Chapter Twenty-Two: I Want You to Be My Consort

On the field, Old Master Shangguan and Long Linger were thinking the same thing, both looking at Mo Bufan as if he were a fool.

Their side had the absolute advantage now, and before them stood a Bloodscale Python. The treasures on such a beast were incomparable to those found on lesser monsters outside. Not only would they greatly benefit one’s cultivation, but exchanging them for spirit stones or other treasures would amount to an immense fortune.

Was this Mo Bufan out of his mind?

Or perhaps...

Old Master Shangguan pondered a moment longer and immediately arrived at the same conclusion as Long Ao, his expression becoming rather complex.

Though the Bloodscale Python was a beast and still retained its animalistic instincts, its spiritual intelligence had awakened, so those instincts were now suppressed.

The current situation left both sides hesitant.

The Bloodscale Python facing Old Master Shangguan could do little to harm him. Humans, after all, were known for hiding their trump cards—if the old man produced some terrifying treasure, the python might well lose its life.

As for the one facing Mo Bufan, the python was still shaken by that spiritual sword just now. Recalling the moment, it silently wondered if it could have defended against Mo Bufan’s strike, even at full vigilance.

“Fellow Daoist, are you sure you wish to give up the treasures on these two Bloodscale Pythons?” Old Master Shangguan asked Mo Bufan in confusion.

Mo Bufan turned to him and replied, “What? You’re not willing to give them up yourself?”

Old Master Shangguan’s brows creased, his reluctance plain to see.

Mo Bufan shrugged. “Alright then, do your best. I won’t keep you company.” With that, he turned as if to leave.

A cold light flashed in the Bloodscale Pythons’ eyes—their killing intent was unmistakable.

Old Master Shangguan’s face changed at once. “Fellow Daoist, I was only asking. I will follow your wishes in all things.”

Mo Bufan smiled, then looked at the two Bloodscale Pythons. “What do you two say?”

The uninjured python glanced at its wounded companion, its eyes full of menace, and it let out a long, resounding roar.

Mo Bufan grimaced, clearly annoyed. “Fine, fine, let’s have a fight then!” As he spoke, spiritual energy swirled around his sword talisman, its power instantly gathering.

The two pythons wilted at once, while Old Master Shangguan’s smile grew obvious.

This fellow was almost absurdly willful, yet he had both sides completely at his mercy.

Mo Bufan, seeing this, put away his sword talisman with a dismissive wave and bowed to the pythons. “You two, I apologize for intruding upon your territory and injuring you, but you did devour five of our cultivators in turn. We’re even now. If we leave it at this, you won’t be at a loss.”

He glanced at the pythons. Seeing the hesitation in their eyes, he added, “I give you my word, once we part ways, we will leave your territory and never intrude again. Agreed?”

The two pythons exchanged a look, then nodded at Mo Bufan. They glanced at the three humans, then turned and slithered deeper into the Wind Pavilion.

“Wait,” Mo Bufan called, noticing the bloody state of the python’s back, and felt a pang of guilt.

The pythons, thinking he’d gone back on his word, turned at once, ready to defend themselves.

Mo Bufan smiled, fished a “Golden Wind Jade Dew Pill” from his robe, and tossed it to the python. “This elixir should help your wounds. Consider it compensation for my earlier attack.”

The python was briefly stunned but caught the pill in its jaws. As soon as it swallowed, a warm current surged through its blood, and the wound began to itch with the signs of healing.

A look of astonishment briefly crossed the python’s face. Clearly, the pill was of high grade—not only would it heal its injuries, but it would also be a great boon for its cultivation.

Any resentment it felt toward Mo Bufan vanished at once. Swallowing these people would not bring a tenth the benefit of swallowing that pill.

With this in mind, the python turned and bowed respectfully to Mo Bufan. Its companion followed suit.

Mo Bufan smiled faintly. “No need for thanks.” In his heart, he silently praised Gai Nie’s alchemy skills. Though the man was somewhat unorthodox in his ways, his mastery of pills was unmatched in the Celestial Profound Sect—after all, he was a true immortal.

Seeing this, Old Master Shangguan esteemed Mo Bufan even more.

With the two pythons gone, Mo Bufan turned to the little princess, scooped up the mother Fire Lynx and her cub, and bowed to the three. “Gentlemen, the matter here is settled. I take my leave.”

Old Master Shangguan was once again astonished by Mo Bufan’s actions. Rescue accomplished, he simply left—this man truly had the bearing of a worldly hero who lives to save others.

Lu Feng, for his part, was deeply relieved.

“Wait...” The little princess, alarmed at Mo Bufan’s imminent departure, called out.

Mo Bufan looked at her curiously. “Is there something else?”

Meeting his gaze, the princess recalled the moment he’d saved her. Her heart fluttered, and she blushed, lowering her head in embarrassment.

Mo Bufan frowned, eager to leave. In this dangerous place, he truly did not want to get entangled with anyone else. Even having the Fire Lynx mother and child with him was a hassle—adding a couple of reckless companions would only make things harder.

Most importantly, with his Nine Yang Body, he possessed a fatal allure for women, especially female cultivators. He needed to learn to protect himself.

Old Master Shangguan, seeing the princess’s expression, was inwardly moved. “It can’t be...” he thought.

He hastily said, “Thank you for saving us, fellow Daoist. If you ever have need, simply ask—I will do all I can to aid you.”

“It was nothing,” Mo Bufan replied. “No need to dwell on it.”

He shouldered his pack and prepared to leave.

“Wait!” the princess called again.

“What now?” Mo Bufan asked, exasperated.

“What’s your name?” she blurted, unable to think of anything else, though she already knew it.

“A passing acquaintance need not know my name,” Mo Bufan replied, turning away.

The princess panicked and darted in front of him. “My name is Zhao Yuan’er, princess of the Yue Lai Kingdom,” she declared, a hint of pride coloring her bashful face.

A princess was no small thing, after all.

“This is my master, Shangguan Feng, a cultivator on the verge of becoming an Earth Immortal.”

Her pride grew as she spoke.

An Earth Immortal, even half a step away, was a person of great status in the mortal world. In smaller kingdoms, such a person would be a national advisor; even in Yue Lai, he was second only to the court’s own Earth Immortal.

Mo Bufan recalled what he knew of Yue Lai: a great mortal kingdom with a handful of decent rogue cultivators. The highest among them, if memory served, was a low-rank Earth Immortal.

In short: nothing remarkable.

Even the core disciples of the Celestial Profound Sect could easily wipe out such a nation.

Seeing the princess’s pride, Mo Bufan decided not to show any disdain—he wanted no trouble from this girl.

“So you’re a princess! Forgive my blindness, Your Highness,” he said with a bow.

At once, the princess’s pride was restored. Her fear and embarrassment vanished, replaced by a sunny smile. “Never mind. What is your name?”

“I am Mo Bufan, just a minor cultivator,” he replied. “I have matters to attend to and must take my leave. Should the chance arise, I will pay my respects to Your Highness.”

“You may not leave!” The princess’s bratty side flared up. “I have something important to announce as well.”

Mo Bufan’s patience was wearing thin.

Shangguan Feng saw this and grew anxious. He could tell Mo Bufan was just being polite and wanted to stop the princess, but it was too late.

“Do you know that we ended up surrounded by those two snakes because of you?” the princess declared with an air of self-importance.

Mo Bufan’s voice was calm. “Please, enlighten me, Your Highness.”

“You’re carrying the two Fire Lynxes I wanted, and you took them from me. We came here to get them back, and that’s why we ended up trapped,” she said.

“Oh?” Mo Bufan was startled. Though he’d suspected this might happen, hearing it confirmed left him cold—a sense of having been repaid for his rescue with accusation.

“So you’re planning to take the Fire Lynxes from me? We’ll see if you’re capable,” Mo Bufan replied with a calm smile, spiritual sword talisman at the ready.

“Yuan’er, don’t be foolish!” Shangguan Feng interrupted, hastening to apologize to Mo Bufan.

But Zhao Yuan’er persisted. “No, I’ve changed my mind. I want the little Fire Lynx now.”

Mo Bufan and Shangguan Feng both looked at her in surprise.

“This princess announces that I’ve taken a liking to you. I want you to be my consort,” Zhao Yuan’er declared with naive arrogance.

“Ah!” All three men exclaimed in unison.

“No need to be overly excited. Being this princess’s consort is no simple matter. Prepare yourself well. I’ll report to my royal father and have you brought to the palace, so we can cultivate our feelings...” She spoke with great satisfaction.

In her sheltered, childish heart, love was a game—a matter of possession.

“Enough!” Mo Bufan could listen no longer. This little girl was truly something else. “Sorry, I’m not interested. I have things to do. Farewell!”

He wanted nothing more to do with them. Turning on his heel, he strode off, warning over his shoulder, “Don’t follow me, or... well... I’ll beat you up!”

With that, he took off running.

To himself, he muttered, “Women in this world are truly terrifying—always wanting to take men home...”

The little princess had never expected such a result. What she’d thought a sure thing was spoiled by a few curt words.

She moved to chase after him but was restrained by her master.

“Ah, child,” Shangguan Feng consoled her, “the world of cultivators is not as you imagine. Mortal power counts for little among us, especially to someone so mysterious—he’s likely a key disciple of the Celestial Profound Sect...”

“Master... wah...” The princess, her pride wounded, burst into tears in Shangguan