6: Chapter 0006 The Fate of the Furnace

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

"Isn't this Little Puppy? Here again to scout for men for Senior Sister Zhou."

"Little Puppy sure is loyal. Even knowing his master is about to favor another man, he still waits by the bedside, wagging his tail like a fool."

Outside the Immortal Cave.

Many people came out to join in the teasing after hearing the commotion.

Most were fair-skinned and beautiful female Cultivators, though there were also a few malnourished male Cauldrons.

Subjected to humiliation.

Little Puppy didn't even dare to spare them a glance.

Because Hehuan Peak was the domain of enchantresses; even a dog passing through wasn't necessarily safe, unless it was a bitch.

"Get out here! My master requests your presence!" Little Puppy slammed another fist against the stone door, roaring ferociously. He didn't dare fight back against the enchantresses, only daring to bully Cauldrons weaker than himself.

As early as twenty days ago.

Zhou Guanlian had sent him here to keep watch and invite Gu Huan to the Immortal Cave for a chat.

Gu Huan had feigned excuses and decisively stocked up on a month's worth of dry rations to stay indoors. He thought he could escape the ordeal this way, but he hadn't expected the other party to become even more aggressive.

"Coveting Senior Sister Qin's Cauldron... isn't Zhou Guanlian afraid of a reckoning later?"

"There's been no news from Senior Sister Qin since she went hunting Righteous Path Cultivators. She's likely met with misfortune, and that's where Zhou Guanlian gets her confidence."

"If Senior Sister Qin has fallen, her Cauldron becomes ownerless. No wonder Zhou Guanlian is so persistent; she wants to take him for herself. Have any of you seen Senior Sister Qin's Cauldron? What does he look like?"

In the Hehuan Sect.

Handsome men and beautiful women were highly sought after.

Although Gu Huan was a mere Cauldron, he rarely faced difficulties or bullying.

Enchantresses who knew his background would flirt and tease, while those who didn't would ask if he had a master. At those times, he would bring up Qin Yao to make them back off.

"I've seen him. He's in his early twenties, fair-skinned and humble. It's just that his cultivation is a bit low, only at the fourth level of the Qi Refining stage. It seems he's still a Virgin."

"A pure Cauldron?"

"Indeed. I've teased him before; he has an abundant aura of masculinity."

The Hehuan Enchantresses were visibly moved. Pure Cauldrons were rare to begin with, let alone a handsome man. Plucking him would be incredibly satisfying.

Meanwhile.

The tightly shut stone door rumbled.

Little Puppy was startled at first, then became ecstatic. "You finally decided to come out, you..."

Before he could finish, a gust of wind hit his Face. A heavy slap landed on his cheek, and with a crisp crack, he was sent flying like a torn sack.

"Where did this stray dog come from, barking like crazy?"

Gu Huan glanced sideways and bowed with a smile. "You've disturbed the Senior Sisters' cultivation. How undisciplined."

Hearing his voice and seeing him.

The Hehuan Enchantresses' eyes lit up in unison.

Whether in temperament or appearance, Gu Huan far surpassed Little Puppy. No wonder Zhou Guanlian had her eyes on him; who wouldn't be tempted by such a Cauldron?

"You dare hit me?"

"You're looking for death!"

Little Puppy's mouth was full of blood, and he was consumed by shame and rage.

As fellow Cauldrons of equal status, he didn't need to suppress his anger. A flash of fire quietly flew from his palm. It was both a sneak attack and a crushing display of cultivation, and he was certain Gu Huan wouldn't be able to resist.

This man had a malicious heart. Knowing that Zhou Guanlian coveted Gu Huan's looks, the fire was aimed directly at his Face, with the fundamental goal of disfiguring him.

The incident happened so suddenly.

The Hehuan Enchantresses' expressions changed drastically.

They never expected Little Puppy would actually dare to publicly ruin the Cauldron Zhou Guanlian had set her sights on.

"Watch out! Get out of the way!" someone warned.

Gu Huan's Face darkened. Purple Demonic Fire rose from his palm as he charged toward the incoming flame.

Boom!

The Purple Demonic Fire was overbearing and unstoppable.

"Ahhh!!" As a scream rang out, Little Puppy's Face was enveloped in purple flames. In an instant, he was disfigured beyond recognition, wailing in pain as he rolled on the ground.

However.

No one cared whether he lived or died.

Everyone present was shocked by Gu Huan's methods.

To defeat Little Puppy head-on at the fourth level of Qi Refining—as expected of a pure Cauldron, his Foundation was solid and not at all hollow.

"Ahhh!"

"You dared to ruin my Face! I'm going back to tell my master and have her kill you!"

Little Puppy scrambled up from the ground, clutching his Face and wailing shrilly. His charred eyes were full of malice and fear as he spat out his threat and fled in disgrace.

"Hahaha!"

"Look at that coward! He really is just like a puppy."

"A Little Puppy is a Little Puppy. When he gets beaten outside, all he knows is to go home and tell his master. Hey! Do you think Senior Sister Zhou calls him 'good puppy, good puppy' when they're Plucking?"

As those words fell.

The Hehuan Enchantresses burst into another round of laughter.

They were all Disciples of the Hehuan Sect and were in a competitive relationship; it was normal to hate seeing others do well.

"If Senior Sister Zhou comes to blame me, I hope you Senior Sisters will bear witness. I, Gu, did not intend to harm anyone; I was truly forced into it."

Gu Huan did not fear Little Puppy.

But facing Zhou Guanlian, he still had to show a modicum of respect.

Of course, if she refused to be reasonable, that would be a different matter.

"Junior Brother Gu, don't worry. For the sake of Senior Sister Qin, we will certainly testify for you. It's just that Senior Sister Qin has been gone for so long; I advise you to find another backer as soon as possible!"

Hearing this.

Gu Huan was secretly startled.

No wonder Qin Yao had asked for his sincere blessings before she left; that trip out had indeed been fraught with danger.

"If Senior Sister Qin doesn't return for three consecutive months, you, as a Cauldron, will become ownerless. At that time, it's possible you'll fall into anyone's hands. There's no time like the present—do you see any type you like among us?"

Immediately.

The Hehuan Enchantresses stood in a row, blooming like flowers with radiant smiles.

Gu Huan looked over and felt as if he had arrived at an entertainment club called the Hehuan Sect. He swallowed hard imperceptibly and remained respectful.

"Thank you for your affection, Senior Sisters. There are still two months left; I might as well wait a bit longer."

The enchantresses present were as beautiful as flowers and had alluring figures.

But compared to Qin Yao, there was ultimately a significant gap.

Besides, these women were like wolves and tigers; who knew how many men they had already Plucked and Supplemented? Gu Huan had not yet cultivated indestructible body or immunity to all poisons, so he truly didn't dare to act recklessly lest he be tainted by misfortune.

Since he had refused politely.

The Hehuan Enchantresses did not make things difficult and soon dispersed.

Gu Huan hurried back to his Immortal Cave and sat cross-legged in the Cultivation Room.

"There are still two months. If something really happened to Qin Yao, I can only find another backer."

"It's a pity for the Supreme Heavenly Demon Art. I wonder if there's a chance to continue it."

...

On the other side.

Zhou Guanlian was deep within her Immortal Cave, sitting cross-legged on a fragrant bed. She was draped in thin gauze, and with the surrounding curtains dancing lightly, she looked like a noble and holy Bodhisattva.

At the edge of the bed, Little Puppy groveled on the ground, recounting the events.

A moment later.

Zhou Guanlian's Face was full of rage.

"Look up."

"Yes, Master."

Little Puppy slowly raised his head, revealing his mangled Face.

Zhou Guanlian shuddered, her skin crawling with goosebumps. This appearance—neither human nor ghost—disgusted her so much she had no interest in Plucking him.

But selling him to the Shikui Sect like this would be a waste of his cultivation.

After a brief thought, she threw out a roll of white gauze and told him to wrap his Face tightly, only feeling at ease once not a single bit of flesh was visible.

"Come up here. Master wants to reward you properly."

"But Master, I failed to bring that person back for you. I don't deserve a reward for no merit."

"Stop talking nonsense and get up here. Today's matter will not end like this. Master will definitely avenge you in the future, so you must be obedient now."

"Thank you, Master."

Hearing that his master would avenge him, Little Puppy chuckled foolishly and crawled onto the fragrant bed.

Immediately, Zhou Guanlian took a pink Medicinal Pill into her mouth and lit half a stick of Incense Wood with a pained expression. With the doors and windows tightly shut, pink smoke drifted about. Little Puppy felt ecstatic after just one breath, completely forgetting the pain in his Face.

"Master, what's happening to me?"

"You'll find out in a moment. I guarantee it'll feel so good you'll die."

Zhou Guanlian's gaze suddenly darkened, becoming incredibly cold, as if she were looking at a corpse.

She had no interest in facing a disfigured Cauldron day and night.

...