All the follow-up lines Zhou Kai had prepared—things like “Fairy, you need not do this,”
“It was just a small effort, not worth mentioning,”
and “For us to meet is fate”—instantly got stuck in his throat. Not a single word could come out.
What the hell?
Kill three people? Stab three times?
What kind of repayment method was that?!
Zhou Kai felt his brain struggling to process it, and the corner of his mouth twitched violently.
Who asked you to kill people? Who asked you to stab yourself? Even if stabbing was involved… it wouldn’t be with a sword!
The cold and aloof Sword Fairy in front of him now felt less like a proud cultivator and more like some strange assassin contract machine. You saved me? Fine. I’ll kill three for you. Or you can stab me three times.
Clear pricing. Fair trade. No cheating.
He had acted his heart out, played dirty tricks, carried her, run for his life, even brought out his precious pills. What was it all for? For Shen Hanyi herself! For those tempting exchange points in the Confidante Interaction System!
For future cultivation breakthroughs! For improving his spiritual root! For the path to immortality!
A surge of frustration rushed to Zhou Kai’s head, but he forced it down.
“Fairy…” He almost wanted to cry. Looking at Shen Hanyi’s eyes, so serious they could not be more serious, he could not help but complain, “Fairy Shen, what’s popular these days is… mutual support, overcoming hardship together, harmony of yin and yang… ahem! I mean, what matters now is affection, deeper… deeper exchanges!”
He saw her growing more confused, even slightly wary, and realized he had drifted too far. He immediately corrected himself.
“I mean!” Zhou Kai took a deep breath, trying to regain a normal expression and a sincere tone. “Whether killing people or stabbing… stabbing yourself, those are matters for later. What’s most urgent now is that you are gravely injured and your Sword Embryo is damaged. The Celestial Spring Sect’s pursuers could arrive at any moment. We need to stabilize your injuries and then figure out how to escape.”
He took out two Rejuvenation Pills. “These may only be suitable for early Qi Refining Realm cultivators, but they can still help you recover. Once you regain some strength, you can take the True Condensing Pill.”
His gaze was utterly sincere, like a kind cultivator concerned for a beauty’s injuries.
But in his heart, the abacus beads were clicking rapidly. Stabilize her injuries first, then talk about feelings. No, stabilize her injuries first, then talk about exchange points.
A trace of doubt flashed through Shen Hanyi’s cold eyes, as if she did not understand why Zhou Kai’s expression had changed so many times. One moment he looked as though he wanted to devour her, the next he was urgently concerned about her condition.
But she did not question him. Seeing him produce the Rejuvenation Pills, she did not hesitate and parted her pale lips slightly.
Knowing she had no strength, Zhou Kai gently placed the pill into her mouth and helped her sit upright.
Watching her sit cross-legged with solemn composure… solemn, my foot. She looked like she might fall apart at any moment. Zhou Kai had so many complaints in his mind that he could build a mountain out of them.
Ah well. Who told her to be this beautiful?
The priority was to stabilize this lady’s injuries and, along the way… build some goodwill to lay a solid foundation for future deeper exchanges.
Outside the cave, the night grew darker, and the mountain wind howled. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
Zhou Kai rummaged through his Storage Pouch. Pills alone would not satisfy hunger. They needed to replenish physical strength.
Soon, he took out several prepared chunks of meat.
This was the most refined part of the Horned Boar he had hunted earlier. The meat was firm and contained a faint trace of spiritual energy, making it a decent supplement for Qi Refining Realm cultivators.
He skillfully set up a small campfire. With a thought, he aimed the Crimson Gourd Artifact at the firewood. A steady stream of warm crimson flames flowed out, instantly lighting the fire, maintaining just the right intensity.
Professional. Chef Zhou Kai, at your service, Fairy!
The meat sizzled as it roasted. Fat dripped into the flames, releasing a rich, mouthwatering aroma.
The smell… was domineering.
Even Zhou Kai swallowed.
He sprinkled on some simple seasonings he carried with him, and the fragrance immediately grew stronger, filling the small cave.
He refused to believe this would not move her. Beauties were not above worldly pleasures; they simply had not met the right barbecue.
Sure enough, Shen Hanyi’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly opened her eyes.
Her gaze remained cold, but perhaps… there was a faint, almost imperceptible ripple. Thanks to the Rejuvenation Pill, her complexion had regained a slight flush.
“Fairy, have something to eat and replenish your strength,” Zhou Kai said calmly, offering a perfectly roasted piece of Horned Boar meat on a clean leaf.
Shen Hanyi said nothing. She took small, delicate bites.
Her movements were simple and efficient, characteristic of a sword cultivator. Even eating roasted meat carried an air of… elegance.
Well, when someone is beautiful, everything they do looks good.
“Ahem.” Zhou Kai cleared his throat. “Miss Shen, forgive my boldness, but may I ask something?”
“You are a disciple of Lone Swan Hall, correct? I have heard that Lone Swan Hall leads the sword path in the Eastern Region. Its disciples are all outstanding talents. Why would you venture alone into the depths of the Hidden Beast Mountain Range and end up targeted by the Celestial Spring Sect?”
“I was pursuing a demonic cultivator,” Shen Hanyi replied after swallowing her bite of meat.
“That demonic cultivator committed many evil deeds and bore hundreds of lives on his hands. I was ordered by my sect to hunt him down and pursued him all the way here.” Her tone was calm, as though discussing something trivial. “In the depths of the Hidden Beast Mountain Range, I killed him.”
“After slaying him, I discovered a place nearby where the energy fluctuations were abnormal. It appeared to be an ancient ruin.”
Ancient ruin?!
In the cultivation world, what attracted people the most? Opportunities. And ancient ruins often represented immense opportunities. Cultivation techniques, artifacts, pills, heavenly treasures… obtaining even one could allow someone to soar to the heavens. This story is hosted at novelping dot com.
“I was about to investigate when I discovered that disciples of the Celestial Spring Sect had already occupied the area,” Shen Hanyi continued, her tone growing colder. “They approached me and spoke politely, saying, ‘Fairy, since you have come from afar, why not return to our sect for a few days, so we may show proper hospitality?’”
Zhou Kai curled his lips. It sounded polite, but in reality they just wanted to lure her back, detain her, and monopolize the ruin.
As expected, Shen Hanyi confirmed his guess. “From their expressions, I understood their intentions. The opportunities of a ruin should be contested fairly. I refused their ‘kindness’ and proposed that the matter of the ruin be explored jointly once elders from both sects arrived.”
“And then?” Zhou Kai asked.
“After a verbal dispute, they relied on their numbers and attacked together. The Celestial Spring Sect acts tyrannically, bullying the few with many, launching sneak attacks without honor.”
By the end, her voice was filled with disdain for their conduct.
Zhou Kai finally understood the whole sequence of events.
This Sword Fairy had discovered an ancient ruin and clashed with the Celestial Spring Sect over it.
Because she was a prodigy of Lone Swan Hall, they did not dare fully sever relations. But she was straightforward and refused to engage in schemes or political maneuvering.
In her view, right was right and wrong was wrong. If she discovered the ruin, they had no right to monopolize it. If reason failed, then they would fight.
Outnumbered?
Then… she would be chased to the brink of death.
But the Celestial Spring Sect had pursued without outright killing her and had made a public display of it. Shen Hanyi had also proposed joint exploration. The ruin must be significant. The Celestial Spring Sect likely knew they could not hold it alone and intended to negotiate benefits with Lone Swan Hall.
Should he get involved?
Ruins were inevitably filled with danger. If the Celestial Spring Sect had already occupied it, someone with his modest cultivation might die without even knowing how.
Moreover, he possessed the Confidante Interaction System. Gaining benefits through interacting with beauties was far safer and more stable. Why risk near-certain death?
After weighing the pros and cons, targeting Shen Hanyi for exchange points seemed far more practical.
Zhou Kai once again took out the two jade bottles containing the True Condensing Pills and held them out.
This time, Shen Hanyi’s gaze lingered on the bottles much longer. A complex emotion flickered through her cold eyes, yet she did not immediately reach out to take them.
Then, in that emotionless voice, she asked a question that nearly made Zhou Kai spit out the Horned Boar meat he had just swallowed.
“You mentioned yin and yang harmonizing?”
“…Huh?” Zhou Kai’s smile froze instantly, his mind blank for half a second.
Why does she still remember that?! Can her focus be normal for once?!