Like peach blossoms mirrored on tranquil water, she moved with the grace of a willow swaying in the breeze—how could mere words capture such boundless allure?
The moment the young woman in a pale yellow gauze dress appeared in the courtyard garden, Young Lord Yu's breath caught in his throat.
The low-cut collar of her dress revealed a sliver of snow-white skin, and beneath the sheer fabric, the faint blush of her undergarments teased the eye.
With her face veiled in silk, she stepped delicately along the pebble path, embroidered shoes whispering against the stone. Each step she took seemed to drain the color from the flowers around her, as if even nature itself bowed to her charm.
She kept her gaze lowered at first, eyes fixed on the stones beneath her feet. But as she neared the pavilion, she glanced up as if by accident, casting a smiling glance toward Young Lord Yu.
That single, soul-seizing look nearly undid him.
Beads of sweat broke out across his forehead. His heart thundered wildly in his chest. Flustered, he grabbed the bowl beside him and shoved a handful of ice into his mouth, crunching down furiously to cool the fire surging within.
The girl lowered her head again, hiding the mocking glint in her eyes. A subtle, wicked smile flickered behind the veil.
Then, with elegant poise, she offered a deep curtsey. Her voice, so soft and sweet it could make a nightingale weep, rang out:
"Zhen Luo pays her respects to the master. May you live long and in great peace."
Young Lord Yu chewed noisily on the ice, nodding frantically. "Manager Niu, you may leave. I need a private word with Luo'er."
Manager Niu, who had accompanied Zhen Luo, suppressed a laugh at the young lord's flustered state. So even you can be reduced to a fool in her presence, he thought. But his face remained solemn as he bowed and swiftly departed. He had no intention of lingering a second longer.
Once his breath steadied, Young Lord Yu waved his hand. "No need for formality. Come, have a seat."
Zhen Luo replied demurely, "Before the master, how dare Luo'er presume to sit? I shall stand and speak."
Yu didn't press the matter, merely smiled. "Luo'er, it's only been two months, yet you've transformed into such a temptress. Back in the manor, you were never so... provocative. Hmm... don't tell me—it's because you've coupled with that brat Qin Ren? Lost your virginity and gained a woman's charm, is that it?"
Zhen Luo's face remained calm, but her heart prickled with irritation. Still, she spoke sweetly, "The master is most perceptive. Qin Ren appears to possess a dual cultivation technique. After uniting with him, my enchantment skills improved dramatically, almost as if I'd made a great breakthrough. I now affect others without even trying—thus the veil."
Jealousy flickered in Yu's eyes. He grunted bitterly, "I raised you for thirteen years… and now I have to give you to someone else? That really doesn't sit right with me." His tone turned lecherous. "Since your skills have improved so much, why not let me experience them tonight?"
Still expressionless, Zhen Luo said, "You raised me, and I owe you my life. It would be only proper for me to serve you. But... my enchantment art remains unstable. If I were to join with you now, you might not be able to withstand the... effects."
Yu stiffened. "You mean… I'd die?"
She nodded slightly. "It is said that without firm control, one's essence might be entirely drained."
"Damn it!" Yu cursed. "The Nine Yin Maiden of the demonic sect was already out of my reach, and now even you are off limits?"
Zhen Luo replied softly, "Please don't worry, Master. Once I master my skill and can control it fully, I shall naturally serve you as you desire." Her voice was gentle, eyes cast down, but behind the veil, a faint sneer played at her lips.
"Tonight," she added, "I must return to the inn. Miss Lianzhou, her cousin, and Master Ye of the Blowing Snow Hall are all staying there. If I return late, it may arouse suspicion. So I beg you, let us speak only of business."
Yu looked thoroughly disappointed, waving a hand in frustration. "Fine, fine! Let that brat Qin Ren enjoy the benefits for now. What news do you bring?"
Zhen Luo bowed. "Yes, Master. Though Qin Ren abandoned me and never came to find me again, I have remained close to Lianzhou, Qin Ni'er, and Ye Yingxue on the journey north. Twelve days ago, we arrived in Dingzhou City. About ten days past, Lianzhou and Qin Ni'er went out seeking news and returned utterly distraught.
"Through careful probing, I learned that they encountered Qin Ren… and another woman he's been courting in Dingzhou. The two sides fought, and though Qin Ren was badly injured—nearly dying—both Lianzhou and Qin Ni'er seemed overcome with guilt afterward. Especially Lianzhou, who cried in secret several times.
"That woman Qin Ren's involved with… she's Du Xiaoyan, the daughter of Lord Du of Tianping Manor. She now appears completely devoted to him.
"Since then, both Lianzhou and Qin Ni'er have been either madly searching for Qin Ren or sitting listless in the inn. Qin Ni'er, usually cheerful, has turned gloomy. She often mutters strange things—'dog,' 'bone,' 'teeth'—none of which makes any sense to me.
"According to Lianzhou, Qin Ren was taken away by one of his servants after the battle. No one has seen him since. Even Du Xiaoyan has begun mobilizing her family's forces to search for him—but she's doing so under the name 'Li Gang.'
"I know the martial world summit begins in eight days. Master, you will surely come to Dingzhou to oversee matters. I could no longer sit idly by, so I've come here to report."
Zhen Luo fell silent, eyes lowered to the tips of her shoes.
Yu sat in thought for a moment. "That brat… truly has some skill. Even after being exposed, Du Xiaoyan still protects him? This complicates things. If Lianzhou and Qin Ni'er refuse to testify against him, and Du Xiaoyan speaks in his defense, then our fabricated witnesses might be useless. Hmm… I need to think."
He turned to her. "Luo'er, go back for now. Keep watching Lianzhou and Qin Ni'er. I want to know exactly what happened between them and Qin Ren. As for Ye Yingxue, where does she stand?"
Zhen Luo hesitated. "Since that night… when she and I were… involved with Qin Ren… she's been like a different person. Listless, muttering 'kill' and 'butcher' over and over. It seems she truly hates him."
Yu sneered. "So at least one of them has some integrity. With her testimony, it won't be hard to corner Qin Ren. And once he's cornered…" A wicked smile twisted his face. "Then I'll make sure he never rises again. Luo'er, Dingzhou is a tangled web of factions—Tianping Manor, Iron Blood Fortress—my reach here is limited. I can't act openly. Finding Qin Ren… controlling him… will all depend on your seductive arts."
Zhen Luo bowed. "Understood, Master. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."
Yu waved a hand. "Go. If you stay any longer, I may risk death just to…"
Zhen Luo gave a graceful curtsey and glided away.
As her silhouette faded with the last rays of the sun, the foolish smile slipped from Yu's face, replaced by a cold, calculating expression.
As darkness fell, the air beside him seemed to twist subtly. From the rippling shadows, a figure emerged—cloaked entirely in black mist, face and form hidden as though not of this world. It was as if he had stepped through an invisible door from another realm.
Only the faint shadow beneath his feet proved he was not a ghost.
"You cannot trust her," the figure said, voice echoing with chilling distortion. "She dared not meet your eyes."
Yu's expression shifted again—his cold calculation became mere sleaze, just barely controlled.
"I know," he sneered. "Qin Ren must have pleased her too well. She's forgotten her place… and now dares to betray me!"