CHAPTER 652: CHAPTER 520: BEAUTY TRAP

The red-clothed "woman" lifted her head in a pitiable manner.

Upon seeing the red-clothed woman’s face, Huang Daxian was swayed and didn’t ask further, hurrying forward to remove the Prohibition.

With the Prohibition lifted, the thorns wrapped around the red-clothed woman’s feet also came undone immediately.

However, the poison from the thorns had already entered the woman’s body. Seizing the opportunity, Huang Daxian swiftly invited the woman to return to the camp with him, planning to depart after she was properly treated.

On the way back, Huang Daxian asked the woman a few questions.

Only then did he learn that this red-clothed woman was named "Qing’er," and she was originally from Beiqing. Having an aunt living on Purple Bamboo Ridge, she had ventured into the mountains along with her brother Xiao Long and Maid Xiao Yue to visit her relative.

Little did she know, upon entering the mountains, they encountered a Prohibition and were entangled by the poisonous thorns.

"If it hadn’t been for Master Huang lending a hand, I fear today would have brought more misfortune than good fortune," Qing’er said, casting a shy glance at Huang Daxian. The look brimming with tenderness from a beauty caused him to feel as if he had lost half his soul.

"Miss Qing’er is too polite. It was mere coincidence that I happened to pass through the mountains. To not conceal the truth from you, there have been some calamities in Purple Bamboo Ridge recently; the villagers have all moved away. I believe your aunt has already fled for her life too. This trip of yours, I’m afraid, will end in disappointment," thought Huang Daxian, utterly resolving to have this nationally-famed beauty for himself, but outwardly maintaining an image of an upstanding gentleman.

"What?" Upon hearing this, Miss Qing’er’s face paled and, without a second thought, clung to her Maid Xiao Yue and burst into tears. "Xiao Yue, what should we do? My aunt is missing, and I do not wish to return to Beiqing. I absolutely refuse to marry the disabled son of General Zhou."

Seeing the beautiful woman crying a storm, her maid and the kid beside her also started to wipe their tears, leaving Huang Daxian with a look of bafflement.

After much crying, the beauty still clung to "her" maid and wouldn’t let go. Left with no choice, the dark-faced maid had to offer an explanation.

It turned out that Miss Qing’er, the great beauty, was also a well-known beauty in Beiqing.

Her family had fallen on hard times, and moreover, she caught the eye of a son of a General in the city. Not only was the General’s son ugly, but he was also paralyzed from the waist down. Defying her fate, the young mistress took the last of her family’s valuables and fled to Purple Bamboo Ridge with her brother Xiao Long and maid to seek refuge with relatives.

They had hoped that the secluded location would allow them to escape notice, but alas, calamity struck Purple Bamboo Ridge, blocking her last avenue of escape.

"Miss Qing’er’s life is truly pitiable," Huang Daxian thought to himself with joy, yet outwardly he displayed a look of deep sympathy. "I wonder, Miss Qing’er, whether you would be willing to join my Green Thunder Dao Sect. I am the Sect Leader of Green Thunder Dao Sect, Huang Daxian. In our sect, we also have lay female disciples. Should you join Green Thunder Dao Sect, you will no longer need to worry about food and clothing, and I will ensure the safety and welfare of your family."

"Miss, this is indeed wonderful; we are saved," said the dark-faced maid upon hearing this, hurrying to push her young mistress. The latter then reluctantly let go.

She wiped away her tears, with a face bearing a trace of shyness, stepped forward to express thanks.

"Then I must thank the Sect Leader for taking us in. Qing’er and Qing’er’s family will from now on all rely on your care and protection, Master."

Hearing the great beauty take his words at face value, with no trace of worldly cunning, filled Huang Daxian with elation. He swiftly administered the antidote to Qing’er, and arranged for a clean tent for Qing’er and her family to stay in.

Anyway, the beauty was now in his hands, he thought to himself. In the future, after he had obtained the Qiankun Purple Gold Bamboo, he could take his time to enjoy her.

Once the red-clothed woman and her companions entered the tent, the disciples of Green Thunder Dao Sect withdrew.

The Qing’er, who had just been tearful and pitiable, instantly changed her expression.

It goes without saying that these individuals were none other than Ye Lingyue and her companions in disguise.

"So it’s the old coot from Green Thunder Dao Sect, who even thinks of abducting me into Green Thunder Dao Sect as a female disciple. He must be blind," scoffed Bo Qing from Jueqing Sect, which, in the Central Plains, could be ranked as one of the top Demon Sects.

He had also heard of Green Thunder Dao Sect’s Huang Daxian.

This man was greedy and lascivious, a charlatan through and through.

The so-called recruitment of female Taoists into his Daoist sect wasn’t for cultivation at all; eight or nine out of ten would end up as playthings for Huang Daxian and other male disciples of his sect. Once they grew old and lost their charm, they’d be sold into brothels.

Such Daoist sects would be despised even among Demon Sects.

If it weren’t for Ye Lingyue’s earlier advice against rash actions, he would have strangled that old lecher to death.

But impulsiveness was fleeting. Though Huang Daxian was a scoundrel, his cultivation level was not to be underestimated, lying between the Fourth and Fifth Levels of Reincarnation, and it was rumored that he possessed an extremely powerful Spiritual Artifact.

It was that Spiritual Artifact that Bo Qing needed to be cautious of the most.

However, recalling how that old lecher looked at him, occasionally making a move or two, Bo Qing couldn’t help but feel utterly depressed.

"Thirteen, come here for a hug; that old man was nauseating," Bo Qing said, feigning grievance, and made to hug Ye Lingyue.

Ever since returning from the Taiyi Secret Realm, Bo Qing had been reluctant to cross-dress.

Perhaps subconsciously, he disliked being seen as effeminate.

If it weren’t for the fact that dressing as a woman this time would allow him to get closer to Ye Lingyue, he couldn’t care less about such a disguise.

Indeed, just now, while pretending to be pitiful, he had delightedly hugged Ye Lingyue for a whole fifteen minutes. Thinking back on it, Bo Qing was secretly pleased with himself.

"Handsome brother, you can’t take advantage of Sister Hei under the guise of sympathy," Long Baobao blocked his way before Bo Qing could succeed.

The little chap used those shiny black eyes to watch Bo Qing vigilantly.

Bo Qing stared at Long Baobao, his eyebrows picked up in displeasure.

All this way, this little ghost seemed to be picking quarrels on purpose, never letting him get close to Thirteen. Could it be...

Tsk, tsk, kids these days know how to have a crush already.

No, he must nip those little thoughts in the bud before the little ghost grows up.

"Little Baobao, how old are you this year?" Bo Qing sneered.

"Six... turning seven after the New Year," Long Baobao puffed his chest out, trying to seem grown-up.

"Do you know how old Hei Yue is this year?" Bo Qing asked slyly.

"Ten... fourteen or fifteen?" Long Baobao counted on his fingers.

"Do you believe that by the time you reach fourteen, your Sister Hei will already have a seven-year-old child!" Bo Qing taunted like the Wolf Grandmother.

"You, you’re lying. Even if it’s true, it’s not with you," Long Baobao fiercely counterattacked, hitting the nail on the head.

"Little devil, what are you saying! It has to be me; it must be me!" Bo Qing got annoyed, and forgetting he was pretending to be a well-bred lady, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to grab Long Baobao and beat up the little brat.

"What are you two causing a ruckus about now?" Ye Lingyue looked on, quite speechless.

Long Baobao was also glaring unfriendly at Bo Qing.

A big and a small beauty, like two roosters, eyeing each other discontentedly.