After leaving the Spirit Hall, Zhou Qing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu didn't immediately part ways with Romantina. Instead, they all headed together to the Notting Guild.
Romantina went to settle the task rewards in person this required the participant's presence. Meanwhile, Zhou Qing and Tang San planned to register as adventurers.
With this identity, they could take on more missions and gradually use the legacy left by the Spirit Saints.
For Zhou Qing, money saved was money that wouldn't grow. Only by spending it to buy resources that aid cultivation did it have value.
Tang San's mindset was similar. To integrate the spirit runes into his hidden weapons, he needed to purchase large amounts of metals and gems. Spending money was a way to practice rune engraving and assemble spirit core formations—an investment in himself.
Xiao Wu was simpler. She happily split the mission rewards that Zhou Qing and Tang San paid with Romantina, beaming with joy.
"We'll be teammates in this adventurer group from now on," Romantina said, requesting four cups of fruit wine from Alice. "Everyone, let's have a drink. It's on me!"
"Thanks, Sister Romantina," Zhou Qing said, noticing how impressive and charismatic she looked when serious.
"No need for formalities—we're family from now on," Romantina said, downing her wooden cup of fruit wine. A flush crept up her cheeks, and her smile grew wider.
[I take back what I just thought!]
Zhou Qing awkwardly smiled and took a sip. "This wine's sweet?"
"That's why it's called fruit wine," Romantina explained. "Even kids could drink twenty cups and wouldn't get drunk—just a full stomach."
"Made from the fruits of plant-type spirit beasts?" Zhou Qing asked curiously.
"Well, not exactly from the spirit beasts themselves, but from the fruit borne by plants grown from seeds of plant-type spirit beasts," Romantina said. "Plant spirit beasts are rarer than animal ones. A ten-year-old plant spirit beast isn't just any ordinary plant growing for ten years—it requires harsh conditions. The plants grown from seeds of ten- or hundred-year-old spirit beasts aren't spirit beasts themselves, but their fruits are far tastier than ordinary fruit trees."
Zhou Qing nodded, imagining how the disciples of sects and noble families likely had far better diets than common spirit masters.
Just in terms of nourishment, after years of accumulation, common spirit masters would find it nearly impossible to surpass those from sects and clans.
Not to mention that those with established families and sects also had other resources: direct guidance from elders, experience passed down, and more.
In this era where the basic theories of spirit power cultivation were still imperfect, common spirit masters could only rely on mutation to become strong!
"Now, I have something to say."
Romantina's face suddenly grew serious. She put down her cup and fixed her gaze on Zhou Qing. "I feel like we might have a Spirit Fusion Technique. Want to find some time to try it out?"
"Uh… maybe another time," Zhou Qing replied cautiously.
Thanks to the sudden appearance of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, the relationship between Zhou Qing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Romantina had grown closer.
They weren't exactly close friends, but there was a bit more trust between them than usual.
However,
That didn't mean Zhou Qing wanted to fuse his spirit with Romantina's.
The reason was simple.
At the Notting City library, Zhou Qing had researched more about Spirit Fusion Techniques and found that aside from siblings with direct blood ties, any other male-female pair with such a fusion usually ended up together.
Zhou Qing considered himself a pretty ordinary guy—just someone who appreciated beauty.
Romantina was attractive, with a great figure and looks that matched his taste, but the problem was she was a bit... extreme.
Yet that wasn't the biggest issue.
Spirit Fusion affected the personality of both parties to some degree, leading to mutual attraction.
Would it affect his personality?
Zhou Qing was hesitant. Until he learned more about the technique, he wasn't planning on getting too close to Romantina. Otherwise, he seriously feared his rational mind would be overwhelmed by "love brain."
"Great, it's settled then!" The twelve-year-old Romantina, not catching Zhou Qing's polite refusal, blushed even deeper. "I'll make sure to give you the utmost gentle care! Also, there's a little worm in my head... hissing, just thinking about it excites me."
Zhou Qing almost spilled his drink.
Tang San gave him a sympathetic look, patting his shoulder. "You'll have to put up with this, Brother Qing."
"Get lost!"
Zhou Qing snapped, regretting ever getting close to Tang San. Now Tang San was influenced by him and couldn't even treat him like a villain to suppress!
Xiao Wu burst out laughing, accidentally spitting some fruit wine on the table. "Zhou Qing, didn't expect you to have a knack for freeloading."
"Hmph! You wish!" Zhou Qing gave up resisting but suddenly realized something. "Wait, I'm only six years old. Tang San, Xiao Wu, how do you know so much? You're definitely not normal kids!"
"As if you're normal," Tang San retorted loudly, growing more confident with their growing familiarity. "Anyway, kids in our Sacred Soul Village mature early. The houses have poor soundproofing, so at night they hear their parents... 'working,' and some even share beds with their parents."
"I'm an orphan!"
Zhou Qing snorted, but immediately realized being an orphan wasn't something to brag about.
The mood suddenly dampened.
Tang San awkwardly asked Alice for two more cups of fruit wine and handed one to Zhou Qing. "I wasn't trying to embarrass you earlier."
"I know—I'm not that petty." Emotionally, Zhou Qing was indifferent, having never met his real parents in this life.
Romantina stood up and wrapped Zhou Qing's head gently in her soft, open embrace.
Instantly, Zhou Qing's face turned bright red.
He hadn't experienced such treatment in his previous life.
"It's okay, just treat me like your mom. That'll be even more exciting."
But Romantina's words snapped Zhou Qing back to reality. Ignoring the other adventurers present, he swore, "Damn! Are you sick? If you are, please don't infect me—I don't want to become a weirdo!"
Romantina's face flushed even deeper, and her legs trembled slightly. "Calling me a weirdo in front of so many people—really no respect for my face, huh, little Brother Zhou Qing? So you better keep this up in the future."
Zhou Qing wanted to cry but had no tears.
If only he had waited until the semester ended before going soul beast hunting with Teacher Mo Hen. Why did he even come to the Notting Guild?
Now, he was about to be a pervert's "child husband!"