6: Chapter 6 Trading

Tang Xiaowu returned to her room and, after ensuring no one was around, pulled a piece of beast bone covered in eerie runes from her bosom.

As she forced a drop of essence blood from her fingertip onto the beast bone, a faint gray mist instantly spread, isolating the entire room.

The gray mist churned, gradually condensing into an old but majestic Face.

"Xiaowu, why have you contacted the clan so suddenly? Have you run into trouble?" The old man's voice seemed to come from a distant time and space, sounding somewhat hoarse.

Tang Xiaowu took a deep breath and recounted today's conversation with Chen Shanzhi.

She explained everything in detail regarding the "Nine-Turn Golden Body Art of the Witch God" being in the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion's Secret Realm, as well as the cooperation terms proposed by Chen Shanzhi.

After listening, the Face formed by the gray mist fell into a long silence.

"The Zhenguo Marquis Mansion... I didn't expect the Cultivation Technique lost by the previous Saintess to be there."

The Witch Priest sighed, and then his cloudy eyes seemed to look straight through the gray mist at Tang Xiaowu.

"Since that Heir Apparent knows so many secrets, he must have grand designs. Xiaowu, what do you think of this person?"

"A shameless man, naturally lecherous, but... extremely calculating." Tang Xiaowu bit her lip and gave her evaluation.

"Since he's a lecher, that seems easy to handle."

The Witch Priest's voice took on a hint of persuasion: "Xiaowu, as the number one beauty of our Witch Clan, can you approach and then control him through your charms?

If you succeed, not only can you make him obediently hand over the Secret Realm key and the Cultivation Technique, but you also won't be restricted by him in other actions."

Hearing this, Tang Xiaowu's body stiffened.

In fact, the Witch Clan had a secret technique called the "Love Gu."

A woman would feed it with her heart's blood and plant it within a man's body.

Once planted, the man would be utterly devoted to the woman, following her every word, and would not hesitate even if told to die.

However, this Gu had a fatal flaw.

The woman who planted the Gu would also suffer a backlash; from then on, her heart would only hold that man, living and dying together, never betraying him.

If she planted the Love Gu in Chen Shanzhi, he would indeed be obedient.

But she...

Tang Liu's Face first appeared in Tang Xiaowu's mind.

Then, Chen Shanzhi's punchable smiling Face suddenly flashed by, along with his rogue-like behavior of touching her on the street.

She shook her head vigorously; the one she had always liked was Brother Liu.

How could she let herself fall in love with someone like Chen Shanzhi? And be utterly devoted to him?

Absolutely impossible!

"No." Tang Xiaowu shook her head decisively and lied:

"He is guarded by experts, and his Divine Soul seems to be protected by a strange treasure. I've tried, but it simply doesn't work."

The Witch Priest seemed a bit disappointed but didn't press further.

"Xiaowu, you must understand our Witch Clan's current situation."

The gray mist churned more violently, revealing the old man's current anxiety:

"The Demon Dynasty is pressing hard. In recent years, to compete for survival resources, the clan's warriors have suffered heavy casualties.

We've been forced deep into the miasma-filled Hundred Thousand Mountains. If we don't get the first three transformations of that Cultivation Technique to enhance the clan's Bloodline...

In less than a few decades, the Witch Clan... will likely perish."

Tang Xiaowu's heart sank, and a suffocating feeling surged within her; she felt the burden on her shoulders grow even heavier.

"Therefore, no matter the cost, that Cultivation Technique must be obtained."

The Witch Priest's voice became stern:

"Since we can't force control, then we cooperate.

But since we're cooperating, think of more ways to test his bottom line and strive for more benefits for the clan.

You are the Saintess; I believe you know what to do."

"Yes, Xiaowu understands." Tang Xiaowu lowered her head.

The gray mist gradually dissipated. Just as the communication was about to be cut off, the Witch Priest suddenly said something ambiguous:

"Actually, to control a person, it's not necessarily through Gu techniques.

Xiaowu, do not let personal feelings blind you. For the sake of the clan, some sacrifices... are worth it."

The gray mist vanished. Tang Xiaowu gripped the beast bone, her fingers turning white from the force.

"Sacrifice..."

She murmured to herself, but Tang Liu's despondent Face involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

...

At this time, the Yihong Pavilion was still filled with bright lights and wine.

Inside the Heaven No. 1 Room, the sound of the zither was melodious.

A fair-faced scholar wearing a Confucian robe and waving a folding fan was swaying his head in intoxication:

"Miss Youyou's zither music is truly something that should only exist in heaven; how many times can one hear it in the mortal world?

This humble one is untalented, but I was just struck by inspiration and composed a poem to gift to you, Miss..."

Behind the screen, Jiang Yingrao, dressed in a plain white gown, played the zither with an indifferent expression, though a hint of impatience was hidden deep in her eyes.

If not to maintain her persona as the courtesan queen to facilitate information gathering, she would have slapped this scholar, who only knew how to write doggerel, right out of the room.

"Bang!"

Just then, the door was kicked open.

The zither music stopped abruptly.

The fair-faced scholar was startled, dropping his folding fan, and turned around furiously:

"Who is so rude! How dare you interrupt this Young Master's discussion of poetry and literature with Miss Youyou!"

At the door, Chen Shanzhi swaggered in, followed by the fierce-looking Coachman Zhao Da.

"Poetry and literature?"

Chen Shanzhi sneered, walked over, and kicked away the scholar's folding fan on the floor.

"With those two lines of doggerel, you have the nerve to show off? Get lost, I've booked this place."

"You... you..." The scholar's Face flushed. He was about to explode when he recognized the newcomer as the capital's number one playboy, and his arrogance instantly vanished: "The Heir Apparent of Zhenguo Marquis?"

"It's good that you recognize me."

Chen Shanzhi pointed outside: "I'll give you three breaths to disappear from my sight. Otherwise, I'll let you know what 'overflowing martial virtue' means."

Coachman Zhao Da cooperatively cracked his knuckles, making a series of pops.

"You... you..." The scholar's Face turned from blue to purple. He had come here behind his father's back, so he hadn't dared to bring guards.

And as a resident of the capital, how could he not have heard of Chen Shanzhi's temperament?

He was someone who would strike without hesitation. If he were beaten so badly he couldn't get out of bed, not even his father would dare to criticize anything.

Thinking of this, the scholar snorted coldly, didn't even pick up his fan, and walked out with anger on his Face.

"The Heir Apparent certainly puts on a grand display of power."

Jiang Yingrao stepped out from behind the screen with a playful smile:

"That was the son of the Minister of Rites. The Vice Minister of Rites oversees the imperial examinations.

Aren't you afraid your actions just now will offend the world's scholars?"

"Talented scholars? What 'talented scholars'? Scholars are useless; they're just people who like to pretend to be elegant."

Chen Shanzhi sat down grandly on the soft couch, picked up the wine flagon from the table, and took a swig:

"Besides, everyone in the capital knows Miss Youyou is my woman. He dared to covet my woman; not breaking his legs is already giving the Minister of Rites Face."

Jiang Yingrao's mouth twitched.

Who is your woman?

Is this man even capable of shame!

"Did the Heir Apparent come today just to show off his power in front of me?" Jiang Yingrao sat opposite him and said coldly.

"Of course not. I came today to make another deal with the Saintess."

Chen Shanzhi put down the wine flagon and leaned forward, his eyes fixed on her.

"This Heir wants to Breakthrough to the Xuanguan Seven Apertures within a month. May I ask if Saintess Jiang has a way to help me?"

Jiang Yingrao was stunned, then acted as if she had heard a joke: "Xuanguan Seven Apertures? You're only at five apertures now, and you want to Breakthrough two apertures in a month? Do you think Cultivation is as easy as eating and drinking?"

"That's why I came to you."

Chen Shanzhi smiled very innocently: "I've heard that the White Lotus Sect's 'Heart-Devouring Life-Sharing Gu' has a matching Dual Cultivation method. One day of Cultivation can equal months of hard work."

Jiang Yingrao's Face instantly darkened: "Get out!"

She rejected him without a thought:

"Do you take me for a fool? You are at the Xuanguan Five Apertures, and I am at the Xuanguan Twelve Apertures. Dual Cultivation will only cause my True Yuan to flow into you.

Wasting my Cultivation to benefit you—I won't do such a losing deal."

She was currently at a critical moment of attacking the Life Fire Realm; every bit of True Qi was extremely precious. How could she waste it on this playboy?

"Don't be so quick to refuse."

Chen Shanzhi seemed to have expected this reaction; he wasn't annoyed, just lightly tapped his fingers on the table.

"What if it's more than just that?"

He lowered his voice, his expression becoming playful: "I've heard that things within your White Lotus Sect haven't been very peaceful lately."

Jiang Yingrao's pupils constricted, and she looked at him warily: "What do you mean?"

"I heard that the Grand Elder's faction is eyeing the position of Sect Leader."

Chen Shanzhi said slowly: "This capital plan seems like the whole sect working together on the surface.

But in reality, the Grand Elder has planted many moles in your team.

If these people turn at a critical moment... tsk tsk, Saintess, what do you think the outcome will be?"

The air in the room instantly froze.

Jiang Yingrao stared fixedly at Chen Shanzhi. The internal conflicts of the White Lotus Sect had never spread to the outside world.

Was the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion's intelligence network this powerful?

They knew the White Lotus Sect like the back of their hand.

She had thought the Marquis of Zhenguo was too busy guarding the border against the Demon People and the Witch Clan to care about other matters.

She hadn't expected him to have secretly cultivated such a massive intelligence network. It seemed she had to inform her Master of this.

The Holy Cult's subsequent plans would need to be revised to include the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Yingrao said coldly, "Are you bluffing me?"

"Whether I'm bluffing or not, you know in your heart."

Chen Shanzhi shrugged: "The intelligence I have just happened to intercept the person the Grand Elder planted as a mole in the capital. As a gesture of sincerity, I'll tell you this person's name first."

He leaned closer to Jiang Yingrao and whispered three words in her ear:

"Manager Jiang."

Jiang Yingrao's body jolted.

Manager Jiang was the old-timer responsible for the external procurement and information transmission of Yihong Pavilion. He had followed her Master for over a decade and was usually very loyal.

It was actually him?!

"Impossible!" Jiang Yingrao reflexively retorted.

"Whether it's possible or not, won't you know if you go back and check on him?"

Chen Shanzhi sat up straight, looking certain: "You are in the dark, and he is in the light. As long as you pay a little attention, you will surely find the flaws he reveals."

Looking at Chen Shanzhi's confident manner, Jiang Yingrao wavered.

If this were true... the consequences would be unimaginable.

"One name for one Dual Cultivation session."

Chen Shanzhi held up one finger and waved it in front of her: "Quite a bargain, right? After all, that little loss of True Yuan is nothing compared to the great cause of your White Lotus Sect."

Jiang Yingrao grit her teeth, her chest heaving.

She looked at the man before her, who was smiling like a fox, feeling both angry and helpless.

This was an open scheme.

Even though she knew it was a trap, she had to jump in.

"Fine!"

After a long while, Jiang Yingrao squeezed a word through her teeth. "But if you dare to lie to me..."

"Don't worry, I'm a man of my word."

Chen Shanzhi interrupted her threat and then naturally pushed his empty wine cup in front of her.

"Since the deal is made, now... isn't it time to fulfill the duties of 'Miss Youyou'?"

He pointed at the wine flagon, smiling in a punchable way: "Fill it up for me."

Jiang Yingrao took a deep breath, telling herself to endure for the sake of the big picture.

She picked up the wine flagon and stiffly poured a cup of wine for Chen Shanzhi, her grip so tight she looked like she wanted to crush the vessel.

"Don't let your hand shake; it would be a shame to spill it."

Instead of backing off, Chen Shanzhi pushed his luck and reached out to grab her wrist as she poured.

As their skin touched, Jiang Yingrao felt a warm breath come from Chen Shanzhi's palm; it was the Yang Parasite longing for resonance with the Yin Parasite.

In any case, she had given him the Yang Parasite, and if she wanted to go further...

Then she would have to dual Cultivate with him sooner or later.

"I'll take some interest first." Chen Shanzhi rubbed the delicate skin of her wrist, a look of enjoyment on his Face.

Jiang Yingrao's body trembled, but then a professional smile appeared on her Face as she leaned in close.

Chen Shanzhi felt a faint fragrance approach, and the breath from Jiang Yingrao's red lips brushed past his ear as her voice came softly:

"This servant has even given the sect's treasure to the Heir Apparent; how could I not agree to Dual Cultivation?

It's just that I was thinking of trying to Breakthrough to the Life Fire Realm this year, which is why I refused you just now.

Heir Apparent, don't be angry with me. Think about it: if I Breakthrough to the Life Fire Realm, you'll have an even stronger helper. Wouldn't that be better?"

Chen Shanzhi narrowed his eyes, enjoying Jiang Yingrao's soft, boneless hands gently kneading his shoulders.

Smelling the fragrance and feeling the occasional skin contact, Chen Shanzhi felt his throat go dry, and he couldn't help but inwardly sigh—she truly was an enchantress.

"As long as Miss Youyou helps me Breakthrough to the Xuanguan Seven Apertures, if I obtain lists of other people later, I will give them all to you for free."

"Fine, it's a deal!"

After saying this, Jiang Yingrao stood up and sat opposite Chen Shanzhi.

Her beautiful eyes looked at Chen Shanzhi as she served tea to signal his departure: "In that case, the Heir Apparent should go and Cultivate well.

Once I've looked into the matter of Shopkeeper Jiang, I will naturally send someone to inform you."

Chen Shanzhi was stunned. Fine, fine, as expected of a demon cult enchantress.

As soon as the goal is achieved, she won't give a single bit of extra service.

Fortunately, Chen Shanzhi was thick-skinned. He nonchalantly picked up the cup of wine she had poured and drained it.

"Good wine! The wine poured by Miss Youyou really tastes different. Then I shall await your news."

Chen Shanzhi stood up with a smile and swaggered out of the room.

Watching Chen Shanzhi's departing back, Killing Intent flashed in Jiang Yingrao's eyes: "Shopkeeper Jiang..."