Matchmaking

"Something more upscale..."

Luo Yong rolled his eyes irritably, then laughed and scolded, "Look at how little ambition you have. Must you go to places like that?"

Zou Feng certainly did not have to go, but brothels were the best places for him to conceal his movements.

"Master, but I..."

Luo Yong waved a hand, cutting him off. "Can't hold it in, can you? Your master understands!"

"So yesterday, I discussed it with your mistress and had her arrange a marriage for you, just to tide you over."

"A marriage?"

Zou Feng truly had not expected Luo Yong to be so "thoughtful."

Those of lowly status could, of course, marry.

But such marriages were generally limited to two people who were both of lowly status.

"Mm. But since you still haven't entered the ranks, you can only make do for now with one of the estate's maids."

"Once you officially enter the ranks, if you want a few more wives and concubines, making up a household of three wives and four concubines or whatever, that'll all be up to you."

"But after you rise to wealth and prominence, it'd be best not to wrong her. After all, marrying you now would be like sending charcoal in the snow!"

Luo Yong truly had thought this through. At Zou Feng's age, his urges were naturally strong to begin with.

After taking up martial arts, his body had grown ever more robust, and with the heat brought on by medicinal meals and dietary tonics...

It really was hard to hold back.

No wonder the boy kept running off to brothels at every turn.

"...Master, this disciple is devoted to the martial path. I truly have no mind for tender affairs between men and women..." Zou Feng definitely had no intention of considering marriage for the time being.

He had too many secrets, and he still had a long road ahead before becoming a true giant of the unorthodox path.

Why give himself an extra weakness for no reason now?

"Devoted to the martial path?" Luo Yong shook his head and laughed. "If I didn't know you ran to brothels every other day, I might actually have believed that."

Zou Feng said helplessly, "Ahem, what this disciple likes is the atmosphere in brothels..."

"All right, stop refusing. You know the maid your mistress picked for you too. It's Little Cui, the one who was always swaying around in front of you before."

Luo Yong's use of the word "swaying" was truly exquisite.

He was not only saying that Little Cui often found excuses to wander back and forth before Zou Feng, but also pointing out another notable place on Little Cui that could "sway."

"That girl looks like she'll bear children easily, and she's sturdy too. Especially that stable lower body of hers—she should be able to withstand the tossing about from a martial artist like you."

"..."

The very next moment, it was truly a case of speak of the devil, for Little Cui arrived.

At the end of the flagstone path, Little Cui was carrying a bamboo basket and sashaying this way.

She came to the rear kitchen, as was customary, to collect the pastries Zou Feng's mistress made.

There were quite a few young ladies in the Yang Estate. They ate little at regular meals, but loved all kinds of small pastries.

In the rear kitchen, Luo Yong handled the savory dishes, while his wife Wang handled the pastries.

Thus, at nearly this time every day, Little Cui, as a maid, would come here to wait.

That was why she had previously had so many opportunities to spend time with Zou Feng.

However, ever since the rumors concerning Yang Qianqian, Little Cui seemed to have given up on the idea of having a fling with Zou Feng.

Over the past few days, whenever they met, she merely nodded in greeting before timidly hurrying away.

For some reason, when they met again this time, Little Cui seemed completely renewed.

The faint timidity that had once lingered between her brows had vanished without a trace.

"Brother Feng, Uncle Luo!"

From far away, Little Cui waved as she greeted them.

Luo Yong answered with a smile, "You're here? Go on in. Your Auntie Wang should have finished today's pastries already."

Little Cui nodded. As she passed in front of Zou Feng, the sway of her hips suddenly grew even more pronounced.

She truly "swayed" right past Zou Feng's eyes, living up to the name.

Only after Little Cui had sashayed into the rear kitchen did Luo Yong turn back to Zou Feng. "Still looking? She's already gone. Rein it in a little—don't stare your eyeballs right out of their sockets."

"So, how about we settle it like this? I just need to say a word to the estate's new steward. There shouldn't be any problem."

Luo Yong thought Zou Feng had been captivated by Little Cui's swaying hips, staring himself spellbound as he woke from his "devotion to the martial path."

And immediately realized that balancing work and rest was the true way.

Little did he know that the more Zou Feng looked at the current Little Cui, the more he felt something was wrong.

This was not like before, when he had noticed Xu Haoran cultivating a poison art. Rather... was this even still Little Cui?!

"Master, Little Cui has indeed grown more and more lovely, but precisely because of that, I cannot agree to this marriage!" After a moment, Zou Feng spoke with a solemn expression.

Luo Yong frowned in confusion. "Why's that?"

Because this damn well wasn't the Little Cui from before!

Naturally, Zou Feng could not tell the truth at this moment. That would only bring disaster upon his master's family.

Once Luo Yong learned the truth, after all, he would inevitably reveal flaws in his words and actions.

As for who exactly this "Little Cui" was...

That was not actually important. What mattered was that this woman was most likely another unorthodox-path helper Blood-Handed Butcher had found to target the Yang Family.

Since the poison-path expert's previous attempt at poisoning had failed, causing Blood-Handed Butcher's plan to fall through...

When one scheme failed, it was only natural to devise another.

Finding an expert skilled in disguise techniques and slipping them into the Yang Estate would make many things far more convenient.

As for why Zou Feng could see through this woman's disguise...

First, he had often encountered the former Little Cui and was fairly familiar with her. Second, it was because of her scent.

Perhaps because he cultivated a poison art, and had also brought the Five Poisons Skill to the point of mastery, Zou Feng had become exceptionally sensitive to all sorts of scents—especially scents related to poison.

He was even ninety percent certain that not only was this an unorthodox-path expert who knew disguise techniques, she was also highly skilled at using poison.

There were no fewer than seven or eight kinds of poison hidden all over her body...

"Master, this disciple only just realized that his will is not firm enough!"

"Just now, Little Cui's 'swaying' truly made it hard for me to restrain myself. But if I really married her, I fear I would not want to get out of bed every day, and would have even less heart for martial arts."

"Therefore, this disciple appreciates Master's goodwill, but right now, nothing is more important than entering the martial ranks as soon as possible!" Zou Feng offered a "perfectly reasonable" explanation.

Hearing Zou Feng put it that way, Luo Yong could no longer insist.

He really had been a little too hasty. These matters could clearly wait until Zou Feng entered the ranks.

Yet Luo Yong had his own selfish motives as well. Did he not want to use this to further deepen their master-disciple bond before Zou Feng truly rose to wealth and prominence?

After all, if the marriage were truly arranged, it would be equivalent to showing everyone that he could make decisions about Zou Feng's major life events, possessing authority akin to that of a real father.

"You're right. It was your master who overlooked it..."

"No wonder you always go to that filthiest of places, Jade-Cross Tower. So those faded flowers and withered willows satisfied your needs while ensuring you would never become addicted." Luo Yong said in sudden realization.

"..."

He really knew how to fill in the blanks, but Zou Feng did not want to explain any further.

Afterward, he hurriedly found an excuse about continuing his martial training and left in haste.

He did not wish to encounter "Little Cui" again.

In any case, neither he nor Luo Yong's family would actually face any danger for the time being.

As he had said before, the helper Blood-Handed Butcher had found was targeting the Yang Family all along. What did it have to do with servants like them?

Even if they intended to wipe out the entire household, they would first have to kill the Yang Family members before conveniently exterminating the servants and maids as well.

But if he truly could not put his mind at ease, Zou Feng could think of a way to warn the experts from Heartfelt Martial Hall stationed here without exposing himself...