What token of affection does he have? When others give a ring, he can only offer a hairpin. The women's accessories left by Xia Fuli in the Qiankun Bracelet, he doesn't know whose they belong to; they're just lying around, so he might as well use them.

But his words told a different story, "I happened to see this hairpin suit you, so I bought it. I didn't expect you also prepared a token to give; seems like we have a mutual understanding, truly meant to be."

As he let go, he attempted to embrace her.

The Red-clothed Woman pretended to go look in the mirror, discreetly twisting and pushing him away, and bent over to scrutinize herself in front of the mirror. Upon review, she directly gave a bad review in her heart: blind as a bat, this hairpin is meant for little girls, what suits me? Not suitable at all!

Yet her mouth said with a smile: "It's really pretty."

The room being so small, Shi Chun entwined himself over as well, and close-fitting embraced her from behind, with such gentle fragrance and soft jade in his arms. It was inevitable that there were stirrings of movement, kissing her ear and neck with heavy breath.

The Red-clothed Woman was uncomfortable with his antics, but her nimble figure twisted around swiftly and pushed him away, maintaining a distance warning him: "Wait till Situ Gu arrives, wait till you accomplish what you promised me, then I'll comply with you. For now, don't get any ideas, don't act recklessly, respect me, can you do that?"

Shi Chun spoke words of love effortlessly, "I've just never seen such a beautiful woman as you, couldn't help myself, but meant no disrespect..."

Yet, no matter how sweetly he spoke, his entanglement with a brothel woman, as reminded by Dong Wenshu, had genuinely put the Red-clothed Woman off him, before she might feign cooperation and act along with it, now even doing that felt displeasing to herself.

However, she was not simple either, utilizing the veteran woman's tricks of having it both ways, adamantly stalling Shi Chun's desire to stay overnight, and practically fooled him out the door.

Upon leaving, Shi Chun took another batch of wine from her; if she wanted him gone, he naturally had to request a little something.

Once Shi Chun left, the Red-clothed Woman immediately took off the hairpin, disgustedly tossed it aside, then turned to transmit sound towards the Book Collection Pavilion: "It's not what you think."

Fu Que responded via sound transmission: "I won't overthink it; if you plan to kill someone to silence them, don't come to me, I don't do such things."

Red-clothed Woman: "Anyway, it's not what you think, what eyes see might not be facts."

Fu Que: "I haven't seen anything."

The Red-clothed Woman rarely displayed the expression of a little girl gritting her teeth in hatred.

Just then, Lan's sound transmission arrived, "Madam."

The Red-clothed Woman, pacing in the room, altered her direction and transmitted sound asking: "What is it?"

Lan's transmission sounded slightly fearful, "Madam, the informant from Yanbao Sect confirmed face-to-face, Li Hongjiu isn't at Yanbao Sect. The 'Li Hongjiu' in the secluded cultivation grounds is his sectmate acting as a substitute. Li Hongjiu likely already left Yanbao Sect, but the informant doesn't know specifics."

The Red-clothed Woman's eyes glimmered deeply, her chest visibly fluctuating. After a brief silence, she slowly replied: "If he can't accomplish such matters, what's the use of him?"

Lan immediately comprehended her meaning and responded: "I understand."

The Red-clothed Woman continued: "Shi Chun is here, soon to depart; summon those two pairs of eyes, keep an eye on him, and grasp all his personnel interactions."

"I understand." Lan responded again.

In Li Hongjiu's room, Shi Chun again set down ten jars of wine, Li Hongjiu's eyes gleamed as he approached the table.

Seeing his manner, Shi Chun patted the wine jars on the table, saying: "Brother Jiu, I haven't misled you, good wine in ample supply, but you have been rather unprincipled, letting me accept a useless person as an apprentice; isn't that a trap? Given my situation, can I make appearances?"

Earlier, he actually asked for twenty jars, keeping ten for spare.

Li Hongjiu also touched the wine jars, casually replied: "Wasn't it that seeing you was difficult, I just wanted a reason to mutually enjoy and gather more often with you? It's all just superficial, but hearing you say that, indeed, I was too simple-minded. Thankfully, a fortunate person will have serendipity; even if I shout till hoarse, people wouldn't want you as their teacher."

Forget it, things had passed, Shi Chun didn't want to say more, reasoning with this shameless person is futile, so he changed tune: "I've already informed Ruo Jun; when the wine runs out, feel free to ask her."

"Much labor, much labor, many thanks, many thanks." Li Hongjiu cheerfully cupped his hands.

After the two had some idle chat, they dispersed, Shi Chun returned to his guest room.

Before sitting in meditative posture to adjust his breath, he removed the ring from his hand, flipped it over for inspection, and infused it with skill for a careful examination.

He found it to be just a real metal ring, aside from the exquisite carving resembling a dense vine and blooming flowers, inside the ring, no traces of any magical treasure refining were found; it was merely a solid lump of iron.

However, he didn't have the habit of wearing such ornate rings, directly threw it into the storage bracelet...

Early the next morning, as the streets became lively with people coming and going, Shi Chun quietly left through the side gate of the bookshop's backyard.

Dong Liangyu, who was arranging books upstairs in the bookshop, saw this from the window. To her, his departure without a word left her feeling slightly lost.

Suddenly sensing someone beside her, she was startled and turned around, only to find it was none other than Li Hongjiu.

Li Hongjiu came to read books and accidentally witnessed this scene. Noticing her reaction, he glanced at the figure that had disappeared into the alley outside the courtyard wall, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.

"Mr. Li." Dong Liangyu greeted him, a bit flustered and losing her usual composure, unusually nervous.

Li Hongjiu chuckled, glancing around the bookshelves as he moved away. He said, "You go about your business; don't mind me. The collection of books here is truly remarkable—a glimpse gives insight into the whole. It's worth appreciating. I never expected to find such a place in the Demon Realm, truly hidden gems in the mountains unknown to all. But speaking of which, the master I introduced you to yesterday is genuinely remarkable. Missing the chance to become a disciple is something you'll have to view with hindsight; perhaps you'll see it more clearly in the future."

His words were somewhat deep and unfathomable, the latter half leaving Dong Liangyu puzzled, not understanding what he meant.

In the backyard, the Red-clothed Woman opened the door but hadn't yet left her room when she suddenly paused, hearing Lan's voice transmission, "Mistress, we lost him before he even left the city."

In the courtyard, Dong Wenshu, dressed neatly, just happened to see her and greeted her with a gesture, meaning good morning.

The Red-clothed Woman nodded slightly in acknowledgment, retreated to her room, closed the door, and immediately communicated, asking, "What's going on?"

Lan replied, "The two pairs of eyes didn't detect his aura all the way, and they didn't dare to follow too closely. After some twists and turns, upon reaching the main street, he suddenly vanished."

The Red-clothed Woman scolded, "Two useless idiots!"

Lan quickly said, "Mistress, this also confirms the reason his trail could inexplicably disappear on the Divine Mountain. He himself has cultivated skills to conceal his aura."

The Red-clothed Woman pondered, "You mean he's originally from the Demon Path?"

Lan: "This servant doesn't know if there are other reasons."

The Red-clothed Woman slowly raised her hand to the flower on her temple, closing her eyes in concentration. A moment later, she swiftly opened her eyes and transmitted, "He hasn't left the city yet and is approaching the North City Gate. Quickly... Forget it; since he can conceal his aura, having those two follow him is useless and might alert him. Let them stand by."

Lan asked in surprise, "Mistress, are you just letting it go like this?"

The Red-clothed Woman: "I have my own plans."

"Yes." Lan promptly responded.

At this moment, Shi Chun was in a carriage, which was also one reason the two tracking eyes lost him. After winding through alleys, Xiao Sheng, who was waiting with a carriage at the alley entrance, took him away.

The two eyes, reaching the street, couldn't see his figure anymore.

Of course, the main reason was Shi Chun casting a spell to block the aura that could be tracked. Being cautious, knowing that the Demon Path had tracked him to the bookshop, he wouldn't overlook precautions when entering and leaving Dazhi City and the bookshop.

The carriage left the city, racing frantically until Shi Chun flew out of the carriage, ascending solo on the Wind Riding Scale.

After a loop, he flew to Shelter Slope to meet Wu Jinliang.

Upon meeting, he asked, "How's the refining of those things going?"

Wu Jinliang: "I asked Bai Qiru, and she said since the quantity is large, it won't be quick. She asked for more time. Was Li Hongjiu's visit to the bookshop to accept an apprentice successful?"

Shi Chun: "Overall successful, but that guy is not a good sort. I almost got dragged into his pitfall. I mean no harm, but he harbors ill intentions."

Wu Jinliang didn't much care about that; instead, he hesitated over something else. "Chun Tian, we've gone to great lengths over that Red-clothed Woman's mess. I always feel uneasy about it. Do we really have to seek out Situ Gu for her?"

Shi Chun gazed into the distance, revealing weariness, and said, "Tasks easy to resolve aren't for the likes of us. Jinliang, sometimes I'm perplexed too. Whether she truly doesn't know our identities or pretends not to, one thing is certain. As long as we remain useful, we can stay alive.

We are soon to face a matter—how to rescue the Golden-haired Rat clan. Previously, in exchange for the Death Refusing Incense refining secret method, I exposed myself to them, so we have limited choices. We either rescue them or wipe them out completely."

Wu Jinliang mused, "You want the Red-clothed Woman's help?"

Shi Chun nodded, "With our current means, secretly rescuing the Golden-haired Rat clan is not difficult. The problem is how to settle them, ensuring they never reveal themselves. The moment they do, they'll surely be pursued by the Phoenix Clan. If caught, can you guarantee the Golden-haired Rat clan won't sell us out? The best way is to have that woman's uncle secure a pardon for the Golden-haired Rat clan with the Demon Queen. Once the Demon Queen grants amnesty, the Phoenix Clan will naturally let go, and the Golden-haired Rat clan can truly gain legitimate freedom."

He patted Wu Jinliang on the shoulder, "Jin Zhan, a former supreme in the Demon Realm, the Demon Book must be extraordinary. If we can form a benevolent bond by saving the entire Golden-haired Rat clan and transmitting the Demon Book, we shouldn't miss the chance. Besides, I'm also interested in the 'Beidou Refusal Array.' It's a great life-saving device, but I don't know how to dismantle it. The Golden-haired Rat clan should be the ones most familiar with the 'Beidou Refusal Array.'"

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