The lotus clones bustled around as Hui returned, trailing Liu Guang. Hui laughed lightly as two clones ran out with a skein of silk carried over their shoulders. Ah, never mind the ss, Senior. Im remodeling.
Remodeling? What is your vision for this palace? Liu Guang asked, earnestly curious.
Hui nodded. Throughput and cleanliness! Fleeceahem, heal as many cultivators as I can, and leave the place so spic and span that they cant possibly steal anything in return, and, of course, its much more easily to clean!
Throughput? Liu Guang murmured.
Hui coughed. Ah, that is, I pursue a simple life, without too much extra material. Although I would never claim to live an ascetic life, I believe I should not display my riches, but instead focus on my art of healing. Displaying ones riches is the quickest way to lose them! Look at the man who had this palace before . He left furniture and curtains and rugs all over the place, and here I am, stealing them away! No, no. Better to take the riches and find sowhere to sell them so I can gain from them, than uselessly displaying them.
An honorable goal, Liu Guang said, nodding as he stroked his beard.
A guy who walks around coated in gold has no idea what my goal is, Hui mocked silently. Aloud, he continued, I would have rather invited Senior once the palace was organized, but since karma brought Senior and I together today, I thought, why wait?
Raising his hands, Hui clapped once. A larger lotus beast, one of the ones whod matured for a while, hurried out of the palace with a jug carried carefully in its hands. Good thing I transferred these guys over from my original palace and already began moving most of my stuff over here. This way, it looks more natural for to call out a bottle. Not that its unnatural to draw liquor out of my storage space, but, well in the first place, I dont want to give Senior the impression Im the kind of person who keeps liquor on them at all tis. More importantly, though, I dont want to use my nodes too often around higher-realm cultivators, especially not future enemies. If they grasp the secret of the nodes well, back in my original world, networks could be used to attack, too! Best not to open myself up to such dangers by accidentally allowing various seniors to analyze my nodes.
Hui accepted the jug from the lotus beast and nodded. The lotus beast bowed to him and wandered off. Where it stepped, the grasses and weeds grew longer behind it.
Liu Guang watched it go. A vegetation spirit?
Ah, nothing so interesting. I call them lotus beasts. Theyre Hui stopped himself. A product of the pill lotus, a dark technique that creates a dangerous, infectious poison er hmm. I forgot the root of my lotus arts was based in a clearly demonic technique. He cleared his throat and continued. A type of plant beast, I believe. I discovered their progenitor, that is, the pill lotus and Bai Jingwen, and worked to create a sort of worker-beast and worker-clone based on the original plant beast. Theyre quick-growing, hard-working, and bright for plant beasts!
Fascinating. They grow with life qi, Im guessing? What a convenient life form, Liu Guang murmured, putting a hand on his chin.
More convenient than you know, Hui thought to himself.
You know, I have an interest in lifeforms like these, Liu Guang ntioned, almost to himself.
Ha! If Senior wants a lotus beast, youll have to ask directly, and even then, Ill say no! You want to research the secret of my worker beastsworse, the secrets of my own current lotus bodies? Not while I breathe! Besides, theres still the problem of my heads. I cant have anyone realize these cultivators are clones. Not this early. Hui smiled at Liu Guang and flourished his hand, drawing out a pair of cups from his storage ring. Ive only been here a day or two, but Ive found a lovely moon-viewing pond. Would Senior like to go see?
Liu Guang nodded, and Hui led the way, smiling all along.
The air shifted. A light flashed. Liu Guang and Hui both looked up as a sword beam hurtled toward them. Seconds before it reached them, the light faded, revealing Gui Yutong. She smiled at Hui, but hesitated at the sight of Liu Guang.
Hui nodded at her. Aha! My loot is here! I was worried I was going to have to go shake it out of her, but ultimately, she ca to . Wonderful, wonderful. Four and a half stars on the delivery, it ca a bit slow, but as long as everything cos intact, this small Hui has no complains! Gui Yutong, would you like to view the moon along with Senior and ? I have a liquor here that needs tasting.
Gui Yutong furrowed her brows at Hui. He nodded subtly. Its fine, Elder Sister. Ah I truly dont mind if half the sect gets drunk on this immortal-qi liquor. Though I guess I understand her hesitance. It does have qi from her troubleso half-brother in it.
After a mont, Gui Yutong nodded. Ah, I see. I wasnt interrupting anything. He was just building bonds with his new compatriots. Im not barging in, Im simply joining the party. If Fellow Daoist Xie Hao insists, then Ill join.
Mmm-hmm. Id be happy either way, but this way, it looks like all I want to do is moon-viewing with so fine liquor. After all, if I chased her off, Liu Guang might beco suspicious. Now were simply having a party. Hui nodded and walked on.
Another bolt of light shot down from the heavens. Furrowing his brows, Hui looked up. Who is it now?
A random disciple Hui didnt recognize carried a squirming form over his shoulder. He nodded at Liu Guang. Master, I caught this breaking away. What should I do with it?
This? Hui squinted. Ah! That woman! The woman I healed. He coughed, stepping forward before Liu Guang could. You! I told you it was pointless to run away. Co here and be a good test subject.
She startled. Youbut I
Right, I died for her. But I cant let her say it. The sect might pick up on who I am! Before she could finish her sentence, Hui coughed and continued. Ha! You thought you killed , no? But that was rely a clone.
Her expression fell. She fought harder against the disciple. Ill never go back. Id rather die!
Liu Guang sighed. He flicked his sleeve, and her eyes instantly dulled. She went limp on the disciples shoulder. With another flick of his sleeve, Liu Guang called her to his side. Hui caught her and quickly checked her pulse. Still alive, just asleep.
Overhead, the disciple bowed and quickly flew off.
You ought to keep your test subjects more safely than that, Liu Guang admonished Hui.
Yes, yes, of course, Senior, Hui said. He smiled, biting his cheeks silently. Fuck. Had to be seen by both of them, huh? Unfortunately, it was my clone who intercepted her, so He held his hands up, shrugging.
Liu Guang shook his head sympathetically. I understand. After all, test subjects are best when theyre close to ones own cultivation level. I, too, manage my test subjects with clones. You might want to purchase a few items nets, chains, and the like, that will allow your clones to better control your test subjects.
Thank you for your guidance, Hui said, bowing.
Gui Yutong frowned at Hui. Her brows furrowed. Test subjects?
Oh, co on. You saw my vat of pickledahem. My healing bottle full of cultivators. Is it that surprising that I use test subjects? Although this small cultivator would like to protest. Im not using test subjects at all, dammit!
Ah wait. Hold on. He looked at the woman in his arms. Isnt isnt this a typical romance loop? I free a girl from a horrible situation, she tries to escape, shes brought back and forced to stay, only to find out that Im truly benevolent toward her fuck! Ive thrown up too many death flags! Ahem that is, romance flags.
Argh! I want a harem, but with won I like, not with random won I pick up off the street! Li Xiang, Bai Xue Ill have to be careful about setting off romance flags with too many won! Gui Yutong has already raised a few flags with and even if its all playacting, I cant afford to raise flags with any other cultivator anywhere Gui Delun can see!
He looked at the woman again, then sighed. Throwing his hand out, he summoned one of the reserve lotus beasts in his chest and passed the woman to the short beast. Keep an eye on her. Dont let her escape.
The lotus beast nodded and let out a squeaky string of almost-syllables. Vines grew from its arms and wound around the womans wrists and ankles.
Hui nodded. Let know if she escapes.
Nodding, the lotus beast bowed shortly and ran off toward Huis palace, hefting the woman in its arms.
Yes, yes. Hui turned back to Liu Guang and Gui Yutong. Should we?
Liu Guang chuckled. Before soone else shows up, lets.
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