After Qing Dai left, I sat quietly on the sofa.
Thinking about what Qing Dai had told me today.
It turned out she had so many stories about her.
A man for whom she had waited ten lifetimes.
A past life’s tragic soulmate who had calculated her death.
And me, the person destined to help her in this life.
It felt fated.
And yet, it also felt incredibly mysterious.
But it was quite a surprise that Qing Dai lived on Old Huang Mountain.
That was the mountain behind the shop.
Taking a deep breath, I poured out the tea, its fragrance long gone, and then went to sleep.
The next day, as usual, I took a car to work.
When I arrived at the shop, I noticed Master hadn't had breakfast.
Instead, he had changed into a white shirt, casual pants, and black leather shoes.
He also wore a white hat, looking quite fashionable.
It seemed he was preparing to go out.
"Master, are you going out?"
I asked as I entered the shop.
Seeing me, Master nodded:
"Yes, my cough has been quite bad lately, I'm going to the hospital to get some medicine."
After speaking, Master coughed twice.
He was usually fine, but the day before yesterday, when Master fought with a zombie, his cough was quite severe.
"Master, do you want me to go with you?"
I asked, concerned.
But Master waved his hand:
"No need, I've already made an appointment.
You just need to look after the shop.
If I'm not back by closing time, you can go home yourself.
Here's the key to the main door!"
Saying that, Master handed me the shop's main door key.
Seeing that Master had everything arranged, I didn't say anything more.
I nodded and told Master to be careful.
Master soon left.
I was left alone in the shop.
As usual, I arranged the funeral wreaths and paper figures.
When there was no one around, I practiced my breathing, drew talismans, and so on.
In these past few days, especially after Bai Wu Chang gave me a Wu Chang spell, I felt my cultivation growing rapidly.
I wondered if it was the Wu Chang spell in my body that was augmenting it.
My third strand of true qi was becoming stronger and stronger.
Compared to last night, it had become even thicker.
I had a feeling that if this pace continued,
my breakthrough from the Spring Eye realm to the Qi Gathering realm might happen in the next few days.
Just as I was assessing my cultivation.
My phone suddenly rang.
Seeing my phone ringing, I picked it up and looked.
It was Zhang Chu Yue calling.
Seeing it was an old classmate, I didn't hesitate and answered the call.
As soon as the call connected, I heard Chu Yue's voice:
"Qin Ze! Are you busy?"
"Yes! Chu Yue.
I'm free!
Is there something you need?"
I asked with a smile.
From the other end of the line, Chu Yue's sweet voice continued:
"This weekend, let's go out for a meal!"
When I heard it was an old classmate's birthday, I didn't refuse.
"Sure! Tell me the address, and I'll be there on time."
Chu Yue quickly told me the address.
It was a very famous five-star hotel in our city.
After noting down the time and place, I chatted with Chu Yue for a while longer.
I asked about her current situation.
Chu Yue said she had completely recovered, no longer had nightmares, and her sleep quality was very high.
She had already started working.
She even thanked me on the phone.
She said that last time I brought the masters over, I didn't pay anything.
I chuckled, not taking it to heart, and continued with my work in the shop.
The day passed quickly.
But Master still hadn't returned.
So I called Master.
However, Master said on the other end.
He wouldn't be back for several days and told me to look after the shop.
I asked him where he was going, if he had been hospitalized due to his health.
But Master scolded me, saying I couldn't think good things about him, always thinking of him being hospitalized.
He didn't say anything else.
He just hurried through a few words with me.
Saying to call him if there was trouble, he didn't mention anything else.
Since Master wouldn't say, I couldn't do anything.
For the next few days, I was the only one watching the shop.
Even without Master's supervision, my cultivation didn't lag at all.
On the day I went to Chu Yue's birthday banquet, I broke through again.
Because Chu Yue's birthday banquet was scheduled for the evening, it was supposed to be a small gathering of a few close friends.
So, during the day, I was still working at the shop.
After lunch, I felt my dantian intensely full.
So I sat cross-legged to regulate my breathing.
Unexpectedly, I sensed an opportunity for breakthrough.
And this breakthrough was very smooth.
I just felt a warmth in my abdomen, and I broke through from the current Spirit Spring realm directly to the Qi Gathering realm.
The three strands of true qi in the Spirit Spring realm, at the moment I broke through to the Qi Gathering realm.
The three strands of true qi instantly differentiated into six.
With the appearance of the six strands of true qi, I felt as if my entire body was connected.
It was an indescribable comfort.
My strength increased significantly.
I was surprised and delighted.
I hadn't expected the breakthrough to be so fast.
It had been less than two months since I started cultivating.
Yet, I had reached the second realm, the Qi Gathering realm.
Upon reaching this realm, not only did the number of true qi double.
When I practiced breathing, I could feel the qi being drawn into my body.
No wonder this realm was called "Qi Gathering," meaning to gather the energy of heaven and earth.
Amidst my excitement, I didn't forget to call Master.
But no one answered.
I didn't know where Master had gone during this time.