Zhou Kai’s fingers tapped lightly against the tabletop, producing a steady, rhythmic sound.

He sized up Wang Qiaoqiao. “A direct descendant of the Wang family, mid-grade Spirit Root, not yet twenty years old.”

“From what I know, with such aptitude in the Wang family of Crouching Tiger Mountain, even if you aren’t considered top-tier, you are definitely a core member.”

“So why are you merely a concubine? Not even a secondary wife?”

A bitter smile touched Wang Qiaoqiao’s lips, tinged with self-mockery.

“You don’t know the whole story, Fellow Daoist Zhou.” She sighed softly, sounding as if she were explaining, yet also confiding.

“That Chen Xingze was born with a superior-grade Spirit Root.”

“With such natural talent, even without a Foundation Establishment Pill, his chances of stepping into the Foundation Establishment realm far exceed those of ordinary cultivators.”

“Moreover…” She paused, her tone growing complex. “I presume you are also aware that the Chen family recently, by some stroke of luck, managed to obtain the main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill in the Desolate Herb Garden.”

“They only need to gather a few supplementary herbs and hire an alchemist. Chen Xingze is all but certain to establish his foundation.”

Wang Qiaoqiao continued, “And within the Heavenly Spring Sect, a Golden Core Elder has already made his intentions known.”

“As soon as Chen Xingze successfully establishes his foundation, he will be taken on as a Personal Disciple.”

“A disciple of a Golden Core Elder…” A flicker of envy passed through her eyes before dimming into resignation. “Achieving the Great Dao of the Golden Core in the future is not impossible for him.”

“Such a heaven-favored prodigy… his Dao Companion should naturally be a heaven-favored maiden of equal standing, or perhaps someone from an even higher-ranking family.”

“My meager aptitude probably isn’t worth a second glance in their eyes.”

She picked up her teacup but did not drink, merely watching the tea leaves float and sink within the amber liquid.

“Although our Wang family is a Foundation Establishment clan, they desperately wish to seize this opportunity to latch onto the Chen family’s rising ship.”

“The uncles and Elders in the family have long since made arrangements with the Chen family.”

“The moment Chen Xingze successfully establishes his foundation, I am to be sent over to serve as a concubine.”

“All under the fine-sounding pretext of considering the family’s long-term interests.” The corner of her mouth lifted into a cold, cynical curve.

Zhou Kai understood now.

It was a naked exchange of interests—investing in a potential stock using the future of a young woman from the clan. Wang Qiaoqiao was simply a bargaining chip placed on the shelf, ready to be sacrificed for profit.

He spoke again, his tone calm. “Chen Xingze’s future is indeed bright. Those wanting to latch onto him are likely as numerous as carp crossing a river.”

“Within the Wang family itself, there must be many women eyeing this marriage alliance. Why has this ‘bargain’ landed squarely on your head?”

Wang Qiaoqiao gave another self-deprecating smile. “Fellow Daoist Zhou has hit the nail on the head.”

“There are naturally plenty of female cousins who want to climb the social ladder by marrying well, scrambling and pushing to get close to him.”

“So… naturally, the Wang family won’t send just me. From what I know, there are at least three of us.”

“There’s one elder cousin whose aptitude is similar to mine but possesses a slightly stronger background. She has been designated as a secondary wife. Another younger cousin is in a situation similar to mine—also a concubine.”

Her words carried deep helplessness and resentment.

Zhou Kai remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his words before speaking.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, becoming a concubine for a disciple of the Heavenly Spring Sect’s Golden Core Elder is also…” Before Zhou Kai could finish saying “is also not necessarily a path without prospects,” he was interrupted by Wang Qiaoqiao.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou!” Wang Qiaoqiao’s voice suddenly rose sharply. “I am a businesswoman. I only engage in win-win transactions!”

“My aptitude, my Primordial Yin essence, everything about me should be invested in my own path of cultivation!”

“Why should I become someone else’s plaything to be plucked at will? Why should I ruin my own prospects for the sake of another person?”

“This transaction benefits the Wang family; it benefits Chen Xingze. Does it offer even half a benefit to me, Wang Qiaoqiao?”

Seeing that Zhou Kai showed no immediate intention of rejecting cooperation and instead patiently listened to her venting, Wang Qiaoqiao felt slightly reassured.

Since she had started speaking her mind, she no longer concealed her ambition and determination.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried weight.

“I’ve heard that Chen Xingze is cold-hearted by nature, mean-spirited and ungrateful, and extremely concerned with face. Marrying over there… no, being sent over… my fate would likely be miserable.”

This woman was willing to take risks and pay any price to change her destiny.

This bore some resemblance to his own past self as a Bandit Cultivator.

“Given Chen Xingze’s talent and his family’s full support, I estimate he can establish his foundation within a year at most,” Wang Qiaoqiao said urgently, her anxiety evident.

“A year…” She repeated softly, a flicker of panic in her eyes. “The time is too tight.”

She suddenly raised her head and looked intently at Zhou Kai. Deep in her gaze lay an all-or-nothing desperation.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou… if you could help me refine a Foundation Establishment Pill…”

“If I could reach Foundation Establishment before Chen Xingze, or shortly after he does…”

“By then, I would be a Foundation Establishment cultivator! The family’s attitude might completely change!”

The value of a clan member at the Foundation Establishment stage was far beyond that of a mere Qi Condensation marriage pawn.

Her breathing became rapid; her chest rose and fell visibly.

“Even if… even if after one year my cultivation hasn’t reached Qi Condensation Great Perfection and I can’t establish my foundation…”

“As long as I have a Foundation Establishment Pill in hand, I’ll have leverage to negotiate with both the Chen family and my own clan!”

“At least I could strive for a better outcome instead of being manipulated at will!”

After speaking, she stared fixedly at Zhou Kai and said no more.

For a moment, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhou Kai pondered for what seemed like an eternity before slowly shaking his head.

“Fellow Daoist Wang… forgive my bluntness.”

“Even if we had all the spiritual herbs required for the Foundation Establishment Pill right now, and I could start refining it for you immediately—and guarantee its success…”

“You are currently only at the fourth layer of Qi Condensation. There is absolutely no way you could succeed in establishing your foundation within one year.”

“As for what you said about using the Foundation Establishment Pill for negotiation?” Zhou Kai’s tone carried the chill of cold reality. “Your father has recently passed away; you’ve become rootless driftwood within your clan. A single Foundation Establishment Pill in your hands would only be an invitation for disaster.”

“Those uncles and Elders—even the Chen family—have plenty of ways to arrange your ‘accidental’ death and then rightfully take possession of the pill.”

The color drained from Wang Qiaoqiao’s face; the light in her eyes dimmed further.

She thought Zhou Kai was politely refusing her request.

Yes… it was all just wishful thinking after all.

She bit her lower lip tightly; bitterness and resentment welled up inside her heart.

Was she truly destined to accept this fate?

“However…” Zhou Kai abruptly changed tack, his voice taking on an air of amusement.

Wang Qiaoqiao snapped her head up to look at him; faint hope rekindled in her eyes.

Zhou Kai leaned forward slightly; his gaze rested on her delicate yet anxious face.

“Fellow Daoist Wang… have you never considered… completely severing ties with your clan?”

Sever ties with her clan?

She immediately let out another bitter laugh, speaking self-mockingly. “Considered it? Of course I’ve considered it!”

“But what would happen after leaving my clan?”

“Flee Crouching Tiger Mountain and become an unaffiliated Loose Cultivator?” She shook her head; her tone held traces of desolation. “The life of a Loose Cultivator is precarious day-to-day; dangers lurk everywhere. Forget whether I could survive—my clan would also be furious and send people after me.”

“I might die violently out in some wilderness someday without anyone even collecting my body. That end would probably be a hundred times more miserable than becoming Chen Xingze’s concubine!”

Zhou Kai picked up his teacup again and took another small sip, seemingly unsurprised by her answer.

“The path of Loose Cultivation is indeed difficult… but what about becoming an inner disciple within another sect?”

“You mean joining the Heavenly Spring Sect?” Wang Qiaoqiao gently shook her head. “Even if by some chance I managed to enter the Heavenly Spring Sect… what would change?”

“The Heavenly Spring Sect ultimately protects our Wang Clan, too. I’d still remain ‘part of the Wang family.’ Nothing would change!”

“If Chen Xingze truly becomes a Personal Disciple under a Golden Core Elder, the sect would only want to add icing on the cake—why would they interfere with a marriage alliance between subordinate families for the sake of an insignificant new disciple like me? That path has likely been blocked already!”

She saw clearly: The great tree called the Heavenly Spring Sect couldn’t provide shelter from stormy winds for someone like herself.

Zhou Kai set down his teacup once more, the corners of his mouth curling into a mysterious smile.

“The Heavenly Spring Sect naturally won’t do…”

“But Fellow Daoist Wang… do you know… beyond Crouching Tiger Mountain… there exist other sects besides just the Heavenly Spring Sect? Calamity Abyss Valley acts without restraint… Lone Goose Palace widely recruits talented oddities… these two factions have long-standing friction with the Heavenly Spring Sect…”

“I happen to know a method of joining these two sects… though this method is extremely perilous… and would require me to pay a great price…”

“What?!” exclaimed Wang Qiaoqiao involuntarily. She shot up from her chair so abruptly she knocked over a nearby teacup—tea splashed onto the hem of her dress unnoticed!

Her eyes widened incredulously as she stared at Zhou Kai, wondering if she had misheard.

Calamity Abyss Valley?! Lone Goose Palace?!

Those were major powers standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Heavenly Spring Sect! Great sects operating outside the sphere of influence of the Heavenly Spring Sect!

If she could join either of these two great sects… neither the Chen family nor the Wang family could touch her there!

But how was that possible?!

Wang Qiaoqiao’s excitement was quickly suppressed by reason. She sat back down in her chair.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou… are you joking?”

“Calamity Abyss Valley and Lone Goose Palace never accept disciples from families affiliated with other sects… they avoid it to prevent suspicion!”

Zhou Kai’s smile didn’t fade; his eyes were deep and unfathomable, as if everything was under his control.

“Rules are dead things… people are alive!”

“But I have my own methods.”

He didn’t explain exactly what those methods were—he just looked at Wang Qiaoqiao with unwavering certainty.

Hmph! Methods?! Naturally, they are non-existent! First stabilize the person, then cheat them out of the good stuff later!

Zhou Kai inwardly chuckled while maintaining a sincere expression outwardly.