39: Lin Suwan's birthday

The summer breeze, carrying the scent of locust flowers, swept over the eaves of the Northern City Manor... Half a month ago, Su Yunniang publicly revealed Situ Jun's status as an Alchemy Apprentice, and this news spread rapidly through the manor like ripples.

Although everyone only knew him as an Alchemy Apprentice and he was still a ways off from being an Alchemist, this change in status had already significantly raised Situ Jun's position in the manor.

After all, in everyone's eyes, as long as an Alchemy Apprentice was willing to put in the hard work, their promotion to Alchemist was just a matter of time.

However, over the past half-month, Situ Jun's Cultivation had not budged at all, filling him with anxiety.

At this moment, on a lounge chair under a large tree in the small courtyard, Situ Jun's brows were tightly furrowed, his face clouded with worry as he let out a heavy sigh, thinking to himself:

"Yun Niang is pregnant. Given my current cultivation progress, I won't be able to reach a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage before the child is born. How can I protect her then?"

"Now, if I want to quickly increase my strength, I can only rely on the System. But the problem before me is whether to continue pursuing Liu Xuaner or go to the North Courtyard to find a few beautiful Dao Companions?"

Thinking of this, Situ Jun sighed helplessly again.

He had intended to take things slow and steady, but Su Yunniang's pregnancy was like a heavy hammer, making him truly feel the potential danger. He desperately desired strength sufficient to rival the Bei Batian, ideally even bringing the Bei Batian under his command. That way, the entire Northern City Manor would be under his control.

Just then, Cherry walked in from outside with light steps, her voice crisp:

"Young Master, Lady Lin Suwan of the North Courtyard is celebrating her birthday today. Someone sent an invitation to the Stewards Office. The note says you must attend the banquet tonight. Young Master, will you be attending?"

She stood prettily before Situ Jun, her eyes full of smiles.

Situ Jun's slender fingers tapped the armrest of the lounge chair as he pondered for a moment.

The name Lin Suwan gradually became clear in his memory—that gorgeous woman who always walked alone at dusk. She had been brought back from the battlefield by the Bei Batian but had no official status, like a peony transplanted to the wrong place.

The refusal he was about to voice was suddenly swallowed back down. A glint of calculation flashed in his eyes as he looked up at Cherry and said:

"Come and massage my shoulders... Actually, let's go inside and let me relax."

Cherry glanced at the sky, a hint of shyness instantly flashing across her small face as she lowered her head and softly replied:

"Yes, Young Master."

On the soft couch in the living room, Situ Jun looked at Cherry, who was still standing there with a shy face, and couldn't help but urge her:

"Quick, sit down. Why are you standing? If you're standing, where am I supposed to rest my head?"

"Ah, Young Master, I thought you wanted to... oh, okay."

Cherry's face turned crimson as she sat obediently on the soft couch.

Situ Jun sat down and rested his head on her soft thighs. Feeling the pressure from Cherry's fingertips, he said contentedly:

"It's still most comfortable resting on your legs, Cherry."

"As long as Young Master likes it, this Servant Girl will let you rest on them every day."

Cherry gave a shy smile, her voice soft... At dusk, the rosy clouds on the horizon were like a magnificent painting, dyeing the sky a deep red.

Situ Jun took out the Medicinal Pills he had casually refined a few days ago, carefully selected a few bottles, and handed them to Cherry, instructing:

"Cultivate well. If you run out of Medicinal Pills, just tell me."

Cherry happily took the Medicinal Pills and said:

"This Servant Girl thanks the Young Master for the reward. Don't worry, Young Master, I will definitely work hard to Cultivate."

Situ Jun nodded, selected a few more bottles of Medicinal Pills, carefully packed them in a brocade box, put them into his Storage Pouch, and then said:

"I'm going to the banquet. Make yourself whatever you want to eat at home."

With that, he leisurely headed out... Situ Jun knew where Lin Suwan lived, but he knew very little about this beautiful woman.

He had only heard that she was brought back from the battlefield by the Bei Batian many years ago. She had lived in the East Courtyard for a while, but for some reason, she was later sent to the North Courtyard without even the title of a concubine.

However, truth be told, Lin Suwan was extremely beautiful, with a gentle and elegant temperament, like a lady from a noble family in her private chambers.

She had a plump figure, and every gesture of hers exuded charm.

As twilight soaked the horizon, Situ Jun strolled into the North Courtyard.

Just as he arrived outside Lin Suwan's courtyard, the faint sounds of silk and bamboo music and laughter reached his ears.

Lin Suwan's courtyard was more elegant than expected, with wisteria climbing the blue-tiled white walls. The glazed lamps hanging under the eaves cast hazy shadows.

Situ Jun looked through the open courtyard gate and saw six or seven ladies sitting together, chatting and laughing, accompanied by a few stewards and maids.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, the people inside noticed him and came out to greet him, their faces beaming with smiles as they greeted him warmly:

"Lord Situ!"

"Steward Situ!"

Situ Jun cupped his hands in return and said with a smile:

"Greetings, Madam Lin. Greetings to you all!"

Today, Lin Suwan wore a form-fitting red dress with gold trim, perfectly outlining her graceful figure, with a hint of mystery and temptation in its subtle reveals.

The silver hairpins in her bun, paired with jade jewelry, added a touch of mature charm to her exquisite makeup. Her beautiful eyes seemed to speak, flickering with a hint of flirtatious charm.

Lin Suwan noticed the flash of amazement in Situ Jun's eyes, and her mood instantly brightened. She gently swayed her fan twice, opened her vermilion lips, and laughed charmingly:

"Steward Situ should just call me Sister Lin, or Sister Su Wan is fine too. Calling me Madam Lin is too much for me. I'm just someone barely getting by here through some minor connections."

Situ Jun was slightly taken aback, then smiled:

"Since Sister Lin has spoken, I shall naturally comply. Since today is Sister Lin's birthday and I came in a hurry, I didn't prepare much of a gift. Just a few Medicinal Pills, I hope Sister Lin won't mind."

With that, he took a brocade box from his Storage Pouch and handed it over.

Lin Suwan took the brocade box. She originally intended to turn and hand it to a maid, but feeling everyone's curious gazes and being curious herself, she smiled and opened it in front of everyone.

"What! It's actually body tempering pills and Qi Refining pills, and they're even sealed. One bottle contains ten, and there are five bottles here. Steward Situ is truly generous!"

When everyone saw the names on the labels of the porcelain bottles, they were so shocked they spoke out one after another, discussing it with faces full of envy.

"Steward Situ, this is far too precious, this..."

Lin Suwan was also stunned by this generous gift. One must know that the attendants in the manor who had entered the Body Refining stage were only issued one body tempering pill a month, and stewards only received three. Yet Situ Jun had given five whole bottles, including two bottles of Qi Refining pills, which were worth more than three times as much as body tempering pills. Her shock was understandable.

Seeing Lin Suwan hesitate to accept such precious Medicinal Pills, Situ Jun quickly gave a gentle smile and said:

"Sister Lin, there's no need for that. It's just a few Medicinal Pills. Besides, I'm already an Alchemy Apprentice and will soon be promoted to an Alchemist. By then, these kinds of Medicinal Pills will only cost me a bit of effort, haha."

Hearing him say this, Lin Suwan pondered for a moment and nodded:

"Then I'll be thick-skinned and accept them."

Everyone, don't just stand there. Come inside and sit. I'll immediately tell the kitchen to bring out the food and wine."

With that, she led everyone into the side room.