Master's Wife, You Wouldn't Want...

But before seeking out the Heavenly Flames, Lu Xia had to deal with the trouble behind him first.

At that thought, Lu Xia's gaze turned cold.

For the past six years, he had appeared to cultivate peacefully in Wu Tian Manor, but in truth, he had been treading on thin ice.

He had vaguely guessed Wu Ya's intentions. All that talk of a deep master-disciple bond and helping him control his physique was nothing but lies!

From the very beginning, Wu Ya had set his sights on the origin of Lu Xia's Woeful Poison Body.

Over the years, Wu Ya had checked on his cultivation progress every few days, eager for his Woeful Poison Body to grow as quickly as possible.

Once Wu Ya felt the time was right, he would likely extract Lu Xia's poison origin without hesitation!

The reason Lu Xia had endured all this time, even deliberately concealing his cultivation, was to lull Wu Ya into a false sense of security.

But now, he had reached Dou Emperor Peak. There was no point hiding any longer.

Still, Wu Ya was a veteran Dou Emperor. He had operated in the Chu Yun Empire for decades, possessed considerable mastery of poison arts, and had no telling how many trump cards up his sleeve.

Wu Tian Manor was also a place rife with schemes and deception, and no one knew how many spies from other factions lurked within.

If things got too loud and drew the Ten Thousand Scorpions Sect here, it would only create more trouble.

What Lu Xia wanted was to eliminate Wu Ya without a sound and swiftly take control of Wu Tian Manor.

At that thought, a seductive, bewitching face surfaced in Lu Xia's mind.

Dugu Mei, Wu Ya's most favored young wife, possessed the cultivation of a Dou Wang and was the most powerful woman in all of Wu Tian Manor besides Wu Ya.

Lu Xia knew a secret: this beautiful and captivating Second Madam of Wu Tian Manor was actually a spy planted by the Ten Thousand Scorpions Sect, the Chu Yun Empire's foremost poison cultivator faction.

Lu Xia had only discovered it recently.

That day, he had gone to the back mountain to gather poisonous materials and happened to spot Dugu Mei secretly meeting with an elder of the Ten Thousand Scorpions Sect in a secluded cave.

Originally, he had not intended to meddle.

But now, this pawn could be put to good use.

"Hehe! Master's wife..."

The corners of Lu Xia's lips curved up as he turned and melted into the poisonous mist.

His figure moved through the poisonous mist like a ghost.

Dugu Mei's residence.

Dugu Mei's courtyard was filled with crimson Beauty's Intoxication flowers. Their petals resembled seductive red lips and gave off a fragrant scent.

The fragrance carried a deadly poison that could intoxicate the mind and leave anyone who inhaled it collapsed on the ground.

Lu Xia silently vaulted over the courtyard wall, his figure blending into the shadows.

Keeping close to the wall, Lu Xia silently made his way outside the main room's window and extended his spiritual power inside.

Inside the room, Dugu Mei sat before her dressing table, drawing her brows as she faced a bronze mirror.

She wore a thin red gauze dress. Her skin was whiter than snow, and her brows and eyes carried a seductive charm that made her utterly enchanting.

Lu Xia deliberately made a small noise in the courtyard.

"Thud!"

"Who is it?!"

Hearing the sound, Dugu Mei immediately became alert. When no response came from outside, she rose and went into the courtyard to inspect the situation.

She looked around the courtyard but found nothing, then turned and returned to the room.

By the time she entered, Lu Xia was already waiting inside, pouring himself a cup of tea from the teapot on the table.

Dugu Mei was somewhat surprised to see Lu Xia.

"Lu Xia? Why are you here?"

"Did your master send you?"

Unhurriedly, Lu Xia lifted the cup, took a sip of tea, and smiled.

"Of course not. I came to see Master's wife myself, to deepen our relationship."

Seeing Lu Xia's fearless demeanor, Dugu Mei grew even more suspicious. Yet she gave him a seductive smile on the surface and swayed gracefully toward him.

"Deepen our relationship?"

"Why did you come looking for Master's wife? Don't tell me... you have some ideas about me, do you~"

"If your master finds out, he won't spare you."

Dugu Mei truly was beautiful. Otherwise, she could never have enthralled Wu Ya so completely.

But Lu Xia knew she was a beautiful woman with a venomous heart. Unmoved, he replied calmly.

"Master's wife misunderstands. I came because I have a problem and would like to ask for your advice."

Dugu Mei had no idea what Lu Xia was playing at, so she could only continue along with his act.

"What problem? Let's hear it."

Lu Xia gave a soft laugh.

"It isn't anything major. Some time ago, I saw a spy colluding with the Ten Thousand Scorpions Sect on the back mountain. But this spy is also an elder I deeply respect, so I don't know whether I should tell Master."

"Master's wife, tell me... what should I do?"

Dugu Mei's aura abruptly changed. Her expression darkened as she stared at Lu Xia.

"You saw it all?!"

As though he had not noticed the change in Dugu Mei, Lu Xia continued.

"Yes, I saw it all! That person was my dearly respected Master's wife!"

After saying that, he looked into Dugu Mei's eyes and slowly said,

"Master's wife, you wouldn't want... my master to learn about this, would you?"

Holding his teacup, Lu Xia looked at Dugu Mei with a smiling expression, amusement flickering in his eyes.

The tea in the cup still steamed, its hazy vapor obscuring his features but unable to hide those unfathomably deep eyes.

Dugu Mei subconsciously took a step back. Dou Wang-level battle qi surged around her uncontrollably, and red poisonous mist flickered in and out of sight around her body.

"What do you want?"

Her voice turned cold, and a hint of killing intent flashed through her eyes.

He was only a Dou Ling, yet he dared threaten her?

If she acted now, killed this brat, and destroyed the body, no one would ever know.

The moment that thought surfaced, she suppressed it.

No.

Lu Xia was too calm.

A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy had uncovered her secret of colluding with the enemy. Facing her, a Dou Wang, he was not only unafraid but even dared enter her room alone and expose her to her face.

If he truly wanted to report her, he could have gone straight to Wu Ya. Why risk coming to find her alone?

Unless... he had never intended to report her at all.

He and Wu Ya were not on the same side either.

At that thought, Dugu Mei relaxed instead.

She slowly withdrew her battle qi, and that alluring, captivating smile returned to her face.

With light, mincing steps, she walked toward Lu Xia.

Her thin red gauze swayed gently with each step, revealing glimpses of snowy-white skin and an enticing charm.

"You little rascal, so you came to scare Master's wife!"

She let out a coquettish laugh, walked straight to Lu Xia's side, and deliberately sat close against him, her soft shoulder lightly brushing his arm.

A woman's alluring fragrance drifted to Lu Xia's ear as she spoke in a soft, seductive voice.

"I thought it was something serious. You gave Master's wife quite a fright."

She raised her eyes to look at Lu Xia, her gaze flowing with natural seduction. Her finger deliberately brushed across the back of his hand, carrying a trace of provocation.

"Since you didn't tell your master, that means you aren't truly on his side either, right? Tell me, you little bad boy, what do you want? As long as Master's wife has it, I can give it all to you~"

Her soft, warm body pressed against his, the scent of a woman filled his nose, and that tempting voice whispered by his ear. Lu Xia could not help feeling secretly pleased.

Good lord, this woman really is a temptress. No wonder she had that old fox Wu Ya completely bewitched.

Had it been an ordinary young man, he would probably have been completely won over by now.