Can This Be Endured?

"Attendant Wu is back?

Evening Zhi Residence sent word that Attendant Wu should hurry over once he returned."

The moment He Sheng stepped into the bluestone pavilion at the center of Upper River Street, a sharp-eyed clerk came forward to deliver the message, his face wreathed in smiles.

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

Two red lanterns hung high before its doors, while a gilded sign bearing the four words "Heavenly Sea Trading Company" adorned the lintel.

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

Unfortunately, it was useless.

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

After all, Lower River Market catered exclusively 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 early Qi Refinement. Their spiritual power was so meager that they could not even control artifacts, making it impossible for them to buy magical artifacts.

Those in mid Qi Refinement could control artifacts, but most of them here were poor as church mice. Those who could afford magical artifacts were truly few and far between.

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

"Understood."

He Sheng imitated Wu Feng's gloomy, taciturn voice and gave a single grunt through his nose. He ignored the clerk and headed straight through the front hall toward the rear courtyard.

Evening Zhi Residence was the dwelling of Lin Wanrou, the manager of the Lower River Branch.

As He Sheng walked, 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, apricot eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, with a graceful, curvaceous figure. There was a gentle softness of the southern waterways between her brows. She was Lin Wanrou's personal maid.

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

But she reacted swiftly, immediately lowering her head and bowing.

"Greetings, Attendant Wu. Please follow me."

Her string of movements flowed seamlessly, and even He Sheng failed to notice anything amiss.

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

Once 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 and plunged into his arms, winding her hands around his neck like snakes. Her red lips parted as she giggled.

"You dead ghost, why did you take so long?

Xiang'er missed you to death."

What kind of development was this?

A beauty had thrown herself into his arms of her own accord, leaving He Sheng somewhat stunned.

Instinctively, he circulated the Flesh Rebirth Art. His muscles tensed, and he nearly flung the maid away on the spot.

He Sheng was rather surprised. He had found no trace in Wu Feng's memory fragments of an affair between him and Lin Wanrou's personal maid.

On the contrary, he had vaguely discovered that Wu Feng had the tendencies of a simping dog. He greatly admired Lin Wanrou, with her proud figure and delicate beauty.

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

He forcibly suppressed the doubts in his heart and searched through Wu Feng's memory fragments. Only then did he recall that this little maid was named Kou Xiang'er.

Seeing that "Wu Feng" said nothing and merely looked at her with a dazed expression, Kou Xiang'er breathed fragrance into the air as she said.

"You dead ghost, I've already gone this far, and you're still putting on an act?

Hurry and come with Xiang'er!"

As she spoke, Kou Xiang'er tugged He Sheng briskly through the main hall, heading straight for the inner bedchamber.

Seeing this, He Sheng could not help but probe.

"Xiang'er, could it be that you could no longer endure it and deliberately summoned me here?"

At his words, Kou Xiang'er's body trembled faintly, and the fear in her eyes deepened. Fortunately, her back was turned to He Sheng, so he did not notice anything strange. She immediately said.

"I am merely a maid. How would I dare pass along messages on my own? I only hope that you, you dead ghost, will find time to visit me more often.

It was Elder Xu who summoned you today. But Elder Xu received a flying-sword message a few hours ago and went out. He may not return until later, so this is the perfect time for us to... make haste."

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

Since Kou Xiang'er was Lin Wanrou's personal maid, she did not have a room of her own. This so-called bedchamber was merely a side room connected to Lin Wanrou's room.

Elder Xu was looking for Wu Feng?

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

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

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 like flowing silk, and said seductively.

"Good man, what are you still waiting for?"

What... kind of development was this?

He Sheng felt as though his body was no longer entirely under his control.

Ever since he had crossed over, he had constantly been on edge, chased everywhere he went.

He had finally encountered an Old Turtle willing to help him, only for the other party to fall into enemy hands. To this day, its fate remained unknown.

At present, 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?

Then there was his plan to seize all the cultivation resources Brother Piao had accumulated, yet he had failed to see it through.

Now, after finally infiltrating the enemy's ranks, he could see hope of recovering all those resources and learning about the true mastermind behind the scenes. Yet this little maid was testing him like this?

He Sheng spread his divine sense to its fullest. Let alone the Lower River Branch, there was not a single Foundation Establishment cultivator in all of Lower River Market right now. Kou Xiang'er before him was merely at mid Qi Refinement. What tricks could she possibly play against a dignified Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator like him?

So... could this be endured?

Seeing Kou Xiang'er, her legs trembling, put away her handkerchief, He Sheng found it a little strange but did not dwell on it. He only asked.

"Xiang'er, do you know where Elder Xu went?

About when will he return?"

Kou Xiang'er shook her head.

"Elder Xu did not say where he was going, but..."

Kou Xiang'er hesitated here. Then, beneath He Sheng's expectant gaze, she slowly said.

"I suspect Elder Xu went to investigate the Black Mountain Group's attack on Long Sun Mountain."

He Sheng's heart jolted.

Just as expected!

Lin Wanrou was the one plotting against Brother Piao and the He Family!

He Sheng weighed his words before saying.

"I didn't expect Elder Xu to move so quickly. He Sheng had only just died, and they were already making a move against the He Family of Long Sun Mountain."

He Sheng had merely spoken along with the topic, 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 direct the Black Mountain Group to test the He Family's response."

That settled it!

Kou Xiang'er's words had fully confirmed that Lin Wanrou was the black hand behind the scenes.

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

"Xiang'er, I have been deeply involved in this matter as well, yet even now, I do not 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 could never have imagined, even in death!