Chapter 58: Love at First Sight

After hiding in the cave for two days and one night, the bugged duration of the Morphing Technique finally ended. Zhou Qi decided that this time, he would transform into a female cultivator—one of striking beauty, the sort who immediately elicits pity and affection. The disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect and Long Chengye were only searching for male cultivators; surely, no one would expect him to become a woman. He congratulated himself on his cleverness, displayed his cultivation at the second level of Foundation Establishment, and headed toward the town.

The Violet Cloud Sect was one of the subordinate sects of the Heavenly Dao Sect, standing alongside the Sword Immortal Sect, the former Life and Death Sect, and the former Celestial Companion Sect. Now, seeing the Life and Death Sect and the Celestial Companion Sect merged into the Heaven Sect, the Violet Cloud Sect grew uneasy, fearing they would be next. The sect master, Zi Qing, was so troubled his hair had turned white in patches; a merger would scarcely affect the disciples, but for him, it meant losing his position, going from leader to second-in-command—something no one could accept.

The Heavenly Dao Sect issued a warrant for Zhou Qi. If Zi Qing could capture Zhou Qi and hand him over, perhaps he could retain his position even after the sects merged. He took it very seriously and ordered the Violet Cloud Sect and its subordinates: any male cultivator of dubious origin must be apprehended first and questioned later. No suspicious individuals were to be overlooked; all external transportation channels were to be closed, and no cultivator could use the teleportation arrays without a writ from the sect master.

The Violet Cloud Pavilion was an enterprise under the Violet Cloud Sect. Zhou Qi learned there was a teleportation array here that could send one to the territories of the Immortal Mist Sect, the Daoist Order, or the Huangfu Clan. As he traveled, he saw his likeness plastered across every street and alley—every possible disguise he had used appeared among them, even that of the elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator he had once impersonated. Fortunately, now that he had taken the form of a female cultivator, though some people kept staring at his backside, no one thought to connect him with Zhou Qi.

The Violet Cloud Pavilion was grand and imposing, lavishly adorned with gold and jade. From within came bursts of raucous laughter and the soft sighs of women: evidently, the establishment offered other services as well. Zhou Qi stepped forward. The gatekeeper, seeing a beautiful Foundation Establishment cultivator, did not stop him, only offering a knowing smile—the pleasures available to male cultivators were just as available for female ones.

Zhou Qi could scarcely reconcile a place like this with the existence of a teleportation array. The designer of the Violet Cloud Pavilion was a true genius: while guests sought pleasure above, those fearing discovery by their Dao companions could slip away through the teleportation array below, thus avoiding an embarrassing confrontation and preserving marital harmony.

As Zhou Qi ascended the stairs, a cluster of foppish, gorgeously adorned young men surrounded him at once.

“Sister, you’re finally here! We’ve missed you dreadfully,” the head attendant greeted him with eager warmth.

Zhou Qi felt several large hands squeeze his hips. He quickly stepped back, lowering his voice. “I’m not here for men.”

“Understood! Sister prefers girls. All our girls are as lovely as flowers and highly skilled—they’ll make sure you’re thoroughly satisfied,” the head attendant replied, clearly getting the wrong idea. A female cultivator who disliked men must like women instead; such guests were hardly uncommon.

“I’m not here for pleasure. I want to use your teleportation array. Price is no object,” Zhou Qi said plainly.

At once, the noisy hall fell silent. Everyone stared at him in curiosity.

A young nobleman in luxurious attire suddenly appeared before Zhou Qi, startling him. A Golden Core cultivator? Had his identity been exposed?

“Fellow Daoist, where have you come from, and where are you headed?” asked the young man, who looked as though he’d just left a lover’s embrace—his face still bore several lipstick marks.

“I am an outer disciple of the Immortal Mist Sect, returning after my training. Naturally, I wish to go back to the sect,” Zhou Qi replied.

“You may not be aware, but all of the Violet Cloud Sect’s teleportation arrays have been closed to outsiders, except with the sect master’s writ,” the young man explained.

“Why is that?” Zhou Qi was alarmed. If he couldn’t use the array, how could he escape the Heavenly Dao Sect’s pursuit?

“It’s because of the Heavenly Dao Sect’s great enemy, Zhou Qi. He stole something from them, and the sect has ordered all subordinates to aid in his capture. The Violet Cloud Sect is no exception.” Seeing that Zhou Qi was a beautiful female cultivator, the young man explained patiently.

Stole something from the Heavenly Dao Sect? What a convenient excuse, Zhou Qi thought, sneering inwardly.

“Oh, what am I to do? Now I can’t complete my sect’s mission—my years of training will come to nothing. Fellow Daoist, please, just let me through. Do I look like some great enemy of the Heavenly Dao Sect? I’m willing to pay in spirit stones or pills—whatever it takes. I’ve been away from the sect for ten years just to accomplish this mission.” Zhou Qi bit his lip and imitated the coquettish pleading of girls from dramas in his past life.

The tactic worked—the young man’s eyes lit up with interest. Zhou Qi twisted his waist alluringly, gazing at him with hope.

“Well... it’s not impossible,” the young nobleman gulped.

“I’ll agree to any price,” Zhou Qi hurried to say. He lacked neither pills nor spirit stones—a high price didn’t matter.

“If you’re willing to spend a night with me, I’ll let you use the teleportation array. I am Ziyu, heir to the Violet Cloud Sect—I give you my word,” a voice transmitted directly into Zhou Qi’s ear.

Sell his body? Out of the question! What a joke. Zhou Qi shook his head firmly, refusing at once—he’d rather die.

Seeing Zhou Qi’s refusal, Ziyu said no more, though his eyes shone with regret.

Zhou Qi had no choice but to leave and think of another way. The other teleportation arrays would surely be the same. Next time he transformed, he would make himself plain—he’d thought being beautiful made things easier, but now he realized it merely attracted unwanted attention.

Leaving the Violet Cloud Pavilion, Zhou Qi ran swiftly. It seemed he had no choice but to risk breaking through to the next stage of Foundation Establishment. If he succeeded and moved before the Heavenly Dao Sect discovered it, he might still have a slim chance.

“That man is following us,” Lord Tianxuan warned.

Zhou Qi was startled—he hadn’t expected the man to be so persistent. He immediately used his Divine Movement Steps to flee into the wilderness.

Seeing Zhou Qi vanish in an instant, Ziyu realized: either this person was a Nascent Soul cultivator, or he possessed an extraordinary treasure. The latter seemed more likely—would a Nascent Soul cultivator really try to charm him? Fortunately, he had prepared a backup plan; otherwise, Zhou Qi would have slipped away.

Ziyu took out a cicada-shaped artifact. Upon being released, it immediately followed Zhou Qi’s trail.

“He’s caught up again,” Lord Tianxuan warned.

“Why can’t I shake him?” Zhou Qi wondered in frustration.

“He must have a powerful tracking artifact. Unless you give him what he wants, you’ll never get rid of him,” Lord Tianxuan teased. “Of all things to disguise yourself as, why a woman? Now you’re paying the price.”

Zhou Qi had no choice but to stop, considering whether he might be able to deal with Ziyu.

Ziyu, seeing Zhou Qi come to a halt, was delighted. He transformed into a streak of light and landed before Zhou Qi.

“Ziyu, why are you following me?” Zhou Qi asked.

“The moment I saw you, I was smitten. When you left just now, I realized I’d forgotten to ask your name and feared I might never see you again. So I followed—please forgive me.” Ziyu brushed back his hair and struck a charming pose.

“I’m not interested in men. Sorry,” Zhou Qi replied, feeling a wave of disgust.