It was not long before—
Su Chen followed a maid into the pleasure boat.
A faint, delicate fragrance wafted into Su Chen's nostrils, clearing his mind.
A look of surprise appeared in his eyes.
Calming Incense—
a precious incense that could keep the mind clear.
He had not expected them to burn it aboard the pleasure boat. It was rather extravagant.
His gaze turned to Liu Wumei, a woman impossible to forget after just one glance.
She was a woman who embodied both charm and seduction.
"You may all leave. I'd like to speak with Tower Lord Su alone for a while."
Liu Wumei waved her hand.
Aunt Gui, the Madam behind her, and the young woman in black bowed and withdrew.
Su Chen was far weaker than Liu Wumei, so they had no fear of him making a move.
If he did—
he would only be courting death.
After the two women had left,
Su Chen sat calmly before Liu Wumei and said, "May I ask why Madam Liu wished to see me?"
As she watched Su Chen sit down before her, Liu Wumei felt a slight stir in her heart.
When Su Chen saw her, there wasn't the slightest flicker in his gaze, and his mind remained calm. It was somewhat unexpected.
Earlier, she had thought she might be able to make Su Chen one of her lovers.
Then she could bring him under her control
and take charge of the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower, expanding her influence in Qingcheng City.
But judging by the situation now,
Su Chen had extraordinary self-control. It would be difficult to make him one of her lovers.
"Your composure is better than I expected. Come, have some tea."
Liu Wumei looked at Su Chen and poured him a cup.
The fragrance of tea drifted from the cup.
"The tea smells wonderful. It's quite good. But, Madam, why don't you get straight to the reason you invited me here?"
"I prefer to be direct. I don't like beating around the bush!"
Su Chen spoke, but did not drink the tea before him.
Although Su Chen had accepted this body, he still remained wary of this world.
He was extremely cautious about everything.
Liu Wumei was the sort of woman who could stir a man's desires.
But Su Chen suppressed that impulse and let it fade into indifference, so he appeared perfectly calm.
Beauty and allure were but bones beneath the flesh.
"If Tower Lord Su pledges himself to me, I'll help you secure your position as Tower Lord of the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower."
Liu Wumei looked at Su Chen and spoke.
She stated her purpose.
At first, she had only wanted to work with Su Chen and have him introduce her to Mu Qingxue, paving the way for them to join forces.
But then Bai Tianyu, the man behind Ling Tianhe, had appeared.
She had changed her plans and decided to make Su Chen serve her.
Su Chen, sensing the danger, ought to see her as a lifeline.
"Pledge myself to you, Madam, and you'll help me secure my position as Tower Lord of the Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower? Don't you have some other purpose?"
Su Chen asked.
He neither refused nor agreed.
"If you pledge yourself to me, then wouldn't the rest be your duty anyway?"
Liu Wumei looked at Su Chen and smiled.
"Looks like you do have another purpose, Madam. Why don't you tell me first? I'll consider it."
Su Chen looked at Liu Wumei.
"Mu Qingxue of the Mu Family at Zitan Palace is on her way to Qingcheng City. When she arrives, help me contact her and arrange a partnership between us."
Liu Wumei watched Su Chen closely, trying to sense any shift in his emotions.
But Su Chen remained calm throughout, and she couldn't tell what was going on in his mind.
Such composure doesn't befit a young man!
Liu Wumei thought to herself.
Her estimation of Su Chen rose another notch.
"I won't pledge myself to you, Madam. For now, I don't need to pledge myself to anyone."
"Changhen Palace, where you are based, lies in Su City amid the waterways of Jiangnan, while Zitan Palace is a demonic sect beyond the frontier. The two of you don't seem to have any particular connection."
"If I'm not mistaken, your desire to work with Mu Qingxue of Zitan Palace is for your own personal reasons!"
Su Chen spoke after hearing her out.
Hearing Su Chen's words, Liu Wumei said, "You're clever, Su Chen. You've guessed that this is personal. I want to leave Qingcheng City, and I need to obtain certain things. Zitan Palace beyond the frontier can help me."
"Of course, if I can obtain the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform, I can return to the main altar as well."
As Liu Wumei spoke, she fixed her gaze on Su Chen.
Word from the black market said that Su Mengbai knew something about the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform.
Now that Su Mengbai was dead, Su Chen, as his son, should know at least a little.
She wanted to judge from Su Chen's reaction whether he knew where the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform was.
"So you've heard the news circulating on the black market too, Madam."
"But the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform may have something to do with Qin Hao."
Su Chen spoke.
"Something to do with Qin Hao?"
At the mention of Qin Hao, Liu Wumei's brows drew together slightly.
Qin Hao was a member of the Qin Family, a prominent clan in Lingnan Commandery.
If the Qin Family were merely a clan, Liu Wumei wouldn't have given them a second thought.
But the Qin Family had a consort in the palace who had borne the emperor a son, which made them a force to be reckoned with.
"I wonder what Tower Lord Su has uncovered?"
She watched Su Chen, hoping to read something in his eyes.
If it was confirmed, it would be perfectly reasonable to compete with Qin Hao for the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform.
She just had to avoid killing Qin Hao.
At that moment, Liu Wumei didn't yet realize that, without knowing it, she had begun to see Su Chen as her equal.
"It's only a guess."
Su Chen replied briefly.
Liu Wumei's expression changed.
She hadn't expected Su Chen to give her such an answer.
She felt as if he were playing games with her. Frowning, she looked at Su Chen.
"Su Chen, I'm trying to help you, yet you're playing me. You saw the man behind Ling Tianhe too. If you don't pledge yourself to me, I think you'll end up like Lei Ao and the others, with your head taken."
Liu Wumei said, her expression darkening.
"I don't know about the others, but I'm the one who cut off Lei Ao's head—and the assassin's too."
Su Chen spoke as he looked at Liu Wumei's darkened expression.
His voice was calm, but Liu Wumei froze when she heard him.
She stared at Su Chen in astonishment.
Su Chen was actually claiming that he had cut off Lei Ao's and the assassin's heads.
"They died by my Dusk Fine Rain Blade. And they weren't the only ones to die by my hand. Song Yuan, one of Ling Tianhe's most trusted men, died by my hand as well."
Su Chen continued,
and the aura around him began to change. Innate energy burst from his body.
A chill flowed through that force.
"Innate Realm—innate energy with a chilling attribute!"
As she watched the energy around Su Chen shift, a flash of surprise crossed Liu Wumei's eyes.
Someone in the Innate Realm wouldn't last a single move against her.
But according to what she'd heard, Su Chen had been in the Postnatal Realm. Now he was displaying Innate energy, and from its depth, he hadn't only just broken through.
His energy was rich and powerful. It probably wouldn't be long before he reached the Innate Mid Stage.
"I didn't expect my judgment to be so far off. Tower Lord Su, you've hidden your strength very well!"
Liu Wumei looked at Su Chen and said.
Su Chen's strength was close to the Innate Mid Stage.
He was only a little weaker than Ling Tianhe.
But Su Chen was a disciple of the Mountain River Sect and surely knew some cultivation techniques. If he fought Ling Tianhe, it was still anyone's guess who would win.
Before you continue