Xie Tinglan raised a concern. “Master, you know my history with the Beast Taming Sect. They have magical artifacts capable of detecting demonic aura. If I approach her rashly... plus, she has four Golden Core cultivators by her side.”
“That’s why you can find someone to cooperate with. You don’t have to personally make her trust you; as long as one of you achieves this goal, it counts. You can work alone or collaborate—any means is fine. Friendly tip: I won’t intervene. If you get beaten to death, I might toss a handful of dirt over you,” Wen Li said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Don’t look at how well I usually treat you; none of my disciples are cowards. Whoever fails the mission will have to wash everyone else’s socks and shoes for a month. As for the opportunity involving Jiang Nianyao, it’ll go to someone else. Think about it yourselves.”
At these words, the five disciples had varied expressions. They glanced at one another, then snorted and looked away, speaking in unison.
“No collaboration.”
They were dead set on making the others wash their socks.
Even Zongzheng Huangyue was looking forward to it with a touch of wicked humor.
Wen Li frowned in confusion. “So, all five of you want to win Jiang Nianyao’s trust?”
“...” The opportunity was secondary; they mainly wanted to make the others do their laundry.
The others remained silent.
Wen Li turned her gaze toward Xie Tinglan.
Xie Tinglan’s face darkened as he gritted his teeth. “As long as my breath-concealing bracelet doesn’t fail, I can complete the mission on my own.”
He wanted to try as well. At worst, he could look for a partner later.
“Oh? So brave.” Wen Li raised an eyebrow, finding the five disciples’ determined looks quite amusing. “Fine. The timer starts now. The deadline is until we leave Tingyin Pavilion.”
Yao Dai was puzzled. “And when are we leaving?”
“When Old Three arrives to regroup with us.”
“Win Jiang Nianyao’s trust... to what extent does it count as trust?” Zongzheng Huangyue asked.
This was a subjective question that was difficult to judge.
Wen Li thought for a moment, and a spark of inspiration flashed in her mind. “I’ve got it. If you can make Jiang Nianyao eat a Qi-Replenishing Pill that smells like feces—with a Shadow Stone as evidence—that counts. Remember, she must be aware of it and do it voluntarily. No knocking her out and force-feeding her, and absolutely no altering the pill in the slightest.”
“...?”
A metaphorical colon appeared over everyone’s heads. What on earth?
A Qi-Replenishing Pill that smelled like feces... and she had to actually eat it? Could trust alone achieve such a thing?
They would probably have to save her life first for her to do that.
“...Master, are you serious?” Even Zongzheng Huangyue’s lips twitched as she took a sharp breath and asked in a low voice.
“Unexpected, isn’t it? This is the simplest and most direct way to prove it, saving you all from any ambiguity.” Wen Li tilted her head back proudly. Seeing the five disciples’ looks of resistance and doubt, she let out a small ‘tsk.’ “This method won’t make her suspicious, and it’s more likely to foster a different kind of feeling toward you.”
Xin Jiuxian spoke up bluntly, “The feeling of sympathy for my mental deficiency?”
Otherwise, no normal person would eat something smelling like feces just because they trusted someone.
The other four couldn't help but stifle their laughter, their shoulders shaking.
“Nonsense.”
Wen Li, having her point debunked, felt dark lines cross her forehead. She forced an explanation. “Think about it: would you dare to eat a pill given to you by a stranger?”
The five children shook their heads in unison.
“Exactly. And if a stranger gave you something that smelled like feces, would you eat it?”
The five shook their heads again.
“But you’d dare to eat a pill I gave you, right?”
The five nodded.
Wen Li clapped her hands with a look of certainty. “Then if I gave you a Qi-Replenishing Pill that smelled like feces, you’d eat it too! That is the trust you have in me! Reaching this level counts as success.”
“...”
The five fell silent. Finally, four of them shook their heads in unison.
No. Not eating that.
Only Xin Jiuxian remained motionless, her face expressionless.
Wen Li looked over with hopeful eyes. “Old Six, I knew I didn’t spoil you for nothing.”
She looked at the other four with a look of disappointment. “Look at her! See? Even Old Six is willing to trust me without reservation. You lot... you really disappoint me!”
Yao Dai curled her lip. “Master, I can eat your pills, but they can’t smell like feces. My limit is chicken manure.” Just like when she first entered the Dao, the pills Master gave her always had a hint of chicken manure; she could tolerate that.
Xie Tinglan crossed his arms. “I am a demon, not a dog. I don’t eat feces.”
Hua Cishu was silent for a moment. “...Master, you know I grew up without parents and never had good food, but I don’t like eating bitter things either.”
Zongzheng Huangyue pursed her lips. “Master, I...”
“Fine, that’s enough!” Wen Li felt her heart take a hit and hurriedly raised her hand to stop her. Zongzheng Huangyue raised an eyebrow helplessly; she had been about to say she could try it if she blocked her five senses.
Wen Li looked at Xin Jiuxian with a gentle gaze. “Old Six, you’re the only one who didn’t have a crisis of trust. You can definitely finish this mission. Go for it!”
Xin Jiuxian let out a weak cough. “Master, I was just spacing out because I was curious what a feces-smelling pill tasted like. I forgot to shake my head.”
“...Alright, stop talking.”
Wen Li was speechless. None of the children here were obedient. If Old Three were here, he wouldn't be like this; he would definitely stand firmly by her side.
“Hahaha!”
Yao Dai was laughing so hard she was out of breath, doubling over and reaching out to lean on Xie Tinglan’s shoulder, only for him to dodge away in disgust.
“Hey!” Her hand missed, and she nearly fell into Zongzheng Huangyue’s arms. She made an emergency turn and managed to avoid it, ending up flat on the floor.
Zongzheng Huangyue said indifferently, “Senior Sister, there is no need for such a grand gesture.”
Yao Dai’s face darkened, and she immediately stood up with composure. “None of your business.”
This Old Four seemed easy to get along with, but she actually had a stomach full of schemes. Even Xie Tinglan avoided her; Yao Dai knew she had to be even more careful.
Zongzheng Huangyue smiled, completely unbothered.
Jokes aside, Wen Li truly decided that Jiang Nianyao consuming a feces-smelling Qi-Replenishing Pill would be the proof. Of course, she didn't want the difficulty to be too high, so she eventually specified it to be chicken-manure-flavored, which was slightly more acceptable.
The five of them each received a small bottle from Wen Li.
“Here, one chicken-manure-flavored Qi-Replenishing Pill each. Pro tip: Jiang Nianyao isn't stupid. If she eats it once, she’ll be suspicious the second time, so the sooner you complete this mission, the better. As for how you explain it away once she gets suspicious, you’ll have to figure that out yourselves.”
“A successful villain must be formidable in both cultivation and schemes.” Wen Li pointed to the sky, sounding like a cult leader brainwashing her followers. “You must not only be able to fight head-on but also be able to stab someone in the back—and make them thank you for it. Perfect your disguise and deceive everyone.”
The five disciples held their bottles, each harborning their own thoughts.
Rate on N.U.
