"You're talking nonsense," Master's Wife sighed softly.
At sixteen, a girl should have been in the bloom of youth, riding out in fine clothes and knowing nothing of sorrow.
But this child's face held none of the youthful vigor she ought to have had, nor the forced solemnity of someone pretending to be troubled. There was only an unsettling calm indifference, like a lake glazed with thin ice in early winter, with unfathomable cold and emptiness beneath.
Who knew what kind of torment this child had endured to become the way she was now?
Master's Wife gazed at him, her beautiful eyes full of heartache.
Fortunately, after this, Master's Wife finally gave up on marrying Mei Dai off to Lu Chen.
The snow had stopped. The cold moon hung alone in the sky, and the world lay in hushed stillness.
Lu Chen left Master's Wife's home and walked back alone through the snow.
He had no intention of starting a family, but he had never planned to be chaste and desireless, either. He liked beautiful women and needed them to satisfy his desires.
Love, however, was something he despised.
It was nothing but a flower in a mirror, a moon reflected in water. Apart from clouding the mind and luring people into foolishness, it served no purpose. Why should anyone lay their heart bare for it, or even stake their life and fortune?
He, Lu Chen, was not so infatuated.
The following day.
Han Qiu of the Small Knife Society arrived with his guard, Ah Qi.
Lu Chen led the two into the inner room and served them tea.
After a few pleasantries, Han Qiu got to the point. "Guild Leader Lu, I heard that yesterday, outside the West City Gate, you personally beat a One-Seal martial artist