Chapter 088: A Match for Each Other
“Fellow Daoist Qin, your gaze is quite intense.”
“Clan Leader Huan’s line of sight, isn’t it also almost piercing through me?”
After speaking, the two awkwardly shifted their gazes, ending their inexplicable staring contest.
Although they still couldn’t discern the other’s true thoughts, they were both certain that they had perfectly hidden their real intentions. Facing such an innocent opponent, they couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt, their emotions becoming exceptionally complex.
“It seems my clansmen have urgent matters to report to me. Baiyao cannot continue to accompany you, Fellow Daoist Qin.” Huan Baiyao’s gaze swept over the Huan Kong clansmen lingering around before she cupped her fists and apologized.
Qin Gou shrugged, smiling gently, “It’s no matter, Clan Leader Huan. Serious matters should indeed take precedence.”
“However, I would still like to ask Fellow Daoist Qin to accept this token. It is merely a small token of my sincerity.”
Saying this, Huan Baiyao retrieved an exquisite token from her Nas void ring and presented it to Qin Gou.
“With this pass token, as long as you activate it, Fellow Daoist Qin will not encounter any unwelcome disruptions while you roam Feng Shi Cliff.”
Qin Gou accepted the token and examined it closely, his surprise evident. “I have known Clan Leader Huan for less than two days, and I am a ‘Deep Abyss Citizen.’ Aren’t you concerned that I, Qin, might use this pass token to trespass wantonly in certain important areas of your Huan Kong Main Vein?”
“I trust Fellow Daoist Qin!” Huan Baiyao added, a hint of shyness flickering in her eyes. “After all, Fellow Daoist Qin, you are close to Lord Qingyu. Baiyao naturally trusts Lord Qingyu’s judgment of character.”
In reality, she had secretly embedded traps within the pass token, including a mind-confusion technique and a self-destructing spiritual seal. Furthermore, she had conveniently ‘forgotten’ to remove her divine sense imprint herself. If Qin Gou were to use the token, he would inevitably have to overwrite her imprint, leaving traces of forced removal. This way, whether the item was a ‘gift’ or ‘stolen goods’ would depend entirely on her decision.
“If that is the case, I shall accept Clan Leader Huan’s kind gesture. However, I, Qin, cannot be outdone in generosity.”
As he spoke, Qin Gou put away the pass token and took out a small white porcelain bottle from his Nas void ring.
“What is this?” Huan Baiyao’s expression was filled with curiosity.
“Don’t rush,” Qin Gou said with a mysterious smile. “Please extend your hand, Clan Leader Huan. After I demonstrate, perhaps you will be able to guess its true origin at a glance.”
“Oh?” Huan Baiyao playfully extended a small hand.
Qin Gou placed a dark brown Spirit Pill from the bottle into her soft palm and formed a spiritual seal, slowly enveloping the pill with his spiritual power. It was at this moment, with a perfectly justifiable reason, that Qin Gou’s spiritual power inevitably touched Huan Baiyao’s Dao Body. He stealthily left behind a special imprint of ‘Goose Return Cage.’
Instantly, catalyzed by the spiritual power, the unappealing dark brown pill erupted with a dazzling spiritual light and emitted a refreshing, pleasant fragrance that captivated Huan Baiyao’s full attention.
“This couldn’t be…” Huan Baiyao’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise.
“Indeed, this is the Yan Dan Pill. Its effects on beautifying the skin are second only to the far more renowned and exceptionally rare Youth Preserving Pill. The spiritual seal I demonstrated to Clan Leader Huan just now is also the matching technique for this pill, capable of maximizing its pure medicinal power,” Qin Gou explained patiently with a smile.
“This… such a precious Spirit Pill, are you truly giving it to me for free, Fellow Daoist Qin?” Huan Baiyao was both surprised and delighted. As a beautiful female cultivator, how could she not have heard of the Yan Dan Pill? Unfortunately, the achievements of the Beast Land inhabitants in alchemy were vastly inferior to those of human cultivators who truly mastered the art.
“Clan Leader Huan, you truly need not be so polite. I am merely returning the favor,” Qin Gou said with a wry smile. In fact, he felt the Yan Dan Pill was more of a compensation for Huan Baiyao. If not for the large quantity of Youth Preserving Pills still stored in the Arc-Moon Mountain treasury, he would have given those instead. After all, his initial intention in giving a gift was not straightforward.
However, he was unaware that facing the Yan Dan Pill in her hand, Huan Baiyao felt an overwhelming sense of inadequacy. The stark contrast between her own deceitful actions and her intense guilt was almost suffocating.
“No! My mere pass token is incomparable to your Spirit Pill, Fellow Daoist Qin. I am unworthy of receiving it!” Huan Baiyao’s pretty face was filled with shame.
Qin Gou also felt a sense of awkwardness. “Clan Leader Huan, what are you saying? Isn’t the point of our exchange friendship, rather than mere material possessions?”
“But, Fellow Daoist Qin, you surpass Baiyao in both friendship and material wealth… Therefore, please accept this gift from Baiyao!”
“Absolutely not, Clan Leader Huan. If we continue to be so formal, it will displease me.”
“Then… would Fellow Daoist Qin be willing to gift me this porcelain bottle as well? I will cherish it forever… And, Brother Qin, could you perhaps call me Baiyao from now on, just as you call Lord Qingyu?”
“Baiyao!”
For a moment, the two seemed like noble, ancient gentlemen, appreciating each other’s character and displaying utmost humility in their words and actions. To describe them with: “Confident when in the right, but acting like sages when in the wrong,” would be quite fitting.
…
After they parted ways, Huan Baiyao reluctantly left with the crowd of Huan Kong clansmen. Old Qin finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if he had been liberated from an ordeal. He walked aimlessly for a few steps and then took out the pass token he had received from Huan Baiyao from his robes. He vividly remembered her clear, innocent eyes when she had handed it to him.
At this moment, Qin Gou gazed at the token in his hand, a bitter smile on his face. He murmured to himself, “To think I deceived such an upright young woman? My conscience aches!” But some things had to be done, even if the process was less than savory. Ultimately, the intention was to cultivate darkness to serve the light… Old Qin convinced himself.
Meanwhile.
“I actually dealt with such a righteous gentleman? What have I, Huan Baiyao, done?!” Clutching the white porcelain bottle containing the Yan Dan Pill, Huan Baiyao’s eyes were filled with mixed emotions. She looked utterly dejected and lost. But perhaps this was the way of clan righteousness, which superseded everything… Huan Baiyao’s spirit instantly rallied!
