Matchmaking

"Somewhere a little more high-class..."

Luo Yong rolled his eyes in exasperation, then laughed and scolded him, "Look at you, you've got no ambition. Do you have to go to those places?"

Zou Feng certainly didn't have to go, but visiting the pleasure houses was the best way for him to cover his tracks.

"Master, but I..."

Luo Yong waved a hand, cutting him off. "Can't hold it in, right? Master understands!"

"So yesterday, I discussed it with your mistress and asked her to find you a match. You can make do for now."

"A match?"

Zou Feng truly hadn't expected Luo Yong to have considered things so "thoroughly."

People of low status could, of course, marry.

But such marriages were generally limited to two people of the same low status.

"Mm. But since you still haven't reached the ninth rank, you'll have to settle for a maid from the estate for now."

"Once you officially reach the ninth rank, if you want to take a few more wives and concubines, that'll be entirely up to you."

"But once you've made it big, you'd better not let her down. After all, marrying you now would be like sending coal in a snowstorm!"

Luo Yong really had considered things thoroughly. At Zou Feng's age, his needs were already strong.

After taking up martial arts, his body had grown even stronger, and the heat from all the nourishing medicinal meals...

It really was hard to hold back.

It was no wonder the boy kept running off to the pleasure houses.

"...Master, this disciple is devoted to the martial way. I truly have no interest in romantic entanglements..." Zou Feng definitely wasn't going to consider marriage for now.

He had too many secrets, and he still had a long way to go before becoming a true giant of the evil path.

So why give himself a weakness for no reason?

"You're devoted to the martial way?" Luo Yong shook his head with a laugh. "If I didn't know you went to the pleasure houses every few days, I might actually believe you."

Zou Feng replied helplessly, "Ahem, what I like is the atmosphere of those pleasure houses..."

"Enough, no more turning me down. You know the maid your mistress picked out for you. It's Little Cui, the one who was always hovering around you before."

Luo Yong's choice of the word "hovering" was quite clever.

Not only did it imply that Little Cui had often found excuses to saunter around in front of Zou Feng, it also hinted at another feature of hers that could "sway."

"That girl looks like she'd be a good wife and mother, and she's sturdy, too. Especially her lower body—she's got a solid stance. She should be able to take what you dish out as a martial artist."

"..."

At that very moment, it was as if speaking of Little Cui had made her appear. There she was.

At the end of the stone-paved path, Little Cui came swaying toward them with a bamboo basket over her arm.

She was heading to the kitchen to pick up the pastries Zou Feng's mistress had made, as usual.

There were plenty of young ladies at the Yang Estate. They ate very little at mealtimes and were fond of all kinds of little pastries.

In the kitchen, Luo Yong was in charge of the stove, while his wife, Wang, handled the pastries.

So at around this time nearly every day, Little Cui, who worked as a maid, would come and wait.

That was why she'd had plenty of chances to spend time with Zou Feng before.

However, ever since the rumors about Yang Qianqian, Little Cui seemed to have given up on the idea of getting together with Zou Feng.

When they'd crossed paths over the past few days, she'd only nodded and greeted him before timidly hurrying off.

For some reason, Little Cui looked completely transformed this time.

All the trace of timidity that had once lingered between her brows had vanished.

"Brother Feng, Uncle Luo!"

From far away, Little Cui waved and called out to them.

Luo Yong replied with a beaming smile, "You're here? Go on in. Your Aunt Wang should have finished making today's pastries."

Little Cui nodded. As she passed in front of Zou Feng, she suddenly swayed her hips even more.

She truly did sway right past Zou Feng, just as Luo Yong had said.

Only after Little Cui had swayed her way into the kitchen did Luo Yong turn back to Zou Feng. "Still looking? She's already gone. Get a hold of yourself, before your eyes pop out of your head."

"How about it? Shall we settle it like this? I'll have a word with the new steward at the estate. There shouldn't be any problems."

Luo Yong thought Zou Feng had been bewitched by Little Cui's swaying hips and had stared so intently that he'd come to his senses about being "devoted to the martial way."

And just like that, he'd suddenly realized that balancing work and rest was the true path.

Little did he know, the more Zou Feng looked at the new Little Cui, the more suspicious he found her.

This wasn't like the time he'd noticed Xu Haoran practicing poison techniques. No, this was... was this damn thing even Little Cui anymore?!

"Master, Little Cui really has grown more and more lovely, but that's exactly why I can't agree to this match!" After a moment, Zou Feng said solemnly.

Luo Yong furrowed his brow, confused. "Why not?"

Because this damn woman wasn't the Little Cui he'd known before!

Zou Feng obviously couldn't tell him the truth. That would only endanger his master and his family.

After all, once Luo Yong knew the truth, he might unwittingly give something away through his words or actions.

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

That didn't matter. What mattered was that this woman was most likely another evil-path ally Blood-Handed Butcher had found to target the Yang Family.

Since the earlier attempt to poison them with a poison expert had failed, it was only natural to come up with another plan.

Finding an expert in disguise to infiltrate the Yang Estate would make a lot of things easier.

As for why Zou Feng had seen through her disguise...

First, Zou Feng had often met the original Little Cui and knew her fairly well. Second, there was her scent.

Perhaps because he practiced poison techniques, and had even mastered the Five Poisons Skill, Zou Feng had become extremely sensitive to all kinds of smells, especially those related to poison.

He was even ninety percent certain that she wasn't just an evil-path expert skilled in disguise, but also highly proficient in poison.

She had at least seven or eight kinds of poison hidden on her person...

"Master, I've only just realized that my will isn't strong enough!"

"I really was swayed by Little Cui just now and could barely control myself. But if I actually married her, I'd probably never want to get out of bed, and I might lose all interest in martial arts."

"So I appreciate your kindness, Master, but right now, nothing is more important than reaching the ninth rank as soon as possible!" Zou Feng gave a "perfectly reasonable" explanation.

After hearing him say that, Luo Yong couldn't insist any further.

He really had been a little too eager. They could have waited until Zou Feng reached the ninth rank before discussing this.

But Luo Yong had his own motives, too. Didn't he want to deepen his bond with Zou Feng before the boy truly made it big?

After all, if he actually arranged the marriage, it would show everyone that he could make life-changing decisions for Zou Feng—that he had the authority of a real father.

"That makes sense. I was careless..."

"No wonder you always go to the filthiest place of all, Jade-Cross Tower. So those fallen flowers and faded willows take care of your needs without making you get attached." Luo Yong suddenly understood.

"..."

He really could let his imagination run wild, but Zou Feng didn't feel like explaining further.

After that, he quickly made an excuse about needing to continue practicing martial arts and hurried away.

He didn't want to cross paths with "Little Cui" again.

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

As he'd said, the people Blood-Handed Butcher had found to help him were ultimately targeting the Yang Family. What did that have to do with lowly servants like them?

Even if they planned to wipe out the whole family, they'd have to kill the Yang Family members first before taking out the servants and maids as well.

Still, if he really felt uneasy, Zou Feng could think of a way to alert the experts stationed here from Heartfelt Martial Hall, without exposing himself...