Wang Sandong’s carriage always moved very slowly.
A-Gui only needed to walk a little faster to catch up.
Through the curtain, A-Gui’s voice carried a hint of confusion.
“Third Young Master? What did you just say?”
Wang Sandong lazily leaned back inside the carriage.
Even after hearing A-Gui’s words, he still ignored him.
This blatant disregard was almost humiliating.
When one’s status is low, not only are their words light, but their voice is also “small.”
A-Gui walked with his head down, his expression shifting between dark and light.
As a disciple of the Demon Emperor, a once lofty existence, a powerful figure who once commanded slaughter, to now be treated like this by a sickly rich second-generation—it truly was a perfect illustration of that old saying: ‘A tiger fallen on the plains is bullied by dogs.’
Arranging a marriage proposal?
Thinking of Wang Sandong’s words, A-Gui couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.
He really couldn’t figure out what nerve this Third Young Master Wang had touched wrong.
Why did he suddenly think of arranging a marriage proposal for him?
And what was the status of this woman he was about to meet?
Carrying a heart full of doubts, A-Gui hurried along, closely following the carriage, straight to the foot of the Qing Tea House.
Qing Tea House.
A famous tea house within the Old Capital.
Back when the Old Capital wasn’t yet old, the Qing Tea House wasn’t called Qing Tea House.
In those days, renowned scholars often gathered here to drink tea and engage in refined conversation.
Some sat and discussed the Dao, others debated cultivation on paper, some were wildly imaginative, others were anxious and indecisive.
Whether it was the Heavenly Dao and geography, rare treasures, literary pursuits, or the four seas and eight directions, the five grains and sundry goods, or even romance between men and women—nothing was off-limits.
All topics were open for free discussion.
Later, the tea house changed its name to: Qing.
Now that the capital had become the Old Capital, renowned scholars were rarely seen in the Qing Tea House.
More common were noble young masters like Wang Sandong, who attached themselves to this elegance.
Wang Sandong was a regular here.
Whenever he grew tired of the decadent music at Fengyue Tower, he would come here to sit for a while.
Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di had already arrived.
When Wang Sandong entered, both of them looked at A-Gui, who followed behind him.
“A-Gui, a servant from my household,” Wang Sandong introduced with a smile.
“Take a look, isn’t he a fine figure of a man?”
Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di exchanged glances.
They seriously doubted whether Wang Sandong had some misunderstanding about the phrase “a fine figure of a man.”
“Come, A-Gui, let me introduce you. This is the Righteous Butcher—Zheng Xiao. This is the head courtesan of Fengyue Tower—Miss Yuan Yuan.”
As Wang Sandong spoke, he walked towards the empty seat between Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di, sat down, and slightly spread his arms.
In the end, he didn’t dare to embrace them both, but his words remained bold and boastful.
“Both are my women.”
This statement wasn’t entirely wrong.
According to Old Capital customs, Zheng Xiao was indeed his woman.
And Yuan Di, being his “beloved,” was naturally also his woman.
As for the two women’s reactions upon hearing this…
Wang Sandong didn’t dare to look.
A-Gui bowed in greeting.
“This humble one pays his respects to the two esteemed ladies.”
The sweat in his open palms felt chilly as the wind blew over it.
He never expected Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di to be here.
One a King, one an Emperor—neither were ordinary individuals.
If they discovered his identity, his old life would be over.
The demonic arts he cultivated weren’t as adept at concealment as Huitian.
His heart palpitated with fear, and A-Gui grew even more curious: What was the identity of this woman he was supposed to meet?
How did Wang Sandong manage to persuade Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di to come here as company?
And why did Wang Sandong suddenly want to arrange a marriage for him?
Could it be that Wang Sandong had discovered his identity and was deliberately toying with him?
Absolutely impossible!
He had been very careful, never taking direct action.
He had always used Soul-Seizing to control others, acting from the shadows.
There was no way he could have been discovered.
Zheng Xiao only glanced casually at A-Gui before looking back at Wang Sandong.
“The master of the house arranging a marriage for a servant? And personally presiding over it? Such a thing is indeed rare.”
“Are you curious?”
Wang Sandong asked with a smile.
“Yes, could you enlighten us?”
Zheng Xiao countered.
“Actually, I know how to read faces,” Wang Sandong said very seriously.
“Look at this A-Gui. His forehead is prominent, his gaze sharp. I assert that although he is merely a servant, his future prospects are bound to be limitless.”
Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di looked at A-Gui again.
A-Gui’s heart was in his throat.
He kept his head down, sweat seeping into his palms once more.
He was terrified the two might notice something amiss.
“Tsk, A-Gui, lift your head,” Wang Sandong said.
A-Gui mentally cursed Wang Sandong’s mother.
After a moment’s hesitation, he cautiously raised his head but averted his gaze, not daring to meet Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di’s eyes.
The eyes are the windows to the soul.
If the two saw that his eyes weren’t those of an ordinary servant, it would be over.
Wang Sandong suddenly sighed.
“My health is too poor. Who knows when I might kick the bucket. Being able to discover a talent like A-Gui and win him over, to do my part for the Wang Family’s future… that would at least be worthy of the Wang Family.”
Zheng Xiao scrutinized A-Gui but failed to see how he was “prominent.”
She chuckled and asked Wang Sandong, “What does ‘kick the bucket’ mean?”
“It means to die.”
“To die is to die. What does ‘the bucket’ mean?”
Wang Sandong blinked his big eyes at Zheng Xiao.
“This… I really don’t know.”
Yuan Di, who was still examining A-Gui, turned her gaze to Wang Sandong and smiled slightly.
“Brother Teng often says strange, inexplicable things. Miss Zheng will get used to it in time.”
Zheng Xiao smiled along and asked, “When will the woman arrive?”
“Soon,” Wang Sandong said.
“What’s the hurry? Wang Tong, have them brew the tea I have stored here, and bring four fruit platters.”
After giving the order through the private room’s door, he turned back to Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di.
“So? What do you think of my servant?”
Zheng Xiao glanced at A-Gui again and offered a polite remark.
“Quite good.”
Yuan Di opened her mouth, a sarcastic comment almost slipping out.
Remembering she was now “Miss Yuan Yuan,” she quickly offered a gentle smile.
“He falls far short compared to Brother Teng.”
Wang Sandong laughed and said to Zheng Xiao, “See, see how well Yuan Yuan speaks? You should learn a thing or two from her in the future.”
Zheng Xiao laughed along.
“I truly cannot learn it.”
The three chatted idly for a few more sentences before the tea was served.
They tasted the tea, commented on it, the conversation casual.
Not long after, Wang Sandong glanced at A-Gui, who stood with his head bowed to the side, and said, “Zheng Xiao, could you help me assess A-Gui’s aptitude? I think his facial features are extraordinary. He might even be a rare talent for cultivation.”
Upon hearing this, A-Gui’s scalp instantly went numb.
His previously steady heartbeat suddenly skipped a beat.
Just this single moment of loss of control immediately drew the attention of Yuan Di and Zheng Xiao.
Fortunately, A-Gui’s strength was considerable, and his mental fortitude was formidable.
He immediately returned to normal.
However, if Zheng Xiao were to examine his aptitude, his identity would inevitably be exposed.
He was acutely aware of this.
He began mentally reviewing the routes within the Old Capital, planning how to escape if his cover was blown.
“Is that necessary?”
Zheng Xiao replied.
She was one of the Nine Surnamed Kings and represented the Zheng Clan’s dignity.
Although her temper was good, she was still unaccustomed to being ordered around and certainly wouldn’t casually examine just anyone’s aptitude.
“Take a look. There might be a surprise,” Wang Sandong said with a smile, his tone utterly confident.
Zheng Xiao smiled along.
It had been many years since she last examined someone’s aptitude.
She couldn’t even remember how long it had been since anyone dared to order her to do something.
Her instinct was to refuse.
But seeing Wang Sandong’s smiling, flower-like face, her heart softened inexplicably.
She nodded.
“Alright.”
She then looked at A-Gui.
“Step forward.”
Upon hearing this, how could A-Gui dare to step forward?
What he needed to do now wasn’t to step forward, but to flee immediately.
The door suddenly swung open.
Wang Yunteng arrived with his sister-in-law.
“Third Brother, I… Huh?”
Seeing the people inside the room, Wang Yunteng was taken aback.
He first offered Yuan Di a slight smile.
“Miss Yuan Yuan is here too.”
Then he said to Wang Sandong, “Third Brother, let me introduce you.”
As he spoke, he walked in.
Wang Sandong, however, didn’t reply immediately.
Instead, he looked at the woman who followed Wang Yunteng inside.
“Elder Sister Liu, long time no see,” Wang Sandong greeted with a smile, mentally estimating how many dozens of pounds this Miss Liu had gained this time.
The gauze dress she wore looked like it could almost rival his bedsheet.
Miss Liu grinned.
“Little Brother Sandong, how is your health?”
“Not good, I’m about to die,” Wang Sandong said with a smile.
Miss Liu was speechless.
Wang Yunteng gave a bitter smile.
“Nonsense again.”
Wang Sandong laughed and then introduced, “This is Miss Yuan Yuan, my beloved. This is Zheng Xiao, my betrothed. And this is A-Gui, a servant from my household.”
Miss Liu and Wang Yunteng were both a bit bewildered.
Introducing Yuan Yuan and Zheng Xiao was to be expected.
But why introduce a servant?
“Sit, sit down and talk,” Wang Sandong said.
Once everyone was seated, Wang Sandong said to A-Gui, “A-Gui, pour tea for Elder Sister Liu.”
A-Gui didn’t dare to delay.
He stepped forward to pour tea.
His gaze flickered over Miss Liu’s plump, round face, and he couldn’t help but wonder inwardly: The marriage Wang Sandong wants to arrange for me…
It couldn’t be this pig, could it?
Wang Yunteng asked, “Third Brother, where is he? My sister is already here, but the man is nowhere to be seen. That’s not proper. Did he encounter some urgent matter at the last minute?”
As he spoke, he gave Wang Sandong a meaningful look.
The Liu girl remained silent, picking up her teacup to drink.
With a slurping sound, the cup was empty.
A-Gui, standing to the side, saw this and thought to himself: Is this watering an ox?
After a moment’s hesitation, he stepped forward to pour more tea.
“The person? He’s right here,” Wang Sandong said with a smile, looking at A-Gui.
“It’s him.”
Miss Liu and Wang Yunteng were both stunned.
They simultaneously looked at A-Gui.
After confirming that A-Gui was indeed wearing servant’s attire, they simultaneously looked back at Wang Sandong.
“Him? A servant?”
Miss Liu’s face darkened.
She questioned, “Little Brother Sandong, are you joking with me?”
“Ahem, Third Brother, stop joking around,” Wang Yunteng quickly tried to smooth things over.
“This is not a matter for jokes.”
“It’s not a joke. I’m serious,” Wang Sandong said with a straight face.
“Look, A-Gui has a prominent forehead, an impressive appearance. He is bound to be a dragon among men in the future. Elder Sister Liu, there’s an old saying: ‘Do not bully a young man for his poverty.’ Trust me. A-Gui and you are a match made in heaven.”
The moment the words “match made in heaven” were uttered, it was like lighting the fuse of a firecracker.
Miss Liu exploded on the spot.
She glared angrily with her round eyes, the whites showing, and roared, “Bullshit!”
All the politeness from her arrival vanished instantly.
After roaring, she suddenly remembered that Wang Sandong was the Wang Family’s “treasured pearl.”
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly suppressed her anger.
“Little Brother Sandong, ‘shared celebration,’ shared joy. During this festive season, such jokes are in poor taste. Although my Liu Family cannot compare to the Wang Family, we are not some random stray cats or dogs that anyone can aspire to marry into, right?”
“Tsk, Elder Sister Liu, don’t get agitated first,” Wang Sandong said with a faint smile.
“A-Gui really is quite excellent.”
A-Gui also felt he was quite excellent.
Being compared to “stray cats or dogs” by Miss Liu inevitably stoked his anger.
Truly, a tiger fallen on the plains…
Bullied by a ‘pig’!
Miss Liu said in a low voice, “A lowly servant! I’d find him dirty even to shine my shoes! Third Young Master, please stop joking.”
The change from “Little Brother Sandong” to “Third Young Master” was enough to show that Miss Liu was already very angry.
If not for her fear of the Wang Family’s power and her worry that she might scare Wang Sandong to death, she would have erupted long ago.
With nowhere to vent her anger, Miss Liu turned her gaze to Wang Yunteng.
She was about to curse at him but then remembered that Wang Yunteng was Wang Sandong’s cousin and the two were very close.
Cursing Wang Yunteng in front of Wang Sandong seemed inappropriate, so she held back again.
“A-Gui, give Elder Sister Liu a shoulder massage. Help her calm down,” Wang Sandong said.
A-Gui really wanted to curse in his heart.
He even wanted to suddenly erupt, slap Wang Sandong to death, and flee far away.
However…
His gaze flickered towards Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di, and he forcefully restrained himself.
Looking at Miss Liu again, he suppressed his disgust and stepped forward.
“Get away!”
Miss Liu suddenly turned her head and berated A-Gui.
“What do you think you are, daring to touch me? Get farther away!”
Already seething with anger, A-Gui, upon hearing Miss Liu’s words, had a flash of killing intent in his eyes.
He didn’t dare to act.
He could only curse inwardly: And what are you?
How dare you curse me?
If Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di weren’t here, I’d slice off all this fat of yours today to feed the dogs!
“Tsk, Elder Sister Liu, your words are a bit excessive,” Wang Sandong said with a laugh.
“A-Gui’s background is somewhat humble, and his height and looks aren’t particularly outstanding, but at the very least… he is more than a match for you.”
Match made in heaven.
More than a match.
Two perfectly good phrases, utterly ruined by Wang Sandong today.
They were like two sharp knives, piercing through Miss Liu’s fragile psychological defenses.
In her view, this was even more unacceptable than being called “fat-headed and big-eared.”
But life is always full of too many helpless situations.
Even though her Liu Family wasn’t a small, insignificant household, compared to the Wang Family, it was still a minor player facing a major one.
“Brother Teng,” Wang Sandong suddenly looked at Wang Yunteng and smiled.
“You, you can’t be too accommodating. Constantly yielding will make people think you’re easy to bully.”
After saying this, he looked back at Miss Liu with a smile.
“Elder Sister Liu, don’t you agree?”
Miss Liu’s face flushed crimson.
She picked up her teacup to drink, trying to soothe her emotions, but her hand kept trembling.
Tea spilled onto the table.
“Ah, A-Gui, wipe that up,” Wang Sandong instructed.
A-Gui truly didn’t want to get close to that Miss Liu, but Wang Sandong had given the order, and he didn’t dare disobey.
He could only grit his teeth and step forward to wipe the spilled tea.
Unexpectedly, Miss Liu, unable to vent her pent-up rage, suddenly lashed out, slapping towards A-Gui’s face.
A palm as large as a cattail leaf fan, infused with spiritual energy as it swung.
Clearly, Miss Liu wanted to slap A-Gui to death.
A-Gui clenched his jaw tightly.
Watching the slap come, he actually forced himself not to dodge.
However, the killing intent in his eyes was impossible to hide completely.
Smack!
A-Gui’s head,带动着身体, slammed hard against the wall.
A brick in the wall cracked.
Miss Liu snorted angrily.
“Dog slave! Why are you so close to me! Trying to take advantage?”
The corner of Yuan Di’s mouth twitched slightly.
She picked up her teacup to drink, but her gaze remained fixed on A-Gui’s face, which appeared to be knocked unconscious.
She had precisely caught that fleeting flash of killing intent in A-Gui’s eyes moments before.
An ordinary servant, after being humiliated, might also reveal killing intent.
However…
The killing intent of a demonic cultivator is different from that of an ordinary person.
As a demonic cultivator herself, Yuan Di understood this very well.
“Ah! This… this… what is this!”
Wang Sandong put on a greatly alarmed expression, his lips trembling, looking utterly terrified.
He glanced at A-Gui, who seemed to be knocked out, and inwardly admired: This guy, he really can endure.
Even like this, he hasn’t revealed any flaws.
With her not-so-high cultivation, she hadn’t detected A-Gui’s flaws.
However, one thing she could be sure of: This Miss Liu was definitely dead.
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