Chapter 6: My pregnancy is going well

The commission to capture the female cultivator came with a sky-high reward.

If they could catch her, they’d have enough cultivation resources for a decade.

Though they were close to the immortal sects’ territory, the demonic rogue cultivators, driven by greed, cared little for the risks.

With their target in sight and the hefty reward beckoning, a meddling immortal sect pretty boy suddenly appeared, blocking their path. The rogue cultivators’ killing intent surged, their gazes hostile.

Meanwhile, Li Xingruo steadied herself, quietly sizing up the mysterious newcomer.

He wore a white Taoist robe with black trim, tall in stature, his long hair tied high with a green-and-white band.

His attire was unremarkable, no different from an ordinary immortal sect Taoist.

But when Li Xingruo’s gaze reached his face, she froze for a moment.

Eyebrows sharp as sword edges, eyes clear as autumn water, his calm demeanor seemed untouched by worldly affairs.

Staring at the man who looked like he stepped out of a painting, Li Xingruo’s heart stirred.

Who is this guy? He’s even more handsome than me!

“You! Who are you?”

Before Li Xingruo could glean more details, a few impatient rogue cultivators shouted threats:

“Get lost if you don’t want to die. Our blades don’t have eyes.”

But some cautious rogues, wary of his eerie appearance, slipped to the back of the crowd, ready to flee.

“You don’t seem like a demonic cultivator, miss. Why are you in the demonic domain?” Ignoring the clamoring rogues, the man gave Li Xingruo a gentle smile.

“I… I was captured by demonic cultivators! My name is Li Xianer, from the Qinghe Li family.”

Li Xingruo’s mind raced, and she quickly responded.

To boost his willingness to help, she even used the fake identity the Demon Lord had arranged.

Her eyes were sharper than the rogues’. She could tell this man’s cultivation far surpassed theirs. If he agreed to help, even twice as many rogues couldn’t stop him.

Pointing at the surrounding demonic rogues, Li Xingruo lowered her head, biting her lip to feign fear:

“I escaped from their demonic lair when the guards weren’t looking. These are the vile fiends sent to recapture me. My family has ties to the Huangji Sect. If you save me, sir, I’ll repay you generously!”

Hmph, dropping the Li family and Huangji Sect’s connection will surely make him act.

No immortal sect cultivator would pass up a chance to gain favor with the Huangji Sect!

“You’re Li Xianer from the Qinghe Li family?”

As Li Xingruo expected, his calm face showed a hint of surprise at the mention of the Qinghe Li family.

Noticing his reaction, she smirked inwardly. The Huangji Sect’s reputation as a top immortal sect was indeed useful.

Raising her voice slightly, she emphasized:

“I don’t change my name or title—I am indeed Li Xianer. Have you heard of me, fellow Daoist?”

“Mm.”

He nodded, his expression complex. “I…”

He opened his mouth to say more, but the rogue cultivators’ shouts cut him off.

“Courting death!”

“Arrogant!”

Enraged by the duo’s dismissive attitude, the closer rogues’ faces darkened. They gripped their weapons and unleashed fierce attacks.

“Watch out, fellow Daoist!”

Sensing the incoming strikes, Li Xingruo darted behind him.

With her strength, blocking the attacks wouldn’t be hard, but she wanted to test this man’s power through the reckless rogues.

Unfortunately, her plan failed.

He didn’t act himself but raised his sleeve, releasing a puppet beast crafted with mechanisms and talismans.

The crocodile-shaped puppet opened its maw, swallowing all the attacks, then spat them back out.

The rogues’ strikes were converted into pure energy blasts, returned in full.

“Huang… Huangji Sect! It’s the Thousand Mechanism Art!”

Someone in the crowd recognized the crocodile puppet’s origin and shouted.

Huangji Sect?

Hearing the puppet’s source, Li Xingruo was slightly stunned.

No wonder his movement was so impressive, sneaking up on me before I noticed, she thought.

But her heart sank immediately.

He’s from the Huangji Sect?!

Isn’t the Huangji Sect thousands of miles away? What’s he doing here?

I just said I’m Li Xianer from the Qinghe Li family… he won’t see through me, will he?

Damn it, why am I so unlucky? I shouldn’t have used that cursed name!

At this thought, Li Xingruo’s gaze toward him carried a mix of wariness and regret.

“Ah!”

A scream interrupted her thoughts.

She glanced over. The reckless rogues who attacked were struck by the puppet’s energy blast, spitting blood as they were flung back.

“It’s a Core Formation puppet! Run!”

Already intimidated by the Huangji Sect’s reputation, the remaining rogues saw the puppet’s fierce counterattack, shouted, and fled on flying swords and boats.

In seconds, aside from the injured reckless few, the rogues scattered completely.

A single puppet had terrified the demonic cultivators. Li Xingruo wasn’t surprised.

The immortal sects and demonic path had clashed often over the years, and the Huangji Sect’s fearsome reputation was deeply ingrained in demonic hearts.

She’d need to be cautious with this guy.

Silently praying, Li Xingruo stepped forward, starting with flattery:

“Impressive! I’ve long heard the Huangji Sect’s Thousand Mechanism Peak’s puppet art is unmatched. Seeing it today, it lives up to its name.”

Flattery never fails. Lay it on thick to butter him up.

Even if he saw through her lie, he’d be too embarrassed to make trouble.

“Your chivalrous heart is admirable, fellow Daoist. I’ll repay this lifesaving favor in the future!”

“You’re too kind, miss.”

He showed no pride at her compliments, disappointing Li Xingruo slightly.

If it were her Radiant Sect peers, a beauty’s flattery would have them grinning ear to ear.

As expected of a Huangji Sect member—his composure is solid.

“By the way, may I know your name, sir?”

Flattery didn’t work, so Li Xingruo switched tactics, directly asking his name.

He gave a warm smile:

“I’m Shi Xiangwen, a disciple of the Huangji Sect’s Thousand Mechanism Peak.”

“Sir Shi.”

Mimicking the women’s etiquette she’d learned, Li Xingruo gave a slight curtsy.

She knew Thousand Mechanism Peak was far from Chui Xing Peak, so a disciple from there likely wouldn’t know the fiancée of Chui Xing Peak’s master.

This eased her tension considerably, and she sighed inwardly:

That scared me. Good thing he’s not from Chui Xing Peak.

Now, if I probe carefully, I’ll soon find out if he was sent by that Chui Xing Peak master, Si Ruochen!

He seems naive and guileless—hehe, my luck’s not bad!