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Beiyue took this opportunity to go to Witch Island in search of her father's whereabouts. However, Beiyue was aware of her own limitations; talking to the witch and seeking clues could easily expose her. She really hoped Cui Ming would accompany her. Like a prophet, Cui Ming already knew everything, assuring her that he was fine while also bringing along some wind.
Aside from being able to fight, Feng had many other qualities, such as being loyal to friends. His greatest asset was his unpredictability; he could do things you would never expect. Of course, Cui Ming didn't see this as an advantage but rather as a convenient helper since others had their own matters to attend to. If it turned out poorly, they could just throw him overboard halfway and swim back themselves; he wouldn't consume much.
Beiyue said, "We hunters have always known that Mundo from the Toxic Swamp Rainforest area in the Western Continent has been in contact with witches. There are deep glacial crevices on Witch Island, beneath which lie hot springs, meaning the temperature ranges from minus fifty degrees to thirty degrees. Some of Mundo's organ samples are stored in these glaciers. Every year, Mundo visits Witch Island once or twice for experiments. Although we know this, it's too remote for the Alliance Hunter to confront directly; they can only rely on Wandering. Therefore, we have turned a blind eye to it until now. This time, we will use the excuse of searching for the first-class wanted criminal, Mundo, to go to Witch Island."
"Small matter," Cui Ming raised his glass. "Let's drink."
Li Qing and the others realized that Cui Ming had already planned everything out. Although Beiyue was strong and experienced, she was still a lone woman, and Witch Island was very far from the Three Continents, making it difficult for her to act alone. With Cui Ming accompanying her, they felt reassured. With him around, it would be hard for Beiyue to suffer any losses. However, Li Qing felt that after defeating the Ding Family and the Fire Cult, Cui Ming had become somewhat overconfident.
As everyone ate and chatted, they soon brought up the topic of the Fire Cult. Cui Ming believed that with Wandering, the alliance wouldn't suffer losses. However, he also thought there was someone quite formidable within the Fire Cult. Even if this person wasn't the leader, they were a highly skilled strategist adept at underhanded tactics and schemes. Perhaps it was because of him that the Fire Cult had emerged.
Currently, the alliance still had only a vague understanding of the Fire Cult. Wandering had already assigned Wei Wei to lead a team of experts in secret investigations into the true situation of the Fire Cult Practitioners: their numbers, quality, strength, and reproductive rates among potential practitioners—why some evolved poorly while others thrived. Knowing oneself and one's enemy was crucial; this was what Wandering needed to focus on right now. This matter wasn't discussed at the dinner table because since Feng helped deliver invitations for Liu Meier, he couldn't be let in on it. There was a reason why he sent out invitations: several people were staying behind closed doors and had put up a "do not disturb" sign; as hosts, they needed to be polite. By chance, when encountering Feng, who had previously helped argue with the North Moon Group, Liu Meier asked him to help deliver an invitation. When a beautiful woman asks for help, one must comply; after all, helping a beauty comes with no loss for men.
……
At two o'clock in the early morning, Cui Ming and Feng were drinking on the hotel rooftop while Hero City remained lively below. However, it was quiet up there because there was no entertainment. The time spent with each other by Cui Ming, and his companions was much less than that with Feng. He was an easygoing person with his own moral boundaries; aside from those limits, he did whatever he pleased and was a relaxing friend to have around. In contrast, while Li Qing had ideals and Beiyue had her obsessions, and even though both were honorable individuals like Mi Xiaonan, only Ding Ze, who shared some similarities with him in character but was lazier…
"You stepped on my foot just now because you have something going on with Beiyue, needing your brother as a sacrifice?" said Feng while drinking beer and admiring the beautiful night view of Hero City. It was unfortunate that this event only happened once every two years; hopefully due to the upcoming Competition Match it could become an annual affair where people could interact more and foster greater unity.
"Cui Ming" sat on the railing and replied, "Mainly because I'm worried about Beiyue. In some aspects, she appears strong but is actually quite fragile inside. She lacks confidence when it comes to dealing with people."
"Haha." Feng laughed: "Those who are confident are often deceived; you should say that Beiyue is self-aware about certain matters—she knows they aren't her strong suit. In dealing with things in the Eternal Sphere, aside from strength, social skills are also crucial. But if you're dragging me into killing witches then you're putting me in a bind; those witches are incredibly powerful. If we were here together we might not fear them but on Witch Island where temperatures drop below zero degrees? We wouldn't stand a chance against them."
"I know that’s why she needs me even more," replied Cui Ming. "Beiyue's presence on Witch Island will cause trouble; she will be discovered within five minutes of conversing with a witch if she has ulterior motives. Witches are definitely not benign figures; if she sees me there it might stir up old resentments since she once loved my father. If my father isn't on Witch Island then she might want to eliminate me as someone disrupting her life."
"Hey, don't try to fool me. You still haven't answered my question. Are you dragging me into this because you have intentions towards Beiyue?"
"..." Cui Ming gazed at the night scenery for a long while before responding, "I like her. I appreciate her kindness and determination. Sometimes her persistence seems misguided, but more often than not, it's a good thing. However, it's not an overwhelming feeling; I just want to help her."
Feng Dao took a moment to understand, "You have feelings for her. You want to help her and hope for something to develop."
"Pretty much."
"I read a novel by a practitioner from two hundred years ago that talked about the love of a Force Practitioner. It mentioned how the cultivation of Force inevitably affects emotions. The protagonist is a passionate person, a hero with superpowers, essentially a practitioner. He has romantic entanglements with three women—one is a practitioner, and the other two are ordinary people. In the end, he chooses the ordinary woman because he feels there's always something missing with the female practitioner. Practitioners tend to be more composed than ordinary people because their training in meditation makes them rational about the world, which conflicts with emotions. That's why practitioners rarely rush into marriage; they often think it over multiple times, even considering the possibility of their offspring becoming practitioners before deciding to marry. Unfortunately, the future is unpredictable; even a butterfly flapping its wings can change what lies ahead."
Cui Ming asked, "What are you trying to say?"
"Beiyue isn't really suitable for you, Cui Ming. You're a smart person with strong control issues, as evident from your performance in competitions. Your team follows your arrangements perfectly. Beiyue, on the other hand, has very few people in her life. The love from her parents is much less harmful compared to their neglect; she only has a few friends like you all. She keeps her heart locked away and has no close female friends or interests. People with few connections tend to cherish what they have, which is good but also has its downsides."
Cui Ming understood; the downside was that they would care deeply about what they possess. For instance, when Beiyue saw Li Qing and the others from the Ye Family, she nearly cried and lost her composure. They hadn't spent much time together compared to their nearly three-year separation, but Beiyue still found a sense of belonging among them.
"See? This is one side of a practitioner's rationality," Feng Dao said. "Look for yourself: if you want to marry more than one woman, don't choose Beiyue. If you want to spend your life with one woman, Beiyue is a great choice. As for me, I've never considered finding a partner among practitioners; I want freedom. One day when I feel tired of it all, I'll just find a few women to be my wives and live happily in another way. When I get bored, I might venture out again at seventy or eighty... Cui Ming, that's life—it's short, and it's important to do what you want."
Cui Ming countered, "Are we getting too far off track?"
"Haha, Cui Ming, you haven't taken this seriously at all! Your admiration for Beiyue reminds me of high school crushes—no thought for the future when making choices in front of situations. Young people entering society don't think merely about physical needs when dating or having feelings for someone of the opposite sex; they always consider long-term possibilities—what it would be like together and even after marriage—taking into account each other's family background, economic situation, interests, morals, and so on. But you? You haven't thought about any of that; you just want to help her. You are someone who always prepares in advance and plans ahead yet have no thoughts on this matter."
Cui Ming asked, "It seems you have quite an experience."
"I wouldn't call it experience; my junior sister and I were supposed to be a couple originally. We felt great during our training together—she loved seeing me smile while I enjoyed watching her focus intently. One day my master had a private talk with me similar to what I'm telling you now. I started thinking long-term; Cui Ming, I couldn't accept that my wife would be a Martial Enthusiast who spends over fifteen hours daily training in swordsmanship."
"And then?"
"Then I sought out the mysteries of Wind Sword Technique and began training alone. Haha, I actually grasped the basics." Feng Dao continued, "After more than a year, I returned. My junior sister was happy to see me but only moderately so; she no longer felt that same affection she had over a year ago. Her feelings had gradually faded away during her long hours of training."
Cui Ming asked, "But even now, you still have your junior sister in your heart."
"Haha." Feng laughed, as if he had heard an unbelievable joke. Suddenly, the laughter stopped, and he replied, "Yes, I know she holds an indelible memory in my heart, but there are many things more important than love. I admit I have some mental shortcomings, and because of that, I want to live the life I enjoy. Do you know a famous singer from the same agency as Liu Meier?"
"Uh?"
"This singer told the audience at a concert not to meet their idols. If you really want to, at least make a phone call first; otherwise, you'll definitely be disappointed. Cui Ming, love and marriage are like this. Ask yourself: do you really understand Beiyue? Do you understand Beiyue's actions or her inner thoughts? Certainly, you can deduce that she wants to go to Witch Island and needs help. But do you know what she is thinking inside?"
"You talk too much nonsense."
"I'm just trying to tell you to be cautious, brother. If you marry an ordinary woman, you have the ability to abandon her at will. But marrying a female cultivator is not that simple."
Cui Ming fell silent for a long time before asking, "By the way, I suspect that the prophet has a connection with Zhir's Mage. They must be doing something together, something like surviving in the void. Is there any way to notify Zhir? After all, Zhir doesn't consider us as kindred; we should regard Zhir as a friend."
Feng took out the Doran Ring that Zhir had given him, which contained several ancient characters. "I had a scholar translate these ancient texts; they mean 'friend.' These characters are recorded in the history of the Eastern Continent. See? You can infer a person's behavior, but you don't understand Zhir's inner thoughts."
"Hey, don't change the subject."
"Haha, I just find it quite enjoyable to teach you a lesson." Feng Dao said, "No problem. After returning from Witch Island, I'll head to the desert. I also want to see how my Bean Sprout Spring is doing."
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