After spending the night conversing with Hua Qingyan, Mo Xingyu was unwilling to submit, but Yang was also unwilling to stop her plans for strengthening her disciple.
Mo Xingyu's resistance upset Yang greatly. Mo Xingyu, ever cautious, had dodged aphrodisiac-laced wine and stimulant-spiked meals, but even her vigilance had limits. When Yang abandoned subtlety and struck with the full force of her cultivation, Mo Xingyu's defenses crumbled. Desperation flickered in her eyes, raw, unguarded, before being smothered under Yang's ruthless advance. No tricks, no escape. Just the cold, inevitable weight of defeat.
After many defeats, Mo Xingyu gave up; she knew that without power, she was at the mercy of Yang. She obeyed Yang, her strength reaching the late stages of the Foundation Establishment realm.
"Good, your progress is decent, now it is time to give back to the faction."
Yang calmly told Mo Xingyu, who was confused by her master's words.
Yang guided Mo Xingyu to the same room as she always does, but inside was not a bound man, but a cultivator with a high realm calmly sitting cross-legged on the bed.
"Is it time?"
The man said to Yang. Yang nodded her head, leaving the room and locking the door. Mo Xingyu stood still in confusion. Her master did not use force or any stimulating drugs to force her.
Yang did not see the need to do any of that anymore; after all, those kinds of drugs are expensive, and she had to spend a lot of the faction's wealth on Mo Xingyu, but now that Mo Xingyu's strength had increased, Yang could just leave it to the man in the room.
The man looked at Mo Xingyu, lust flashed across his eyes, which he quickly hid, and said with a gentle smile.
"Junior sister, it's time to cultivate."
Hearing this, Mo Xingyu's face paled, and she quickly stepped back, but was stopped when the man released his cultivation.
"Core Formation?!"
Mo Xingyu said in a loud voice in surprise.
Soon, Mo Xingyu felt her senses blur, and everything around her vanished like smoke.
…
"Ugh."
Mo Xingyu groaned in pain, feeling as if her body was hollowed out. She lay on the messy bed, her gaze turned to the figure who was dressed and ready to leave. Mo Xingyu's eyes filled with murderous intent, but the man did not care and left satisfied with his gains.
Soon, Yang stepped into the room, and she fed Mo Xingyu a Qi replenishing pill.
"Why?"
Mo Xingyu asked, looking at Yang.
"You enjoyed the resources of the faction; now it is time to give back."
Yang answered.
In the Luxuria faction, new members are given resources to raise their cultivation to a certain level. After all, when they reach the Core Formation realm, the amount of energy they would need to absorb is large. If they kept absorbing it from low-level cultivators, the number of people dead would be so large that the Yin-Yang Sect might have to fight it out with the righteous sects.
So, a system was created to raise the new disciples to a high enough realm, then have the older disciples and elders harvest them. Soon, more new disciples would be added, and the previous new disciples would harvest them. An odd cycle of taking advantage of the newcomer, benefiting the older members.
Mo Xingyu gritted her teeth at this realization that she was raised as a leek, and now was the time to sell herself out to get some returns.
Yang, seeing her like this, did not show any outward change, but was slightly happy on the inside. She herself went through the same process, twisting her personality.
"Hmph. Be prepared tomorrow, you have another appointment."
Yang snorted and said, while leaving Mo Xingyu after checking on her health, since she could not have this carefully nurtured disciple die on her.
Mo Xingyu used the entire day to replenish her Qi; tired, she unconsciously walked to the place where she had met Hua Qingyan. She sat down, looking at the night sky, dazed.
"Hmm, oh, you're back again?"
Hua Qingyan, covered in dirt, called out to Mo Xingyu. She quickly stepped towards her and took a seat beside Mo Xingyu.
Mo Xingyu turned her gaze to the weird woman and asked.
"Do you always come here to plant?"
"Of course, look at this place, it's so barren it could use some life."
Hua Qingyan answered with a smile, her hands spread out.
Mo Xingyu turned her gaze around the area, observing it, and could not help but ask.
"Is it worth it? To put all this energy, time, and effort into revitalizing this barren peak to gain nothing from it?"
"Who says I gain nothing from it?"
Mo Xingyu curiously looked at Hua Qingyan, waiting for her to continue.
"I get to look at a beautiful peak I created with my hands."
"So self-satisfaction?"
Mo Xingyu said with a tone of disdain.
"Yup!"
Mo Xingyu, with wide eyes, looked at the smiling Hua Qingyan, who did not care for Mo Xingyu's disdain and confirmed with confidence.
Soon, as the two looked at each other, Mo Xingyu could not help but laugh.
"Ptff, Hahahaha! You do it cause you just want to see it."
Hua Qingyan was not offended; this was the usual reaction she received.
"Hmm, but what happened to you? You looked depressed."
Hua Qingyan asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Nothing much. Do you have someone you like?"
Mo Xingyu wiped the tears from her laughter and curiously asked Hua Qingyan.
Hearing her question, Hua Qingyan was suddenly surprised and then blushed slightly.
"I do."
Hua Qingyan said softly.
"Oh, who is it?"
Mo Xingyu asked, wondering who this oddball would like.
"It's a secret!"
Hua Qingyan placed her index finger on her lips and said with a grin.
Feeling annoyed, Mo Xingyu pinched Hua Qingyan.
"Ow, you!"
Hua Qingyan returned the favor. Both playfully attacked each other until Hua Qingyan ran away.
"Come back here!"
Mo Xingyu chased after her.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Hahahahahaha!"
Both laughed with bright smiles on their faces.
…
Time passed by.
Mo Xingyu accepted her situation; instead of resisting, she focused on gaining benefits, believing that only by improving her strength could she control her fate.
"Finally, late stage of the Core Formation realm!"
Mo Xingyu excitedly announced, but no one was around to hear it.
Mo Xingyu jumped off her cushion and rushed to see Hua Qingyan, her best friend, to announce the good news. She ran to the peak filled with vibrant flowers; only a few knew years ago it was barren and lifeless.
Soon, Mo Xingyu spotted Hua Qingyan's back. Hearing her laughter, she paused and then frowned at what she saw.
Hua Qingyan was happily conversing with a handsome young man. Mo Xingyu had never seen this person before, but it was the first time Mo Xingyu saw Hua Qingyan behaving in such a way.
Mo Xingyu suddenly felt that she disliked this young man very much, but she did not interrupt them; instead, she silently watched in the distance.
After a moment, Mo Xingyu stepped back slowly, vanishing. Hua Qingyan turned around, feeling a presence, but seeing no one there, she turned her attention back to the young man.
…
Mo Xingyu frequently observed the interaction between the two; she was jealous of the young man for getting her best friend's attention and held fear of losing her at the same time.
Why? Why him?!
Mo Xingyu gritted her teeth, but on the inside, she knew she could not do anything, looking at Hua Qingyan's eyes filled with affection, with only the young man in her sight and no one else. Mo Xingyu exhaled a breath of turbulent air.
"Forget it."
Mo Xingyu said in a small voice filled with emotion.
…
Mo Xingyu found herself sitting in her usual spot, gazing at the stars. She extended her hand upwards.
"When can I be like you? Free from all these troubles?"
Mo Xingyu softly said.
She wanted to be like the stars, high in the sky, untethered by worldly problems.
Crunch!
Mo Xingyu, hearing footsteps behind her, showed a slight smile, and slowly turned her gaze at the person, but when she realized it was not who she was expecting, her face soured.
"Um, sorry?"
The young man was confused by the young lady's expression and could not help but apologize.
"Why are you here?"
Mo Xingyu questioned with a harsh voice.
"Ehm, I was looking for Qingyan."
"She's not here."
Mo Xingyu turned her attention away from the young man and back to the night sky.
The young man awkwardly stood silently, not knowing what he did to make the young lady upset.
"W-well, my name is Xiao Yun. What is yours?"
Mo Xingyu did not want to interact with him, but imagining Hua Qingyan being angry at her for treating the person she liked like this made her helpless.
"Mo Xingyu."
"I see. Do you mind if I take a seat?"
"Tch, go ahead, not like I own this place."
Xiao Yun sat an arm's length away from Mo Xingyu. Mo Xingyu did not pay much attention to him, but Xiao Yun found the silence unbearable and spoke to Mo Xingyu, who only replied curtly.
Time passed, and this situation repeated itself when Hua Qingyan showed up late, but when she did appear, Mo Xingyu would disappear. Xiao Yun did not mind; he just liked speaking to the two odd women.