Chapter 193
Chapter 193: Will Daoist Shi Agree?
Ye Clan.
Stepping off the carriage, Shi Zi Chu followed Ye He Qi as they walked inside. After a while, she realized they were headed toward the Bamboo Cloud Courtyard.
Compared to the guest rooms in the South Courtyard, the Bamboo Cloud Courtyard was indeed safer and more suitable for serious discussions.
After walking for a while, Shi Zi Chu suddenly spoke, “Does Eldest Young Master Ye not stay at the Ye Clan?”
Ye He Qi responded with a soft, almost helpless tone, “He finds Ye Clan uncomfortable.”
Shi Zi Chu chuckled softly.
Ye Chi Wei was indeed a calculating person. If word of this spread, everyone would think Ye He Qi couldn’t tolerate his older brother and had driven him out of the Ye Clan.
They walked for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, before arriving at the Bamboo Cloud Courtyard.
The flower hall.
Looking at the delicious dishes on the table, Shi Zi Chu’s eyes brightened, her pace quickening a little, “Clan Chief Ye, you’re quite generous!”
Ye He Qi smiled.
A well-placed bribe could help him achieve his goals faster.
Shi Zi Chu pulled out a chair and sat down. Noticing Ye He Qi gesture for her to start, she didn’t hesitate to pick up her chopsticks and take some lychee stuffed with meat.
The filling was fresh and juicy, the lychee sweet and sour. The combination was incredibly refreshing.
After swallowing the lychee, Shi Zi Chu’s cheeks puffed up, and she gave a thumbs-up with her left hand, expressing her enjoyment of the dish.
Ye He Qi picked up his own chopsticks and tried one of the lychee stuffings.
After swallowing, Shi Zi Chu picked up her wine cup and took a sip. She then asked Ye He Qi, “Is this sweet water?”
It was cold and refreshing, with the fragrance of lychee—it was quite pleasant.
“It’s freshly brewed lychee wine,” Ye He Qi replied.
Shi Zi Chu had just taken a sip when she heard Ye He Qi, who had been talking, express a touch of helplessness, “This wine has quite a strong aftereffect.”
At the rate Shi Zi Chu was drinking, two cups and she would be drunk.
“It won’t happen,” Shi Zi Chu said confidently.
Her alcohol tolerance was far from poor!
Seeing this, Ye He Qi didn’t press the matter further, allowing her to continue.
Shi Zi Chu drank another cup of the lychee wine, which was similar to sweet water, and then asked, “What does Clan Chief Ye see in me?”
These matters would have to be addressed sooner or later, so it was better to speak now while she was in a good mood.
Ye He Qi thought for a moment, and as he prepared to speak, a deeper smile appeared on his face.
“Full of schemes, ambitious, with a tongue of a Buddha but the venom of a serpent…”
Shi Zi Chu interrupted him with a faint smile, “Do I need to suspect that Clan Chief Ye is taking this opportunity to get revenge?”
She really shouldn’t have expected Ye He Qi to say anything nice!
Ye He Qi smiled, his posture casual and composed. “It’s from the heart.”
What attracted him most about Shi Zi Chu was her ambition and decisiveness.
The principle of mutual repulsion existed between him and Shi Zi Chu, but at the same time, there was attraction.
Mutual repulsion and attraction could coexist without contradiction.
“When interests intertwine deeply, emotions become part of the equation,” Ye He Qi said slowly.
The ties of interest between him and Shi Zi Chu would deepen, and eventually, emotions would follow—if not now, then later.
Shi Zi Chu rested her chin on her hand and smiled warmly as she asked, “If you like me, just say it. Why not be more honest?”
“Isn’t it more important than liking? Isn’t it the benefits?” Ye He Qi countered.
If there were only liking and no substantial benefits to persuade Shi Zi Chu, this dinner would have been the end of their collaboration.
Shi Zi Chu smiled without confirming or denying his words.
If Ye He Qi couldn’t offer enough benefits, she would not hesitate to refuse him and cut all ties of interest.
As for why, that was naturally because of Xing Lan.
She knew Xing Lan’s temperament well. The only reason she tolerated Jiang Wan Sheng was because he had once shown her kindness when they were younger.
Ye He Qi was different. Between him and her, there was only a purely transactional relationship.
If she and Ye He Qi developed a relationship beyond that, Xing Lan wouldn’t spare either of them.
At that time, she’d lose both “person” and “wealth.”
Such an unprofitable situation, how could she put herself in?
“Before we continue, I have a question, which might seem a bit forward,” Ye He Qi said.
Shi Zi Chu raised her wine cup, signaling him to go ahead.
“How much do you feel for Venerable Xing Lan?”
With a gentle voice, Ye He Qi sat back in his chair, his demeanor relaxed, his smile as warm as a spring breeze.
Shi Zi Chu lowered her gaze and took another sip of wine.
It was unquestionable that she had feelings for Xing Lan, but how deep were they?
One-tenth?
Maybe one-hundredth?
Shi Zi Chu struggled to find an answer.
Silence was an answer in itself, and Ye He Qi, smiling gently, said, “Seems like it’s not much.”
This was certainly good news.
A lack of strong feelings meant Shi Zi Chu wouldn’t be too biased toward Xing Lan, which in turn meant that in the future, when Ye He Qi clashed with Venerable Xing Lan, he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.
“You’re really annoying,” Shi Zi Chu muttered.
Ye He Qi chuckled. “Venerable Xing Lan’s father died in the Immortal Demon War. His life-bound sword went missing after his death.”
Shi Zi Chu narrowed her eyes. “Clan Chief Ye, don’t tell me you know the whereabouts of that spirit sword.”
Ye He Qi’s beautiful, flirtatious eyes curved. “The spirit sword is in my hands.”
?
Shi Zi Chu froze for a moment.
“The Frostbite Sword, a demi-god rank weapon. Before it went missing, it was at the top of the spirit sword ranking,” Ye He Qi said with a gentle laugh. “Do you think this shows enough sincerity to move Daoist Shi?”
Knowing how deeply Venerable Xing Lan felt for Shi Zi Chu, Ye He Qi wouldn’t have dared to say this unless he had something solid to negotiate with.
He never made a move unless he had at least a 90% chance of success.
“Clan Chief Ye, you do have a history,” Shi Zi Chu said with a smile, though her expression showed some hesitation. “But I haven’t seen the Frostbite…”
Her doubt got stuck in her throat.
Shi Zi Chu looked at the spirit sword floating behind Ye He Qi, paused for a moment, and then regained her voice, “Clan Chief Ye, you’re really cunning~”
She had seen the design of the Frostbite Sword, not from the spirit sword ranking, but from the drawings Xing Lan had made, one stroke at a time.
That venerable had perished in battle, leaving only the life-bound sword, which was lost without a trace.
The missing Frostbite Sword had become one of Xing Lan’s greatest regrets.
“Confirmed?” Ye He Qi asked with a smile.
Shi Zi Chu nodded.
Ye He Qi took back the Frostbite Sword and asked, “So, what do you think? Has it moved Daoist Shi?”
The Frostbite Sword was one of his life-saving trump cards, but using it now was worth it.
Whether for emotions or benefits, Shi Zi Chu would bring him more.
“Pleasure working with you!” Shi Zi Chu raised her wine cup.
Ye He Qi also lifted his cup, meeting hers with a soft smile of satisfaction, “I have one more invitation. Will Daoist Shi agree?”
“That depends on Ye’s, oh no, husband, it depends on husband’s sincerity~” Shi Zi Chu replied, her tone teasing.
In the Ten Thousand Visions Realm, this title always carried a hint of sarcasm. Yet, she now said it with a gentle, affectionate warmth.
Ye He Qi, smiling warmly, raised his cup. “Dual cultivation.”
His gentle, straightforward words contrasted sharply with his elegant, restrained demeanor.
What a hard offer to resist!
But, Shi Zi Chu raised her wine cup and asked, “The first time?”
“Would you believe me if I said it?” Ye He Qi countered.
“Well, we’ll find out,” Shi Zi Chu set down her wine cup and stood up. “In any case, I won’t lose out, will I?”
Ye He Qi also set his cup down. “Madam is straightforward.”