This tactic works every time. When people face someone who is cheerful, talkative, and smiling, they usually leave a very good impression. If they meet someone who is shy, stammers, and timid, it's easy to suspect them of having some improper motive.

Another thing is that he must not show weakness.

The moment Jiang Feng saw the other party talking to him, many thoughts had already crossed his mind. Even a casual remark was well thought out. Mentioning the couple was naturally to cut off the other party's idea of digging up secrets. After all, Cen Yueyue's face was a troublemaker wherever she went. Making the relationship clear could avoid a lot of trouble, after all, not everyone is a traitor.

But Jiang himself is.

Secondly, he wanted to block the other party's retreat and give a reasonable explanation for his previous rude behavior during the probing: "I'm just here for the first time, don't know the rules, whatever mistakes I made, please don't hold it against me."

Oh, and a slight touch of humility, since he's the junior.

In contrast, Cen Yueyue was much more arrogant, simply glanced at the other person without saying a word, not because the new calf is not afraid of the tiger, but rather she didn't consider this mid-grade Nascent Soul cultivator worthy of attention.

A fun fact.

When the Cen Family Village wanted to arrange a marriage for Cen Yueyue, the minimum requirement was to achieve Divinity Transformation before a hundred years old, then you would be eligible to make a proposal.

Oh, being able to meet her was another matter.

As expected, after hearing Jiang Feng's first words, his expression visibly changed a bit, showing a slight disappointment but not unexpectedly. After all, if a couple could travel far together like this, they were most likely companions.

Without getting tangled up, that cultivator just smiled and said, "Brother Jiang has good taste, having such a beauty by your side at this age, truly blessed, a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven."

"Hey, you flatter me, sir. With your level and appearance, female cultivators from ten miles around aren't for your picking. Our sect has plenty of young and beautiful senior sisters to introduce to you… hissing, ouch, that hurts!"

Took a sharp breath.

Turning around, it was Cen Yueyue's eerie and terrifying expression, almost like a tigress about to devour someone.

"May I ask, what is your name, sir?"

Immediately changed the topic.

"Zhao, Zhao Ye."

"Brother Zhao, my apologies, may I ask what brings you to me?"

Quickly getting friendly.

Jiang Feng knows how to observe and read people's expressions. Sometimes his emotional intelligence seems low not because he doesn't know what words to use on what occasions, but because he intentionally says what you don't want to hear to disgust you.

Being out and about, he certainly won't choose to court death. After catching a glimpse of fleeting disappointment in the other's eyes after the first sentence, he immediately realized he needed to start the conversation around the term "female cultivator."

So, Jiang Feng's image in his eyes immediately became one who knows how to engage in banter, with all sorts of tricks to make women happy. This was someone he urgently needed to connect with, given he'd been stuck at mid-grade Nascent Soul for ten years, his age had room for improvement.

However, some people really can't bear their impatience. After decades of arduous cultivation like a day, being stuck before the threshold is always a reason to seek some other methods or new pathways.

Thanks to Jiang Feng deliberately slipping in a few off-color remarks, the slightly tense atmosphere changed considerably, ending with the latest sentence shifting from reactive to proactive. Originally, Zhao Ye just came to check if this pretty girl was accompanied by a Dao partner, but now he not only learned she was married but also had to voluntarily give up some intel.

There's simply no way he could just say.

"Oh, it's nothing, I just called out to you because I thought you were handsome."

But…

Jiang Feng could pull off something like this.

His gaze slightly drifting, Zhao Ye quickly figured out how to respond, mainly because the young man surnamed Jiang in front of him seemed decent enough, being in his twenties and already at mid-grade Core Formation realm. Even among the Dragon, Flood, and Snake tribes, he was a talent worth cultivating.

So this kid's background is certainly not bad, including his female cultivator companion; such a young and pretty woman's cultivation was probably a notch higher than his, although due to the magic treasure Cen Yueyue carried preventing people from fully grasping her cultivation, for these experienced cultivators judging a rough estimate was still quite easy.

Such a young age able to capture such an excellent female cultivator must mean his sect put in quite an effort, and hence Zhao Ye boldly came to a conclusion:

An heir from an influential family out for experience!

Actually.

He really guessed right.

"I stopped the two of you just now because you seemed new here and unfamiliar with our Dongyue customs. If you offended someone by misspeaking, neither of you would wish it. Moreover, both of you are remarkable, many experts in the city wouldn't want to make an enemy over small matters, so I caught up to inquire. But I am sure; you both are outsiders based on your attire, from the west?"

"Brother Zhao, you have sharp eyes. If this continues, I fear you will guess nearly everything, including which sect I'm from. Come, please."

Their attire did not lead Zhao Ye to think they were from the south. Jiang Feng nodded naturally, gesturing with an inviting hand and finding a teahouse by the roadside to sit down.

Zhao Ye did not refuse, although his job was to maintain law and order in Dongxing City, here nobody dared to make trouble. This was the domain of the Nine Gates; even a Body Integration expert would find it challenging to escape unscathed if he made a move within the city, so his position was relatively leisurely.

Very graciously sat down, knowing how to roughly guess Jiang Feng's origin was because recently various sects' martial competitions had concluded, including their Dongyue disciples.

Throughout the process, Cen Yueyue didn't speak up, of course, she wasn't sulking either. Her poker face was gone as soon as the other said "a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven," appearing in a good mood. Besides, it was her man discussing business, there was no need for her to butt in.

"Since Brother Jiang offered this tea, naturally I can't drink it in vain."

"In Dongxing City, no, within the Dongyue Three Kingdoms, some things can be said, some things cannot; some things can be said in front of others, some cannot."

"You and a Snake Demon met earlier, newcomers tend to be curious about Snake Demon's physique and form. Brother need not mind, but I advise you to be cautious and never mention the term Demon Race within Dongxing City."

His expression showed a hint of confusion.

But Zhao Ye soon provided the answer.

"It's not that Dongxing City has issues with the Demon Race. On the contrary, both share a lineage, and many even share a common ancestor. If you check genealogy, you might even recognize relatives in the Demon Domain."

"However, there's a difference in bloodline between the two. The Snake Demon you referred to, or the so-called Demon Race you see in Dongyue is not the Demon Race. They are called the East Sea Clan, a demon race with superior bloodlines, once the pride of demonkind."

"Several lineages journeyed afar due to changes many years ago, possibly due to war or power struggles. The specifics are beyond us descendants to fathom. Still, most East Sea Clans believe their bloodline superior and regard other demonkind as barbarians."

"Don't feel it's arrogance on their part. If you've seen pure-blooded East Sea Clan in action, you'll understand my words are true. There is indeed an inexplicable difference between them and common demonkind. If Brother has seen the human form of demonkind, seeing that Snake Demon should make a stark contrast evident."

Nodding in deep agreement.

Even on the first meeting, he could sense that the Snake Demon was extraordinary. If he's correct, that woman's status within the clan may not be high, or she wouldn't have been rushing alone.

At this point, Zhao Ye subconsciously lowered his voice. Though people came and went around them, he could compress his voice within a small range using his cultivation, speaking softly.

"That Snake Demon is from one of the remaining Upper Three Sects of the East Sea Clan, someone from the Li Family, a branch of the Imperial lineage, serving the Royal Family for generations."

"While Dongxing City is co-founded by the Nine Gates, they hold significant influence here, maintaining order for the Imperial Family."

"Fortunately, that lass was in a hurry and didn't bother with you, or you two would've gotten involved in some serious trouble as soon as you arrived…"

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