Outside the pavilion.
The sea of clouds churned, and the red maples were like blood.
Jiang Yuechu casually tossed Wang Ziyu onto the plank path.
The Child hit the ground, rolled with the momentum, and flipped back onto his feet.
His small face was flushed red, and his eyes were full of vigilance. "Li Guyue, I'm telling you, no way! This young Master is a decent person. I've guarded my purity for so many years; there's no way I'm going to serve that pervert just for your crappy Golden Body Technique!"
"If you dare force me, I'll... I'll die right in front of you!"
Jiang Yuechu leaned against the railing with her arms crossed, her expression indifferent.
"It's just a meal."
"A meal?!"
Wang Ziyu jumped up and down, cursing, "Are you blind?! Didn't you see the way that grandson looked at me? Was that for a meal? He wanted to eat a person!"
"With that look, he wished he could strip this young Master naked and eat me with dipping sauce!"
"I treated you like a brother, and you're using me as a tribute?!"
Jiang Yuechu wasn't annoyed either; she just watched him throw a fit quietly.
Once he grew tired of cursing, she said unhurriedly, "You are also an Ascending Tower Cultivator with no weak cultivation, and you carry many life-saving means on you."
"It's just having a meal and a few drinks with someone."
"If he really dares to get touchy-feely, can't you just run?"
"Furthermore..."
The girl paused, her tone faint.
"Since the Lu family cares about their reputation, they won't use force on a guest on their own turf. He's just looking for something fresh and wants to play around with the mood. You just need to deal with it, get the Golden Body Technique, and then we'll just leave."
Wang Ziyu was stunned.
That... seemed to make some sense?
No!
I almost let this woman talk me into it!
"That's still not okay!"
The Child stiffened his neck, unyielding even in the face of death. "This is a matter of dignity! Is this young Master's purity something that can be traded for a mere Golden Body Technique? Besides... I'm not the one who wants this Golden Body Technique, so why should I wade into this muddy water?"
Jiang Yuechu sighed, straightened up, and walked slowly to stand before Wang Ziyu.
She looked down from above at the Child who only reached her waist.
"After this, I will owe you a favor."
Wang Ziyu snorted coldly and turned his head away.
"I don't care for it."
Seeing this, a faint red light flickered in Jiang Yuechu's eyes.
Her voice dropped a few notches. "If you agree, you'll be my friend. In the future, whenever there's meat to eat, you'll have a share."
"If you don't agree..."
"I'll knock you unconscious right now, strip you naked, wash you clean, and send you to Lu Changfeng's bed."
"The choice is yours."
Wang Ziyu whipped his head back.
He looked at the girl's face, which clearly said, 'I'm very serious.'
He felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.
This woman... she really would do it!
"Aaaaaah!"
Wang Ziyu clutched his head and let out a wail of despair.
"Li Guyue!"
"You're truly not human!!"
The corners of Jiang Yuechu's mouth curled slightly as she reached out and patted his head.
"Good boy, go on. Don't keep Young Lord Lu waiting. Remember to smile sweetly."
"..."
Running Ox watched from the side, dumbstruck.
It shrunk its neck, feeling secretly lucky.
Fortunately, that Young Lord of the Lu family only had a Longyang preference.
If he liked eating beef... It looked at the Girl in Black Robes who was currently wearing a gentle smile.
It couldn't help but shudder... The night was already deep.
The red maples on Qifeng Ridge lost their daytime flamboyance in the night, appearing as a dense, dark mass.
Inside the suspended pavilion, candle flames flickered.
A table of fine food and wine was laid out, steaming hot and fragrant.
Lu Changfeng had changed into a more loose and casual robe, making him appear even more gentle and refined.
The wine hit the cup with a crisp sound.
Wang Ziyu sat opposite him, his buttocks barely touching the edge of the chair, his hands tightly clutching his collar as if it were a defensive line.
His eyes vigilantly tracked Lu Changfeng's every move.
Lu Changfeng pushed a wine cup over.
"Try it. This is my Lu family's ten-thousand-year-old collection of Drunken Immortal Brew. Even for those in the Denglou Realm, a single cup will knock them out directly. It doesn't harm the body; on the contrary, it's very nourishing."
Wang Ziyu's body jerked back.
"Knocked out by one cup?"
"This fellow definitely has no good intentions!"
The Child gritted his teeth and said with grief and indignation.
"I'm not drinking! Lu Changfeng, I'm telling you, if you dare to try anything, my... my Master will definitely level this Qifeng Ridge to the ground!"
Hearing this, Lu Changfeng's movements paused slightly.
He looked up, a smile on his face. "Your Master?"
"Would your Master happen to go by the Daoist name Thirteen Wu?"
Boom—
A thunderclap exploded in Wang Ziyu's mind.
The hand that had been clutching his collar froze in mid-air, and the grief and indignation on his face instantly solidified, turning into astonishment.
This person... how did he know?
Throughout this journey, he had never revealed his identity, nor had he used any of Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven's signature techniques.
Lu Changfeng set down his wine cup and said softly, "Do not panic, Fellow Daoist... Although I am untalented, I have been in Mount Qingcheng for many years and have naturally heard rumors about you... It is said that there is an Immortal Master in the Taia Lineage named Thirteen Wu who has roamed the world, claiming to be invincible within the Denglou Realm. He has a Disciple with terrifying talent whose body remains in the form of a Child..."
"As large as the Eastern Region is, it would be hard to find a second Tower-Ascending Martial Immortals with an appearance like yours..."
Wang Ziyu slowly released his collar.
Since his background had been exposed, continuing to act like a frightened little wife would be losing face for Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven.
He sat up straight and said coldly, "Since you know this seat's identity, you still dare to tease me like this?"
Lu Changfeng shook his head, his smile fading slightly, replaced by a touch of helplessness. "It was not teasing, but a move made out of necessity."
"Little Immortal Master should know that an ordinary man is innocent, but treasuring a jade ring becomes a crime."
"This time, I brought something back from the Immortal Cave of a Chess Playing Great Power. Now, outside Qifeng Ridge, I don't know how many pairs of eyes are watching..."
Wang Ziyu frowned. "Didn't your Lu family join Mount Qingcheng? With Mount Qingcheng's name, who would dare touch you?"
Lu Changfeng sneered and tilted his head back, draining the wine in his cup.
"Mount Qingcheng?"
"Since I brought the item back to the Lu family, this matter belongs to the Lu family. Unless it's a disaster that threatens our extermination, why would Mount Qingcheng bother? If the item were handed over, they would naturally be willing to intervene... but if I handed it over, how could we be in such a predicament?"
"Why would we even need Mount Qingcheng to intervene then?"
At this point, he gave Wang Ziyu a deep look.
In the depths of his eyes, there was no longer the slightest hint of flirtatiousness, only shrewdness.
"Besides, those eyeing this item this time have significant backgrounds... My identity alone isn't enough to suppress them."
"But you are different."
Lu Changfeng stood up and gave Wang Ziyu a respectful bow.
"The twenty-five orthodox lineages, with Taie ranked among the Taibai Imperial Seats, and your Master, Immortal Master Thirteen Wu, being famous throughout the Eastern Region... As long as Little Immortal Master is willing to do me the honor of staying in this pavilion for a night, even if you do nothing at all."
"By tomorrow morning, the news will spread."
"The outside world will know that my Lu family has established a friendship with the direct descendant of Taie, the only Personal Disciple of Immortal Master Thirteen Wu."
"As an apology, with the exception of that Chess Player Realm item, the Lu family will do its best to satisfy any request."