Yi Ping kept a tight hold on Xixing. Hui walked ahead with Fa Chuyou, pretending not to care. This is a step in the right direction. Once we get her back to the Corpse Refinement Valley, I can figure out how to get her away from these demonic cultivators!

For them to give her to us so easily… I wonder if she’s cursed or marked, somehow? He scanned her briefly, but nothing stood out. Hui turned away. I’ll have to separate her from Yi Ping once we get to Fa Chuyou’s cultivation lab and take a closer look.

“Xie Hao! What are you up to today?” a familiar voice called from the sky.

Yi Ping tensed. He rested a hand on his weapon, backing subtly away from the group. “A trap?”

Fa Chuyou shot Hui a glance. He shook his head lightly, warning her not to get tense. “Hong Xue, what a rare honor.”

“Ah, as you say. It is truly an honor for me to grace you with my presence,” Bai Xue replied. He hopped off his fan and landed beside Hui, walking along with him. Leaning back, he cast an approving look at Xixing and tossed her a wink.

She scowled back.

Elder Sister Xixing, please don’t antagonize Bai Xue! I promise, despite how he looks, he’s a righteous cultivator! He isn’t going to hurt you, just tease you to death!

“Hong Xue! Out with that ghoul again?” Jing Aimei pouted. She sat atop a sword, long legs crossed daintily. The wind parted her skirts as she flew, giving long glimpses of creamy skin and delicate ankles. Shapely calves curved up to firm thighs and a fine pair of hips. Her skirt pulled tight around her rear, accentuating the roundness of her curves.

Ah, I didn’t notice it earlier, but Jing Aimei has her good side… Hui realized suddenly, eyeing her legs appreciatively.

“Jing Aimei, you’re too jealous! Can’t I hang out with my friends?” Bai Xue pouted back. He slung an arm around Hui’s shoulders. “I’ll make it up to you later, okay?”

Jing Aimei pursed her lips for another few seconds, then sighed. “You’d better.”

“Mmm, I will,” Bai Xue replied, sweeping his eyes up and down her body.

Hui shoved Bai Xue off his shoulders. Don’t grab onto me and eye women up! What am I, your third wheel?

As Jing Aimei flew off, Bai Xue glanced back at Xixing again. “Who’s this? A new friend of yours?”

“You… could say that,” Hui said, nodding.

Yi Ping stepped forward suddenly. “Hong Xue, what are your intentions?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Bai Xue replied dismissively.

Hui cleared his throat. “Er, Elder S…Brother, we, er, negotiated the temporary loan of this lowly hostage here,” he gestured at Xixing, “but in return, Yi Ping has been sent to supervise us. Doubtless he’s concerned now that a cultivator as powerful as yourself is here.”

“Ah? Does he think I’m going to snatch her away?” Bai Xue asked, furrowing his brows. He glanced over his shoulder and paused thoughtfully, sweeping his eyes over her again. “Well… actually…”

“Keep your hands off me, you filthy demon,” Xixing spat.

Bai Xue’s eyes shone.

Hui cleared his throat before Bai Xue could go any further. “In any case, you should reassure Elder Brother Yi that you have no such intentions.”

“But… I might,” Bai Xue said.

Hui gave him an exasperated look.

Yi Ping touched a jade at his waist. “I won’t hesitate to summon my Elder Brothers if you make a move.”

“Elder Brother! Please forgive this outrageous friend of mine. He’s joking, he’s joking,” Hui said, stepping between the two of them. He bowed to Yi Ping repeatedly, pushing Bai Xue behind him.

Slowly, Yi Ping dropped his hand. “You would do well to consider whether your actions might be taken… the wrong way. We hold control over the pill cultivator, not you.”

“Of course, of course,” Hui said, still bowing.

“How could you take my actions the wrong way? Yi Ping, apologize to this Hong Xue this instant. Disrespectful, utterly disrespectful, misunderstanding your seniors like that,” Bai Xue said, pulling himself to his full height. He whipped one of his fans open and glared down at Yi Ping from behind it, suddenly mysterious and foreboding.

“Hong Xue, please,” Hui said, exhausted.

“What did I say wrong? You call me disrespectful, on what grounds?” Yi Ping demanded.

“On the grounds that you were,” Bai Xue responded.

“How so?”

“Ah, right now, speaking back to one’s elders, tsk tsk,” Bai Xue said, lowering his eyelids and half-closing his fan. He turned his head away dramatically, as if he was deeply hurt.

“Elders! You dare call yourself my elder? We’re of the same generation.”

“Mmm, this small cultivator before me can’t even tell an ant from a lion, how sad,” Bai Xue lamented, fanning himself gently.

Fa Chuyou leaned toward Hui. Glancing at Bai Xue, she whispered, “Is he always like this?”

“Worse, usually,” Hui whispered back. At least Yi Ping’s forgotten about calling the others over. Bai Xue could probably beat the cultivator with variable cultivation, but could he beat him before the other two hurt or kill Xixing? Especially if they’ve put some kind of trap in her body. No, no, we need to proceed with caution. Until we know more about the situation, tread carefully!

Bai Xue mercilessly teasing Yi Ping, their small party continued on into Corpse Refinement Valley. As they crossed the border, Yi Ping and Xixing both shivered. Bai Xue cast his eyes around, a single glimmer of concern deep in their depths.

Hui blinked. Eh? Do… do seniors feel something?

“There’s a strong concentration of death qi in this valley. Tread carefully. I wouldn’t want your qi to end up extinguished,” Fa Chuyou said evenly.

Placated, Bai Xue returned to gently fanning himself and teasing Yi Ping, who snarled his way back into the argument. Xixing’s eyes bored into Hui’s back, burning with unasked questions.

Elder Sister, your gaze is too intense! Hui pretended not to notice Xixing, clasping his hands behind his back as he strode along.

“Fa Chuyou, I’ve long wondered at your passion for ghouls,” Bai Xue said suddenly, drawing up even with Hui and Fa Chuyou.

Fa Chuyou nodded neutrally.

“It’s good to have a hobby, but aren’t you afraid this goes too far?” he asked, tipping his head.

“Goes too far? How?”

Bai Xue narrowed his eyes. “I can’t help but notice you’ve grown awfully close to my friend Xie Hao, here.”

“Who just told Jing Aimei not to get jealous over friendships?” Fa Chuyou replied evenly.

“This isn’t jealousy. I’m simply concerned for your wellbeing. He’s a vicious creature, you know. Despite how he usually acts.”

“Vicious creature—” Hui spluttered. He stared at Bai Xue, furrowing his brows. What are you playing at?

“Ah? Is that so? You’d know, wouldn’t you,” Fa Chuyou said primly.

“Would I?” Bai Xue asked.

“Who hasn’t heard about Jing Aimei… disturbing the two of you?”

Hui stared from Bai Xue to Fa Chuyou and back again. Eh? Are my elder sisters fighting over me? This… I’ve accomplished it at last! My first step to being a stallion novel protagonist! He let out a satisfied sigh and smiled. “Ladies, ladies…”

“L…ladies?” Fa Chuyou stuttered, staring at Bai Xue and his very male form.

“Er—er, seniors, I mean, seniors!” Hui stuttered back, blushing crimson.

Bai Xue smirked widely, only raising his fan to hide it after he was sure Hui had seen it. “Oh? Ladies? How presumptuous of this… small cultivator to call me the lady.”

“Eh?” Fa Chuyou’s eyes widened. She stared from Hui to Bai Xue. “So… so it’s—”

“He’s teasing, teasing! Please, Hong Xue, please,” Hui begged. I already have no face, please don’t take what little is left!

Bai Xue laughed, short and sharp. “Ah, that’s right, I’m only teasing. We really are only friends, Fa Chuyou. We were drinking together, that’s all. The rumors have run wild. But it’s so fun to watch him squirm, no?”

“Mmm,” Xixing agreed.

Bai Xue turned over his shoulder and raised his eyebrows at Xixing. His eyes glittered again with the same strange light as before. “Oh?”

Eyes flicking between Bai Xue and Xixing, Hui’s stomach sank. A bad premonition swirled in his heart. Xixing and Bai Xue, together? Agreeing? I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, but… elder sisters, please be gentle!