Lingling could have followed in her family's footsteps and become a professor at a prestigious university in the capital. After all, her grandmother had once taught there.
However…
Zhonghai was closer to Young Master Cao, making it easier to go home, visit family, and take care of the children.
Besides, they had already moved.
The family was growing, and there would be even more children in the future. Their previous home had started to feel cramped, especially since it was old and had been lived in for too long.
Though its location was prime—a luxury property in the heart of the city, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold—it was still too small.
So, they decided to relocate to a more secluded estate, far from the noise and bustle of the city. A place with more rooms, more space.
Given Young Master Cao’s contributions, securing a plot of land wasn’t an issue. They built a private villa, surrounded by lush greenery.
But it wasn’t just greenery.
There was also a maze-like formation, obtained from a system reward.
Not an overpowering one, just a simple illusionary array—but more than enough for their needs.
Not that Young Master Cao was intentionally being secretive. It was just that since the formation had been acquired, it would be a waste not to use it, right?
Moreover…
The family was expanding.
And the location was getting more remote.
Though their security measures were top-notch—equipped with high-tech surveillance and even legal firearm permits—better safe than sorry.
So, setting up this formation significantly boosted their safety.
And there was no need to worry about accidental trespassers.
The formation wasn’t aggressive.
If someone happened to wander in, they’d just circle around until they found their way out.
Of course,
Cao Cheng had also installed plenty of cameras and alarms.
If someone stumbled in by accident, he wouldn’t bother with them.
But if anyone came with malicious intent?
Eliminated on the spot.
After all, he’d already dealt with plenty of spies—what were a few more?
And it wasn’t about whether those spies had ill intentions or not.
If you came snooping, you deserved death.
No excuses.
Cao Cheng wasn’t the merciful type.
He wasn’t about to wait for someone else to fire the first shot.
That was just his nature—if he sensed a threat, he struck first.
Even if it meant collateral damage…
Well, too bad.
An apology was all they’d get.
What more could they expect?
At most, he’d offer some compensation—like a self-punishing toast.
That settled it.
……
So,
To this day, Cao Cheng’s security remained airtight.
Especially for the women around him—they hardly ever felt threatened.
Most dangers were nipped in the bud by Young Master Cao himself.
Plus, he had a dual-cultivation technique that enhanced everyone’s strength.
At this point, as long as they were even slightly cautious, there was almost no real danger.
And in a few more years…
Once everyone’s abilities reached a certain level, they could walk the world with confidence—even without Young Master Cao’s protection.
……
……
Tang Xin was preparing baby food.
Her second child was a little princess.
And the third? Another young master.
A perfect balance.
Lately, Tang Xin had set aside her work—nothing required her personal attention anymore.
So now, most of her focus was on raising the children.
The second child was a bit older.
The third had just turned one—the age for starting solid foods.
Of course, the servants could have handled it.
But Tang Xin insisted on doing it herself, pouring her maternal love into every meal.
Cao Cheng wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.
Tang Xin smiled softly, glancing at him. "What’s wrong? Hungry?"
Cao Cheng nodded. "Starving."
"I meant for food," Tang Xin chided lightly.
"So did I," Cao Cheng chuckled. "But… other places are hungry too."
"Honestly, you’re hopeless. Acting like this at your age."
Tang Xin sighed, but she couldn’t deny the warmth in her heart.
Truth be told,
Cao Cheng wasn’t a perfect man. He had his flaws—like his insatiable appetite for women.
But aside from that?
He was exceptional in every other way.
And he never grew tired of the old for the new.
After all these years…
They were practically an old married couple now—fifteen years together, three children.
In other households, the passion would have long faded.
But Young Master Cao still doted on her as much as ever.
Wasn’t that enough?
Besides, Tang Xin was sharp.
She could tell that his affection wasn’t out of guilt or because of her family’s status.
Young Master Cao cherished her for who she was—because she was Tang Xin.
No other reason.
And that was more than enough.
……
With anyone else, it might have been different.
But Young Master Cao?
He didn’t need to rely on anyone’s background.
In fact, the Tang family had benefited greatly from his influence over the years.
It was a mutually beneficial relationship.
Really,
It all came down to the wonders of cultivation techniques.
Young Master Cao was a simple man at heart.
In his past life—well, the century-long dream he’d lived—he’d been a bit of a playboy before settling down due to an "unplanned pregnancy."
But even after settling, he was still a man with a sword.
And a man with a sword could never resist using it from time to time.
Maintenance is still necessary, after all.
It’s a fine… fine iron sword, after all. It needs oiling, even quenching—essentially, regular upkeep to maintain its sharpness.
It’s only human nature, right?
...
Of course,
human nature aside,
this tendency to favor the new over the old is perfectly normal.
It’s not just with people—even with objects.
Whether it’s clothes, shoes, toys, or anything else… when you first buy them, you handle them with care, gently and meticulously.
After some time, you become rougher, less attentive.
A little longer, and something new might replace the old. Not throwing the old thing away is already an act of kindness.
The same goes for people.
The honeymoon phase and the settled years of marriage are two entirely different states.
A kiss from an old married couple might give you nightmares for days.
And that’s no joke.
So,
this is why Young Master Cao says cultivation techniques are so great.
They preserve eternal youth.
At the very least, they keep a person in their prime.
Even Tang Xin, who’s had three children, remains as fresh as Lingling.
Naturally, this reduces the urge to seek novelty.
Not to mention, these women aren’t just beautiful on the outside—they have depth, formidable strength, and layers of charm that make it hard to ever grow tired of them.
This is also why Young Master Cao keeps them so busy.
A woman who remains cherished for a lifetime is never just a pretty vase.
After all,
if beauty were all there was, every flower would eventually wither when its season passes.
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
tions: attribute allocation, analysis, proficiency, and simulation. Specializing in mechanical alchemy, from crafting sorcerous battle armor to handcrafting mechanical maidens, his mechanical legion conquers endless realms... Relying on his wits, he begins with a student-teacher romance, wins over a female director, enslaves a female assassin and a underworld queen, becoming the husband of a Grand Duchess... He enslaves the Goddess of Magic from the divine realm, developing his power simultaneously in both the Wizard World and the Realm of Gods...
