Luo Hou, standing in front of him, shivered instantly and hurriedly said, "No, please just tell me what you need. Don't talk like that; it doesn't sound good..."
Dongfang Qingming chuckled, tilting his head to look at Luo Hou before him. She was like a woman blooming like a red camellia, lacking a touch of femininity, yet possessing a fiery and blood-like allure. The crimson camellia always evokes a sense of bloodshed.
Luo Hou, which resembles a red camellia, and Ji Du, which resembles a white camellia.
Although he couldn't explain why, he just felt that Luo Hou would be more suitable.
"Lord Luo, I need you to seduce the phoenix."
"Huh!?" Luo Hou suddenly leaped several feet away. "I'm not going!!"
I didn't ask you if you wanted to go.
"Master, please don't harm anyone! That person is Feng! Not only is he a representative of the Blissful Party, we've always been at odds, and I have absolutely no interest in him—besides, he's Ning Xian's man, I don't want to cause a falling out—"
"Luo Hou." Dongfang Qingming didn't say another word, only smiled quietly, looking at her silently. It was very quiet, so quiet that only the rustling of the bamboo forest could be heard, as if the world had ceased to exist for a moment.
Luo Hou was ultimately defeated and listlessly replied, "Yes, sir."
—Oh my god, seducing a phoenix? What a frustrating task.
Chapter 81 Rival in Love (from "The Story of My Wife Climbing the Wall") by Lian Zhi Qingting.
Life is tough, but being someone's subordinate is even tougher. Having such a master makes being a subordinate the worst of the worst. Luo Hou felt that since joining the Demonic Sect, nothing had ever bothered her—no matter what happened, she could solve it however she wanted, and if she couldn't solve it, she'd use her trump card: violence.
But what is she supposed to do about this job?
"What?! You went to seduce Feng?!" Kinnara jumped up, knocking over his chair, and exclaimed in surprise, "What is the Master thinking?"
"Sit down! Do you want everyone in the Netherworld to know this!?"
Luo Hou quickly tugged at him, and Luo sat down in a daze, forgetting that his stool had tipped over and he almost fell to the ground. Once settled, he guessed, "Could it be that the sect leader wants you to infiltrate the enemy and subdue Feng to serve our Netherworld Heaven?"
Ji Du, who was drinking tea at the same table, casually replied, "Obviously it's because of Ning Xian."
"What, has the leader finally decided to separate them and start sowing discord between them?" Kinnara perked up immediately upon hearing this. He still harbored resentment for his "momentary mistake" at the Bai Mansion in Jiangcheng that brought the two together.
Jidu thought to himself: Perhaps it's the opposite; he wants to use this to make the dim-witted Ningxian understand his feelings? But not wanting to provoke Kinnara, he didn't say it aloud.
After sulking for a while, Luo Hou finally spoke up: "Let's not worry about the reasons for now. I didn't call you here to discuss the reasons—" "Don't worry, I'll definitely come up with a solution for you—" He reached out and pressed Luo Hou's hand, squeezing it tightly, "The goal is to try our best to break them up!"
"..."
Forget about whether Kinnara has figured out the situation or not; her mission is more important.
………………
Her red lips were like blood, and her red dress was also like blood.
The cult leader, who was considerate of his subordinates, knew that Luo Hou rarely appeared in public in full makeup, so he specially sent someone to deliver clothes and help him get dressed and made up. The simple single-layer strapless long dress and outer garment were both chosen in pure dark red without any decoration, and the only hair accessory was a single red camellia beaded flower.
Even Kinnara was slightly surprised when he saw her in this attire. Kinnara usually wore only her red robes with vine patterns, exuding a heroic air but lacking a touch of femininity—the very image of a woman from the martial world. Seeing her in this disguise, he couldn't help but admire her, despite the initial surprise. She was like a cluster of blood-red camellias blooming beside a mountain path at dusk, luring one into the darkness.
Putting aside prejudice, it must be said that in terms of appearance, Luo Hou is more suitable for Feng. Both of them exude a faint aura of bloodlust.
"Luo Hou, don't let this charade become real, and let Youmingtian win back Ning Xian but lose you in the process."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Luo Hou glared at him and said helplessly, "I'm going."
"Luo Hou." Ji Du called out softly, took her hand, and handed her a short knife.
"...What's this for?"
"For self-defense."
"..."
—After all, she was going deep into enemy territory, and she couldn't forget that her target was the representative of the Bliss Party, that ruthless butcher—in case things got out of hand—she should still bring him along.
"And this, and this, take them." Jidu's gentle face was full of kindness as he stuffed her with hidden darts, throwing knives, and poisoned needles—Jidu, why do you have people carrying these things everywhere? Are you trying to seduce or assassinate them?
"...Thank you...I'll go now."
Take care and come back soon.
"...Um, I'm just going for a quick trip to see Feng. I'll be back for dinner tonight..." "Oh...I thought I could eat your meal for you..."
...Ketu, please don't use that hazy and gentle face of yours to say things that make people want to punch you!
"I'm really leaving this time—no need to see me off!"
……
When Feng woke up and didn't see Ning Xian, she knew he must have run away. He hadn't even noticed someone slipping away from him; it seemed he had indeed begun to get used to having someone beside him.
He got up and put on his clothes, not in a hurry to chase after the escaped woman. The Netherworld Sect was only so big; where could she possibly run off to? He had just finished making his bed when his room was kicked open. Long shouted angrily, "Phoenix! What's going on here?! Rumors are spreading everywhere that you and that woman named Jialing from the Netherworld Heaven—" Before he could finish speaking, a cold glare struck him, and he froze on the spot, his foot that was about to step in not daring to touch the ground.
"I don't remember when my private affairs started requiring your concern?"
Well… well, really, not many people dare to face Feng’s murderous glare head-on… no, why should he be afraid of him? Even if it came to a fight, he might not necessarily lose, right? “You’re not really after that woman, are you? If it’s just for fun, that’s one thing, but why are there rumors that you forced yourself on her, while others are saying she forced herself on you?! This is a matter of face! We absolutely have to—” Feng suddenly stood up, and Long took a step back, “W-what?”
Who sent it?
"ah?"
"Who's spreading this?" he asked, brushing past the dragon and leaving the room. He could roughly guess who it was—
"Feng, where are you going?"
“Pull out their tongues.”
"..." Would it be better for him to just leave this matter alone?
As he reached the courtyard gate, he saw a figure standing out prominently in dark red, like blood. He stopped and looked at the woman before him, a woman he couldn't ignore. He rarely paid attention to the people of Youmingtian, and although he had met Luo Hou a few times, he hadn't taken her seriously. This was the first time he had seen her dressed like this, and he didn't recognize her at first. But he was clear on one thing: this person had come for him.
Luo Hou, holding a long sword horizontally in both hands, stepped forward and looked directly at him, saying, "This is the Entropy Spirit Sword, a gift from the Sect Leader to Feng Da. Please accept it, Lord Feng." The sword had been sent along with her clothes; Dongfang Qingming had even prepared an excuse for her to approach. Feng glanced at the sword, then his gaze shifted to her face. "Since it's a gift from the Sect Leader, you shouldn't refuse—however, you don't seem to be the Sect Leader's maid." Luo Hou stared directly into his eyes, her gaze never leaving his face—that's what Kinnara said, if one can't even learn to use alluring eyes (—of course, alluring eyes aren't suitable for Luo Hou either), then one should just "look." The pursuit of gaze, even without deliberately expressing any emotion, is itself a hint, enough to attract the other person's attention. Especially for a woman like Luo Hou. "Luo Hou, the Asura King of the Eight Legions?" Long emerged from inside, his gaze lingering on Luo Hou, with a hint of amazement. Feng Wei frowned slightly. "It's just a gift of a sword, does it really require the Asura King to come in person?" And at a time when the relationship between the Netherworld Heaven and the Bliss Heaven is so sensitive.
Luo Hou smiled slightly, with a hint of innate arrogance, even this arrogance was somewhat similar to Feng's. She looked directly at Feng, and had already prepared her words: "Naturally, it is my request to come and deliver the sword on behalf of the sect leader - I wonder if Lord Feng would do me the honor of fighting with me and comparing our swordsmanship?"
She was the first woman in the Netherworld Cult to challenge Feng to a sword duel.
Although Kinnara repeatedly emphasized that a woman's most powerful weapon is not strength, but gentleness, for someone like Feng, who has already fallen for Ning Xian, gentleness alone wouldn't possibly move him. He probably wouldn't even give her a second glance. Therefore, to get the naturally arrogant and disdainful Feng to take her seriously, she must demonstrate that she can be his equal. Only then can she attract his attention. As long as Feng doesn't reject her, half the goal of getting close to him will be achieved—
"When?" Feng asked, but Luo Hou stepped back at the opportune moment and said, "I will send someone to inform Lord Feng." She gave a slight curtsy, so slight that it could hardly be called a "gift," but it did not make anyone feel displeasure. On the contrary, it showed her proud spirit that she would not bow to anyone.
Watching Luo Hou turn and leave, Long muttered to himself, seemingly to Feng, "...The women of Youming Heaven are not bad after all."
Feng gave him a cold glance—who was it that was making such a fuss just now because he'd approached a woman from the Netherworld Heaven? Understanding the meaning behind his glance, Long gave an awkward laugh and patted him, saying, "Hey, aren't you already with Jialing? You can't touch this one—"
"oh?"
"I've got my eye on it, and you're not allowed to take it from me!"
The red camellias, blooming like bloodstains under the setting sun, possessed a dark and intense color, so bloody and heavy that it was impossible to look away.
Chapter Eighty-Two: Blood-Red Camellia (from "The Story of My Wife Climbing the Wall") by Lian Zhi Qingting.
People say two tigers cannot share the same mountain, unless one is male and the other female. —This rule applies to the Gandharva King. When he saw a red figure walk past the courtyard in the distance, he initially thought he was seeing things. But when he recognized the woman, more vibrant than a camellia, he jumped to his feet—who?! Was this blatantly an attack on him?!
Almost as soon as he stood up, Luo Hou instinctively sensed danger. He spotted Gandharva in the distance, covered his face, and ran away. Luo Hou was chased by Gandharva for most of the Netherworld before finally shaking her off. He breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly went back to his room to change his clothes.
This is, really, really a terribly annoying job!!
……
Ning Xian felt his eyelids twitching as soon as he woke up that morning. His first thought was, "Am I going to get rich?" But then he realized something was off. Which side twitching meant good fortune and which meant bad luck?
She was worried that Feng would come and drag her away after she ran away without saying goodbye yesterday, but Feng didn't show up until the evening. She couldn't tell whether she was relieved or felt that something was missing.
When they were out, they were together every day, and it seemed so natural that they never thought anything of it. But after returning, they seemed to have drifted apart. Even though the Netherworld and the Paradise were so close, if they didn't meet, they really wouldn't see each other for days at a time. She wandered aimlessly around the sect a few times, never knowing it could be so boring. She wondered what Feng was doing… Keeping herself to herself and thinking about it wasn't in her nature, so she decided to just go and see for herself.
She wasn't always so lucky, always arriving when the other members of the Four Spirits weren't around. Today, she encountered the dragon before even entering the gate—the only time she remembered him was when she first came to Yu Lin to get medicine and was discovered by Feng, only to be confronted and forced to pretend to be dead.
This man, who appeared thin, tall, and handsome, had a personality that was hard to describe when he first spoke. However, to her surprise, after that initial frown and contorted nose of disgust, he abruptly composed himself and asked in a cool, indifferent tone, "Looking for Feng?"
"Huh?" Ning Xian was taken aback by his attitude at first, thinking that since they had run into each other, they would definitely have to fight before rushing in. Now she was genuinely surprised. "Yes..."
Long frowned and relaxed, telling himself that he couldn't be prejudiced or take action. He had to support Feng and her first so that he could openly pursue Luo Hou.
"The phoenix is not here."
"Oh..." Ning Xian was still stunned, only snapping out of her daze after the dragon walked away. What was wrong with this person? Suddenly acting like this... well... although he wasn't exactly friendly...
After taking two steps, Long suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked, "Do you want to come with me?"
"What?"
"Feng, he's in the back mountain."
Ning Xian was slightly puzzled. What was Feng doing in the back mountain? But surely the dragon wouldn't kidnap her and bury her somewhere, would he? So he nodded and followed him to find out.
The vast hillside behind the mountain offered a striking view of two figures, one in white and one in red. The red robes billowed, the flowing skirts blooming in the air, creating a harmonious contrast with the white-clad, red-patterned figure wielding a sword. The scene was so captivating that one hesitated to move forward. Her mind went blank as she gazed at this harmonious image, seemingly always there, as if she hadn't thought of anything at all. Luo Hou's swordsmanship was excellent. She watched, simply finding it truly remarkable.