Nanze Zheng Family

Along the way, Wu Sanli stuck to Lin Qian like a plaster.

He attended to his dressing and daily needs, fussing over him with concern—anyone watching would think Wu Sanli was Lin Qian's personal servant.

Still, this was for the best; it saved Fang Huai the trouble of handling these trivial matters and gave him time to learn about Liu Xiange and the others' experiences.

After parting ways in Servant Valley, Liu Xiange and Shen Yuan had both successfully reached Qi Refining.

Liu Xiange was assigned to Curse Insect Peak, starting from the very bottom.

Shen Yuan, with her excellent aptitude, caught the eye of an elder from Corpse Refining Peak. A few months after joining the peak, she sent someone to bring Zhang Zhu, who had never managed to achieve Qi Refining, into Corpse Refining Peak.

In the years that followed, the three of them lost contact.

Seeing that this mission was led by a senior brother from Corpse Refining Peak, Liu Xiange brought up Shen Yuan and told Lin Qian that she and Fang Huai were old acquaintances of Shen Yuan's from Servant Valley.

Unexpectedly, Lin Qian actually knew Shen Yuan and agreed to look after them a little for her sake.

As the Corpse Sha Bird flew onward, Fang Huai's heart grew heavier.

Wherever his eyes landed, disciples of the Corpse Sha Sect were escorting batches of mortals, rushing hurriedly toward the sect's encampment.

Near the sect, demon beasts had been hunted nearly to extinction. Outer Disciples who couldn't complete their tasks fought each other, seizing one another's resources.

Chaos—everything had fallen into chaos.

In the past, if disciples fought within the sect's territory, enforcement disciples would arrive swiftly.

But now, looking out, there was only disorder, with no one left to step in and impose order.

When the wind stirs before the mountain storm, Fang Huai felt a new layer of unease about this journey.

Aside from Fang Huai, the other three each had their own thoughts, until they traveled through layers of mist and saw a vast marsh in the distance.

The water shimmered, vast and boundless, with hundreds of bamboo huts connected to one another, scattered like stars across the surface.

Elderly folk and women gathered seaweed, rowed boats to fish—in the glow of the setting sun, it held a unique charm, like a paradise removed from the world.

This was the encampment of the Nanze Zheng Family.

Seeing the Corpse Sha Bird fly overhead, the Zheng clan members scrambled to hide. Some, in their panic, even jumped straight into the water and vanished.

Wu Sanli snorted coldly: "A bunch of ignorant fools, they don't even recognize a Corpse Sha Bird."

"This time, our priority is collecting the annual tribute—we can't waste too much time."

Lin Qian coughed and said meaningfully: "Also, everything in moderation. Don't provoke the Zheng Family into reporting us to the sect."

Everything in moderation?

Fang Huai frowned, then quickly understood.

Given the typical behavior of Corpse Sha Sect disciples, once they reached a subordinate clan, they would plunder without restraint.

Lin Qian's words were likely a reminder: as long as they didn't go too far, they could loot as they pleased.

"The Nanze Zheng Family welcomes the honored immortals of the Corpse Sha Sect!"

A white-bearded elder led over a dozen Qi Refining cultivators, kneeling in greeting.

Seeing the Zheng Family's representatives, Lin Qian guided the Corpse Sha Bird down, clasped his hands behind his back, and put on an arrogant air: "Which one of you is the Zheng Family head?"

The elder stepped forward and said: "This old man is Zheng Fengzu, the current head of the Zheng Family."

"The Nanze Zheng Family is this discourteous? When the sect sends people, you only arrange for these few Qi Refining cultivators to greet us?"

Zheng Fengzu's face showed shame: "Please do not blame us, honored immortal. In recent years, the sect has frequently conscripted our men. All cultivators above the mid-stage of Qi Refining have already perished on the battlefield.

The Zheng Family lacks resources and simply cannot afford to train new cultivators. Those before you are the entirety of the Zheng Family's strength."

Fang Huai looked at Zheng Fengzu—Qi Refining, fifth layer.

The cultivators behind him were at most at the third layer.

Lin Qian nodded. He had asked that question to test the Zheng Family's strength.

If they were strong, he would hold back. If they were as weak as Zheng Fengzu claimed, he would act without restraint.

"It seems I misjudged the Zheng Family. But I wonder, Elder Zheng, how long do you intend to keep us standing outside the door?"

"This old man was remiss. Honored immortals, please!" Hearing Lin Qian's tone soften, Zheng Fengzu felt a weight lift from his heart and ushered the four inside.

The Corpse Sha Sect visited every year, so the Zheng Family was well-prepared.

In just one hour, a welcoming feast was ready.

During the banquet, singers and dancers performed, and the room was filled with beauties in colorful silks.

The serving women of Nanze were all strikingly attractive, their eyes carrying the unique charm of the water country.

Fang Huai had no interest in the spectacle. He quietly scanned the Zheng Family members.

The mortals all bore ordinary labels, nothing special.

Among the cultivators, several carried the [Blood Jade Body].

[Blood Jade Body: A special constitution formed postnatally under the influence of the Blood Jade Insect.]

Acquired later? Blood Jade Insect?

Was it some kind of technique he had cultivated? Fang Huai had no way of knowing.

He examined the delicacies on the table—nothing unusual about them. On the contrary, the dishes made from aquatic demon beasts were not only rich in spiritual energy but also had the effect of strengthening the body.

He picked up a piece of demon beast meat and placed it in his mouth. It melted instantly, the residual spiritual energy nourishing his flesh and invigorating his meridians.

He had never eaten such nourishing food before, so he couldn't help but take a few more bites.

He glanced up at Liu Xiange. Though she tried her best to maintain an elegant demeanor, the increasingly rapid speed at which she picked up food ultimately betrayed the craving in her heart.

When she noticed Fang Huai looking at her, her face flushed slightly, and she resumed her ladylike posture.

"I wonder what the esteemed cultivators favor. If the hospitality is lacking, I hope you will forgive us."

During the banquet, Zheng Fengzu exhausted every flattering word, coaxing loud laughter from Lin Qian and Wu Sanli.

Lin Qian had been using spiritual energy to ward off the effects of the alcohol, so he remained fairly clear-headed.

Wu Sanli was different. He directly dispelled his spiritual energy protection, experiencing the fine wine and food as an ordinary mortal. After a few cups of clear wine, his face was flushed red, and his gaze began to grow hazy.

"Head of the Zheng Family," Wu Sanli said in a rough voice, "there's only meat and strong wine to satisfy the appetite of the mouth, but no fleshly pleasures to satisfy the appetite of the body. This hospitality is still lacking."

"Junior Brother Wu, you're drunk." Lin Qian raised his wine glass, his tone casual.

Zheng Fengzu instantly grasped the meaning behind their words. He clapped his hands lightly, and the gauzy robes of the singing and dancing girls slipped off in response.

Fang Huai cursed inwardly. Wu Sanli was a petty villain, and Lin Qian was a hypocrite.

No wonder they had been willing to expend extra spiritual energy to drive the Corpse Sha Bird to reach the Zheng Family early—it turned out they had been planning to indulge in carnal pleasures.

The two of them behaved lewdly, groping the singing and dancing girls.

At the same time, the Zheng Family lit incense, and a faint red mist curled through the room.

Fang Huai drew a few strands of the mist into his body and felt a sensation of his meridians coming alive and his Dao heart relaxing. He wondered what method had been used to create this incense.

What surprised him was that the dormant desires within his body quietly began to swell.

What kind of incense was this?

As Fang Huai pondered, two graceful figures had already pressed close to him, their gazes sticky, their mouths uttering the most obscene words.

Fang Huai considered himself no hypocrite, but he was certainly no beast that indulged every desire.

Wine and women dazzled the eyes. To engage in lewd acts in public would inevitably leave him open to gossip in the future.

Besides, Liu Xiange was still nearby.

With that thought, he raised his hand and pushed away the two pale, naked bodies before him.

When his gaze turned to Liu Xiange, a fair-skinned woman was sitting on her lap, her fingertips tracing Liu Xiange's neck, teasing her in every way.

Liu Xiange's face was bright red, and she had already lost her composure.

"Head Zheng, I'm tired. Take me to a guest room to rest." Fang Huai stood up and bowed to Zheng Fengzu.

Seeing Fang Huai's humble attitude and his refusal of carnal pleasures, Zheng Fengzu was surprised. He even suspected that Fang Huai was a spy planted in the Corpse Sha Sect by the righteous factions.

But doubts aside, he still complied with Fang Huai's wishes and arranged for someone to lead him away.

Walking up to Liu Xiange, Fang Huai smiled. "This junior sister's cheeks are flushed. It seems there's some pent-up frustration in your heart that's hard to resolve.

I have a method to break this situation, but I wonder if junior sister is willing to give it a try?"

Liu Xiange's face grew even redder.

Wu Sanli had drunk too much. Before long, he was sleeping like a dead pig.

Seeing him asleep, Lin Qian let out a cold snort and activated his technique.

In an instant, the singing and dancing girls screamed in unison. The blood and qi of their bodies turned into a crimson stream, all of it surging into Lin Qian's body.