Venerated Venomous Consort

She coughed and pulled her hand back. “All right. That’s enough. Can you talk properly without any skin contact?” she softly demanded.

Di Fuyi smiled with a sense of helplessness. “I was lost in the moment. All right, I will do as you say.”

Gu Xijiu looked askance at him, as though disbelieving. Was he the same to every girl he met? She felt slightly uncomfortable, for she did not completely trust the man.

“Brother Stone! Brother Stone!” Someone was calling out her name like he had just found something.

“What is it?” Gu Xijiu teleported to where the man was, leaving Di Fuyi behind. Before she left, she warned, “I will make a thorough investigation of your origins. I am warning you now. It is best if you behave yourself. Otherwise, I will not let you get away easily!”

Di Fuyi gave her a helpless look in return. How could he possibly misbehave? His sole purpose was to get her out of place and head back to the world where they once belonged. He observed the men who were full of vigor and vitality. They had no spiritual power at all, only physical strength.

It was strange. Shen Jiuli had once told him about the Shura World in general. The people here should be able to cultivate, even to become celestial beings. According to his dad, the spiritual power here was not as abundant as the Upper Bound but was not entirely scarce. Why didn’t he feel the slightest bit of spiritual power here? Was the entire Shura World the same? Or was it only the valley?

…

The streets were covered unevenly with various stones. On the sides, there were low houses made of stones with roofs made of hay. Every house was already occupied. The return of Gu Xijiu and her men created quite a stir in the streets.

Everyone came to celebrate their rewarding return. When they saw the bodies of the beasts, they accepted them happily. The men had their faces painted and their bodies covered in animal skins. Some covered themselves in rough, coarse clothes. Di Fuyi found these people unbelievable.

The way Di Fuyi dressed made him stand out as an outsider. His clothes were made of silky satin that flowed gracefully in the wind as he walked. In addition, there was a crown made of white jade, setting off his black, silky-smooth hair. He appeared refreshed and refined among the hunters, standing out like a distinguished man in a common crowd. He looked extraordinarily charming and attractive.

Di Fuyi was smiling all the way until he heard what people were gossiping about him.

“Ah, who is that?”

“Looking so beautiful like a little bride!”

“He looks a little weak. Look at how fair his skin is!”

“I heard that Brother Stone found him. He has claimed himself as Brother Stone’s fiancé.”

“Haha, don’t be funny. How can Brother Stone, a man who is equally wise and strong, have a fiancé! He looks more like the bride, in my opinion. Look at his sweet little face. Even a girl will not look half as good as he does.”

Di Fuyi had seen the world long enough to get used to being the center of attention, but it was his first time to be mistreated as a weak man or even a bride. His smile soon disappeared.

There were girls in the streets, too. Their skin was tanned and muscular. Their faces were not painted, thus exposing their true texture. Their dresses were made of coarse clothes. Bracelets hung loosely either on their wrists or ankles and jiggled as they walked.

These girls were enthusiastic. They rushed forward as soon as they saw Gu Xijiu. “Brother Stone, you are so brave! Look at how many Phantom Beasts you have brought!” The first girl complemented with immense adoration.

“Brother Stone, this is a bone bracelet that I have just made. It is for you.” The second girl looked at Gu Xijiu lovingly.

The exchange continued frantically. These girls surrounded Gu Xijiu with infectious enthusiasm and chattered like magpies, thus pushing Di Fuyi to the side. Di Fuyi was speechless, for he finally realized that men were no longer his biggest concern. These women were the one he should be aware of.