"Xiao…Hu? No, the aura shows some similarities, but the root is too different. Who…what are you?" Nameless Sword in hand, Chun Xu stood next to Dong Ling, facing Xiao Hu with a deep frown.
In the cultivation world, changing one's appearance wasn't that difficult, but each person possessed one aura, an aura that those familiar with the individual could often sense. Modifying one's aura was a much more challenging task than altering facial features. However, thanks to the Wailing Life Transformation, new sword will and Heart Demon bloodline, Xiao Hu's aura and appearance had both changed so much that, Dong Ling and Chun Xu didn't dare to recognize her.
"You already know. I am a demon. More specifically, a Heart Demon on her way to becoming a Pipa Heart Demon. My big sister calls me Ximei. But for you, it will be Hu Ximei," Xiao Hu said. Her pipa lay in her right hand, the left brushed the strings, ready to start another melody. Dong Ling, Chun Xu, Yan Le and the twins, all stood on maximum alert. Their hands clenching on their weapons as well.
'Xiao Hu? Is that her real name? Clearly, just like the gorilla beforehand, these girls have recognized Ximei's true identity. But the demonic changes and their own mental barriers make them reject the truth. Talking about truth, Daji, why are you such a genius? From Xiao Hu to Hu Ximei, you've managed to keep your sister close to her roots—impressive.' As if unfazed by the budding tension, Daji praised herself.
Zhiji Jing ignored Xiao Hu, focusing on the cloaked Daji, who in her eyes, was the only significant threat on the scene.
"I have already taken control of the Sword Tomb. With its formations to rely on, I can kill you in a heartbeat."
"True. While you cannot unleash powers remotely close to the Nameless Sword Emperor, you still have enough control over the tomb to butcher anyone below Divine Transformation. As your own cultivation grows, so will your control over this place.
But just like you can rely on the Sword Tomb, I can rely on my big sister. And with your current tier of Sword Tomb control, she can kill you in a heartbeat." Xiao Hu shut down Chun Xu's threat, reestablishing the uneven power balance. Indeed, this was the reason why Zhiji Jing didn't bother to face Xiao Hu. Peacock and Gals had plenty of methods to deal with her—if they only had to deal with her. Daji, on the other hand, was on a whole other level. Zhiji couldn't see her cultivation base, and beyond that, as a nine-tailed White Fox, there was no way that she didn't come with an army of mesmerized beasts.
She only needed to release her Monster Core, and that army of unknown beast ranks would not only drop upon the scene but unite in an irresistible formation.
Hegemonic experts relied on their own strength to run amok. But great emperors summoned troops and conquered all enemies with an irresistible momentum. Could Chun Xu's Sword Tomb contend with Daji's legions? Zhiji Jing didn't think so, and as her eyes shifted between Xiao Hu and the shrouded Daji, Chun Xu too couldn't guarantee that a fight wouldn't result in their side's complete and disastrous defeat.
"Don't worry. My big sister isn't fond of oppressing women. The more outstanding she finds them, the more likely she is to spare them—or sometimes even draw them to her banner so they can join her grand endeavor: forcing the Eastern Continent to give mysterious beasts back their rights. You girls have a Holy Beast Descendant in your ranks, and so should understand the importance of my sister's goal." Here, Xiao Hu paused, eyes glancing towards Dong Ling.
"In a land where your existence is a crime. Where anyone can legally put a collar on your neck, or execute you on the spot, how can you ever feel safe, complete…or human? You're not a person until you've seized your rights. My sister will lead your kind, and all branches of beastkind, to regain their freedom in the East." Here, Xiao Hu paused, shifting back to Chun Xu.
"We are not enemies. And if we sisters didn't intervene to save you from the gorilla, you would have never managed to take control of the Sword Tomb. I've given you my name as a show of goodwill. Why not return the favor?"
"My apologies for my lack of courtesy. I am Chun Xu. Again, what do you want?" The Sword Fairy didn't beat around the bush. As any schemer worth the title, how could she not notice the deceitful tactic that Xiao Hu just used to get on their good side? Revealing part of their stories, pretending to share their goal and aspirations, calling on Dong Ling's circumstances to establish a connection and make the girls warm up to their following words. This was all nice and good, but at the end of the day, if the girls refused to cooperate with the pair, who was to say that Daji and Xiao Hu wouldn't change their tune, killing them all the same.
The original Xiao Hu didn't have a lick of scheming ability in her. Whoever stood before them…couldn't be their sworn sister. And with the Sword Tomb at stake, Chun Xu stayed on her guard.
"Simple, the money."
"Huh?" Xiao Hu's words overturned Chun Xu's thoughts, making her blink in confusion.
"You heard me right. I only want the money. My sister and I helped you seize the tomb and Nameless Sword. You can keep the sword, keep the Peerless Sword Embryo concealed within, keep the formations and sword crystals. All the layout that enables the tomb to exhibit its destructive abilities, and help you cultivate your sword arts are yours. But, in exchange, I want the spirit stones and treasures—all the money." Xiao Hu reiterated her needs, but the words only added to Chun Xu's confusion.
The Peerless Sword Embryo alone should be enough temptation for a swordswoman like Xiao Hu to demand that Chun Xu hand over the Sword Tomb. In the cultivation world, matters of the sort happened all the time. But she let go of the Sword Tomb and the opportunities it'd present any sword cultivator to aim for…money?
To say nothing of Chun Xu. From peacock to gals, none could make sense of Xiao Hu's offer. Only Daji understood. From the moment that they'd met, Xiao Hu had one obsession: her body. Her voice, face, eyes, eyelids, lips, nose, neck, chest, arms, nails, fingers, legs—every single aspect of her body had to reach perfection.
But what was that perfection? At first, Xiao Hu took Daji as the model of perfected beauty. But it wasn't long before she realized that…even if she could one day get Daji's looks, she'd still want more.
Still, she couldn't stop. For reasons she couldn't comprehend, she had to chase the peak of aesthetic perfection, and didn't care if this made her look like a superficial harlot in the eyes of the masses.
For that perfection, Xiao Hu needed money. Enough money to accumulate the most potent alchemical cosmetics of the Great Desolation World—and even beyond.
