Chapter 121: Inner Beauty

Although many people had been recruited, the city's population was still clearly insufficient; during wartime everyone went to the city walls to help, leaving the inner city empty. Zhou Shuo sat in his residence in the city for a while before his subordinates arrived, the first to come being Yan Lingji, who still wore her black-red-gold outfit, her slender waist swaying as she walked, acting without restraint, and upon meeting she walked three circles around Zhou Shuo.

"Where have you been these days?" Yan Lingji swept her water-like gaze up and down over Zhou Shuo.

"That's none of your business, and it's not up to you to interfere. First tell me about those wolf people outside—how did they get recruited!" Zhou Shuo eyed the girl circling him, raising his eyebrows.

"How else could they come? They took a fancy to our city and wanted to seize it! Well, it seems Mingzhu over there gathered a small wolf tribe from the Northern Domain, stirring up some hatred." Yan Lingji lifted her eyes, shrugged her shoulders slightly, and spoke casually about what should have been a matter of life and death.

"Hey, little sister, you're saying that wrong. As a guest elder of the Fangsheng Pavilion, although we rely on the Pavilion Lord to have no worries, we can't just idle all day doing nothing, can we?" A lithe figure in a tight-fitting mermaid-tail skirt moved slowly across the floor, smiling lightly at Yan Lingji.

"Pavilion Lord, this is the tribe of the Moon Wolf Descendants, who, because they could drive away wolves and use poison in the Northern Border, were hated and hunted by other wolf tribes. Our city lacks people, so I discussed with Hall Master Ye and took them in..." Madam Mingzhu gazed at Yan Lingji with downcast eyes, smiled, and tilted her head toward Zhou Shuo, gesturing for the four figures behind her to step forward.

"Greetings, Master." Whether old or young, male or female, the four in animal-skin garments knelt devoutly before Zhou Shuo.

"From now on call me Pavilion Lord! I hope you do your work well." Zhou Shuo looked at the four men and women, old and young, waved his hand lightly, freeing them from slave status. As a modern person, he was not used to others kneeling, let alone being called slaves and maids.

"You did well on this matter. How about the Nine Sections?" Zhou Shuo waved the four wolf people aside, praised Madam Mingzhu, and then asked.

"He is currently negotiating with the Ten Wolf Tribe Chanyus; thanks to the Pavilion Lord's favor, our city can add more population!" Madam Mingzhu smiled gently, glanced at Yan Lingji with a look that was there and not there, while Yan Lingji's gaze sank slightly.

"Mm, you've done well. I need to consider what kind of reward to give you." Zhou Shuo looked at Madam Mingzhu's gentle smile and Yan Lingji's darkened gaze, couldn't help rolling his eyes inwardly—this woman seemed to enjoy palace intrigue wherever she went.

"What reward will the Pavilion Lord bestow?" Madam Mingzhu looked at Zhou Shuo, a glint of light flashing in her phoenix eyes.

"I need to think and prepare." Zhou Shuo gazed at the alluring woman's eyes, couldn't help lifting his chin slightly—this woman used to be the fierce general of the Night Curtain, the seductive demoness who influenced the King of Han's decisions, and also had ties with another fierce general, Bai Yifei; she's a troublemaker who likes to play with power.

"Then please Pavilion Lord, think it over well." Madam Mingzhu looked at the vigilant meaning in Zhou Shuo's eyes, her gaze subtly withdrawing, her graceful figure inclining respectfully, while she joked at the corner of her mouth, her tone soft and compliant.

"How about the liaison with Li Kai—how is it going?" Zhou Shuo looked at the soft-spoken woman, lowering his gaze slightly.

"We've made contact; they're doing fine, already settled by the Sanghai shore, organized boats, preparing to travel the water route along the coast to meet us at Fanyang." Yan Lingji, however, immediately jumped in to speak.

"Mm, what else is lacking in the city?" Zhou Shuo looked at the girl who had answered, pursed his lips slightly, and asked.

"Nothing's lacking. With Madam Mingzhu's coordination, we've taken in some wolf people; Hall Master Ye has already opened the passage to Zao Yang, exchanged horses for plenty of supplies, and gathered some manpower. Qin has successively annexed Han and destroyed Zhao; the world is now thoroughly chaotic, many people don't know where to go..." Yan Lingji glanced at Madam Mingzhu, explained the matter slowly—because of the war, many have been displaced, so the city has a source of population.

"Not bad, truly not bad." Zhou Shuo nodded.

"Besides 'not bad,' what else can you say?" Yan Lingji couldn't hold back; it's always "not bad, not bad."

"With you like this, what can I say? I also can't help much besides praising." Zhou Shuo rolled his eyes, making Yan Lingji blush involuntarily, while Madam Mingzhu raised her eyebrows, gazing down at the ground, counting ants.

"Alright, everyone out! I need to cultivate and prepare rewards for you. Oh, right—where did I put my treasures?" Zhou Shuo looked at the two women of different temperaments yet both lovely, waved them away while sighing inwardly—this internal elixir method hasn't been completed, truly frustrating!

"They're being kept by that girl from the Fire Rain Mountain Villa, placed in the side room." Madam Mingzhu crossed her arms, looked at Yan Lingji, and pointed with her chin to the side building for Zhou Shuo.

"Thanks, and also—everyone gathering together in this troubled world is not easy; you've at least shared hardships, so... I won't say more." Zhou Shuo glanced at the somewhat haughty Madam Mingzhu, couldn't help uttering two sentences, then without waiting for the two glaring women to speak, he flashed away, leaving only the two women staring at each other, while the four Moon Wolf Descendants quietly slipped out.

After a long stare, Yan Lingji let out a cold snort, turned and left, while Madam Mingzhu gave a bewitching smile, lightly scratched her forehead hair with her hand, but when she gazed toward the room's direction, her eyes sank again—this man clearly is interested in her, yet he simply cannot grasp it; what should she do? Should she leave now? But if she leaves, where could she go?

"What, still not gone?" Zhou Shuo returned to the side building holding a few jade pendants and hairpins, seeing the person still standing inside.

"Pavilion Lord, you don't welcome me?" Madam Mingzhu looked at the fellow returning with the jade pendants and hairpins, couldn't help smiling charmingly.

"How could I not? You're such a great beauty—how could I not welcome you!" Zhou Shuo looked at her charming smile, yet her eyes were like sea waves, couldn't help laughing a little—regardless of her past, she's beautiful, and hasn't yet harbored any ill intentions toward him; that much is certain.

"So my humble appearance still counts as a beauty, Pavilion Lord—you don't even glance at me once!" Madam Mingzhu walked gracefully to Zhou Shuo's front, looking at this man who shows no reaction toward her.

"A beauty is still just a person—skin, hair, flesh, blood, bones. Looking once or twice makes no difference." Zhou Shuo gazed at Madam Mingzhu's exquisite figure and delicate face, had to admit she was a natural stunner; although her heart has a slight flaw, outward beauty is enough—unfortunately, at this stage he can only feast his eyes.

"Then how can I make the Pavilion Lord notice a difference?" Madam Mingzhu stared directly into the man's eyes, raising her brows slightly.

"Mm, I value inner beauty—showy outside but wise within, well-read and polite, gentle and virtuous, white-collar beauty, office lady... uh, I went off topic, went off topic." Zhou Shuo looked at Madam Mingzhu's chest and her bearing, nodded, spoke his preferences, then felt something was off.

"But! If you work hard, one day you'll move me—I'm optimistic about you." Zhou Shuo reached out and patted the bewildered woman's round, smooth shoulders to show his comfort.

"White-collar beauty, office lady—what are those?" Madam Mingzhu felt a bit bewildered, but seeing the fellow patting her shoulder, couldn't help asking curiously.

"Mm, that's just some clothing styles, they suit your temperament—look." Zhou Shuo looked at the eager-to-learn younger sister, snapped his fingers, sent out a thread of thought, materializing a template of a high-heeled tube skirt blouse—of course only the clothing, not daring to materialize a real person.

"Black, white, and gray combined look best—this gives a stern, proper appearance." Zhou Shuo solemnly explained to Madam Mingzhu.

"Mm, indeed it has a certain charm—do you like this style?" Madam Mingzhu listened to Zhou Shuo's words, imagined wearing this outfit, couldn't help raising her brows—though the design is odd, wearing it would also seem to have a certain aura.

"Exactly, you got it right—you're truly sharp." Zhou Shuo looked at the serious woman, wanted to laugh but held it in.

"Don't even think about it." Madam Mingzhu looked at the fellow suppressing laughter, raised her eyebrows sharply, turned and strode away—this lecher.

"I actually value inner beauty, but your outfit isn't bad either." Zhou Shuo called out as Madam Mingzhu turned away, actually this mermaid-tail skirt is nice, though it'd be better to show some back and arms for more allure. Facing Zhou Shuo's shout, Madam Mingzhu, with her back turned, smiled and rolled her eyes, walking straight off without paying him any heed.

"Do as you will." Zhou Shuo watched the figure walking straight away, couldn't help laughing and shaking his head—sometimes after seeing through things, relations between men and women are just that; appearance doesn't withstand the test of time—now it's a lovable pearl round and jade smooth, but in ten years it'll be faded and aged, skin, hair, flesh, blood, bones, inside also just filthy—sigh, when will I get to be filthy myself.

Thinking of his internal elixir method that still hasn't been completed after who knows how long, Zhou Shuo let out a long sigh, set down the jade pendants and hairpins, then began experimenting with Divine Machine Hundred Reflections, crafting a batch of defensive treasures to practice—both to protect Hall Master Ye and the others, and to fulfill the rewards he promised, so as not to show just a trick or two, how could he bind them tightly to him?