Chapter 18: One More Joins

The moment Huo Zhi saw Mo Zhenfeng, her first reaction was to grab Linlang and run.

The male lead’s aura was invincible, his luck stat was maxed out, allowing him to find treasures wherever he went while radiating “lady-killer” pheromones. Huo Zhi didn’t dare have any interaction with him.

If she did, he’d be the lucky one, and she’d definitely be the one to suffer.

“Elder Sisters, wait! I’m Ji Shuling from the Artifact Talisman Sect. I’m a good person, I won’t steal your things. I wanted to ask you something—have you seen anyone from my Artifact Talisman Sect? Their clothes will have a crossed sword and knife pattern, just like mine.” Just as Huo Zhi grabbed Linlang’s arm, intending to avoid them, the sweet and lovely girl with double spiral buns at Mo Zhenfeng’s side spotted Huo Zhi and the other woman. She scurried over with small, quick steps and stood in front of Huo Zhi, smiling with an utterly harmless expression.

Only then did Huo Zhi notice the girl beside Mo Zhenfeng.

Ji Shuling, also one of Mo Zhenfeng’s harem members in the original story. Standing at about 1.5 meters tall, she was a cute, loli-type girl. Apart from Linlang, she was Huo Zhi’s favorite character.

When she said she wouldn’t steal their things, she truly meant it.

As the only daughter of the Artifact Talisman Sect Master, Ji Shuling had been doted on by thousands since childhood. She was pure and adorable, and her net worth was extraordinary.

Her self-introduction practically exposed her entire background without reservation.

She wasn’t afraid of people harboring ill intentions; she simply lacked that awareness. And even if someone did, she probably wouldn’t be afraid. Her entire outfit reeked of extravagant wealth. The hairpin on her head, her earrings, choker, bracelet, belt, anklet, shoe accessories—all were engraved with special runes, each one dazzling and brimming with spiritual qi. They were likely trigger-activated. Whoever dared to mess with her would only bring misfortune upon themselves.

“Elder Sisters, have you seen any of them? I got separated from them the moment I entered, and I don’t know where they went.” The little loli Ji Shuling asked Huo Zhi with some distress.

“Sorry, I haven’t seen them,” Huo Zhi replied, coming back to her senses.

From beneath her veiled hat, the look in Huo Zhi’s eyes as she gazed at Ji Shuling gradually took on a “maternal” quality.

When she read the original novel, this was roughly how she had imagined Linlang.

Ji Shuling’s appearance completely matched the image of the daughter she had envisioned—too well-behaved, too cute, too sweet!

It made people want to protect her.

She really wanted to pinch those chubby baby cheeks!

“Ah, it’s already been almost a month. I don’t know where they went; I haven’t run into a single one of them,” Ji Shuling said dejectedly.

“Don’t be sad, Junior Sister Xiao Ling. We’ll find them eventually. I’ll accompany you in the search. Thank you both for the information. Are you heading to the Fiery Trees and Silver Flowers Zone? We can travel together, so we can watch out for each other. Junior Sister Xiao Ling and I are both from the Artifact Talisman Sect. She and I are naturally different from those other cultivators. You can rest assured.” Huo Zhi had been about to offer Ji Shuling a few words of comfort when a male voice interjected. It was Mo Zhenfeng. After comforting Ji Shuling, he turned and spoke to Huo Zhi and Linlang.

Both Huo Zhi and Linlang wore veiled hats, so Mo Zhenfeng didn’t recognize them. It was only because of the prompting of his Fortune Guiding Talisman that he wanted to befriend them.

In the original novel, Mo Zhenfeng’s character description made him the most handsome man in the entire book. Every time he met a woman, it required a description of his unrivaled good looks—”as graceful as a jade tree in the wind,” “sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes,” “a sensual voice like a cello,” “a slight smile that feels like a spring breeze,” and so on.

Huo Zhi stiffly looked at Mo Zhenfeng. Without her previous disguise, the young man was indeed quite handsome, a standard ancient-era pretty boy. But were those words that had just come out of his mouth even human?

On one hand, he was currying favor with Ji Shuling, and on the other, he was using Ji Shuling’s status to try and hook Huo Zhi and Linlang into traveling with them.

Truly worthy of a harem-novel male lead.

“Elder Sister, can we go together, please? It’s so boring here; it’s no fun at all.” Ji Shuling, hearing Mo Zhenfeng’s invitation, also looked at Huo Zhi with hopeful eyes.

Huo Zhi was speechless. This Eldest Miss came here just to have fun!

Other cultivators were here risking their lives!

Huo Zhi looked at Ji Shuling. She had little resistance to cuteness.

This adorable baby, so innocent and pure—if she got mesmerized by Mo Zhenfeng’s male lead aura, it would be too pitiful!

In the original plot, they only met later. She hadn’t expected that after Qin Ceyi scared Mo Zhenfeng away, he had directly gone to the Artifact Talisman Sect. Not only did his cultivation rapidly soar to the Foundation Establishment Stage, but he also shared hardships with Ji Shuling inside the secret realm.

Huo Zhi couldn’t bear to watch Ji Shuling get hurt, get bullied.

But she also truly didn’t want any involvement with Mo Zhenfeng. What if Linlang also got ensnared by his male lead aura!

“Let me discuss it with my companion first,” Huo Zhi said to Ji Shuling.

“Okay.” Ji Shuling nodded obediently, looking towards Linlang with anticipation.

“Linlang, shall we go with Ji Shuling?” Huo Zhi sent a Sound Transmission to Linlang, asking her.

“Fine,” Linlang paused for a moment before replying.

At this moment, her thoughts were completely different from Huo Zhi’s.

After centuries, and after the events of these past days, she didn’t know if it was because the Love Poison Talisman’s effects had shifted direction, but seeing Mo Zhenfeng stirred no particular feelings in Linlang, only a simple sense of disgust and hatred.

This time, if there was an opportunity, Linlang would not let him off.

As for Ji Shuling, Linlang also knew that this girl was the least scheming and most innocent of all of Mo Zhenfeng’s harem.

Ji Shuling had been separated from her brother and other sect members. Those people might very well already be in the Underground Palace of the Vermilion Flame Secret Realm.

In her previous life, the Artifact Talisman Sect had opened the Underground Palace of the Vermilion Flame Secret Realm and taken away many good things, elevating the sect to a higher level. The most precious Talisman Brush had been foolishly gifted to Mo Zhenfeng by the naive Ji Shuling, becoming one of his strongest Talisman Artifacts.

Traveling with Ji Shuling might allow them to enter the Underground Palace smoothly.

Even if they couldn’t enter, robbing Ji Shuling of all her Talisman Artifacts wouldn’t be bad either.

These artifacts were worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, all life-saving items. And at critical moments, Ji Shuling could even be used as a mobile Protective Barrier.

Although their goals differed, the result was the same: traveling with these two.

However, beneath her veiled hat, Linlang’s expression was still not good.

Linlang recalled how Huo Zhi had once said that if they saw Mo Zhenfeng, they should run far away.

So, why, the moment that man invited them, did she agree?

This woman, in her last life, had fallen for Mo Zhenfeng without anything like a Love Poison Talisman affecting her.

Could it be that she still liked him now?

“Mm, okay,” Huo Zhi sent another Sound Transmission to Linlang.

“Younger Sister Ji, I want to come with you too, but, but…” After receiving Linlang’s affirmative answer, Huo Zhi began to speak to Ji Shuling.

“What is it?” Mo Zhenfeng asked first.

“I have androphobia. I can’t get too close to men. If I do, I feel extremely unwell—dizzy and nauseous. Right now I’m… please excuse me…” Huo Zhi said, covering her mouth with her hand. She retreated several steps, putting distance between herself and Mo Zhenfeng, and made a few retching sounds.

The three people present were all stunned. Was there such a disease as androphobia?

“How can such a disease exist?” Ji Shuling’s large eyes were full of confusion and surprise.

“It’s, it’s a constitutional issue. I can’t tolerate yang energy and Impure Qi… Please excuse me.” Huo Zhi said. This “androphobia” was actually a condition that belonged to another member of Mo Zhenfeng’s harem in the original novel. Mo Zhenfeng, relying on his “personal charm,” became the only man that beauty could get close to. It was ridiculous.

“This… Senior Brother Mo, what do we do?” Ji Shuling, feeling that Huo Zhi’s explanation seemed somewhat reasonable, looked at Mo Zhenfeng for his opinion.

“Then I’ll follow behind you, at a greater distance,” Mo Zhenfeng said, somewhat embarrassed. Sensing the agitation of his Fortune Guiding Talisman, he compromised.

“Then, sorry for the trouble,” Huo Zhi said.

“A little further! No, still a little further… Good, that distance is fine. Thank you.” Mo Zhenfeng retreated a few steps, but Huo Zhi spoke again, not stopping until he was over a hundred meters away. If any unexpected situation arose, they could just shake him off.

After witnessing Huo Zhi’s act and seeing Mo Zhenfeng gradually move further away, the corner of Linlang’s lips beneath her veiled hat curled up slightly.

Huo Zhi hadn’t forgotten her own words. It seemed she truly detested Mo Zhenfeng.

Linlang’s good mood lasted less than a second. As she turned to walk forward with Huo Zhi and the others, she saw Huo Zhi holding Ji Shuling’s hand, walking extremely close to her.

“Host, Linlang’s Happiness Value decreased by 500.” At the same moment, 006’s voice sounded in Huo Zhi’s Sea of Consciousness.