“At a time like this, Fahai suddenly shouted, ‘Demon! I want you to help me cultivate!’”
“Young Master! Aren’t monks not supposed to get close to women? How could Fahai, as an accomplished high monk, not know that rule?”
“Hey, I already told you this is all made up—fiction!”
Qin Mu said irritably.
Sitting across from him was a young boy dressed as a book boy, about the same age as Qin Mu, with big eyes full of pure, innocent curiosity.
This boy had been found by Qin Mengyu to keep her little brother company while studying.
After noticing that her brother’s progress in cultivation was slow, she decided to let Mu’er first build up more general knowledge.
Cultivation couldn’t be rushed—better to take it slow.
Mu’er could read ordinary books just fine, but cultivation manuals were often obscure and hard to understand.
So Qin Mengyu found a clever-looking book boy to accompany Mu’er in his studies.
The book boy’s name was Li Si—a name Qin Mu himself had given him.
When Qin Mu asked what he was called, the boy replied that whatever the Young Master wanted to call him was fine.
So Qin Mu came up with “Li Si.”
What Qin Mu hadn’t noticed, however, was that over the past two months, Li Si’s cultivation had advanced from the second layer of Qi Refining when he first arrived to the fourth layer.
Although Li Si hid it very well in front of Qin Mu, he couldn’t fool Qin Mengyu’s sharp eyes.
While Qin Mu was enthusiastically recounting the scandalous tales of Fahai and the snake demon, two graceful figures were watching from a nearby pavilion.
Qin Ruoshuang’s gaze lingered mostly on Mu’er, though she occasionally glanced toward the book boy Li Si.
Each time she looked at him, a trace of coldness flickered in her beautiful eyes.
Qin Mengyu caught her sister’s icy look and said,
“So Ruoshuang noticed it too.”
Qin Ruoshuang slowly nodded, her eyes fixed on Li Si.
“This boy’s heart is impure.”
“Exactly. On the surface he looks completely harmless, but advancing two layers in just two months is far too fast.”
If he were truly a buried genius, Qin Mengyu would have been more than happy to support one.
But she had already examined Li Si’s aptitude—it was average at best.
Unless he had access to massive resources, there was no way he could improve so quickly.
And as a mere book boy, where would Li Si get that kind of wealth?
She suddenly recalled that not long ago Mu’er had come asking her for a new storage pouch, saying he couldn’t find the old one anywhere in his room.
That was when suspicion arose.
Qin Mengyu knew her little brother’s habit of tossing things around carelessly, but the storage pouch she had personally made still carried her faint imprint—she could sense it.
She went to Mu’er’s room and checked.
Nothing.
If this book boy really was responsible, Qin Mengyu would show no mercy.
“Young Master! You’re amazing—how do you know so many stories!”
Li Si looked at him with open admiration.
Over these two months, Qin Mu had been praised to the skies by this boy.
No wonder those foolish emperors loved treacherous ministers—the flattery went straight to the heart.
“Hey, your Young Master here is just naturally brilliant! One pat on the head and everything comes pouring out!”
Qin Mu said proudly.
But then he noticed that the worshipful look in Li Si’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a perfectly proper and respectful expression.
Before Qin Mu could ask what was wrong, a familiar floral fragrance drifted over.
“Mengyu!”
Qin Mu turned his head.
A young woman in pink stood behind him, giving him a gentle smile.
“Greetings, Second Young Lady!”
Li Si bowed his head very low, not daring to lift it even the slightest.
Even though the renowned beauty of the Qin Family—the Second Young Lady—was right in front of him, he didn’t dare steal a single extra glance.
“Mu’er, come on. It’s time to eat.”
Qin Mengyu took her little brother’s hand and turned to leave.
Just as her figure was about to disappear from view, Li Si slowly raised his head.
Staring at the beauty’s retreating back, a trace of greed flickered in his eyes.
He reached out and grabbed at the empty air in front of him, then brought his hand to his nose and inhaled lightly, an intoxicated look crossing his face.
All of this was clearly seen by Qin Ruoshuang, who had been concealed in the shadows.
“As expected—heart impure.”
Qin Ruoshuang murmured to herself.
A faint trace of sword intent leaked from her body, but remembering her sister’s warning not to act rashly, she held back.
Otherwise she would have already struck to eliminate the threat once and for all.
After Qin Mu left with his sister to eat, the door to Qin Mu’s room creaked open just a crack.
A moment later, the book boy slipped inside—it was Li Si.
He moved with light, silent steps, leaving no trace behind.
Clearly he had mastered some kind of movement technique.
Having served Qin Mu for two months, Li Si knew his careless Young Master’s habits perfectly.
Reaching under the pillow, he quickly found a storage pouch in his hand.
“Heh heh, no vigilance at all.”
Most people would place at least a simple seal on their storage pouch, but Qin Mu—confident that no one in the Qin Family would dare steal from him—hadn’t bothered with any seal whatsoever.
Through careful observation, Li Si knew that during mealtimes, when both young ladies were with the Young Master, the room would be left almost completely unguarded.
Sneaking in at that moment was the perfect opportunity—silent and unnoticed.
Last time he had succeeded with the same plan and reaped a bountiful harvest.
“My choice was right after all. The resources from last time let me advance two whole layers in just two months. Give me a little more time, and I can reach the Golden Core Realm too!”
A manic gleam appeared in Li Si’s eyes as he spoke.
“So what if he’s the Young Master of the Qin Family? He just had better luck being born into it! With such poor talent and so many resources wasted on him—it’s better off going to me!”
The image of a certain young boy surfaced in Li Si’s mind, his eyes filled with contempt.
“But those two young ladies… they’re truly stunning. I’ve never seen such beauties in my entire life!”
“I’ve decided—when I leave, I’m definitely sneaking into their rooms first to take a few ‘souvenirs.’ Hehe.”
Li Si licked his lips and turned to slip away as quickly as possible.
But out of nowhere, a woman in white appeared behind him.
A chilling aura radiated from her entire body.
“Y-Young… Young Miss…”
At that moment, Li Si’s lips trembled uncontrollably—and not just his lips; his legs were shaking too.
Thud!
He dropped to his knees in an instant, kowtowing frantically, forehead slamming against the floor with heavy thumps.
“Mercy, Eldest Young Lady! I… I was only momentarily confused! The Young Master’s storage pouch is right here!”
Trembling, Li Si pulled out the pouch he had just stolen and offered it up.
Qin Ruoshuang said nothing.
She simply stared down at him with eyes that regarded him as already dead.
“Oh? Not planning to take any ‘souvenirs’ anymore?”
At that moment, a sweet voice rang out.
Qin Mengyu was sitting on her little brother’s bed, calmly straightening the slightly rumpled bedding that Li Si had disturbed.
Hearing that voice, Li Si’s body went limp.
He collapsed completely to the floor.
“S-Second… Second Young Lady…”
In that instant, Li Si’s mental defenses shattered.
The plan he had thought flawless had been exposed just like that.
A short while later, the Qin Family sisters stepped out through the door.
Sunlight poured in through the open doorway, illuminating the room.
Inside, a ball of flame burned slowly, quietly consuming something.