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--- Chapter 229 ---
After comforting Gu Xun'er for a while, Han Yuan asked her if she wanted to stay behind or return to the Xiao Clan. Not surprisingly, she said she wanted to stay.
Before Han Yuan could say anything more, Xiao Yixian shoved him away and dragged the Gu Clan's princess to their house.
"..." Han Yuan was speechless. He looked down at his wet robe due to the crying girl and sighed.
Not long after, Meng Xi knocked on the door and said, "Master, I heard you are back."
Han Yuan slumped on the sofa and responded, "Yes. Come in, Meng Xi, have you finished the job I assigned you?"
Meng Xi entered the room with a flattering smile and answered, "Yes, I've placed baits on the Black Corner Region. The Medicine Emperor has used his connections to trace my moves."
Han Yuan chuckled, "As expected of a greedy man who betrayed his own teacher for profits. As soon as he learned about our superior products and the possible lead to it, he immediately acted like a shark on the hunt."
"A foolish, greedy shark that is." Meng Xi added casually.
"Then, again, Yafei is really doing fantastic work on expanding our force, whether it was business or alibi influences."
"She has already done her best outside Jia Ma Empire, but the Black Corner Region is just too much."
Han Yuan shrugged helplessly, "No matter how much Yafei tried, there is a limit on how she can manipulate the market. We can only blame the Jia Ma Empire for being weak in the entire Dou Qi Continent, and in fact, even second, no, third-rate sects in the Central Region could easily wipe us."
"Yafei has done her best, and I will reward her for it later." He added while thinking about his recent experiments.
"I am planning to move to the Black Corner Region myself soon. I should be back in a year or two."
Meng Xi's eyes gleamed as he realized what Han Yuan was planning to do, "Master, are you perhaps preparing to join Jia Nan Academy?"
Han Yuan sank on the sofa, "Yeah, that was the plan. The convoy of Jia Nan Academy that recruited young talents from the empire should arrive at Wu Tan City soon."
"So, as I went to the Jia Nan Academy, I also planned to take a look at Black Corner Region and assess the situation more closely."
"How is the foundation I asked you to set there?"
"Everything went perfectly. I've collaborated with several businesses and a well-known auction house there to set up our Martial Union, though it's just the building for now." Meng Xi answered solemnly.
"I've done what you asked to recruit some talents, but the people there are very stubborn, and won't be persuaded with words alone."
"Well, you're not wrong. If money can buy Dou Ancestor Experts, winning the entire Blue Corner Region would be easy." Han Yuan remarked as he knew the "products" he had been making weren't delicious enough for those old bones.
"It seems the Sea Heart Flame really has to wait..."
"Green Lotus Core Flame is still within Tager Desert, and with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame's ability, I should be able to talk with Queen Medusa."
Hearing Han Yuan mention the ruler of the Snake People of the Tager Desert, "Queen Medusa," Meng Xi couldn't help but gulp nervously.
Although Meng Xi's cultivation has improved over the past five years, from Dou Grandmaster to a Dou King Realm without the public knowing, he still couldn't fight the 'true' expert in this world.
Of course, it doesn't mean Meng Xi would lose badly. Being Han Yuan's loyal aide, he was 'gratefully' armed with magical-level Dou Techniques, strange weapons, and other life-saving resources.
The only thing Meng Xi lacks is battle experience, and he's working on it by getting beaten daily by Han Yuan's spiritual phantom. Thankfully, he is improving quickly.
"How is Yafei?" Han Yuan finally asked. "The trip to the Tager Desert should be successful, right?"
"Oh, you're finally curious about this poor girl, Young Master?" A stirring voice entered the room.
Clak!
The sound of heels hitting the floor made the corner of Han Yuan's mouth twitch slightly. Han Yuan glanced at the door and saw a hot young lady in a red dress walking to him with a playful, if not sultry look.
Yafei promptly sat on the edge of the sofa and rubbed Han Yuan's chin gently, saying, "Surprised to see me?"
"Uh, yes..." Han Yuan replied awkwardly.
'This girl, she is a goddamn succubus!"
Five years ago, Yafei was already quite a seductress, and now? It has become worse for the right thing!
Yafei's body has become fuller in the right places, truly becoming a more hourglass-like figure. Not only that, her demeanor and body movements alone can stir one's soul.
It's hard to believe she didn't have a "charming" physique.
After all, calling her devilishly hot wasn't wrong either.
If this world were an anime where a devil and a boob-loving dragon were involved, Yafei would fit right in.
"Yafei, you should be more respectful to the Master," said Meng Xi sternly.
Yafei smacked her red lips, "Oh, well... That would be too dull, and I don't think Young Master dislikes it either."
"Am I right, Young Master~?"
Cough!
Han Yuan faked a cough, "Let's not talk about irrelevant things, Yafei. How is the mission?"
"Aww, changing the conversation? Young Master, I don't know that you're so cute..." Yafei giggled, circling her finger on Han Yuan's chest this time.
"..." Han Yuan felt this alluring girl wasn't pushing the limit. She's dancing on it. No, she's practically freestyling at this point.
If he fell for her temptation, she won.
If he didn't do anything, she also won.
She's teasing him for the love of the game!
Thankfully, Han Yuan is very strong-willed. He couldn't let this red girl win yet, so he grabbed her teasing hand and pulled her into his arms, "We can wait for that, for now? Let's hear your progress on Hai Bodong."
Yafei blinked her bright eyes, feeling Han Yuan's breath on her ears as his voice stirred the deepest part of her maiden's heart. Her heart is beating loudly as she blushes a little.
No matter how much of a seductress Yafei is, she has one flaw: she's a virgin!
She hasn't allowed anyone from the opposite gender to touch her intimately, except Han Yuan.
Yafei tried to calm down, but the heat was too much. She flushed, fanning herself in panic, "Wow, it's hot today."
Han Yuan smirked, "Oh, really?"
"Is it the temperature or just you, Yafei?"
"Ehem, let's talk about the 'Ice Emperor' Hai Bodong." Yafei changed the conversation shamelessly.
'Heh, women.' Han Yuan chuckled inwardly.
Meng Xi saw all this and lamented how nice it was to be young. As far as he knew, he had been single since birth.
Honestly, with Meng Xi's current strength and reputation, getting some women would be easy. However, he didn't do it.
The reason?
As the face of Soaring Wind Dojo in Jia Ma Empire, he couldn't afford to do such a thing. He, the Wandering Grandmaster, has a pure and clean image; he could be a little shameless and thick-skinned, but being a womanizer would make him look easy to others.
"My trip to the Tager Desert has been very eventful." Yafei sat down on Han Yuan's lap. "I've met the 'Ice Emperor' Hai Bodong as you instructed, and as you expected, his Dou Emperor cultivation has regressed to Dou Spirit, and I told him you have the method to fix his curse."
"At first, he didn't believe me. Thankfully, he has ties with the Primer Clan and seems to know my late parents."
"But he said he wanted you to visit him personally..."
"Empty promises have no substance, that's his words."
"Curse, even a well-known figure such as the Ice Emperor could suffer like this." Meng Xi sighed.
Han Yuan put on an amused look, "Oh, and you know what's interesting about this, Meng Xi?"
"Do you know who cursed the Ice Emperor?"
Meng Xi raised his eyebrow, "Who?"
"Queen Medusa." Han Yuan replied casually.
"T-This..." Meng Xi's eyes widened.
'Didn't the Master say he wanted to make a deal with Queen Medusa?'
'It can't be a coincidence!'
Sure enough, when Meng Xi saw Han Yuan's faint smile, he understood his Master had thought of everything.
Han Yuan caressed Yafei's thighs casually, making her hum. "It's time to put everything in motion..."