Su Luo was stunned, not expecting her fourth senior brother to be outside.
Did he always appear at midnight?
Under the moonlight, the icy Fourth Senior Brother’s handsome face was expressionless, radiating an aura of aloofness that kept people at a distance, like a grim reaper harvesting lives. He stood quietly in the courtyard, capable of easily scaring a group of children to tears.
Su Luo was not afraid and curiously asked, “Fourth Senior Brother, do you need something from me?”
She walked up to Zhan Li. He still hadn’t spoken, his brows furrowed as if in thought.
“What’s wrong, Fourth Senior Brother? Did you come to find me in the middle of the night because it’s urgent?”
Su Luo asked again.
Other than knowing his name was Zhan Li, and having heard some rumors from Tang Xiao Guo, she knew almost nothing about him, completely unable to guess why Fourth Senior Brother would look for her at this hour.
A long while passed. Only the night wind blew through the courtyard, but Zhan Li remained silent.
The atmosphere became awkward. Su Luo felt uncomfortable being stared at so intently by Zhan Li and managed a dry laugh, “How about coming inside for a bit? We can talk slowly if there’s something.”
Fourth Senior Brother’s temper was too peculiar. What was he thinking?
“I…”
Zhan Li finally uttered a word, but it trailed off.
Su Luo felt a headache coming on. She had never met someone so stingy with words. How could they communicate like this?
She could only guess: “Is it about the safety of Qingxu Tian? No, then it’s about Eldest Senior Brother… Second Senior Brother? Third Senior Brother? Not Fifth Senior Brother, so it’s about yourself, Fourth Senior Brother? Are you sick, or is it a cultivation problem? You don’t want to go to Yu Shou? Or you’re out of money…”
As she spoke, she finally noticed a flicker in Zhan Li’s eyes. She had guessed correctly.
Heavens, it was so hard to guess.
“I… I need to borrow some money,” Zhan Li said stiffly, his lips twitching slightly as if he was unaccustomed to speaking.
Su Luo found it strange. Hadn’t they just received their monthly allowance? One million!
Had Fourth Senior Brother spent it all?
She didn’t refuse and asked, “Fourth Senior Brother, how much do you need to borrow?”
Zhan Li looked at Su Luo with a blank expression, and after a long pause, he managed a few words: “Fifty million.”
“So much?”
Su Luo was a little surprised. “Fourth Senior Brother, what do you need so much money for? Are you in some kind of trouble?”
This was no small sum; it was the operating cost of the entire Resource Hall for two months. If she hadn’t come into a windfall recently, and earned a sum from the Tai Chu Holy Land, she wouldn’t have been able to produce even half of it, let alone fifty million.
But Zhan Li said nothing and turned to leave with a cold face.
“Hey, wait.”
Su Luo quickly stopped him, a headache and helplessness in her voice. “Fourth Senior Brother, I didn’t say I wouldn’t lend it. Why are you leaving so quickly? Since you’re in trouble, I won’t ask any more questions. I can lend you the money, but according to the rules, this debt will be recorded under your name and must be repaid within three months.”
She was clear about public and private matters, even if Li Tianjue were here, she would handle it the same way.
Finally, Zhan Li grunted and said stiffly, “Got it.”
Su Luo asked him to wait a moment, and she would go to the storeroom to get the money.
A moment later, Zhan Li accepted the storage bag Su Luo handed him, quickly secured it, and then said, “Thank you.” His voice was low and hoarse, perhaps a little awkward from speaking so rarely.
Without any further delay, without even waiting for Su Luo’s reply, he turned and left swiftly.
The next day.
Li Tianjue arrived, and Su Luo told him about last night’s events.
“Fourth Junior Brother actually asked you for money, fifty million? That’s a lot!”
Li Tianjue pondered for a moment, unable to figure out the reason. “I don’t know Fourth Junior Brother very well either. I only know that he was accepted into the inner sect by Master four years ago. Although Fourth Junior Brother has a peculiar temper and is not very sociable, he wouldn’t do anything reckless.”
This was also why Su Luo agreed to lend money to Zhan Li; she believed he was not a person with ill intentions.
Su Luo shifted her focus and smiled at Li Tianjue, “Eldest Senior Brother, you’re rarely free. Why are you looking for me today?” She hadn’t seen him for several days, nor had he come to her place for meals. Today, she finally knew why he appeared?
Li Tianjue glanced around, rubbed his nose, and said casually, “Where is Shang Xie Shao Qing?”
He hadn’t seen him, and wasn’t he supposed to be pursuing Su Luo?
“He’s with Xiao Guo.”
Su Luo said with some surprise, “They’ve been playing together every day for the past few days, so close they might as well wear the same pants. They’re either going to Yuxu City or to the back mountain… Hey, Eldest Senior Brother, do you think Shang Xie might have taken a liking to Xiao Guo?”
Li Tianjue frowned. This scoundrel.
Didn’t he say he liked Su Luo and wanted to pursue her? Now he’s hanging out with Xiao Guo again!
He’d have to chase him away sooner or later.
“When Xiao Guo gets back, remind her not to play around so much and to remember to cultivate,” Li Tianjue said with a stern face. He generally disliked gossiping about people behind their backs, so even if he was wary of Shang Xie Shao Qing, these few words of caution were already a lot for him.
Su Luo nodded. Li Tianjue then said, “I have something to tell you. You wanted to buy a communication jade pendant, right? There’s news.”
“Really? Where?” Su Luo was overjoyed.
“I received news that someone in the black market is selling a batch of goods, including communication jade pendants. I’ll take you to have a look. If the price is right, we can get it.”
That’s great! Su Luo quickly changed her clothes and went to the Resource Hall again to get enough money before setting off with Li Tianjue.
On the flying carpet, Li Tianjue handed her a human skin mask.
“This transaction is being organized by a mysterious figure in the black market, known as Old Ghost. It’s said he has some background. I bought some information from him once. He has some skills and can get many good things, but…”
He changed his tone and warned, “Most of the things he sells are of questionable origin, so the people trading will conceal their identities. Although communication jade pendants aren’t that hot a commodity, we should still be careful.”
So mysterious?
Su Luo was not afraid; instead, she became more interested.
She put on the thin human skin mask and immediately changed her appearance. Looking in the mirror, she now appeared as an ordinary-looking woman in her late twenties, the kind who would blend into the crowd unnoticed.
Li Tianjue also put on a mask, transforming into a man in his early thirties. He then restrained his gaze and aura, becoming a perfectly ordinary cultivator. Unless they were very intimate, no one could guess his identity.
They soon reached the outskirts of Yuxu City. The two dismounted from the flying carpet and headed towards the black market.
Li Tianjue led Su Luo into the market in the northern part of the city. They passed the trading post, walked straight ahead, and after turning down two streets, arrived at the entrance of a mansion. They showed their token to the two burly guards at the gate.
One of the big men took it, examined it for a long time, and said solemnly, “The King of Hell wants you to die at the third watch.”
Li Tianjue replied, “A pear blossom presses against the crabapple.”
Su Luo almost burst out laughing. What kind of code phrases were these?
The big man nodded, “Alright, you can go in. Remember the rules.”
Li Tianjue said no more and led Su Luo inside.
They passed through a dilapidated courtyard and entered a spacious, empty main hall. A faint fluctuation immediately spread. Undoubtedly, a powerful formation had been set up in this room.
There were already people in the room. There were no furnishings, only a circle of stools around the entire room. Seven or eight chairs were empty, while the rest were occupied by more than a dozen men and women. Some wore masks, others wore veils, all concealing their true appearances.
Li Tianjue and Su Luo found two stools and sat down.
Su Luo remained composed, casually glancing at the people around her. Soon, more people entered one after another, quickly filling all the stools.
An old man in a black robe, wearing a ghost-faced mask and leaning on a skull-headed cane, was ushered in by several strong men.