and my husband still needs to buy Medicinal Pills to Cultivate..."

Lin Xue'er still felt it was unnecessary to waste Spirit Stones buying maids. If they had money, it should be spent where it mattered.

"Husband, on the path of immortality, cultivation base is the foundation. Now that you have talent for Talismans, your future is bright. You must not be greedy for pleasure."

After talking for a long time, it turned into Lin Xue'er persuading Liu Xuan. She did it for his own good. From her perspective, Liu Xuan was indeed putting the cart before the horse.

This wouldn't do!

Taking wives and concubines, making many Dao Companions, and having many children was Liu Xuan's fundamental grand undertaking. From his perspective, focusing solely on bitter cultivation was putting the cart before the horse.

"Xue'er, the path of immortality requires a clear state of mind. If one only focuses on bitter cultivation, desires in the heart cannot be released. In the future, it will be difficult to break through Bottlenecks. Once the Realm is high, Heart Demons will grow, and one might even suffer Qi Deviation!"

Liu Xuan pulled Lin Xue'er into his arms, looked into her eyes, and said solemnly: "Follow your heart, do not violate your true self, and the Dao path can go further."

"Re... really?"

Lin Xue'er felt what Liu Xuan said wasn't right, but it seemed to have some logic.

"Of course it's true!" Liu Xuan explained confidently: "I am a Cultivator at the Qi Refinement Stage, and you are only a Martial Artist. Of course I understand immortality better."

"Fine!"

"Then I will listen to my husband."

Lin Xue'er agreed helplessly.

She didn't believe Liu Xuan's twisted logic; she just didn't want to ruin his mood.

What Liu Xuan said was also true; he was about to become a Talisman master, so buying two maids to serve them was nothing.

Liu Xuan happily kissed her, and after some lingering affection, the couple fell asleep.

...

The next day.

Liu Xuan didn't rush to the Talisman Hall but went with Lin Xue'er to the Dual Cultivation Hall to look for suitable maids.

The Dual Cultivation Hall had a wide range of businesses, not just Cauldron and Dao Companion introduction services, but also various commercial operations.

The procurement of supplies for other halls within the Red Pine Sect, and the sale of Medicinal Pills, Talismans, Spirit Medicine, Formations, etc., were mostly handled by the Dual Cultivation Hall.

"Dual Cultivation Hall" was just an internal nickname within the Red Pine Sect; it had another external name: the Red Pine Merchant Alliance!

The Dual Cultivation Hall only recognized money. As long as you had money, any demand could be satisfied.

Liu Xuan and his wife arrived at the General Affairs Hall of the Dual Cultivation Hall. After knowing their intentions, a Disciple of the Dual Cultivation Hall took them to a courtyard near the river.

"Two Fellow Daoists, I am Wu Ding, an Outer Sect Disciple of the Dual Cultivation Hall."

He handed a book to Liu Xuan and said: "This records the age-appropriate maids in this courtyard, a total of thirty-nine people."

"If there is no one you are satisfied with, I can take you to other courtyards."

Liu Xuan and Lin Xue'er leaned together to look through the book. They saw that it recorded the background, price, height, weight, personality, and hobbies of each maid, as well as portraits comparable to photographs.

These maids were specially trained by the Dual Cultivation Hall for sale, so naturally, none were ugly. Each one was an outstanding existence among ordinary people.

After reading through all the information on the maids, Liu Xuan was most satisfied with a pair of twin sisters.

According to the information recorded in the book, the elder sister was named Xiao Shuang Ru, and the younger sister was named Xiao Shuang (Younger Twin). Their parents were senior members of a Gang in Red Pine City. In their early years, Gang fighting led to the death of both parents. They joined the Dual Cultivation Hall to avoid being hunted.

'Gang vendetta!'

Liu Xuan knew a little about this. This world of immortality was generally stable, everything under the control of the Sect, but it was definitely not safe.

Cultivators possessed Spells and Divine Abilities, and ordinary people could also Cultivate martial arts, at least capable of leaping over walls.

Gangs composed of Martial Artists, small Cultivation Families scattered everywhere, and small Sects were in constant conflict with each other.

Liu Xuan didn't care about the trouble on these twin maids. Like Lin Xue'er, he was pained by the Spirit Stones.

Because they cultivated martial arts and were at the Perfection of the Muscle and Bone Realm, about to break through to the Inner Qi Realm, their price was more than double that of ordinary maids. Together, they cost ten Spirit Stones a year.

Once a maid from the Dual Cultivation Hall was sold, the ownership belonged to the buyer forever. The ten Spirit Stones a year here were the subsequent living expenses for the maids in the Outer Sect.

"Husband!"

Lin Xue'er saw Liu Xuan's thoughts and whispered a reminder: "You must think carefully, don't harm these sisters in the future."

Lin Xue'er meant that if Liu Xuan bought the sisters, but next year didn't have the Spirit Stones to keep them in the Outer Sect, they would have to leave.

Perhaps by then, their enemies in the city would know, and their fate would not be good.

"Just them!"

Expensive has its benefits. Two maids about to break through to the Inner Qi Realm are worth this price!

"Please wait a moment, you two!"

Wu Ding, the Disciple of the Dual Cultivation Hall, understood, put away the book, and immediately went to bring Da Shuang Xiao Shuang over.

"We, Xiao Shuang Ru and Xiao Shuang (Younger Twin), greet Young Master Liu and Madam!"

On the way here, Wu Ding had already briefly told them about the identities of Liu Xuan and Lin Xue'er.

The real people were even better looking than the portraits. The two women were tall, with slender waists and long legs, both wearing black martial arts outfits, with their hair tied in ponytails, having a capable temperament.

The two women looked exactly the same, but Liu Xuan could still see subtle differences. Da Shuang was quiet and steady, while Xiao Shuang (Younger Twin) was lively and agile.

After confirming they were satisfied, Lin Xue'er paid and completed the procedures. After Da Shuang Xiao Shuang changed their identity tokens, they could take them back.

Returning to the small courtyard, Lin Xue'er chatted with them along the way, explaining the rules for doing things in the future.

Da Shuang Xiao Shuang were initially worried about how long Liu Xuan and Lin Xue'er could afford them, until Lin Xue'er told them that Liu Xuan was about to become a Talisman master in the Talisman Hall, and then they felt relieved.

They had been hiding in the Red Pine Sect for more than half a year, and the thing they were most worried about was their enemies finding their tracks.

The Dual Cultivation Hall did things as long as there was money. If Liu Xuan could pay to buy them, their enemies could too, it was just a matter of spending more Spirit Stones. Life and death all depended on whether the other party was willing to spend the Spirit Stones.

Being able to follow a Talisman master, stability was not a problem, and perhaps there would be an opportunity to continue cultivating martial arts, and then there would be a chance to avenge their parents.

...

Night.

Liu Xuan still wanted to be reserved, but Lin Xue'er saw through his thoughts and found an excuse to send him into the side room where Da Shuang Xiao Shuang lived.

"Young Master Liu."

"Young Master Liu!!"

...

Da Shuang Xiao Shuang did not resist. As maids, they had long been mentally prepared.

It was just that they didn't understand, why would a dignified Cultivator like Liu Xuan take a fancy to ordinary women like them?