Since We're Already Here, Leaving Like This Would Be Too Rude

When the warmed wine and pastries were brought in.

Shi Sheng casually picked up a pastry and began eating.

"Just as expected of rich people—these pastries are pretty tasty."

Si Nan, seated beside him, smoothly picked up the wine jug and poured Ye Liuyun a cup.

"Whatever you need, sir, you may command us."

The maid who had delivered the pastries also lowered her head and softly added a word.

Ye Liuyun merely waved his hand, signaling that the maid could leave first. Glancing at the woman in the room across from them, who was watching him through the window, he assumed she was Wang Yuanwai's youngest daughter.

She was a clever one, too.

Sending these things over at a time like this, she had probably thought of something.

Ye Liuyun smiled openly and raised his wine cup in a toast. No one was a fool; those who treated others as fools were the real fools.

That gesture stirred a measure of curiosity in Wang Mu'er's heart.

Because of her status, it was not as though Wang Mu'er had never encountered the Brocade Guard before, but someone like Ye Liuyun was a first.

In weather like this, the night breeze was truly rather chilling.

Fortunately, Ye Liuyun and the others were all martial artists, their blood and qi vigorous.

"Sir, could that Flower Plucking Thief have decided not to come?"

A long time had passed. The wine had already been finished, and it was past the Zi Hour, yet there was still not a trace of the Flower Plucking Thief.

Could he have learned that the Brocade Guard were here and become too afraid to come?

Ye Liuyun did not answer.

With his arms folded and his eyes closed, he appeared to be dozing.

Si Nan did not dare disturb him further.

Then, as though he had sensed something, Ye Liuyun slowly opened his eyes.

"He's here!"

After reaching the Innate Realm, one's perception of internal energy fluctuations within a certain range became exceptionally sharp.

"Hm?"

Shi Sheng and Si Nan were both taken aback, but in the next instant, both grew alert.

Since Ye Liuyun said he had come, then he had certainly come.

"What Brocade Guard? Haven't I played them like fiddles?"

Under the cover of moonlight, a lean figure silently slipped into Wang Yuanwai's residence.

This man was Hua Wenxuan, the Flower Plucking Thief. His lightness skill was truly remarkable—when his feet stepped across the roof tiles, not even the faintest sound was made.

"What's so special about a concubine? It's these unmarried little ladies who are fun to play with!"

As he said this.

Hua Wenxuan's already pinched, monkey-faced features gained an even more lecherous air.

Just as Ye Liuyun had thought.

From the beginning, Hua Wenxuan's target had never been Wang Yuanwai's concubine, but Wang Yuanwai's youngest daughter, Wang Mu'er.

After hearing rumors about Wang Mu'er around the city—learning that she was beautiful and gentle in temperament—the moment Hua Wenxuan heard the news, his heart to steal fragrance and pilfer jade could no longer be restrained.

But he also knew that Wang Yuanwai's family was wealthy, and there would certainly be many guards around his youngest daughter.

She was clearly unlike the daughters he had toyed with before.

That was why Hua Wenxuan had devised this scheme: first send a letter and draw everyone's attention to Wang Yuanwai's concubine.

Then, with no one guarding Wang Mu'er, would she not be his to play with however he pleased?

At that thought.

Hua Wenxuan's expression became even more smug.

Without another word, a few light leaps brought him outside Wang Mu'er's courtyard. Before making his move, Hua Wenxuan had long since investigated the arrangements within the residence.

"Little beauty, I'm here!"

With a flip, he landed soundlessly inside Wang Mu'er's courtyard.

He had only taken a few silent steps when Hua Wenxuan suddenly stopped.

Because!

The moment Hua Wenxuan turned his head, he saw three people dressed as Brocade Guards sitting in the courtyard, watching him with great interest.

Especially the man seated in the place of honor—Hua Wenxuan found the way that man looked at him somewhat terrifying.

Target: Hua Wenxuan!

Cultivation: Second-Rate Martial Artist!

Talent Traits: Snow Treading Without a Trace (Purple), Lust for Women as Life (Blue), Dragon Vigor (Blue), Scent Recognition (Blue),

Snow Treading Without a Trace (Purple): Born with a Light Body, possessing an innate and unparalleled talent for lightness skills.

Lust for Women as Life (Blue): Easily regards beauty as more important than anything else.

Dragon Vigor (Blue): Overflowing with yang energy; capable of bedding ten women in one night without difficulty.

Well, well. He had thought Hua Wenxuan was merely an ordinary Flower Plucking Thief.

Who would have thought his Talent Traits would be three blue and one purple?

But other than Snow Treading Without a Trace, the Talent Trait related to lightness skills, why were all three of his other traits connected to women?

No wonder you became a Flower Plucking Thief.

For a moment, the air fell silent.

A bead of cold sweat slowly slid down Hua Wenxuan's forehead. What was going on? This was nothing like what he had imagined.

Shouldn't these Brocade Guards all be stationed near Wang Yuanwai's concubine? Why were they here?

"You don't really think you're the only smart person under heaven, while everyone else is an idiot, do you?"

Looking at Hua Wenxuan like this, Ye Liuyun suddenly laughed.

"Actually... I was just passing by!"

Hua Wenxuan forced a smile onto his face.

"Goodbye!"

Without the slightest hesitation, he decisively turned around, preparing to use his lightness skill to escape.

But Si Nan and Shi Sheng had long been on full alert. The instant Hua Wenxuan turned, Si Nan scattered a barrage of hidden weapons.

Just as Hua Wenxuan swung his robe to block the hidden weapons, Shi Sheng charged directly at him.

His fists punched through the robe and slammed into Hua Wenxuan's body.

Bang!

His already thin body was violently smashed into the wall.

That commotion immediately brought the previously quiet residence to life, and numerous flames lit up throughout the estate.

"A... a First-Rate Martial Artist!"

Hua Wenxuan stared at Shi Sheng in disbelief. He truly had not expected there to be a First-Rate Martial Artist among the Brocade Guards who had come this time.

Though he was not skilled in combat, he was still a Second-Rate Martial Artist. Someone who could beat him into this state with a single punch could only be a First-Rate Martial Artist.

"Since you know your grandpa's strength, kneel obediently. Your grandpa hates Flower Plucking Thieves like you most of all. You bastards who can't keep your birds in check—once we bring you back to the Imperial Prison, your grandpa will have someone pluck it out first."

"That's only if you can catch me first!"

Hua Wenxuan was not the type to surrender obediently.

He first threw off his robe to block Shi Sheng's view, then leaped toward the roof.

So what if Shi Sheng was a First-Rate Martial Artist? With his lightness skill, once he truly ran, even an Acquired Realm martial artist would not be able to catch him.

"Since you're already here, leaving like this would be rather impolite."

Seeing Shi Sheng and Si Nan preparing to chase after him, Ye Liuyun raised a hand to stop them while drawing the saber at his waist with the other.

Scorching internal energy followed Ye Liuyun's movement, forming saber qi like blazing flames as it flew toward Hua Wenxuan.