Zhou Yan watched Shao Yao leave, his anxiety rising: "Sect Leader, a marriage alliance is a good thing. If our Bafang Sword Sect forms a marital union with the Ruthless Gate..."
"I am already married, and I have a child," Xiao Man said nonchalantly.
Zhou Yan was completely stunned, as if he had been bombed by the news Xiao Man had revealed and didn't know how to react. After a long while, he stammered, "A man can have three wives and four concubines... Sect Leader, I was wrong."
Under Xiao Man's dangerous gaze, Zhou Yan decisively admitted his mistake. He understood now. Their Sect Leader, while appearing easy to get along with, was actually very principled. No one could touch her bottom line. No matter how good the Poison Lady was, how beautiful she was, or how tempting the Ruthless Gate's influence was, Xiao Man would not break her principles.
"If the Ruthless Gate were to ally with the Flying Eagle Gang, we would be in a very difficult position."
"She won't," Xiao Man said with a smile. "A woman who uses herself as a bargaining chip for the safety of the girls in her sect would not risk everyone's lives. Moreover, Fu Ning is unreliable. She has no choice but to trust me."
You are truly confident. Aren't you afraid the Poison Lady will turn around and ally with the Flying Eagle Gang to attack the Bafang Sword Sect in anger? The humiliation would be immense then.
"Right, have the herbs I wanted been gathered?" Xiao Man inquired.
"Some herbs are still difficult to find. Although you drew diagrams, our people don't recognize them. Even with Shan Yun here, it's proving difficult... If the Ruthless Gate could help, perhaps we could find them faster."
Xiao Man nodded. "Prepare some quarters. If people from the Ruthless Gate are moving in, they'll need a place to stay."
"Sect Leader, there's no definitive word yet from the Ruthless Gate."
"Do you believe the Poison Lady will personally come looking for me within three days?"
"I believe you..." Believe your ghost!
When Xiang Jian returned, he saw Zhou Yan squatting by the door and asked curiously.
"Zhou Yan, are you waiting for me here?"
Zhou Yan shook his head. He just wanted to prove the Sect Leader was wrong. Although up to this point, everything the Sect Leader had said and done had been correct, he just wanted to show her that not everything could be as she predicted; she could be wrong too!
He wanted to prove that the Poison Lady from the Ruthless Gate would not seek her out within three days! After all, he had dealt with the Poison Lady countless times. Her mouth was more poisonous than her actual toxins. The Sect Leader had unhesitatingly rejected the Poison Lady's marriage proposal, which was a great insult to her. It would be fortunate if the Poison Lady didn't poison her to death, let alone come begging for a reconciliation!
Shan Yun glanced at Zhou Yan and continued inside. "Judging by this, he's definitely been demoralized by the Sect Leader again."
"The Sect Leader usually speaks and acts very gently."
Shan Yun and Qi Hong looked at Xiang Jian in unison. Very gently! Has the head injury you sustained not healed yet? Have you forgotten how she specifically targeted your face when she beat you? Have you forgotten how she killed people in the Kuang Dao Guild as easily as slicing watermelons? You call her gentle? The word "gentle" has absolutely nothing to do with her!
"Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong?" Xiang Jian asked, looking innocent. In his opinion, Xiao Man was indeed very gentle. She had healed him under the guise of sparring, and though she claimed she didn't want to manage this group of people, she trained them daily and taught them combat techniques. Wasn't that gentle enough? He had never met anyone gentler.
"You are right!" Shan Yun said affirmatively, although the Sect Leader's way of being gentle was a bit domineering!
Qi Hong glanced at the two of them, thinking they must have been so abused by Xiao Man that they had become addicted to it, believing Xiao Man was gentle!
Xiao Man was studying Mingyang Valley when she suddenly smelled a fragrance. A glint flashed in her eyes. "The guards of the Bafang Sword Sect truly deserve a whipping. A beauty like this has entered, and no one even bothered to welcome her."
The Poison Lady emerged from her hiding place, looking at Xiao Man with a smile. "Sect Leader Xiao, I apologize for my abrupt intrusion. Sect Leader Xiao will not blame me for my rudeness, will you?"
"Please, have a seat, Fairy," Xiao Man said, inviting the Poison Lady to sit. She personally poured her a cup of tea. "I told you, the Bafang Sword Sect welcomes you anytime, Fairy. You can come through the main gate openly, and no one will stop you."
"Sect Leader Xiao's words are truly endearing," the Poison Lady said. Seeing Xiao Man sit beside her, she leaned towards Xiao Man with a seductive smile, as if she had no bones. Her hand reached out towards Xiao Man's chest, but Xiao Man caught it.
"I thought Fairy had come specifically because she had changed her mind," Xiao Man said, moving aside. The Poison Lady nearly fell onto the soft couch, but she managed to steady herself with her hands at the last moment, avoiding embarrassment.
"I thought Sect Leader Xiao would change her mind upon seeing my sincerity," the Poison Lady said with a seductive smile. Her alluring figure was wrapped in a tight-fitting long skirt, making one's blood boil.
Xiao Man poured another cup of tea and slowly took a sip, watching as the Poison Lady opened her collar a little wider. "Sect Leader Xiao, aren't you feeling very hot?"
"No," Xiao Man replied, sitting in her chair and watching the Poison Lady's alluring demeanor with a steady tone.
What a blockhead! The Poison Lady was internally annoyed, but her smile became even more perfect. Just as she was about to continue seducing Xiao Man, especially since she had already used the Huanhe incense and didn't want to waste it, she found her entire body going soft. She collapsed onto the soft couch, unable to get up.
"What's happening?"
"When Fairy entered my room, I smelled the scent of Huanhe incense, so I made some tea. The aroma of my tea can neutralize Huanhe incense. Also, didn't Fairy notice the pot of Illusory Night Blue planted in my room?" Xiao Man's expression remained calm. She had been a master of using poisons since she was a child.
The Poison Lady's expression contorted for a moment. She had intended to use the Huanhe incense to facilitate a good outcome and force Xiao Man to marry her. Instead, she had been outmaneuvered by Xiao Man. Illusory Night Blue and Huanhe incense were natural enemies; when mixed, they would make a person feel weak and limp.
"Why are you alright?" the Poison Lady asked, confused. She had been poisoned, but Xiao Man was unharmed.
"You didn't drink the tea I made," Xiao Man said softly. "This tea is the key to detoxification, but you were afraid I would poison you and didn't drink a single drop."
The Poison Lady was so enraged she felt like beating Xiao Man to death. "What is wrong with me? Why can't you accept me?"
"You are very good, but I already have someone I love," Xiao Man replied unhurriedly, her tone exceptionally indifferent, like a bland vegetable broth that lacked any distinguishing flavor.
"I can share my husband with others."
"I am unwilling to wrong the one I love," Xiao Man's tone remained steady, without the slightest change. A hint of surprise flashed in the Poison Lady's eyes. If it were another man, upon hearing she was willing to share him with her loved one, he would likely be ecstatic even in his sleep. But the person before her was completely unmoved.