Wang Sandong’s carriage always traveled slowly.
A-Gui only needed to walk a little faster to catch up.
Through the carriage curtain, A-Gui’s voice carried confusion.
“Third Young Master? What did you just say?”
Wang Sandong lounged lazily inside the carriage.
Even after hearing A-Gui’s words, he still ignored him.
This open disregard was almost humiliating.
When one’s status is low, not only are their words disregarded, but their very voice seems small.
A-Gui kept his head down as he hurried along, his expression shifting between gloom and uncertainty.
As a disciple of the Demon Emperor, a once-lofty existence, a former master of slaughter and warfare, to be treated like this by a sickly rich second-generation heir truly was a perfect illustration of that old saying: A tiger fallen to the plains is harassed by dogs.
Arranged a marriage?
Thinking of Wang Sandong’s words, A-Gui truly found it both laughable and infuriating.
He really couldn’t figure out which screw was loose in this Third Young Master Wang’s head.
Why on earth would he suddenly think of arranging a marriage for him?
And what was the identity 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, 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, some debated cultivation on paper, some indulged in wild fantasies, and others were plagued by worries of gain and loss.
Whether it was the heavenly Dao and earthly principles, rare treasures, literary pursuits, or the vast world beyond, the five grains and sundry goods, even matters of romance and love—nothing was off-limits.
All topics could be freely discussed.
Later, the tea house changed its name to: Qing.
Now that the capital had become the Old Capital, the renowned scholars in Qing Tea House had become a rare sight.
More common were privileged young masters like Wang Sandong, who affected a love of elegance.
Wang Sandong was a regular here.
Whenever he grew tired of the decadent music from 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 him in.
“A-Gui, a servant from my household,” Wang Sandong introduced with a smile.
“Take a look, doesn’t he cut a fine figure?”
Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di exchanged glances.
They seriously doubted Wang Sandong’s understanding of the phrase “cut a fine figure.”
“Come, A-Gui, let me introduce you. This is the Righteous Butcher—Zheng Xiao. This is the top courtesan of Fengyue Tower—Lady 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 actually embrace them both, but his tone remained bold and boastful.
“Both are my women.”
This wasn’t entirely wrong.
According to Old Capital customs, Zheng Xiao was indeed his woman.
And Yuan Di was his “beloved,” so naturally, she was 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 noble 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 like Huitian, which could be hidden extremely well.
His heart pounding with fear, A-Gui grew even more curious: What exactly was the identity of this woman he was supposed to meet?
How had Wang Sandong managed to get Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di to come here as company?
And why had Wang Sandong suddenly decided 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 acting directly.
He had always used “Soul-Seizing” to control others, acting from the shadows.
There was no way he could have been discovered.
Zheng Xiao merely glanced casually at A-Gui before looking back at Wang Sandong.
“The master of the house arranging a marriage for a servant? And personally attending to it? Such a thing is quite rare.”
“Are you curious?”
Wang Sandong asked with a smile.
“Yes, can you enlighten us?”
Zheng Xiao retorted.
“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 bowed, sweat seeping into his palms once more.
He was terrified they 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.
Eyes are the windows to the soul.
If they 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 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 ‘bucket’ mean?”
Wang Sandong blinked his big eyes at Zheng Xiao.
“That… 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 the counter brew the tea I have stored, 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 this servant of mine?”
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 “Lady Yuan Yuan,” she quickly offered a gentle smile.
“He falls far short of 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 spoke again.
“Zheng Xiao, help me take a look at A-Gui’s aptitude. Judging by his face, he might just be a rare talent for cultivation.”
Upon hearing this, A-Gui’s scalp instantly went numb.
His previously calming heartbeat suddenly skipped a beat.
Just this single moment of loss of control immediately attracted the notice of Yuan Di and Zheng Xiao.
Fortunately, A-Gui’s strength was considerable, and his mental fortitude was strong.
He immediately returned to normal.
However, if Zheng Xiao examined his aptitude, his identity would inevitably be exposed.
He was acutely aware of this.
He began recalling the layout of the Old Capital’s streets in his mind, contemplating how to escape if he was exposed.
“Is that necessary?”
Zheng Xiao replied.
She was one of the Nine Surnamed Kings and represented the dignity of the Zheng Clan.
Though 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 very 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 flower-like smiling face, her heart inexplicably softened.
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 run for his life.
The door was suddenly pushed open.
Wang Yunteng arrived with his sister-in-law.
“Third Brother, I… Huh?”
Seeing the people inside the room, Wang Yunteng was taken aback.
First, he smiled slightly at Yuan Di.
“Lady 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 in.
“Elder Sister Liu, it’s been a long time,” Wang Sandong greeted with a smile, mentally estimating how many dozen pounds this Miss Liu had gained this time.
The gauze dress she wore looked like it was almost as big as his bedsheet.
Miss Liu grinned.
“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 Lady Yuan Yuan, my beloved. This is Zheng Xiao, my fiancée. And this one, A-Gui, a servant from my household.”
Miss Liu and Wang Yunteng were both a bit bewildered.
Introducing Yuan Yuan and Zheng Xiao was理所应当.
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 flicked 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 with this pig, could it?
Wang Yunteng asked, “Third Brother, where is the person? My cousin 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.
Miss Liu 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 grumbled inwardly: Is she 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 looked at A-Gui in unison.
After confirming that A-Gui was indeed wearing servant’s attire, they looked back at Wang Sandong in unison.
“Him? A servant?”
Miss Liu’s face darkened. She questioned, “Brother Sandong, are you joking with me?”
“Ahem, Third Brother, stop fooling around,” Wang Yunteng hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
“This is no joking matter.”
“It’s not a joke. I’m serious,” Wang Sandong said with a straight face.
“Look, A-Gui has a prominent forehead and an extraordinary bearing. He’s bound to be a dragon among men in the future. Elder Sister Liu, as the old saying goes: 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, bulging eyes, the whites showing, and roared, “Bullshit!”
All the politeness from her arrival vanished in an instant.
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.
“Brother Sandong, ‘sharing celebrations’ brings joy. During such a festive time, making this kind of joke is not amusing. Although my Liu Family cannot compare to the Wang Family, we are not some random stray cats and dogs that anyone can aspire to marry into, are we?”
“Tsk, Elder Sister Liu, don’t get agitated yet,” Wang Sandong said with a faint smile.
“A-Gui is really quite good.”
A-Gui also thought he was quite good.
Being compared to “stray cats and dogs” by Miss Liu inevitably stoked his anger.
Truly, a tiger fallen to the plains…
Harassed by a pig!
Miss Liu said in a low voice, “A lowly servant! I’d think him dirty even if he just polished my shoes! Third Young Master, please stop joking.”
The change from “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 frighten Wang Sandong to death, she would have erupted long ago.
With nowhere to vent her rage, Miss Liu glanced at Wang Yunteng.
She was about to curse at him but then remembered that Wang Yunteng was Wang Sandong’s cousin and they were very close.
Cursing Wang Yunteng in front of Wang Sandong wasn’t appropriate, so she held back again.
“A-Gui, give Elder Sister Liu a shoulder rub. Help her calm down,” Wang Sandong said.
A-Gui really wanted to curse inwardly.
He even wanted to suddenly erupt, slap Wang Sandong to death, and flee far away.
However…
His gaze swept over Zheng Xiao and Yuan Di, and he forcefully restrained himself.
He looked at Miss Liu again and, suppressing his disgust, 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!”
A-Gui, already burning with anger, heard Miss Liu’s words.
A flash of killing intent passed through his eyes.
He didn’t dare to act.
He could only curse inwardly: And what are you?
Daring to 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, that’s going too far,” Wang Sandong said with a laugh.
“A-Gui’s background is indeed humble, and his height and looks aren’t particularly outstanding, but at the very least… he’s more than a match for you.”
Match made in heaven. More than a match.
Two perfectly good phrases, both 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 some minor household, compared to the Wang Family, it was still the lesser before the greater.
“Brother Teng,” Wang Sandong suddenly looked at Wang Yunteng and smiled.
“You, you can’t be too easygoing. Being accommodating everywhere will make people think you’re easy to bully.”
After saying this, he looked at Miss Liu again and smiled.
“Elder Sister Liu, don’t you think?”
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 to disobey.
He could only grit his teeth and step forward to wipe the spilled tea.
Unexpectedly, Miss Liu, unable to vent her pent-up恶气, suddenly struck out, slapping towards A-Gui’s face.
A palm as big as a cattail leaf fan, infused with spiritual energy as it swung.
Clearly, Miss Liu wanted to slap A-Gui to death.
A-Gui gritted his teeth tightly.
Watching the palm come at him, 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 his body, slammed hard against the wall.
A brick in the wall cracked.
Miss Liu snorted angrily.
“Dog slave! Why are you getting 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 lingered on A-Gui’s face, which appeared to have been knocked unconscious.
That fleeting flash of killing intent in A-Gui’s eyes earlier had been precisely captured by Yuan Di.
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 was very familiar with this.
“Ah! This… this… what is this!”
Wang Sandong put on a look of great shock, his lips trembling, appearing utterly terrified.
He glanced at A-Gui, who seemed to have been knocked unconscious, and inwardly admired: This guy can really endure.
Even like this, he hasn’t revealed any flaws.
With her low cultivation level, she couldn’t detect A-Gui’s flaws.
However, one thing she could be sure of: This Miss Liu was definitely dead.
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