Chapter 149: Liu Xue Manipulates Young Foolish Guys
A sly smile played on Wang Li’s lips. “Once the groups depart, announce your desire for rare herbs and resources. Declare that the group who gathers the most will win a chance…” His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, “to win a date with one of your junior sisters.”
Liu Xue’s eyes widened in surprise. “Such an unorthodox approach…”
Wang Li squeezed her waist playfully. “Unorthodox, yes, but effective. Trust me, love, the competition will be fierce.”
Just as Wang Li finished his sentence, Sect Leader Deng elaborated on the details of the exercise. The objective – slaying beasts and returning with their corpses. The reward – bragging rights and a hefty prize for the winning team.
This announcement caused a renewed wave of excitement amongst the disciples. The prospect of a friendly competition fueled their competitive spirit, and their gazes involuntarily drifted towards the women of the Jade Lotus Palace.
Liu Xue observed the scene with a smirk playing on her lips. With a flick of her wrist, she telepathically informed her fellow disciples of Wang Li’s plan.
Murmurs of intrigue spread amongst them, a hint of amusement replacing their initial annoyance at the proposed exercise.
As the seven Azure Peak Sect groups and seven Emerald Sea Palace groups, along with the lone Jade Lotus Palace team, surged out of the camp, a hush fell over the remaining occupants. Liu Xue, her beauty a beacon in the afternoon sun, cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention.
The male disciples from the other sects, eyes gleaming with a mixture of desire and respect, leaned closer, their bodies taut with anticipation. With a voice as soft as a summer breeze, Liu Xue began her carefully crafted web of deceit.
“Fellow comrades,” she began, her concern etched convincingly on her face, “my esteemed Master, Palace Mistress Jiu Lan, entrusted my group with a vital task – the gathering of rare herbs and resources from this unfamiliar region.”
A flicker of sympathy crossed the faces of the young men. The dangers of venturing into unexplored territory were not lost on them.
“However,” Liu Xue continued, her voice trembling slightly, “we, being unfamiliar with the lay of the land, find ourselves filled with trepidation. The very thought of venturing into unknown territory, potentially encountering fearsome beasts…” she trailed off, leaving a dramatic pause pregnant with worry.
A wave of unease rippled through the crowd. Protecting beautiful damsels like Liu Xue and her sisters from harm was a duty any self-respecting cultivator would readily embrace.
Sensing the shift in sentiment, Liu Xue pressed on. “Forgive my audacity,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, “but I wondered… perhaps some of you, more familiar with this terrain, might be willing to undertake this task on our behalf?”
The question hung in the air, a tempting proposition sweetened by the promise of her favor. Every male cultivator present felt a surge of competitiveness. Here was a chance to impress the most stunning woman they had ever encountered, not through displays of brute force, but through a deed of chivalry.
“Of course!” a young disciple from the Azure Peak Sect eagerly volunteered, his voice overflowing with misplaced confidence. “I, for one, would be honored to help such lovely ladies!”
A chorus of agreement erupted from the crowd, each young man eager to prove his worth.
Seeing her plan swiftly falling into place, Liu Xue smiled coyly.
“Your kindness overwhelms me,” she declared, her voice dripping with gratitude. “But I wouldn’t want to disrupt your training exercise.”
“Nonsense, Lady Liu!” another boisterous voice chimed in. “Gathering these herbs is a much nobler task than battling beasts. Consider it done!”
Liu Xue then added slyly, “Of course, I wouldn’t expect you to assist us without some form of… compensation.”
A hush fell upon the crowd once more. Her words sparked a flicker of hope in their eyes. Could there be more to this request than a simple gathering of herbs and other resources?
“I assure you,” Liu Xue continued, her voice laced with a hint of amusement, “it won’t be in vain as I promise you an appropriate reward for it.”
She leaned closer, her voice barely audible to those who weren’t close enough. “The group that manages to gather the most precious and rare herbs will be… rewarded with a chance…” She paused dramatically, savoring the anticipation in their eyes. “… to go on a date and win the favor of one of my beautiful junior sisters.”
The announcement struck the crowd like a thunderclap. The opportunity to court one of these beauties, who are junior sisters of the breathtaking Liu Xue herself, sent a jolt of excitement through them.
Within the seven groups of the Azure Peak Sect, a heated debate erupted. The younger disciples, with stars in their eyes, championed the idea of working together to secure a collective victory. The older ones, however, saw an opportunity to outshine their peers and opted for individual ventures.
The disciples of the Emerald Sea Palace, despite the initial shock at the unexpected turn of events, were not to be outdone. They too, fueled by a desire to win Liu Xue’s favor, readily volunteered to participate in the resource gathering mission.
However, a subtle difference emerged. The two Emerald Sea Palace groups with a majority of male disciples mirrored their Azure Peak counterparts, eager to prove their prowess.
The remaining five groups, however, with a larger female contingent, seemed less enthusiastic.
Liu Xue, keenly observant, recognized the unspoken communication passing between them. Their limited number of male disciples, she reasoned, wouldn’t impress her as much as the sheer volume of resources gathered by a larger group.
A mischievous grin spread across her face. With a graceful movement, she addressed the Emerald Sea Palace disciples. “Of course,” she stated, “it wouldn’t be fair to leave your training behind. But perhaps those of you who prioritize resource gathering could still contribute?”
Her words sparked a flurry of activity. This would ensure that even those five groups of Emerald Sea Palace sect that has fewer male disciples would gather atleast some rare herbs and rare resources for her.
Soon, the groups dispersed, each fueled by a different motive. The Azure Peak Sect disciples, mostly in large groups, charged off in various directions, their eyes peeled for anything that might be deemed rare or valuable. The Emerald Sea Palace groups followed suit, some forming alliances, others venturing out alone.
As for the Jade Lotus Palace, their mission was far simpler. Led by Liu Xue, they walked a short distance away from the camp, setting up a defensive formation in a secluded spot. Laughter filled the air as the girls, relieved to be free from unwanted attention, settled down to wait out the duration of the training exercise.
Liu Xue, however, felt a warmth against her side. Looking up, she met Wang Li’s teasing gaze. His arm, hidden by an invisibility technique, was wrapped around her waist, gently tracing circles against her skin.
“Seems like your little deception worked rather well, my love,” he said, a hint of amusement laced in his voice.
Liu Xue snuggled closer, her lips curving into a sly smile.
A wave of heat flooded Liu Xue’s cheeks as Wang Li’s invisible hand danced across her lower back, sending shivers down her spine. She bit her lip, stifling a moan that threatened to escape her lips. Her fellow disciples, blissfully unaware, were engrossed in a conversation about their favorite cultivation techniques.
“Honestly, Wang Li,” she whispered through gritted teeth, a playful edge creeping into her voice, “you’re turning me into a wicked woman. Manipulating these clueless boys with promises of nonexistent rewards.”
Wang Li chuckled, the sound barely a vibration against her ear. “My love,” he murmured, his voice as smooth as silk, “haven’t you always known I’m a scoundrel? I haven’t exactly hidden it.”
Liu Xue’s playful facade faltered for a moment, a twinge of guilt pricking at her conscience. The truth, unspoken but ever-present, hung heavy in the air. Wang Li, the man she loved, was already married to her innocent younger sister, Xia Qingwu, back at the Three Peaks Alliance residence.
She pouted, her voice barely a whisper. “Let’s not talk about this now, alright?”
“Very well, my love,” Wang Li readily agreed, his invisible hand tracing a soothing pattern across her arm. “Morality is a fickle beast, best not to get too entangled in its complexities. As long as you avoid truly heinous acts, focus on what strengthens you and aids your cultivation, there’s no need for beating yourself too much.”
Liu Xue nodded silently, a part of her resonating with his words.
The path to immortality was fraught with challenges, and sometimes, unconventional tactics were necessary for advancement.
“Let’s discuss something more delightful,” Wang Li suggested, his voice tinged with mischief. “Once this charade of joint training exercise is over, how about we celebrate with a ‘Date for Watching the Moon’? We can steal away from the camp and enjoy the night sky together.”
The image of a tranquil evening under the silver glow of the moon sent a pleasant shiver down Liu Xue’s spine. “A Date for Watching the Moon,” she murmured, the words tasting like sweet honey on her tongue. “I like the sound of that.”
