Chapter 50

The main residence, fifty miles away from the Xiangli Clan’s manor.

The evening breeze swayed the jade tassels hanging from the long corridor’s curtains, and the candlelight cast a soft glow on the courtyard’s peony flower, named “Kunshan Nightlight.” Jiufang Shaogeng leaned against the window, propping up one leg as he admired the scene for a moment. Suddenly, he threw the porcelain cup he had been toying with into the pond, causing the peony’s petals to scatter.

The seventeen-year-old boy curled his lips into a smile, his expression pure mischief.

Turning his head, he spoke to Xiangli Shen, who was seated at the main chair in the inner room:

“…Earlier, you eagerly wanted to marry your precious daughter to our Jiufang family. Now that Xinglan has lost an arm to a demon, you’re changing the betrothal from your biological daughter to a clan member. Xiangli Clan Leader, aren’t you a bit too opportunistic?”

Xiangli Shen wore a broad smile, his slightly plump figure paired with a smile that never seemed to change, resembling a Maitreya Buddha statue.

However, this ever-present smile began to look a bit unnervingly unnatural, exuding a hint of eerie, sinister energy.

“That’s a bit harsh, Second Young Master. It’s merely that my daughter has recently fallen ill, her health is frail, and we’re unsure when she will fully recover. As for Young Master Xinglan, he has faced many misfortunes recently. I consulted an oracle, and it seems their fates are in conflict. But my family’s girl—her omen, along with Young Master Xinglan’s, was very auspicious…”

Jiufang Shaogeng, uninterested in these pointless words, slowly raised two fingers.

“Add two more volumes to the Xian Nong Complete Book.”

Xiangli Shen paused for a moment. “How about the Hundred Flowers Volume and the Delicacies Volume?”

The young man in his crimson-purple robe smiled broadly.

“I want the Fairy Valley Volume and the Spiritual Herb Volume.”

The Maitreya-like smile on Xiangli Shen’s face faded slightly.

The Fairy Valley was closely related to grain and supplies, while the Spiritual Herb Volume involved various medicinal herbs, including the formula for Wuliang Hai (Endless Sea). For the Xiangli Clan, who had fallen from their status as a second-tier noble family, both were vital lifelines.

“Can’t bear to part with them?”

The boy languidly rested his finger on his temple, intentionally pausing for a long while. His fingertip rhythmically tapped the table.

Each tap felt like an unspoken pressure, and beads of sweat began to form on Xiangli Shen’s forehead.

“That clan girl is exceptionally beautiful, far surpassing my daughter…”

“Or, you could hand over the Fairy Valley Volume, along with two hundred Wuliang Hai stones,” the boy said leisurely, but his tapping became more rapid.

Xiangli Shen, unable to resist, glanced at his fingers.

“The Fairy Valley Volume is truly impossible… But the Spiritual Herb Volume, the Spiritual Herb Volume… plus a hundred thousand gold, how about that?”

Suddenly, the boy’s fingertips stopped tapping the table. For some reason, Xiangli Shen felt as though his heart had been gripped tightly.

After a brief pause, the tapping rhythm slowed, becoming heavy and slow, one beat after another, like waves relentlessly crashing against him. He didn’t know when it would overwhelm him completely.

“Xiangli Clan Leader, listen to your own words. What do you think?”

Sweat poured down.

Xiangli Shen’s face turned pale as paper, his breath quickening.

“…Then we’ll exchange her for someone else—the true creator of Wuliang Hai, a branch member of the Xiangli family, Xiangli Hualian.”

The boy’s gaze locked onto him, and at some point, the oppressive force he had been using seemed to pull back. It was only then that Xiangli Shen realized the boy had been suppressing him with force, aided by techniques from the Legalist school.

But since the words had already left his mouth, there was no turning back. Xiangli Shen had no choice but to continue.

“Ever since the Yinshan clan quelled the rebellion of the Xiangli tiger, our Xiangli clan has gradually declined. Our clan has suffered a depletion of talent, and Hua Lian is a rare genius among the younger generation. If we marry this woman, the Wuliang Sea will undoubtedly be perfected and fulfill its true purpose. Furthermore, with the integration of the Jiufang family’s bloodline, wouldn’t it be more valuable than the dead object that is the Xian Nong Quanshu?”

Jiufang Shaogeng remained silent for a long while.

Two weights were placed on either end of the balance, and it was simply a gamble to see whether the other party valued immediate benefits or long-term gains.

In the courtyard.

Zhongli Lingzhao was washing her sword by the poolside.

She tied up her wide sleeves with a sash and sat slowly on a low stool, cleaning the sword-whip in her hands. Her fingers, as pale and smooth as jade, wiped the weapon that could pierce heavy armor with a soft cloth, handling it with the gentleness of a noblewoman tuning the strings of a zither.

Yan Wushu stood behind her and greeted Jiufang Shaogeng, who was approaching, with a cupped fist.

“The Xian Gu Juan is likely impossible,” Zhongli Lingzhao’s voice was as cold as ice, without any emotional fluctuation. “But you’ve secured the Ling Cao Juan, right?”

“No.”

Zhongli Lingzhao slowly lifted her eyes.

“What did you negotiate then?”

“Naturally, I’ve chosen another virtuous wife for my cousin,” Jiufang Shaogeng glanced at the faint fragrance rising from the lotuses in the pool and smirked, then turned his gaze to Yan Wushu.

“You’ve learned the techniques of criminal law quite well. Lingzhao, when did your family raise such a good dog?”

Yan Wushu’s smile remained unchanged. “It is my honor to assist the Second Young Master.”

Zhongli Lingzhao lowered her eyes and wiped the sword.

“No matter what you two have negotiated, in ten days, the new batch of Wuliang Sea, the Zhongli family will take thirty percent.”

“A weapon-refining family, what do you need so many death warriors for?”

Zhongli Lingzhao’s cold, ice-like eyes focused on the youth with the mocking tone. She suddenly spoke:

“If you want to argue with me on this, let’s first discuss the matter of you humiliating the women of the Shentu clan at the banquet.”

The Shentu clan, affiliated with the Zhongli clan, naturally sought out the Zhongli family to inquire about the matter and demand justice from the Jiufang family.

But unfortunately, in this world, there are social hierarchies among both humans and demons, and even among people themselves.

Jiufang Shaogeng knew that the Zhongli family wouldn’t challenge him over such a minor clan affair, so he smiled maliciously:

“Who in the entire Xian Du Yujing doesn’t know I dislike Yinshan Liuyu? If she dares to mimic Yinshan Liuyu’s appearance at a banquet I attend, she can’t blame me for not showing her respect.”

Zhongli Lingzhao sneered.

She raised the polished sword-whip, its blade reflecting the cold moonlight, glinting with a chilling radiance.

“When Yinshan Liuyu was riding on you and beating you, you didn’t even dare to frown. Now, you’ve become quite arrogant.”

Jiufang Shaogeng slowly turned his head.

“You’re very capable. From the Four Trials of Lingyong to my elder brother, I’ve never seen you win against Yinshan Liuyu.”

The two gazes met in mid-air, and Yan Wushu sensed something, silently stepping back.

Sure enough, the next moment, two surging streams of qi collided, and the precious rare plants and trees in the courtyard were affected.

What a temper.

Having retreated to safety, Yan Wushu looked indifferently at the sky over Taiping City.

A few days ago, he received a message from his father, who said they had finally received news of Yue Niang.

Yue Niang claimed to have joined a certain noble family and would send back one gold coin each month, asking them not to search for her.

But his father was worried about her safety, and since their family didn’t have enough manpower for the magic tool shop, he still asked Yan Wushu to find a way to bring Yue Niang back.

Looking at these two unruly young nobles in front of him, Yan Wushu’s eyes darkened.

…The family Yue Niang had joined must belong to the same camp as him.

Otherwise, he would peel her skin off.

—-

“Name, origin, age.”

“Chu Lan, from Xijing Yuyuan Huaxu City, 27 years old.”

In the Xiangli Clan’s estate, Lei Yan and several assistant managers looked at the spiritual fields being plowed and sowed by Lan Zhu alone, their eyes filled with admiration.

From the speed and stamina, it was clear that this person named Chu Lan could handle ten acres of land by himself in a day, and he seemed quite at ease doing it.

Lei Yan smiled at the tall, muscular young man, his eyes almost resembling those of someone admiring an old ox that didn’t need to be fed but could work nonstop.

“Monthly allowance is one coin, with all meals and lodging provided at the estate. You and your fellow countryman can enjoy special treatment, and if you have extra money, you can also pay rent to farm our fine spiritual fields. The monthly allowance can also be increased…”

“No need to increase it, as long as I can eat enough.”

Lan Zhu slammed down his fifth bowl of wheat rice, his red hair now blackened with medicinal dye. He waved toward the cooks behind him and said:

“Is this little bit of food for birds? Bring me three more bowls!”

Lei Yan’s smile tightened slightly, and he exchanged a look with the assistant manager behind him.

They couldn’t let him eat too much.

Starting tomorrow, they’d add some water to the wheat rice.

“Don’t just focus on eating,” Lei Yan asked, “Your fellow countryman mentioned that many people in your hometown don’t have work. Why is it that only ten or so of you came this time?”

Lan Zhu casually sat in a big chair, smiling:

“With so many noble families around here recruiting refugees, we all rushed here in a swarm. If you don’t accept so many of us, we might starve while running back and forth. Who’s going to feed us?”

Although it sounded somewhat suspicious, what Lan Zhu said made sense. If they had really come in response to a single call, it would indeed raise suspicion.

The assistant manager whispered in Lei Yan’s ear:

“Many of these refugees don’t even have household registers, and I suspect some are runaway slaves or fugitives. I think accepting a few dozen is about enough. Any more, and we might have hidden risks.”

Another person added, “Isn’t this obvious? If these people had no issues with their identity, who would come to work for such a small monthly allowance and meager rations?”

“True,” Lei Yan agreed.

A deputy steward stroked his beard and pondered.

“There are still eight days left to deliver the Immortal Grass, Dragon Scale Buds, and Five Elements Fruits. If we want to meet the quantity requested, we’ll need to transport a whole cartload of the growth-promoting liquid. But this morning, someone from the main residence sent word, saying we need to find a way to reduce costs even further—there’s nothing more to cut. The only option now is to focus on labor, but we can’t raise the labor costs, we’ll have to push those down too.”

Lei Yan said nothing, but he had the same thought in his mind.

In the spiritual fields of the Xiangli clan, the immortal herbs and spiritual plants watered with the growth-promoting liquid could be harvested as quickly as every five days.

However, this required planting more seedlings within the effective period of the liquid in the soil to increase output and reduce consumption of the liquid.

It required more manpower, and the labor costs couldn’t increase, they could only be reduced.

Even immortals would find this troublesome.

But there was no choice. If the task wasn’t done well, these noble families only had to give the word, and the overseers of the farm would simply move a finger and replace the steward with someone more capable.

In this world, those who followed the rules and the law only had the choice of dying sooner or later.

In the fields not far away, the demon ghosts, ordered by Mo Lin, had finished the tasks arranged for them by the steward during the day and were now helping the older people of the farm with plowing.

They were called old people, but in reality, they were just over fifty. Years of hunger and labor had caused them to go gray early and become frail and bent.

“You really have a lot of energy. You’ve been working since morning, aren’t you tired?”

The demon ghost, disguised as a common human peasant, looked up in confusion and responded:

“This is nothing! If it were us before, we’d have finished twice the amount of work. You’re getting two meals a day here, so why be tired?”

This demon ghost had been transferred from Yushan.

Used to working only one hour of rest a day as a jade picker, suddenly being assigned to this simple farming work didn’t tire them at all.

Moreover, the master had promised that once this job was finished, they would be assigned new houses in the Nine Hells, which made them even more energetic.

The young woman who had argued with Liuyu the other day couldn’t help but glance sideways.

She whispered to her husband:

“A dozen people came in one go, doing the work of a hundred. Won’t they need to hire more people for the farm tomorrow?”

Her husband replied, “Let them hire more if needed. The more people, the less work for us.”

“…You’re so dumb,” the young woman glared at him, exasperated. “They’re doing more work for less money, and the master would obviously prefer to hire all such people… What would they hire us for then?”

“Where would they find so many like that?” Her husband dismissed her words. “Just work, as long as we do our share, we’ll always have food.”

The young woman couldn’t help but get angry looking at his pitiful attitude.

Work hard.

In this world, people who worked honestly were just those who were eaten by others!

Liuyu, who had heard all the gossip in the farm, passed by with light steps on the field ridge.

The deputy steward called out to her.

“…This is the situation on the farm. Although we don’t lack people willing to come, you folks here aren’t as fond of sneaky tricks. Go back and discuss with them, see how many more can come. We can still accept more.”

Liuyu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Accept more? But aren’t we already not lacking people here on the farm?”

The deputy steward smiled. “Whether we lack people or not, that’s just a matter of words. If your food box is filled with wheat porridge, and someone insists on stuffing in pig’s head meat, doesn’t that leave room for it?”

He waved his hand, and a servant handed another food box to Liuyu.

It was heavy.

When shaken gently, it made the sound of spiritual plants inside.

Liuyu sneered inwardly but put on a sweet and friendly smile on her face.

“Understood. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it tomorrow.”

The deputy steward nodded in satisfaction.

As the sky grew darker, the farmers who had worked all day scattered here and there on the ridges of the fields, enjoying their most abundant meal of the day.

“You can notify Fang Fucang, we’ll start sending the demon ghosts into the farm tomorrow and the day after,” Liuyu said, biting into a tasteless bread, and looked toward Lan Zhu.

“Before midnight, I’ll give you a bag full of cursed talismans. You’ll take them to meet with Fang Fucang and explain the curse situation to them. Before Mo Lin and I give the order, make sure to hide your identity well.”

Lan Zhu nodded seriously.

Liuyu turned to Mo Lin. “How’s the situation with Dan Sui?”

Dan Sui and the ghost woman had split up, heading to be apprentices to the stewards in charge of the farm’s seedling breeding.

“The ghost woman used a little ghost poison on the steward. While he was asleep, she searched his room and found many farming books of the Xiangli clan, but they were all specialized works of capable clan members, not the original ‘Complete Book of Immortal Farming.’”

It was to be expected. The steward was an outsider, and the Xiangli clan wouldn’t share their most important secrets with him.

“But Dan Sui found something.”

Mo Lin looked towards the southeast corner of the main residence.

“Every time the formula for the Infinite Sea is adjusted and delivered to the steward for testing, the paper smells of lotus incense. Also, the handwriting on the cover of the letter looks like it was written by a woman.”

Even if the energy sea was sealed with a curse, the demon ghosts’ senses were sharper than those of ordinary humans.

Liuyu thought for a moment:

“A woman… it must be a member of the Xiangli clan. I wonder if it’s the one who’s supposed to marry Nine Fangs Xing Lan. Can Shan Xiao find out more about her?”

Taking Taiping City was the primary task.

But if they could obtain even a part of the “Complete Book of Immortal Farming,” that would be an unexpected bonus.

“Not sure. I’ll have him try his best.”

Liuyu thought for a while:

“Let Yue Niang bring a few Qi Ling Butterflies, and when we move, think of a way to capture this person as well.”

Seeing that Liuyu’s appetite seemed fine, Mo Lin placed his small dish of wild vegetables in front of her.

“Last night, he brought in the intel. The people from the Jiufang family and the Zhongli family almost entered the Xiangli family at the same time as us. We still haven’t figured out their purpose for coming here. It would be best to find out when they’re leaving, and then we can take action.”

Liuyu picked up some wild vegetables, tilted her head, and looked at him.

“Who are they? Do I know them?”

Mo Lin pulled the corner of his mouth into a smile. “Would there be anyone from these two families you don’t know?”

…That was true.

Lan Zhu sensed a subtle atmosphere and, under the pretense of getting some rice wine, quietly slipped away.

He lowered his gaze and replied.

“It’s Jiufang Shaogeng and Zhongli Lingzhao.”

Upon hearing this answer, Liuyu nodded in understanding.

They were indeed old acquaintances.

“Your information is quite sharp. Although I didn’t mention Lingzhao, Shaogeng’s whereabouts aren’t something anyone could easily find out.”

Liuyu leaned in a little closer, smiling at him.

“How about it? Does the Demon King have some connections in the immortal capital, Yujing?”

Mo Lin extended his index finger and lightly pressed it against her shoulder.

Liuyu thought he wasn’t willing to speak.

“I was just asking. If it’s inconvenient for you to say, then forget it…”

“No,” he replied calmly. “I’m just covered in sweat, dirty.”

It was the height of summer, the sun scorching the earth. Mo Lin didn’t feel particularly tired, but after a day of work, his clothes were inevitably damp with sweat and covered in dust.

Liuyu didn’t expect this answer and was momentarily stunned.

“That’s pretty dirty, indeed.”

She smiled softly, then moved closer and gently rested her head on his shoulder.

“However… since I’m not exactly clean either, I’ll just pretend I don’t see it.”

The deep blue night sky enveloped the land, with farmers around a campfire, gathered in small groups, chatting and relaxing.

The demons didn’t usually want to get too close to humans, but since Liuyu had instructed them to spread some rumors about the Jimu family, they had to blend in, drinking and mingling.

After a while, even Mo Lin couldn’t tell who was human and who was demon.

Or perhaps…

Without their naturally strange bodies, they had no real distinction.

The main house of the Xiangli family was brightly lit tonight. The sounds of drums, flutes, and other instruments echoed from the high platform, and the farmers sitting on the edge of the fields couldn’t help but feel entranced by the elegant music drifting in the night air.

“I heard there are important guests at the Xiangli family these days. They’ve hauled several carts of grain into the barn.”

“Wonder what they’re serving at the feast.”

“With so many carts of grain, can they eat as much as they want?”

Others commented, too:

“This music sounds so beautiful, like the music from an immortal palace.”

Music, as one of the six arts for the noble, was quite different from the folk songs sung by ordinary people working in the fields.

Ding—

Under the night sky, everyone turned to look in the direction the music was coming from.

A young girl holding bamboo chopsticks gently tapped a clay jar. The water inside shook, producing several tones that resembled the distant music.

“What immortal music?”

Liuyu took a sip of her rice wine, lifted her chin slightly, and the smile on her lips carried a hint of playful disdain.

“If I tap a clay jar a couple of times, it sounds almost the same.”

Some people who didn’t like Liuyu’s attitude muttered under their breath:

“It’s not the same at all. The nobles’ music is something you can’t just casually replicate.”

Liuyu only smiled, continuing to tap the jar with her bamboo chopsticks. The notes turned into a melody, but it wasn’t some noble music—it was a folk tune passed down by word of mouth.

Some people rolled their eyes disdainfully, while others listened attentively and hummed along.

—–

“My chariot attacks, my horses march in unison.

Four strong steeds pull the carriage, heading east.”

—–

“Make sure the bows and arrows are adjusted.

Shoot the men in unison, help me gather firewood.”

—–

Mo Lin listened to the voices of the surrounding people, the sound of singing blending in with the evening air. His eyes, once dark as ink, now glowed with a faint green light, focused and intense as he stared at Liuyu’s figure.

Perhaps they didn’t realize it themselves.

But—

This was indeed a battle song.

A manager who heard this song being sung in the fields couldn’t help but feel uneasy. He turned to Lei Yan, who was fiddling with an abacus under the Liuli lamp:

“…Should we stop it?”

Lei Yan frowned and didn’t look up.

“Why stop them? They’ll all be kicked out in a few days anyway. It’ll only be a song for one night.”

He wasn’t wrong.

The next day, several managers led the estate workers and began formally dismissing the original staff.

First, the elderly who couldn’t keep up physically.

Then, the younger ones who ate more than they worked.

Only the strong young men remained, though even half of them were let go.

The voices of protest surged like waves, but they were quickly suppressed by the cultivators of the Xiangli family.

The demons took the opportunity to sneak into the estate without anyone noticing.

On the fifth day, Lei Yan looked at the account book presented by the assistant manager with a satisfied expression.

As expected, compared to the account book that Steward Situ Nan had thrown at him not long ago, this one was much better.

Once he submitted it, there would surely be rewards, and perhaps one day, he’d be promoted to the main house.

“By the way,” Lei Yan closed the account book and addressed the people below, “Today, we received news from the main house. After noon, the Fourth Miss from the Zhongli family will be visiting the estate to inspect the progress of the spiritual fields. All of you better stay on your toes. This young lady is someone we cannot afford to offend.”

The news about Zhongli Lingzhao spread quickly throughout the estate. Meanwhile, Dan Sui, taking advantage of the lunch break, was passing on information about the Mountain Demon to Mo Lin.

“…The Mountain Demon found out that in the southeast corner of the main house, there is indeed a Xiangli family member, a girl named Xiangli Hualian. Recently, there have been frequent visits from embroiderers, matchmakers, and people from the Jiufang family. If nothing else, it seems that the person who will marry into the Jiufang family has changed to her.”

Dan Sui speculated,
“And also, Xiang Li Shen often travels between the Immortal Capital, Yu Jing, and his own family. I heard that the steward of the estate mentioned he hasn’t had the time to care for the Xiang Li family’s breeding projects in a long time. Perhaps even the Wuliang Sea was researched by this person… he’s truly impressive.”

He seems to be only about twenty years old.

“If you had the same conditions as her, you’d be impressive too.”

Liuyu twirled the chopsticks in her hand and then corrected,
“Once we get the ‘Immortal Farmer’s Complete Book’ in the future, you’ll definitely be more impressive than her.”

After all, with the same conditions in her previous life, Dan Sui had still managed to research grains that could grow in the Nine Underworlds. Such an ability would be rare even in the Immortal Capital, Yu Jing.

Dan Sui paused, clearly not expecting Liuyu to trust her so much.

She stared at Liuyu for a long while, a complex smile forming in her eyes,
“I didn’t quite understand back when we were in Wuse City, but now I see why the Lord favors you so much.”

This young lady from the Yin Mountain family seemed to possess a strange vortex within her.

Once you spent time around her, it was hard not to be drawn into that vortex, to be captivated by her.

Liuyu’s chopsticks momentarily paused.

She slowly raised her eyes, a curious look in them, as she gazed at Dan Sui,
“‘When you were in Wuse City,’ what do you mean by that?”

Dan Sui’s tone suggested she knew something about Mo Lin’s past with Liuyu.

Before Dan Sui could answer, faint rustling sounds came from a distance—

“Quite a show.”

“Is someone important from the main residence arriving?”

“No, I heard it’s someone from the Immortal Capital, a young lady from the Zhongli family.”

Upon hearing this, Liuyu suddenly turned to look in the direction of the voice.

Servants cleared the way, with a light veil draped over the sedan.

Zhongli Lingzhao appeared dignified, dressed in plain white gauze, her waist adorned with a sword and whip, her complexion as radiant as a cold moon. Her extraordinary appearance left the farmers at the estate stunned and mesmerized.

This was the woman who saw Liuyu as a thorn in her side.

Mo Lin frowned as he watched her.

Liuyu gazed at the figure in the sedan, as countless memories of the Immortal Capital, Yu Jing, rushed toward her.

The last time she saw Zhongli Lingzhao was in her previous life.

The things related to Zhongli Lingzhao could only be described by the words “youthful pride, clashing head-on.”

To be fair, Zhongli Lingzhao’s beauty and talent were far from ordinary. No wonder she always sought to be first in everything—she truly had the ability to be number one.

The only problem was that she and Liuyu were of the same generation.

From then on, whether it was the Lingyong Immortal Conference or the poetry exchange at the Flower Festival, Liuyu always overshadowed her, and privately, the people in Yu Jing even mocked them as the “second in the world,” divided into two factions.

When Liuyu volunteered to marry into the Nine Underworlds, the happiest person was probably Zhongli Lingzhao.

“…Miss Zhongli, feel free to look around. The immortal herbs in the fields have been sown intensively these past few days. After harvesting, they can be packed and delivered to the main residence within two hours. We will not delay the deadline set by the family head…”

Zhongli Lingzhao listened half-heartedly.

The Xiang Li family had shown them around Taiping City, which had just been built, and now there was nothing left to see.

Jiufang Shao Geng had urged her to visit the Nine Underworlds and watch the drama of Yin Mountain’s Liuyu, but Zhongli Lingzhao wasn’t as reckless as him. She wouldn’t put herself at risk just for some amusement. It was more important to complete the tasks assigned by her clan.

Thus, she decided to come to the estate to check on the materials needed for the Wuliang Sea.

Her personal guard looked around, then said to her,
“It doesn’t seem like there are many people, but they are quite efficient.”

Lei Yan, hearing this, couldn’t hide his joy, as if promotion and wealth were within his reach. With a beaming face, he started explaining his brilliant plans to Zhongli Lingzhao.

Upon hearing that there was a man at the estate who could plow ten acres of land a day without having opened his Qi Sea, Zhongli Lingzhao raised her eyelids slightly.

“—Who are you talking about?”

Liuyu, hiding in the crowd, sensed a gaze coming from the sedan.

She froze for a moment.

Soon after, the sedan slowly approached her.

In the stillness of the moment, the worst-case scenario did not happen—Zhongli Lingzhao did not recognize Liuyu—or perhaps, she didn’t have time to clearly see Liuyu—because Liuyu was entirely blocked by Mo Lin in front of her.

Behind the light veil, the woman dressed in white as snow moved a finger, and a stream of Qi condensed into spiritual light, landing on Mo Lin’s brow.

“Not bad.”

She didn’t want to reveal too much of her thoughts.

In fact, when she probed Mo Lin’s meridians, she found that his Qi flowed smoothly, unlike someone who had never opened their Qi Sea.

But unless they were a practitioner of the Ninth Realm, even an Eighth Realm cultivator, higher in level than her, could not completely hide their Qi Sea.

Moreover, a Ninth Realm practitioner would never be in an ordinary estate, doing farm work.

So there was only one possibility—he was a genius.

Zhongli Lingzhao carefully examined Mo Lin.

Not wanting to strain her eyes, Liuyu had helped Mo Lin reshape his face into a handsome one, similar to his original appearance, but more refined.

With just these six parts, he stood out among the crowd, easily recognizable by anyone, even a hundred or a thousand people.

Moreover, while there were many things that could be hidden, it was hard to conceal his indifferent eyes, which, except when looking at Liuyu, showed no emotion for anyone else.

To Zhongli Lingzhao, his gaze gave off an air of a hidden master, neither humble nor arrogant, among ordinary people.

Her gaze swept over Lei Yan, and she said softly,
“I want this person.”

Lei Yan’s face changed drastically.

He had only been showing off to this young lady and hadn’t intended to give the man away!

At that moment, almost seven out of ten people at the estate, who were all demon or ghost kin, turned their gazes toward Mo Lin and Liuyu.

Wow.

A forced abduction of a civilian man!

And it was done right in front of their respected matron!

The people of the Zhongli family observed the expressions of the farmers, feeling that something was off, though they couldn’t quite put their finger on it.

Liuyu watched the woman dressed in white as snow from a distance. Her previously stirred-up expression settled into a faint cold smile.

Almost forgot.

The relationship between her and Zhongli Lingzhao could be described as “youthful rivalry,” but there was another key word—how they both viewed men.

Extremely, remarkably, similar.

Because of the arrival of the fourth young lady from the Zhongli family, the manor cleared out the main hall, typically used for receiving the family head, and laid out a grand feast to entertain.

Zhongli Lingzhao, accustomed to these social gatherings, didn’t refuse but instead instructed the female servant to arrange a room, clean the man from earlier, and then bring him back to her.

The people here were too filthy.

The female servant, following orders, led Mo Lin to the room and handed him three water storage pearls.

“Remember to clean well. Our young lady Lingzhao can’t stand filth.”

Mo Lin raised an eyebrow, even though he knew it was part of the act, there were moments when he couldn’t hide his impatience.

Like right now.

Who cares if she can’t stand the filth.

He thought her ladyship smelled strongly of fragrance, and frankly, it was overpowering.

“Anything else?”

The female servant, who had just been met with Mo Lin’s frosty gaze, slowly closed her mouth.

Experts from the Seven Realms and Eight Realms—she had seen many—yet for some reason, when faced with this person’s eyes, an inexplicable chill ran down her spine, as though she was being stared at by something cold and unforgiving.

After the two female servants had instructed him not to wander without summons, they hurriedly left.

Mo Lin’s gaze remained indifferent as he turned away, his fingers brushing the door closed. In that instant, the entire room seemed to be silently enveloped in an invisible pressure.

The force outwardly emanated to intimidate enemies.

When retracted, it could also conceal itself in the unseen.

Then came a voice, like a jade bead dropping onto the floor, from the beam above:

“Three water storage pearls? Truly enough to wash from head to toe. Are you trying to make me a subordinate, or a consort?”

Mo Lin didn’t look up, instead filling a wooden tub with water as he undid his clothes.

His voice was slow and deep, laced with a slight chuckle:

“I don’t want to be either. I’m just waiting for Miss Qing Tian to administer justice for me. But I wonder, is she willing to sacrifice a bit of her plans for me?”

There was silence from the beam.

“Seems like she’s not willing.”

Liuyu felt a sense of frustration as well.

Her plans had been progressing well until Zhongli Lingzhao and Jiufang Shaogeng, these uninvited guests, disrupted everything.

Before other preparations were complete, Liuyu didn’t want to face these two directly. It would complicate things significantly.

The sound of water echoed in the inner room.

Mo Lin had washed off the day’s sweat and dirt, changing the water once more.

His gaze flicked to the beam behind him.

“Why aren’t you speaking?”

“I’m thinking about how to coax you into making a sacrifice for me,” came the lazy reply from Liuyu, resting her cheek in her hand.

If she had known, she would have given him an ugly face. Zhongli Lingzhao, like her, disliked ugly things. That way, when she first saw Mo Lin, she would have immediately looked away and wouldn’t have spared him a second glance.

Mo Lin’s lips curled into a smile.

“You want to coax me?”

When he said those words, there was an odd softness to his tone.

“Then come here.”

Liuyu rolled off the beam and had just landed when he seized her wrist.

Through the mist of hot water, his moist green eyes gleamed with the yellow light of a nearby candle.

His fingers brushed her sash, and Liuyu instinctively widened her eyes, about to stop him, but his lips sealed her protest. After a moment, she vaguely heard him say:

“The Zhongli family’s guards aren’t very strict. I can hear their conversations. Do you want to know what they’re saying?”

Perhaps because this place was merely a gathering spot for mortals, Zhongli Lingzhao didn’t pay much attention to them, only posting a guard outside the door.

With Mo Lin’s peak Nine Realms ability, at such a close distance, he could eavesdrop without alerting anyone.

But their conversation wasn’t exactly a secret.

Had he not heard Liuyu’s name, he wouldn’t have been interested in listening.

“They were just talking about why Jiufang Shaogeng dislikes you.”

Her clothes scattered to the floor, and her shoes and socks were unexpectedly snatched away by a serpent-like tail behind her.

Mo Lin slowly pulled her into the water. His eyes were dark, wet, and deep, like a strange water ghost emerging from beneath the surface, slowly engulfing and soaking her.

“They said Jiufang Shaogeng was so troublesome when he was eight or nine years old that everyone hated him. Even his brother Jiufang Zhanghua was bullied by him. The two brothers fought the most, and you were the one who pinned Jiufang Shaogeng down and knocked out several of his teeth. If Jiufang Zhanghua hadn’t intervened, he would’ve been beaten into a fool.”

Liuyu, in the midst of his breath, detected a familiar faint scent.

It was the smell of the medicinal pills from the boxes.

She was momentarily stunned, unable to fathom why he would bring that up in this situation, in this place.

Realizing something was amiss, Liuyu tried to stand, but he swiftly kissed her again.

His fingers in the warm water remained rough, as did his palm.

“Oh, right. They also said you were riding on top of him when you beat him.”

Mo Lin’s gaze darkened as he watched her expression. Suddenly, the sound of water rang out as he shifted.

“Is this how you were riding him?”

Liuyu nearly bit back a noise that threatened to escape.

“…Now, they’re talking about the second young master of the Chishui family.”

“The one who recently wanted to hire a singer resembling you as a concubine. They say he’s been mocked for his small strength and often ridiculed by his peers at the Lingyong Academy. You were the one who shot down the jade crown of the boy mocking him during a hunt, and from then on, he became infatuated with you.”

The sound of water was as urgent as the wind outside the window, but the words falling beside Liuyu’s ear were incredibly clear.

“—Liuyu, why are you so kind to everyone?”

The mist dampened Liuyu’s long eyelashes.

After a long while, the girl, who had been leaning on his shoulder, suddenly straightened up.

“That Second Young Master of Chishui… I don’t remember him.”

She took a deep breath, her gaze locked on his eyes through the mist, and asked:

“Are you the one I don’t remember?”

The demon’s eyelashes, which had been gently kissing her neck, fluttered, and his eyes slowly opened.

“So, that year during the Lantern Festival in Wuse City, you violated the rules of the hunting grounds, endured a beating, all just to escape and see me, didn’t you?”