It couldn't be helped. Mostly it was because Yan Wen's good looks stood out too much, so she could accurately judge his identity without needing any doubt.
There were also three young men and women following beside Yan Wen, who presumably ought to be disciples of Asking Dao Valley.
At the moment the four of them were sitting in an open-air teahouse drinking tea, their gazes stealing over from time to time.
Thinking about it, they should also be quite curious about her.
However, she hadn't expected Yan Wen to look so gentle; upon their first meeting, his favorability value had only risen by 5 points, which wasn't even as good as Xiao Rui's and Ye Xing's.
It seemed this wasn't an easy lord to conquer.
Pondering this, Xia Wantang simply walked straight toward that teahouse—
"Boss, please bring a pot of fine green tea."
"Coming right up!"
She deliberately found a spot closest to the four of them.
After sitting down, Xia Wantang was still pondering how to strike up a conversation with the four of them, never expecting that she wouldn't even need to take the initiative to speak; a dashing male cultivator among the four took the initiative to speak first:
"This fairy looks exceptionally unfamiliar, might you be willing to make friends with this humble one?"
Upon hearing these words, his own younger sister Qu Zhuowen was speechless:
It was one thing for this cheap older brother of hers to be unreliable on ordinary days, but how could he be so bold when encountering a "senior" whose cultivation realm was far higher than theirs, daring to step forward and strike up a conversation!
Even though Fairy Sister looked kind-faced, just in case she felt offended, she feared it would bring trouble.
Of course, even within Asking Dao Valley, these four could be considered outstanding talents who were heavily valued by their sect, and they certainly possessed quite a few methods of self-preservation.
In response to this, Xia Wantang expressed: How fortunate to encounter a strong brother, as she finally wouldn't have to worry about failing to strike up a conversation with Yan Wen.
Pouring tea with one hand while raising her gaze, her intoxicated-looking peach-blossom eyes were as hazy as the moon, straightaway sending a person's heart into a fluster:
"Oh? Traveling out and about, having a few extra friends is not bad after all."
Next, her gaze directly bypassed Qu Shengwen, looking straight toward Yan Wen with clear intent:
"Tang Wan, a rogue cultivator, I wonder how you fellow Daoists... address yourselves?"
This body's voice was gentle and seductive, quite bewitching; even ordinary words could be heard by people making their faces flush and ears turn red.
Yan Wen looked like the abstinent type who refused to let strangers approach, inexplicably giving people a desire to conquer him.
Especially her current body, which was the ultimate in alluring, bright, and passionate.
A demoness dragging a Holy Son down from his divine altar sounded quite thrilling.
Host, Host, I remember you used to be very reserved. Could it be that after changing bodies, you've started unleashing your nature??
Xia Wantang: What nonsense are you spouting? I am adapting to circumstances and tailoring my teaching to the material.
Someone like Yan Wen who had severed all worldly desires, remained calm and restrained, and possessed an unshakeable Dao heart—she definitely couldn't conquer him unless she took the initiative.
That was why she chose this demoness body.
Otherwise, two people with divine appearances and cold temperaments might generate mutual affection, but they would definitely have zero passion, and the progress of grinding favorability values would be extremely slow.
I see. Host, as expected of you.
Tang Wan has gained 5 favorability points from Yan Wen. Current favorability: 10. Converted to 50 faith points.
Wow, the host is amazing! The favorability rating is late, but it's finally here!
Xia Wantang: Oh no, I didn't expect this. You little rascal look so pure and desireless, but you're actually a closet pervert.
Taking the initiative really was effective!
Finding the right direction, Xia Wantang was instantly brimming with confidence: During these few days in Luoshui Town, see if I don't fleece you clean of all your wool.
Anyway, she didn't have many opportunities to use this identity of Tang Wan's, and the next time she saw Yan Wen, she didn't know how many monkey years and horse months it would take.
So she had already decided that over these past two days she must find every possible way to grind more favorability values.
Qu Shengwen, who had been ignored, blinked awkwardly, striving to assert his presence as he said:
"Cough, cough, so it's Fairy Maiden Tang Wan. This one is named Qu Shengwen, and the other three are my junior martial brothers and sister."
Fearing her older brother would blurt out some more awkward words, Qu Zhuowen added:
"Fairy Sister, my name is Qu Zhuowen, and we all come from Asking Dao Valley."
Ling Xuan was concise and to the point, wearing the expression of a cool guy:
"Ling Xuan."
Yan Wen gave a light nod instead, and just looking at his face made people feel as though they were bathed in a spring breeze:
"Yan Wen."
Following that, he paused for an instant and continued:
"This... Fairy, might I ask what reason brings you to this remote little town?"
Don't misunderstand; the four of them addressed Xia Wantang as a fairy mainly because the other party's cultivation realm was higher than theirs.
To address her as a "fellow Daoist" without obtaining the other party's consent felt like trying to climb high society.
Yet they couldn't guess her age either, so addressing her directly as "Senior" was also improper.
Therefore, addressing her as "a fairy" was the most suitable choice.
The reason Yan Wen would ask this question was related to the purpose for which they had come here by order of their sect.
As a rogue cultivator who was both so beautiful and powerful, Xia Wantang had no business appearing in this border town; it was hard not to make people suspicious.
Hearing this, Xia Wantang said silently in her heart: I came here, isn't it all because of you!
Connecting this to the plot in the novel, she explained:
"I have a friend who said half a year ago that they were coming to this vicinity for experiential training. Normally we always kept in touch using sound-transmission talismans."
"But for the past two months they haven't replied. Feeling it was strange, I came here to take a look."
Upon hearing this, Qu Zhuowen widened her eyes and blurted out:
"Fairy Sister, you also have a friend who went missing around here!?"
Hearing this, Xia Wantang had a conjecture in her heart:
Could the Heavenly Demon Cult have been established so early, and did Yan Wen and the other three also have friends who met a tragic end??
Thus, she feigned surprise and asked cooperatively:
"Could it be that your purpose in coming here is also...?"
The four of Qu Shengwen exchanged glances and decided it would be better to share the purpose of their trip with Xia Wantang.
After all, the other party's strength was greater than theirs, and if their goals were aligned, traveling together as a group would be safer.
Acting as the backbone among the four, Yan Wen explained the ins and outs of the matter:
"The soul lamps of several outer disciples from Asking Dao Valley inexplicably went out last month. According to the soul lamps' records, the final location where those outer disciples appeared was right near this Luoshui Town."
"The four of us came out this time precisely to investigate this matter."
Hearing this, Xia Wantang understood in her heart:
So the Heavenly Demon Cult really started committing evil this early on.
As for the matter of Asking Dao Valley's disciples inexplicably perishing, it seemed to have indeed been mentioned in passing in the novel, but it wasn't the main focus, so most readers hadn't taken the matter to heart.
She hadn't expected their deaths to actually be related to the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Because the real world would automatically rationalize the novel's plot, these two matters had thus become linked.
Xia Wantang: Just because of a careless piece of writing by the author, it actually affects the destinies of so many people and leads to their tragic deaths. Alas...
To tell the truth, beforehand she hadn't even thought of this matter at all; it was only after Yan Wen spoke that she understood in a flash.
Moreover, in the end, the Heavenly Demon Cult was dealt with by Xiao Rui, and there was no mention at all of Yan Wen and the others having come here to investigate as well, only to return empty-handed.
It was a good thing the friend she had fabricated was fake and completely nonexistent, nor had they inexplicably gone missing.
Seeing Xia Wantang remain silent, Qu Zhuowen couldn't help holding back, and asked a question she had been curious about for a long time:
"Fairy Sister looks to be of the same generation as us, yet you already possess such a cultivation realm. Could it be that you have some secret technique for preserving your youth?"
Before you continue