Helping The Drowning Person

Despite Master Ji's urgent cry of, "Don't come over here!" the red light continued its path towards the altar, striking Master Ji.

Master Ji let out a scream, reminiscent of a pig being butchered, tumbled off the altar, and rolled twice before scrambling to his feet and bolting out.

The Daoist apprentice, who had been unconscious, stirred and hurriedly followed, calling, "Master! Master!"

Wang Fulai reached out to Master Ji, but to no avail. Master Ji and his apprentice fled without a backward glance.

"Hehehe!"

The red light emitted a mocking laugh, circling the courtyard and taunting the servants who were unable to escape in time.

Fang Zhou approached Ling Xiaoyue, "What's our next move?"

After taking a sip of her wine, Ling Xiaoyue chuckled, "Time for my dramatic entrance. This is the moment we turn the tide. Keep your eyes peeled; you won't want to miss this."

Fang Zhou waited in anticipation, but all Ling Xiaoyue did after finishing her drink was to start preening. He couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to do something?"

"Calm down, I want to look my best first. Then, we can discuss compensation."

"Compensation?"

Fang Zhou saw Ling Xiaoyue pour a bit of wine into her palm, and then she smeared it on her forehead. Instantly, she appeared radiant and glowing, as if she had just activated some special effects and beautifying filters. It was so dazzling that it almost blinded him.

What kind of trick is this?

Wang Fulai had also taken notice.

Having seen Master Ji flee in terror, Wang Fulai, deep in despair, hadn't expected the two presumed freeloaders to remain unperturbed amidst the chaos.

The woman in white especially, radiated a dazzling brilliance.

At this moment, Wang Fulai finally understood that these two young people were the real deal.

She made a move toward Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue, hoping for protection. The red light, spotting her motion, swooped down, lifting her off the ground.

"Master! Save me!" she pleaded with Ling Xiaoyue.

Ling Xiaoyue signaled to Fang Zhou, indicating that the time was right. She then replied, "Saving you is no problem. As cultivators, we should exorcise demons and bring blessings to the world, while also refining our hearts."

Fang Zhou thought, "I've heard this line before!"

Ling Xiaoyue then added, "However, we've incurred many expenses wandering the world, and now our funds are depleting. Madam Wang, would you consider sponsoring our journey?"

Fang Zhou looked at her in surprise. "Is this taking advantage of someone's misfortune?"

Ling Xiaoyue shot him a glare. "Whose side are you on? I see it as assisting others while asking for a modest compensation. If she's not willing to give even a small reward, why should we help?"

Wang Fulai, stunned by Ling Xiaoyue's audacity, exclaimed, "You're exploiting the situation... Ahhh!!"

As the fox demon twirled her in the air, her head spun with dizziness. She cried out, "Yes, yes, I will compensate you!"

"How much will you offer?"

"Five hundred taels!"

Ling Xiaoyue gracefully bowed to Wang Fulai, who remained suspended in the air, "Madam Wang, take care. We shall meet again."

"Don't!"

Suddenly, Wang Fulai was hurled into the yard's pond by the fox demon.

Emerging with a splash, she shouted to Ling Xiaoyue, "Master, please wait!"

The fox demon swooped down, pushing Wang Fulai's head under the water.

"Master... glub glub... I'll pay... glub glub... one thousand taels... glub glub..."

After pondering for a few moments, Ling Xiaoyue shook her head, "Madam Wang, with all due respect, perhaps you should seek help elsewhere."

Submerged, Wang Fulai couldn't vocalize her response, but she desperately raised an arm, signaling with two fingers.

"Gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle!"

Pleased, Ling Xiaoyue grabbed her wine jug and tossed it forward.

A jet of wine ejected, freezing instantly into icy shards that resembled thousands of sparkling stars, all aimed at the fox demon.

Concealed by the red glow, the fox demon released Wang Fulai, attempting to evade Ling Xiaoyue's impending assault.

However, the wine mist expanded, enveloping the area like a celestial canopy, trapping the fox demon.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The red light was perforated by the icy projectiles, eliciting a piercing scream of agony.

As the radiant glow faded, a hazy fox silhouette emerged.

The fox shot Ling Xiaoyue a venomous glare, then vaulted over the wall, vanishing from sight.

This encounter marked Fang Zhou's first observation of Ling Xiaoyue's prowess in action.

He had always envisioned a cultivator's strength resembling Ling Xiaoyue's capabilities, rather than simply brandishing a sword as Li Ruyu did.

Although Ling Xiaoyue never disclosed her cultivation realm, Fang Zhou surmised she might be in the Entering innate realm. This assumption was based on her hasty retreat from the Xuan Ji Sect, whose leader was of the Golden Core realm.

The difference in combat prowess between the innate realm and Li Ruyu's Foundation Building was stark.

Fang Zhou aspired to attain the innate realm, though uncertain of the timeline.

He inquired, "Why didn't you capture the fox demon?"

Ling Xiaoyue's relaxed demeanor suggested that the fox demon was no match for her, yet she allowed its escape.

Ling Xiaoyue glanced at Fang Zhou and said with deep meaning, "Let me teach you a principle: when earning money, it's better to have a steady stream of income rather than finishing everything all at once. Understand?"

Fang Zhou got it. This woman was ruthless, always eager to take advantage whenever she could.

Ling Xiaoyue tapped him with her wine jug, "Go, fetch Boss Wang from the water."

Just a moment ago, she was addressing him as Madam. Wang ; now, she's referred to as Boss Wang.

Fang Zhou had no choice but to strip off his shirt and jump into the pond in just his pants to rescue Boss Wang, who was floating on the water.

Surprisingly, Boss Wang wasn't rendered unconscious. As Fang Zhou held her, she still managed to extend a hand to caress Fang Zhou's solid chest, murmuring weakly, "Little brother, would you be interested in staying with the Wang family, staying by my side, and protect me closely?" 

Fang Zhou promptly threw her back into the pond.

..

The Wang family's ordeal that night finally concluded. Wang Fulai was once again pulled out of the water by the steward and the servants.

The Wang family no longer dared to treat Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou with anything less than the utmost respect. Their demeanor changed completely, turning from casual indifference to utmost reverence. The pair's accommodations were immediately upgraded. They were relocated to a grander residence, with devoted servants attending to their every need.

This was the first time the Wang family had witnessed anyone repelling the fox demon and encountering a true master. They hurried to accommodate the masters, fearing they might leave.

Wang Fulai, having inhaled a substantial amount of water, spent half the night vomiting and was forced to retire early.

The steward suggested that Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou visit Wang Minghong, who had nearly escaped death. Ling Xiaoyue declined with a yawn, stating, "We'll visit him tomorrow."

After Ling Xiaoyue departed, Fang Zhou discreetly pulled the steward aside and requested that some food be brought to his room. Almost all the large meat buns that day had been eaten by Ling Xiaoyue, and Fang Zhou had barely managed to eat a few, leaving him extremely hungry. Given his current phase of growth, combined with his rigorous training regimen, it wasn't surprising that he had a vast appetite.

The steward immediately expressed her apologies for her previous oversight that had inadvertently slighted the two masters. She promptly had a lavish meal prepared and sent to Fang Zhou's chamber.

Fang Zhou utilized his agility to ascend to the roof of the Wang residence and commenced his cultivation under the moonlight.

The potency of cultivation under a full moon was doubled. Having witnessed Ling Xiaoyue's prowess earlier that evening, he felt a renewed urgency in his cultivation. He was unwilling to squander even a single second.

After several rounds of focused training, clouds enveloped the moon. Fang Zhou descended from the roof and made his way back to his room.

Although a sumptuous spread awaited him in his room, an unexpected visitor was present.

It was the last person Fang Zhou wished to see.

Irritated, he demanded, "What are you doing here?!"

Ling Xiaoyue, while discarding a chicken bone, retorted, "Why shouldn't I be here? Do you genuinely think you can finish all this on your own? Obviously, I'm here to help ensure nothing goes to waste."

Seeing Ling Xiaoyue had already eaten most of the dishes, Fang Zhou's frustration grew. Despite having amassed considerable wealth and being promised a hefty sum, he struggled to get a satisfactory meal.

In exasperation, he cried out, "For heaven's sake, leave some for me!"

He then eagerly dived into the remnants of the feast.

Having eaten, and it now being late into the night, Fang Zhou found sleep elusive due to Ling Xiaoyue's earlier interference. He returned to the rooftop for further cultivation.

He continued training until the first light of dawn. As the sun began its ascent, hunger gnawed at Fang Zhou again.

The midnight training didn't wear him out. However, his stomach started rumbling again; all the food he had eaten the previous night was completely digested.

Fang Zhou began to resonate with Ling Xiaoyue's assertion that practicing cultivation was an expensive endeavor. Beyond other factors, merely meeting the daily dietary needs of a cultivator wasn't something a regular family could handle.

He leaped down from the roof, intending to ask the steward for more food. After all, why decline when it's offered for free?

The female steward swiftly approached Fang Zhou, her expression filled with alarm. "Master," she uttered urgently, "there's a situation."