Is the Young Master Some Kind of Pervert?

One sentence from Li Hao left everyone in the hall stunned.

"A Zhu, do you think the young master has some kind of strange fetish?" A Zhu said, watching Li Hao face off against the armored man.

"Surely not. The young master seems perfectly normal to me!" A Bi hadn't given it much thought. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Li Hao.

"Do you know where the three madams came from?" A Zhu hesitated for a moment, then asked in a quiet voice.

They were speaking so softly that even Wang Yuyan, standing nearby, couldn't hear them. But Li Qingluo's ears were sharp enough to catch every word.

Three madams, huh? Very well. He had so many women and still dared to set his sights on Yuyan. I'll make sure he wishes he were dead.

Everyone thought the old steward had sent Li Hao to pay Li Qingluo a visit because she was his aunt by marriage. They were completely mistaken.

Murong Bo had sent Li Hao to visit Li Qingluo to tell her that Wang Yuyan would marry Li Hao, not Murong Fu.

The purpose of sending Li Hao here was to let his future mother-in-law meet him in advance. It would also help pave the way for him to unite the forces of Canhe Manor in the future.

Li Qingluo didn't let any of this show on the surface. Li Hao was strong enough that killing him would take careful planning.

"I don't know. Each of the three madams is breathtakingly beautiful. Is there something wrong with their backgrounds? From their mannerisms, bearing, and speech, they all seem to come from respectable families!" A Bi was a little baffled. Could the madams all be loose women?

"Oh, do you know where Madam Yi Lin came from?" A Zhu realized A Bi had misunderstood and hurried to interrupt her speculation.

"Tell me. I'm listening." A Bi pricked up her ears. Every woman, beautiful or not, had a burning curiosity for gossip. Li Qingluo was no exception—in fact, she listened even more intently than A Bi.

"Madam Yi Lin was a disciple of Abbess Dingyi of the Hengshan Sect. She became a nun as a child and only recently returned to secular life."

"Wow, the young master really is something. He actually got a nun to give up her vows for him. No wonder Madam Yi Lin's hair is so short." A Bi couldn't help exclaiming.

A Zhu's face twitched at A Bi's reaction. Had she misunderstood what A Zhu meant? What normal person went after nuns these days?

"A Zhu, tell me about the other two madams!" A Bi pleaded, tugging at A Zhu's sleeve.

"Maybe I shouldn't. Compared with them, Yi Lin is pretty normal. The other two madams have backgrounds that might turn your whole worldview upside down." A Zhu hesitated, unsure whether she should tell A Bi.

"Come on, hurry up! I can hardly wait."

"All right. Madam Lin's full name is Lin Shiyin. You've probably heard of her—she was Long Xiaoyun's wife at Xingyun Manor, but now she's at the young master's side."

"As for Madam Ning, she has an even more remarkable background. People suspect she may be Ning Zhongze, the Heroine of Mount Hua, and the wife of Gentleman Sword Yue Buqun, the head of the Hua Shan Sect." A Zhu shared everything she'd learned.

"The young master is incredible. I love him so much!" A Bi gazed at Li Hao with green fire in her eyes.

A Zhu thought, Did she misunderstand me? I was asking whether the young master had some kind of strange fetish. One's a nun, one's a married woman, and one's a young widow. Who knows what he'll go for next?

Li Qingluo watched Li Hao fight the armored man from inside the house to outside. Her expression changed completely. She absolutely couldn't let that young man leave the island alive. Otherwise, sooner or later, he'd devour her precious daughter whole.

"General Helian, can we call it quits? You know who I am. You haven't been using your full strength, so I doubt you dare kill me. Our interests don't conflict. In fact, we could even work together on certain things. There's no need to fight to the death, is there?" Li Hao suddenly retreated a dozen meters and spoke.

"You know who we are?" Confusion filled the armored man's voice.

"Black armor, curved blades, formidable martial skills, and a merciless attitude toward killing. Only a few factions in the world fit that description."

"Even fewer have a peak grandmaster leading their people around the martial world. Most importantly, you came to kidnap my dearest aunt-in-law. That makes your identity obvious."

"The Western Xia First-Rank Hall, led by General Helian Tieshu. Our interests don't conflict. If we joined forces..." Sometimes, there was no need to spell things out. With Helian Tieshu's intelligence, he would understand what Li Hao meant.

"Hmph. Do you think I'll believe you?" Helian Tieshu hesitated.

"I'm Li Hao, the second young master of the Gusu Murong Family. Do you think our goals are the same?" Li Hao said casually.

It seemed that, at times, the Murong Family name still carried some weight.

"Very well. If you help me, I'll give the Murong Family my full support when the time comes." The moment Li Hao mentioned the Gusu Murong Family, Helian Tieshu understood what he meant.

He had captured Li Qingluo to threaten the empress dowager of Western Xia and seize the throne. The Murong Family wanted to restore their dynasty and become rulers as well.

Until they became emperors, their interests didn't conflict. In a sense, they could even work together.

"Of course. Our two families will both benefit from an alliance." Li Hao cupped his hands.

"And what about these women?" Helian Tieshu pointed his broadsword straight at Li Qingluo.

"Don't do anything rash. They're all women I've claimed for myself—except for those two old women." Li Hao hurried to stop Helian Tieshu, afraid he might suddenly strike and kill them to keep them quiet.

"Granny Bai, have someone clean this up, then prepare a meal. I'm keeping them for dinner. We have Li Hao to thank for what happened today." After Helian Tieshu and the First-Rank Hall left, Li Qingluo began ordering the warriors of Mantuo Mountain Villa to clean up the scene.

"Young master, you're amazing!" A Bi had become Li Hao's biggest fan. She was always throwing her arms around his waist.

A Zhu didn't have the nerve to do that and could only stand to the side. Wang Yuyan, meanwhile, kept her distance. Her cousin was such a lecher—he was always putting his hands where they didn't belong.

Time passed quickly, and before long, evening had fallen. The boat from the Murong Family that had come to fetch them was told to return. Li Hao would be staying at Mantuo Mountain Villa that night.

Ning Zhongze and Lin Shiyin were delighted when they heard the news. They could finally get a night's rest.

"Old Nanny Hei, take A Zhu, A Bi, and Yuyan to their bedrooms so they can rest. Granny Bai, take Li Hao to the secret chamber in my room." At the dinner table, Li Qingluo looked at the people slumped over it and gave her orders to the two nannies.

"Madam, Young Master Hao is a member of the Murong Family..." Old Nanny Hei immediately tried to persuade her.

"Old Nanny Hei, carry out the order. No one can change the madam's decision." Granny Bai hoisted Li Hao over her shoulder and headed straight for Li Qingluo's bedroom.

"Alas, old steward, forgive me. There's nothing this old woman can do this time." Old Nanny Hei shook her head.

She knew that no one who was taken into the secret chamber in Li Qingluo's room ever came out alive.