NOVEL NEXT Chapter 177: Maintaining Favorability
Chapter 177: Maintaining Favorability
Xu Lian suddenly remembered something. “During the finals, three powerful figures helped me. One was the powerful guardian from the Huo Clan, another was the projection of your true self, the Town Guard Commander. But who was the third one who used a spear? Do you know, Town Guard Commander?”
The White Fox replied, “He hid in the void and never revealed himself, but my projection could sense his aura. It was similar to that of Jiang Yunyan you brought back from Taizhou Prefecture. They must share the same origin – probably from the Thirteen Clans.”
“So that’s how it is,” Xu Lian said, not particularly surprised. In fact, he had already suspected as much.
Given his current connections, the only ones who would help him were the Sword Pavilion’s Huo Clan, the White Fox Town Guard Commander, and the Thirteen Clans.
He couldn’t help but recall the time he obtained the Sword of Destruction and the Sacred Spirit Record. At that time, an elderly man with white hair had appeared from the spring in the Demon Sealing Cave.
He was said to be the former leader of the Thirteen Clans. It must have been that elder who had helped him.
This thought warmed his heart and moved him deeply. He hadn’t expected that elder to be secretly watching over him, concerned for his safety. Was he also acting as his guardian?
Thinking about it, it made sense. The Sword of Destruction was the lifebound weapon of the Jiang family’s founding ancestor, and it had chosen Xu Lian as its master. That alone was enough to attract the elder’s attention. Not to mention the Sacred Spirit Record, a fragment of an immortal technique obtained by the ancestors of the Thirteen Clans during their peak.
They had spent their later years refining and completing this technique, and now it was in Xu Lian’s hands. Of course, the elder would take him seriously.
Xu Lian decided to push forward, taking the opportunity to dig deeper. “Town Guard Commander, what is your true identity?”
The White Fox looked at him. “I’ve already told you, you’re not worthy of knowing it yet.”
Still unwilling to give up, Xu Lian smiled and said, “We are old acquaintances now. Can’t you give me a little hint?”
“Get lost!”
“Alright…”
Seeing the cold glint in the White Fox’s eyes, Xu Lian quickly excused himself. This was no place to linger.
After leaving the spirit tree, Xu Lian went straight to House No. 4, where Jiang Yunyan was staying.
“Sister Yunyan, come inside with me,” Xu Lian said, pulling Jiang Yunyan into the house.
He locked the door…
As night fell…
[Note 1: Jiang Yunyan’s favorability toward you has increased from 92/100 to 93/100. You have gained 1 progression point, which can be used to enhance your rank, skills, or items.]
[Note 2: You currently have 2 progression points available for use.]
Xu Lian was elated. He had accumulated two more progression points.
Jiang Yunyan was also happy. Upon returning to Pingyang County, Xu Lian had thought of her first. How could she not be pleased? However, she was a bit puzzled. Had her standing risen so high in Xu Lian’s heart?
She was well aware of her place in Xu Lian’s heart. The top spot undoubtedly belonged to Tantai Xiya, followed by Pei Zhaoxi, then Jiang Xianyu and Lin Wan… and only after them came her and Huo Xin’er.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Yunyan asked as she looked at Xu Lian with concern.
She never addressed Xu Lian as “husband” because their relationship was unique. They were both Daoist companions and friends, although their bond was more of a friendship. She simply couldn’t find a more suitable Dao Companion than Xu Lian, so she had chosen him as both a friend and a partner. It worked well for her.
She enjoyed this balance – not too close, but not too distant. She did not rely on Xu Lian as much as the other women, but she also did not keep him at arm’s length.
“Nothing, I just felt that I neglected you while I was in the Imperial Capital,” Xu Lian said, of course not revealing the truth. He couldn’t just say, “Your clan elder secretly protected me, so I decided to treat you better.” That would be too hurtful.
For the next month, Xu Lian’s schedule was packed.
Starting with the fiery Pei Zhaoxi and ending with the Zhao family, he even found time to visit Stone Town to see Xiao Mei. He was truly a master of time management.
Notably, during this period, Yu Qingning’s favorability increased from 91 to 92, and Miao Yueyue’s went from 90 to 91, earning him two more progression points.
As for the other women, their favorability didn’t increase much. Their favorability was already so high that it was difficult for them to improve further. The fact that it didn’t drop was already a good sign, indicating that Xu Lian had chosen well-they were all good women.
Of course, the high favorability was also largely due to Xu Lian’s talent, strength, and his status and power in Pingyang County. Everyone knew that sticking with him was the best choice.
People in this world were pragmatic…
If Xu Lian were to suddenly lose everything and become a cripple, his favorability would undoubtedly drop.
Relying on emotions alone to maintain favorability in such a world was impossible. Interests always came first.
Being with Xu Lian brought immense benefits to both the women and their families, which was why their favorability remained so high.
Human hearts were fickle – this truth applied everywhere. Only by tying interests together could relationships last.
Of course, there were exceptions like Tantai Xiya, who was a “hopeless romantic”. Back when Xu Lian was at his lowest point, she had even been willing to die with him. Interests meant nothing to her.
This was why Xu Lian held Tantai Xiya in the highest regard, always placing her first in his heart. In a world like this, true affection was rare.
However, humans were not insensitive. Some of his relationships had gradually shifted from being interest-driven to being more emotionally based, such as with Pei Zhaoxi and Lin Wan. This was why he treated the Pei and Lin families well, gifting each family a treasure.
“Husband.”
Hearing this voice, Xu Lian couldn’t help but shiver. It was Lin Ying again, clinging to him like sticky candy.
Lately, Lin Ying had been constantly calling him “husband”, which had led to many people giving him strange looks as if they thought he had actually taken her as a wife.
Although Lin Ying was beautiful, and although the Lin family approved of her relationship with Xu Lian, he kept his distance from women like her who prioritized their interests above all else. He found it off-putting and uncomfortable.
Xu Lian’s expression turned cold. “Who told you to call me that? Did I allow it?”
“Isn’t it just a matter of time?” Lin Ying said, completely unfazed by the stares or any sense of shame. Her pretty face wore a pleading smile.
“…” Xu Lian was at a loss. When someone had no shame, they were truly invincible. She reminded him of the younger Wang Cuiyun. The only difference was that Lin Ying came from a small county family, while Wang Cuiyun came from a humble background in Green Bamboo Town. Otherwise, the two of them were practically the same.
Lin Ying and Wang Cuiyun were the epitome of an standard woman in this world.
Why “standard”?
That was because both of them prioritized survival and interests above all else. Their minds were consumed by thoughts of survival and profit, and they cared about nothing else. They were truly unstoppable.
“Don’t call me that again,” Xu Lian warned her repeatedly, but she stubbornly refused to stop. He couldn’t kill her very well, could he?
Lin Ying persisted, “I’ve told everyone that you’ve already taken me as your concubine. Now the whole of Pingyang County knows. What’s done is done. Whether you want me or not, everyone thinks you’ve already taken me. So why not just make it official? Doesn’t that make sense?”
Xu Lian had to admit, her logic was somewhat convincing. When everyone believes something is true, the truth no longer matters. Why not just go along with her wishes?
However, Xu Lian didn’t need to think hard to realize that if he actually got involved with her, it would be nearly impossible to gain progression points from her. Expecting any genuine affection from her was like trying to climb to the heavens.
If he couldn’t get any progression points, what was the point?
Wouldn’t it just be a waste of time?
The only gain would be some fleeting pleasure…
Noticing that Xu Lian seemed to be wavering, Lin Ying moved closer, leaned against him, and whispered softly, “Husband, I know my place. I won’t compete with the other wives for your affection.
All I ask for is a spirit residence, a place where I can cultivate. That way it’ll be easier for you to visit me. I don’t dare ask for a Class A or B dwelling, just a Class C one. If that’s still too much, I’ll settle for Class D. I know I don’t deserve anything too fancy.
And if you’re in a good mood after visiting me, and you want to give me a hundred or two Spirit Stones, that would be even better.
Beyond that, I won’t ask for any more cultivation resources. You can rest assured.”
“…” Xu Lian simply stared at her.
Lin Ying met his gaze, her eyes filled with pleading and flattery. She gently shook his arm. “Husband, please?”
Who could resist that? Xu Lian suddenly chopped her neck, knocking her out.
He carried her back to House No. 3.
The Lin family members all gave him strange looks, and Lin Wan’s eyes even had a hint of reproach in them, clearly misunderstanding the situation.
Xu Lian didn’t bother to explain – he had already done so several times. “Keep an eye on her. Make sure that she stays here and cultivates properly. Don’t let her run off to my House No. 5 again.”
With that, Xu Lian handed the unconscious Lin Ying to Lin Wan and left.
Just as he returned to House No. 5 and was about to have dinner with Wang Cuiyun, Caixia, and Miao Yueyue, Qin Liu arrived, looking mysterious and asking to speak with him privately.
Xu Lian immediately guessed that Qin Liu had probably discovered another cultivator’s tomb. As a tomb raider, what else could it be?