Hao Ren leaned toward the young man's ear and, in a hushed voice, laid out his entire plan.
Xu Xian’s eyebrows knit together, then his nose crinkled, and he occasionally inhaled the night breeze...
After hearing it all, Xu Xian could only think that this fellow was a damn genius.
"How about it, Little Grand-Uncle? Are we doing it?"
"No, no, absolutely not." Xu Xian shook his head repeatedly.
Hao Ren was slightly surprised.
Xu Xian frowned. "Aren't you just fleecing the sect? If word got out, where would your dignity go?"
"Uh!" Hao Ren was speechless, his face flushing with shame. He suddenly felt like he was a dirty person and quickly apologized, "I didn't think it through. Compared to one's reputation, what are a few hundred thousand merit points? Besides, Little Grand-Uncle isn't that kind of person. I'll drink to my own punishment; please don't take it to heart."
Xu Xian actually felt a bit guilty. To say he wasn't tempted would be a lie.
He waved his hand. "It's fine, it's fine. You're a decent guy. I'll just pretend I didn't hear anything."
Hao Ren's suggestion wasn't actually complicated.
He wanted to discuss using his own name to report back, saying he was the one who found Xu Xian.
That way, they could claim the entire reward of several hundred thousand merit points from the Mission Hall.
And finally...
They would split it fifty-fifty.
That was all.
But that was several hundred thousand merit points!
Of course Xu Xian was tempted.
However, he had other ideas.
"Eat more," Xu Xian said.
"Alright!"
"Hurry up and get to work after eating. The Disciple Recruitment Assembly is only a few days away. That's the real business. Don't you still have several hundred villages to visit? Don't delay and miss the date."
Hao Ren refused. "There's no rush for that. I'll escort Little Grand-Uncle back to the sect first!"
"No need. You mind your own business!"
"How can I do that? Little Grand-Uncle, it's too dangerous for you to be alone," Hao Ren said.
"Dangerous? Where's the danger? Besides, I could take on ten people like you. If you follow me, who's protecting whom?"
Xu Xian fired off several questions in a row, leaving Hao Ren dazed.
"Uh..."
Xu Xian quickly added, "Enough, listen to me. Leave now. Take this meat with you to eat on the road."
"That wouldn't be appropriate," Hao Ren said hesitantly.
Xu Xian said generously, "What's inappropriate about it? And that Pangolin skeleton and its carapace—if you want them, take them."
Hao Ren was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. "Little Grand-Uncle, this... I..."
Xu Xian said seriously, "Enough, why are you being so polite with me? If I tell you to take them, take them."
Taking food and gifts, Hao Ren was moved to tears. He felt that Little Grand-Uncle was simply too generous.
On their first meeting, not only did he treat him to meat, but he even gave him the bones and hide of a fourth-grade beast.
If he sold these things, they would fetch at least several hundred spirit stones.
To be honest, even his own master had never given him that much money.
"Little Grand-Uncle, you're too good to me. I don't even know what to say..."
"Just small trifles, not worth mentioning!" Xu Xian said grandly.
Hao Ren pulled out a stick of black spirit incense. "No, I must do something for you. Since you won't let me escort you, I'll burn a stick of spirit incense for the sect to send back the news that Little Grand-Uncle is still alive."
Xu Xian grew anxious and quickly stopped him.
"Don't."
Hao Ren froze, confused.
Xu Xian said solemnly, "Hao Ren, I'm not criticizing you, but this spirit incense isn't cheap. I'm perfectly fine and will be back soon. Isn't burning this just a waste? Don't you know that waste is shameful?"
Hao Ren felt that Xu Xian's words made a lot of sense and agreed.
"Little Grand-Uncle is right to scold me. I didn't think it through."
Xu Xian comforted him, "Alright, don't let it happen again. It's getting late. I won't keep you any longer. Go get to work."
"Alright, Little Grand-Uncle, then I'll head out!"
Xu Xian: "Go on."
Hao Ren: "I'm taking the stuff too."
Xu Xian: "Take it, take it all. It's all yours."
Hao Ren: "I'm really leaving, Grand-Uncle?"
Xu Xian: "Go!"
Hao Ren: "Be careful on the road!"
Xu Xian: "Don't worry."
Hao Ren was reluctant to leave, but the youth waved goodbye.
Hao Ren flew away on his sword, his stomach full and his heart warm. He thought emotionally, 'Little Grand-Uncle is such a good person. He's so generous to me, yet so stingy with himself. He wouldn't even let me light a stick of spirit incense just to save money for the sect. He truly is a role model for us all. With a Little Grand-Uncle like this, how can our Wendao Sect not prosper?'
After Hao Ren left, Xu Xian originally planned to leave without saying goodbye. But then he thought it would be rude, so he decided he should tell the village chief.
He searched around.
He couldn't find the village chief.
Instead, he encountered a young maiden.
She couldn't be called devastatingly beautiful, and her skin wasn't like that of immortal cultivators—white as congealed fat and transparent as frost crystals.
But she was quite the delicate type with a graceful figure, especially under the moonlight and candlelight.
The girl was shy, her face seemingly dyed with rouge, possessing a natural charm.
"Exalted Immortal."
"What is it, miss?"
"Is the Exalted Immortal looking for the village chief?"
"Yes."
"Please follow me."
Xu Xian didn't think much of it and followed her. After a few turns, they arrived at a small courtyard. They entered and went to a room.
The girl stepped to the side, lowering her head, and whispered, "Please enter, Exalted Immortal."
Xu Xian was a bit confused.
"This is..."
The girl looked up at the youth. Her large, watery eyes were clear and moving, carrying a hint of a plea.
"Exalted Immortal, could we talk inside?"
Xu Xian was a kind-hearted person and hated to see a girl in a difficult position, so he entered the room in a daze.
One table, one bed.
Red candles flickered on the table, and gauze curtains fluttered on the bed.
Red candles and gauze curtains? Exquisite bedding? Deep night, a lady's chamber, a lone man and woman?
Xu Xian, standing there with nowhere to put his feet, suddenly felt the atmosphere was off. It was a bit eerie.
He was about to turn and leave.
To his surprise, the girl had already entered the room, closed the door, bolted it, and turned around to lean against it.
She looked at the youth with eyes full of affection.
Xu Xian's expression darkened. "Miss, what are you doing?"
"It's late." The girl stared straight at Xu Xian and said softly, "Let me serve the Exalted Immortal as he rests."
As she spoke, she began to unbutton her clothes, shedding her already thin garments.
Xu Xian's eyes went wide. He was stunned.
Everything he saw was pixelated.
With a wave of his sleeve, he used his qi to catch the falling clothes.
The garments rose and blocked the parts he wasn't supposed to see.
Xu Xian said in a panic, "You... what are you doing?"
The girl looked lost and tried to please him. "Accompanying the Exalted Immortal for his rest."
"Who told you to come?"
The girl said weakly, "The village chief told me to."
Xu Xian was speechless, thinking this was absolutely ridiculous.
"Hurry up and put your clothes back on."
The girl didn't move.
"I said put your clothes on!" Xu Xian snapped.
The girl was frightened and clumsily put her clothes back on.
With her head lowered, tears pooled in her eyes, and her body trembled slightly...
Xu Xian was truly at a loss.
Wait? You're crying now? I'm the victim here!
He offered a token of comfort, "Miss, dry your tears. Don't worry, I won't do anything to you."
The girl's face was stained with tears. She looked at him pitifully. "Is it because the Exalted Immortal thinks I'm ugly?"
"Absolutely not."
"Then why won't the Exalted Immortal have me?"
Xu Xian felt like his head was about to explode. What was even happening?
He said indignantly, "Did your village chief force you? Come, I'll take you to find him."
What Xu Xian hated most was forcing people into such things. This was outrageous.
"No, it was my own choice," the girl quickly explained.
Xu Xian was even more speechless.
"Miss, are you silly? I'm leaving."
"I don't mind."
"Don't you care about your virtue?"
The girl confessed, "It is an honor to serve the Exalted Immortal. If I'm lucky enough to have a child, I'll be set for life, and the village will benefit too."
Good grief. He had thought Luoxia Village was simply hospitable. Drinking and eating meat wasn't enough; they even sent a girl.
He hadn't expected it to be a series of schemes.
They were treating him like a breeding stud...
The girl approached step by step, her eyes full of supplication and her movements full of seduction.
"Exalted Immortal, I beg of you, please just take me..."
Xu Xian's brain stalled for a moment...
Then he burst out the door and fled into the night on his sword.
Recalling the scene just now, he felt a lingering fear. "Little Wen was right. A man from the Wendao Sect really has to protect himself when he's away from home..."
Rate on N.U.
