Everyone has an innate appreciation for beauty, and now, with their true faces revealed, the old man marveled.
Wan Lei’s appearance indeed paled in comparison to Wan Liu Chuan's handsomeness, nor did he possess the gentle jade-like yet haughty and aloof aura.
He also lacked the ethereal grace of Wan Hongxin, the white-robed, white-haired swordsman who vanished with a single sword stroke.
However, Wan Lei was still good-looking. After transmigrating into this body, the weakness of his previous delicate appearance was completely gone. He usually smiled, giving off a roguish charm.
As for Fang Xiaoyu…
There was no need to elaborate.
Referred to as the number one beauty in the Central Domain when she was merely a teenager, how could she have garnered the admiration of hundreds of thousands if she lacked world-shattering beauty?
Now that her body had matured, she had blossomed into a graceful young lady. Although she still had a bit of a baby face, with bangs resembling a loli, she appeared even more harmonious and pleasing to the eye. The parts that should have developed had done so, and the curves were now elegantly sculpted. This was all thanks to Young Master Lei’s…
Ahem, I'm getting sidetracked.
In short, upon seeing the true faces of Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu, the old man's eyes lit up. He sized them up, nodding and shaking his head as if selecting chickens at the market for his evening stew.
“What’s with your strange behavior?”
“You two are truly good-looking.”
“Nonsense, you don’t need to tell us that.”
Young Master Lei proudly slung an arm around Sister Xiaoyu’s shoulders. He hadn’t seen Sister Xiaoyu’s peerless face for over a day and truly missed her dearly.
After Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu successfully returned to the Central Domain from Lei Xinghai, the news of their reunion swept through the Lei Feng Realm.
When many commented on their relationship, the most frequent remark was that Wan Lei had taken a fancy to Fang Xiaoyu’s family background, aiming to soar to great heights by leveraging the Fang family's power for his cultivation.
In reality, only Wan Lei knew that his initial attraction to Fang Xiaoyu, while watching the sunset on the Wan Jiao List, when he kissed her in Lei Xinghai, was simply…
Because she was good-looking.
As for family background or connections, Wan Lei had never truly cared. He hadn't relied much on the Fang family's strength, and before that, he hadn't even visited the Fang family. It was merely that his father-in-law, while rescuing his daughter, had incidentally saved him as well.
However, he had also repaid this kindness by saving over a thousand Fang family members and a Mahayana stage elder in the Water Immortal Secret Realm.
Later, during the Old Madam’s birthday celebration, he presented sandalwood worth hundreds of millions.
As for attaching himself to the Fang family to achieve a meteoric rise?
Heh.
Wan Lei had proven through his own actions that he, through his own efforts, had become the true dragon of the Lei Feng Realm.
Consequently, no one spoke of Wan Lei climbing the social ladder anymore.
In fact, more people would say that the Fang family had struck gold,
Wan Lei,
possessed the demeanor of a Thunder Emperor.
“A pity, a great pity.”
The old man shook his head and sighed.
“Can’t you finish your madness in one go?”
“It’s a pity that in this world, being good-looking is a sin.”
The old man’s eyes were clouded, yet they held a helplessness that came from seeing through the mortal world.
He had witnessed too many young, handsome men and beautiful women become playthings of the nobles from the three major powers.
Especially the lord of this land, the Xi family, who were indiscriminate in their affections.
Just thinking about Wan Lei’s ordinary appearance when he was disguised previously had attracted perverts like Xi Ren Duanxiang. Now that he had revealed his true, even more handsome face, wouldn’t the people here go mad with desire to have him?
Wan Lei also understood the old man’s implication, and his expression immediately shifted through a myriad of colors.
In this world filled with perverts,
He,
was like a delicious delicacy, driving those who favored male beauty into a frenzy.
No more talk,
they should leave quickly.
Leaving also required finesse. Of course, they wouldn't just stride off carelessly. If they did, even if the energy fluctuations and chaotic rules prevented time reversal within a few miles, the Xi family’s people could still backtrack in the surrounding areas to see which direction the culprit fled.
Wan Lei set up a simple, one-time teleportation formation. Its destination was random, only roughly eastward, capable of transporting them several dozen miles.
But at the very least, it would prevent others from discovering their whereabouts and allow them to conceal their identities.
Even after reverting to their original attire, they decided to continue their stealthy approach to the fullest.
Ideally, they wouldn't encounter anyone from the Lei Feng Realm here, lest they spread the news.
The world was vast, and with over a thousand people this time, the chances of an encounter were slim.
A simple, ancient city stood majestically on the land. Its city walls were covered in mottled scars and scorched black marks, testifying to its long history weathered by time.
A mile south of the city, in a stretch of barren land, the figures of three people and a donkey appeared.
The donkey let out two snorts and kicked the dirt beneath its feet, expressing its extreme displeasure.
Damn it, there’s no crops to eat here.
“Well, well, what a coincidence, arriving at Jingxian City so quickly.”
The old man looked at the distant city and excitedly patted the donkey.
The donkey kicked him.
“This Jingxian City, I think I’ve heard of it.”
“Of course, this is our next destination.
This city is located at the border between the Xi family and the Bu Zhi Huo family. It belongs to the Xi family. Since it’s a border city, there have been constant skirmishes, and the Bu Zhi Huo family has attacked it several times.
Look at those city walls; they were burned.
The land we stand on, where nothing grows, was also scorched into barren earth during the battles between the Bu Zhi Huo family and the Xi family. This land, alas, might not grow grass for a hundred years.”
No wonder.
The donkey thought.
“I think it looks quite prosperous.”
Wan Lei observed the endless stream of merchants and peddlers at the city gate, and it didn't seem like a border city that had suffered from constant warfare.
“It’s only been peaceful for the past few decades. This is because Xi Ren Liu fully inherited the position of family head and acquired the complete inheritance of the Nether Cold Fire, ranking among the Four Great Powerhouses. Afterward, he swiftly purged internal dissidents, reformed governance, and strengthened his forces. The Bu Zhi Huo family, seeing the Xi family grow stronger, abandoned their desire to carve out a piece of them.
As for its prosperity, it’s easily understood.
Border cities, besides war, have another synonym: commerce.
Jingxian City, situated between two factions, holds a strategic position with access in all directions. It’s an important hub for merchants from both regions to transfer and trade goods. With the cessation of hostilities, merchants, like flies drawn to the smell of rotten eggs, immediately flocked here.
This is why Jingxian City is so prosperous.”
The old man looked at the bustling city gate and sighed,
“Alas, this prosperity is but a moon in the water and a flower in the mirror. It appears to be a vibrant bloom, yet it is like a rootless duckweed.
Once war breaks out, this place will immediately transform into a military stronghold, and as for commerce,
Heh,
let it go to hell.”