It's just a form of address. Li Hongjiu didn't take it to heart since the woman didn't seem to oppose it. After all, calling her sister-in-law was no loss.

Speaking of which, he was really impressed by that scoundrel Shi Chun. Like a dog, he clung to anyone with family background. He did the same with Gu Lianni, the daughter of the Sect Master of Shudao Mountain in the Divine Fire Domain. Had the situation not forced a mishap, Gu Lianni might also have been ensnared by this guy.

So when Shi Chun said he wanted to curry favor with him, Li Hongjiu kind of believed it.

Sister-in-law? At this moment, the Red-clothed Woman's emotions were turbulent, and her calm eyes looked at Li Hongjiu as if he were already dead.

She had no intention of letting him leave Juku State alive.

But she was more interested in finding out how he got here, so she directly asked, "How did you get here?"

Li Hongjiu was startled. What kind of question was that? But he still pointed at Shi Chun and said, "He wrote me a letter. I was invited. Is there a problem?"

A letter brought him here? The Red-clothed Woman glanced at the floor beside her. Shi Chun's letter actually summoned Li Hongjiu to accept a disciple? No, she needed to calm down.

She had to sort out the information she received.

After Shi Chun took on the task of accepting disciples from her, she became interested in understanding Shi Chun's situation in detail. Before, she lacked the energy to focus on a small-time Shi Chun. Her intelligence network was not something ordinary people could imagine.

Information from the Yanbao Sect about the relationship between Shi Chun and Li Hongjiu also described their real relationship in a way completely different from the public perception.

Simply put, it was all an act, not even a friendship.

She was even a bit worried about whether Shi Chun could complete the promised task.

This was one of her reasons for assessing that Shi Chun needed to leave Juku State personally for Yanbao Sect.

Now, with Li Hongjiu saying a letter from Shi Chun brought him here, how was she supposed to interpret the intelligence she had received?

Moreover, the information from Yanbao Sect indicated that Li Hongjie was still there. Then who was this Li Hongjiu in front of her? Was he a fake?

If he was real, she just wanted to know what the Yanbao Sect intended by repeatedly providing incorrect information causing her misjudgment.

"Just asking, no problem." She took a deep breath to respond, stabilizing her thoughts, and then asked, "When did you get to the library?"

Upon hearing this question, Shi Chun felt things were going wrong. Just as he was about to interrupt, the Red-clothed Woman stopped him, "Shut up."

Shi Chun's face turned awkward.

Li Hongjiu also sensed something was amiss, looked at Shi Chun's reaction, and cautiously replied, "I arrived in the afternoon and was reading upstairs in the bookstore. Is there a problem?"

The Red-clothed Woman couldn't help but sneer at Shi Chun, "So this is what you call inviting someone within fifteen minutes?"

Shi Chun chuckled sheepishly, "Ruo Jun, just tell me if I didn't keep my word, just tell me if I brought the man within fifteen minutes, didn't I?"

The Red-clothed Woman coldly chuckled, realizing she had been played into a trap by the other, taking advantage of her.

Li Hongjiu also found Shi Chun unreliable and tentatively asked, "Sister-in-law, did Wang Ping really ask me to help you gather disciples?"

Wang Ping? The Red-clothed Woman gave him a slightly hostile look, realizing this person wasn't a good character, similar to Shi Chun.

Yet, she had to pretend ignorance, "Yes, that's it, thank you."

Shi Chun quickly reminded, "Brother Jiu, remember this, it has nothing to do with me, you came for Ruo Jun's uncle."

Li Hongjiu replied, "How many times do I have to tell you, my memory's not that bad, no need to keep reminding."

Just then, a clear voice called out, "Who?"

At the gateway of the inner courtyard, a young figure appeared. It was none other than Dong Liangze, who heard the voices outside and came out to check.

Shi Chun immediately turned his head and dropped the veil, quickly adjusting it to conceal his true identity.

At this moment, the dim light of the lanterns in the courtyard was still there, making it easy to see people within. Especially given the Red-clothed Woman's distinctive attire, Dong Liangze recognized her instantly and noticed two strangers beside her, prompting him to walk over.

The Red-clothed Woman glanced back at the Book Collection Pavilion where a window upstairs opened, revealing a figure inside—it was none other than Sword Saint Fu Que.

The shout in the back yard also prompted him to check at the window.

Reaching the group, Dong Liangze curiously asked, "Sister Jun, who are these two?"

The Red-clothed Woman made a nonchalant sound and indicated Li Hongjiu, "This is Li Hongjiu from Yanbao Sect, and this is his servant. You don't need to mind him." The last part was directed at Shi Chun, clearly demeaning.

Li Hongjiu couldn't help but glance at the pair beside him, sensing the woman held some resentment towards Shi Chun.

"Ah, Mr. Li!" Dong Liangze exclaimed with joy, repeatedly bowing and extending an invitation towards the pavilion, "Please have a seat at the pavilion. I'll go bring my father and others out."

With that, he turned to run.

Li Hongjiu and the two others began to walk towards the pavilion.

As they walked, noticing the graceful figure beside him, Shi Chun, slightly swayed by feelings, raised his hand and placed it on the waist of the Red-clothed Woman, stealing a feel.

The red-clothed woman was shocked as her hairs stood on end; it's one thing to mess around in the room, but someone's watching from upstairs!

She went crazy on the spot, wanting to tear the scoundrel beside her apart.

But in reality, it only translated into an elbow strike that landed on Shi Chun's waist.

Shi Chun's waist felt as if it was about to break, bending over as if folded, stifled a groan, the pain nearly making him kneel on the spot, once again experiencing how terribly painful it was to be hit by this woman.

Li Hongjiu glanced back, grinning; he could detect the movements between the two at close range and wanted to say serves you right.

Behind the window of the Book Collection Pavilion, Fu Que was taken aback, initially thinking he might have been seeing things; instead, the red-clothed woman's counteraction confirmed to him he hadn't seen wrong.

At first, he didn't know who the person wearing the veil hat was, but now comparing the behavior to the figure, he immediately remembered who it was.

Though the hugging action was rejected, he instantly realized that compared to the last time he spied on the indoor situation, the relationship between the man and woman had progressed to an unspeakable level.

This woman actually...

He didn't believe that without the woman giving a chance, the guy could have any opportunity.

That's why he was truly caught by surprise, reacted quickly, and swiftly sidestepped to lean against the wall behind the window, pretending he hadn't seen anything, muttering to himself; this time, he hadn't used magic to spy, it was you who carelessly let me see directly.

The red-clothed woman glanced back, seeing no figure behind the opened window, but she had already deployed her domain before Li Hongjiu appeared, totally aware of Fu Que's small movements upstairs, she grit her teeth and glanced at Shi Chun, who was clutching his belly in pain, still wishing she could rush up and personally slash him a thousand times.

She realized her reputation was ruined by this guy.

She didn't enter the pavilion to sit down, gestured for Li Hongjiu to wait inside the pavilion, then diverted alone to the kitchen, avoiding everyone's sight, directly transmitted through the void: "Immediately have Yanbao Sect confirm if Li Hongjiu is still there, need to confirm face-to-face!"

After receiving a confirmation reply, she turned back out.

The family of the inner courtyard was also startled by Dong Liangze's shout, already peeking out from their room doors, once Dong Liangze went around calling, the family led by Dong Wenshu quickly gathered.

The scene of the visit was naturally quite courteous and lively.

Dong Wenshu, as the host, exchanged pleasantries with Li Hongjiu.

The eldest lady was busy serving tea and water to guests.

The second lady occasionally snuck glances at Shi Chun standing behind seated Li Hongjiu, although Shi Chun wore a veil hat, he was still easily recognizable, after all, she had only recently seen that outfit.

She vaguely felt something amiss; previously, when Wang Ping brought Li Hongjiu to the Book Collection Pavilion, he casually mentioned he was a friend, but now how did he become the Li Hongjiu invited by Aunt Jun's uncle?

Especially now Wang Ping had turned into a servant by Li Hongjiu's side, which made her feel all the more suspicious.

The third lady Dongliang Ying knew what she had to face next, clearly a bit nervous and apprehensive.

The fourth young master Dong Liangze looked at Li Hongjiu with eyes full of admiration.

There was a crowd present, only Li Hongjiu, the red-clothed woman, and Dong Wenshu were seated, while the others stood obediently at the side.

Li Hongjiu wasn't someone easily manipulated, he definitely had to understand the truth of the matter, couldn't just believe whatever nonsense that scoundrel spouted; after exchanging pleasantries adequately, he asked: "I heard the third lady wants to apprentice under me, I would like to know the reason behind this."

So Dong Wenshu first expressed gratitude to the red-clothed woman, explained the origin of the matter from the beginning, and when it came to personal willingness, Dong Wenshu let his daughter Dongliang Ying speak for herself.

Dongliang Ying's personal situation was quite like what Shi Chun said; Li Hongjiu hadn't expected this affair to involve Situ Gu, a woman busy with household duties all day, actually wanting to apprentice under the first in the Artifact Refining World, what nonsense?

Precisely because it seemed ridiculous, he instead believed this matter might be genuine, not staged, possibly indeed true.

But regardless of its authenticity, he was indifferent to it, determined to just go through the motions, never get entangled in any troubles; at the moment, he was merely understanding the situation.

These were all set aside for now, he had other considerations, asked: "I wonder, between Second Miss and Fourth Young Master, who has apprenticed under the Sword Saint?"

The red-clothed woman answered, "It has not yet been decided, Fu Que will choose one."

To his surprise, Second Miss Dong Liangyu spoke up at this moment: "I'm not physically well, not suitable for cultivation, wouldn't dare to aim for the Sword Saint, better let Fourth Brother apprentice."

Over these days, she knew clearly, Fourth Brother admired the Sword Saint for a long time, and probably Fourth Brother assumed his Second Sister's health couldn't compete with him, thus had high hopes, hence she didn't want to let down her long-anticipating Fourth Brother.

She used this opportunity to publicly announce her voluntary withdrawal.

The family looked at each other in bewilderment.

Li Hongjiu unapologetically commented: "In that case, Second Miss has yet to choose a good mentor... I happen to have the best candidate suitable for Second Miss, if Second Miss could apprentice under this person, she would not regret this life."

The family exchanged glances once again, filled with surprise.

Shi Chun, however, inexplicably felt a jolt, keenly sensed something, stared intently through the veil at the back of Li Hongjiu's head, feeling like the wolf had entered the house, began to feel anxious and uneasy.

The red-clothed woman had already asked: "Don't know whom Mr. Li is referring to?"

Li Hongjiu surveyed the crowd, conspicuously skipping over Shi Chun behind him, laughed heartily, smoothed his sleeves, and eloquently spoke: "Have you all heard of the first person at the Sky Rain Meteor Conference before? Have you heard of the Mingshan Sect that won the Divine Fire Covenant? This person is none other than the Sect Master of Mingshan Sect, oh, not exactly, not the Sect Master, it's the Master of Mingshan Sect, even the Sect Leader and Sect Master of Mingshan Sect have to listen to him."

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