Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Lu Mei Strikes

Lu Mei and Ning Wen Yue had been waiting to enjoy the show.

Instead, they watched recognition bloom like an unwanted flower.

Lu Mei’s nails dug into her palm.

She’d counted on Yang Hui Hui—raised in the countryside—to be crude, ignorant, and rude enough to offend Lin Zhao badly. Ideally, Lin Zhao would fight back. Ning Wen Gui would be forced into conflict with the Firecloud Alliance, and Lu Mei could seize the opening and pull the alliance to her side.

Ning Wen Yue didn’t think that far. His reasoning was simpler: Lin Zhao stood with Ning Wen Gui. Now Yang Hui Hui had a connection with Lin Zhao. Wouldn’t the Firecloud Alliance stop being neutral?

Yang Hui Hui’s father doted on his only daughter. Unlike the Mad Sword Sect’s Sect Master, who weighed every benefit, the Firecloud Alliance leader had no intention of letting his girl suffer even the smallest slight.

That was why Yang Hui Hui could offend imperial princes without fear.

The Emperor Lord had many sons.

The Firecloud Alliance leader had only one daughter.

If they truly clashed, Yang Hui Hui’s status would be honored enough to rival an imperial princess.

After Lin Zhao placed the cleansed Pure Lotus into Yang Hui Hui’s hands, Yang Hui Hui held it like treasure and asked, voice sharp with curiosity, “What exactly was wrong with it?”

Lin Zhao couldn’t help a small, tired smile at the way she was addressed. “I’m no longer the senior sister of Yun Ding Peak. I’m not Immortal Maiden Wang Shu anymore. Just call me Lin Zhao.”

The title had been given to her by Shen Yu Han after she became a disciple under Immortal Venerable Yun Ding.

“Zhao” meant bright moon, so he’d given her the style name Wang Shu.

Lin Zhao hadn’t cared much about a courtesy name. If Shen Yu Han liked it, she’d let it be.

Lin Zhao lifted a crystal sphere. Inside drifted a thin thread of turquoise liquid.

“Someone laced the Pure Lotus with Flood Dragon Poison.”

Even sealed, the mere sight of it sent a chill down the spine.

Yang Hui Hui’s eyes widened.

Flood Dragon Poison was no ordinary thing. A jiao was descended from the Dragon Clan; any living jiao was at least a Fifth-Rank spirit beast.

Yang Hui Hui had a fire-earth dual spiritual root. If that cold poison entered her through the lotus, she would need at least a Fifth-Grade healer to expel it.

And while waiting for a Fifth-Grade healer, her Foundation Establishment cultivation would be eaten alive. Even if she didn’t die, she would be ruined.

“Who dared plot against this miss?!” Yang Hui Hui exploded. Her gaze snapped, unreasonably and perfectly, to Lu Mei and Ning Wen Yue. “Was it you?”

Ning Wen Yue’s face twisted. “Yang Hui Hui, watch who you’re talking to. This prince is the Emperor Lord’s second son! I didn’t even pursue the fact you failed to salute me, and now you dare question me?”

Yang Hui Hui snorted. “If I catch you meddling, even if I take it before the Emperor Lord, I won’t let you off.”

Ning Wen Yue opened his mouth to retort, but Lu Mei pinched his arm hard enough to shut him up.

Lu Mei stepped forward with a gentle smile. “Miss Yang, you jest. The Second Prince and I only learned today that the auction house even had a holy item like the Tai Yi Realm Pure Lotus. How would we have had time to tamper with it?”

Yang Hui Hui didn’t believe a word. She put away the lotus and leaned toward Lin Zhao with blunt affection. “Sister Zhao Zhao, I’ll go arrange a few things and come find you. If those two dare say anything disgusting to you, tell Hui Hui. You don’t need to dirty your hands—I’ll whip them to death.”

She patted the fiery red whip at her waist as if it were a promise.

Lu Mei and Ning Wen Yue went pale, but they couldn’t easily lash out.

Yang Hui Hui was one of the great bullies of the Imperial Capital—not because she was cruel for sport, but because she didn’t care who she made uncomfortable.

And the Firecloud Alliance didn’t just have an alliance leader. From top to bottom, they pampered their eldest miss: a dual spiritual root genius who had reached Foundation Establishment in six years.

With a background like that, even imperial blood had to swallow insults sometimes.

Lu Mei watched Yang Hui Hui’s back, eyes narrowed with poison.

After Lin Zhao pushed Ning Wen Gui back into the First Private Room, Lu Mei flicked a glance toward the guard by the door.

The guard gave the smallest nod.

Lu Mei’s lips curved.

Lin Zhao, let’s see how you’ll ever hold your head up this time.

After the final items were sold, Lin Zhao and Ning Wen Gui counted what they’d gained. With Granny’s words echoing in her mind, Lin Zhao felt the day had been a huge harvest.

They were about to leave together when a hurried voice came from outside.

“Crown Prince, Your Highness—something happened at the entrance. We need you to handle it!”

Ning Wen Gui recognized Steward Wang’s voice. He looked at Lin Zhao with a hint of apology.

Lin Zhao waved casually. “Go handle it. I’ll wait.”

Ning Wen Gui nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

Not long after he left, staff entered to clean up.

As one guard gathered the dishes, Granny’s voice cut sharp through Lin Zhao’s Sea of Consciousness. “Little girl, be careful. There’s Third-Grade aphrodisiac incense.”

Lin Zhao’s gaze turned cold.

Granny continued, almost contemptuous. “But your Phoenix Pulse Art has reached the first level. Third-Grade poisons can’t harm you. Your spiritual energy is enough to neutralize it.”

A Third-Grade aphrodisiac was enough to deal with an ordinary Enlightenment cultivator.

Whoever set it truly thought highly of her.

Lin Zhao ran through the names in her mind. The culprits narrowed quickly: Lu Mei and Ning Wen Yue.

She’d disliked them before.

Now she wanted to break bones.

She circulated Phoenix Pulse Art, silent and precise, dissolving the incense into nothing.

Then the door opened again.

The person who entered wasn’t Ning Wen Yue.

It was a young lady carrying a tall man over her shoulder like a sack of grain.

Lin Zhao blinked.

Yang Hui Hui strode in, cheerful as if she’d come to share a snack. “Sister Zhao Zhao, I came to find you. This guy was sneaking around outside your door, up to who knows what, so I knocked him out.”

She dropped him on the floor like a dead pig.

A swollen lump rose on his head.

Who else could it be but Ning Wen Yue?

Lin Zhao’s eyelid twitched. She lifted a thumb toward Yang Hui Hui. “Impressive.”

“Sister, are you alright?” Yang Hui Hui rushed to her side, concern genuine.

Warmth spread in Lin Zhao’s chest. “I’m fine. But I need a favor—stay here and watch him for a while.”

“Leave it to me!” Yang Hui Hui planted a foot on Ning Wen Yue’s still-pretty face and ground her heel down, as if she couldn’t help herself. “I guarantee he won’t get up.”

Lin Zhao silently lit a row of candles for Ning Wen Yue. She had no idea how he’d offended this little ancestor enough to earn that kind of treatment, but she wasn’t about to stop it.