"So what?"
Hu Jia always felt there was something strange about Xiao Mei's words, as if she were driving at something.
"So if you want some form of a reward, you'll have to make an effort. And then, you must apply the right remedy for the situation."
"If you want me to teach you, it's not impossible, but from now on, you'll have to call me 'sister'." Xiao Mei said with a beaming smile.
Hu Jia used to be quite impressive when she was in the Outer Court, and even she was quite envious. But now, she wasn't afraid of Hu Jia anymore. Now that Hu Jia needed her, she naturally wanted to seize the opportunity to elevate her own family status.
Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei, as well as those people... she had always been the youngest.
Hu Jia was older than her, and she certainly didn't want to have yet another sister.
"Xiao Mei, you!" Hu Jia's big eyes widened, and she bared her small tiger teeth.
It was like a tiger being bullied by a dog on plain ground!
Now even the always amicable Xiao Mei dared to ride roughshod over her.
But Xiao Mei was a Fighting Spirit Stronghold; she was strong, so what she said went...
Xun Er, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Yu making breakthroughs today had completely shattered her inner composure.
Now all she wanted was to quickly become stronger.
What did her pride matter? That was all insignificant.
"Alright then. So, Sister Xiao Mei, what's your brilliant idea? I'll do as you say." Hu Jia didn't beat around the bush and directly approached, looping her arm through Xiao Mei's.
"It's naturally about beauty of course."
"Brother Xu Ran said, 'Seeing a pretty girl can make one's mood joyful. He has to see a pretty girl every day...' With such a nice figure, and such a round butt..." Xiao Mei assessed Hu Jia's body while commenting like a lascivious woman who had seen countless others.
However, Xiao Mei had figured all this out on her own.
She thoroughly researched whatever Xu Ran liked.
And since most of Xu Ran's preferences were common, they were easy to study.
"Just listen to me, and maybe you'll break through to Dou Spirit soon too." Xiao Mei imitated Xu Ran's demeanor, pinched Hu Jia hard, and her big eyes almost crinkled shut with laughter.
She felt that when Xu Ran found out she had been helping him in secret, he would definitely reward her.
Then, she'd get even more of Xu Ran's affection.
It was like preparing a dish, making Hu Jia obedient and appetizing, then presenting her on the dining table, complete with flavor...
Xiao Mei was burning with a sense of mission.
"Mei'er, why do you have that strange look in your eyes?"
Hu Jia took two steps back on impulse, unsettled by Xiao Mei's gaze.
"What 'Mei'er'? From now on, you should call me 'sister'."
"And this little whip of yours, lend it to me, and I'll definitely help you. As long as you do as I tell you, you'll surely win over Brother Xu Ran's favor. Perhaps then, your strength will become even greater than ours." Xiao Mei licked her own red lips and with a swift motion that didn't even allow for reactions, she whisked the long whip from Hu Jia's waist.
The long whip lashed a few beautiful patterns in the air, its whooshing noise truly chilling to the bone.
"That Sister Xiao Mei, I regret it now, I don't want..."
"Once a choice is made, you can't regret it, oh. Otherwise, the consequences can be very serious." Xiao Mei looked at Hu Jia with a smile that barely concealed her threat. The original little demoness now resembled a meek little lamb.
...
After their breakthrough, Xiao Yu and Xun Er lost interest in continuing their cultivation and pulled Xu Ran along to join them for a shopping spree.
Xu Ran was only too happy to oblige.
The two beauties, one on each side, held Xu Ran's hands as they sat strikingly pretty on the main street.
"Damn that Xu Ran, so arrogant," Xiao Yan watched this scene, his gaze icy cold. His Xun Er and cousin had both fallen for Xu Ran, and he couldn't accept this outcome.
Xu Ran and the Xiao Family were sworn enemies, yet the Xiao Family's beauties had fallen for him.
It was a joke.
This was a disgrace for the Xiao Family!
"Brother Lu, you see, Xu Ran is really no good. He is definitely not sincere to my cousin; when he was in the Jia Ma Empire, he was quite a ladies' man, almost enough to form a platoon with the women around him. A man like that can't bring my cousin happiness. I can tell that you are truly sincere toward Cousin Xiao Yu, only you can be her support," Xiao Yan's mouth curled up.
He wasn't a fool; upon entering Canaan Academy, he had started to gather allies to confront Xu Ran.
And those weren't hard to find; all he needed to know was who admired Xun Er and Xiao Yu. Then he spread rumors to discredit Xu Ran completely, making it seem as if Xun Er being with Xu Ran was a great injustice.
In just a few short days, Xiao Yan had managed to gather a following in the Outer Court with his efforts.
But the Outer Court wasn't what mattered to him; he cared about the Inner Court and the geniuses who could enter it.
Lu Mu, a genius alchemist, was one of his targets.
The Alchemy Department was the core of Canaan Academy, and with Lu Mu and his teacher's help, he could quickly rise in rank within the department.
A powerful alchemist in Canaan Academy also wielded no small amount of influence.
"Brother Xiao, how do I know if what you're saying is true or false? I do like Xiao Yu, that's true, but she doesn't like me. And why should I make an enemy of someone for your sake? Bai Shan died at his hands, leaving nothing behind; am I supposed to seek death?" Lu Mu looked at Xiao Yu's retreating figure and hesitated.
Ever since he saw Xiao Yu, he had fallen hopelessly in love with her.
Compared to Xun Er and the others, he preferred Xiao Yu; those proud, long legs of hers haunted his dreams. He was an outright leg man, and Xiao Yu's legs were the most beautiful he had ever seen. Just one glance was enough to distract him all day.
If only...
It was a pity, he might have had a chance with Xiao Yu before, but now it was virtually impossible.
"Heh, I thought you were a man of courage. I didn't expect..."
"You're just going to watch Xiao Yu be ruined by Xu Ran. Such a beauty as Xiao Yu, how could someone as crude as Xu Ran appreciate her charm?" Xiao Yan continued to provoke.
"If you cooperate with me, I can help you get Xiao Yu..." Xiao Yan suddenly leaned close to Lu Mu's ear and whispered.
He didn't believe Xu Ran could keep them well-protected forever.
Xu Ran was the enemy of the Xiao Family, and for Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei to be with him was tantamount to betraying the Xiao Family.
"Deal."
Lu Mu was tempted; he couldn't find a reason to refuse Xiao Yan's offer.
Even if one dies under a peony flower, they would be a happy ghost.
He couldn't stand it any longer.
Ever since Xiao Yu returned from her last visit home to Canaan Academy, she had become even more enticing and beautiful. Even without stockings, her proud and lustrous long legs and round, smooth shape were irresistible.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen. Your teacher is an Elder, and Xu Ran can do nothing to you. And who knows, maybe Xiao Yu will fall in love with you in the future?" Xiao Yan grinned maliciously.
He too was willing to go to any length to make Xu Ran experience that pain.