Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 130 - 130 129 The Journey of Four People

130: Chapter 129 The Journey of Four People 130: Chapter 129 The Journey of Four People Hou Niao sighed and shifted his attention to the window, where Jiang Han was laboriously carrying a food basket, entering the courtyard of the side room.

At an age under thirty, what should be her blooming period was suffocated by the heavy burden of life.

However, these women of the wilderness remained strong, a distinct feature of this region.

They still laughed, dressed up, and entertained themselves.

For instance, when he, a visitor, appeared, they showed great enthusiasm.

He knew why they did it, why they frequently appeared outside his residence, why they voluntarily took care of his meals, why they almost changed into a new set of clothes every day, always presenting their proud figures in front of him, even if it meant using more precious water.

He certainly understood, it was not just a matter of need but also a desire to secure a better future for their children.

They found it hard to leave the Yinling Wilderness, but their children shouldn’t be trapped here to endure the hardships they went through.

This made him uncomfortable.

He had been abstinent for over half a year now.

At this stage of rapidly increasing physical abilities, such restraint was not beneficial; the Cultivation World also never advocated so-called virgin practice.

Purifying the heart and desires was a matter of mindset; it didn’t mean one couldn’t lead a normal life.

As long as one wasn’t obsessed with it, it was fine to forget about it after doing it, just like sitting in oblivion.

“Tonight’s dinner is quite lavish!”

Looking at the food box, Hou Niao praised, having understood his current cultivation status, he didn’t want to be too hard on himself.

Cultivation needed relaxation and varied rhythms, after days of intense practice, he needed a light moment too.

Jiang Han’s face burst into a smile.

The wilderness folks weren’t petty; if they were happy, they showed it.

She was happy that this young and handsome visitor wasn’t pushing people away anymore.

Otherwise, if a cultivator like him scorned them, they would have no chance at all.

Stretching out her hands, roughened by daily labor, she served him dish after dish,

“In this humble place, the food is plain.

Please, sir, don’t hold it against us…”

Hou Niao replied with a smile, “It’s very good, actually.

To say it rivals the delicacies of the mortal world would be an exaggeration, but as far as home-cooked meals go, it’s impeccable.

One can’t eat fancy restaurant meals every day, they’re too intricate, but home food can be eaten for a lifetime.”

Jiang Han’s eyes crinkled into a smile, what she didn’t expect was that she would be the first among the three sisters-in-law to make a breakthrough.

They had their motives, which were never discussed among them but understood implicitly, so they cooperatively took turns bringing meals; today, it was her turn to serve the meal, while the other two sisters went out to work.

What kind of woman did the guest like?

They didn’t know; they could only try one by one.

Compared to the noble, cultivator ladies of big cities, they certainly weren’t comparable, but they had their pride.

At the very least, in Fang Family’s Castle, they had once been the most charming girls.

Of course, not anymore.

The pressures of life had coarsened their skin and added faint lines…

But they also had their advantages.

Long hours of labor had toughened their bodies, and really, their demands were not high.

“Is this how you always eat, sir?

If cultivation is like this, small households couldn’t afford it.” Watching the guest devour his meal—though swiftly, yet gracefully—she, who should have left, courageously stayed, hoping not to anger the guest.

Those living in the Yinling Wilderness always felt a sense of urgency, knowing opportunities were fleeting, never to return.

Especially for cultivators who would inevitably leave, they couldn’t stay long.

She didn’t know how long that would be?

Maybe one or two months?

Perhaps only a few days?

Hou Niao wasn’t annoyed.

“No, this is just a phase of cultivation; it could last months or years, but it will pass.

Eventually, a cultivator won’t meddle in worldly affairs, so you needn’t worry that cultivators will deplete this world.

Essentially, in terms of food, cultivators and ordinary people demand the same from the world, only that yours last a lifetime and ours are concentrated in certain periods.”

Jiang Han seemed to half understand, but she didn’t mind whether she got the point or not; what mattered to her was that the guest was willing to explain.

“Sir, can everyone practice cultivation?

I mean, if they have such conditions from a young age?”

Hou Niao was very clear about her meaning, “Not everyone can, but if they are exposed to these things from childhood, the likelihood of stepping onto the path of cultivation greatly increases.

This depends on many aspects, and up to now, cultivators haven’t completely figured it out, so you need a bit of luck.”

Jiang Han turned the conversation back to where she really focused, “What are the many aspects you mentioned?”

Hou Niao smiled, “Basic education, proper guidance, inspiration from certain external objects, I know what you mean.

In the small fortress, there might not be such an environment.”

Jiang Han looked at him, “I heard that there is such an environment in Fang Family’s Castle?”

Hou Niao looked at her, “Yes, Fang Family’s Castle has a private school that specifically cultivates suitable-aged children in this area, though it is quite expensive.”

Jiang Han lowered her head in silence, evidently forming a plan in her mind.

This was also a path for many ordinary residents of Yinling; if they couldn’t succeed themselves, they would send their children away.

Sending them out of Yinling wasn’t realistic, but sending them to Fang Family’s Castle was feasible.

Following the merchant caravans, traveling by day and resting at fortresses by night, they would eventually get there.

But getting into the private school of Fang Family’s Castle wasn’t an easy task, and it wasn’t just a matter of money, but also a matter of having someone to recommend you.

After Hou Niao had finished eating and drinking, Jiang Han cleaned up the leftovers, packed the bowls and dishes back into the basket, and just before leaving the door, she turned back with a smile,

“Shall I heat up a tub of bath water for you?”

Hou Niao watched her calmly, “That would be fine.”

This tub not quite a foot tall, took him more than an hour to bathe in…

This was a breakthrough that made the women of the Jiang family thrilled.

From that day on, not just Jiang Han, but also Jiang Bai and Jiang Lin, each heated bath water for him, delivered it personally, scrubbed his back, washed his hair, themselves…

Hou Niao would often ask himself whether joining the Demon Sect necessarily meant committing evil acts.

But after careful thought, he knew he wasn’t like that; even if he were in the Daoist Sect or the Buddhist Sect, he might still do the same, just like Tideng Monk didn’t hesitate to accept Juan Eri.

People like them, for now, couldn’t change the world, so they could only try to help those around them.

Those who are upright and dignified might say this is taking advantage of people’s weaknesses, this is opportunism, but in this cruel world, this is actually the genuine respect they could offer to them.

Whether you call it a trade or mutually beneficial, it wasn’t charity!

For these women of the wilderness, they had their needs, their children had needs, so why not?

For people like Hou Niao and Tideng, they didn’t want to portray themselves as Bodhisattvas rescuing the distressed.

They didn’t want to owe favors to anyone, nor did they want others to owe them anything.

Causality external to the body, free from all attachments.