Can You Tolerate This?

"Master Wu is back?

There's a message from Evening Zhi Residence. They asked that Master Wu go over at once when he returned."

The moment He Sheng entered the bluestone pavilion at the center of Upper River Street, a sharp-eyed clerk came up to him with a broad smile and delivered the message.

This was the Lower River Branch of the Celestial Sea Commerce Association.

Two red lanterns hung high before its doors, and above them was a gilded signboard bearing the four words: "Celestial Sea Trading House."

The pavilion rose a full three stories, with upturned eaves and interlocking brackets. Amid the ramshackle Lower River Market, it looked so lavish that it seemed utterly out of place.

Unfortunately, it was of little use.

The storefront was deserted, but this was no accident—it was the norm for most of the year.

After all, Lower River Market catered specifically to Qi Refinement cultivators, and its largest customer base consisted of low-level Rogue Cultivators in the early and middle stages of Qi Refinement.

There was no need to mention those in the early stage of Qi Refinement. Their spiritual power was too meager to wield artifacts at all, so it was impossible for them to buy magical artifacts.

Those in the middle stage of Qi Refinement could wield artifacts, but most of the cultivators here were poor as church mice. Those who could afford magical artifacts were truly few and far between.

When neither of its two main customer groups had much demand for magical artifacts, how could the Lower River Branch's business possibly thrive?

"Got it."

Imitating Wu Feng's gloomy, taciturn voice, He Sheng merely snorted a word through his nose. He ignored the clerk and strode straight through the front hall toward the rear courtyard.

Evening Zhi Residence was the dwelling of Lin Wanrou, the person in charge of the Lower River Branch.

As He Sheng proceeded, he spread out his divine sense and easily found the vermilion-lacquered gates of Evening Zhi Residence.

After his arrival was announced, a beautiful maid emerged from within.

The maid had a lovely face—almond eyes, peach-blossom cheeks, and a graceful figure. There was a gentle softness between her brows, like that of the water towns south of the river. She was Lin Wanrou's personal maid.

The beautiful maid walked up to "Wu Feng," ready to say something, but as her nostrils twitched, a flicker of panic flashed through the depths of her eyes.

Yet she reacted swiftly, immediately lowering her head in salute. "Greetings, Master Wu. Please follow me."

Her series of movements flowed without the slightest pause, and even He Sheng noticed nothing amiss.

Once she had spoken, the beautiful maid dipped slightly and led He Sheng inside.

The moment the residence gates closed, only the two of them remained in the vast Evening Zhi Residence. The beautiful maid, who had been leading He Sheng toward the main hall, suddenly stopped. She turned around and threw herself into He Sheng's arms, her hands winding around his neck like snakes. Parting her red lips, she giggled.

"You dead man, why did you take so long to come?

Xiang'er missed you to death."

What was this supposed to be?

With a beauty taking the initiative to throw herself into his arms, He Sheng was somewhat dumbfounded.

Instinctively, he activated the Flesh Rebirth Art, his muscles tightening as he nearly flung the maid away on the spot.

He Sheng was rather surprised. He had found no trace in Wu Feng's fragmented memories of an affair with Lin Wanrou's personal maid.

Instead, he had vaguely discovered that Wu Feng had the tendencies of a pathetic simp, deeply enamored of Lin Wanrou's voluptuous figure and lovely looks.

But by He Sheng's standards, he had no interest whatsoever in a tea-art master like Lin Wanrou, with all her affected airs. If anything, he found her inferior to this fiery, alluring little maid.

Suppressing the shock and suspicion in his heart, he searched through Wu Feng's memory fragments and finally recalled that the little maid's name was Kou Xiang'er.

Seeing that "Wu Feng" said nothing and merely stared at her with a bewildered expression, Kou Xiang'er breathed out a fragrant sigh. "You dead man, I'm already like this, and you're still putting on an act?

Come with Xiang'er, quickly!"

As she spoke, Kou Xiang'er tugged He Sheng through the main hall at a brisk pace, heading straight for the inner chambers behind it.

Seeing this, He Sheng could not help testing the waters. "Xiang'er, don't tell me you couldn't hold back and deliberately summoned me here?"

At his words, Kou Xiang'er's body trembled lightly, and the fear in her eyes deepened. Fortunately, her back was turned to He Sheng, so he did not notice anything unusual. She immediately said, "I'm only a maid. How would I dare pass along messages on my own? I only hope that you, you dead man, will find more time to come see me.

It was Elder Xu who summoned you here today. But Elder Xu received a flying-sword message a few hours ago and went out. He may not return until later. That's perfect—we can... make haste."

With that, Kou Xiang'er pulled He Sheng straight into the inner chamber.

Since Kou Xiang'er was Lin Wanrou's personal maid, she had no room of her own. This so-called inner chamber was merely a side room connected to Lin Wanrou's quarters.

"Elder Xu was looking for Wu Feng?"

He Sheng's heart stirred. Wasn't Elder Xu precisely the primary target of this trip?

He immediately wanted to ask Kou Xiang'er where Elder Xu had gone, and even wanted to ask where Lin Wanrou was.

But before he could speak, something happened that nearly made his jaw drop!

Kou Xiang'er braced both hands against the couch, looked back at him with eyes brimming with seduction, and said, "Good man, what are you still waiting for?"

How... had things come to this?

He Sheng felt as though his body was slipping out of his control.

Ever since transmigrating, he had kept his nerves taut, chased from place to place.

At long last, he had met an Old Turtle willing to help him, only for the other man to fall into enemy hands, his fate still unknown.

Now, he did not even have a place to settle down and cultivate. Long Sun Mountain was readily available, but leaving aside the mess that was the He Family, what if that sword-bearing youth came back for another round?

He had also wanted to get his hands on all the resources Brother Piao had amassed, yet had failed to see it through.

Now that he had finally infiltrated the enemy's ranks, with all those resources seemingly within reach and a chance to uncover the true mastermind behind it all, this little maid was actually putting him through such a test?

He Sheng spread his divine sense wide. Let alone the Lower River Branch, there was not a single Foundation Establishment cultivator anywhere in Lower River Market at present. Kou Xiang'er, standing before him, was merely at the middle stage of Qi Refinement—what tricks could she possibly play on a dignified Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator like him?

So... how could he put up with this?

Seeing Kou Xiang'er's trembling legs as she put away her handkerchief, He Sheng found it somewhat strange but did not dwell on it. He merely asked, "Xiang'er, do you know where Elder Xu has gone?

"About when will he return?"

Kou Xiang'er shook her head and said, "Elder Xu did not say where he was going, but..."

Kou Xiang'er hesitated here, then slowly said beneath He Sheng's expectant gaze, "I suspect Elder Xu went to investigate the Black Mountain Group's attack on Long Sun Mountain."

He Sheng's heart jolted.

"Just as I thought!

"The one plotting against Brother Piao and the He Family is indeed Lin Wanrou!"

He Sheng weighed his words before saying, "I didn't expect Elder Xu to move so quickly. He Sheng had barely died, and they were already making a move against the He Family of Long Sun Mountain."

He Sheng had only said it in passing, but Kou Xiang'er immediately replied, "From what I know of Sixth Miss, He Sheng may not be dead at all. Otherwise, Sixth Miss would not have delayed her return for so long, nor would she have sent Elder Xu back to spread rumors and order the Black Mountain Group to test the He Family's reaction."

That settled it!

Kou Xiang'er's words had confirmed that Lin Wanrou was the mastermind behind everything.

He Sheng's only question now was why this woman had done such a thing.

"Xiang'er, I've been deeply involved in this matter myself, yet even now, I still don't know why Manager Lin wanted to kill He Sheng."

He Sheng beat around the bush to draw out information. Kou Xiang'er hesitated slightly, then revealed a reason He Sheng would never have imagined, not even in death!