A long silence met Crow’s question. He didn’t mind because he was patient and had nothing to do until the next evening when he set out to follow the trail for runes. For now, he could entertain this—he stopped himself before thinking awful thoughts. She was an influential figure in a dual-cultivator clan. On top of that, she was involved with the vilest sect he knew. There were bound to be worse organizations later, but this one took all his despise for now.

“You know nothing about their worth.” A sultry voice came from the wagon and had a powerful sexual allure. Crow wasn’t moved by it because he knew her background. “It seems like you know who I am. Should I call you Crow or the infamous Vault Phantom?”

“I’m sure I do not know what you are talking about. Crow is fine,” he said confidently. And for the record, he still hated that nickname.

The woman giggled, and even if she didn’t believe him, Crow wouldn’t admit it. There was always room for doubt, and they couldn’t say for certain as long as that existed. Kafe entered the Temple of Pythons not long after him, so there was a chance he didn’t inform them.

“I’m afraid I still need to take the Song sisters from you. At the very least, I need Song Xue.”

“Why?”

“A lady has her secrets.”

“Then I refuse. No one can take either from me.”

“That’s why I am here. Let’s negotiate. I can provide you with a dozen virgins. Top-class beauties from other sects. Even Saint Erin from the Mender’s Hall isn’t impossible.”

Who? Crow had never heard of Erin, so he wasn’t sure what was going through this woman’s head.

“I’m afraid you have me confused with someone else. Do you think any of this is worth my childhood friend? My lover? My wife? Even if you offered me the Heavens, I’d decline. But someone like you would never understand. You lack the love of a family and can’t understand what that word even means. This mindless rock guarding you isn’t family. He’s just a tool for you. I imagine if he died tomorrow, you’d find another one to replace him.”

Crow was inciting them both to figure out some things, and the way the driver’s shoulder tensed, he knew he had struck a nerve. The changes were very slight, like the minor shift in his jaw, the corner on the right side of his mouth twitching. With his Sage’s Mind, these changes were spotted. He couldn’t see the woman but based on her pause, it surprised Madame Rouge at the very least.

“Not bad. You actually caught me off guard, and I won’t deny a word of it. What if I just want to borrow your wife? She’ll be returned without the slightest bit of harm.”

“Were you not responsible for Acco losing his arm? You promise on the one hand and scheme on the other. Even someone as young as me can see through a grandma like you. There is no sincerity to your words.”

“G-grandma? You damned fool! I’m about the same age as you.”

“I doubt it. Then again, maybe. Based on the stories I’ve heard about you, you started your cultivation career young. Your first dual-cultivation partner was a sick fuck, but that has nothing to do with me.”

“I’ll fucking kill you,” Madame Rouge hissed.

“For speaking the truth?”

“I’m not a dual-cultivator.”

“Like I’d believe that. You are considered an elder of the Durex clan. A dual-cultivation clan. I’m not judging you for that—well, if you started that young, maybe I am judging you. I’m no saint and have many wives. It isn’t something I’m necessarily proud of, but they are my family. I’d die before I let anyone harm them.”

“My lady doesn’t lie.”

“That’s a lie right there,” Crow snorted. “She promised to return my wife without the slightest harm. That’s also a lie. That’s impossible to promise. There is no way in fucking hell I’d trust my beautiful wife to a dual-cultivator. End of discussion.”

“Wait!” Madame Rouge shouted at Crow, and the driver stood in his way.

“You want to do this? I suggest you pay attention to where we are.”

“Both of you can join me,” Madame Rouge finally conceded. “I admit to being rash and harming your people. Even tried to kidnap them. I am not without my flaws. I admit I don’t look at people as anything more than tools. Things to help me achieve my ends.”

“Typical of the Unhulde sect.”

“What the fuck would you know!?” Madame Rouge shouted, finally losing her calm at Crow’s condescending attitude. “You saved those witches, right? Escaped with them and helped change their fate. Quite a few were already victims of my clan, and they targeted the others to become cultivation incubators. Do you think my fate is any different? I’m betrothed to the fucking patriarch of my clan. That’s why I’m still unsullied. No one would dare touch the ‘sacrifice’ to that wrinkly old fuck.”

“Finally, some honesty,” Crow said calmly. *Lily, are the witches watching?*

*They are. I didn’t know you could open a viewport like that.*

*What’s it look like?*

*Two round windows in the sky. We can see what you do and hear it all. Even the nymphs are watching as if it were some exciting play by professional actors.*

*Ask Zoe if that was more bullshit.*

*Crow?* Zoe’s presence replaced Lily’s. *It’s true if the rumors are right. Every ten years, they find a woman to become his bride. They give her all the necessary resources and boost her power quickly. They practically speed the chosen one through the floors using some messed up methods, but they’ve been doing it for centuries. They know how to do it without damaging her foundations.*

*But why?*

*He’ll fuck her dry. Take all of it from her, including her vitality. She’ll be left as an old husk, and if the process doesn’t kill her, she won’t live long after.*

*Your coven is a victim of their clan, so I’ll let you decide.*

*Ask her to explain how you can help.*

“Why Song Xue?”

A sigh came from inside the wagon.

“Her physique and cultivation are unique. The twenty-seventh floor is called Endless Snow. The waters are warm, so it melts, but it also creates this unusual fog across the entire floor. I need something there, and I believe she can get it for me. Song Lin also has a similar physique, but it’s different. It doesn’t carry the same level of frigidity resistance.”

“You think Song Xue can survive the touch of Frigid Mana?”

“Not indefinitely, but long enough to get what I need.”

“Two things you need to be clear about before I even consider talking to my wife. First, what are you trying to get? And you are asking a lot of us, so what are you willing to trade?”

“Tell him,” the driver said expressionlessly. He knew Crow would disagree otherwise because he recognized his unbending nature. Not to mention the trouble they’ve already caused his group. The driver felt the push of fate working against them and doubted they could force Song Xue. He was the one that convinced Madame Rouge to talk to Crow.

“I need Basil of Perpetual Ice, which is said to be found in that place. The chances of it being there are high. If not… I’ll need to climb to the Ice Shield floors above sixty. I’m not sure I have that much time.”

Crow wracked his mind for information on this plant but didn’t have anything. To be fair, most of the books he read on herbs, alchemy, and botany were related to the first thirty floors.

“What does it do?”

“It’s part of a recipe that can change my physique to Maiden of Infinite Sorrows.”

“What the fuck kind of physique is that, and why would you want a tragic-sounding physique?” Crow was trying to understand, but there were a lot of physiques—many of which weren’t known. The known ones all had elemental leanings, but this one didn’t sound like that.

“In dual-cultivation, the men overproduce a fiery element which creates an imbalance in their Source. Women are the opposite. Their essence leans more toward an icy element. Dual-cultivators usually pair with people whose essence is at a similar stage which is also influenced by the physique. Maiden of Infinite Sorrows pushes my essence’s icy element to a stage above Frigid Mana. Even that old fuck would die if he tried to put his dick inside me.”

Crow stared at the wagon in shock. Both at the revelation and the crude way this normally refined woman spoke. He wasn’t sure what to do, but he knew one thing: he wouldn’t decide for Song Xue.

*We don’t know what to say.* Zoe sighed and felt this woman’s existence was more pitiable than theirs. *We don’t mind if you help her, but those Durex bastards are expert liars. If you get her to make a powerful oath stating all that was true and she really means you and Xue’er no harm, then we don’t have much to say.*

*You are just saying that because she is making herself off limits to all men.* Crow rolled his eyes at Zoe, already realizing why they didn’t mind.

*That is part of it, but my coven is all women. That clan raped my sisters, and they know that helpless feeling better than anyone. The inability to protect oneself is a tough truth for victims to overcome. They sympathize with her and even understand why she’s dead inside. Her whole life, she’s probably had no friends, just people who pity her. Jealousy and envy are powerful emotions, and she might have been taunted and bullied. It’s a sad state to live with the idea that you are a sacrifice and, even worse, that she’ll be ridden by an old donkey that’s probably thousands of years old.*

*Stop. I don’t want that visual.*

“Can you step out of the wagon?” Crow asked.

“No.”

“Huh?”

“The wagon is an artifact—you can call it a prison. Madame’s allowed to leave the sect, but only if she’s in this wagon. Once I initiate a camp, she can exit, but only within a certain distance of the wagon.”

“Then open the curtain. If you vow that everything you said is true, that you will not harm nor directly plot against my people or me, then all I can promise is that I’ll talk to Song Xue. I’ll explain the situation and let her decide. If she agrees, I’ll be going too, and you will give us another vow or assurance. That includes what you’ll offer for our help.”

The curtain shifted aside, but he couldn’t tell much about her. She wore a hood and veil, so all he could see were her crystal blue eyes. While he watched, she cut her hand and made a blood vow that everything she said was true. That she would not hurt nor plot against Crow and his people any further, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t keep pestering him.

Before turning to leave, Crow stopped and turned back toward the wagon. The woman was still watching him.

“I… apologize for my harsh words before. Your story is painful, and I thank you for sharing it.”

“Is that a Druid thing? Your Bards are storytellers, right?”

“It is. History should be cherished, and we share it with all generations through story and song. Your story is your history, and those willing to share theirs humble us. It’s considered a lesser principle of our people, but not to me because while power is fleeting, history is not. Without it, we are a rootless people without direction.”

After Crow left, the woman watched him until he disappeared into the market.

“He’s a strange one,” the driver muttered.

“Maybe. I think Crow looks beyond the momentary gains. His vision is longer than most, and he sees small conflicts beneath his notice. I hurt his people and inflicted physical wounds, which Crow ignored because the path of a cultivator is not without conflict. We didn’t kill them or inflict any permanent damage that crosses his bottom line, which means he can look past it,” Madame Rouge said softly. She was a caged bird with only time to plot, scheme, and contemplate life. Nevertheless, she felt her understanding of this world wasn’t as deep as Crow’s. “You’re right. He’s strange.”

The driver chuckled in response.

“Philip, I don’t see you as a tool. My distance is to protect you. They’ve killed my previous drivers because I bonded with them. They killed anyone who showed any affection toward me—”

“Say no more, my lady. I know you aren’t the emotionless ‘Ice Bitch’ they claim you are.”

“Hmph,” Rouge laughed and closed the curtain. “Let’s return, but let me know when he meets up with his wives. Try to protect them from the shadows. Until they decide, I will do as I promised.”

“As you command.”

The wagon rode toward the keystone and disappeared.