Woman, You're Playing With Fire

The next day.

At the first light of dawn, the Capital City was already bustling with activity.

Over the past ten days, news of the Puppet Assembly had spread to every corner.

The reward of two thousand spirit stones, coupled with the temptation of trampling the Gongshu Clan underfoot, had sent countless artifact refiners flocking, though it also deterred those lacking in skill.

However, artifact refiners were ultimately a minority; of the thousands who had flooded into the Capital City recently, over ninety percent were merely there to watch the spectacle.

How could one miss such a show?

Setting aside the reward and the prospect of humiliating the Gongshu Clan, the venue for the Puppet Assembly alone was worth a look.

The Weapon-Forging Platform!

What kind of place was this?

Back when the Grand Ancestor expanded the borders, he commanded all the artifact refiners under heaven to forge divine weapons for his generals, forcing the four barbarian tribes into submission.

The place where those divine weapons were forged was the Weapon-Forging Platform.

Since then, the Weapon-Forging Platform had only opened for major artifact-refining events, and without significant backing, an organizer could never secure the rights to use it.

Not many people knew who this person was.

But to be able to secure the Weapon-Forging Platform, and to throw away two thousand spirit stones only to toss another two thousand on top, they were undoubtedly a ruthless character of the highest order.

Looking across the entire Capital City, one could count such people on their fingers.

Yet, it seemed none of these people had any grudge against the Gongshu Clan!

The Gongshu Clan had always been honest in their manufacture of military equipment and rarely participated in court struggles; how had they offended such a ruthless person?

Southern Pacification Mansion.

Qin Yanying was already anxious to the point of agitation: "Muye, Muye! Damn it, eat faster! Stop dawdling; if we go any later, we won't get a good spot, and we'll be stuck looking at the backs of people's heads!"

Bai Yuji smiled and shook Qin Yanying's arm: "Aunt, there is no need to rush. Muye has already reserved a private room next to the Weapon-Forging Platform. We went to check it out yesterday; the view is excellent, and no one will be able to block your sight."

"Whoa!"

Qin Yanying was startled: "The restaurants next to the Weapon-Forging Platform aren't cheap. Is it really that extravagant?"

Qin Muye set down his porridge bowl and said with a solemn expression: "Aunt! I think you should recognize your own status and learn to adapt to the life of the wealthy."

Qin Yanying laughed twice, yet she still felt as if she were living in a dream.

Although Qin Muye had given her ten thousand taels of pocket money a few days ago, why did it still feel so unreal?

A maidservant carried a medicine pot and carefully placed it on the table: "Young Mistress, the medicine you prepared is ready."

Qin Muye paused, glancing at the porridge bowl he was holding: "Haven't I already had my medicine today?"

Bai Yuji glanced at Qin Yanying and lowered her voice to explain: "It's a new prescription!"

Qin Yanying didn't catch the meaning behind the look at all, assuming only that her nephew had found another cure: "Yuji is truly capable, finding yet another method. Let me smell it."

Before she had even finished speaking, she lifted the lid of the medicine pot.

She sniffed, then said with a look of suspicion: "Why does this scent seem so familiar?"

Just at that moment.

"Yanying, those sentries have already..."

Chen Sui walked in hurriedly. Seeing the medicine pot on the table, his expression suddenly turned awkward: "Eh!? You're making me drink this early in the morning? Why bring this stuff in front of the child..."

"Stop talking already!"

Qin Yanying panicked, quickly covering his mouth and hooking him by the neck to drag him out of the room.

Qin Muye wasn't familiar with these medicines, but even with his slow reaction, he had guessed what they were.

Bai Yuji found it curious: "Seeing how Aunt usually keeps her distance from him, I thought they hadn't reached that stage yet."

Qin Muye curled his lip: "Food and sex are human nature. They are in their thirties or forties; do you really think they are innocent youths?"

"If it's like this, why not get married?"

"Aunt says she only treats Uncle as a toy, using his body to relieve her boredom, and that she has no real feelings for him."

"The love of middle-aged people is truly carefree."

"Carefree, yet twisted."

Qin Muye curled his lip. Because of the Third Uncle incident, his aunt had always held a grudge in her heart, but looking at them now, it seemed quite alright.

At least they drank their medicine often.

However...

He rubbed his head: "This kind of medicine should only treat the symptoms, not the root cause, right? Won't it harm the body?"

Bai Yuji smiled: "Rest assured! These medicines are primarily tonics. I have controlled the dosage and added herbs for nourishment. The symptoms and the root are two sides of the same coin; a person's intent is also a potent medicine.

Right now, your 'root' is stuck in a bottleneck because your blood and energy are not active enough, perhaps because you are resisting or fearing this matter in your heart. Only by waking up the 'symptoms' can we see if it works. What I fear is that even the symptoms won't wake up..."

Qin Muye: "..."

She wants to awaken my Great Standard?

Woman!

You are playing with fire!

However, he felt it was a bit absurd. After all, the current value was -57/40; the gap was too wide, and relying on the standard alone probably wouldn't be enough to bridge it.

It shouldn't affect the progress of dragging her down.

Qin Muye cooperated and drank the medicine.

Bai Yuji asked: "How do you feel?"

"I feel a warmth in my stomach."

"What kind of warmth?"

"Just like I drank a lot of hot liquid."

"..."

Bai Yuji glanced at the empty medicine pot still emitting steam, and she fell into deep thought.

So, it has no effect?

Her heart felt heavy, but she still prepared to comfort Qin Muye.

Before she could even speak, Qin Muye beat her to it: "Don't be discouraged. As long as you keep trying, everything will be fine."

Bai Yuji: "..."

The Weapon-Forging Platform is located less than a mile north of the Imperial Palace, in one of the most prosperous areas of the Capital City. The surrounding area is filled with high-end spiritual item shops and elixir pavilions. The people coming and going are all celebrities of the Capital City; commoners rarely venture here.

The reason is simple: the prices are just too high.

If you have an unfamiliar face and dress plainly, you might truly be looked down upon by the shop assistants.

After all, in this world, scholars have their scholarly air, warriors have their martial physique, and nobles have their noble aura; it is difficult for class misidentifications to occur.

However, today, a large crowd of commoners flooded into the area around the Weapon-Forging Platform to watch the excitement.

South of the Weapon-Forging Platform.

Sword-Viewing Tea Pavilion.

Shen Jin glanced at the massive, swarming crowd below and couldn't help but show an expression of disgust: "Like a plague of locusts. Such a prosperous area, ruined by them until it looks like a vegetable market. It truly offends the beauty of the scene."

As he spoke, he unabashedly sized up the woman beside him.

The woman was beautiful, with pointed, furry ears that looked exceptionally dainty and lively.

She was pure, yet carried an innate charm.

His heart burned as he watched, inwardly sighing that the Fox Clan of Qingqiu were indeed top-tier.

He hadn't wasted his money at the auction last time; that little vixen really had managed to bring this fox over.

Qingqiu Ningning noticed his burning gaze but didn't feel repulsed, merely smiling lightly: "It's better when it's lively."

Shen Jin smiled warmly: "As long as you don't mind! Let's go in!"

"Cousin!"

Wang Li tugged at Shen Jin's sleeve.

Shen Jin was somewhat displeased. Following the direction of his gaze, he saw several members of the Qin Family entering a private room not far away. That violent, sharp-tongued, beautiful woman was holding Qin Muye's arm, looking incredibly intimate.

His excellent mood vanished by more than half.

Wang Li was puzzled: "Hasn't this scoundrel always been stingy? How is he willing to come to a place like this? Where did he get the money?"

Shen Jin's eye twitched violently as he retorted: "Where do you think he got the money?"

Wang Li: "..."

It was somewhat awkward.

He quickly changed the subject, cursing: "I just don't understand. Chen Sui, that barking dog, follows that shrew Qin Yanying around all day, practically begging for the title of a Qin Family son-in-law. Why does His Majesty still value him so much?"

Shen Jin sneered: "Because that man is even willing to investigate his own brother-in-law."

Wang Li: "..."

Shen Jin said in a low voice: "It's best to provoke Qin Muye less lately. Chen Sui has rooted out many problematic people at various outposts, yet he still can't find out who the mastermind is.

You all know Chen Sui's capabilities. If even he can't find out, it means the person behind this truly has eyes and hands that reach the heavens. Don't let this person find an opportunity; the blame for killing the heir of the Marquis of Southern Suppression is not a burden one wants to carry."

"Understood!"

The group responded in unison.

Only then did Shen Jin nod, wrapping his arm around Qingqiu Ningning's slender waist as they entered the room.

Qingqiu Ningning glanced out the window and said with pleasant surprise, "I can actually see the Weapon-Forging Platform so clearly from here?"

Shen Jin smiled slightly, "Do you feel like you wasted your time by being so obsessed with cultivation before?"

"Mm!"

"I told you, you might not get anything else from me, but you will certainly get ultimate pleasure."

"I believe you!"

Qingqiu Ningning gave a sweet smile, having already undone Shen Jin's belt before he even realized it.

Then.

She sat down as if no one else were around.

Shen Jin: "..."

Hiss!

As expected of the Fox Clan.

She really integrates quickly!

I just love being with this kind of Demon Race, unburdened by propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame!