As time goes by, let's have hot pot for lunch.

Time passed slowly.

Another half a month went by.

The wind grew sharper, carrying the biting chill of early winter as it howled through the city's streets and alleys.

Most of the leaves had fallen from the trees along the road, leaving only sparse, withered branches trembling in the gusts.

The sky was overcast, weighed down by thick, leaden-gray clouds.

Qin Luo paused mid-step, his arms laden with bags of snacks and groceries, and glanced up at the sky.

A trace of absentmindedness flickered in his eyes.

November already.

Had it really been nearly half a year since he arrived in this world...?

"Half a year, huh..."

Qin Luo murmured softly, as if speaking to the roaring wind.

In these six months, schemes and conspiracies, fierce battles, and tender moments had flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

He had met the adorable Su Muwan, accompanied her through laughter and mischief, weathered one storm after another.

Without realizing it, they had already been through so much together.

A fiercer gust of wind snapped him out of his thoughts.

He tightened the collar of his coat and resumed walking, the dry leaves beneath his feet crunching loudly.

Enough sentimentality—time to go home and cook.

Though, come to think of it, had there really been any "fierce battles"?

...

...

Su Family Villa.

Qin Luo stepped inside, where the warmth enveloped him, a stark contrast to the icy world outside.

The soft hum of the heater served as the most reassuring background noise in this cozy space.

Entering the living room, he found Su Muwan sprawled lazily on the sofa like a contented fish.

She was clad in a blue shark-patterned onesie, her hair loosely tied into a messy bun with a few stray strands dangling by her cheeks.

On the TV, a comedy variety show—one that had been rerun countless times—played, punctuated by canned laughter.

But Su Muwan clearly wasn’t paying attention, her eyes half-lidded as she teetered on the edge of sleep.

Hearing the door open, she turned her head sluggishly toward the sound and asked in a drowsy voice, "Qin Luo, you're back... What’s for lunch today?"

As she spoke, she stretched lazily and slowly sat up, grabbing a shark-shaped pillow nearby and hugging it to her chest.

Tilting her head, she waited for Qin Luo’s answer, her entire demeanor exuding a carefree, languid charm that made his heart itch.

This lazy, spoiled young lady—just unbearably cute!

Qin Luo chuckled, setting the bags down by the kitchen entrance as he took off his coat. "It’s pretty cold today. How about hot pot to warm up?"

"Hot pot?!"

"Yesss!"

Su Muwan’s eyes instantly lit up.

She shuffled over in her slippers and crouched by the bags, rummaging through them eagerly. "Hehe, did you get my favorite shrimp paste? And tripe? And fatty beef...?"

Her eyes sparkled as she dug through the groceries. "Oh! Qin Luo, you bought snacks too?"

"Wah! Perfect timing—I just ran out of chips!"

"Ehehe... Alright then, you handle the cooking, Qin Luo. Call me when it’s ready!"

With that, she happily snatched up the snack bag and scampered back to the living room.

Qin Luo sighed in amusement, calling after her, "Young lady, don’t eat too much, or you won’t have room for lunch."

A voice promptly shot back from the living room: "Hmph! As if a mere Qin Luo could possibly comprehend the depths of this young lady’s appetite!!"

Well, if the young lady said so, what could he do?

Shaking his head with a smile, Qin Luo headed into the kitchen.

Indeed.

For the past half-month, Su Muwan had once again been lazing around at home.

According to her, she had worked hard enough in her past life.

This time, she just wanted to relax and take it easy.

She’d only step up when it was time to fight.

Having a girlfriend with overwhelming combat prowess did give Qin Luo a sense of security.

Just as the thought crossed his mind—

Ding-ling~

A notification chime sounded.

Qin Luo checked his phone.

It was a message from the newly developed communication app by the Alliance.

[Starlight Sect · Qing Feng]

[Mr. Qin, any updates on finding the mastermind behind the killings?]

Qin Luo thought for a moment before replying:

[Still waiting. We’re searching too.]

[Understood. Thank you, Mr. Qin. Also, when can our Starlight Sect get dormitories like the Mystic Wind Pavilion?]

[Our disciples are still living in caves, and bathing in spirit springs is... inconvenient.]

[We can arrange for our disciples to work as laborers too, just like the Mystic Wind Pavilion did. (Smile)]

Heh. Finally brought it up themselves.

Qin Luo smirked and typed back:

[Sure. I’ll visit the Starlight Sect to discuss after I wrap things up here.]

[Thank you! (Smile)]

Exiting the chat, Qin Luo’s lips curled slightly.

The killer responsible for the deaths of the Starlight Sect’s seven prodigies still hadn’t been found.

However, one positive development was that Huang Feng of the Mystic Wind Pavilion had finally been cleared of suspicion.

Thanks to the Alliance’s spiritual energy identification technology, the energy traces found at the crime scene didn’t match Huang Feng’s.

This confirmed that someone had deliberately disguised themselves as her, aiming to stir conflict between the two sects.

As for who that person was—no leads yet.

The Starlight Sect could only continue waiting.

In the meantime, since Huang Feng had warmed up to the Alliance, when Qin Luo proposed modernizing the Mystic Wind Pavilion’s infrastructure, she had been fully supportive.

With the biggest obstacle removed, assimilation became effortless.

Thus...

Following Qin Luo’s blueprints, the Mystic Wind Pavilion designated a plot of land and constructed rows of modern dormitory buildings.

The hallways were fitted with motion-sensor lights, and each room came furnished with beds, desks, chairs, and—most importantly—private bathrooms.

For disciples accustomed to damp caves and bathing in lakes, this was a revelation.

Not stopping there, Qin Luo also organized training programs to help the sect adapt to modern life.

From basic electrical safety to the laws of civilized society, the curriculum covered it all.

At first, the Mystic Wind Pavilion disciples resisted, finding it all too tedious.

But when they saw their peers lounging comfortably in air-conditioned dorms, chatting with outsiders on their phones, or even learning new cultivation techniques online, their attitudes shifted overnight.

Enthusiasm for learning skyrocketed.

Seizing the momentum, Qin Luo introduced commercial collaborations.

He encouraged the sect to leverage their spiritual herbs, artifacts, and even cultivation techniques to partner with modern businesses—developing health supplements, cultural merchandise, and more.

He also pushed for the establishment of the "Mystic Wind Group," where disciples transitioned into employees under a 996 work schedule.

The results were astonishing.

Qin Luo noticed that ancient sect disciples possessed physical stamina far surpassing modern martial artists.

Even after pulling all-nighters, they showed no signs of fatigue.

Such boundless energy made them... exceptionally valuable workers.

Additionally, some Mystic Wind Pavilion disciples expressed interest in joining modern martial arts corporations, where salaries were higher.

Qin Luo agreed—with one condition.

That is a ritual every new employee must go through—reciting the onboarding manual.

It's quite simple.

The first line reads:

"I pledge my eternal loyalty to Miss Su."

It's a tradition, one that must never be forgotten.