Chapter 2882

The term "washing the essence and refining the marrow" sounded terrifying. It implied that every organ, bone, and blood vessel would be scrubbed clean. The pain was different from having skin peeled or bones ground down, but it was just as agonizing.

Zhang Weixi gritted her teeth, making not a single sound. If not for her broken lips, no one would have guessed at her suffering.

Zhu Zhibin nodded slightly. This girl had strong willpower. At least, she didn’t need to worry about her giving up halfway.

Thinking about this, Zhu Zhibin felt a strange sense of paternal affection.

She shook her head, dismissing the thought. She was overthinking things. Besides, Zhang Weixi wasn’t her daughter.

This made him miss his family. Perhaps he should visit his parents in the Underworld.

However, going there would surely alert his sisters. Remembering how his two sisters always questioned him whenever they saw him, Zhu Zhibin decided against it. He would stay away for a while longer.

Bored, Zhu Zhibin looked around. He caught two spiritual rabbits used for food in the cultivation world. After confirming Zhang Weixi was safe, he prepared and roasted them nearby.

Zhang Weixi felt as if she had died countless times. Every time she felt she couldn’t hold on, she saw the faces of her parents and brother.

She gritted her teeth, persisting again and again. She lost track of time. When she finally finished and regained consciousness, she saw Zhu Zhibin looking at her with disgust.

"Hurry up and wash in that small stream over there. You really stink."

How could someone not smell bad after such a process? But that didn’t mean anyone wanted to hear it, especially a girl.

Even though Zhang Weixi’s heart was weathered, she glared at Zhu Zhibin angrily upon hearing her words.

However, the immediate priority was to take a good bath and wash off the filth.

After washing, Zhang Weixi looked at her reflection in the clear stream and paused slightly.

She knew her looks were good. That was why Zhang Baozhu had targeted her in the first place.

Because she was beautiful, people wouldn’t complain even if she wasn’t from the main branch. Besides, the Liu family had a foolish son. Having a pretty wife would bring them face. Zhang Baozhu hadn’t expected Zhang Weixi’s family to be so stubborn.

Zhang Weixi’s parents had sent her away immediately. To protect her, her brother had paid with her life.

Zhang Weixi patted her face. She knew she would live well, not for her looks, but because her life carried her parents’ expectations and her brother’s love.

When she returned, Zhu Zhibin pointed to the roasted rabbit. "Come eat. I don’t need to eat, but your cultivation is too low. If you don’t eat, your body won’t recover as fast."

"I feel like you’re becoming more annoying," Zhang Weixi said. "When we first met, I thought you were a senior. Now I realize you just like to bully me."

Zhu Zhibin raised an eyebrow. "No choice. This place is too quiet. I need to bring some life back, so I need some noise."

Zhang Weixi found this amusing and frustrating. "Don’t tell me the main reason you do this is just to make the place lively."

"Of course. Don’t you think it’s too quiet?" Zhu Zhibin said directly. "I don’t like being too lively, but I don’t like being too quiet either."

"If you don’t like it being quiet, why did you come here?" Zhang Weixi asked curiously.

"My sister kicked me out," Zhu Zhibin sighed. "She said I was too lonely and told me to find a wife. If I didn’t find one, I couldn’t go back. But I didn’t want to look, so I chose remote places. When I go back, I’ll just say I didn’t find anyone."

Zhu Zhibin looked at Zhang Weixi. "By the way, you appeared in such a remote place. Could you be my destined wife?"

Zhang Weixi nearly choked on the rabbit meat. After catching her breath, she glared at her. "I came here by mistake while being chased."

"I know. I saw you being chased," Zhu Zhibin said honestly, showing no fear of her anger.

Zhang Weixi didn’t blame her for not saving her earlier. In the cultivation world, unless it was a close friend or master, one never relied on others for rescue. One had to protect oneself.

A trace of sadness flashed in Zhang Weixi’s eyes. "When you saw me being chased, did you see my brother’s body?"

"I saw it. I buried it casually," Zhu Zhibin said calmly. "If you want to see him one last time, you can."

"Huh?" Zhang Weixi was stunned. "Isn’t my brother dead?"

"He is dead, but his soul is in the Underworld," Zhu Zhibin said, looking at her.

"You mean you can take me to the Underworld so I can see my brother?" Zhang Weixi asked.

Zhu Zhibin nodded. "However, since we have no relationship, it’s not appropriate for me to take you casually. To take you, we must first have a certain relationship."

"What kind of relationship?" Zhang Weixi asked.

"We must become Dao partners first," Zhu Zhibin said. Since he was destined to have a wife, he might as well choose someone pleasing to the eye. Zhang Weixi was acceptable. "Of course, for now, it can only be a contractual Dao partnership. The term is ten years. If we don’t truly like each other and become heart-aligned Dao partners within ten years, we can dissolve the contract."

Zhu Zhibin sighed. "To be honest, I have no interest in finding a Dao partner. But my two sisters are happy in their marriages, so they insist I find one.

I once had an engagement, but she broke the contract spirit, so we parted. At that time, I was still a mortal. Later, when I became a cultivator, I tried looking, but others looked down on me for having no background and married elsewhere. So, honestly, I’m a bit afraid of forming a Dao partnership now.

But if I don’t find one, my family will worry.

I won’t deceive you about my feelings. Right now, I just find you pleasing to the eye, which is why I have this idea.

Besides, you want to see your parents and brother. Becoming Dao partners with me can fulfill your wish."

Zhu Zhibin didn’t want to deceive any girl, so he explained everything clearly.

Zhang Weixi had no romantic thoughts at the moment, so she listened carefully and thought.

With her looks, there were plenty of playboys in the cultivation world. If she remained unmarried, she might attract trouble.

Zhu Zhibin, though she didn’t know her well, had saved her. That was a cause.

She had spoken clearly and straightforwardly. Moreover, she couldn’t see her cultivation level, meaning it was very high.

Looking at him closely, he was handsome and had a mature charm. Such men were very popular in the cultivation world.

Thinking back, he hadn’t asked for much, just a contractual Dao partner.

Honestly, this contractual partnership was most useful for her.

First, it deterred those with bad intentions. Second, she could see her parents and brother again. Third, it was like having a free bodyguard.

In every way, she was gaining an advantage. Most importantly, she could settle the karmic debt between them.

Thinking of this, Zhang Weixi looked at Zhu Zhibin. "Are you telling the truth?"

Zhu Zhibin glanced at her. "I, Zhu Zhibin, never lie. Honestly, if I hadn’t seen your resilience during the marrow refining, I wouldn’t have proposed this."

She didn’t hide her views. "To be honest, even if it starts as a contractual partnership, I take it seriously. I hope to have my own happy family in the future. The prerequisite is that this partner is self-improving. So, when I saw your performance with the marrow-refining pill, I had this idea."

"Okay," Zhang Weixi said. She didn’t comment on her desire for a happy family for now. At least, she could agree to this contractual partnership.

Hearing her agreement, Zhu Zhibin asked, "Don’t you want to consider it again?"

"I considered it, which is why I agreed," Zhang Weixi answered seriously. "Becoming contractual Dao partners with you, I’ve thought it through. I gain more benefits."

Zhang Weixi never thought Zhu Zhibin would take advantage.

Zhu Zhibin looked at her deeply. "As long as you don’t regret it. Cultivate here first. When you successfully build your foundation, I’ll take you to the Underworld."

Not just anyone could enter the Underworld.

Zhang Weixi said, "Let’s make the contract first."

"No regrets?" Zhu Zhibin asked.

"No regrets," Zhang Weixi smiled lightly. "Besides, the Heavenly Dao witnesses everything. I don’t worry about you regretting it, and you don’t need to worry about me regretting it."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhibin knew Zhang Weixi was a clear-headed person who understood her situation well.

"Fine, let’s make the contract," Zhu Zhibin said.

A contractual Dao partnership involved writing a contract on paper, both parties dripping blood to swear an oath, and burning it to report to the Heavenly Dao. If they wanted to dissolve it later, they would write a dissolution contract and perform the same operation. Although tedious, the benefit was that they wouldn’t suffer Heavenly punishment upon separation.

Otherwise, if they used a Heavenly Dao oath, separating would incur Heavenly punishment.