Chapter Nineteenth: Seduction of Qing Song

  That day, in the most luxurious tavern in Yangzhou City, a elegant single room, a table of mountain and sea delicacies, turning head to appreciate the lake scenery, small bridges, flowing water, and people's homes, savoring a mouthful of fragrant tea, it was truly a perfect paradise on earth. That beauty, even Xiaodou couldn't help but feel a little heartache after looking at it for a long time...

  The dove of fate flew towards Jiuhua Mountain. The man's arrival, Xiao Dou raised his cup and smiled lightly at the middle-aged man opposite him:

  "Master Qing Song, your arrival has brought great honor to our humble abode. Come, let me offer you a cup of respect!"

  Qing Song's eyes gleamed with a sly light as he scanned the surroundings for half a day before picking up his wine cup and taking a sip, chuckling softly.

  "Little Doudou, I've long heard from the sect that your little group left Jiuhua Mountain and came to the mortal world to live a life. Others think you're foolish, but think about it, what's the point of staying there? You have nothing, and all that bitter cultivation is for naught. Even I, a dan-making master who benefits the sect, have to wait until death. As for you, it's even more hopeless. But now, look at you, living such a carefree life!"

  Xiao Dou shook his head and sighed, "What can we do? Who doesn't want to live a few more years? Master, Xiao Dou knows you don't want to face those fake smiles, so I'm telling you the truth. We also want to live a few more years, gain a bit more cultivation, otherwise, we can't even beat ordinary martial artists! That's why I've come to ask for your help, Master!"

  Qing Song narrowed his small eyes, with a hint of slyness in his smile: "Oh~ you're also here to plot against my inheritance? Well~ since you're quite honest and pleasing to the eye, fine. My inheritance will go to you then. I'll take care of everything here. Who can be more powerful than me, a Foundation Establishment cultivator? You all just go back and cultivate well!"

  "Is that it?!" It's that simple?! Xiaodou was extremely skeptical in his heart, and this wasn't what he wanted to say at all. He had wanted to prolong this business indefinitely, keeping several top experts from various sects, giving them a great opportunity to successfully break through the Qi Refining stage... but now...

  Xiao Dou stepped forward, his face set in determination: "Qing Song Shibo, you don't know, the family business here is huge. One person can't spend all the money here, we want to do more of this kind of business. After all, it's not just me who needs to cultivate, I have a large group of junior brothers and sisters around me!"

  He sneered, "Just from these few sentences, it's clear that you're just a naive kid. If you can succeed on your own, that's all that matters. Why think about others? You must be sick. I really wonder if you understand what it means to be a cultivator. Hmph! Don't underestimate the wealth of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment alchemist like me. I have plenty of pills and elixirs. I can help three or four people reach the Foundation Establishment stage, no problem. You're just a junior, and you still want to exchange something from the mortal world? Are you going to make the trade or not? If not, then forget it!"

  Saying this, Xiao Dou was so angry that he couldn't say anything. If they accepted this, then succeeding three or four junior brothers or themselves would be useless. This wasn't their original intention of being together forever. If they gave in to Qing Song again and made another big move like this, then the repeated warnings to the outer sect disciples of Jiuhua Mountain not to come over would be seen as a joke!

  They have no way out, and they can't give up the road that can move forward. At this time, Xiaodou is extremely regretful in his heart. Why did he tell the truth to others with all his might? Now it's good, neither going forward nor backward, two or three people are struggling to survive...

  Absolutely not, with over 200 junior brothers and sisters of his own, he absolutely cannot do this business. Xiaodou made up his mind, his eyes flashed coldly, and he slammed the table and shouted loudly:

  "Whatever, I won't be able to save my junior brothers and sisters anyway. I absolutely won't deal with you!"

  The door of the elegant room was pushed open with a "bang", and three familiar girls walked in, accompanied by an unfamiliar but extremely beautiful and delicate girl.

  A short-haired girl on the left, who looked like a fake little boy, reached out and pinched the neck of that pretty girl, shouting in an extremely loud voice:

  "Ziyan, it seems that today Qing Song Shibo and we can't do business together. You also can't sell it, so just go die, huh~~~"

  He actually went ahead and grabbed his opponent's neck, how bold!

  That beautiful girl, Ziyan, had no power to resist, her face flushed red as she cried:

  "Spare my life, young master! Hero Qing Song, save me~ waaah~"

  "Ah!" The usually calm Qing Song, who had rarely been called a hero in his life, suddenly jumped up from the dinner table and roared:

  "You little demon, under broad daylight, you still want to take lives? Is this reasonable?"

  Xiao Dou was about to speak with a silly smile, but was quickly covered by the mouth of a gentle and soft girl on her right side. The leading girl in the middle, who stood tall and slender, smiled lightly and said:

  "Qing Song Shibo, she sold herself into slavery, is our servant, even if we killed her on the street, the government and the people would not say anything! How could it be that Qing Song Shibo, who is beyond the ordinary, also wants to intervene in human affairs?"

  "Ah~ I understand, you...you're here to threaten me! Stop choking her, I see through your tricks! If you choke her again, she'll die!"

  A fake little girl, with a sly smile like a small devil, said: "We think so, but this girl is not some kind of trick, she's just a poor girl from a good family. Since she's living a miserable life, it's better to die anyway. This Qing Song hero won't give up his treasure for free to save you, die!"

  "Stop it!" Qing Song rushed forward crazily, his imposing manner superior to everyone else's. He simply snatched the beautiful Ziyuan from the hands of the fake young girl and hugged her with a worried and urgent expression, asking:

  "Ziyan girl, are you okay? Don't worry, I'll take you away right now. From now on, no one will dare to bully you!"

  Ziyan took a few deep breaths, grasped his shoulder and sobbed: "Thank you, thank you for saving me, but I can't leave. If I do, it will be a crime that implicates my entire family. They will definitely find trouble with my family members, the government will kill our whole slave family! Hero, you go!"

  "I won't leave, I'll protect you, I won't let anyone bully your family." The beauty in her belly, Qing Song comforted Zi Yan with a gentle face, then turned around and shouted loudly:

  "A few little rabbits, I'll let you go first this time. You're quite ruthless, so I won't hold it against you. Next time, if I'm not satisfied with what you've arranged... Hmph! You'll be in trouble!"

  The girl in the middle smiled politely and said: "Don't worry, Master Qing Song. We've already prepared everything for the grand wedding, including the betrothal gifts. You can take Zi Yan to rest now. Zi Yan, although you're a young lady from a declining family, marrying our Master Qing Song is your good fortune accumulated over several lifetimes. From now on, don't harbor any resentment towards us. All of this is for Master's happiness. In the future, be a happy woman and live a good life with Master Qing Song!"

  Ziyan nodded and cried: "Thank you, Water Fairy Maiden, I understand. Being able to bring happiness to my family, being able to find a man who loves me and protects me, makes Ziyan's heart happy. Thank you all!"

  When Qing Song pulled Zi Yan's hand away, Xiao Dou jumped up three feet high with a silly smile and said: "Water Fairy, Little Beauty, it's you guys! Haha, I almost died from missing you!"

  The three girls who came were actually childhood friends I hadn't seen in over a decade!

  At this time, the three girls were all dizzy and confused by him. Xiaomei covered her mouth and giggled:

  "Xiao Dou, why are you still so silly like when you were a kid? That's enough to drive someone crazy!"

  A small, mischievous-looking face smiled slyly and said: "Stupid little bean sprout, you haven't made any progress at all. You had the chance to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, but you blew it. I'm really disappointed in you! Ren Jie Shui Xian, your disciple is indeed a great disappointment!"

  "Xiaoxiao, don't always speak with a hint of sarcasm. I'm testing all of you because I have no choice. After more than ten years apart, it's normal for people's hearts to change a little. But this small change might just cost someone their life. The path of cultivating immortality is one that requires careful planning at every step; examples of those who failed and became eternal regrets are hardly rare. I'm doing this because I hope you all can understand."

  The little bean head couldn't turn around for a while, and it wasn't until half a day later that he scratched his own head and asked:

  "What are you guys talking about, what test? Ah, right, how did you suddenly appear? Hmm, so righteous! You came at my most helpless moment and really helped me out a lot!"

  "Xiaodou, how are you still so muddle-headed? Alright, I'll tell you, we three have been secretly observing you for some time now. We wanted to see if you're still as trustworthy as you were in the past, and whether or not it's worth bringing you along on our future adventures!"

  "No!" Xiaoxiao said hastily: "Not three, small bean, I trust you one hundred percent, it's just Shuixian who is so bad and hateful. From childhood to adulthood, this is already the second time she has tested me, and also Xiaomei!"

  Xiao Mei nodded and said, "That's right, it makes me very angry. Xiao Dou, now you're also being tested by Shui Xian. Do you think we can forgive her? I and Xiao Xiao can't make up our minds!"

  Xiaodou's heart ached greatly, and after taking a few deep breaths, she said: "So that's how it is, Shuixian. Why must things be this way?"

  "Human hearts are the easiest to change, aren't they, Xiao Dou? When I saved you back then, what did you say to me? You said: 'I don't want to die, for the sake of living, I'm willing to listen to your words and do anything, even if it's cleaning up a dead person's internal organs. What's more terrifying than death?' That's what you said back then! But now you've changed, you're actually giving up the chance to save yourself for the sake of a group of brothers and sisters!"

  "Alright then, I'll ask you this: if I really agreed to help Qing Song and used all of this to help him reach the Foundation Establishment stage, what would you do?"

  "Shuixian coldly laughed and said: 'If you really did that, I'll push that girl in to let you deal with everything yourself, it's also a way to repay the suffering you caused me for so many years because of my illness. Then, never think about seeing me again!'"

  Tears streamed down Xiao Dou's face, filled with spiritual energy, as he cried out in anguish. He was heartbroken and his form became crazily distorted as he let out a loud roar:

  "Narcissus, for the sake of our love and Elder Cold's feelings, I gave up all these earthly joys that were within my grasp. I cultivated diligently by myself, practiced my skills to the death, and even dared to defy the sect. Do you know? In fact, I understand, everyone understands, with my talent, I shouldn't even think about reaching the foundation period, but I would rather die than betray you. How could you hurt me like this?"

  The water fairy's eyes were red-rimmed, but she still asked firmly: "Xiao Dou, I just want to know, will you forgive me?"

  "I won't forgive you, because I wouldn't blame you in the first place. You know, Xiaodou would rather die of heartache than hurt Shuixian's feelings!"

  "Waaahhh... Three girls and Xiaodou burst into tears together, at that moment, maybe all the hatred will be let go!"

  Their friendship, their childhood friendship, the friendship they built beside a man-eating demon, in the cruel world of cultivation, in the treacherous human world, at this moment, once again - soaring and surging!