Chapter 159: Chapter 155: Fairy, Please Have Some Self-Respect
After sending Shuyue Hua away, Du Youqian continued playing his instrument, amusing himself.
Fang Hua entered silently. Hearing the clear, noble spirit and magnanimous heroism in the music, she closed her eyes.
’She had already said all that needed to be said.’
’If Master didn’t listen... then the Sect deserved to face this calamity.’
"Fang Hua."
"Yes, Fellow Daoist Yu? What is it?" When she opened her eyes again, Fang Hua had purged all weakness, hesitation, and dejection from her gaze, which was once again sharp.
"What will you do now?"
"..." After a long hesitation, Fang Hua said in a low voice, "My master already gave me to you, so I naturally belong to you. Wherever you go, I will follow."
"I know you will follow me to the Qi Kingdom, and even across the Nine Countries of Momenan Desert in the future. My question is about the Hundred Flowers Sect. What are your thoughts? If Shuyue Hua fails to achieve Core Formation and perishes in the attempt, do you want me to help you become the next Sect Leader?"
Emotions once again welled up in Fang Hua’s eyes, but they were swiftly cut down. "There’s no need."
After a pause, she added, "If Master falls, I will mourn her deeply, and then I will continue to follow you. If I am fortunate enough to achieve Core Formation in the future, I will be able to restore the Sect to its Third Class rank. Then, Master’s spirit in the heavens will surely smile, pat my head, and praise my service to the Sect."
Du Youqian nodded and said no more, lowering his head to continue playing his instrument.
But the smile on his lips was exceptionally bright.
Fang Hua listened for a while before suddenly asking, "Fellow Daoist Yu, do you need me to go and persuade my master?"
Du Youqian let out a laugh.
Fang Hua didn’t understand.
Du Youqian didn’t explain. After finishing the piece, he went into seclusion to try and comprehend and improve the Secret Technique for Burning Essence Blood.
’Persuade Shuyue Hua?’
’There was really no need.’
After serving as the Guardian Envoy for several years, experiencing many things, and learning some hidden truths, Du Youqian’s mindset had changed dramatically.
’The Third-class Sects and Second-class Sects that once seemed so lofty were, in his current view, nothing special.’
’The prodigies he once envied and was wary of were also nothing special.’
’The Hundred Flowers Sect, a mere Third-class Sect.’
They had always been reasonably respectful to him, so Du Youqian didn’t mind giving them a hand.
But if Shuyue Hua didn’t appreciate it, or suspected him of having ulterior motives... that was fine too. It would be quite interesting to simply stand by and watch the drama unfold.
Whether a minor Third Class sect was promoted or fell from grace was no longer a major concern for him now.
In fact, aside from the Taihe Sect and the Holy Blood Sect, the Core Formation Ancestors of other sects only warranted his respect; he didn’t need to be overly concerned about them.
’Was Shuyue Hua worried he wanted to interfere in the Hundred Flowers Sect’s affairs, to become their unseen Supreme Elder?’
’The truth was, he had no need to prop up a Third-class Sect as his pawn.’
’It just wasn’t necessary.’
’To survive or to be destroyed—that was a choice for Shuyue Hua and the Hundred Flowers Sect to face.’
’What did it have to do with him?’
With this mindset, Du Youqian spent another month in leisure, figuring that his master, Feng Xiaoyi, had probably made significant progress on her end.
Unexpectedly, Shuyue Hua came to see him again.
Du Youqian was a little surprised. He hadn’t paid any attention to intelligence from the Hundred Flowers Sect for the past month and had assumed Shuyue Hua was already in seclusion, attempting her breakthrough to Core Formation.
Shuyue Hua’s face was pale, and she was visibly haggard.
She had clearly not been faring well, and she wore a look of deep anxiety. The moment she saw Du Youqian, she ignored the fact that she was his senior in both generation and Cultivation and bowed deeply. Her loose collar gaped, leaving the full, pale curves within almost entirely on display. "Fellow Daoist Yu, Yu Guardian Envoy, I have made my decision. I am here to report that our sect’s two Core Formation Ancestors, Xin and Wei, have both passed away. Our sect understands that we no longer have the strength to maintain our status as a Third-class Sect, and we voluntarily request to be demoted!"
Du Youqian gave her a deep look, somewhat surprised that she could set aside her emotions to make such a cruel, yet correct, decision.
"I understand," Du Youqian said with a faint smile. "Fairy Shu, please rise."
Shuyue Hua raised her upper body, looking pitiably lovely. She glanced at Fang Hua, who stood in the corner holding her sword. "Lord Guardian Envoy, could you please ask her to leave? I have something to report in private."
Thinking she had some intelligence to share, Du Youqian nodded to Fang Hua.
Fang Hua left the room, her expression unreadable.
Du Youqian casually set up a Sound-Insulation Array. "You may speak."
Who would have thought that Shuyue Hua would, in a flash, throw herself into his arms? She tilted back her beautiful yet slightly haggard face, her black hair cascading down, and spoke with parted, crimson lips as if panting, "Lord Guardian Envoy, I have admired you for a long time."
Du Youqian frowned, about to push her away.
But Shuyue Hua clung to him like an octopus, wrapping herself tightly around him. Her soft, feverish body ground against him with practiced skill.
A man with less self-control, holding such a warm, fragrant, and soft beauty in his arms, would have likely surrendered already, especially with her seductive moans echoing in his ear.
Du Youqian wasn’t made of wood; it was impossible for him not to have a reaction.
But beyond the physiological reaction, he felt mostly surprise and anger.
’The Hundred Flowers Sect is famous for its Charm Art and Gathering and Replenishing Art. What are you trying to achieve, testing me with this?’
’You may be a veteran of a hundred battles, but I have remained as pure as jade in this life, my vital yang intact. Are you trying to take advantage of me?!’
"Get off!" Du Youqian said coldly.
Before coming, Shuyue Hua had drafted several plans and imagined many possible reactions from Du Youqian.
But she had never expected this kind of reaction.
’Is he made of wood?’
She was in a difficult position now and certainly wasn’t going to back down obediently. Instead, she continued to rub the sensitive parts of her body against him, her arms wrapped around his neck as she whispered in his ear, "I am still a virgin. I pray for your gentle pity!"
Du Youqian sneered inwardly. ’In the entire Hundred Flowers Sect, the only things that are probably "clean" are the two stone lions at the gate. And you’re telling me you’re a virgin?’
’Even if you are... what does that have to do with me?’
’I’m a proper Cultivator, not some virgin-collector from a harem novel.’
Shuyue Hua suddenly felt a sharp pain in dozens of acupoints throughout her body, as if they were being prodded by tiny, sharp swords.
’Sword Intent?’
If this Sword Intent were any stronger, it could sever her meridians and destroy every vital point in her body.
Terrified, she scrambled off Du Youqian, not daring to make any more provocative moves.
But from her disheveled hair and her pitiably lovely appearance, it was clear she hadn’t given up on using her Charm Art.
Du Youqian sneered, "Fairy Shu, please have some self-respect."
Shuyue Hua’s eyes reddened as she straightened her clothes. Her movements were slow; rather than simply tidying her robes, she seemed to be inviting Du Youqian’s gaze to follow her hands and admire her curves. It was still a form of Charm Art. She pleaded, "Fellow Daoist Yu, please do not look down on me."
Du Youqian snorted. "You are a Sect Leader, after all, and your sect is famous for its Charm Art and Gathering and Replenishing Art. How could I possibly look down on you? I only feel that your skills are profound. However, Fairy Shu, if you truly want to achieve your goal, rather than playing these tricks, it would be more practical to open up your sect’s Collection Room and Treasure Pavilion for my perusal."
Shuyue Hua looked up into Du Youqian’s eyes, which showed not a hint of lust. They were as deep and still as a bottomless pool.
She sighed in her heart, knowing that seduction was useless.
She also finally understood why Du Youqian had never "eaten" Fang Hua, despite her having been delivered to his door for so many years.
From their physical contact just now, she knew it wasn’t because he was lacking in function, but because his will was as firm and unshakeable as iron.
Against such a man, even if she sacrificed her own body and threw in a few of the most beautiful, carefully groomed disciples from her sect, it would be of no use.
A man like that would never be swayed or change his plans because of passion.
"Fellow Daoist Yu, the Collection Room and Treasure Pavilion?"
Du Youqian nodded. "This isn’t a demand. You don’t have to agree, Fairy Shu."
"No," Shuyue Hua forced a smile. "It is our sect’s honor that Fellow Daoist Yu has taken an interest in our humble collection. I will return at once to prepare for your grand arrival."
With that, she lowered her head to smooth her robes one last time before taking her leave.
After she left, Fang Hua walked in with a blank expression, sat in a corner of the room, and closed her eyes to meditate.
After a moment, she opened her eyes. "Fellow Daoist Yu, would you be willing to spar with me?"
Du Youqian smiled and stood up. "Of course."
They went to a specially prepared sparring ground in the backyard of the Guardian Envoy’s Mansion. The buildings and ground there had been reinforced with an Array to prevent them from being casually destroyed by Sword Qi.
"Please," Du Youqian said.
Fang Hua’s gaze was firm. "You go first. I want to see the second sword strike you used to suppress the Taihe Sect’s Guardian Envoy that day."
Du Youqian didn’t refuse. He smiled. "Alright. I’ll use thirty percent of my power for this strike."
"Don’t!" Fang Hua quickly stopped him. "When you say you’re going ’all out,’ you usually mean thirty percent of your power. Are you now going to use thirty percent of *that*? That won’t do."
Du Youqian laughed. "Fine, I understand. I’ll go all out, then."
As he spoke, the Jinhuan sword appeared silently before Fang Hua’s eyes.
Fang Hua was prepared and blocked it with her sword.
A crimson flush rose on her cheeks, and her eyes grew brighter.
"I blocked it!" she said with delight.
"Yes. With your talent in the Sword Dao, it would be strange if you couldn’t."
Du Youqian made only that one strike before recalling Jinhuan.
Fang Hua savored the brief exchange. "Is that your fighting style? Attaching Sword Intent to your Flying Sword?"
"That’s right," Du Youqian said. "But you can’t imitate it yet; your Sword Intent is still too weak. Forcing it would be like trying to draw a tiger and ending up with a dog—a clumsy imitation."
Fang Hua nodded.
She was one to heed advice.
She simply resolved to continue strengthening her Sword Intent as quickly as possible.
The power of Du Youqian’s last strike... it made her green with envy.
Their Cultivation levels were clearly similar, with hers being even slightly higher.
And yet, she had used her full strength and still hadn’t completely blocked a strike made with only thirty percent of Du Youqian’s power.
She didn’t say it out loud, but she knew full well that Du Youqian had held back at the last moment.
If he hadn’t pulled back, she would have definitely been injured.
