236: Chapter 235 Fangfei Lingers 236: Chapter 235 Fangfei Lingers Hou Niao was startled, then realized.
If he could understand the rationale, how could those great powers with thousands of years of heritage not understand?
“So, does the Wu Sect also have something to reserve?”
Dong Fangfei shook her head, took a fennel seed and chewed it in her mouth.
She ate with such elegance that it seemed less like she was eating and more like she was showing off the dimples on her cheeks.
“The Wu Sect didn’t hold back at all, so they truly suffered heavy losses; take Wei Kuiyang who you killed, for example—a naturally gifted Cultivation Seed with boundless prospects, and yet his promising future was buried in such a meaningless battle.
To them, potential in the Upper Realm is far more important than combat ability.
Once they reach the Tongxuan Realm, it’s a whole new world, a completely new combat system, and everyone starts from scratch.
So what does it matter if you can fight now?”
She looked at him amusingly, “Everyone understands this principle, so did everyone truly put in their full effort?
Not necessarily, right?
Even your Quanzhen Sect seems to have sent only cannon fodder from various states.
Is it truly that you are ignorant of Wu Sect’s schemes?
Or is it intentional?”
Hou Niao laughed wryly, “What a sharp tongue you have.
Stop there, or this cannon fodder might just defect from his sect.”
Dong Fangfei covered her mouth and giggled charmingly.
When she wasn’t fighting, she really loved to laugh, “You may be cannon fodder, but you are unique cannon fodder!
Do you know what I admire most about you, Senior Brother?
It is not your swordsmanship, but your courage to dismiss the old ancestors as nothing!
People like you either die quickly or achieve great things.”
Hou Niao shook his head, “Is Fairy Dong praising me or cursing me?”
Dong Fangfei’s eyes curved into a smile, “I am not a fairy, at least not yet.
I too have human emotions and desires, selfish thoughts.
For instance, I see you, Senior Brother, as a true hero, unmatched by the hundreds of so-called elites at Yan Lake!”
But Dong Fangfei changed the topic, “I know Senior Brother comes from the Quanzhen Sect, but you never asked where I come from.
Do you look down on your little sister?”
Hou Niao shrugged, “If wishes were horses, beggars might ride.
Mainly, I was concerned it might be inconvenient for the fairy.
So, where does the fairy come from?
How old is this fragrant one?
Have you ever been married?”
Dong Fangfei’s eyes were filled with the light of spring, “I am from Sangmo, born into the Dual Cultivation Harmony Dao.
Um, can I refrain from answering the last two questions?”
Hou Niao was somewhat surprised, “The Harmony Dao?
Is that also from the Southeast Daoist Sects?”
Dong Fangfei gave him a sideways glance, “What did Senior Brother expect?
Did you think the Dual Cultivation was from the Demon Sect?”
Hou Niao smiled and shook his head.
It was his shortsightedness; the true Dual Cultivation Path was never an evil way.
In fact, many practitioners of this path valued their reputation more than most ordinary cultivators.
Dual Cultivation was merely a method of cultivation, not synonymous with licentiousness—these were two different things.
“Ahem, let’s talk business.
Fairy Dong, you mentioned paying a high price to get back your Wasp of Slender Waist.
I wonder just how high Fairy Dong considers a high price to be?”
Dong Fangfei replied seriously, “One way is through Spirit Stones, two stones per wasp; I would pay four hundred Spirit Stones for their return, or the equivalent in Elixirs or Artifacts.
Another way is through information; if Senior Brother needs to inquire about anything, particularly the inside story of this Wu Sect alliance, I will spare no detail in what I know.
And there’s one last method, if Senior Brother is willing, we could also find a place to discuss matters of cultivation?”
Hou Niao was left speechless with a laugh.
This woman was really…
“All right, I’ll choose the Spirit Stones, they’re more tangible.”
Dong Fangfei was somewhat dissatisfied, “But the very last thing I want to give away is Spirit Stones, can’t we swap for something else?”
Hou Niao remained unmoved, “Don’t think of fobbing me off with renewable resources.
You’ve retrieved the bees, improved your cultivation, and delighted your body and mind, killing three birds with one stone.
Giving away the spoils of war for nothing, toiling and moiling away.
What do I have to show for it?”
Dong Fangfei fixed him with a look, “Is it that all Sword Cultivators are insensitive to charm?
Or, why not combine the second and third methods?
The price is already quite fair.”
Hou Niao indeed lacked Spirit Stones, but he was equally aware that Spirit Stones wouldn’t solve his current problem.
This woman, known as a Daoist, acted in a manner quite uncharacteristic of the Daoist Sect.
Was it the Harmony Dao style, or just personal style?
The cultivation circle was a place where one’s imagination could run wild, just as he, Hou Niao, had become an unusual cultivator of the Quanzhen Sect.
Other Daoist lineages undoubtedly had many unconventional cultivators.
It was an era of unrestrained freedom, the most chaotic of times, but also the era most alive with thought.
He embraced such uniqueness.
What kind of news could you possibly get?
My Quanzhen Sect has its own channels; we don’t need to rely on others…”
Dong Fangfei smiled playfully, “News is divided into Great Dao news, useful for big affairs, which may not suit you and me, and lesser news, which might just resolve the problems of the little people?
Since I am neither a member of the Wu Sect nor a Daoist of Anhe, I am not caught up in their entanglements, but rather, I have more friends and more accessible news.
Who would be on guard against someone destined to return to the Southeast?”
Hou Niao felt his interest piqued, to tell the truth.
This woman had a natural talent for understanding people and possessed an irresistible charm—an allure that didn’t come from flirtation but from her effortless way with people.
“Fine, but let’s forget about the third option, shall we?
After all, we’re not familiar with each other, and it might tarnish the Fairy’s reputation?”
Dong Fangfei scoffed, “What kind of reputation does a Fairy like me have to worry about?
Or is it that you, Brother, are so protective of your own reputation that you wouldn’t associate with those on the fringe of the Daoist Sect?
Even a disciple of the Demon Sect is so cautious.
You are an unusual one as well.
Though my Harmony Dao lineage is not a prestigious sect, we have our own principles when it comes to interaction.
We seldom collaborate with others, but should we choose to do so, we will be open and honest, never betraying each other.”
Hou Niao understood her point—it was a way to build trust to a certain extent, innovative and thrilling…
He didn’t think this was a rule of the Harmony Dao; perhaps it was more likely a personal rule of Fairy Dong.
He wouldn’t lose anything, but…
I don’t see why the bees are worth this trouble to you.”
Dong Fangfei smiled mysteriously, “Just a woman’s intuition.
The bees are important, but you, as a person, are more so.
Isn’t it good to make an early connection with someone who could be an influential figure in the future?
The price I’m paying now is limited, but once you come into power, it might be too late for me to seek favor.
Besides, I won’t be losing anything.”
Hou Niao hesitated no longer.
He was a Sword Cultivator of the Demon Sect, not a pretentious moralist, “In that case, I am eager to hear it.”
The two, one after the other, left the bustling market area and winded their way to Dong Fangfei’s residence in Divine City—a quiet and beautiful courtyard with no servants, a common choice among cultivators.
The yard gate was slightly ajar, with no trace of visitors, only the fragrance of flowers and the whispers of spring and autumn.
…the scent of flowers bloomed in the inner court, yet it was the peach and plum trees that garnered the finest reputation.
Who could explain to the heavenly beings that from then on, the roots were moved closer to the purity of Taiching.