Shen Shengsheng had been happily looting on the ground when she suddenly caught a whiff of an unfamiliar fragrance, its source steadily approaching.
The dangerous feeling that came with it made the hair on her head stand on end.
When Shen Shengsheng looked up, she saw a woman.
Hurriedly, she grabbed the storage bag in front of her, dumped its contents into Xu Ming's small Qiankun Bag, and scurried to Xu Ming's side. Clutching his leg tightly with both hands, she bared her teeth at the woman in the black dress not far away.
"How did you notice me?" Mo Zhuer, barefoot and smiling faintly, looked at Xu Ming. Her tone was teasing, like a mischievous young girl intent on getting under your skin.
"I didn't notice you," Xu Ming replied with a smile. "I was just guessing. Didn't expect someone really was following me—much less that it was you. Miss, you're quite persistent. Could it be that you've fallen for me at first sight?"
"Of course! From the very first moment Zhuer laid eyes on you, I was completely captivated." Mo Zhuer's voice was soft and alluring. "Every night, thoughts of you keep me tossing and turning, sleepless. Sometimes… I even have to press my thighs together."
Xu Ming: "If you like me that much, why not come back to Wudu with me? I can't make you my primary wife, but there's room for you as a concubine."
Mo Zhuer: "..."
"Oh, how naughty of you~" Mo Zhuer waved her hand with a sly smile. "But I do enjoy it~"
"Heh." Xu Ming sneered coldly. "You're not interested in the living me—you prefer the dead me, don't you?"
Mo Zhuer blinked, feigning innocence. "What makes you say that, my dear Xu Gongzi (Young Master)?"
"For the past few days, I've been wondering. I've only left Qingyang County for less than a month, yet over a hundred people have already tried to kill me. Am I really that easy to recognize? My whereabouts must have been leaked by you, right?"
"Oh my~ How could you accuse me of such a thing?" Mo Zhuer pouted playfully. "Do I look like that kind of person?"
Xu Ming: "Oh? Wasn't it you?"
"I might've let slip a little hint," Mo Zhuer admitted with a sly grin. "But mostly, it's because you're just so… charming." Her seductive cat-like eyes glimmered as she gazed at him. "And look at you now—such a short time has passed, and your strength has grown to such an impressive level. You're not just invincible among your peers; killing Sea Observation Realm cultivators is like slaughtering chickens for you."
"How about I try killing you, then?"
Before his words fully landed, Xu Ming appeared in front of Mo Zhuer and threw a punch.
His fist, shrouded in swirling wind and compressed true energy, exploded with force as it neared her abdomen, scattering energy and air in a violent burst.
Boom!
Mo Zhuer's figure dissolved into black smoke.
"Oh, Xu Gongzi, you're so impatient!" Her teasing voice echoed as her form reappeared on a tree branch. Her long black dress shifted slightly, revealing slender, porcelain-white legs crossed elegantly. "We meet again after so long, and the first thing you do is try to touch my stomach? I wasn't prepared for that at all."
"Then how about you come down, and I'll spank you instead?" Xu Ming quipped with a grin.
"Oh my~ Such a naughty Xu Gongzi~ If you spank me, won't the princess get jealous?" Mo Zhuer's voice grew faint as her figure slowly faded. Her final words echoed through the forest. "But next time, if you can make me happy, I might let you spank more than just that~"
Silence returned to the forest.
Xu Ming clenched his jaw in irritation. He hadn't expected Mo Zhuer to be so persistent. Still, as long as he remained cautious and avoided falling for any tricks, she wouldn't pose a threat to him.
Once Mo Zhuer was gone, Shen Shengsheng returned to looting with renewed enthusiasm, her small figure bent over as she scoured the ground for treasures.
"Awoo~"
After completely emptying the storage bags of the fallen cultivators, she trotted over to Xu Ming, her little hands outstretched. Resting in her soft, pale palm was Xu Ming's small Qiankun Bag.
"Thank you," Xu Ming said with a slight smile.
Xu Ming took the small Qiankun Bag from Shen Shengsheng and then picked up the other storage bags, hanging them from his waist. Since a storage bag couldn't contain another storage bag, the four or five bags dangling from his side gave him the appearance of an "Eight-Bag Elder."
When they reached a small town, Xu Ming found a pawnshop run by a cultivator and sold all the extra storage bags. With some of the money he earned, he bought a newer, better storage bag for Shen Shengsheng. Personally tying it to her waist, he also placed some spirit stones and silver inside for her.
"These are your rewards. From now on, we'll split the profits equally," Xu Ming said with a smile.
"Awoo~" Shen Shengsheng nodded eagerly, holding the lotus-embroidered storage bag in her hands, her joy evident as she admired it repeatedly.
---
Three days later, Xu Ming and Shen Shengsheng arrived at a village. Beyond the village lay a wide river, and after crossing it and traversing a mountain range, they would reach the boundaries of the Tianxuan Sect.
But the sky was growing dim. Xu Ming decided to find a household where they could spend the night.
"Knock, knock, knock."
As the light faded, Xu Ming knocked on the door of a house.
"Coming," called a woman's voice from the courtyard.
The gate creaked open, revealing a woman dressed in coarse linen. She looked about twenty-five or twenty-six, with a plain yet delicate beauty. Even without any adornments, she would still be considered one of the prettiest women in the village or the nearby towns.
"Madam, my sister and I are passing through and would like to request shelter for the night, if it's not too much trouble," Xu Ming said politely, fully prepared to be refused. If this house turned them away, they could simply try another. And if no one agreed, they would make do outdoors—not unsafe, but definitely uncomfortable.
The young woman gave Xu Ming a once-over before nodding. "Come in, then."
Xu Ming was surprised by how easily they were let in. Bowing in thanks, he said, "Thank you, Madam."
---
Huangsha (Yellow Sand) River, Shijia Village.
A girl in a black dress stood barefoot on the surface of the wide river, her delicate toes barely disturbing the water.
"I have a business proposition. I wonder if the Dragon Lord of Huangsha River would be interested?" The girl's soft, playful voice echoed across the river.
A whirlpool formed beneath her feet, and the corners of her lips curled up. With a light "Heave-ho," she dove into the swirling waters.
"Holy Maiden of the Black Lotus Sect—Mo Zhuer—greets the Dragon Lord." Bowing slightly, Mo Zhuer faced the man before her.
The Dragon Lord of Huangsha River turned around and scrutinized her, his gaze lingering as he said, "They say the Black Lotus Sect's Holy Maiden is a peerless beauty, ranked tenth on the Beauty List. I'd say you deserve the first spot instead."
"I wouldn't dare," Mo Zhuer replied with a faint smirk. "The first spot belongs to the Dragon Queen of Beihai (North Sea)."
"Hahaha." The Dragon Lord chuckled, his eyes roving over her, pausing briefly on the pair of mesmerizing legs beneath her short black dress. His tone carried a hint of predation. "So, what business does the Black Lotus Sect wish to discuss?"
Lifting her chin, Mo Zhuer met his gaze directly. "I need the Dragon Lord to help me kill someone."