The entire Fei Tribe is lit with liveliness. The usage of merit board and removal of the restriction on elders' cultivation was quite radical but in the eyes of Ma Tribe, this move was far wiser than they could have estimated. Now, even with a solid reason, Ma Tribe will not attempt to attack the Fei Tribe carelessly. The gu masters of the tribe had high morale currently. This will make the loyalty of the gu masters soar towards the tribe if an outsider tries to annex their lands and Ma Tribe would face a battle of the scale not permitted before the beginning of Heroes Assembly.
The entrance of the Fei Tribe now always has traffic. Many gu masters venture to hunt in hopes of gaining merit points while even greater would return to actually earn their merit. In such a case, a loud, unrestrained voice echoed through the entrance of the valley.
"Fei Cai, marry me!"
Fei Cai had just walked out but his expression changed slightly. A few groups of gu masters had gathered in the distance while near the entrance, a young woman with a heroic expression kept her leg over Lo's head. The young boy had been brutally beaten and bruised. His face was swollen and his body was filled with cuts, dyeing his tunic and weapons.
Not minding the clamoring of gu masters due to the sudden proposal as Lo's appearance barely affected others, Fei Cai walked forward and gazed at the woman carefully. Unlike the 'boorish' Fei, the woman wore a pink robe with an aesthetically pleasing flower design of green and red colors. The hems of the robe were laced with gold. The woman wore her hair in long braids tied into a neat bun, revealing the entirety of her pretty oval face and deep brown eyes. The impressive feature to Fei Cai, however, was the woman's Advance-Stage Rank 2 cultivation!
"A Bai Tribeswoman?" Fei Cai nodded with a low inquiry. Lo's injuries would only cause one or two merit points to heal. For such an amount, he wasn't going to fight a rank 2 gu master. Not to mention, a gu master from an allied tribe.
"Sharp eyes, my hero. I'm Bai Ding Ming, granddaughter of Chieftain Bai Mo Shang! No matter your age, you've caught the attention of many women. Stupid ones, I must admit but how can I not want you? Accept my proposal, young leader!" She exclaimed but Fei Cai needed to digest a few points.
Till now, Fei Cai had managed to benefit greatly due to his young age. This barrier kept him away from the whirlpool of Fei Tribe's politics but it seems like his methods had finally gained the interest of the major league who wished to make moves early on. After all, it has been six days since the news of Fei Cai reaching A-Grade Aptitude had spread out and confirmed but this so-called proposal came many days later. Why?
Fei Cai's thoughts turned as quick as lightning.
Because of the Bai Tribe's leader's position. But there was a consideration Fei Cai had to take.
'If the granddaughter of a tribe chieftain can openly propose to the son of another Chieftain... that does not mean that she is foolhardy. She's older than me and probably already a part of Bai Tribe's upper brass. This probably means that Fei Qing and Bai Mo Shang have come to an agreement already or they are in the process of coming to an agreement. If it's the latter, then this girl is smart. Should I accept the proposal, even if Fei Qing rejects, the news of this girl's engagement with me will still travel.'
If Bai Ding Ming was aware of the 'young hero's' thoughts, her mouth would be gaping with shock but she clearly wasn't as her pupils remained fixated on the slightly dazed youth.
'Hehe, he's young, after all. The report states that Fei Yang is far more beautiful than me and has a close relationship with Fei Cai but I'm younger. He's bound to be moved. With this, half of the plan is as good as completed,' Bai Ding Ming thought gleefully. This was what her grandfather instructed and seeing Fei Cai's expression, she knew that her grandfather was right.
"So, it is Elder Sister Bai Ding Ming," Fei Cai 'regained his bearings' and nodded with a slightly 'flustered' expression. His gaze then landed over to Lo when Ding Ming finally stopped stomping on Lo and crossed her arms. Even though she agreed to her grandfather's methods, that didn't mean she wished to 'submit' to such a greenhorn. Merely Fei Cai's future was bright. He himself did not have the ability to gain her respect and admiration presently.
Right now, Ding Ming wished to pressure Fei Cai into accepting the proposal. Beating Lo was to scare Fei Cai and as she stepped forward, a growl leaked from her lips, "Fei Cai!" she shouted with annoyance, "What's your answer? Men don't keep women waiting! I'm giving myself to you, don't you dare accept me?"
Northern plains tribeswomen have always been open with their feelings and body. Aggressive seduction was their passive ability and actually finding a pure-hearted maiden was an ordeal in its own right. The side of Fei Cai's eyes twitched slightly as he gave a shy and coy smile, unable to match the intensity of the young lass' gaze.
"Ah," he huffed softly, "I-"
Many were shocked. Is this the demon who swore to beat Fei Mang bloody at the expense of his own body? Is this the same maniac who refined gu worms without barely any rest?
What's with the shy smile? Why are you so embarrassed?!
"I just think that Elder Sister Bai is too old for me. But, the matters of marriage, I'm too young to understand. Forgive this junior brother," Fei Cai bowed as the smug expression on Ding Ming's face froze.
"Too old?" She repeated with a slightly dazed expression.
Nodding extremely seriously, Fei Cai replied with heartfelt emotions.
"Yes, Elder Sister. How can I muddle myself right now? When my cousin took a female slave to let his passion flow, I took in Lo because he had skills in hunting. When the other feasts, I stayed late at night to practice refinement techniques. When others started to force themselves on me, I had to shove them and beat them away!" his exclamation caused many rank 1 gu master's cheeks to twitch. Fei Cai did not simply beat them. He brutalized them!
"My father taught me to cultivate! Cultivate! And Cultivate! Elder Sister has grown older but my Elder Cousin Fei Nai is younger and managed to reach rank 3 and became an Elder! Let's forget these matters, Elder Sister. We both just need to cultivate with our hearts on the line!"
Seeing the young boy no older than eleven shouting with a flushed face and coaxing a woman in her twenties, others felt bleak and ominous. Fei Cai's methods... his words, all of it made others feel a chill. If he is like this right now, how much worse will he get later? Northern plains warrior admired strength but when anything is taken to the extreme, it causes a sense of fear to develop in others.
Bai Ding Ming was extremely beautiful. Many Bai gu masters, and now, Fei gu masters pursued her fought each other openly.
To such a woman, Fei Cai proposed to let go of the matter of heart and pursue cultivation! Among the group who wished to challenge Fei Cai for the bride snatching felt a deep sense of admiration towards him and chided themselves for being so caught up by beauty that they even let their cultivation stagnate.
"Hahaha!" A burst of loud laughter broke the silence as Fei Nai walked through the crowd. Although his relationship with Fei Cai had soured and just a few minutes ago, he hadn't even returned Fei Cai's greetings but after hearing Fei Cai's words that seemed to resonate with Fei Nai after his reformation, the young elder couldn't help but feel a little positive towards Fei Cai.
As Fei Cai had predicted, Bai Ding Ming's move wasn't purely romantic but deeply political. The Bai Tribe wished to devour Fei Cai while expending the least from their side and hearing the news, Bai Mo Shang couldn't help but shake his head at his granddaughter's 'gruff' nature while sighing secretly.
Seeing the young elder step forward, Bai Ding Ming realized that the most common tactic of political marriage might end in failure so instead of panicking, she smiled and leaned down slightly to heal Lo while 'unintentionally' showing the slightly hidden assets. "We shall cultivate, Fei Cai. Why don't you enter my tent? I'll teach you many things?" Bai Ding Ming inquired without a hint of modesty when Fei Nai, who didn't want a bad record to his position as an elder and ordered to stop the interaction of the two by the leader himself, spoke up.
"Junior from Bai Tribe, why reduce yourself to the parlor tricks of mortal and slaves? Beauty is a commonwealth! How can the Chieftain's son be that interested in the taste of flesh when he can have his pick of women from the tribal grounds itself?" Despite growing modest, Fei Nai was a shrewd fellow. He knew that the crux of the issue wasn't Bai Ding Ming trying to seduce Fei Cai but Fei Cai getting seduced by Ding Ming.
If Fei Cai understands that he can have his way with many women in the tribe itself, why would he look outside? To the young minds, such immediate benefits should entice them the most. But unknown to both, Fei Nai and Ding Ming, and from their connection— Bai Mo Shang and Fei Qing— the aspect Fei Cai held extreme aversion towards after arriving in this world was sexual relationship.
Fei Cai had been a married man once. He had relationships prior to the marriage, too. That is the reason why, after arriving in this world, he could objectify the time needed to satisfy sexual needs and convert it into more meaningful cultivation. In this second life, why would Fei Cai enter the whirlpool of fleshy desires? Should he enter such relationship, then he would do it for the benefit of his cultivation. Everything he would do— he swore— would be to get stronger. This world had no use for the weak, after all.
In this aspect, ironically, Fei Yang seems to understand Fei Cai the most. The young man couldn't be seduced naturally, at least, not without relevant gu worms, the enslaved Peak Stage Rank 3 Gu master had already realized this.
While Bai Ding Ming glared towards Fei Nai due to the impudence of his words, Fei Cai heaved a sigh of relief. He wouldn't have to spend merit points on healing Lo. This had saved his time, too.
"Elder Fei Nai," Bai Ding Ming spoke sharply, "How dare you compare my beauty to those of commoners and slaves?" Her aura was unleashed and knowing that Fei Nai couldn't carelessly attack the granddaughter of the Bai Tribe, Ding Ming wished to use this chance to also undermine Fei Nai's influence.
"Beauty is the same on the slave as it is on the mortal. Fair skin, plump breasts, and perky bottoms. What's so different on you, Junior Bai?" Fei Nai scoffed with a mocking gaze and looked towards Fei Cai, "Younger Cousin," he said with his tone turning a little bit gloomy due to their current differences, "Lord Chieftain has summoned you."
Fei Cai nodded as he looked towards Lo and glared at the recently healed boy, "Dumb slave, walk with me!"
Meanwhile, Bai Ding Ming's heart jumped when the Beast King amongst the group of eleven beasts began following Fei Cai. This move completely broke her intention of using forceful methods of making Fei Cai submit while she couldn't even take out her frustration on the dumb slave boy who worked under Fei Cai.
Seeing Fei Cai's action, Fei Nai gave a satisfied nod and returned to his post of taking care of the security of the merit board. Meanwhile, Fei Cai made his way to the command tent of the tribe where Bai Ding Ming was also called by Bai Mo Shang.
