Translator: CinderTL
Song Wen's body stiffened slightly.
He understood the implication in Shi Man's words, but he feigned a bewildered expression.
"Senior Shi Man, please forgive this junior's ignorance. I don't understand your meaning. Could you please clarify?"
Shi Man didn't answer immediately. She gazed intently at the distant white clouds, gathering her thoughts before speaking.
"Ye Hua, I need your help with something."
"Senior Shi Man, please speak. If it's within this junior's capabilities, I will not refuse," Song Wen replied.
A fierce glint flashed in Shi Man's eyes. "Help me eliminate Qi Luo."
Terror flooded Song Wen's face.
"Senior Shi Man, you... you want to kill Senior Qi Luo?"
"Exactly." Shi Man's killing intent was palpable. "You heard it yourself that day. Qi Luo not only deceived me but also used me. I cannot rest until I avenge this betrayal!"
Song Wen wore an expression of worry and reluctance.
"But... Senior Qi Luo has a close relationship with Young Master Chi Pei. If she dies, he won't let this go easily."
Shi Man abruptly turned, her eyes glaring at Song Wen.
"Are you refusing! You don't want to help me?"
Song Wen trembled, as if frightened, and hastily bowed with clasped hands.
"Senior, your wisdom is clear. This junior is willing to serve you with all my heart and soul. However, even disregarding Qi Luo's connection to Young Master Chi Pei, my cultivation level makes it impossible to pose any real threat to her. This task is beyond my capabilities, and I am truly powerless to assist."
Shi Man replied, "Under normal circumstances, our combined strength would indeed be insufficient to kill Qi Luo. However, our journey to Rotting Miasma Ridge will be fraught with peril. The area is shrouded in miasma, swarming with demon beasts, and we could be attacked at any moment. If you cooperate fully with me at the opportune moment, we will have a chance to strike. We simply need to ambush her, drive her into a dangerous situation, and let the demon beasts finish her off. As for Young Master Chi Pei, as long as he doesn't witness it himself, he will assume Qi Luo was killed by the demon beasts of Rotting Miasma Ridge."
"An excellent plan!" Song Wen exclaimed. "This junior is in awe of Senior's strategic brilliance. However..."
Song Wen's expression turned hesitant.
"However, my cultivation is weak. I fear I won't be of much use."
"Don't underestimate yourself," Shi Man said. "With you distracting Qi Luo, my ambush will have a much higher chance of success."
Upon hearing this, the terror on Song Wen's face intensified.
For a mere nascent soul cultivator like him to attack Qi Luo would be tantamount to suicide.
"This junior..."
Song Wen's words were cut short by Shi Man.
"Rest assured, I won't let your efforts go unrewarded," she declared. "Once this is accomplished, I will fulfill my promise and become your dao companion for a day. I have cultivated for over two thousand years, yet I have never been intimate with a man. Dual cultivation with me will not only grant you your desire but also greatly enhance your cultivation. Perhaps this opportunity will allow you to break through and reach the Divine Transformation Realm in one fell swoop. It's not impossible."
Under a generous reward, brave men will always emerge.
In Shi Man's eyes, her willingness to offer herself as a "dao companion for a day" was an immense favor to Song Wen. He should be eternally grateful, seize this golden opportunity, and brave fire and water for her sake.
A crown for a beauty!
Song Wen glanced sideways at Shi Man.
Her features weren't ugly, but they were far from beautiful.
With her remaining lifespan dwindling, her appearance showed signs of age. Fine lines etched the corners of her eyes and forehead, and her figure had grown gaunt and withered.
Song Wen found nothing remotely alluring about her.
For men in this world, captivating women fell into two categories: those like Ye Bing, with exquisite beauty and ethereal grace, or those like Qi Luo, voluptuous and enchantingly seductive.
Shi Man fit neither category.
Where did this inexplicable confidence of hers come from?
Has she truly never been intimate with a man? Does she know nothing of male desires?
Shi Man remained completely oblivious to Song Wen's thoughts.
Seeing Song Wen staring intently at her, she assumed he was simply impatient and unable to restrain himself.
"Ye Hua, rest assured, I won't break my promise. As long as you help me eliminate Qi Luo, I will grant you the pleasure of my company."
In truth, Shi Man doubted Song Wen would survive his assault on Qi Luo.
But what did she care about his fate?
If he miraculously survived, she would still honor her word.
Before Qi Luo became entangled with Chi Pei, Shi Man and Qi Luo had been close, their relationship deep. Qi Luo often whispered tales of carnal pleasures in Shi Man's ear, stirring a longing in the never-initiated Shi Man to experience such things herself.
She had come to realize that Chi Pei likely disdained women like her. Since "Ye Hua" appreciated her virtues, she could "reward" him accordingly.
As for her claim that dual cultivation with her would help Song Wen break through to the Divine Transformation Realm, it was a complete fabrication.
She possessed no special constitution. Though still a virgin, her years of arduous cultivation had indeed accumulated some Yin Essence within her body, but it was far from sufficient to elevate a nascent soul cultivator to an entire major realm.
"Thank you, Senior, for granting me this opportunity. I will devote my utmost efforts to this task," Song Wen declared, his face flushed with excitement.
Shi Man nodded in satisfaction.
Half an hour later, the two arrived at their designated meeting point—the summit of a towering mountain tens of thousands of miles from Phoenix Feather City.
Tang Gui and Sang Bu were already there when they arrived. They continued to treat Song Wen with cold indifference, completely ignoring him. Even Shi Man, the nominal elder of the Veiled Moon Hall, received only perfunctory acknowledgment. When she greeted them, they merely nodded slightly before settling into a corner of the summit in silence.
As time passed, Qi Luo appeared on the mountain peak. Her face beamed with smiles as she greeted each of the four in turn.
Their reactions varied.
Whether captivated by her beauty or influenced by Chi Pei's presence, Tang Gui and Sang Bu treated her with far more warmth than they had shown Shi Man, responding politely to her greetings.
Shi Man, however, remained aloof, completely ignoring Qi Luo's attempts at courtesy.
Song Wen, mindful of the others present, respectfully greeted her with, "Greetings, Senior Qi Luo."
Shortly after Qi Luo's arrival, Chi Pei materialized silently.
After half a month apart, his complexion had improved dramatically, showing none of the previous signs of depleted Qi and Blood.
"Greetings, Young Master Chi Pei," the five said in unison, bowing respectfully.
Chi Pei landed on the summit, his gaze sweeping over the group.
Perhaps influenced by the lingering effects of the Red Dust Fragrance, and having been separated from Qi Luo for weeks, his eyes burned with barely concealed desire as he looked at her.
Yet he refused to let this longing cloud his judgment, knowing there were more pressing matters at hand.
"Have any of you uncovered any clues regarding the Blood-Eyed Giant Ape during your investigation?"
(End of the Chapter)
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