The primary reason was that the City Lord hadn't "done that" for at least 800 years, so his memory of that particular scent had faded. Otherwise, anyone would have recognized it immediately upon smelling that fishy odor.
Lian Qingyi was a bit nervous at the moment, fearing her uncle might detect the scent. She certainly didn't want her uncle to think she had been violated.
"It's nothing, maybe it's the smell of my skincare cream," Lian Qingyi explained.
"Oh," the City Lord didn't press further.
"Uncle, it's so late, you should head back."
"No rush. Qingyi, are you sure there's nothing you need my help with?"
"Uncle, I really don't need anything."
"Alright, I saw you used your sub-world just now," the City Lord suddenly said.
"Uncle, I did use the sub-world briefly, but not for fighting that little thief. I just went in to get something."
"Qingyi, you've had this sub-world for decades now, haven't you?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"It's a shame that after all these years, I haven't had the chance to experience it. Could you let me enter your sub-world to take a look? Even just a glimpse would be enough to broaden my horizons."
"Uncle, I can't. Your power is too great. If you enter my sub-world, it will collapse."
"Qingyi, you don't trust your uncle? I won't enter fully, just a wisp of my primal spirit."
"Uncle, it's really not possible."
"Very well, then I shall take my leave. If anything happens, just shout loudly, and I'll be able to hear you."
"Thank you, Uncle."
The City Lord turned and left.
After more than ten minutes, Zhou Hong emerged from the sub-world. The reason it took so long was naturally for safety.
Lian Qingyi glanced at Zhou Hong and quickly turned her head away, muttering in annoyance, "Can't you put on some clothes?"
"Oh, oh, my apologies," Zhou Hong quickly put on his clothes.
"Hmph, I'm letting you off the hook this time for not exposing you."
"Thank you, I owe you my life. I will repay you when the opportunity arises," Zhou Hong said gratefully. He hadn't expected his gamble to pay off. It seemed this Lian Qingyi wasn't as terrible as he thought; she had a human side after all.
"You scoundrel, sneaking into my room in the dead of night, attempting to defile me. If it weren't for the fact that you seem to have some destiny, I would show no mercy to people like you," Lian Qingyi said coldly.
Zhou Hong was about to explain that he didn't sneak into her room to defile her but to kill her. Then he thought, killing her might be better than defiling her.
"Alright, it was my fault. I did intend to come in and defile you. Who told you to be so beautiful?" Zhou Hong offered a flattering remark, thinking perhaps every woman liked to be praised.
"Hmph, spare me the act." Lian Qingyi snorted dismissively, seemingly unfazed by Zhou Hong's flattery. However, Zhou Hong could sense from her inner feelings that she wasn't entirely opposed to it.
"Of course, you are. In my eyes, you are the most beautiful fairy, full of personality. In fact, I've been admiring you for a long time. The reason I sneaked in tonight was because I was so infatuated with you that I lost my reason," Zhou Hong spun a colossal lie.
Indeed, Lian Qingyi's expression softened considerably. Hearing Zhou Hong claim to be her admirer, even the most heartless person would offer some courtesy.
"Who asked you to like me? I'm known as the 'she-devil' of Wumeng City."
"Damn it, from now on, anyone who dares to call you a she-devil, I'll rip their mouth off."
"Alright, hurry up and leave," Lian Qingyi seemed unwilling to let Zhou Hong linger in her room any longer; it wouldn't be good if they were discovered again.
"Let me stay a bit longer. It's not safe to go out now. What if your uncle hasn't gone far?" Zhou Hong hesitated.
"I'm truly cursed. You killed my cousin, and I'm still helping you. I don't know what my cousin's spirit in heaven would think if she saw this," Lian Qingyi looked dejected.
"Regarding your cousin, you can investigate. She absolutely deserved her fate."
"Alright, she's already dead, no need for you to slander her. I'll investigate in secret."
"That's good. By the way, I don't think your uncle is a good person either," Zhou Hong reminded her. He had overheard all their conversation and could tell the City Lord was very interested in Lian Qingyi's sub-world.
"Don't talk nonsense…!"
"Heh heh, I believe you can sense it yourself. Your uncle is very fond of your sub-world. You'd best be wary. In the face of such temptation as a sub-world, family ties can sometimes become less reliable."
Lian Qingyi did not reply.
"Alright, farewell." Zhou Hong lingered for another ten minutes before leaving.
Soon, Zhou Hong returned to the Black Orchid Mansion.
Zhou Hong finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he needed to be more cautious in the future. If he hadn't encountered that humane side of Lian Qingyi tonight, he would have likely been captured by the City Lord, and his sub-world would have benefited him.
"Where have you been?" As Zhou Hong entered the mansion, the Black Orchid Demon King instantly appeared.
"Oh, just out for a stroll. You're still awake?" Zhou Hong smiled slightly.
"You'd better not run around late at night. If you get killed, you'll be the death of me," the Black Orchid Demon King said irritably. If Zhou Hong died, there would be no one to give him the antidote.
"Don't worry, I'm not that easy to kill."
"Hmph, you were almost killed tonight. Don't think I don't know where you went. You went to Lian Qingyi's place in the middle of the night, what were you trying to do?"
"You followed me?" Zhou Hong was startled. The Black Orchid Demon King actually knew where he had been.
"I knew from the moment you left this mansion. Did I need to follow? If I hadn't secretly helped you, you would have been caught by the City Lord today. You and Lian Qingyi had just started fighting when the City Lord was already rushing over. At his speed, he would have been there in half a minute. It was I who appeared in time and intercepted him midway, finding a way to delay his speed. That's why when he arrived, your confrontation with Lian Qingyi had already ended. Otherwise, do you think you could have escaped?"
Zhou Hong was shocked. It turned out the Black Orchid Demon King had secretly helped him. Otherwise, Zhou Hong would have been in grave danger. However, the Black Orchid Demon King didn't know that Zhou Hong had hidden in his sub-world, thinking Zhou Hong had escaped before the City Lord arrived.
"Thank you."
"Hmph, I don't want to see tonight's incident happen again," the Black Orchid Demon King said before disappearing into the darkness.
Zhou Hong also quickly returned to Hei Xiaolu's courtyard and then slipped into Hei Xiaolu's bed.
Hei Xiaolu asked where Zhou Hong had been. Zhou Hong could only lie, saying her father had invited him for drinks. Although Hei Xiaolu didn't quite believe him, she didn't press the matter. Sudan Novel Network.
And so, the night passed without incident.