In a dark attic constructed from jade, candles flickered, casting a dim light.

A woman hurried up the stairs, making her way hastily toward the room. Before she could push open the door, she was stopped by another woman dressed in bright red gauze.

"The Sect Master is bathing. Is it urgent?" the attendant asked, noticing the woman's anxious expression.

After catching her breath, the woman said, "There is news about Elder Su."

Her words had barely faded when an extremely languid voice, accompanied by the pleasant sound of splashing water, came from inside the room, "Yu'er, let her in."

Hearing the voice, the woman carefully pushed open the door. Seeing the hazy silhouette with her back to her, she lowered her head.

After a moment of careful thought, she spoke softly, "Sect Master, Peony and Wood Moon have sent a message. Elder Su appeared at an inn one hundred and twenty miles outside Tao City with three women."

"The identities of the three women can currently be confirmed as the Confucian Sage's daughter, Li Zijun, and the Sword Sect's Ninth Elder, Dan Wulan."

"As for the other person, there are no clues. She seems to have appeared out of nowhere, but her relationship with Elder Su is extremely intimate. From what we've observed, she is likely Elder Su's woman."

"..."

Yu Hongxiu arched an eyebrow slightly and rose gracefully from the floral bath. Water droplets cascaded down her jade arms. She wore nothing, and the voluptuous curves of her body were enough to dazzle any man.

Perfectly proportioned and lush, her revealed forearms partly concealed her delicate neck. In the dim, flickering candlelight, her skin, translucent and finer than snow, seemed to glow.

Her movements were elegant. As she stepped from the pool onto the wooden floor, her stride flowed with an air of nobility and mature, seductive charm.

"He has been gone for so long—did he go to South Country?"

"What would he go to South Country for?"

The woman shook her head and replied, "I do not know."

Yu Hongxiu casually draped a bright red dress over herself and gathered her wet hair behind her head with both hands. She waved dismissively, "I understand. Continue to monitor his movements."

Then, turning to watch the woman leave, she paused before adding, "Focus your investigation on the mysterious woman with him."

Yu Hongxiu stretched, dried the water from her body, then walked to the window and pulled open the curtains.

Hazy moonlight filtered in, casting a soft sheen on her skin.

"Little brother, your cultivation realm is truly elusive."

Sister was indeed fooled by you...

Yu Hongxiu twirled a lock of hair around her finger, her teeth nibbling her lower lip as if deep in thought. After a moment, she chuckled.

"Nevertheless, to ascend from the Divinity Transformation Realm to the Peak Refining Void Realm in such a short time is no small feat."

Her bright red tongue touched her lips as she said, her voice tinged with magnetism, "Sister truly has high expectations for you."

"Little guy..."

...

「The night deepened, the stream flowing silently.」

Aside from Su Bei and his company, several more groups of people arrived at the inn intermittently, apparently Sect Disciples passing through.

The main hall was not crowded, with only a few scattered individuals drinking wine and playing a rowdy finger-guessing game.

Observing this scene, Su Bei was suddenly reminded of the gallant heroes from the storytellers' tales he had once admired, with their soy-braised beef and cold wine.

Su Bei noticed the occasional glances from these people toward his group. He had no interest in interacting with these minor Sect Disciples, and the women were also feeling somewhat annoyed, so he led them upstairs to their rooms.

Wood Moon, with a beaming smile, quickly showed them to their rooms and then hurried away.

Su Bei glanced at the somewhat shabby door before him, then at the three women beside him, and coughed lightly. "Well, how about we go to my room for a bit?"

"Yes, just to chat and have some tea, nothing more."

"I promise I won't do anything."

Li Zijun's cheeks instantly turned bright red. She stepped back, glancing at Su Bei from the corner of her eye before lowering her head slightly and whispering, "Master... then, your disciple will return to her room first."

With that, she turned and fled into her room without a backward glance.

She had a growing feeling that a small battle was brewing, and if it came to taking sides... it would be a difficult choice. She might as well flee this troublesome place as soon as possible.

Li Zijun closed the door tightly behind her, leaned against it, and let out a long sigh. Patting her chest, she muttered to herself, "Master only has two women by his side, and it's already like this..."

How could she ever compete in the future?

"..."

As she thought, she counted on her fingers, carefully recalling the women around Su Bei.

Hmm, if Sister Nan Ji is number one, then Ninth Uncle is number two... The Saintess clearly has such strong feelings for Master; she'll probably be his woman in the future. Hmm, what about Eldest Martial Uncle? And then there's Eighth Uncle... If Ruoqing and Sister Li are also counted, I wouldn't even make the top seven...

Her head drooped. Her skirt spread out like a lotus flower as she squatted on the floor, gently biting her lip.

Quiet moonlight streamed in.

The inn's soundproofing was poor; the noisy voices from downstairs drifted up to the upstairs corridor unimpeded.

Su Bei coughed awkwardly, then glanced at the two women, intending to slip an arm around Ji Nanjue's waist. "Zi Jun has already left, so shall we..."

Unexpectedly, Ji Nanjue subtly sidestepped him, lightly swatting his hand away and pursing her lips as she said, "Husband, you should go have a long, heart-to-heart talk with Sister Wulan all night. Nan Ji won't disturb your pleasure."

With that, she turned, preparing to slip into her own room.

Dan Wulan's apricot eyes flashed with obvious irritation.

What did she mean, *she* should have a long talk with Husband? A woman had to stand up for herself, especially with her husband right there. If she could simply endure it, she wouldn't be Dan Wulan!

Dan Wulan took a deep breath, her chest heaving dramatically. After glancing at Su Bei, she turned to Ji Nanjue and said mockingly, "Some people clearly desire it desperately, yet they still put on an act?"

"Just be content as the vixen who joined midway. What's with all the snide remarks?"

"..."

Ji Nanjue wasn't bothered in the slightest by Dan Wulan's tone. She lowered her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Then, looking Dan Wulan up and down, Ji Nanjue narrowed her eyes. She raised her hand and, before Dan Wulan could react, landed a slap.

SLAP.

"Oh? Sister Wulan really doesn't appreciate kindness, does she?"

"Can't you tell well-intentioned words from ill?"

The slap landed with considerable force. It was delivered so swiftly that one could see the full Zhang Li as the fabric beneath her skirt quivered.

A rosy flush instantly spread across Dan Wulan's face.

She took a step back, hands clasped tightly behind her, covering the spot, as she glared furiously at the white-dressed woman before her.

Besides Su Bei, who else had ever touched her *there*? And in front of Su Bei, no less!