Fu Linglong's idea, although reasonable and with some operational flexibility, would ultimately cross a line for Wei Tu. If he followed through, not only would he become Ji Zhang's ultimate enemy, but he would also push beyond the "bottom line" that Ji Yifeng, Ji Zhang's father, had set for him.
At this moment, Wei Tu clearly understood that Fu Linglong's move wasn't just about plotting against Ji Zhang, but also about manipulating him, forcing him into a confrontation with Ji Zhang.
This way, no matter who won, Fu Linglong would be the one to benefit.
By sacrificing her own purity and eliminating her two main enemies, it would undoubtedly be a profitable deal for her.
"This crazy woman!"
Wei Tu cursed inwardly.
He should have anticipated this before coming. Fu Linglong's vengeful nature and her unreasonable methods should've been clear to him.
"Master Wei, don't worry. After this is over, I won't tell Ji Zhang anything about us. I'll just say... I casually gave myself to a beggar on the side of the road and got involved with him…"
"This would still serve to ruin his Dao heart."
Fu Linglong believed that Wei Tu refused because he feared Ji Zhang's revenge, so she bit her lip and added these words.
"I refuse!"
Wei Tu once again rejected her, his voice now colder than before.
In Fu Linglong's plan, there was indeed a significant chance that he could remain unnoticed and benefit from Ji Zhang's Dao heart damage without exposing himself.
However, Wei Tu didn't want to give such a tool to this crazy woman.
Right now, Fu Linglong was cooperating with him to deal with Ji Zhang. But what about later?
What if Fu Linglong remembered their grudge and turned on him?
Wei Tu didn't like these uncertainties.
He would rather face Ji Zhang after Ji Zhang broke through to Nascent Soul than cooperate with Fu Linglong on this matter.
"Don't agree?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Linglong was shaken.
She didn't expect Wei Tu to reject her so decisively twice, with no room for discussion.
Even though cultivating with her wouldn't give Wei Tu as obvious benefits as Ji Zhang's breakthrough, Fu Linglong's pure Yin essence would still significantly enhance his cultivation.
It was enough for him to break through to a small realm!
Besides, Fu Linglong knew that Wei Tu had always admired her beauty.
There was a possessive desire in him.
She, as a Buddhist woman, could sense that.
So, when planning this, she never considered the possibility that Wei Tu would reject her.
Who would refuse to watch Ji Zhang, her enemy, have his Dao heart damaged and fail to break through, while enjoying the beauty of a woman like her?
"How could anyone say no?"
"We don't see eye to eye. I'll take my leave now," Wei Tu said as he stood up and left, swinging his sleeve.
He was clear on his position—not a righteous man by any means, but when necessary, he could use underhanded tactics.
However, all of this depended on the opponent being his mortal enemy, where there was no way for him to rely on righteous means.
Right now, Ji Zhang was just someone with a grudge against him. He hadn't shown any intent to kill him, nor did he have the power to corner him.
Using such underhanded tactics...
His Dao heart would be uneasy.
Even if this matter fades into the dust and no one ever knows, his heart won't find peace. After all, limits are something one pushes, little by little.
"Master, I'm sure you would approve of me acting this way…"
As Wei Tu was about to leave, his gaze instinctively turned toward the storage pouch at his waist, where a small spiritual tablet lay in the corner.
That spiritual tablet was the one belonging to his master, Dan Wuju.
More than two hundred years ago, he had considered eliminating the potential threat posed by Madam Zhu and her son during the Zhu incident.
But when it came down to it, he stopped himself.
Afterward, he carried his master's spiritual tablet with him, to remind himself not to fall into the ways of a demonic cultivator without limits.
If he agreed to this today, he would be crossing his own bottom line.
...
"Master Wei, please wait."
Fu Linglong stopped Wei Tu, wanting to make one last attempt to keep him.
Right now, she wasn't ready to offer herself to Ji Zhang.
Earlier, when she mentioned offering herself to Ji Zhang to help him break through, it was just a threat to Wei Tu.
From start to finish, everything she said and did was preparing for the "destruction of Ji Zhang's Dao heart."
However—
As her words fell,
Wei Tu showed no sign of stopping.
Seeing that Wei Tu was about to leave the third-tier concealment formation around the small pavilion, Fu Linglong gritted her teeth, quickly flew forward, and blocked his way.
"Master Wei, what's wrong with me? Is there really no room for negotiation?"
Fu Linglong frowned tightly, asking.
She still couldn't understand why Wei Tu would reject her, when this plan was beneficial for both of them.
However, Wei Tu didn't respond to her. He raised an eyebrow and sneered.
"If Miss Fu wants to tell Ji Zhang that she found a beggar and ruined her own body, then Miss Fu can really go find a beggar. There's no need to come here and bother me."
With those words, Wei Tu twisted his flight path, bypassed Fu Linglong, and prepared to leave the formation and head out of Panyang Mountain.
Hearing this, Fu Linglong was both embarrassed and angry. It felt like something she took pride in was being treated as nothing.
Fu Linglong stepped forward again, intending to stop Wei Tu and get a clear answer.
"Get out of my way!" This time, Wei Tu showed no mercy. He swung his sleeve and directly blasted Fu Linglong out of his way.
After a short while,
Wei Tu was already far away.
All that could be seen in Panyang Mountain was the faint green light of his escape.
"Master Wei?"
After being pushed aside and lightly injured, Fu Linglong wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. She blankly stared in the direction Wei Tu had left, lost in thought for a moment.
Both were male cultivators, but Wei Tu was indifferent to her body, while Ji Zhang had been scheming all along.
The contrasting results were something Fu Linglong had never expected from the start.
Although she had other motives in offering herself to Wei Tu, she believed that with her beauty and pure Yin essence, she could make Wei Tu overlook the small danger.
But now…
Fu Linglong had to abandon her previous thoughts.
"Logically, I should hate Wei Tu now, and wait for an opportunity to take revenge on him. But why… do I have no such thoughts right now?"
Fu Linglong felt confused in her heart.
She felt that Wei Tu's disregard and Ji Zhang's disregard for her were two completely different feelings.
There was a faint respect in Wei Tu's actions.
…
What Fu Linglong was thinking, Wei Tu didn't know.
However, he understood that breaking through to Nascent Soul was not something that could be done in a day or two. Even if Ji Zhang had prepared everything, it would still take at least several years.
And that was enough time for him to return to Kang Kingdom and seek protection from the Ying Ding Tribe.
After reuniting with Yu Gongshou and the others, Wei Tu immediately rushed toward Lin Kangdu, planning to leave Chu Kingdom and return to Kang Kingdom.
Though Yu Gongshou and the others were puzzled by Wei Tu's sudden retreat and then reemergence from seclusion, as bodyguards, they didn't ask too many questions. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they escorted Wei Tu on his way again.
"Everything has been safe, no incidents at all. I'm ashamed to accept such a large protection fee," Yu Gongshou said, scratching his head, a look of apology on his face.
After all, the Yu family had been paid quite well for escorting Wei Tu.
"Senior Gongshou, there's no need to worry. The safety on this journey has been the biggest benefit to me," Wei Tu smiled slightly, casually replying.
It seemed like Wei Tu had lost out by hiring Yu Gongshou and the others as bodyguards, but without them as leverage, Ji Zhang would not have easily given in during negotiations and handed over the "Instantaneous Teleportation Array" as the ransom for Fu Linglong.
From that perspective, it was a great deal for him.