Shuidong Liu reached out and brushed her hair aside.
The woman smiled, tucking her long hair behind her ear with one hand.
She took the Cultivation Technique and turned to lean against the desk.
Her full hips pressed against the edge of the desk, and her long, shapely leg brushed against Shuidong Liu’s.
But Shuidong Liu moved his leg away without any attempt to be subtle.
The woman was very surprised.
She was confident that her beauty was in no way inferior to Xiao Yue’Er’s.
Every man who came to see her couldn’t hide the hunger in their eyes.
In all of Celestial Fragrance City, and even throughout the ninety-nine cities of Dongling Mansion, how many men longed to fall at her feet?
Yet this young man’s gaze held nothing but appreciation.
‘That’s right, like taking a second glance at something beautiful—and nothing more!’
The woman grew curious.
A virile young man who’d been in the mines since he was seven, seeing only men and no women—how could he possibly ignore her beauty?
‘I refuse to believe it!’
“You do know you’re surrounded by danger, don’t you?” As she spoke, she leaned in closer again.
“I’ve sensed it.
Ever since I left the Xiao Family’s courtyard, I’ve felt countless gazes on me, faint but there.”
As Shuidong Liu spoke, he stood up as if he were in his own home, walked to the side, and poured himself a cup of tea.
The woman giggled.
“Are you that scared of me?
You run away the moment I get close?”
“I just came to make a deal!”
“And what if…
I’m not interested in this Celestial Level Technique, but…
in you?” The woman walked forward on her bare, jade-like feet and frivolously tilted up Shuidong Liu’s chin.
Their eyes met.
Hers shimmered with a captivating light.
‘I refuse to believe you’re not moved at all!’
“Then this is where it ends!”
Shuidong Liu’s tone turned cold.
The woman froze.
“What do you mean?
Am I not as good as Xiao Yue’Er?
Didn’t you two just meet for the first time yesterday?”
‘This woman is bizarre,’ Shuidong Liu thought.
‘Who tries to get this close on a first meeting?’
‘Compared to the endless schemes I saw in my past life, you dare try to use these petty tricks on me?’
Noticing his gaze, the woman sighed.
“Fine.
We have plenty of time, anyway.”
“Can you tell me now?”
“First, the person who wanted to kill you last night was Gu Min.
He usually appears as a woman, but is actually a man.
As for who’s behind him, we’re still investigating!”
“Even you don’t know?” Shuidong Liu was surprised.
The woman just smiled.
“We’ll notify you as soon as we have news.
As for your other two questions, I’ll tell you when you reach the Ten Realms of Divine Power!”
Shuidong Liu was taken aback.
This wasn’t what he expected.
“Are you messing with me?” Shuidong Liu’s expression turned frigid.
The woman just laughed.
“Duke Zhen’s Mansion is a formidable power.
Do you really think they don’t know who did it?
Do they need you to find out for them?”
Shuidong Liu thought about it and realized she was right.
With Xiao Liang crippled, how could Duke Zhen let the matter rest?
And as the number one genius of the Yunlong Dynasty, how could Xiao Yue’Er stand by and watch her brother remain a cripple?
As the woman spoke, she pulled a slip of paper from somewhere and handed it to Shuidong Liu.
“Gu Min, orphan!
Origins unknown, lived by swindling and deceit.
Disappeared at age ten, reappeared at twenty-eight.
Super Body Realm!”
Shuidong Liu understood immediately.
Gu Min had been gone for eighteen years; he must have had a fortuitous encounter to become a Martial Artist.
The one who gave him this opportunity was most likely the mastermind!
“Do you have a quiet room here?”
“You want to cultivate here?” The woman nodded.
“You can, but for no more than three days.
That’s a rule of Luotian Pavilion!”
Shuidong Liu was quickly led by a woman in a green dress to a quiet room three floors underground.
He held a piece of Luminous Jade in each hand, preparing to reach the Great Success stage of Jade Bone!
Atop the high tower.
The woman said faintly, “Is this really a good idea?”
“There’s nothing wrong with it.
I’ve waited so many years, and I finally see a glimmer of hope!” a hoarse, aged voice roared.
“Since he has come out of that mine, he must bear his responsibility!”
“But…”
“No buts!” the old man raged.
“You shouldn’t have let him stay here for three days.
He should be out there killing…
non-stop slaughter is the fastest way to advance in the Martial Arts!”
The voice was as sharp as a knife, making the woman’s scalp tingle.
“He’s only in the Body Refining Realm!”
“Then all the more reason for him to fight to the death!
Otherwise, he’s just trash, a coward…”
The woman sighed internally.
‘Have you ever considered that he’s suffered enough already?
How can you be so heartless as to put him through this?’
「Duke Zhen’s Mansion.」
Several people were surprised.
“The Master actually went to Luotian Pavilion.”
“My lady, that Master Liu Yin of Luotian Pavilion is not a good person to get involved with,” Xiaoyu said with concern.
“All the men in Celestial Fragrance City, even the Second Young Master, drool when they see Liu Yin!”
“I do not!
Don’t talk nonsense!” Xiao Liang quickly shook his head.
But then he added, “She is a real beauty, though, very alluring.
There’s no guarantee my brother-in-law will be able to resist!
I’ll take some men and bring him back home!”
“No!
It’s fine for him to be at Luotian Pavilion,” Xiao Yue’Er said with a smile.
“My lady, how can you be so calm?
By the time the Young Master comes out, that woman might already have his baby, and you’re still smiling!”
But Xiao Yue’Er said, “The Master most likely went there to buy information, and perhaps to cultivate as well…”
As she spoke, she began to have some doubts.
‘What Realm is the Master really in?’
‘A single word from him helped me break through, yet he was injured facing two people at the Ten Realms of the Body.’
‘Could it be that the Master’s Realm really…
isn’t that high?’
Xiao Yue’Er’s thoughts raced.
“While the Master is away, find them.
I don’t care who’s behind this, I will not allow anything to happen to the Master!”
“Announce to all of Celestial Fragrance City: anyone who speculates wildly about the Master’s identity will be executed!”
“Anyone who discovers a person connected to the attack on the Master—a commoner will be granted a thousand mu of fertile land, ten thousand taels of Gold, and a five-courtyard residence.”
“A Martial Artist will be allowed to borrow a Celestial Level Technique for three days and be rewarded with ten pieces of Luminous Jade!”
Xiao Liang’s jaw dropped.
“A Celestial Level Technique?
You really just say whatever comes to mind!”
‘Has my little sister gone crazy!?’
“It’s just a Cultivation Technique!”
“I want everyone to know that if anyone dares to harm a single hair on my future husband’s head, I will annihilate their entire family!”
Xiao Yue’Er flicked her sleeve and walked out, her demeanor dashing and domineering.
Everyone around her stood up to see her off respectfully.
Xiao Liang couldn’t understand it.
What was so charming about Shuidong Liu?
His sister had only met him once, so why was she going to such lengths for him?
After the Xiao Family’s notices were posted all over the city…
At the street stalls, in the teahouses, and even in the countryside, no one dared to discuss the matter.
“The Second Miss is brilliant!”
Some people were even shouting this aloud.
CRASH!
A teacup flew out of a tailor shop and smashed hard against a middle-aged man’s head.
“Useless!
Useless!”
“I asked you to do one thing, and you’ve made a mess of it like this?”
The middle-aged man knelt down in pain.
“My lady, this has nothing to do with me!
I already spread the rumors, but…
but the Second Miss of the Duke’s Mansion gave the order.
Who would dare to disobey?”
“Bullshit!”
“She can control the gossip of the masses?” The Musician was furious.
“The man I can’t have, she can’t have either.”
“I want Shuidong Liu’s reputation completely ruined!
He’s the son of a disgraced official anyway, I’m not wrong!”
“My lady…
please stop talking!
The walls have ears!” the middle-aged man said anxiously.
‘The Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning squads are patrolling outside!’
“So what if I said it?
That woman must have found out that Shuidong Liu has a secret.
I will never let her succeed.
I even sullied my own reputation for this…
I can’t fail!”
The middle-aged man broke out in a cold sweat listening to her.
‘What reputation do you even have left?’
‘The truth is, you’re the one using your own reputation to sully Master Shui!’
“I’m no match for her in a fight, and my family background is inferior.
But when it comes to handling men…
I…”
“You want to move against my husband?” A voice as sharp as a sword suddenly cut in.
Xiao Yue’Er walked in slowly, her posture poised and dignified.
“At Fugui Building, I didn’t bother with you, but I never thought you would be so despicable.
Daring to spread rumors and ruin my husband’s reputation…”
“I…”
“Take her away!
Seize all of the Le Family’s assets and lock her in a prisoner’s cart to be paraded for three days.
After three days, execute her outside the East City Gate!”
The Musician was completely dumbfounded.
She wanted to curse, to beg for mercy, but when she opened her mouth, not a single word came out.
「Meanwhile, at Luotian Pavilion.」
In the quiet room, Shuidong Liu was cultivating.
The Spiritual Qi from the two pieces of Luminous Jade in his hands flowed into his nostrils like two streams of air.
But at that moment, he smelled a strange scent and a wave of dizziness washed over him…