SWNOVELXO chapter 408
This time, Ye Yong threw it with great strength; the stick flew far away. If it landed in the woods and got stuck in a tree, Xia Shiqi would likely spend a considerable amount of time and effort retrieving it.
Of course, Ye Yong didn’t worry about that at all. The silly Xia Shiqi could never sit still; give it something to do, and after it was done, reward it, and it would be quite pleased.
Yesterday evening, it had retrieved the stick, but Ye Yong was too busy teaching Hua Ningyan some techniques to pay it any mind. After all, teaching techniques couldn’t afford to go wrong; if it led to Hua Ningyan going astray in her cultivation, that would be a huge problem.
When Ye Yong finally had time to attend to it, Xia Shiqi acted all high and mighty, squinting and casting a sidelong glance at him. Ye Yong certainly wouldn’t coax it gently.
Coaxing had its targets; for a silly creature like Xia Shiqi, the more you coddled it, the more arrogant it became. Before long, it would undoubtedly turn into a scene of “three days without a beating, and the roof would be lifted,” with a doting father and a filial daughter.
“So this is the spirit fox you brought back? Quite adorable.” With a little time left before the banquet, two beautiful painters made a sudden visit.
Though they called it a sudden visit, Ye Yong was not surprised at all. Every time he returned from outside, Mu Qingyin would have him rest for a night before allowing the painters to come check on his condition the next day.
Spirit foxes held a significant allure for cultivators, and thankfully, Ye Yong’s family background and personal strength kept the situation in check. If it were the background-less protagonist, Long Tian, receiving such a level of spirit pet? A horde of elders’ grandchildren or true disciples would have jumped out, demanding Long Tian relinquish it.
—
“They… seem not to be human.” Hua Ningyan’s sense of smell was exceptionally keen; beyond merely remembering and tracking scents, it could roughly discern whether the other was a living being.
A fragrance wafted from the painted beauties, but rather than a mere olfactory stimulus, it felt like a soul’s caress, penetrating deep into the essence of life, soothing and even beguiling those who were not strong enough.
“Indeed, they are the souls of paintings, crafted by a master of transformation.” Ye Yong offered a brief introduction.
“How impressive, that which is painted can be so vividly alive.” Hua Ningyan regarded them with solemn respect, greeting the two painted beauties with gravity: “Greetings, esteemed souls of the painting. I am Hua Ningyan, visiting the realm of humanity for the first time. There are many things I do not understand; if I have caused any offense, I beg your forgiveness.”
Hua Ming approached, smiling as she playfully pinched Hua Ningyan’s small fox-like face: “Such a sweet voice, so polite and articulate. No wonder my brother took such great risks to bring you back.”
“It is not as you say. My master saved our clan; the grace and virtue are beyond repayment. I can only follow in service, vowing to stay by your side until death. But in truth, it is I who have taken advantage of my master, receiving such kindness…”
“Oh?” Hua Ming and Hua Xin immediately showed interest. Their visit was not only to heed Mu Qingyin’s command but also out of curiosity as to why Ye Yong had concealed his departure from Tianluo Sect: “Do tell us what transpired.”
Thus, Hua Ningyan recounted the events with earnestness, presenting the facts objectively, devoid of any subjective emotion.
Even so, Ye Yong had saved so many lives; he could have felt proud and self-satisfied, yet he did not. Hua Ningyan’s detailed account left several questions lingering. For instance, after rescuing Hua Ningyan’s brother, how had he foreseen that humans would approach their camp? How, being within Tianluo Sect, had he learned of the plans to capture the spirit fox from Qirong City and arrived in time?
This was not something that could be explained away with a simple “fate.”
However, Hua Ningyan, the party involved, remained oblivious to any oddity. After she finished speaking, the two painted beauties fell silent for a moment, then turned their gazes toward Ye Yong.
—
06 Duel
This was not a matter of great significance; Ye Yong could easily choose not to explain. Yet, if he did so, the doubts surrounding him would only accumulate. It was better to resolve what could be resolved sooner rather than later.
“It is like this.” Ye Yong smiled slightly, unsure if he had told too many lies or if his mind had simply become particularly quick after cultivating. Reasons flowed from his lips: “Before joining Tianluo Sect, I encountered a fortune-teller on a street in Chengying City. I can no longer recall their appearance, but they must have been a master of divination. They offered to read my fortune for free, indicating that I had a connection with the spirit fox, providing me with the time and place…”
What to do when there are doubts surrounding oneself? It was simple—shift the blame onto others.
This was a world of cultivation, filled with all manner of extraordinary beings. After all, the source could not be traced, so why not let Ye Yong weave his tale?
And so, the painted beauties appeared to understand, harboring no suspicion. The key was that Ye Yong’s expression remained as steady as a seasoned dog, showing no signs of deceit.
—
“This is our master, and the steward of this peak, Mu Qingyin’s little gift for you.” Huaxin held out a silver bell, presenting it to Huaningyan.
Huaningyan did not recognize the treasure before her. She glanced at Ye Yong, who nodded, and with a solemnity befitting the moment, she expressed her gratitude. Ye Yong then took the bell and placed it around her neck.
In truth, placing a bell on an animal with keen hearing would usually be uncomfortable due to the jarring sound it produces. However, this bell remained silent, not chiming with Huaningyan’s movements, a quiet companion.
“What kind of treasure is this? It feels as if I am being protected now that I wear it,” Huaningyan asked, looking up at Huaxin.
“It is called the ‘Golden Lion Shield Bell.’ In times of peril, it can block attacks for the wearer,” Huaxin said casually, while Ye Yong immediately searched for a similar item in the system shop.
Good heavens, it was priced at 20,000 reversal points—a top-tier defensive artifact. When fully charged, it could withstand attacks from late-stage two-dimensional infants. Once its energy was depleted, it could be replenished by consuming spirit stones or by naturally absorbing ambient spiritual energy over time.
Compared to a disposable defensive item priced at 8,000 reversal points, this was indeed more expensive. Yet, its reusable nature made it a worthwhile investment in the long run. But for Ye Yong, it felt like a double-edged sword. He lacked the protagonist’s halo; the enemies he faced were not merely a star or two above him but leaped across several realms. Even those at the Transformation stage would take action against him, which was absurd.
A reusable artifact that could withstand attacks from the Transformation stage was priced at 400,000, while a disposable item cost only 80,000—a fivefold difference.
Wasn’t a reusable artifact more appealing than a disposable one? That depended on the situation. If a Transformation stage enemy truly intended to kill Ye Yong, would they stop after just two attacks? Absolutely not. With the same amount of money, he could buy five disposable items, allowing him to withstand ten attacks. Besides the life-saving capability, it might even turn the tide in a critical moment.
Imagine this: if a Transformation stage enemy attacked once or twice and Ye Yong remained unharmed, they would likely think it a fluke and continue their assault. But after seven or eight attempts, if Ye Yong was still intact, they would surely begin to question their own existence, giving Ye Yong a chance to reverse the situation. Thus, compared to a rechargeable artifact, Ye Yong leaned more towards purchasing disposable items.
Returning to the matter at hand, Mu Qingyin giving Huaningyan such an artifact was quite thoughtful, indicating her care extended even to Ye Yong’s spirit pet.
As for why only Huaningyan received it, while Xia Shiqi and Xia Shijia did not, Ye Yong suspected it was because such artifacts were rare. Mu Qingyin likely found only one, so she chose to give it to Huaningyan first, considering her status as a spirit fox made her more likely to attract attention than a land-bound wolf.
Huaningyan wanted to inquire about the artifact’s value, but Ye Yong gently patted her head, stopping her: “Since the master has bestowed it upon you, accept it with peace of mind.”
The two painted beauties nodded in agreement. If Ye Yong had any qualities that pleased them and Mu Qingyin, it was his understanding nature.
At that moment, Xia Shiqi returned. Upon seeing the painted beauties, she immediately shrank back, hiding outside the door, perfectly revealing her timid nature.
Ye Yong couldn’t be bothered with her, welcoming the two painted beauties inside and offering them some fourth-tier tea leaves to take back to Mu Qingyin. It was only proper to reciprocate; he couldn’t just accept gifts from Mu Qingyin. However, the rare items that would catch her eye were beyond his reach, making tea leaves a good choice.
“Brother Ye, you must know about the sect competition in two months, right?” Huaming—no, rather, Mu Qingyin, who had projected her consciousness onto Huaming, accepted the fourth-tier tea leaves with satisfaction and began discussing the upcoming competition.