A Decent Man

The room was cramped and dim, but luckily there was a square table, so they could at least entertain guests.

Zhu Qiniang left first. She didn't want to get mixed up in this sort of thing. Gao Xian and Huang Ying could discuss the details themselves.

Huang Ying had recovered by now. With only her and Gao Xian left in the room, she actually felt much more at ease.

She smiled at Gao Xian and praised him. "Little brother, you're so young, yet your alchemy skills are already this impressive. You're incredible!"

Huang Ying's features were only average, and she was on the older side, but she was also large and fair, her whole body rippling with a woman's ample, seductive charm.

In the glow of the dim oil lamp, a soft light seemed to envelop Huang Ying. Her eyes also seemed to hold a hint of indescribable flirtation.

Gao Xian's gaze couldn't help sliding down from Huang Ying's chin. I can't look below the neck. I'll just admire that smooth, fair neck. There's nothing wrong with that, right?

Huang Ying noticed Gao Xian's gaze and subtly lifted her chest. "Little brother, the Heavenly Gui Pill is really effective. There are many female cultivators at Flying Horse Market, so the Heavenly Gui Pill is sure to sell well."

As soon as she brought up business, Gao Xian's attention snapped into focus.

An ample, soft, fair-skinned young wife was nice, but how could she compare to Spirit Stones!

"Sister Ying, the Heavenly Gui Pill I make can regulate female cultivators' primordial yin energy. Long-term use can also preserve their youth and enhance their beauty.

"I'm not bragging, but you won't find a Heavenly Gui Pill this special at Flying Horse Market—or even in Lianyun City. It's an exclusive business. It'd be hard not to make money..."

In his previous life, Gao Xian had learned a whole set of marketing patter. Even if he hadn't learned it particularly well, it was more than enough to fool cultivators with such limited access to information.

A small place like the Hundred Weapons Hall could only see so many customers in a day. The information Huang Ying could access was worlds apart from the internet age of later generations.

From female cultivators' spending habits, to the market monopoly created by exclusive techniques, to high-budget promotional strategies and brand value, Gao Xian rattled off one theory after another...

Even Huang Ying, who had seen plenty, was swept up by his words. At first, her cheeks were merely flushed, but before long her whole body was hot and damp, and she could hardly wait to find something to cool herself down.

"Our Heavenly Gui Pill needs more than just efficacy. It needs advertising, too. Before long, women will be asking each other whenever they meet, 'Have you taken the Heavenly Gui Pill?' If not, you're a country bumpkin..."

Gao Xian smiled smugly. "Sister Ying, what do you think would be a fair price for such a miraculous pill?"

Huang Ying was already a little dazed and muddled. She asked cautiously, "How much would be suitable?"

"One Spirit Stone for five Heavenly Gui Pills. And don't think that's expensive. You came late, and we're already sold out..."

Thinking of an old movie he'd seen years ago, Gao Xian continued to spin his tale. "Scarcity makes things valuable. What people can't get is what they want! That's what makes them willing to pay!"

These principles were actually quite simple. Huang Ying wasn't unfamiliar with them, but she'd never put them together so clearly.

After Gao Xian explained them, it was as if the clouds had parted and the sun had come out. She understood the whole theory at once.

When Huang Ying looked at Gao Xian again, her eyes were full of admiration, even a little worship.

A handsome face was something you were born with. Alchemy skills could be honed through hard work.

But this ability to read people's hearts truly surpassed the ordinary!

Huang Ying recalled how Gao Xian had come to buy magical artifacts. Back then, he'd been so naive, believing whatever she told him. She'd even laughed to herself at how green he was.

Now that she thought about it, Gao Xian hadn't been foolish. He simply hadn't known the situation at all.

The more Huang Ying looked at Gao Xian, the more she liked him. Moved, she took his hand. "Little brother, I'll do whatever you say..."

Huang Ying's hand was fair and plump, a little warm and damp. It felt very comfortable to hold.

Gao Xian's heart began to sway. What made it even harder to resist was the burning eagerness in Huang Ying's watery eyes, as if she wanted to devour him.

Steady. Don't get carried away. I'm a decent man, and I have a girlfriend...

Gao Xian reminded himself, and the thought of Zhou Yuling calmed him somewhat.

He wanted to pull his hand back, but Huang Ying was holding on tight, and he wasn't exactly eager to pull free.

He came up with a reason for it, too: We're business partners. We have to maintain a good relationship. Even if I don't sleep with her, I can't break Sister Ying's heart.

Gao Xian smiled at Huang Ying. "Sister Ying, you must be tired after talking for so long. I know a massage technique that's perfect for relieving fatigue. Would you like to try it?"

A knowing smile spread across Huang Ying's face. Men are natural smooth-talkers when it comes to this sort of thing. He clearly wants to sleep with me, yet he's talking about a massage for my health.

But the strength of Gao Xian's master-level Lightning Dragon Hand far exceeded Huang Ying's expectations. The moment his hand landed on her shoulder, all two hundred-odd bones in her body went soft.

She had never known a massage could have this effect!

"Sister Ying, have a drink of water."

Gao Xian didn't even have tea leaves at home, so he courteously brought Huang Ying a bowl of plain boiled water, left to cool.

Huang Ying had gone completely limp, as pliant as a noodle. She didn't even want to move a finger.

Gao Xian helped Huang Ying sit up, and only then did she raise the bowl and drink a few mouthfuls. Whether her hand was too weak or for some other reason, quite a bit of water spilled from the bowl and ran down Huang Ying's neck.

Gao Xian's gaze followed it downward. He couldn't help swallowing as he thought, Damn, that water really is going down...

Huang Ying was already covered in a fine sheen of sweat, giving off a rich, delicate fragrance mixed with a scent unique to women. The little bedroom was filled with an alluring atmosphere.

Gao Xian kept reminding himself, I'm a decent man. I'm a decent man!

But even a decent man can't withstand this kind of temptation... Sister, calm down. If you keep this up, I'm going to do something I shouldn't!

After Huang Ying had lain there for a while, the sweat gradually dried and the heat in her heart died down, too. She said to Gao Xian in a languid voice, "Little brother, your massage technique is incredible."

"I feel clear-headed and comfortable all over. Ascending to immortality must be just like this!"

"It's just a minor trick, nothing worth mentioning."

Gao Xian smiled. "If you ever need anything, Sister Ying, just come to me. I'm always available, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

"That's all I need to hear."

Huang Ying felt a little regretful that nothing had happened, but the massage had been wonderful, too. This vague, flirtatious feeling was more fun than being blunt and direct.

"Sister Ying, here are five hundred Heavenly Gui Pills for the initial promotion."

Gao Xian gave Huang Ying a box of medicine. "As we agreed, I won't charge you for these. After this, I'll sell them to you at ten per Spirit Stone."

Huang Ying nodded. She admired Gao Xian's generous way of doing things, willing to invest upfront and think far ahead.

This was also the fundamental difference between cultivators from sects and Rogue Cultivators.

Rogue Cultivators never knew whether they'd see tomorrow, so they only focused on today. Cultivators backed by a sect, on the other hand, could make long-term plans.

It wasn't a matter of one group being foolish and the other clever. Their different circumstances led to fundamentally different ways of thinking.

Gao Xian watched Huang Ying's graceful figure drift away, his eyes full of anticipation.

If the Heavenly Gui Pill could also bring him Humanity Aura, he'd really be able to soar!