Now, he could easily buy a token for five hundred spirit stones. Why hire people? Just buy directly.
So he promptly approached the seller and happily exchanged stones for tokens.
He even sent his own guards to retrieve money from those useless lackeys—couldn’t do such a simple task and still want his money?
“Oh, premium goods. Young master looks valiant—why still buy tokens from me?” The masked black-haired figure picked up the spirit stones and admired them.
Though spirit stones are measured by ‘méi’ (枚), size and quality vary, like coins.
Su Yusheng’s stones were top-tier, each worth a hundred ordinary stones.
Those who traded with Huajian only gave regular stones—the difference was obvious.
A faint fragrance drifted to Su Yusheng’s nose, boosting his pride.
He could tell the seller was likely a young lady. Being praised by a girl made him extremely pleased.
“Hmph, I’m the Su family’s young master. What are these stones to me?”
“So it’s Su family’s young master—an honored guest!”
“Ha, you know me already.”
Under the combined effect of floral scent and flattering words, Su Yusheng grew dizzy with pride and spoke without thinking.
He rambled about how much he disliked the family’s bastard cousin, how that cousin also got a token, and who the cousin was involved with—all at once.
The other party’s agreement made Su Yusheng feel he’d found a soulmate who truly understood him.
That bastard cousin could find outside help—then so could he! Having such a like-minded girl was great!
“Miss, come work with me. I don’t lack spirit stones!” The young master slammed the table, sticking his tongue out.
“No, I…” The mysterious figure glanced back, then faced Su Yusheng again.
“Young master is generous, but I have urgent matters and can’t accept your offer.”
She then ushered the thoroughly dazed Su Yusheng out of the rented teahouse room.
Watching him wave awkwardly goodbye, the colored eyes beneath the mask showed a trace of helplessness.
Back in the room, a white-haired, white-robed, golden-eyed girl sat in the empty seat, eyeing the returning figure oddly.
“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s making me nervous.” Removing her mask, Huajian was unhappy with the soul’s gaze.
Why the look of a con artist? She was putting all her effort into Linglong’s growth, yet got this treatment—so hurtful!
“Nothing, just feels like the plan is going too smoothly.” The soul withdrew its gaze. Su Yusheng fell for the bait too fast.
He was like a foolish fish, hooked and reeled in by Huajian’s lure, completely unaware of what he was doing.
Whether to praise Huajian’s skill or scorn Su Yusheng’s stupidity was hard to decide.
“He’s even weaker than Yaomei. With my mist clouding him, he’s completely infatuated and clueless.” Huajian snorted. If not for safety and maintaining cover, she would’ve accepted Su Yusheng’s offer and become his follower.
Then she could investigate the Su family more thoroughly up close.
“Yaomei’s judgment was spot on—just a spoiled rich kid. But the person he mentioned is worth noting.”
Su Yusheng’s cousin, the one he called a bastard.
That cousin already had a token before Su Yusheng got his, and strange mysterious people surrounded him.
Hey, that’s a huge red flag!
“Do you think it was… Su Yulin?” Linglong spoke the name of the Su family’s other young master, who was at odds with Su Yusheng.
“Exactly. Su Yusheng wouldn’t do this; he’s too stupid.” Huajian nodded.
Based on most cultivation world grudges, Su Yulin was the prime suspect.
Though bad guys are said to think hard while fools act on impulse, big evil deeds require some cunning.
Su Yusheng was just a naive arrogant rich kid—not the type to package his own sister and sell her off.
He struggled just to get an entry token to the auction, unlike his brother who already had one.
“Su Yulin’s status in the Su family isn’t higher than Su Yusheng’s. So why did Su Yulin get the token early, while Su Yusheng couldn’t?”
Huajian clasped her hands, meaning the truth was clear: Su Yulin had issues!
If Su Yulin had gained loyalty from several Ling King cultivators in the family, obtaining an auction token would be easy.
Su Yusheng lacked Ling King backing, so getting a token wasn’t that simple.
“Then why not Yaoxiao’s uncle?”
“No reason. What benefit would he gain by handing over Yaoxiao?” Huajian shook her head.
The Su family’s patriarch was already frail.
Su Yusheng’s father was the legitimate eldest son, undisputed heir.
He only needed to wait for his father’s passing; any other scheming would be counterproductive.
Remember, Yaoxiao’s crisis wasn’t being married off to someone, but being handed off as a gift!
Sending a living person as a gift—who is also one’s own sister’s daughter—is something no normal person would do.
If exposed, the Su family’s position would be unstable.
“If we confirm the problem lies within the Su family, then Su Yulin is the prime suspect. We’ll focus our investigation on him!”
“I think the young Su Yusheng will come here again tomorrow. Let’s wait for good news.”
…
Su Yusheng slept uneasily that night.
The faint floral fragrance seemed to linger beside him, like a kitten gently clawing at his heart, making him recall the day’s events.
Though the person was wrapped tightly, he felt certain she was a stunning beauty, especially because of the faint scent, intoxicating him to the point of wanting to kneel before her.
That person understood him and praised him—his soulmate!
Tossing and turning for a long time, Su Yusheng made a decision: tomorrow he would seek her out again!
…
The next morning, Su Yusheng unusually rose early and dressed neatly, ready to go out.
But on his way, he met the person he hated most in life: Su Yulin.
Unlike the spoiled and arrogant Su Yusheng, Su Yulin appeared elegant, a well-mannered young gentleman.
At this moment, a spirit sword hung from his waist, his aura restless, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead—he had just finished morning training.
“Get lost. I have no time for you today!”
Normally, Su Yusheng would try every means to trouble Su Yulin, but today his heart was set on someone else and ignored him.
A flash of surprise crossed Su Yulin’s eyes.
He gestured to his attendants to calm down and stepped aside to let Su Yusheng pass.
Once Su Yusheng disappeared, an attendant cautiously asked, “Young Master Lin, why is Su Yusheng acting so differently today?”
“Strange indeed. Send two to follow him; see what’s going on.”
“Yes!”
…
Unaware he was being followed, Su Yusheng happily ran to the teahouse where he had met Huajian the day before, only to receive a crushing blow: Huajian wasn’t coming today.
“The guest said the business is done,” the teahouse owner explained.
“Did she say where she’s staying?”
“Oh, Young Master Su, that’s beyond me. That guest wouldn’t tell me.” The owner waved off the question, but his expression quickly changed, and he lowered his voice.
“But she left a small pouch with me before leaving, saying to give it to the destined person.”
He turned and retrieved an exquisite box, handing it to Su Yusheng.
“She told me to wait a day; if anyone comes to claim it, give it to them; if no one comes, I may handle it as I see fit.”
Su Yusheng eagerly took the box and pulled out the pouch inside.
Upon opening it, he immediately caught the enchanting floral scent—it was the very thing left for him!
In an instant, countless story plots flashed through his mind; he imagined a twisted romance.
Ah, what is love but a cause for life and death devotion?
So she’s waiting for me!
She likes me!
Clutching the pouch, Su Yusheng wandered out of the teahouse, forgetting even the box.
“Wait, take the box! I hid the clue in there!” Huajian, watching from the second floor, was nearly speechless at his classic act of missing the point.
No wonder people said this young master was useless—a true iron waste.
The pouch was just a common sachet bought from a street stall, emptied and refilled with her own fragrance mixture, then infused with spirit power overnight.
Other than resembling her scent by about seventy to eighty percent, the sachet was useless.
The real hint was engraved inside the box with spirit power—a small riddle.
If Su Yusheng solved it, he’d get an address.
Huajian planned to wait at that place to let him enjoy feeling clever.
But he completely missed the riddle and ran off with just the pouch.
“I’m convinced he’s not the mastermind.” Linglong’s expression was hard to hold steady.
Su Yusheng’s current behavior made it difficult to believe he was capable of scheming.
“Exactly, he’s been certified a useless waste by many… Wait, a master?!”
Just as Huajian nodded, trouble broke out downstairs.
Several burly men strode into the teahouse and seized the wooden box Su Yusheng had left behind.
Oh? The Su family young master was being followed?
This was getting interesting.
Though his cluelessness frustrated them, the outcome was good—Huajian learned someone was tailing Su Yusheng.
That’s serious surveillance!
“See, I told you Su Yulin was suspicious and you didn’t believe me!” Huajian glared at Linglong triumphantly.
“You doubted me, but now you see how strong my deduction skills are!”
Seeing Huajian so arrogant, Linglong resisted the urge to facepalm.
When will Huajian lose that shrill little girl habit? It really makes people want to hit her.
Can’t she always be the serious little sister she’s admired for?
“Wow, what’s that look? Disdain?”
“No, just think you’re noisy.” Linglong pinched Huajian’s cheek with some force, “Makes me want to hit you.”
“Violent maniac!”
Smack!
Sometimes you just have to get what you deserve.
…
“Went to find someone but came back empty-handed with a pouch, lost in thought?”
Su Yulin took the wooden box handed by a subordinate, unsure how to react.
Had that fool not realized he might have been set up?
The black-clad man sitting beside him sniffed and his expression changed sharply.
“Give me the box.”
“Oh? What’s wrong with the box?” Su Yulin handed it over and dismissed others from the room.
The black-clad man opened the box, inhaled the lingering scent, and his face grew certain.
“Hmph, Wanhua Valley.” He tossed the box on the table, speaking with disdain and disgust.
“Wanhua Valley? Will that affect our plan?”
“Hmph, I knew your dear sister fell into their hands. They’re now targeting your brother, trying to infiltrate the Su family to uncover your sister’s secrets.” The black-clad man casually explained what he assumed Wanhua Valley’s goal was.
Wanhua Valley never acted without reason. Since Yaomei’s token hadn’t fallen into their hands, they ignored matters.
But now that Yaomei was under their control, to fully exploit her value, they needed precise information from the Su family.
See? Someone’s already taken a shot at Su Yusheng, making the naive young master dizzy.
“Those two Ling Kings I sent were killed by them too?” Su Yulin narrowed his eyes, veins bulging on his hand.
Those were two Ling Kings he’d gained with difficulty.
“No, your two subordinates were useless—they died with Yaomei’s protectors. Wanhua Valley just picked up the scraps.” The black-clad man sneered.
“But maybe they were waiting for this chance all along. They prefer to be opportunists rather than show their faces.”
How Yaomei was kidnapped no longer mattered; she was confirmed in Wanhua Valley’s hands.
His recent negotiations with them failed; Wanhua Valley was determined to oppose them to the end.
“Relying on crooked ways to become a Ling Emperor—when my senior brother arrives, I’ll make Huaxinyuan know who really leads the demonic path!”
“What about this?” Su Yulin pointed at the wooden box.
Letting Wanhua Valley infiltrate through Su Yusheng?
“Handle it yourself. I don’t have time for this,” the black-clad man replied coldly.
He also disliked Su Yulin, a despised younger son of a minor branch family.
What right did he have to be on equal footing with a demonic genius like himself?
If not to keep a low profile in obtaining Yaomei, he wouldn’t waste words on these people.
…
Step, step.
Light footsteps sounded outside a remote courtyard.
Holding the wooden box, Su Yulin arrived alone.
The riddle inside was simple; he quickly solved it.
Since the black-clad man told him to handle it himself, he came to meet the Wanhua Valley people.
Although he had recently sworn enmity against Wanhua Valley, upon reflection, Su Yulin thought it better not to provoke a force that easily defeated two of his Ling Kings.
As long as they didn’t interfere with his plans, he could turn a blind eye to small matters.
Opening the door, he immediately smelled a delicate floral fragrance, somewhat similar to the scent in the box, yet more enchanting.
Sensing something was wrong, Su Yulin steadied his mind and held his breath.
“The person you wait for is not me.” Amid rising white mist, colorful petals gathered before him into a white-robed masked girl.
This strange entrance heightened Su Yulin’s caution.
His brother had truly angered the wrong people.
“Not the lady you wait for is my good-for-nothing cousin?”
“Don’t pretend. Do you think I don’t know you sent people to follow Su Yusheng?” The girl paced before him, casually exposing Su Yulin’s surveillance.
“As an elder brother, I have to care about my abnormal brother.”
“Your sister, though, doesn’t appreciate your kind of care.”
Su Yulin’s pupils contracted. Indeed, Yaomei was in Wanhua Valley’s hands.
Their contact with Su Yusheng aimed to use him as a breakthrough to uncover Yaomei’s secrets.
Su Yulin’s reaction confirmed to Huajian that he was the true culprit behind Yaomei’s misfortune.
Usually, his response wouldn’t be so obvious.
But he walked into her trap.
Though he reacted quickly and held his breath immediately, he still inhaled some mist, making his emotions leak out—as was happening now.
“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”
“Understand or not is your choice. Just know you’re no match for us. To us, you’re but a speck of dust.” Huajian chuckled coldly, her voice turning icy.
“Know what you should and shouldn’t do, or I can’t guarantee when you might be found dead in your room, silent and unnoticed.”
“Isn’t this too overbearing?”
“Overbearing? You should already know what kind of people we are, shouldn’t you?”