Chapter 21

"Master, many disciples from other sects are watching today. Hengyi's performance is too outstanding; other immortal sects will soon get the news."

Hu San frowned, this was something he couldn't help but worry about. It was precisely because of this worry that he had made such a grand gesture to win over Dachuan. "What do you think of Hengyi's loyalty to the sect?"

The sect referred to, of course, was the San Yuan Sect. Hu Baijie thought back to the banquet scene and confidently reported, "Deep and sincere. Hengyi is naive and takes things seriously, almost blindly following orders. He treats the junior disciples of the San Yuan Sect like family. According to the information I've gathered, Hengyi's bold actions today were entirely for his master. Master, your methods to win over Dachuan will surely have a miraculous effect, better than giving it to him directly."

"That's good. You don't have much time, so get him as soon as possible! Otherwise, all your efforts will be in vain." Hu San was momentarily anxious, even feeling an unusual tension.

"Master, don't worry too much. Dachuan won't let Hengyi fly away."

"Foolish child, people grow and change. Who knows if he will still value Dachuan so much in the future!"

"I will definitely get him!"

Hu San nodded slightly, feeling somewhat relieved. "Remember, cater to his preferences. The women men like most are those who embody their own fantasies."

"Yes."

"Stop practicing the Peak Sect's true qi technique and forget it. Starting tomorrow, you will also go to the New Technique Hall. The true qi techniques of the Four Divine Books are no less than those of the Peak Sect, and you won't have to be so cautious anymore!"

Hu Baijie nodded happily. Many of the sect's secret techniques and true qi cultivation methods were not really secrets; many people secretly practiced other sects' true qi techniques because they were hard to detect. Few people dared to practice and use secret techniques, as using them would invite disaster if discovered by a major sect. Only disciples accepted by other sects and promised to be taught could practice and use them. Hu Baijie had learned the Heavenly King Sect's secret techniques this way. Hu San had discovered her talent from a young age and taught her the Peak Sect's true qi technique to nurture her talent, with high hopes for her. If not for Hengyi, Hu Baijie would have been a rare gem for the Hu Hai Sect in centuries.

If Hengyi's performance hadn't far exceeded Hu San's expectations, he wouldn't have been willing to use Hu Baijie to bind Hengyi's heart.

The Four Divine Books of the San Yuan Sect were of great significance to the Hu Hai Sect, capable of elevating the sect by one or two levels. Hu San had long inquired and confirmed that the Four Divine Books were not secret techniques of other immortal sects before daring to establish the New Technique Hall.

Under the moonlight, a woman stood by the mountain steps. Seeing Hu San and Hu Baijie approach, she hurriedly knelt down.

Hu San frowned, his expression unfriendly as he demanded, "What are you doing here?"

"I, I... miss my daughter..." the woman stammered. Hu Baijie hurriedly said, "Mom! Why do you always do this!"

Hu San angrily said, "How many times have I told you and you still don't believe! Baijie is the future hope of the Hu Hai Sect. You always think you know best and imagine things! Baijie, you explain to her—"

Hu San swept away, leaving. Hu Baijie helped her mother up, sighed, and slowly walked forward, holding her hand. Looking at her mother's visibly aged face, she remembered her younger self and felt a pang of heartache. "Mom, the Master hasn't done anything to me and won't do anything. He values my cultivation talent. Can you stop worrying?"

"Can I not worry? I know so much about him. He has lived too long, with countless descendants. Don't expect him to have any humanity. Family ties are just a bit more reliable to him. I was sixteen when he started... In recent years, he's been busy with his young granddaughters and great-granddaughters, doing unspeakable things. You are even more beautiful than I was when I was young. How can I not worry?" The woman said, wiping her tears with her sleeve.

Hu Baijie consoled her a few times, knowing it was impossible to explain. Her mother had no cultivation talent, nor did her father. Both were only at the Human Respect level. The Hu Hai Sect had only a few hundred disciples, but the two clans living on the immortal mountain numbered over three thousand, with many more living outside, distant relatives with no cultivation talent. Hu San, though lacking humanity, was not a fool who would prioritize such desires over the sect's future. He valued the Hu Hai Sect's future and would never do anything to a talented relative like Hu Baijie. He always chose those with little cultivation achievement but were beautiful, like her mother. Her mother couldn't understand this, so Hu Baijie could only repeatedly reassure her.

"Mom, I heard he promised you a man named Hengyi? He's very capable and powerful, is that true?"

Hu Baijie couldn't explain and could only smile and nod.

"Do you like him?"

Hu Baijie felt helpless. Whether she liked him or not was irrelevant, but she couldn't say that, so she continued to nod.

"Bring him to let Mom see!"

"Newly acquainted, let's get to know each other better first, okay?" Hu Baijie felt exhausted. She couldn't explain, and her mother wouldn't understand or approve. Knowing her mother's concern, she couldn't be impatient and had to go along with it.

"That's right, that's right. Men can't be careless. They must be brave and responsible. Don't be like your father, weak and incapable. If he had been brave, I would have preferred to die with him rather than be killed by the old beast, but he didn't dare..."

Hu Baijie sighed inwardly. She had heard these words too many times and knew these things well. How many in the Hu Hai Sect didn't know? Precisely because of this, she had been especially diligent and hardworking since her talent was discovered as a child. She knew that only by being valuable to Hu San would he treat her parents well and stop doing those disgusting things to her mother! Indeed, since she surprised Hu San with her cultivation achievements at ten, he had never bothered her mother again. Because Baijie was valuable, Hu San didn't want to lose a rare gem's gratitude and loyalty for a replaceable woman.

The night wind blew.

When the two women returned to their living quarters, Hu Baijie was surprised to see Hengyi sitting on the steps outside, practicing. Their steward ran over from a distance. "He's looking for Miss."

"Is this him?" Baijie's mother sized up Hengyi as he approached. Not recognizing Baijie's mother, Hengyi, seeing her as only thirty, bowed and greeted, "Senior Sister."

Baijie chuckled and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Master asked me to give this to you." Hengyi took out a phoenix-shaped jade pendant from his chest and handed it over. Baijie sighed as she took it. "You're really honest."

"Huh?" Hengyi didn't understand, thought for a moment, and then bowed. "I'll go back now. Goodbye."

Baijie's mother watched Hengyi until he was far away, satisfied with his upright appearance but somewhat worried. "Is he really as capable as others say? His physique is strong, but his character seems a bit weak."

Baijie chuckled. "You haven't seen him on the stage. Once on the stage, he exudes an overwhelming aura. Weakness is a million light-years away from him!"

"Then why are you just standing there? I'll go back myself. Someone came all this way to give you a gift, how can you just let him leave!"

Hu Baijie, pushed by her mother, nodded and smiled, then turned to chase after Hengyi. She hadn't planned to let him leave anyway. Hu San had said time was short, and she had to seize every opportunity.

Not far away, Baijie saw Hengyi walking with a red glow around his body, practicing sword techniques in the air.

"Do you like the jade pendant? Is it a pair?"

Hengyi nodded and took out another dragon-shaped one. "Master said it cost ten thousand taels of silver, enough to buy countless pigs, cows, and sheep. It's not worth it."

"I like it very much." Baijie took it, smiled, and examined it. The jade was almost transparent, indeed beautiful.

Hengyi said regretfully, "I hoped you wouldn't like it. I heard your magical tools are incredibly expensive, so I thought you wouldn't."

Baijie asked, puzzled, "Why did you hope I wouldn't like it?"

"Then I could sell it again." Hengyi's matter-of-fact answer left Baijie speechless. She felt she couldn't use her original methods with Hengyi; it would drive her crazy!

"What do you usually like to do?"

"Practice with the junior disciples. They are quite a handful, but if taught carefully, they learn quickly."

"I'll also learn the Four Divine Books tomorrow." Baijie felt relieved, finally finding a breakthrough, one she also enjoyed.

"I can teach you now!" Hengyi was immediately interested. They chose a quiet forest, and he began teaching her earnestly, while she learned diligently...

When the sky brightened, Hai Shan passed by the forest and saw the two practicing from a distance. She blinked, observed for a while, and frowned as she walked away. "These two are crazy. Instead of being intimate in the forest, they're practicing! Hengyi must have a problem—"

Hu Baijie wiped the sweat from her face. After a night of practice, she had mastered the first level of the Infinite Flying Sword. Leaning against Hengyi on a rock, she hugged his arm, feeling a slight tremor. When she glanced at him, she saw his serious, closed eyes. A moment later, when he opened them, his gaze was as steady as ever.

"Do you not fear being close to me now?"

Hengyi nodded happily. "Yes, thanks to your guidance on the stage. When I carried you while drunk yesterday, I felt a bit embarrassed, and touching you felt a bit hot and tingly. But I remembered your guidance, took a few deep breaths, and focused my mind like during practice. It was fine. I still felt a bit just now, but I believe I'll get used to it soon, just like carrying a junior disciple! Am I making progress?"

"Uh, uh... fast..." Hu Baijie leaned helplessly against Hengyi, speechless, looking at the dense leaves above. 'If this continues, he'll treat me like a junior disciple... You'll end up like your master, a bachelor for thirty years! No, a lifelong bachelor—' Hu Baijie thought of Hu San's repeated instructions and worries, feeling both hate and anger!

Hengyi took a deep breath, continuing to try to adapt to the slight unusual sensation from the touch. Gradually, he felt he could control it well and was very satisfied with his progress.