“For this trip, many thanks to Holy Maiden Lu.”
Ye Tingfeng and Meng Fang blushed, their hands finally touching.
“No need to thank me.” Lu Li waved his hand, then casually tied up his hair in a convenient style.
“But your Beast Gate—did they never teach you about matters between men and women?”
“Well… no, they really haven’t.” Meng Fang recalled for a moment before speaking.
“That’s strange. At our Imperial Sword Sect, they teach us right from the start.” Liu Qingyun tucked his long sword at his waist and began searching carefully. “The very first lesson tells us that the more beautiful a woman is, the better she is at deceiving. They even gave examples of many martial artists in the martial world who were bewitched and ended up ruined.”
“Though I really want to argue…” Lu Li could only let out a long sigh.
‘Because now he was that beautiful woman, and he had never told anyone that he was actually a man.’
“Our Buddhist Light Sect also teaches, but it’s all stuff like ‘rosy cheeks are mere skeletons’ and such.” Yuan He widened his eyes, carefully searching every corner of the room.
“I think perhaps the three of you are all Holy Sons and Holy Daughters. If matters between men and women aren’t taught specifically, when you meet someone who moves your heart in the future, you might act on impulse.” As Ye Tingfeng said this, he blushed again and glanced at Meng Fang beside him.
Meng Fang was the same. Though they were holding hands, when she was looked at again, she still shyly lowered her head.
“Our Beast Gate does have something like a martial world private school, but the time for learning isn’t long.” Ye Tingfeng watched as Meng Fang took out the Gold-Seeking Beast.
“The rest of the time, we cultivate and raise our spirit beasts.”
“Then no wonder… Oh, I found it!” Yuan He ran his hand over a groove in the wall. “Old Liu, put some effort into it.”
“I told you, don’t call me that normally.”
A cold light flashed, and the thick wall split open.
Amid the sound of shattering stone, a groove appeared in the wall, inside which were placed exactly five bottles of pills.
“These should be the Yin-Yang Dual Qi Pills.” Lu Li glanced at the others, and after they all nodded, he took down the pills and divided them equally between the two people.
“They can help everyone comprehend Yin and Yang Qi.”
“Not a bad harvest. Outside, these would cost quite a few spirit stones.” Meng Fang examined the pills in her hands, her face full of smiles.
“Junior Sister Meng’s harvest is indeed great.” Lu Li watched Meng Fang, who was slowly adjusting. “But if there’s really anything you don’t understand, you can always ask this senior sister.”
“Definitely! There are many things I want to ask!”
The five of them traveled together, all from the Three Sects and Four Gates of the Southern Region.
Since they were similar in age, their conversations lightened the tedium of the long journey.
Not to mention that Lu Li, Liu Qingyun, and Yuan He were the Saints and Saintess among the Three Sects, and with the spirit beasts of Beast Gate, they were practically unstoppable.
“Sister Lu, ahead is the next location for Heavenly Fire Fruit.” Meng Fang pulled at Lu Li’s sleeve and said quietly. “Brother’s Spirit-Seeking Beast also sent a message. It’s not a sect from our Southern Region, and their cultivation is quite high.”
“How many exactly?” Lu Li asked. The small round ball that rolled in front of them scratched out characters on the muddy ground.
“Thirteen people.” Yuan He stared at the text on the ground. “Brother Ye and Junior Sister Meng, your combat strength isn’t strong, so just wait here.”
“For the final Heavenly Fire Fruit, I, Yuan He, and Miss Lu will each take a third. The rest will be for you two.” Liu Qingyun drew his bamboo sword. “Let’s go.”
“You two take this time to let the spirit beasts rest.” Lu Li said, then stood up. “Yuan He, and Liu Qingyun, act according to the plan we discussed earlier.”
“No problem. I just didn’t expect Layman Lu to be good at scheming.” Yuan He laughed heartily.
“Previously, I heard my Master say that the Saintesses of the Yin Yang Sect are… hmm… difficult people to get along with.”
“Maybe everyone has their own circumstances.” Lu Li looked at Liu Qingyun. “Is your long sword okay?”
“Sword Zen can’t be used for now, but attacking is no problem.” Liu Qingyun said. “Then at the start, we’ll trouble Holy Maiden Lu.”
“No problem.” Lu Li took a deep breath and slightly activated the Charm Technique he had practiced earlier.
If fully activated, the phantom of nine fox tails would appear behind him, immediately revealing his identity.
But with just a slight activation, it would only make his eye color more prominent, and could attract others to glance at his eyes, thus causing the opponent to fall for it.
“It’s just… I suppose it’s a necessary evil.” Lu Li adjusted his mindset, stepped softly, and walked out of the forest.
A few dozen yards away, thirteen people dressed in thick clothing were searching through storage rings and discussing among themselves.
“Brother Qian, then it’s settled. I’ll take the pill and go gather.” A middle-aged man clutched the pill in his hand.
“There are exactly thirty Heavenly Fire Fruits here. Everyone gets two each, and give me a bit more.”
“It’s only right. The Primordial Yin Qi around the Heavenly Fire Fruit is deadly poison to us.” Qian Mu took out a curved weapon and looked around warily.
“Leave the guarding to us.”
Before the words faded, a soft sound of footsteps came from the forest in the distance.
“Who’s there?!” Qian Mu raised his weapon, and the others beside him also readied theirs.
“Fellow Daoists… please don’t attack. Little sister I…”
The crowd looked toward the sound and saw a woman in a green dress, her black hair half-down, covering her cherry-colored eyes.
She gingerly held onto a tree, her body trembling continuously, like a frightened rabbit.
“Little sister’s name is Lu Youli, a disciple of the Mist and Rain Pavilion…” Lu Li lowered his voice, his tone trembling at the end.
“Ah, Mist and Rain Pavilion.” Qian Mu nodded, but still didn’t put away his weapon. “Daoist Lu, what business do you have?”
“Earlier, I heard you two talking. To gather the Heavenly Fire Fruits, you need to take a pill.” Lu Li timidly extended a finger, and the light gauze slid down his wrist. “But little sister cultivates a special Dharma formula that allows her to enter the Primordial Yin Qi unscathed.”
“You want to cooperate, right?” Qian Mu heard this and put away his weapon. “How do you want to split it?”
However, the other disciples around him still held talismans and swords, watching Lu Li warily.
“Little sister doesn’t ask for much. Fifty percent will do…”
“Hey! Fifty percent?!”
“Are you kidding? Fifty percent is a full fifteen Heavenly Fire Fruits!”
“Enough.” Qian Mu raised his hand, and the shouting people behind gradually fell silent. The man who wanted to enter the Primordial Yin Qi also lowered his head in thought.
“Daoist Lu, could you reduce it a bit? I have twelve brothers here. If you take fifty percent, everyone can only get one.” Qian Mu asked.
“How about we sign a contract? We’ll guard you, and you take thirty percent.”
“But…”
“Sorry, that’s our bottom line. You take thirty percent, we take seventy. If you don’t agree, either leave now and we won’t fight.” Qian Mu raised his weapon.
“Otherwise, don’t blame me for not cherishing beauty, and I’ll send you out of the secret realm.”
“I see…” Lu Li sighed, and his tone unconsciously rose. “Now.”
A green flash streaked through the air, grazing past Lu Li’s body, and directly struck Qian Mu in the waist.
“Wha…”
Before the words faded, Qian Mu’s body twisted and then disappeared from Lu Li’s sight.
“Since you won’t cooperate, then we’ll gladly take these Heavenly Fire Fruits.” A seductive smile appeared on Lu Li’s face, and nine pink fox tails spread out from behind him.
“You’ll have to stay standing here for a while.”