Heartless Senior

"Miss, get out of the way!"

Lu Li wanted to dodge too, but the other party was far too fast, far beyond the realm of mortals. His mind wanted to move, yet his body lagged half a beat behind.

Long before this group entered, Lu Li had already prepared himself for a fierce battle. He had activated Azure Underworld Painted Skin in advance, hardening the skin all over his body like steel.

Clang!

The saw blade came down. Lu Li crossed his arms before him in an attempt to block it. The fabric at his cuffs instantly shredded, and dazzling sparks burst forth as the serrated blade spun.

Everyone thought the young woman before them was about to perish like a fragrant bloom, but what happened next left them frozen where they stood.

The saw blade struck the girl's wrist yet could not advance even an inch. The two separated at the first touch. Lu Li retreated seven steps, while Zhu Yi retreated three. This was not due to any gap in strength, but simply because the latter weighed more than the former.

Lu Li rubbed his slightly sore forearm. Other than his clothes being a little torn, he was completely unscathed.

He inwardly marveled that Azure Underworld Painted Skin's defense was even more terrifying than he had imagined. He did not know the origins of that chainsaw, but judging from his experience working at the stamping workshop, it was certainly no ordinary mechanism. Though it did not compare to the killing move of his Stamping Art, slicing through spirit ore would be no challenge for it.

Yet an attack like that had actually been blocked head-on by his Azure Underworld Painted Skin.

Though both were first-rank artificer devices, the difference between them was as vast as heaven and earth.

On the other side, Zhu Yi's expression darkened. How could he not realize that he had made a colossal blunder? He had rushed into someone else's courtyard and attacked their young miss.

Though his family had some influence and did not need to fear the Mo Family, he had been in the wrong from the start. No matter by reason or sentiment, he could not justify it.

"Y-You... who are you people?"

"Please calm your anger, Miss. We were pursuing a villain and merely happened to pass by this place. It was only..."

At this point, Zhu Yi raised his head and looked at the half of Lu Li's face that was exposed. He froze for a moment. That face was so pale and immaculate it scarcely seemed living, exactly as the errand boy from the Artificer Association had described.

Adding to that the fragrant sweat beading at the other party's temples and her flat chest rising and falling slightly, she had clearly just undergone strenuous activity. The person they had been chasing must have been the one before them.

"I am Zhu Yi, eldest son of the Zhu Family of North Sun City. What a coincidence—the villain happens to share your name, Miss. When I was chasing that villain just now, I was calling his name. Why did you run, Miss?"

"Rubbish! I thought you were here to seize my household servant. This young miss finally managed to sneak out for a bit of fun."

With her earlier practice at the Artificer Association, Lu Li could now call herself "this young miss" without blushing or stumbling in the slightest.

"So it was all a misunderstanding. We truly have offended you and disturbed you, Miss. Please accept this first-rank, sixth-type wind spirit core as compensation for our offense. I hope you will not take it to heart."

As he spoke, Zhu Yi produced a bluish-green sphere from nowhere and presented it with both hands.

Lu Li accepted the wind spirit core blankly, inwardly startled. That day at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, he had happened to glimpse the price list. A sixth-type wind spirit core was worth at least fifty spirit stones.

The other party had casually offered a first-rank, sixth-type wind spirit core, which showed that he was not lacking in wealth. Lu Li had worked himself to the bone just to buy a first-rank, fourth-type spirit core.

Those damn wealthy cultivators really deserved to die!

Seeing Lu Li's displeased expression, Zhu Yi took out a stack of jade slips as well.

"This is the artificer blueprint for the first-rank artificer device, Wind-Stilling Shuttle. Though it is not anything particularly high-grade, it may serve as amusement in your leisure hours, Miss. I came out this time to handle business and apprehend someone, so I did not bring much wealth with me. If you can overlook our past offense, I will personally bring gifts to your door another day to apologize."

"Hmph... who cares about your things?"

As he spoke, Lu Li picked up the jade slip and quietly tucked it into his green sleeve.

"Forget it. You needn't apologize to me either. I cannot be bothered to hold this matter against you, so I will not tell my father. Why are you still not getting lost?"

"Yes, Miss is indeed sensible and understanding. Then we shall not disturb you further and will take our leave!"

With that, Zhu Yi quickly led the others out of the side courtyard. Only after they had gone some distance did they dare discuss what had just happened in low voices.

"Boss, this isn't right. Why did the Lu Li we're looking for turn into a little girl?"

"Damn it, mentioning that makes me furious. That message Yan Xuren sent me made me embarrass myself this badly. Just wait until I get back—I'll skin him alive..."

"But Boss, why does the Mo Family's young miss have the surname Lu?"

"Maybe Lu Li was a false name to begin with, or perhaps she belongs to some branch of the Mo Family... Anyway, look into it when you return. See whether there are any people surnamed Lu among those who frequently associate with the Mo Family."

"Yes."

Zhu Yi walked a little farther, but the more he thought about it, the more indignant he became. He went to the entrance of the Artificer Association and took a quick look, only to find that Yan Xuren had already finished work. Another errand boy was handling reception.

So he took out a sound-transmission stone and sent Yan Xuren a message.

"Well done, you. I asked you to help me find that villain, and you led me straight to someone's young miss instead."

"Brother Zhu, you really can't blame me for this. Didn't I tell you at the time that the other party seemed to have some background? You just didn't believe me."

"You already knew she was a woman, so why did you tell me? My time—ptui!"

At this moment, in the Mo Family's rear courtyard, Lu Li was consumed by guilt. The fight just now had caused such a commotion that the servants of this residence could come over at any moment.

But he did not dare leave immediately either, because Zhu Yi and the others had not gone far. He had only just muddled through this ordeal; if Zhu Yi's group saw him vaulting over the courtyard wall in such frantic haste, they would inevitably grow suspicious again.

Thus, Lu Li hurriedly stripped off the ruqun, while Elder Duan chattered endlessly by his ear.

"My good disciple acted quite well. Ah, my precious disciple, you're becoming more and more like Miss Lu Li. Tsk."

"Th-There's no such thing, you old woman. Shut up."

"Hehehe, why take it off? You already ruined their clothes anyway, so why not just wear them away and patch them up?"

"Stop talking."

Lu Li pricked up his ears and listened. Zhu Yi and the others' footsteps were gradually fading into the distance, but another group's footsteps was approaching from the direction of the moon gate.

Not good! Someone's coming.

Lu Li looked around in alarm. His heart lurched, and he hurriedly climbed onto an ornate lattice window, intending to vault over the wall and leave the courtyard as he had before.

But someone behind him called out:

"Senior Heartless, is that you?"

"Senior Heartless?"

At that moment, Lu Li was standing atop the wall tiles. Startled by the shout behind him, he stumbled and nearly fell from the wall.

The newcomer was a young girl in a goose-yellow dress, seemingly around his age. She was lovely in appearance. When she saw Lu Li look her way, she clasped her hands and bowed respectfully. Three to five attendants carrying blades followed behind her.

"I did not know Senior Heartless had come. Forgive me for failing to welcome you from afar."

"You've met me?"

"Has Senior Heartless forgotten again? This little woman is Mo Shuhan. You came here half a year ago and personally gave me guidance."

Lu Li's heart tightened. He suspected a trap—perhaps this was merely a delaying tactic, meant to trick him into staying so they could seize him when the chance arose.

With that thought, Lu Li could no longer spare attention for anything else. Under Mo Shuhan's puzzled gaze, he leaped down from the wall and vanished from sight.

"Miss, that man moved strangely, and his aura was faint. I fear he may not be that esteemed person. Shall we pursue him and question him thoroughly?"

"No, there is no need. I could never mistake that face. She is Senior Heartless of the White Moon Palace. She passed through here today while concealing her aura; there must be some profound intent behind it. Just now, she looked rushed, so she must have urgent business to attend to. You must absolutely not disturb her."