Till the evening, I kept practicing the basic formations and then went to Immortal Wine Hotel.
I had given Fu Qiai an inferior sword technique because Jade Sword Body was the most powerful sword-type technique I had. She didn't notice the difference and instead considered that the Solidarity Sword Manual was better.
For the twin girls, I gave a rather peculiar cultivation technique suited for twins. Dual-Wind Manual. It was wind type and they would be able to better use it as they were accustomed to the wind attribute more than any other.
I quite liked Sena and Wena. The technique could be compared to the Jade Sword Body which Lingling was practicing. Speaking of her, she came to me today and thanked me out of the blue.
She had thanked me earlier as well but it wasn't genuine. Ling'er was rather straightforward and told me that she was coming to 'like' me as a… friend? She was perplexed before she said, ''You are a competent man.''
''Is that so?'' I was in her room. Feng Yi had taken Chunu to tour the Pill Fire Association. I bet she wanted to flex her alchemy skills.
''Ling'er, this is the first time I heard you 'praise' me. I feel really happy today.'' I sat beside her and boldly held her hand. As expected, she did not do anything but sat in silence. I squeezed her hand and flashed a smile.
''H-how's your training going?'' She asked. She felt something different today. Why was she letting me come so close? No, we had already kissed so holding hands was nothing… I must be teasing her again, she thought.
''It's going well. I can even defeat Meridian Opening practitioners, you know.'' I decided to flex.
''How?'' Ling'er was surprised, of course. She actually believed me without a second thought?
''Don't you think I'm lying?'' I asked back, looking into her eyes.
''I heard there is a mysterious practitioner coming to Azure Wind Arena these days…''
I couldn't help but be astonished when she said that. It seemed the news had spread to this district as well. That meant the whole city was aware of Humble White defeating Night Raven!
''Yes, that's me,'' I said without hiding. I knew Lingling enough now and there was no need to keep little secrets like these hidden anymore. Even though someone else learned about it through her, my Fu clan background would protect me.
Lingling went silent for a moment. Then she glanced at me. ''I want to see your match.''
She had always been more focused on combat prowess than other girls, so it was no wonder that she wanted to see for herself.
If it was Lingling from Pinchu town, she would have chosen to challenge me instead. Her attitude towards me had subtly changed and she didn't even realize it.
''I don't know when I'll have my next match but I'll take you with me then. The judges will surely make me fight against a reputed gold fighter this time. I want to reach Meridian Opening before that.'' I took Lingling's other hand and she didn't object.
''En.'' She nodded and we sat in silence for some time.
Actually, I had already met all the requirements for becoming a gold fighter except one, to be a Meridian Opening practitioner. I wanted to practice diligently in the Fu clan's Riverfall village, make some useful relationships before fighting in the Arena again.
Constant fighting wouldn't improve my mastery of the Golden Tempest Technique. I had to practice it as well, so that would be my focus in the coming days.
The window was open, letting in sunlight and spring wind. They leaked inside and touched various items in our room. The bed, the chairs, the table, the lamps, the carpet, and the paintings, that vase… The light and wind even touched our swords which were hanging side by side on the wall.
The Piercer was longer and had a wider blade than her longsword. Just like the comparison between my back and hers. She had a slim body while mine was V-shaped and muscular.
I suddenly carried Lingling and placed her on my lap. She sat just like the time when we were inside the booth.
''I see these lips have gotten a little dry,'' I chuckled.
''Then… moisturize them,'' Lingling muttered softly, then added more words as I held her chin. ''Opportunistic kisser…''
Our lips touched, mouths opened, and we sucked on each other while mushing our tongues together. I knew she was waiting for me to take the lead.
After we finished kissing, Ling'er held my collars. She seemed like she wanted to say something but instead hugged me and remained silent.
I knew what was in her mind. I was already in a relationship with Feng Yi and most possibly other women as well. She liked me, had grown feelings for me but… she felt-
''Zuifan, do you love me?'' She suddenly asked.
This experience of ''love'' was the first one for her. I knew what she wanted. Lingling was the actual opposite of Feng Yi. She took everything in life with utmost seriousness.
Choosing a partner was something sacred for her and she wouldn't like to share me with someone else. This was actually the mindset of most young, unmarried mortals and Feng Yi was a rare case because of her background which shaped her personality.
''Of course, I love you, Ling'er.'' I patted her head. Now was not the time to convince her with words. This was the most vulnerable I had seen her. However, it would be better not to mention my other relationships at the moment.
I knew from the start that keeping every beauty I encountered was impossible. However, I couldn't let go of Lingling now that we had known each other so much.
''This is the happiest day of my life, Lingling. You mean a lot to me.'' These lines were easy to say but not many could make it sound so genuine as I did at the moment.
'Soon, I will use that bewitching technique that the previous Zuifan detested,' I thought. Forget about the fact that I had done things with Feng Yi. Lingling would absolutely detest me if she learned that I even had sex with my little sister.
That immortal had gotten that technique from a demonic path cultivator. However, I had the Yang attribute. How would I practice something demons used?
Everything had rules and that meant there were ways around those rules as well. I would have to cultivate in the righteous path, that was fine. But there was no restriction saying that I also have to practice righteous type formations or inscribe runes of only Yang attributes.
At first, I was determined to get powerful in the righteous path only, but I had learned more things now and experienced what it was to be a practitioner. I was confident that I could put some demonic inscription in an accessory and use it externally, not at all relating it with my main attribute.
There were also more types of cultivation techniques in the righteous path for creating a good impression on other people. Even that could work.
However, I had to be careful when meddling with the demonic path as it was incompatible with my foundation. But what was there to gain without any risk?
I gently stroked Lingling's back while she lovingly kissed my cheek, not knowing what evil plans I was brewing in my mind.
…
In the following days, I started to study formations and even inscriptions. I learned about runes, their types, uses, and their history.
I also practiced the basic formations, sometimes tweaking them and seeing what would happen. The results were interesting but not dangerous as the level of power I was meddling with was low.
I frequently visited Bina and Lina. The older sister was again surprised as she had learned that I defeated a Meridian Opening practitioner. Her belief in my reincarnation was strengthened again.
In the case of the younger sister, I found her condition slowly worsening. Even I was perplexed as anemia couldn't be the only reason why she felt so weak. Bina reported that her little sister was starting to sit under the sun all day.
There had to be another reason for this. Once I reached Meridian Opening, I would probably be able to scan her internal organs with my spirit sense. At present, it hasn't recovered that much to help me with that.
Two days later, I went to the Fu clan's settlement again and met with Master Xuang. He introduced me to various cultivators who really seemed impressed by me. The interesting part was that Fu Xuang didn't tell the other elders and members of the clan about my fake legacy.
Only him, Fu Qiai, and senior sister Tanya knew about it. I guessed my new master wanted to train me in a low-key manner and then shock everyone. For an old cultivator such as him, the progress of his disciples was really something to be proud of.
And thus, I formally became a member of the Fu clan and here it would start… the rise of the Fu clan's hidden card, me, of course.