250: Chapter 249: Get Out of Liuyang 250: Chapter 249: Get Out of Liuyang Hou Niao curled his lips.
These Upper Cultivators, there wasn’t a generous one among them; it seems regardless of the Daoist Kingdom, the higher one’s cultivation, the tighter one’s hand becomes.
Hoping for something to leak from someone else’s grasp was unlikely.
“Hou Niao has come here specifically to request the Fairy’s assistance; just as the Fairy said, since I have contributed, albeit modestly, to the Anhe Daoist Sect, perhaps it would be permissible for me to open my mouth on occasion?”
The Daoist watched him warily.
This guy was no ordinary person—more cunning than a monkey, a slippery character.
She even regretted saving him back then; it might have been better to have fed him to the Water Demon, to save herself the current hassle.
“It is possible, but only within my capabilities.
Don’t overstep your bounds and don’t get too greedy,” she said.
She always felt somewhat unable to control her emotions in front of this man.
From the very first time on the riverboat at Ye Po, when she scolded him for his recklessness, to the constant urging for him to return to the Daoist Sect—it was as if he was determined to oppose her, making it impossible to grasp his intentions.
But she couldn’t bring herself to ignore him completely, because his audacity didn’t seem entirely baseless.
The night at Ye Po was to save someone; taking the girl back to Liuyang was to fulfill a promise; on West Mang Mountain, he helped save most of her disciples’ lives; and arguing the case in the Southwest turned out to be the best choice for the Anhe Daoist Sect at the time…
Hou Niao was not the least bit embarrassed by the Daoist’s harsh words and seemed to enjoy them,
“I have come for three purposes, please allow me to explain slowly,” he said.
The Daoist was impatient.
This guy sure had some nerve.
“Make it quick, I have many things to deal with here,” she replied tersely.
Hou Niao spoke earnestly, “Firstly, have you heard of the Fairy of Xionger in Shan Country?
It’s the only lawless area in the Southwest and also where Mengdong of Wei Country and Yun Platform of Xinye are located.
“My fief is there, to serve as its guardian, but I know nothing about the place.
I was wondering if the Fairy might know someone familiar there, so I could have some support upon my arrival?”
The Daoist shook her head, “I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never been there, nor do I have any acquaintances.
I might have one or two enemies though; do you want me to introduce them to you?”
Hou Niao laughed heartily, unconcerned, “If that’s the case, let’s forget it.
I can’t afford to offend your enemies.
I may not have much, but I do possess some self-awareness.
“My second request: I would like to know everything you have on Chong Ling Daoist’s death in the Divine City; don’t say you don’t know because you definitely do.”
The Daoist was taken aback.
She instantly understood, “Did you kill that Xiaosong?
Before I answer your question, I want to know your relationship with Daoist Chong Ling.”
Hou Niao didn’t avoid the subject, as the relationship was no secret to those who were interested.
Li Chuping knew, and so did the Upper Cultivator from the Anhe Daoist Sect who oversaw the Grotto Heaven.
It wasn’t difficult to find out.
“When I went to the Quanzhen Sect, it was Daoist Chong Ling who pointed the way and gave me a compass…”
He recounted what had become his standard response when mentioning Daoist Chong Ling.
What he didn’t expect was that after listening, the Daoist went back on her word, “I can’t tell you because these are not things you should know.
The Anhe Daoist Sect has its own ways of solving problems and doesn’t need outsiders meddling.”
Hou Niao was caught off guard, and seeing the smile in the woman’s eyes, he knew he had been played.
But it didn’t matter; no secret can be kept forever, especially in the Cultivation World.
“The Fairy has already refused two of my requests, but I wonder if she will refuse the third?”
The Daoist was unmoved, “That depends on what you’re asking.
If it’s unreasonable, even a hundred of me would refuse.”
Hou Niao smiled slightly, his tone light, “My third request is for the Fairy to lift her veil.
I wish to glimpse your true face; we have known each other for so long, it wouldn’t make sense not to see your face even once, right?”
The Daoist’s eyes sharpened, her gaze cutting like a knife.
This man was far too bold, daring to flirt with her.
Did he not understand what removing the veil signified?
Or was this precisely what he intended?
The audacity of a dog, thinking a toad could eat swan meat!
Hou Niao felt his heart pounding, fearing that the woman might fly into a sudden rage.
He could face a harsh punishment; the pressure of an Upper Realm cultivator was weighing so heavily on him that he could barely breathe.
He somewhat regretted being so close, trapped with no escape.
Yet, he still looked her in the eye, not backing down an inch.
He came today for this purpose; the other two objectives were just extra, merely a way to show his sincerity.
He didn’t see anything presumptuous about it.
In the Cultivation World, who decreed that those from a Low Realm couldn’t show that certain something to those from a higher one?
At the very least, he wanted her to know, not to leave things unclear.
That was the point of taking the initiative.
As their standoff continued, just when Hou Niao thought he was about to face another rejection, possibly even a beating, the veil covering the Daoist’s face fluttered without wind, revealing a face that could make the moon hide in shame and the flowers feel inferior.
Indeed, it was like watching a harmonious and prosperous scene within a brocaded city, seeing all other life wither while the early plum bloomed alone.
Beside the precious pavilion and crystal towers, the rich crimson of budding peonies was just beginning to bloom with brilliance.
A beauty unsurpassed by nature, standing so serene, her fair complexion and slender figure reminiscent of an unadorned fairy from Guanghan Palace.
Leaning on a red balustrade, a waft of her fragrance seemed to…
She matched his imagination perfectly and solidified a certain thought in his heart.
Seeing this fellow blatantly staring at her without restraint, the Daoist who initially felt somewhat flustered, at last, calmed down.
She wasn’t sure why she did what she did.
If there had to be a reason, perhaps it was a way to ensure he would eventually return to the Daoist Sect?
She didn’t know if she was fooling herself, but in the end, it was all instinct.
“Have you seen enough?”
“It’s hazy, and I’m left wanting more.”
“Greedy for more after getting what I wanted.”
Hou Niao suddenly felt a powerful force thrusting him out—the delicate foot of the woman, kicking him squarely in his flesh, sending him rolling out of the room as if riding clouds and mist.
The Daoist’s voice reached his ears, “If you want to know those messages, come talk to me after you reach Tongxuan.”
Scrambling to his feet with a grimace, he looked shameless.
“Do you mean to say, after reaching Tongxuan, anything becomes possible?”
Hou Niao walked out proudly under the surprised gazes of the other disciples in the Daoist Palace, limping slightly, but in high spirits.
His purpose wasn’t fully accomplished, but the door wasn’t entirely closed either.
With continued effort, who could tell what the future held?
He took the reins and galloped out of Liuyang, not even thinking about the two young girls left in Liuyang City.
He didn’t fancy the overly raw and young; he preferred wine with age and people with experience.
With this matter settled, a weight was lifted off his chest, leaving no more worries behind.
From now on, his priority would be his realm, just as the Capital Commandant had said—if he didn’t reach Tongxuan, he would be left to his own fate.
Leaving Liuyang, he headed slightly eastward, entering Shan Country through a different border.
Finding a town, he handed over his horse and simply used Tunneling.
Despite the wind and rain, he hurried along his way and, after more than twenty days, finally arrived at Xionger.
Standing atop a mountain, he looked over the land before him, filled with emotion.
…In Xionger, the vast plains of the ancient Shan palace, he climbed and remembered the times of old.
Amid the relentless change of hundreds of years, a lone, white-haired guest sat on the empty mountain.