Edrick cracked his neck, the old man had provided a nice warm-up and a good occasion to check how well he could operate this body now, and as it turns out, he had perfectly adapted to it, although already well aware that many activities were going perfectly well, Anoteros had not gotten the occasion to truly test it in such a situation, the closest would have been his slaughter of Fanqia's family, but it could hardly be qualified as tense or challenging at all.
Elder Gang however, he had just shown him just what cultivation was capable of as well, in his old world, Edrick could have pummeled a decrepit guy like himself with both hands tied behind his back, and now that he had a significantly stronger body to boot, he hadn't even left a single bruise on this guy's skin.
Truly revolutionary, cultivation was like super-charged steroids but one hundred percent good for you, in fact, Gang, who was a wrinkly man already, was probably even older than he looked as it was common knowledge that practising cultivation, no matter the type, would tend to heightened life-span and a certain rejuvenation.
Quietly, his wives unbuttoned his shirt to get a look at his solar plexus since it had been struck, but there was barely even a bruise, the senior had been holding back and had been correct, Edrick had moved back before receiving the full brunt as well, in fact, the worst injury was probably the punch he had receiving to his forearm and one of his blows was deflected, but despite the clear sensation of flesh being crushed, it looked fine and was working as it should.
"This geriatric mess is strong, I didn't realise cultivation was so great…" being quite a country bumpkin, Fanqia only knew things she had read about, but knowing and seeing were entirely different, truly, it was difficult for to imagine that an old man could endure even a single of her husband's serious strikes.
He may go incredibly easy on her in the bedroom, but under his hold, she could tell that he was a beast of strength, when Anoteros grabbed her, it was obvious that he was in control.
So for Gang to do what he had done was a shock, Fanqia hadn't reacted visually, but she was rattled, if this guy could become so powerful- Then what about Edrick? Wouldn't that mean that he would soar even higher? Suddenly, once again felt inadequate to call herself his wife, his first wife at that.
She was supposed to be the matriarch amongst what she was certain would be numerous women he was going to take as his…
"Fanqia, stop thinking about that, put it on hold and bother after you actually begin cultivating" as though reading her mind, Edrick gave a light slap that was more effective at turning her on than anything else.
Rising up to his feet, he fixed his clothing, shook off the dirt sticking to his shoes from kicking that molehill.
"By the way, did you see that, Fanqia? I told you that having moles in the backyard had benefits, so don't beat them all to death, alright?" Anoteros didn't linger on about his first wife's inner turmoil, it was a good thing that she evaluated her own worth to him based on more than just her body and performance as a bedroom sport partner, it showed that she knew that everything, absolutely everything she was should be up to standard.
"Yes…" she responded, having already clobbered quite a few of these animals for going too close to her plantations.
"Good girl… And Linmin, I left a pouch of money on the counter at the entrance, use that to buy this week's food, alright? You can spend it all, you hear me?"
"Yes, Lord Edrick!"
Anoteros exhaled from his nostrils, making the foppoof redden, his second wife never felt comfortable spending all the money he was allotted for expenses, as though fearful of bankrupting his lord from what was pocket change, Edrick hadn't even begun to touch at the money and riches he had accumulated and that were safekept by the system, he still had a whole stash of coins, both from what the Elt family had been sending every month ever since Zixuan Elt was sent away, and from the taxes, which had increased significantly, under Edrick's watch.
Linmin could spend double the amount he allotted every week without problem, and he should know it, his servant was keen on maintaining and counting the finances, after all.
In fact, he allowed his wives much autonomy and handed them some money that he expressly allowed for them to spend however they wanted, but both were rather frugal in what they bought, they were pretty much only willing to spend if their husband told them to or if they believed it would benefit him in someway.
Was it so hard for them to understand that when he said his belongings could do something, that they should just do it when they wanted to?
"Anyways, I'll be off to the library, that Hui girl is probably getting her chair drenched waiting for me" he walked a few steps, preparing to circle around the residence instead of walking in and then out, but stopped and turned his head.
"Tonight, after dinner, prepare a bath, I'll test whether your training has yielded additional stamina, amongst other things" he casually added, both Fanqia and Linmin straightening up like they were going to salute.
"It will be ready, Lord Edrick!"
"We'll be prepared, Lord Anoteros!"
With that, the lord-husband left the surroundings, leaving both of his wives, side by side, they looked at one another.
"I can not help shake the idea that you seemed somewhat disappointed after Lord Edrick's sparring session, Lady Fanqia, were you expecting him to prevail against a veteran weapon cultivator?"
"Well… No, not really… It's just that- It's a bit embarrassing to say, I was sort of hoping he would be a bit frustrated and use us to relieve himself from it?"
"Ah, I see" Linmin looked up at the sky "I, too, am disappointed now… Lord Edrick's temperament is indeed very controlled"
"I read that when a man is angry or otherwise upset, that the way he makes love is completely different! But Lord Anoteros never gets mad, in fact, he is always happy, even when he should be annoyed"
"Lady Fanqia… Where did you read this? Is it true?"
"It's somewhere in the books that I've read…"
"Mmh…"
The two wives remained in silence a little while longer, until Linmin spoke up.
"Lady Fanqia, would you accompany me to the city? I was thinking of checking new stores and see if I could procure something to surprise Lord Edrick"
"Surprise? Of course! But you know Linmin, you can just call me Fanqia, no need for the lady beforehand… You are Lord Anoteros's wife too"
"I'll see what I can do"