The Beauty Cultivation Technique

Chapter 30: Hidden Emotions

Ji Yaoge decided to stay at Shigong Ridge.

After the snow, Shigong Ridge showed no trace of green. The sparse vegetation was buried under the thick snow, reflecting a blinding white light. Ji Yaoge’s decision to stay meant that Bai Yan also remained there. During the day, he helped Xiao Bai in the herb garden outside the cave. These two truly hit it off, with Xiao Bai calling out energetically, "Big Brother Bai," and Bai Yan responding warmly, "Little Sister Bai," turning their work into a lively affair.

"Big Brother Bai, no using spells. Let’s see who’s faster with their hands."

"Sure."

With a flurry, the two began working in the herb garden. Soon, Xiao Bai was exasperated, stopping her cheery calls, "Big Brother Bai, you’re cheating! You’re using spells secretly!" Bai Yan laughed, denying it, which made the little girl even angrier. She turned away, refusing to speak to him. Bai Yan pacified her by producing a summer lotus from his palm, despite the snowy surroundings. Xiao Bai’s eyes lit up, and all her anger melted away as she praised Bai Yan.

Though they were just childish tricks, someone genuinely enjoyed them. Bai Yan, having reached a higher status and cultivation, rarely had to cater to anyone. Usually, his nonchalant smile was enough to garner admiration from his junior disciples. Ji Yaoge could tell that he had genuine affection for Xiao Bai.

He truly liked and pampered her.

It made sense. In the world of cultivation, rare were the people with simple happiness and sorrow. Life beyond a century made people wise and indifferent to life and death, unlike Xiao Bai’s straightforward emotions.

Ji Yaoge let Ren Zhongping bask in the sun, sitting on a stone nearby, watching the two play. She had stayed here for a few days and had almost figured out everything. Xiao Bai handled daily chores while Old Yuan rarely appeared, spending most of his time in the inner cave. As for the true master of this cave, she had yet to meet him or even catch a glimpse. Nevertheless, they trusted her enough to leave Ren Zhongping in her care without further instructions.

Extracting Xiao Wuheng’s secrets from Ren Zhongping was difficult. Though her plan was theoretically sound, executing it was complicated. Her cultivation was not advanced enough, but having made a boast, she had to follow through.

——

With Ji Yaoge’s company, Ren Zhongping could enjoy some sunlight rather than being confined to the stone chamber. His mental state improved considerably, and he no longer had frequent episodes. He behaved like a tamed pet. Apart from mental unwellness, he had no other injuries. The cave's master hadn’t dissected him like the corpses or used painful methods on him. Despite his madness, he lived freely.

During these days, Ji Yaoge focused on building trust. She had no intention of using enchantments on him from the start. Many things required a gradual approach, especially mental persuasion. Trust as the foundation would make it easier. Hence, she genuinely took care of Ren Zhongping.

In his calm state, Ren Zhongping was easy to care for. After walking him around for half a day, she let him sit on a rock to bask in the sun. She herself climbed a higher rock, sitting cross-legged, summoning Gao Badou. Climbing from her back to her shoulder, he lazily sighed, "Why did you summon me?"

Over the years, he had become accustomed to her only seeking him when necessary, allowing him to nap in the jade tube otherwise, with occasional manuals for mutual benefit.

"I need to ask about someone." Ji Yaoge smiled sweetly.

Perhaps her time in the Charm Sect had made her smile more often, with various kinds of smiles.

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"Who?" Gao Badou barely opened his tiny eyes. Always a loner, he knew few people in the cultivation world.

"Xiao Wuheng."

"..." Gao Badou's eyes shot open. Did she have to mention his old nemesis?

Ji Yaoge’s smile persisted as she explained Ren Zhongping’s situation. Gao Badou scoffed, "Are you kidding me? You want to impersonate Xiao Wuheng? Hahaha…" He laughed heartily, but Ji Yaoge’s unwavering gaze soon stopped his laughter. "Alright."

He conceded. Ji Yaoge’s determination was silent yet relentless, never resting until her goal was reached; he had experienced it before.

"Actually, I’ve never truly seen Xiao Wuheng, don't know his appearance. But if you want to deceive the seal by becoming Xiao Wuheng, relying on appearance alone won't work. Xiao Wuheng was born in Wanhua, with parents who were both cultivators, later hunted and killed for their treasures. This tragic event altered his nature. He fled to the ghost realm to cultivate, later returning for vengeance, slaughtering 165 members of the clan responsible for his parents’ deaths. Not even women or children were spared. He is ruthless and calculating." Gao Badou spoke of Xiao Wuheng with lingering fear.

Though he never saw him while confined in the Vermin Tower, he had learned about his ruthless nature through hearsay.

Xiao Wuheng, unpredictable and malevolent, cultivated ghostly techniques, emitting a chilling aura that made people shudder.

From Gao Badou’s description, Ji Yaoge formed an image of Xiao Wuheng in her mind.

"Enduring immense grief in childhood, fostering deep resentment; wandering alone in the ghost realm, his nature must be tenacious and resilient; exacting revenge violently, his aura must be menacing; later, as a semi-master of the ghost realm, he must possess commanding presence—a result of years of leadership…"

"Those traits are easy to emulate, but as a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, his immense spiritual power is challenging to replicate." Gao Badou rained on her parade.

Ji Yaoge shrugged, "I can leverage external help."

"From whom?" Gao Badou eyed her warily, "Don’t involve me in your mess."

"No, not you." Ji Yaoge smiled.

She planned to seek the cave master's help. Meeting him would provide the opportunity to persuade him to share Xiao Wuheng’s secrets.

——

With an initial understanding of Xiao Wuheng from Gao Badou, Ji Yaoge summoned Ren Zhongping. He lay obediently beside her, his messy hair now braided and hanging over the cliff, swinging gently in the air.

Ji Yaoge tilted her head, her voice suddenly raspy with a hint of enchantment, "Ren Zhongping, do you recognize me?"

Ren Zhongping raised his head, his eyes confused, "Fairy sister…"

She lowered her head slightly, locking eyes with him, "Tell your fairy sister about your master."

"My master…" Ren Zhongping's confusion deepened.

"No, don’t speak it. Imagine it." Ji Yaoge’s voice carried a hypnotic quality, "Haven’t you missed your master?"

Ren Zhongping’s eyes grew vacant, lost in distant memories, slowly forming a long-forgotten figure in his mind.

Following his emotional changes, Ji Yaoge peered into his consciousness—this was an advanced technique of the Enchanting Bone Art. The first level awakened spiritual insight, absorbing spiritual bones, experiencing myriad emotions; the second level converted spiritual bones into energy, integrating emotions into the soul sea to rebuild the spirit essence; the third level utilized emotions to captivate and understand minds and souls, known as Heaven’s Envy.

Ji Yaoge had begun practicing the third level after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, though the third level required comprehension rather than cultivation. This technique was akin to the Celestial Demon Dance taught by Ye Long, focusing on emotional control, starting with feeling others' emotions and subtly conveying her own to the audience. However, the Enchanting Bone Art was more profound, not limited to emotions but probing the desired feelings to attract others.

Emotional control was only the foundation; achieving full control over emotions defined the true essence of the third level.

At this moment, she was delving into Ren Zhongping’s heart.

Her spiritual awareness was highly concentrated. Her cultivation wasn’t enough to maintain the Heaven’s Envy for long, and the subject’s mental stability greatly influenced its effectiveness. Fortunately, Ren Zhongping’s madness and trust in her provided an opportunity.

In a blink, a vague figure appeared before her eyes.

It was the Xiao Wuheng in Ren Zhongping’s mind.

——

"Brother Yuan, have some meat!" Xiao Bai cheerfully offered grilled fish to Yuan Huan at the cave entrance.

The freshly animated spirit essence seemed to brim with energy, dragging Bai Yan along to hunt and grill meat after tending the herb garden. The aroma of grilled meat was especially enticing in the cold winter, yet Yuan Huan showed no appetite. He waved away the stick holding the meat, scanning around, "Where is she?"

"Who?" Xiao Bai, disappointed, spat out the tasteless meat she tried to eat despite her wooden body.

"Your original form," Yuan Huan inquired.

"She’s out with Ren Zhongping." Xiao Bai tried another piece of meat, grimacing at its lack of flavor, spitting it out again—this body still wasn’t right.

Yuan Huan’s attention returned to her, as the sky darkened, casting her shadow on the ground, constantly in motion. She was indeed a restless soul.

"I recall you mentioned being Bai Yun, the direct disciple of Mu Xiang Sword Sect’s Grandmaster Xie Lengyue, correct?" he said suddenly.

Xiao Bai’s movements paused. In 198 years, he never inquired about her origins. This identity was what she had reported during her plea for help.

Her silence confirmed it. Yuan Huan continued, "A prodigy who formed a Golden Core within two centuries, remarkable in comprehension and determination, a once-in-a-millennium talent. Your master praised you thrice before the Taichu Sect’s leader during an agreement. I faintly remember…"

The eternal smile on Xiao Bai’s face vanished. Her gaze turned cold, her tone changing abruptly.

"Enough," she cut him off, not wanting to revisit the past.

"You were the pride of the Mu Xiang Sword Sect, highly anticipated by your sect. You must’ve been full of vigor back then," Yuan Huan mused, staring ahead emotionlessly.

The grilled meat was suddenly hurled into the snow. Her wooden face showed fragments of anger and a mix of bloody smiles and tender tears flashing through her mind. The never-ending clank of chains and a person disappearing atop Wanshan’s highest peak…

"Stop talking!" Her smile vanished, eyes now like icy snow under moonlight.

The spirit essence governed emotions; love on one side, hatred on the other.

Yuan Huan fell silent. Likewise, she no longer smiled, her innocence shattered, revealing naked hatred. Her eyes, cold and unwavering, fixed on him. She swallowed her intense emotions and turned away without further words.

The snow bore her footprints, which Yuan Huan observed for a long while before stepping out himself.

A few steps later, his eyes flickered; he pivoted and extended his hand towards a specific direction.

Not far behind him stood a cloaked figure, cold and dark, watching silently.

Before he unleashed his attack, a woman's voice rang out.

"It’s me!" The hood fell back, revealing Ji Yaoge’s face.

Yuan Huan’s attack diverged, smashing into a stone nearby, turning it to powder. His expression turned vicious.

"Feel like Xiao Wuheng?" Ji Yaoge dared to ask.

Yuan Huan’s figure abruptly closed in, seizing her throat, "Amusing, isn’t it?"

His white hair brushed her cheek, his sudden killing intent enveloping her like a meticulously woven net.