Chapter 2260 - 2263: The Mermaid Princess Courting

The charming Mermaid Princess Jinli Qianning, holding the late-night snack she had meticulously prepared for Shen Qiang, entered the room shyly just as Bianyi was logging off after reporting the battle outcomes. Shen Qiang's heart was flooded with joy upon seeing her shy demeanor, her beautiful eyes avoiding his gaze, and her noble posture.

Although he wasn't on site, Shen Qiang was overjoyed, feeling utterly satisfied.

After all, the video clearly showed 11 Storage Rings, 109 Qiankun Bags, and many weapons and Magical Treasures, all waiting for Shen Qiang to come back and open.

There must be good things inside.

After all, saying that these bounty hunters and cultivators, who deal in dirty work, don't have some real treasures on them would be a joke.

Not only that, but even more surprising was the fact that Heshenghe hadn't lost any members.

This was more important than anything else.

Because Heshenghe's staff development had actually hit a bottleneck.

Hidden Sword Villa had money and people, and they wouldn't follow Shen Qiang to work.

Baihua Palace was all women.

Carefree Valley was a group of grave diggers, quite mysterious, with combat power not so strong, and since their Young Master had died at Shen Qiang's hands, although Bianyi became their son-in-law, there was little hope of bringing them into Heshenghe.

As for other small sects and loose cultivators,

A sect with just a few members whose abilities are poor would only be a burden to Heshenghe, which they cannot accept.

So for a considerable period in the future, Heshenghe's personnel composition would be roughly the same as it is now.

Bianyi had over twenty cultivators under him.

Next was Kang Luoying's part of Qingyun Sword Pavilion.

Then, the core was more than three hundred Great Demons.

The demons that were meant to come should have come already; those not yet aligned with Heshenghe would not join, and even if there's an increase, it would be slow.

To truly grow in personnel, the hope lies in collaborating with Baihua Palace's physical education school to unearth enough talented youngsters and send them to Qingyun Sword Pavilion for cultivation, but even then, expecting them to rise in less than decades is unrealistic.

So the current members of Heshenghe are irreplaceable treasures.

If they are lost, they are just lost.

As for the cultivators hired with money, or those wishing to join, Shen Qiang bears no goodwill toward them now.

After all, when Shen Qiang offered astronomical rewards, few cultivators came.

Now that Heshenghe seems promising to them, do they think Shen Qiang would accept them? Would he give them a chance?

Even if Shen Qiang is willing, it is unrealistic to expect these opportunistic cultivators to fight to the death for him.

Therefore, preserving strength is critical, as these individuals might become key generals in Heshenghe in the future.

Regarding those who lost bets and work for Heshenghe, efforts should be made to win them over little by little; if in ten years they wish to stay, all the better. If they want to leave by then, it will be hard to keep them.

Especially for prodigies like Chu Xiaotian, the possibility of staying is not impossible, but certainly not high.

In this regard, Baihua Palace Master Weisheng Zhimei suggested that Shen Qiang help those alchemists settle in Heshenghe and recruit their children as disciples, ensuring they stay.

But when Shen Qiang agreed and asked Weisheng Zhimei to find reliable partners for those young alchemists, the charming Palace Master merely smiled, saying, "Ha, you want my help? Come plead with me," before logging off.

Then, amidst a multitude of chaotic matters, this task got forgotten, and the main focus, Heshenghe's core strength, remained the three hundred Great Demons and Qingyun Sword Pavilion. Only with them alive does Heshenghe have a future.

So hearing the news of no casualties sent Shen Qiang's spirits soaring beyond words, while that Young Master Ziyi, considering the death of 120 cultivators, must be heartbroken now.

"You're so beautiful."

Feeling relieved and ecstatic, Shen Qiang smiled as he looked at the incomparable beauty of Jinli Qianning under the light and said, "Just like when I first saw you."

Her face flushed red, and unable to look at Shen Qiang, she said, "Eat the snack."

Shen Qiang smiled at her and asked, "Qianning, don't you want to say something to me?"

With a noble demeanor and a faint smile, Qianning glanced sideways and said, "No."

Shen Qiang chuckled, and after devouring the night snack, he looked at Jinli Qianning, who didn't dare meet his gaze, then sat beside her, holding her fair, slender hand, softly saying, "Qianning, you are truly beautiful. I know you're not good with words and may not know when to say what, but it doesn't affect how I see you."

Hearing this, Qianning's face flushed even redder, sitting straight and too nervous to breathe.

She looked out the window and said, "Uhm, do you really not care?"

Shen Qiang smiled and said, "I really don't care, because you are you, unique, with no need to conform to societal norms like others."

Her face turned crimson, her eyes showing a hint of excitement; nervously, she glanced at Shen Qiang and said, "Uhm, I was wondering, can I sing you a song?"

Shen Qiang was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Of course you can."

Jinli Qianning's face turned ever redder, her voice shy as she said, "This song is only for you. Also, can we go to the deck?"

Shen Qiang was surprised, then laughed, "Of course we can."

Her face instantly blushed to her neck, then gracefully rose, leading Shen Qiang outside.

At that moment, the sea was covered with dark clouds, and the waves were high.

Standing by the somewhat unstable railing, Shen Qiang wanted to praise the scenery, but Qianning shyly said, "Wait for me."

Then, under Shen Qiang's surprised gaze, she quietly slipped into the water.

This left Shen Qiang momentarily puzzled.

Eating snacks, Ye Guyun curiously asked, "Where did she go?"

"I don't know." Shen Qiang was somewhat confused.

But almost simultaneously, as Shen Qiang was confused, the sound of wind on the sea ceased abruptly, and immediately, a song that made Shen Qiang's heart pound resounded clearly.

Not only that,

Almost the moment the song started, the dense clouds vanished.

Not only did the bright moon appear in the night sky, but the wind and waves also disappeared without a trace.

Moreover, accompanied by the song, a colossal figure wearing a crown-like ornament and beautifully adorned rose slowly from the distant sea horizon.

"She's so big."

As Shen Qiang was astonished, Ye Guyun burst into laughter and then, blushing slightly, spat and said, "So this is how mermaids court. I'm leaving; enjoy watching."