Chapter 43: Senior Sister, What Are You Trying to Do in Front of Everyone?

"Faming, shut up!" Fahui glared at Faming, who was spouting obscenities, and scolded him in a low voice.

"Senior brother, you're being too cautious. These demon women can't escape from our grasp," Faming responded nonchalantly.

The newly arrived Fafang also nodded in agreement, "Faming is right. They're already trapped like fish in a barrel. They can't stir up much trouble."

Liu Mei assessed the situation. Both sides had five cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, so the outcome was still uncertain.

"You think you've got us? Attack!" she shouted as she took the lead, sending two red silk ribbons slicing through the air toward Fahui.

The other women also joined in, and the sounds of battle filled the air as their magical treasures surged toward the enemy.

However, the opposing group was well-prepared, and the two sides clashed fiercely. Unbeknownst to them, a red mist had begun to rise around them.

Liu Mei took a deep breath and suddenly felt a wave of heat and discomfort, as if ants were gnawing at her skin. She was horrified.

"Retreat! The mist is poisonous!" she shouted.

The women quickly realized that the enemy had been stalling them, allowing the red mist to spread.

Fahui laughed heartily, "Haha! Now that you're caught in our 'Joyous Mist,' there's no use struggling. Let's have a real battle of flesh and blood!"

Faming also laughed wickedly, "Let's see if your Hehuan Sect's binding techniques are stronger, or if our Joyous Zen will prevail."

Liu Mei twirled her red silk ribbons, creating a gust of wind to blow the red mist aside. "Go!" she commanded.

Chen Qingyan, with a sharp shout, swung her sword, slicing through the mist with a gust of wind, and led the way in their escape.

Liu Mei followed closely behind, pulling Lin Fengmian along. The remaining three women hurried after them.

The six of them quickly made their way out, but aside from Liu Mei and Chen Qingyan, the other three women were staggering as if they were drunk.

The monks didn't seem to be in a hurry. They followed closely, shouting lewd remarks, taunting the women, and accelerating the effects of the poison.

Lin Fengmian had also inhaled a fair amount of the mist and felt as if he had been affected by a love-inducing fragrance, filling his mind with thoughts of men and women.

"What's happening?" Lin Fengmian asked in bewilderment.

He couldn't understand why the battle had shifted so suddenly after they inhaled the mist. Weren't the women of the Hehuan Sect experts in dual cultivation? How could they be taken down by such tactics?

For the women of the Hehuan Sect to fall to an aphrodisiac — how embarrassing!

"I don't know either. This mist seems even more potent than the Love Fragrance! It's as if it was made specifically for us!" Liu Mei said with a frown, her face darkening.

"What now? My mind is filled with... that, and I can't hold out much longer!" Mo Ruyu said anxiously.

She was eyeing Lin Fengmian like a hungry wolf, and if they weren't in the middle of fleeing for their lives, she might have already grabbed him.

Soon, aside from Chen Qingyan and Liu Mei, the other three women were flushed and flying unsteadily, as if ready to turn back.

"Senior sister, I can't hold on anymore. How about you give him to me?" Mo Ruyu, the weakest in cultivation, pleaded desperately.

Even in the midst of fleeing for her life, she couldn't stop thinking about catching Lin Fengmian and dealing with him mid-air.

Lin Fengmian was startled by the look of a demon in her eyes.

"Senior sister, we're out in the open, in front of everyone! What are you thinking?"

But soon he realized that it wasn't just Mo Ruyu; the other women were also looking at him strangely.

Lin Fengmian suddenly thought that sticking with these five women might not be the wisest choice.

He felt like he was turning into an emergency release valve, about to be drained by these five possibly out-of-control demon women.

In this situation, it seemed unlikely that they would be able to maintain their rationality and not drain him dry.

If he ran off on his own, being a man, the monks chasing them might not be interested in him.

But when he glanced at the flushed face of Xia Yunxi, he sighed.

He couldn't bring himself to leave Xia Yunxi behind.

"Senior sister, how about I take junior sister Xia and lead the pursuers away?" Lin Fengmian suggested.

Liu Mei, seeing through his intentions, smiled teasingly, "How could I let you two go? It's too dangerous out there."

Chen Qingyan also chimed in, "If you run by yourself, you might make it, but if you take junior sister Xia, you won't get far. It's safer to stay with us."

Lin Fengmian understood the logic but sighed, "I feel like it's more dangerous staying with you. I might get drained any minute!"

Liu Mei, her breath growing heavier, let out a giggle, "You're not wrong. It *is* more dangerous with us!"

She pulled back Mo Ruyu, who was about to pounce, and looked at Lin Fengmian with amusement.

"Alright, I'll give you two choices: either you run by yourself or stay with us. Make your decision!"

Lin Fengmian looked at Mo Ruyu, who was itching to jump on him, and then glanced at Xia Yunxi, who was barely able to keep flying with Chen Qingyan's help, and hesitated.

In the end, he couldn't abandon Xia Yunxi and reluctantly said, "Fine, fine! If anyone is going to hell, let it be me! I'll die happy at least, even if it's under a peony blossom."

Liu Mei and Chen Qingyan were surprised by his decision, and Liu Mei burst out laughing, "How interesting! You're not running away after all."

Annoyed, Lin Fengmian grumbled, "Yeah, yeah, I know I'm dumb. Just think of me as being blinded by lust, okay? After all, with five beauties, it's not a bad deal, is it?"

Liu Mei giggled, "Since you're being so obedient, I might consider letting you and junior sister Xia dual-cultivate first."

Lin Fengmian wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry and said helplessly, "Well, thank you, I guess!"

"Alright, senior sister, stop teasing him. Mo Ruyu can't hold on much longer!" Chen Qingyan said, exasperated.

"What do you suggest, junior sister Chen?" Liu Mei asked.

Chen Qingyan calmly analyzed, "The Tracking Scent Bird is the only one they have. We should split up and each take our chances."

She didn't need to explain further; Liu Mei understood her meaning.

There was only one man, Lin Fengmian. If any of the women ended up doing "that" with him, the others would likely not be able to handle it.

If they didn't split up now, they might end up fighting each other over Lin Fengmian.

Although they were in the wilderness, there was a chance they could find someone nearby. It was better to test their luck finding men.

The monks behind them were definitely not an option. Given the effects of the red mist, falling into their hands would mean being drained dry.

Without a word, Wang Yanran turned and flew in another direction, calling out, "I can't hold on much longer. I'll lead them away for you!"

Before the others could react, she had already flown off. Two of the monks chasing them broke off to follow her, but the majority continued to pursue Liu Mei and the others.