Chapter 96 - 94: Predicament

"That’s right, the lady wants to see you," said Xiao Qian with a giggle.

In Lou Yi’s mind,

there appeared a pair of bright, beautiful eyes, shimmering like flowing autumn water, making one unable to resist wanting to fall into them.

"See me now?"

"Of course."

"Going just like this doesn’t seem right. You know about my background."

Before Lou Yi finished speaking, Xiao Qian opened a brocade pouch at her waist and took out an object he was very familiar with.

Flesh-colored, thin as a cicada’s wing, with delicate textures resembling real skin, and five openings for the eyes, nose, and mouth, giving it a somewhat eerie look.

It was actually another human skin mask!

"Is it a gift for me?" Lou Yi asked happily.

"In your dreams." Xiao Qian couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him, "This human skin mask is extremely rare; the lady only has one. You have to return it after using it."

Lou Yi took the mask and carefully put it on his face.

The touch was cold, and then he felt it slowly and powerfully ’seep’ into his skin, as if it had life of its own.

"There are many rules in the Su Mansion; remember not to look around or speak out loud when you go inside..."

Lou Yi, after putting on the mask, lifted his head.

Xiao Qian, who was in the middle of explaining to Lou Yi, was stunned and forgot the next thing she was about to say.

At this moment, Lou Yi’s eyes were deep, his nose high, his complexion fair, making him a handsome young man.

"Why does your lady want to see me?"

’It seems even his voice has become pleasant,’ Xiao Qian couldn’t help but think, blushing slightly.

She shook her head to dispel the stray thoughts from her mind, then replied, "The lady recently recruited some aides, probably wants to introduce you all to each other."

"The Su Family is a powerful entity in the city, with many experts. Why bother recruiting aides?" Lou Yi wondered aloud.

"Hmph! It’s because some people are always wary of the lady, thinking she wants to vie for the position of patriarch, and they often play tricks and use underhanded tactics.

The lady has to recruit her own people for self-protection."

In a few words, Xiao Qian highlighted Tiansu’s current position in the Su Family, indicating it might not be too pleasant.

’Recruiting aides and still wanting me to go, she’s probably planning something.’ Lou Yi pondered in his heart, ’Such a big move, it seems that matter is not simple. I’m at a critical moment now, I have to proceed cautiously.’

"What, you don’t want to go? Afraid of danger?" Seeing Lou Yi’s hesitation, Xiao Qian sneered.

Suddenly, a sliver of disdain arose within her, and the handsome appearance of Lou Yi after putting on the mask became less pleasing.

"Is it urgent?" Lou Yi asked.

"Hmm?" Xiao Qian looked puzzled.

"If it’s not urgent, wait for me for two months," Lou Yi said, "By then, I’ll come to see your lady myself."

The Su Family in Tai City is a giant stronger than the Extreme Fist Sect.

With my current small build, recklessly getting involved might lead to an unknown death.

But if I break through as a martial artist, my strength will undoubtedly see a qualitative leap, and by then, I won’t be so fearful.

Since the lady of the Su Family isn’t actively seeking me and prefers to wait until I visit, her situation shouldn’t be too dire.

Xiao Qian watched Lou Yi with half-belief, unsure if he was telling the truth.

"Oh, don’t forget to get me the Heart-Eroding Grass." After saying this, Lou Yi left the elegant room, leaving the other party a bit dumbfounded.

A moment later, Xiao Qian slapped her forehead in frustration: "Darn it, I forgot to ask him to return the mask!"

"Damn it, taking advantage of me!" Xiao Qian gritted her teeth in anger.

...

Su Mansion.

The lotus pond in the mansion covered an area of more than ten acres, comparable in size to a small lake outside.

Tiansu, dressed in a long white dress, with the skirt flowing like water to her ankles, gently caressed by the wind, looked ethereal and otherworldly.

At this moment, she gazed at the clear lake in front of her, with a hint of worry surfacing in her watery eyes.

"Miss Su, watch me pluck that white lotus!"

A young man in black thought Tiansu had taken a fancy to the white lotus, which stood out amongst other red lotuses, which was more than five zhang away from them.

With a couple of kicks, he sent two wooden boards by the shore into the water, perfectly positioned between him and the lotus.

Then, with a touch of his toes, he gracefully landed on the first piece of wood.

Before it completely sank into the water, he used it as leverage and lightly leaped onto the second board, now less than five feet from the lotus.

With a ’shwing,’ the young man in black drew his sword, severing the lotus from its stem and letting it steadily fall into his hand.

Using the two pieces of wood, he elegantly leaped back onto solid ground.

He presented the freshly plucked white lotus, still dripping with water, with both hands: "Miss Su, this is for you."

"What a splendid body technique, truly deserving of the Wind Chasing Sword!"

"Young Hero Tang has such prowess at such a young age, truly a rising star."

From behind,

a few people bursting with blood qi, each dressed differently and wielding swords and knives, all praised him, making the young man’s face show a proud smile.

Judging by the aura from these people, it’s clear that they all possessed cultivation above martial artists.

"Thank you," Tiansu smiled slightly in gratitude but didn’t reach out to accept it.

Seeing this, a hint of sadness flashed in the young man’s eyes.

Soon after, a boisterous voice rang out from beside him: "So skilled, fight with me!"

The speaker was tall and burly, with wide shoulders and a thick back, her face fleshy and lips full.

If it weren’t for the slightly raised chest and the absence of an Adam’s apple, anyone would have thought she was a man.

"Iron Maiden, you’ve long surpassed the Minor Circulation stage. How could I defeat you?" The young man laughed awkwardly in refusal.

"I’ll use just fifty percent of my strength, how about that?" The boisterous woman wouldn’t let up.

Hearing this, the young man’s face couldn’t help but show a trace of anger.

"Alright, stop arguing." An elderly man in a gray robe with half-white hair played the mediator, shifting the topic, "Miss Su, didn’t you mention another young talent was coming? Where is he now?"

Tiansu was just about to answer when, not far off, Xiao Qian hurriedly ran over.

"Where is Liu Yi?" Without seeing Lou Yi, Tiansu seemed a bit puzzled.

"He... he said he would come in two months," Xiao Qian said hesitantly.

Then, she roughly recounted what Lou Yi had said.

"Is he scared?" Someone sneered, "Two months, three months, nonsense excuses!"

"It’s human nature to seek advantages and avoid harm. In Miss Su’s current situation, coming here might cost one their life at any moment." Someone analyzed calmly, "Don’t forget how Fast Sword Wang Jiu died."

At the mention of ’Fast Sword Wang Jiu,’ everyone’s expression turned grim.

"I, Qian, was greatly indebted to Madam Su and will surely protect Miss Su diligently!" The gray-robed elder stroked his long beard slowly.

"With me here, you won’t encounter any danger!" The black-clad man, known as the Wind Chasing Sword, looked at Tiansu with deep affection.

Tiansu turned her head towards the lotus pond, her mood slightly stirred, even feeling a rare trace of anger.

Of course, there was also lingering doubt.

Could Lou Yi truly be someone so cowardly and afraid to even come see her?

Or perhaps he thought their relationship was too ordinary and not worth the risk?

Forget it, forget it, she had already recruited quite a few well-known aides, with a good chance of success for that matter.

Though Lou Yi might be capable of killing a Blood Warrior, compared to Circulation Martial Artists, it’s not that significant.

...

Elsewhere, Lou Yi returned to the Extreme Fist Sect and discovered a familiar figure.

Wearing a White Jade Crown on his head, a Golden Waistband on his waist, and fanning himself casually with a folding fan, if not Zhan Weida, then who?

"You’re back?"

"These days almost bored me to death." Zhan Weida said gloomily, "My old man stopped my monthly allowance, so I might have to rely on you, brother."

...