Reunion with Jin Xiaoxiao

"If you want to renew the lease next month, come find me in advance."

Fang Huai had originally lowered his voice to communicate with Wu Liu, but Wu Liu raised her voice to say it out loud.

"Senior Sister Wu?" Fang Huai was somewhat puzzled.

"This matter can't be hidden anyway," Wu Liu's tone carried an indescribable nuance, "Saying it now will only do you good, no harm."

Wu Liu left behind a cryptic remark, her gaze sweeping over the crowd in the Skinning Room, as if waiting to watch a good show.

Before Fang Huai could figure out the meaning behind her words, he was surrounded by the assembled disciples.

Most were female cultivators, with two or three male cultivators mixed in, all looking at him like they were eyeing a juicy piece of meat about to fall into their mouths.

After all, a new junior brother like him, who had just joined the sect, was exactly the kind of person senior brothers and sisters most wanted to room with.

Not having a dwelling was extremely dangerous.

Just a few days ago, a disciple from Skinning Peak had personally witnessed a male cultivator collapse on the ground, only to be carried off by someone tailing him toward the Human Puppet Hall.

Later, the Human Puppet Hall was inexplicably destroyed by spies from the Mystic Sword Sect, with no survivors inside.

As for the male cultivator who was carried off, there was no need to guess—he was long dead.

"This senior brother, this little sister is from the Tongxiang Liu Family. I beg senior brother to take me in. When I achieve success in cultivation in the future, I will surely repay you."

A woman's jade-like fingers teased Fang Huai's palm, while another woman scoffed and pushed her aside:

"What Tongxiang Liu Family? Never heard of it. If you were really from a family clan, you wouldn't have to switch between senior brothers' dwellings every day.

Junior brother, my elder brother is a genuine disciple of Corpse Refining Peak. Live with me, and I'll gift you a Copper Armored Sha Corpse in the future!"

"Junior brother, don't bother with them. This senior sister has mastered the art of yin-yang harmony—I guarantee your cultivation will advance every night!"

"Junior brother, female cultivators are nothing special. Men understand men better. Live with me, and I'll pay half the contribution points!"

"..."

Hearing these brazen words, Fang Huai's scalp went numb. He only wanted to find an excuse to leave.

Finding a roommate could indeed save some contribution points, but the people before him either wanted to freeload or had ulterior motives.

He still remembered Jin Xiaoxiao's actions in Servant Valley vividly—he couldn't take the risk.

As for contribution points, with Senior Brother Zhang Yuan's help, couldn't he earn them?

Just as he was about to refuse, he felt a warm sensation in his palm, along with a light scratching.

If he weren't certain that the Little Corpse Meteor Insect was still in his heart, Fang Huai would have thought the little thing had burrowed into his palm.

He glanced sideways and was surprised to see a familiar face: "Junior Sister Jin?"

Jin Xiaoxiao smiled. "Senior brother, you're well. It's been so long, and you still remember this little sister."

Fang Huai's expression was strange. Why was this woman here too?

But thinking about it, it made sense. Jin Xiaoxiao also came from Servant Valley, so being assigned to Skinning Peak was normal. It was just a coincidence that she was in this same Skinning Room.

"Everyone, disperse. This senior brother is an old acquaintance of mine. We lived together back in Servant Valley."

Jin Xiaoxiao giggled and shot a glance at Wu Liu. "Senior Sister Wu, please make a note. I'll be living with Senior Brother Fang Huai."

Wu Liu nodded slightly. "If Junior Sister Jin is ever bullied, come find me."

Hearing that Fang Huai was from Servant Valley, the crowd showed expressions of sudden understanding and scattered.

To rise from Servant Valley to outer disciple took years of struggle; having some savings was normal.

Fang Huai said nothing. From the expressions of Jin and Wu, their relationship was good. If he refused Jin Xiaoxiao, he would inevitably incur Wu Liu's displeasure.

His gaze swept over Jin Xiaoxiao. Her cultivation was also at Qi Refining Layer 1. Although she had the edge in body refinement, Fang Huai wasn't afraid of her.

If she dared to have other intentions, Fang Huai wouldn't mind making her taste the bitterness of cultivation regression again.

Fireflies dotted the air, cooking smoke curled upward, and stone huts were scattered like stars, giving off a strong sense of mortal life.

These stone huts scattered across the peak were the dwellings of outer disciples.

Fang Huai sat on the bed, Jin Xiaoxiao sat on a chair. The two stared at each other, silent.

Finally, Jin Xiaoxiao's hand moved toward her storage pouch.

"Whoosh—"

A sudden sound of something cutting through the air—a stone dart shot toward Jin Xiaoxiao. If she hadn't dodged in time, there would have been a bloody hole in her body.

"You'd better behave yourself," Fang Huai warned. "I don't have a habit of being gentle with beauties."

Jin Xiaoxiao wasn't angry. She smiled. "Senior brother, this little sister was just about to take out my bedding to sleep on the floor. Is that not allowed either?"

Fang Huai said nothing. Jin Xiaoxiao took out a straw mat and spread it on the ground without waiting for permission.

"To be honest, this little sister is clumsy. My Skinning Technique progresses slowly. After handing in my monthly tribute and spending on cultivation, the contribution points I earn are barely anything."

Her tone added a hint of grievance. "I've been sleeping on the streets for over a month now."

"Sleeping outside for a month?"

Fang Huai frowned. By the creature's habits, wouldn't it just find someone to latch onto?

Jin Xiaoxiao seemed to see through his thoughts. "The people here are either useless layabouts waiting to die, or wolves and tigers! The moment you get tangled up with them, they'll gnaw you down to the bone."

"Then why pick me? I'm no good person either."

"Senior Brother killed quite a few Pei Family disciples before he left, didn't he?"

Fang Huai's pupils contracted. His right hand clamped around Jin Xiaoxiao's neck, pinning her against the wall.

Everyone in Servant Valley knew he had retaliated against the Pei Family, but no one dared to call it out openly.

The Pei Family's backing was Pei Long, and Pei Long in turn relied on Feng Wuwang. If Jin Xiaoxiao ran to Pei Long to tattle, Pei Long would definitely come looking for trouble.

"Senior Brother, you're stepping on my straw mat."

Jin Xiaoxiao's face flushed red. "Rest assured, I swear by my Dao heart that I won't tell Pei Long about this."

"What exactly are you after? I don't like women who beat around the bush." Fang Huai released his grip.

"Little Sister comes from a mortal town under the Mystic Sword Sect's rule. We had food and clothing, and my parents loved me. But the Mystic Sword Sect's people slaughtered the entire town without warning—including my parents."

Jin Xiaoxiao's eyes flickered, as if burning with endless fury. "If I hadn't happened to be away visiting relatives that day, I would have met the same cruel fate!

From then on, I joined the Corpse Sha Sect and cultivated by any means necessary, all for the day I could personally butcher those beasts from the Mystic Sword Sect!"

Fang Huai stared at her, seeing the resolve in her gaze.

He sighed. "Relying on others—power comes fast, but it leaves just as fast. If you fall on someone else's turf, there won't even be anyone to collect your corpse. Better to settle down and train hard; at least you'll keep yourself safe."

Jin Xiaoxiao laughed. "Listening to you talk, it sounds like you're persuading a brothel girl to turn over a new leaf."

Fang Huai cracked a rare smile. "That's a poor way to put it, but I did play the part of a fleeting scholar once, so I know a thing or two about that world."

Jin Xiaoxiao paused, then caught the meaning behind Fang Huai's words. Her cheeks flushed slightly.

"You can stay here, but you'll follow the rules. Wash clothes, cook meals, clean the house, handle all the daily chores. If you can't manage that, find somewhere else by tomorrow morning."

"What's so hard about that! Senior Brother, don't complain if I'm clumsy or the food doesn't suit your taste."

The night had grown deep, but Fang Huai's divine sense never left Jin Xiaoxiao.

He knew full well that in the Corpse Sha Sect, trusting others was a dead end.

But if he didn't take in Jin Xiaoxiao—someone whose background he vaguely understood—other disciples would still set their sights on his dwelling.

Only when Jin Xiaoxiao's breathing grew steady and long, sinking into deep sleep, did Fang Huai release the Little Corpse Meteor Insect to stand guard. He closed his eyes slightly and fell into peaceful rest.