Chapter 06: Pei Ningxue

On the Spirit Boat

Aboard the spirit boat.

Fang Ziyue stood at the deck’s edge, gazing at the sea of clouds.

Behind her, Fang Xiyu sat quietly at the table, brows clear and cold, showing no trace of weakness.

She calmly recounted everything that happened in the secret realm to Fang Ziyue.

“You mean… he’s Core Formation, yet easily defeated you?”

“Yes.”

Fang Xiyu nodded lightly.

“Everyone entering the Burning Heaven Secret Realm has a bone age under twenty-five.”

Fang Ziyue pondered deeply, murmuring softly.

“It’s been a long time since the Eastern Domain produced such a genius.”

Fang Xiyu remained silent, no response.

After a long while, Fang Ziyue turned to look at her.

“What are your plans next?”

“Comprehend the seventh form of the Moon Wheel Sword Art.”

Fang Xiyu replied calmly.

“Good.

In five months is the sect grand competition.

This year’s blessed land is when the Moon Wheel Tree bears fruit.

The sect can offer two—I’ll reserve one for you.

Seclude well; I’ll help you break through to late Core Formation.”

Fang Xiyu responded very softly.

She closed her eyes, but those playful eyes resurfaced.

She suddenly recalled the whip’s sting on her legs, her body trembling uncontrollably once more.

The Temple Hideout

Three days later.

The easternmost part of the Eastern Domain—fewest cultivators.

Too remote, far from spiritual veins, sparse spiritual energy.

Rarely did anyone build caves here.

At the edge stood Mount Fahua.

Once, Buddhist monks built a temple atop it.

Later, demonic cultivators seized it, slaughtering monks and villagers below.

Righteous cultivators launched a grand demon-slaying campaign.

The demons fled; the temple fell to ruin.

When Gu Chi arrived, winter plums bloomed on the mountain.

The temple nestled midway up.

A stream nearby.

He followed the drifting ice fragments upstream to the dilapidated temple, pushing open the gates.

Inside, before the Buddha statue, the woman’s attire seemed to profane it.

Pei Ningxue wore a black gauze long skirt—sleeveless, shoulderless, tightly wrapping her modest chest, revealing a slender waist.

The gauze below faintly showed long legs’ skin.

She lounged lazily in a bamboo chair, legs crossed, toes hooked in hollow phoenix-beak high heels.

Veins on her snow-white insteps clearly visible.

Gu Chi’s gaze traveled upward—from ankles to collarbone, to swan-like neck, to that face capable of toppling nations.

He was Qingmian; she was Hongmian.

A pair of desperate lovebirds, barely.

If Fang Xiyu’s face was cold with charm, Fang Ziyue dignified and elegant, Pei Ningxue’s features were demonic to the extreme.

Every subtle expression oozed seduction and danger.

Seeing him return, her lips curved slightly.

Her snow-white high heels swayed gently from her toes.

“Back?”

“All smooth.”

Gu Chi sat in his bamboo chair, placing the thunder explosion bead, turtle shell ball, one thousand spirit stones, and various pills looted from Fang Xiyu on the table.

Five anonymous high-grade spirit stone notes already lay there—each worth one thousand.

“You? Any trouble?”

“I’m sitting here fine—what could happen?”

Pei Ningxue’s lips curved.

“So concerned about me?”

Gu Chi smiled, said nothing.

Both safe—time to split the spoils.

Pei Ningxue grabbed four thousand-denominated notes, pulled five hundred high-grade spirit stones to her side.

She tilted her head, looking at Gu Chi.

“I’ll take these.”

“Again?

We agreed fifty-fifty!”

“You casually humiliated a Core Formation girl in the realm—a pretty fairy, alone in a room, doing whatever to her.

I was outside, heart in throat, careful every step—one slip, death.

Taking more— what’s wrong?”

“Same excuse as last time!”

“Objections?”

“Of course.

You think I’m a pushover?”

Gu Chi grumbled unhappily, but his tone held no urgency.

As he spoke more, Pei Ningxue kicked off her hooked heels.

Her long, snow-white legs slowly extended under the table, calves naturally nearing, then resting on his lap.

Toes poked his abdomen lightly.

She leaned forward slightly, elbow propping cheek, eyes smiling boldly.

“Still objecting?”

“Don’t think you can manipulate me like this.”

“Hm?

Want to sleep together tonight?”

“We say together, but you enjoy it— who knows who benefits?”

Pei Ningxue laughed brighter, her demonic eyes growing more seductive.

Her toes stepped and pressed on him.

Her powder-tender snow-white little feet gleamed like warm jade.

Gu Chi looked down, watching her crystalline toes wiggle lightly, sighing helplessly.

“At least give me two thousand?”

Total six thousand spirit stones—split done.

Pei Ningxue took four thousand; he two.

The two artifacts were couple’s shared property—whoever needed used them.

Though never declaring dao companionship, their bond was similar.

If one caught, the other doomed.

Gu Chi had no doubt this wicked woman, if captured, would sell him out first.

Pei Ningxue was heartless yet overly cute.

Gu Chi lifted the teapot, poured himself floral tea, sipped, then looked at Pei Ningxue.

Only now did his heart relax.

She was right—he faced no danger in the realm.

His only worry was her outside.

Thankfully, all well.

“That Moon Wheel Fairy pretty?”

“Decent—bit prettier than you.”

“Take advantage?”

“Did—thoroughly played with her tender little feet.”

“Ugh, hopeless.”

Pei Ningxue shook her head helplessly.

Suddenly recalling something, fancy boxes appeared on the table.

Gu Chi thought birthday gifts.

Opened—they held neatly rolled exquisite silk stockings.

Ultra-thin flesh-revealing silk, slightly glossy, some with fine soft fuzz.

Some over-knee; some gray pantyhose to the waist.

“You spent earnings on these?”

“Who made someone like me wearing them?

Help pick which matches this skirt?”

“None look good.”

“Meaning out in public?

I’m asking… which for tonight?”

“I like white silk.”

“Don’t like.”

Pei Ningxue lifted chin slightly.

“Like little girls wear.”

“Aren’t you a little girl?”

“I’m a year older.”

Pei Ningxue’s eyes curved.

“Really not picking?”

“No.”

Gu Chi felt he couldn’t yield to her temptations.

She’d manipulated him too much lately—time to reclaim control.

“Then… prefer bare feet?”

Pei Ningxue slightly lifted her calf, tender sole pressing his abdomen.

Gu Chi sighed long.

“I’ll cook.”

Pei Ningxue knew she’d stirred his desires, sprawled on the table laughing uncontrollably.

The Bandit Lair

This mountain temple was their bandit lair.

Gu Chi and Pei Ningxue met three years ago.

In a Central Continent secret realm, both eyed a Tianshan Snow Lotus guarded by a Snow Eagle Emperor.

They teamed with other rogues, killed the eagle, planned to split seeds by contribution.

After, Pei Ningxue poisoned half the rogues; Gu Chi knocked out most.

They stared wide-eyed awhile, tested strengths—deadlocked.

Simply split the lotus and seeds, parting ways.

Met again in several realms, tacitly teamed to scam many.

Countless realms on Cangxue Continent; both rootless.

Third meeting, Gu Chi invited: world vast—team up, grow strong?

Pei Ningxue agreed smilingly.

But in later partnerships, she poisoned him twice, dug a pit once.

All failed.

Gu Chi wasn’t angry—just calmly said “three strikes.”

No fourth.

They gradually lowered guards.

He became Qingmian; she Hongmian.

Gu Chi wasn’t petty.

Her talent helped much; her pits weren’t lethal—so he tolerated three.

A fourth—he’d kill her.

Pei Ningxue, utterly scheming, found his boundaries after knowing his nature—easy, pleasant coexistence.

As they say, coquettish women fare best.

After Gu Chi accidentally showed cooking skills, she ordered dishes.

If lazy, she’d hug his arm, press chest and sway, or straddle him, rub his neck endlessly until annoyed.

They’d lived here a year.

Gu Chi set a spirit-gathering array—abundant energy within ten meters.

Raised chickens, ducks, two castrated piglets.

Ginger-fried chicken with fresh red chilies—crisp skin, tender meat, flavorful without much seasoning.

Steamed spirit rice— their dinner.

Gu Chi brought dishes to table.

Dusk outside, fiery clouds vivid.

He slapped a wine jar on the table.

Pei Ningxue complained again.

“No good wine?”

“Good wine saved for my gu poison flares.”

“Flare now?”

“Why don’t you die?”

Gu Chi rolled eyes.

Pei Ningxue laughed joyfully, chopsticks picking tenderest chicken to her bowl first.