Chapter 59 - 59 58 Leisurely Interest - Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover - NovelsTime

Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover

Chapter 59 - 59 58 Leisurely Interest

Author: Lazy decadence
updatedAt: 2025-07-14

59: Chapter 58 Leisurely Interest 59: Chapter 58 Leisurely Interest There were still people who came to visit him, such as the relatively aloof Cultivation Family?

Dugu Lan and her cousin Xiao Qiang were the first guests to his courtyard, chatting over a pot of clear tea in the yard.

“Thank you once again…”

As soon as Dugu Lan began to speak, Hou Niao interrupted her,

“Daoist, please stop thanking me.

You’ve thanked me twice, and both times I nearly lost my life…

Is there anything important?

If not, please leave.”

Facing such almost rude frankness, neither cousin minded.

Cultivators often had their eccentricities, like how they, being such beautiful creatures, never lacked for company, yet they were only interested in those who kept a respectful distance—a kind of ailment in itself.

However, the two cousins expressed themselves differently.

The younger cousin was silent but steadfast, while the older one was chatty yet always managed to justify her words.

Paired with Hou Niao, who took the law as his guideline for life, the scene was quite amusing.

Dugu Lan smiled charmingly, not the least embarrassed, and if she wasn’t embarrassed, it meant the embarrassment was on others.

“We’ve come to bid you farewell.

We will head to Miao Gao Town early tomorrow morning, and I wonder if our junior brother Hou will come to see us off?”

Hou Niao had no sympathy for frailty or beauty, “I don’t have the time…”

Dugu Lan’s eyes danced playfully, “That’s why we came today, to say our goodbyes to you in advance.”

Hou Niao was puzzled, “I really don’t understand.

You and I are practically strangers, we’ve got no relationship to speak of.

Aren’t you afraid that by visiting my home, you’ll implicate your Dugu Family?”

Dugu Lan laughed softly, exuding charm, “That’s because you don’t understand the way of life of a Cultivation Family!

To maintain a family’s independence in such a chaotic world, if one lacks extraordinary strength, one must ally with and court the friendship of various heroes for support.”

Hou Niao chuckled, “Courting an Energy Induction minor cultivator?

What are you thinking?”

Dugu Lan playfully tapped her delicate fingers, “A family that has survived for over a thousand years surely has some wisdom in staying alive, don’t you think?

Junior brother, you can’t believe we would wait for such a person to rise before establishing a relationship?

Of course, we’d plan ahead, lay out our strategy in advance; we look at potential, not the present, because recruiting you now is cheaper…”

One couldn’t help but admire this woman who had a unique charm, able to discuss opportunistic matters in a natural manner, without being annoying.

That too was a skill.

“Cheap?

How cheap?

I certainly don’t think I’m cheap.”

“There are many kinds of friends.

Once you grow up, we could only vie for your help through the exchange of interests, which is a last resort—too costly and with no guarantee.

To do it more cleverly, we need to act before one’s rise to fortune; there’s no need to spend any resources, just talk, chat, drink wine, sip tea, and things will naturally fall into place.

In the Cultivation World, friendship is seldom discussed because it can be harmful both ways.

But having true friendship is like saving a huge investment.”

Hou Niao chuckled, “It seems you’ve researched me well; I don’t do friendship, only law!”

Dugu Lan elegantly divided the tea, “That’s why we also have a final tactic, marital alliance.”

Hou Niao was surprised, “Do I, a minor Energy Induction, still have this opportunity?”

Dugu Lan gave him a look, “Just because you don’t have it now doesn’t mean you won’t have it in the future, as long as you’re willing to work hard…”

Hou Niao shook his head, “Forget it, I’m more used to spending money, fair trade, no troubles later.”

Facing such a tough nut to crack, Dugu Lan didn’t have much of a choice; but she hadn’t expected to gain anything right now anyway.

As long as there was a start, as long as she could enter his courtyard, it was a good beginning.

Cultivation was a long journey full of variables, and who could know for certain what the future would hold?

This Hou Niao was just one of the many young talents they planned to make acquaintance with.

With time, like the relentless waves that refine sand, there would come the day when they would see clearly.

“I heard that Mu Shuai’s manor has cut your supply for half a year?

In fact, if you have any needs, I could help you get in touch with a channel, a background from the market square.

They’re willing to provide resource assistance to young Cultivators with potential and ask for nothing in return…”

Hou Niao sighed, “What I fear the most are favors that do not ask for something in return, because it means you might have to pay with your life.

Transactions are better.

If you can do them, you do; if you can’t, you don’t lose the relationship either.

Everyone’s at ease.”

Dugu Lan didn’t insist.

The so-called market square was of course the business of the Dugu Family.

The resources spent investing in Energy Induction Cultivators were ultimately limited, a kind of venture investment.

Cast a wide net, catch some turtles…

This guy’s refusal wasn’t a big deal.

Calculative Cultivators would not readily accept gifts from others, a basic common sense in the Cultivation World.

Deep affection is hard to return, debts are hard to pay…

At least, through these interactions, they could roughly understand the person’s habits, temperament, and preferences, which was also a gain.

The Dugu Family had survived in the Cultivation World for over a thousand years, not by superior martial force, as martial force eventually had limits and would wax and wane.

Their survival hinged on their worldly wisdom.

What was relatively rare in this family was women in charge, with men merely serving as seed-sowing machines.

Seeds could be good or bad, shriveled or plump.

The responsibility of the Dugu women was to promote the growth of the plump seeds, and the variety of the seeds was no longer important.

So, although the Dugu Family always appeared in groups, among the young disciples who joined the Quanzhen Sect this time, there were more than a dozen of them.

Yet the real decision-makers were just the two of them.

In terms of probability, the chance of them catching one or two good seeds was much more reliable than those male family members with the surname Dugu.

This peculiar way of survival guaranteed their standing for a thousand years, which was quite an accomplishment in this world.

Calamities didn’t matter; the key was to find the best seeds amidst the turmoil…

“Miao Gao Town is one of the best regions within the Da Feng Plain, with mountains and rivers, where the land and people are outstanding.

If you have time, brother, you could come and visit.

My sisters and I would welcome you with open arms.”

The key to making acquaintances was persistence; even a stubborn stone would be worn smooth in time.

It’s not the short-term gains or losses that matter, but the long-term relationship.

Even if it takes decades of verbal sparring, some rapport could be built, right?

Regarding this, it’s a hereditary skill for them, perfected to the highest level, and with beautiful companions…

The two said their farewells and went their separate ways, walking down the shaded streets.

Dugu Lan frowned,

“Is this guy really worth our effort in chatting him up?

Cousin, I’m afraid you might be blinded by his shine.”

Xiao Qiang smiled gently, like an orchid blooming in solitude, “Then let’s make a bet, with a ten-year term, to see whether the young talents you fancy, sister, are stronger, or this stubborn stone is harder?”

Dugu Lan curled her lip, “He is just too tough, he doesn’t know when to yield.

In the Cultivation World, there are far too many of such characters who are brilliant for a short while, like shooting stars across the sky, never to be found again.

What is rigid is easily broken, but what is soft endures…

In this world, you’ve got to survive first.”

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