Troubles

Madam Liu closed the door behind her and walked over to sit at the table.

Li Jiwu hurriedly picked up the teapot and poured her a cup.

Madam Liu took a sip before speaking in a leisurely tone, "It is done."

Li Jiwu's eyes lit up instantly, but he maintained his composure and asked in a low voice, "Did my father agree?"

"He did." Madam Liu set down the teacup, a smug smile playing on her lips. "I expect he will take the eldest young master out to discuss business within these next few days. You can have Zhao Dezhu prepare to report to the Sword-Forging Courtyard."

Upon hearing this, an irrepressible joy surged across Li Jiwu's face. He bowed deeply to Madam Liu, "Many thanks for your help, Aunt Liu! I am eternally grateful!"

Madam Liu waved her hand and laughed, "We are family; there is no need for such talk. Zhao Dezhu is my distant cousin, and I am pleased that you have promoted him to be a steward at the Sword-Forging Courtyard. This is mutually beneficial; neither of us loses out."

Li Jiwu nodded repeatedly. Just as he was about to offer some polite pleasantries, his gaze inadvertently fell upon Madam Liu.

She was draped in a thin, light outer garment, the collar slightly open to reveal a patch of snow-white skin. Her hair was somewhat disheveled, and her eyes still held a lingering, languid charm and a hint of passion that appeared particularly alluring in the dim candlelight.

Li Jiwu's Adam's apple bobbed. His gaze grew unconsciously heated as he leaned half a step closer, smiling, "Aunt Liu is right. We are family, so we truly shouldn't stand on ceremony."

His hand silently covered the back of Madam Liu's hand.

Seeing Li Jiwu's hand rest upon hers, Madam Liu did not pull away. Instead, she gently patted the back of his hand.

With a gesture of feigned resistance, she cast him a coquettish, reproachful glance, "Second Young Master, what are you doing?"

Seeing her act this way, Li Jiwu grew bolder. He grasped her hand firmly and smiled, "Aunt Liu's hands are truly exquisite, smooth and tender as jade. Father is truly a lucky man."

Madam Liu feigned anger, stiffening her face as she lowered her voice, "I am your second mother. Do you dare to be disrespectful to me? If word of this gets out, how will you ever hold your head high?"

Li Jiwu remained unperturbed. He kept holding her hand, speaking with a glib tongue, "Aunt Liu, that is being too distant. It is precisely because you are my second mother that I should take good care of you and show you filial respect on Father's behalf. Father is advanced in years and lacks the energy; it is inevitable that he falls short in some matters. As his son, is it not only natural and right for me to share his burdens and show filial piety to my second mother?"

He spoke with high-sounding rhetoric, yet his face wore an ambiguous smile, his fingers gently tracing circles in Madam Liu's palm.

Madam Liu's feigned sternness finally crumbled. She let out a snort of laughter, pulled her hand back, and tapped him lightly on the shoulder, "That mouth of yours—you could talk the dead back to life."

Li Jiwu chuckled and took the opportunity to lean in closer, "So, does that mean Aunt Liu agrees?"

Madam Liu rolled her eyes at him. She neither said yes nor no, merely picking up her teacup to take another sip, though the corners of her eyes and brows carried a seductive charm.

The atmosphere between the two grew increasingly suggestive. They teased each other back and forth, their voices dropping lower and their laughter growing softer.

Just then, a sudden "clatter" sounded from outside the room, as if something had been knocked over.

Both were startled, the smiles on their faces freezing instantly as they turned their heads toward the door in unison.

Li Jiwu abruptly released Madam Liu's hand and walked quickly to the door. He held his breath and listened for a moment before carefully pulling the door open a crack to peer outside.

The courtyard was empty, save for a mottled wild cat crouching by a flowerpot in the corner, batting at an overturned pot with its paw. Seeing the door open, it looked up, let out a "meow" at him, and then nimbly leaped onto the wall and vanished.

Li Jiwu let out a sigh of relief, closed the door, and returned to the room.

"It's nothing, just a wild cat."

Madam Liu patted her chest, a lingering trace of fear still on her face.

"You scared me to death."

After this fright, neither of them had the heart to continue their flirtation.

Li Jiwu coughed twice, then straightened his expression, "Aunt Liu, let's leave it at that for tonight. I will handle things regarding Zhao Dezhu. You should go back and rest early so as not to arouse Father's suspicions."

Madam Liu nodded, tidying her collar and hair to return to her usual appearance.

She rose and walked to the door, looking back at Li Jiwu with a lingering reluctance in her eyes.

"Then I shall go. You be careful yourself."

With that, Madam Liu pushed the door open and hurried away into the night.

Li Jiwu stood at the doorway, watching her figure disappear before closing the door, a meaningful smile rising to his lips.

Everything returned to silence.

Only then did Shen Chu, hidden in the shadows outside the courtyard wall, slowly lift his head.

He had been returning from a kill that night and, passing by, had happened to hear some commotion in Li Jiwu's room. Out of curiosity, he had stopped to listen.

He had not expected to stumble upon such a sordid affair.

Shen Chu's expression was subtle.

In his past life, he had seen plenty of messy films on the internet—all sorts of themes, from Tokyo to affairs, from wives to relatives, the genres were truly diverse.

He had considered himself quite worldly, but to actually witness such a thing in reality was a first.

He had recognized Madam Liu from her brief appearance; she was the woman in the white dress who had recruited him that day.

No wonder she had given him a chance even though his natural talent was insufficient.

So, this was the second mother's preference.

It seemed his face was truly a meal ticket here at the Li Residence.

However, this second mother likely had many others who shared her tastes. Although he had benefited from her favor, he certainly couldn't lose his virtue for the sake of a favor...

It was just a pity for Master Li...

Shen Chu touched his face again, gave a wry smile, and turned to leave quietly.

The next morning,

The furnaces in the Sword-Forging Courtyard were glowing red, the sound of hammers ringing out—everything was as usual.

Shen Chu stood at his workstation, gripping his forging hammer as he repeatedly struck a piece of red-hot iron.

After these days of tempering, his technique had become increasingly proficient; every strike was steady, precise, and powerful.

Sweat dripped down his chin, landing on the scorching anvil and evaporating with a hiss.

He was immersed in this pure labor, feeling the internal energy within his body circulate with every swing of the hammer.

Although the proficiency of his [Thousand Hammer Refinement] skill was slowly increasing,

What troubled him was that the skill remained stuck at level 1, completely motionless.

Sigh.

I wonder when it will reach level 2?

Shen Chu couldn't help but sigh. Just then, a series of footsteps sounded at the courtyard entrance, accompanied by a few respectful greetings.

He looked up to see Li Jiwu, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, walking into the courtyard with a smile, his hands clasped behind his back.

Following behind him was a man in his early thirties, with a sturdy build and dressed in plain, simple clothing.