Since the matter involves privacy, everyone else left the room, leaving only Fang Zhou, who was also male, to stay.
Wang Minghong relaxed significantly, looking timidly at Fang Zhou with eyes like a small animal, and asked in a low voice, "Big Brother, where are you from?"
Fang Zhou's scalp tingled, and he quickly placed his hands in front of his chest, palms up, starting to channel his energy to suppress the surge of malevolence in his chest.
Otherwise, he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to resist punching this sissy to death on the bed.
If it were some gender-neutral pretty boy making this gesture, Fang Zhou might not react this way, but this Wang Minghong obviously inherited his mother's looks, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a squarish face, even sporting a circle of stubble around his mouth.
Even if cast as a villain, audiences would suspect such a face of being an undercover agent for justice. To see him putting on a timid and delicate demeanor was really more than Fang Zhou could bear.
Wang Minghong looked at Fang Zhou curiously, his big eyes flickering under his thick brows.
After adjusting his mindset, Fang Zhou finally said to Wang Minghong, "Brother Wang, please tell me in detail the sequence of events before and after your encounter with the demon fox. This is a matter concerning your life."
Wang Minghong slowly lowered his eyelids, pouted his lips, and said, "People... people are still young, cannot bear the word 'brother', Big Brother, you can call me Hong'er."
Fang Zhou felt the malevolent energy he had so painstakingly suppressed surging up again, his forehead beginning to pop with veins.
"Big Brother, are you angry?"
Fang Zhou took a few deep breaths, rubbed his face with both hands, then showed a stiff smile, his teeth gritting, "You little brat, don't pull this nonsense on me, just answer my question honestly, or else I'll strip you naked, hang you outside and turn you into a cured chicken, understand?"
Wang Minghong stared at him, blank.
"Speak!"
"Oh~" A voice full of grievance.
[Wang Minghong thinks you're a crass jerk, rewarded with 1 point of masculinity]
Fang Zhou: (≖_≖)
If someone genuinely thinks that Fang Zhou is a manly man, the system would reward him with points of masculinity, the amount depending on the situation.
Fang Zhou has made numerous attempts with this rule and nearly gave up having never succeeded before, but to his surprise, the first reward came so unexpectedly, and it actually came from someone of the same sex.
So gross, can I return it?
Wang Minghong began to narrate his encounter with the fox demon, which was mostly similar to what Wang Fulai had said. Over a month ago, Wang Minghong had met a beautiful girl on his way home.
Wang Minghong fell in love with the beautiful girl at first sight, they chatted happily, and after he went home, he couldn't stop thinking about her. That night, the beautiful girl suddenly appeared in Wang Minghong's room.
Though he felt something was fishy, Wang Minghong couldn't resist his feelings of love, and they ended up rolling in the sheets that night.
Afterward, every few days, the beautiful girl would appear in Wang Minghong's room in the middle of the night to meet with him. A month later, Wang Minghong grew thinner and eventually fell ill.
Obviously, this beautiful girl was a fox demon. Fang Zhou began asking about the details of Wang Minghong's trysts with the fox demon, but Wang Minghong's face turned red and he stuttered, unwilling to give details. When pressed, he could only provide a general idea and refused to go into specifics.
Fang Zhou was very dissatisfied, "Don't you want to live? What's there to be ashamed of? Is it because she was on top and you were on the bottom?"
As soon as these words came out, Wang Minghong suddenly fell silent, like a dead man, no longer uttering a sound.
Fang Zhou: "?"
In the end, he couldn't get much detail out of him, and as Wang Minghong's energy waned, Fang Zhou could only leave.
Outside, Fang Zhou reported the interrogation to Ling Xiaoyue.
Ling Xiaoyue mused, "That little fox demon must only be in the Qi Refinement Realm, but how could a Qi Refinement Realm little fox dare to cause trouble in Qingde City?"
Fang Zhou was shocked, "The fox demon is only in the Qi Refinement Realm? Wasn't she very powerful last night?"
It's not Fang Zhou bragging, but among his defeated competitors, there were four in the Qi Refinement Realm, yes, those four disciples from the Xuanji Sect who don't even deserve to have names.
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And the ruckus caused by that demon fox last night was no small affair; Fang Zhou felt even with the Illusion Technique and Hu Lai's left hand, he lacked the confidence to win.
Seeing the ignorant look on Fang Zhou's face, which would have embarrassed his master, Ling Xiaoyue could only clarify it for him: "Fox demons find cultivation difficult, and those who manage to become spirits all have some capabilities, naturally stronger than humans, and most demons have innate Spells. Like that fox demon last night, who excelled at Illusion Technique and Wind Control Technique because foxes are adept at beguiling and escaping."
Fang Zhou suddenly realized and learned a little bit more. Seeing Ling Xiaoyue getting into the conversation, he took the opportunity to ask: "You mentioned Wang Minghong is suffering from a deficit of Innate Yang Qi, but what exactly is that?"
Ling Xiaoyue wouldn't fall for it and simply pinched Fang Zhou's fingers with hers.
Seeing his attempt to gain advantage was unsuccessful, Fang Zhou rolled his eyes at her and then generously waved: "Put it on my tab."
Where debts abound, cares confound; you might profit immensely, but I surely won't be at a loss, for I won't repay, mehehehehe.
Ling Xiaoyue delightedly added it to Fang Zhou's tab and then explained: "Just by hearing the name, you could guess it. Innate Yang Qi is the pure Innate Yang essence a man carries from birth, which gradually depletes after sexual intercourse."
Speaking of which, Ling Xiaoyue smiled slyly at Fang Zhou: "For a man of exceptional talent, that Innate Pure Yang Qi is a great nourishment for cultivators, even more effective than spiritual elixirs."
Fang Zhou shivered suddenly, no wonder Li Ruyu was so desperate to overpower him.
"What about women?"
Fang Zhou inquired, "If there's Yang, there should be Yin. Don't women possess something like Innate Yin essence?"
Ling Xiaoyue snapped her fingers: "Of course, they do. Women are also born with a pure Yin essence, which is beneficial for cultivators."
Fang Zhou immediately felt disgruntled: "Then why haven't I heard of women being harvested for replenishing Qi? All along the way, it's been stories of men aiding replenishment."
Ling Xiaoyue laughed out loud, tapping Fang Zhou's head with a wine flask, but he dodged it: "My foolish Disciple, there are plenty of female cultivators in this world, who have long consumed their own Yin essence; why would they need someone else's? Besides, between women, without the 'tools,' how could they possibly harvest it?"
Fang Zhou: "..."
Damn, her reasoning is sound—so it's the lack of 'tools,' and what's this self-consumption tactic?
This world harbors such malice towards men; not only is cultivation difficult with feeble strength, but one's Innate Pure Yang Qi is coveted by both demons and female cultivators, a slight misstep could cost one's life, it's just too hard.
Ling Xiaoyue suddenly extended her delicate hand, tapped Fang Zhou's chest, and smirked ambiguously: "My Disciple, seeing how vigorous you are, your Innate Yang Qi is getting purer. Rather than someday benefiting some unknown wretched woman, why not let your master take advantage? Keep the 'water' within our own fields, enhancing the sect's collective strength, and strengthening the bond between master and disciple—three birds with one stone, isn't it wonderful?"
Fang Zhou swung a punch at her shameless face, missing as she dodged.
"You wish, I'll self-consume!"
"Don't be so stingy; as your master, I'd even pay to purchase it."
"Get lost!"
...
With the falling of night, the Wang Family's residence was brightly lit.
In the backyard where the light didn't reach, two heads popped up and then deftly scaled the wall into the Wang Family's compound.
These two were none other than Master Ji and the little Daoist boy, scared away by the fox demon the night before, returning now.
The little Daoist boy was nervous: "Master, why are we coming back?"
Master Ji scolded: "Shut up, of course we're back to stop those two food-stealers."
After being scared away last night, Master Ji found out today that the Wang Family hadn't suffered from misfortune; instead, those two young rascals who conned for food and drink had saved them.
This was something Master Ji couldn't accept. She came to Qingde City to branch out her market, picking the Wang Family specifically for a spectacular debut. Unfortunately, her plans went awry. If that pair of junior competitors succeeded in taking the Wang Family's business, then there would be no place for Master Ji in Qingde City's market.
Fortunately, the fox demon had not been eradicated yet. Master Ji came back tonight to 'pick the peaches,' planning to swoop in once the two youngsters and the fox demon had worn each other out, salvaging her reputation while striking a blow to her competitors—two birds with one stone.
For this, she had made a significant investment in more potent fox-killing medicine, refusing to believe they couldn't kill that fox demon.
"Master, we were beaten black and blue and fled in a panic last night; isn't it dangerous for us to come back this evening?"
"You know nothing; that was a strategic retreat, to bewilder the fox demon and those two youngsters. Tonight we'll capture them all in one go."
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