Chapter 600: Time to Focus
Sitting in Bai Xues bedroom, Hui finished the last touches of a talisman. He added it to a stack, then handed the stack to Bai Xue. Here. This should disguise you as anyone. If you get separated from me and you need to change disguises or tear off the snakeskin to heal yourself, you can use these talismans to re-disguise yourself afterward.
Bai Xue draped herself over his shoulders from behind. White hair tickled Huis cheek and spooled down his shoulder. She hummed right in his ear, in a way that sent sparks down his spine, though he didnt show it. Why dont you paint it on my skin? I think it would look beautiful, dancing down my stomach
I could, but fundamentally, the snakeskin technique is a disposable technique. One-use-only. Id only be able to put one talisman on your skin, but with these, you have a hundred talismans, Hui said, pushing the talismans at her.
Bai Xue hummed again. She rolled off him and sprawled on the bed, chest bared to the ceiling. Glancing at him, she ran a hand down the pale skin of her stomach. Right here. What do you say? We could take our time
Hui clicked his tongue. Bai Xue, how much energy do you need?
Well, Ill be going under disguise for a while. I wont get to fill up for a long time, she said, pouting.
Hui crossed his arms and looked down at her. Will that really stop you?
Bai Xue kept pouting for a few moments, but couldnt hold it. Her pout transformed into a grin. Xiao Hui knows me too well.
Hui sighed, shaking his head. Smiling back, he ruffled her hair. Yes, yes. Its a matter of your cultivation, after all. Fundamentally, pure yin spirit roots are considered wastes and only good for furnaces, so I understand that you need to go to extraordinary lengths for your cultivation.
Mmm. Thats why I married you. Youre so understanding, pretty Hui, Bai Xue murmured, rolling onto her side once more.
Handsome Hui, Hui corrected her.
Bai Xue grinned at him and said nothing.
Ah, well, its not as if its an insult or anything, and Bai Xue has an interesting relationship with gendered compliments in the first place. Ill take pretty over ugly trash any day of the week.
Should we tell Li Xiang? Hui asked. I wouldnt ask at all, but with her truthsense and truth obligation, if someone asks her where Ive gone, shell be compelled to tell the truth. If I dont tell her, she can truthfully say she doesnt know.
But on the other hand, it would be cruel not to tell her. Especially after the fall of Starbound Sect and my apparent death there and then my actual death, and He took a deep breath. He looked Bai Xue in the eye. I want to tell Li Xiang.
Bai Xue nodded. I was going to suggest it, in any case. She knows when to keep her mouth shut, and shell figure out the truth one way or another.
The children Hui frowned.
Well tell them were going on an important trip. Thats all the more they need to know, anyways, Bai Xue said, shrugging.
Hui nodded. I agree. Im sad I cant spend more time with them, but
Mmm. I wouldnt worry about it too much. I was raised by my nanny, mostly, and I turned out fine, Bai Xue said, grinning.
Li Xiangs brows furrowed. Firmly, she shook her head. No.
Elder Sister, hear me out. Im not suggesting sending our children to the Eight Tiers Palace, not at all, of course not! Instead what if I took the place of our children? Er, one of our children. What if I entered the Eight Tiers Palace in their place?
Youre too large, Li Xiang replied bluntly.
Dont I know it, Bai Xue muttered.
Hui blushed. Bai Xue, please. No, no. I can change my body size. Thanks to the phoenix fire technique, I can alter my body to any age in my life.
Oh? Bai Xue asked, looking up sharply, half-dressed. You didnt mention that earlier.
Hui pushed her away. Get dressed already. Yes, yes. I can take the place of our children. I can take on their appearance, and thanks to my death-faking skills, I can even fake their qi signature. Eight Tiers Palace will never know the difference.
And you think this will stop them from harassing us for a time, Li Xiang said.
Hui spread his hands. They will think they have a hostage, which is what they want. Ill take Li Weiqis place, since it would be difficult for me to fake the Bai Clans cultivation technique and unique bloodline. Bai Xue will act as my escort for long enough to bring me to the sect, then vanish Ill use death faking to hide her away, and she can escape back to the Southern Sect Conference.
Your life will be at risk, Li Xiang stated.
Not at all, not at all, Elder Sister! Would I suggest a plan that puts my life at risk? Me? No, no, no. Ill appear to be a second- or third-realm cultivator. Ill be their hostage. They wont want to put me in danger if they want to keep a hostage. And if they do try to kill me, what are the chances theyll successfully hit me with an attack powerful enough to break through my death faking techniques and oneshot me, especially when I appear to be a low-realm cultivator.
Li Xiang glanced at Bai Xue.
Bai Xue spread her hands. Would Hui suggest risking his little life? I dont think so. Hes confident, Li Xiang.
Mmm. I could tell he was telling the truth, after all. Li Xiang thought for a moment, then nodded. I agree. Who will take your place while youre gone?
Ah thats right. I should have not appeared at the sect conference! Then no one would know Im alive. Mmm. Too late for that. Too bad! I couldve faked my death a little while longer. Hui put a hand to his chin, his brows furrowed. But how do I convincingly fake my death again, after I so recently returned to life?
Bai Xue coughed. Shall we talk to Song Wei?
Oh. Oooooh. OH. I dont need to fake my death at all, when Song Wei has has those er, awfully convenient lotus clones. Yep. Lets not think too deeply about them. Hui licked his lips. He nodded. I believe Song Wei has it covered, yes.
Li Xiang nodded. Then it appears weve come to a consensus. Turning, she walked off.
Leaving so soon, beauty? Bai Xue murmured seductively, leaning forward to tie her belt in a way that coincidentally showed off her cleavage down the front of her robes.
Li Xiang paused. She looked over her shoulder. Yes. With that, she walked off.
Bai Xue stared at her back as she passed through the gold barrier and vanished. Once she was out of sight, she laughed and shook her head. Ha! Thats Li Xiang, after all.