After a round of negotiations in the secret chamber, Li Fei and Yusura signed a Principle Contract, sealing the deal.
A Principle Contract was a kind of ritual — it took effect the moment both parties wrote down their names, and if either side broke it, the ritual would rebound upon them. The higher the grade of the contract, the more severe the backlash, and of course, the more expensive the contract itself.
As Li Fei reviewed the contract terms, she turned them over in her mind, searching for any loopholes. Regrettably, she couldn't find any — not yet.
If the contract ran its normal course, she stood to gain considerable wealth, tens of thousands of experience points, and a fresh excuse to get cozy with Nicole. The cost? A handful of academic credits and some expenditure of social capital. Even if the other party were a Heavenly Dog, Li Fei would never truly run roughshod over them without restraint — she would factor in their feelings and carefully manage the temperature, boiling the frog slowly to draw out the benefits bit by bit, lest she overplay her hand and end up on the wrong side of a cleaver. And this was Nicole, no less. The dear dean had been firmly in Li Fei's pocket from day one, but if she went running to her for every little thing too frequently, it might brew some chaotic and unpredictable consequences.
"Well then — here's to a pleasant partnership."
Pushing aside any thoughts of double-crossing her, Li Fei put on her most harmless smile and turned to survey her newfound wealth.
In the center of the secret chamber sat a deceptively crude circular fire pit, its deep crimson flames writhing and leaping within. The color was unnervingly dark, giving off a strangely eerie air. If you stared at those scarlet flames for too long, your vision would begin to blur, and faint, murmuring voices would well up in the back of your mind like half-heard whispers.
Her education hadn't been wasted — Li Fei recognized it at a glance: a Tier-I Chaos Altar. Even rarer and more precious than treasure troves like the Secret Garden or Imp Cellar Cache, this was a true Transcendent structure.
All one needed was a rudimentary grasp of Chaos Magic. Touch the altar and meditate, and within moments, one could comprehend a first-tier Chaos spell — just like that.
These altars were, in essence, rechargeable and infinitely reusable Knowledge Tomes. Their value spoke for itself.
In truth, even a Tier-I altar was significant enough to warrant careful management by the Magic Academy. Higher-tier altars were rare miracles in this world — the cornerstone of any major faction's legacy, irreplaceable for nurturing internal talent and attracting outsiders alike.
Li Fei didn't hesitate for a second. She placed her hand on the altar's rim and meditated with eyes open.
The amplified whispers surged through her mind. The deep crimson flames reached out like the tentacles of a sea monster, coiling around her arms — burning hot, yet somehow painless.
After a dozen or so breaths, a brand-new spell model crystallized in her mind.
Fireball (Lv1)
Spell Effect: Mana coalesces into a fireball, burning and annihilating your enemies.
Cooldown: None
Mana Cost: 10
To Rank Up: 0/100
More is better. Bigger is beautiful. There was probably no spell in this world more quintessentially perfect than Fireball.
Li Fei gave a satisfied nod and resumed pacing the chamber, examining its eclectic collection of stored items, before finally letting out a sigh that was equal parts contentment and mild regret.
Everything in here was Transcendent items and potions, amounting to roughly three thousand gold coins in value. Aside from a few of the potions, none of it was of any direct use to her.
After a moment's thought, Li Fei decided to take the potions and leave everything else where it was, to be turned over to the Academy along with the Chaos Altar.
This was hardly an unusual practice. If a student or instructor discovered resources too difficult to transport during a Folded Space excursion — vast quantities of ore, a rich vein, a mysterious site suitable for constructing a Transcendent structure — they were perfectly free to report it to the Academy without worry. The Academy, in turn, would not insult them with a certificate of merit and a couple of gold coins; it would offer fair and equitable compensation in academic credits.
But it went without saying that the Dean's daughter would receive treatment that was somewhat more equitable than other students.
And the Dean's lover would receive compensation that was somewhat more fair than everyone else.
Put the two together, and you had double the justice.
Not only that, but a transaction built on mutual benefit required no worrying about wearing out one's welcome.
Having made up her mind, Li Fei picked up an empty potion satchel from nearby and reached for the potions.
I'll take these with me. The rest can wait until the deal is done — I'll send someone to collect it then.
"No problem."
With the Principle Contract already signed, Yusura had no reason to quibble over such minor details. He even took the initiative to make Li Fei a suggestion:
"Actually… I have a few subordinates I trust implicitly."
"They could move a portion of the wealth and stash it somewhere else."
— This old thing is a genuine talent.
Li Fei blinked, then quickly grasped what Yusura was implying. She covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"How careless of me not to have thought of that… I'll leave it in your capable hands then, Elder. Move half of it — that ought to do it."
Li Fei had come here with Grace, so the haul from the underground vault and the secret chamber — worth over ten thousand gold coins in total — was naturally meant to be split between the two of them.
But just like transferring assets before a divorce, a little creative maneuvering could ensure one walked away with the larger share.
"Think nothing of it," said Yusura with a jovial grin, having simultaneously done Li Fei a favor and quietly pocketed a little leverage over her.
— This crafty old creature is already planning for life after he gets out. Kill her off, or bring her in?
Ugh — not being able to take the whole thing still stings a little. And those Wisdom Fruits… I need to make Miss Grace my loyal dog as quickly as possible.
Li Fei thanked him politely, then turned back to continue collecting the potions.
Suddenly, her eyes darted sideways — a spark flashed through her mind, and a plan took shape. A plan that was utterly reprehensible… or rather, absolutely brilliant.
She reached into her own belongings and fished out a small vial of a defective antidote potion, then slowly tucked it into the potion satchel.
[Margaret's Antidote Potion (Defective)]
Potion Grade: ?
Effect: Clears toxins from the body upon consumption; induces a flushed and fluttery sensation lasting thirty minutes.
This was something she'd gotten her hands on during her very first visit to Qin's Apothecary, back when she'd bought defective potions.
After learning from Nicole-Mama that miasma permeated this Folded Space and an antidote would be needed, Li Fei had been inexplicably compelled to bring this particular item along — just in case.
Well. Wasn't this exactly the moment it was meant for?
If things did go that way… this lady would absolutely scream for help at the top of her lungs. Hehehe.
Li Fei tittered to herself, her expression unchanged — yet the rich, flower-sweet fragrance of her Charisma, which always seeped off her like perfume, suddenly intensified several degrees.
Morality: -21 → -22
Charisma: 343 → 353
Outside, the tribe was buzzing with life. Half-orcs ran about in high spirits, preparations for the evening's celebration in full swing. Most had already forgotten the clansmen who had died barely two hours ago.
Every now and then, half-orcs dashed out past the village perimeter, acting on the chieftain's orders to invite neighboring groups who hadn't yet decided to join the tribe, urging them to come and share in the festivities.
Li Fei sat atop a large boulder outside the village, idly twisting her fingers out of sheer boredom.
It wasn't until Grace's silhouette came into view that she straightened up, gave a wave, then scooted sideways to make room on the rock.
"Well? Well? The altar worked pretty nicely, didn't it."
Li Fei naturally took hold of her hand, grinning.
Grace sat down beside her, body slightly stiff, her sculpted, refined features as impassive as ever. She answered in as few words as possible:
"Mm."
"We struck gold this time, didn't we?"
Li Fei was visibly delighted. "This tribe's stockpile is worth at least five thousand gold coins, and turning the altar over to the Academy should earn us a nice pile of credits… so how do we split the haul?"
"I don't want any."
Grace shook her head.
Whether it was coming to this Folded Space, using the half-orcs as live training targets, or the negotiation itself — all of it had been Li Fei's idea. The job of taking the half-orcs out had also been handled entirely by Li Fei. Grace had resolved to decline any share.
Li Fei, who had anticipated this, made a show of thinking it over, then spoke with convincing seriousness:
"Absolutely not. Best friends keep their accounts clear."
"I did do most of the work… but for one thing, it was me who dragged you along, and you burned a precious Folded Space entry slot on my account; for another, if you hadn't been outside standing by as backup, I might not have had the nerve to walk in there and negotiate. So — sixty-forty. What do you say?"
Grace was silent for a moment.
"Ten percent is more than enough for me."
"That is absolutely not acceptable! Seventy-thirty, then."
Grace shook her head again.
Li Fei grabbed her by the neck in a mock-petulant stranglehold and gave her a light shake, puffing out her cheeks in a show of indignation. "If the roles were reversed and you'd done most of the work, would you only give me ten percent?"
Grace had no answer to that. She chose silence.
"Then… eighty-twenty! And if you still feel bad about it — when we get back, let me take a bite of your Wisdom Fruit and we'll call it even. The soul damage really has been seriously affecting my Meditation efficiency, you know…"
Li Fei said it in a joking tone, but she was simultaneously reinforcing her image as a straightforward, guileless good girl while slipping in just a hint of pathos — letting it be known just how much the Wisdom Fruit would mean to her.
Judging by the way Grace's poker face subtly grew more solemn, and the way she opened her mouth as if to say something and then stopped — Li Fei understood. This Folded Space trip was going to net her a guaranteed floor of ten Wisdom Fruits.
Objective achieved. Knowing when to stop, Li Fei let a smile cross her face, pushed the hair back from her ear, then stretched her legs out and leaned back slightly, propping herself up with both hands behind her. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes, her voice drifting into something a little languid:
"Honestly, I was a little worried just now — afraid that talking about splitting the profits might make things awkward between us."
"But I suppose that's the thing — compared to everything we've gained on this trip, what I treasure most is still the experience of exploring this Folded Space with you."
A breeze stirred three thousand strands of dark hair, half-veiling her profile. Grace, sneaking glances at her from the corner of her eye, forgot to breathe in that one suspended moment — seized by the urge to reach out and brush the hair aside, unwilling to let that breathtaking, luminous sight be obscured.
…Why had she become even more captivating in just the short time they'd been apart?
Grace's gaze grew hazy, enchantment and bewilderment tangling together in her eyes.
The truth was that in the increasingly tumultuous and indulgent life Li Fei had led since her coming-of-age, her every smile and glance had taken on a new layer of allure — something soft and ripe and knowing. It was a quality that belonged only to a woman who had truly come into herself. No matter how naturally seductive a young girl might be, the most she could manage was a kind of raw, unrefined appeal; she simply could not possess this kind of seasoned, quietly devastating charm.
The result was that, beyond the Charisma bonuses from [Fairy Honeytongue] and [Depravity], Li Fei's base Charisma value had climbed on its own. Even dressed in her mage robe, her Charisma had risen to 353.
If even a straight woman couldn't hold out against it, Grace stood absolutely no chance.
Li Fei suddenly opened her eyes. A glint of roguish mischief surfaced in those captivating irises. "You were peeking at me."
"I wasn't."
Caught in the act, Grace fought to keep the flustered panic from her face. She looked away and replied in a completely flat voice.
"Then why aren't you complimenting me?"
A low, unhurried voice drifted in from right beside her ear.
"What?"
"Compliment me."
At some point, Li Fei's chin had come to rest on Grace's shoulder, her breath warm and fragrant.
Grace's lips moved — and nothing came out.
Li Fei cupped her face in both hands, applied just the faintest pressure, and turned it toward her, making Grace meet her gaze. Her eyes were soft, warm, brimming.
"Look at me. Compliment me."
"Unless you don't want to."
"I…"
The light in Grace's eyes roiled like a pot brought violently to boil, churning and cresting — until she finally steeled herself and forced out a handful of words through what felt like monumental effort: "You… are very beautiful."
"Babe, that is not how you compliment someone."
Li Fei's expression shifted, and she let out a sigh. "At this rate, I'm genuinely worried you'll never find a girlfriend."
"..."
The heart that had been held aloft came crashing down. There was a sharp, squeezing ache. In those sky-blue eyes, threads of bitterness, indignation, and quiet desolation wove themselves together.
Li Fei seemed not to notice at all. A smile suddenly bloomed across her face, and she laughed, bright and sweet: "But for some reason, I really love hearing you compliment me."
"Even when Zhihua-jie compliments me, it doesn't make me this happy."
"I almost want to beg Zhihua-jie to lend you to me as a girlfriend. That would be awfully nice, wouldn't it?"
The forbidden words were spoken in the lightest, most teasing of tones — and yet they lit a genuine fire inside the girl.
— She only got there before me.
— Why is Qin Zhihua allowed, and I am not?
Sorry, Brother… I hope in your next life you'll be a better person.
Trembling, Grace reached out and wrapped her arms around Li Fei's waist.
Li Fei, for her part, acted with all the innocent ease of a girl cuddling a best friend. She grabbed Grace's arms and guided them to hold her tighter, while resting her own head against Grace's shoulder:
"Borrow me your shoulder for a bit."
"I noticed it last time, too — being with you makes me feel… safe. The only downside is it makes me sleepy."
"I'm going to nap. Wake me when the celebration starts."
After a long silence, pale, slender fingertips reached out — hesitating, trembling — toward the back of a hand even whiter than her own.
When that sensation, smoother and softer than silk, traveled from Grace's fingertips to her mind, Grace distinctly felt Li Fei tilt her head up and glance at her for just a moment — then let out a small, adorable hum and tuck her head back into the crook of Grace's collarbone. And those pale, elegant, long fingers gently threaded themselves through Grace's own, pressing their palms together.
"No fidgeting now. Goodnight."
The bonfire blazed. Scorching tongues of flame licked at golden, crackling mutton, fat dripping steadily, the savory aroma hanging rich in the air. In front of every home, a torch had been thrust into the ground, lending this primitive settlement a boisterous, festive glow.
Adult half-orcs ringed the bonfire, singing and dancing, laughter ringing out, their heads turning every so often toward the gleaming, golden-roasted mutton — inhaling the scent with deep, intoxicated pleasure, swallowing their saliva.
The half-orc cubs, meanwhile, were wailing in their mothers' arms, beady black eyes fixed unblinking on the roasting meat, their sparse-furred little hands reaching desperately toward the fire pit, flailing about without cease.
Their mothers whispered again and again in small ears: "Almost, almost — just a little longer and we'll have meat," their ugly, dirty faces wearing an expression of tender warmth that even a human could recognize. Of course, hungry cubs were not so easily soothed, and their mothers could only smile helplessly amid the fussing — catching one another's eyes every now and then, a look of mutual understanding passing between them, offering quiet comfort.
For this unprecedented celebration, the great chieftain Yusura had slaughtered every single lamb he had painstakingly raised and tended, to serve his guests. Other food was on offer without limit tonight, and he had even brought out his most treasured reserve of wine.
The whole tribe had become a sea of joy.
And yet, at the very center of it all, Li Fei sat with her chin propped in one hand, deep in thought — utterly at odds with the festive lights and jubilant atmosphere all around her.
She was running an experiment.
The Moonlight Wolf had proven with its life that killing a Transcendent creature by poison counted toward experience gains.
Which raised an interesting question: if she hadn't administered the poison herself, but instead incited someone else to do it — would a Transcendent creature killed that way still yield experience for her?
Tonight's wedding banquet and celebration was the perfect opportunity to find out.
If it worked… then going forward, when it came to harvesting experience, perhaps she wouldn't always need to get her own hands dirty. There would be considerable room for creative arrangement.
"Friends all, it is my great honor that you have gathered here to attend my son Kenan's wedding."
Yusura, dressed in a white robe, stood upon the wooden dais, his aged face creased with a smile, his voice carrying more vigor than usual:
"And to celebrate our journey to a new world."
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