"Didn't take it seriously, but I like it." Yin Xu smiled at Shi Chun, covering her mouth, more flirtatiously than a flower.

Wu Jinliang chuckled along, unsure if this woman was joking or truly liked Chun Tian, especially since they just hugged and embraced.

"Alright, I won't disturb you two, I'll come by tonight to invite you to the feast." Yin Xu bowed courteously, and as she left, she threw a flirtatious glance at Shi Chun.

The door opened and closed, Wu Jinliang chased to the doorway to confirm she indeed left, then quickly ran back to ask Shi Chun, "Chun Tian, what's the deal with this woman?"

Shi Chun was also puzzled. He saw her throw herself into his arms and went along with it—using this way to quickly build a relationship without paying a price was fine with him. But who would have thought she'd suddenly push him away saying she was only joking after telling sweet nothings?

Is it normal to joke around so casually with someone you just met? He was quite baffled by it all.

Seeing the bewildered expression on his face, Wu Jinliang suddenly chuckled greedily and whispered, "Tell me, how did this fox feel? I've never touched a demon cultivator you know."

Shi Chun glared at him, too lazy to bother, and sat back down on the chair, still pondering what this boss lady's intentions were. It didn't seem necessary for her to be so openly affectionate upon meeting, regardless of whom she was aligned with.

The only explanation he could think of was that maybe it's just her habit to get close to any man like that.

Of course, this needs further observation.

Jokes aside, after Wu Jinliang sat next to him, he whispered again, "Just act along in the moment; directly touching and embracing isn't appropriate. You need to hold back; you know the background of this woman. If the Domain Master finds out you're messing with his woman, we're definitely going to face some consequences. Look at me, I might be lustful, but I never take risks for women."

This guy unexpectedly lectured him about women, making Shi Chun look at him as if he saw a ghost, then asked, "Last time Duan Xiangmei got slapped, who wouldn't let it go and nearly made a mess that's hard to clean up?"

"Sigh, that's different. I'm talking about outside women," Wu Jinliang stammered shyly, his thick skin unusually embarrassed.

Shi Chun had no interest in continuing this argument and began using his right eye's superpower to observe the Refining Heaven Sect group.

He thought the Refining Heaven Sect had already followed them nearby, but he underestimated Zhu Lang Pavilion's ability to keep customer confidentiality. In this massive structure, finding the room Shi Chun was staying in wasn't easy...

Assistant Tian Shen was waiting by the water elevator, and upon seeing Yin Xu return looking serious, he immediately approached her.

The two took the water elevator directly to the rooftop terrace, where Tian Shen, unable to hold back, gently asked, "Sister Hong, how's the situation?"

Yin Xu stopped by a piece of orchid grass, lightly holding a hanging leaf, and after a long silence, she slowly said, "I've smelled the ancestor's aura left in Qingqiu before, there's no mistake. The scent on Wang Ping is indeed the ancestor's, clearly planted intentionally on him, containing the ancestor's mana rhythm."

Despite being prepared, Tian Shen was still shocked, exclaiming, "Who is he? Worthy of the ancestor planting scent on him? But no, the ancestor is asleep in the Divine Tomb. If he left the tomb, Qingqiu would definitely be shaken. Could it be he entered the Divine Tomb?"

Yin Xu slightly shook her head, "He doesn't seem capable of entering the Divine Tomb unless he possesses the method to break the tomb's restrictions. Otherwise, even those who can shatter the void have no way in, unless the great figures at the top personally act. And if the ancestor left the tomb, Qingqiu would never go unnoticed. So I'm also baffled as to how he carries the ancestor's scent?"

Tian Shen murmured contemplatively, "The ancestor planted mana rhythm on him. Given the cultivation of the ancestor, doesn't it mean the ancestor can appear beside him anytime he wants?"

"I can't figure out what's going on. Are those few groups eyeing him because of this?" Yin Xu pondered, then suddenly turned and said to him, "We've promised to entertain them; you prepare a feast tonight. I'll seek opportunities to investigate. Additionally, if various forces are monitoring them, they must not be ordinary people. Contact familiar faces across various domains and find out about Wang Ping and Gao He's background."

"Okay." Tian Shen agreed promptly.

By dusk, Yin Xu's invitation arrived as scheduled. Tian Shen personally invited Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang up to the rooftop pavilion, where Yin Xu, beautifully dressed, was already waiting.

With no outsiders, great food, drinks, and scenery, accompanied by evening charm, the host and guests engaged in delightful conversation.

Outside the Inner Court Hall, Lou Xiu stood under the eaves, looking at the gradually fading red glow in the sky, frowning as he felt dissatisfied with the performance of the relevant personnel, unable even to ascertain which room Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were staying in within Zhu Lang Pavilion. What kind of situation was that?

He got angry because of this.

He really wanted to ask that Lord, are these the capabilities of the personnel given the list?

He had no choice but to activate the City Guard's undercover agents inside Zhu Lang Pavilion for this.

A figure quickly ascended the steps. The subordinate listed as Tu Bicheng had arrived, and after saluting in front of him, he reported softly, "I've found out: Room Ding on the fifty-fifth floor of Zhu Lang Pavilion. The proprietress, Yin Xu, is hosting a banquet for them personally on the rooftop."

Lou Xiu was slightly stunned and asked, "Yin Xu personally hosting a banquet... How did they get involved with Yin Xu?"

Tu Bicheng said, "This, I truly can't figure out."

Lou Xiu thought for a moment and then suddenly laughed, "Having experienced the proprietress's hospitality last night, as a newcomer, it seems only appropriate to show the Domain Master some respect by buttering them up. Let's go to Zhu Lang Pavilion."

At Zhu Lang Pavilion, the Martial Hall Master of Extreme Fire Sect, Qiu Ben, who was already residing in the pavilion, was also annoyed, feeling like he had brought a group of useless people who couldn't even find out which room the target was staying in. What was the point of surveillance?

The entertainment and accommodation floors of Zhu Lang Pavilion are separate. The privacy on the accommodation floors is excellent, and without a room number plaque from the relevant floor, it's difficult to enter that floor. Additionally, each floor has staff guarding it, preventing visitors from climbing the stairs without an escort and persuading them to leave.

Even if someone is staying on the floor, if guards notice someone loitering outside the room doors, they will promptly ask if there's anything needed, ostensibly protecting guest privacy and stopping those with ulterior motives from snooping around.

The reason for such tight defense at Zhu Lang Pavilion is easily understood; they want to conduct discreet transactions.

Qiu Ben really wanted to use his powers to investigate the entire building. With his cultivation at the Heavenly Immortal Realm, he could easily do so, but the pavilion has a notice prohibiting random peeking into others' rooms using mana upon check-in. Violators are evicted unconditionally without compensation.

Hence, this tracking mission encountered troubles. If Shi Chun and company didn't come out, they truly couldn't find them for the time being.

It's not feasible to assign personnel to observe the situation on each floor, is it? Even using such a clumsy method, the nearly twenty people he brought wouldn't be enough. Personnel also need to be distributed around downstairs to prevent the target from leaving through other exits.

The host and guest on the rooftop, tasting fine wine and food, were unaware of the distress of those scheming.

Happily chatting and drinking, as the atmosphere seemingly dissolved some distance, Shi Chun began to formally ask, "Sister Hong, I heard Zhu Lang Pavilion secretly does some high-price escort work?"

They, too, followed suit in calling her 'Sister Hong', as the people at Zhu Lang Pavilion addressed her this way.

Yin Xu, hearing this, smiled coyly, seemingly teasing back, "Since Brother Wang asked, I won't hide anything before someone honest. A miserable woman like me wouldn't dare conceal it; it's just earning some hard money. So, do you two brothers need my help with anything? Just to be clear, friendship is friendship, rules are rules. For Zhu Lang Pavilion to escort people, they need to understand the ins and outs before considering whether to quote and accept the order. We surely won't do something that makes us shoot ourselves in the foot. However..."

Saying this, she personally filled both cups and handed one to Shi Chun, holding one herself, pulling Shi Chun's hand to intertwine arms, assuming a posture of drinking cross-cupped wine, with seductive eyes, she said, "If the friendship is enough, everything is possible."

Then she drank first, leading by example.

Shi Chun couldn't just watch, so he accompanied her and drank a cup as well.

Wu Jinliang then watched with toothache, wondering where he went wrong, thus he drank a bitter cup himself, without taste, turning to watch the night outside.

Just then, Tian Shen quickly came over, leaned beside Yin Xu, and said, "Sister Hong, the newly appointed Inner Court Captain, Lou Xiu, has arrived. He says he's here to thank you for your generous hospitality last night, and he returns the favor, personally inviting you to attend a banquet."

Without prior notice, inviting someone to a banquet at this time, what kind of logic is that? Yin Xu frowned.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang exchanged glances, finding Lou Xiu quite interesting. With his status and position as a newly appointed official, personally inviting reached an extremely humble point, giving Yin Xu enough face, refusing to attend the banquet would be equivalent to slapping him.

Thus Shi Chun said with a smile, "A newly appointed official, Sister Hong shouldn't lose face. We don't mind, Sister Hong can go to the banquet."

Yin Xu hesitated a little but ultimately revealed the truth to the two, "Even if I attend the banquet, chances are he'll suddenly hear about me hosting guests and feel deeply apologetic, insist on personally apologizing to you. So, inviting me is false; targeting you is true."

The two brothers were startled, with Wu Jinliang inquiring, "We are strangers to him; why target us?"

Yin Xu said, "You just moved in, and immediately someone from the City Guard is probing your residence. Of course, it's not just the City Guard probing; there are two other groups. I don't know who they are, and last night while you were dining here, a manager from Extreme Fire Sect named Xi Quan came. Apparently, he knows you, and after heading upstairs beside your table, he's been watching you. It seems there are quite a few interested in you."

The two brothers were facing each other, finally understanding why they were targeted by Extreme Fire Sect. It turned out to be exposed last night, precisely what the two wanted to figure out on this trip. But the question is, why is this woman selling out Extreme Fire Sect's information to them?

Shi Chun, although confident in his appearance, couldn't help but evaluate his looks again, thinking, do they just fit the demon cultivator's aesthetic standards?

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