“Miss Su, are you alright?”
An anxious voice came from outside, followed by the bedroom door being pushed open abruptly.
Hearing the voice, Su Xuan subconsciously turned his head—and froze.
The person who entered was Shangguan Yu, that arrogant Feng Aotian. Even if her face were reduced to ashes, he would still recognize it.
But something was different. This time, she was not wearing her previously plain men’s clothing that continued her delicate pretty-boy style.
Instead, she had changed into a dark ruqun dress, its hem embroidered with golden threads. Her hair was pinned up high, with several golden hair ornaments swaying gently. Her oval face bore not a trace of makeup, yet an air of noble elegance radiated from within.
If her male attire had made her look like an overly heroic pretty boy, then her female attire completely embodied the presence of someone in power.
“What are you doing here?!”
Perhaps because she had rushed over, Shangguan Yu was slightly out of breath. She frowned and demanded sharply.
This was Su Yunjin’s bedroom. No man had ever entered before. How could he be here?
And wasn’t he just a Qi Refinement loose cultivator? If not for being Lu Zhiyi’s teacher, she probably wouldn’t have even spared him a glance. How could he possibly know Miss Su?
Shangguan Yu was full of confusion.
Su Xuan was equally shocked as he looked her up and down in her female attire.
So she had been hiding it well.
The difference between her male and female disguises was like night and day. If he hadn’t memorized that face so deeply from the game, he probably wouldn’t have recognized her at all.
“Who are you? What does it have to do with you that I’m here?”
Pretending not to recognize her, he casually took elixirs out of the pill furnace and replied.
Since he knew it was her, his tone was anything but polite.
“I am…”
Shangguan Yu suddenly realized she had changed clothes, so he hadn’t recognized her.
“I’m Miss Su’s… close friend.”
When she said this, her tone was unusually hesitant, completely unlike her usual self.
There was no helping it. Although she had met Su Yunjin before and had already become close friends with her, she didn’t want to stop at just that. She wanted to go further—completely win her over.
But Su Yunjin seemed not to notice her intentions. Several attempts at probing had all been met with obliviousness.
It left her deeply frustrated.
“Miss Su’s bedroom does not allow men. Get out.”
Looking at the man inside, Shangguan Yu felt an inexplicable surge of anger, as if something of hers had been tainted. She pointed at the door and ordered him arrogantly.
Seeing her furious expression, Su Xuan suddenly understood.
No wonder in the game she always tried to kill him and even persuaded Lu Zhiyi to do the same.
So it was because, in the game, his close interactions with Su Yunjin had unknowingly made this Feng Aotian feel like she had been betrayed?
Those who trouble others will eventually be troubled themselves. Looks like it’s your turn now.
He felt a wave of satisfaction, his thoughts clearing.
“I was invited in by Yunjin. Who do you think you are, ordering me around?”
Su Xuan stretched lazily, placed the elixirs into a small box, and spoke with clear disdain.
Since she wouldn’t dare act against him because of Lu Zhiyi, he might as well vent a little.
Thinking this, he deliberately said “Yunjin” in an ambiguous tone. He stretched again, casually picked up Su Yunjin’s cup, and took a sip, as if he were completely familiar with the place.
“You…”
As expected, Shangguan Yu trembled slightly with anger. Even her chest rose and fell unsteadily, clearly enraged.
Could it be that Miss Su really had something with him…
Then what am I?
A terrifying thought surfaced in her mind, as if something that belonged to her had been touched by someone else. Anger and heartache intertwined.
“Yu’er, you should have told me before coming.”
Just as Shangguan Yu was at a loss, Su Yunjin finally walked in from the kitchen.
She tried to act as if nothing had happened, but her flushed face and extremely unnatural movements completely exposed her nervousness.
‘What should I do? There’s suddenly a man in my room at night—and he’s more than ten years younger than me. Will Yu’er laugh at me in the future…’
Su Yunjin bit her lip, her whole body feeling hot as waves of embarrassment washed over her. It felt like she wouldn’t be able to face her close friend anymore.
“Yu’er, what brings you here so late?”
She tried to keep her voice steady as she asked.
Shangguan Yu glanced at her “lightly dressed” friend, then suspiciously looked over at Su Xuan in the room. Her heart sank, and the jade-like hand hidden in her sleeve clenched tightly.
Something is off between these two!
What do I lack compared to this loose cultivator?
She wasn’t foolish. She could clearly see Su Yunjin’s unnatural behavior and instinctively assumed she had been betrayed.
“Miss Su, are you feeling better? I brought you an inner core. I was so worried.”
Gritting her teeth, Shangguan Yu pretended to know nothing and warmly embraced Su Yunjin, her voice full of concern.
“I went through great trouble to find a genuine Foundation Establishment monster core. Take it—it will be very beneficial for your body.”
As she spoke, she lifted her chin proudly toward Su Xuan, her eyes full of provocation, as if saying:
“See this? Not only can I hold her, I can also bring her a Foundation Establishment monster core. You, a mere Qi Refinement loose cultivator—what right do you have to compete with me?”
Su Xuan naturally understood her gaze.
Since she was provoking him, he wouldn’t back down.
After a moment’s thought, he smiled slightly and took out the small box containing the elixirs.
“Miss Su, what do you think of what I refined?”
He looked innocent, like a student asking for guidance.
“Th-thank you, Yu’er. He’s here to learn pill refinement. I… I’ll take a look.”
Hearing him speak, Su Yunjin jolted and stammered, only wanting to send him away as soon as possible.
But to Shangguan Yu, this explanation only made things more suspicious.
What kind of pill refinement involved being so disheveled together?
Calling her “Yunjin” in private, yet claiming he was only here to learn?
Her emotions became even more complicated.
“It’s quite good… very good, truly very good.”
Su Yunjin had only intended to brush him off, but when she picked up the elixir and felt it slightly, the rich medicinal aura seemed perfectly suited to her condition. Her body relaxed instantly, and she unconsciously held it in her hands, full of praise.
“Thanks to your hands-on teaching, Miss Su. But there are still many things I haven’t fully understood. May I come back later to continue learning from you?”
Su Xuan secretly observed Shangguan Yu. Seeing her grief and anger, he added fuel to the fire, repeatedly calling her “Miss Su” in a gentle tone.
“Alright…”
Holding the box of elixirs with both hands, Su Yunjin placed the inner core Shangguan Yu had brought onto the table and subconsciously replied.
“Y-you should head back. It’s late.”
Realizing her slip, she quickly spoke to Su Xuan.
“Alright, I’ll come back in a couple of days, Miss Su.”
Su Xuan nodded obediently, but his gaze toward Shangguan Yu was full of smug triumph, as if saying:
“See? She praises my elixirs endlessly, and I’ll be back in a couple of days. What can you do about it?”
Shangguan Yu had already been grinding her teeth in anger. Seeing his expression and the inner core placed on the table, she almost lost control.
That was a late-stage Foundation Establishment monster core—something that could fetch an astronomical price in the marketplace. She had humbled herself and owed her second uncle, Shangguan Sheng, a favor just to obtain it.
Yet Miss Su showed no gratitude, casually setting it aside, while being utterly captivated by that loose cultivator’s elixirs!
She even arranged to meet him again in front of her, completely disregarding her feelings.
Learning pill refinement? In a bedroom?
Looking at the “other party” before her, Shangguan Yu felt an indescribable bitterness and sense of defeat.
Why?
What did she lack compared to him?
…
“Open up! Marketplace inspection!”
“There are reports of an evil cultivator inside. Open the door for inspection!”
Before she could dwell on her pain, a harsh and arrogant voice rang out from outside.
The door was immediately pounded loudly.
“Father, this is the place. Just find an excuse and get rid of that pretty boy inside…”
Standing outside, Shangguan Zheng leaned close to a middle-aged man and spoke in a low voice.
As he spoke, he licked his lips, full of smug anticipation.
He seemed to already be imagining killing Su Xuan and monopolizing the female cultivator inside.
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