Chapter 09: The Mysterious Subordinate

The willow branches still felt uneasy, and with a fierce expression, it threatened: "If you go, I will ignore you!"

This assassination mission was destined to fail, and Liu Shao had no time to worry about punishment. She fixed her gaze on the formation's eye, took a deep breath, and trembled as she raised her hands.

However, what does he actually mean by this! What about the women around him?

Ah?

"Do you not recognize me?" Liu Shao reminded him, "It's me! Currently in my backyard, the Heart-Eating Demon is trying to harm my maid, I have seen you before."

The dark yellow robe, with a face that is not conventionally beautiful but sharply defined, features eyes, nose, and lips with angular and sharp lines. The eyebrows are slanted and nearly vertical, their sharpness revealing an intentionality that contrasts with an underlying calmness and authority.

The guards clearly had a good grasp of the formation, confident that he would not escape, and thus did not rush to act—capturing him alive and extracting information about the mastermind behind it was the most valuable course of action

The figure in front of the window disappeared, and soon, Zhang Fengtu appeared at the entrance, dressed neatly in formal attire, walking down the stairs. The guards, knowing that he was about to conduct the interrogation personally, automatically stepped aside.

You! Du Mingchong, enraged and embarrassed, raised his hand to strike.

Du Mingchong did not touch her pressure point, laughing while adjusting his belt: "Call out, this is just getting exciting, it won't be long before I ensure you are completely subdued!"

There is an assassin

The atmosphere was thick with killing intent, yet the movement was minimal. A long sword, like a silver thread, floated out and silently pierced through the left chest of Zhang Fengtu, passing through his heart.

Liu Shao first felt disappointment, then the more she looked at this person, the more familiar he seemed. Soon, she remembered something and was overjoyed

Pah! Whose person are you? How shameless! Liu Shao kicked over the table, "Lu Li, tell her to leave!"

Liu Shao discarded her embarrassment and whispered, "In the evening, Bai Feng is looking for you to accompany her out, you must not agree."

So you are trapped in the formation yourself, unable to escape

Liu Shao was completely stunned.

Liu Shao was surprised and said: "Did you do it on purpose? How did you know he would definitely take action?"

One chance! Either succeed and both escape, or fail and both fall into the trap

"But I didn't hear you talking to him," Liu Shao said in surprise, "How did you entice him?"

Quickly report to the Prince of Huai'an

"Who doesn't know that Lu Li only likes me? He will definitely kill you!" Liu Shao forced herself to remain calm and sneered, "Does the Marquis value you more or him? If you die, the Marquis won't do anything to him either"

The willow branches stood still

Indeed, there was a young woman in the room. Upon seeing the willow branches, she playfully bit her fingertip and laughed charmingly without any surprise.

It is Huangfu Xun, he has betrayed the master

She is very obedient

The one who acted was the highest-ranking guard; he struck successfully and immediately vanished from the formation while everyone was still caught off guard.

Is it him?

The palm strike was fierce yet lacked sufficient force, and Liu Shao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he was holding back due to his injuries and uncertainty about his own capabilities. Therefore, Liu Shao stood firm and did not evade; with one hand, he transformed his palm and placed it horizontally before his brow, gathering the spiritual energy from all directions to form a massive purple vortex barrier, fully receiving the strike without retreating a single step.

In fact, Lu Li had never actively shown her affection, not even a hug was so clean; this was the first time. She knew he was teasing her, but that kind of playful intimacy, like a gentle temptation, made her both nervous and afraid, ... and vaguely a bit expectant ... ? ... At the beginning, she had exchanged her appearance for his protection, yet he had given her more than she had hoped for. Perhaps he truly liked her after all

"This is you forcing me," Liu Shao approached him, "Come again! Let's see which one of us dies here first. If you die, it might just be the Heart-Eating Demon that did it!"

Calling out several times, there was no response

"It's nothing, I just wanted to play with you," Du Mingchong said as he hugged her from behind, grinning mischievously. "I heard that Lu Li hasn't touched you yet? He can't be that useless, can he?"

The water flows silently, and in the night, all is quiet.

Liu Shao did not understand why he would ask such a question, paused for a moment, and then nodded

Liu Shao glared at the other party with hostility, and then was taken aback in surprise

Lu Li looked at her in surprise for a moment and instructed, "Yu Ji, you may leave first"

I couldn't help but laugh, Lan Chi, even children can think so much

Liu Shao was taken aback in shock

The willow branches flipped and leaped, breathlessly pulling up her clothes, laughing mockingly: "Du Mingchong, you are just a useless person!"

Unintentionally raising my eyes, the slender crescent moon hangs distantly at the edge of the sky, its silver light faint and weak, scattering a desolate glow across the river.

Then you should go to sleep quickly. Liu Shao then walked away triumphantly, but soon returned on tiptoe, carefully closing the door for him

In her previous impression, Lu Li was of extraordinary origin, handsome in appearance, and possessed profound skills. It was not until today that she realized his uniqueness far exceeded these attributes, making him elusive and even somewhat frightening. How had he accomplished his tasks before?

Did Yue mention that he is her "future subordinate"? Was it Yue who asked him to protect her

She must find an opportunity to drive all those women away

As soon as the words fell, the surrounding grass and trees suddenly trembled without wind, making a rustling sound, heralding the arrival of wind and rain. The surface of the river boiled, with splashes of water rising as high as half a foot, and a surging and intense killing intent loomed like a massive shadow, enveloping the wilderness

In my eyes, she is just a child

"Oh, the willow branches are yearning for spring," someone behind laughed heartily

Isn't he the mysterious person who was speaking with Yue

Due to Lu Li's influence, everyone regarded Liu Shao as worthless, rarely witnessing her take action, which is why no one knew her true capabilities. Now that she has suddenly revealed such a skill, it is indeed far beyond expectations. Forcing her way through the formation is already remarkable, and it seems she still has some hidden abilities. In the past, she was underestimated, and it appears that the current plans are likely to fail.

Du Mingchong stared at her, his expression fluctuating between dark and light.

After five years, the young man has grown significantly in stature, now possessing a somewhat robust appearance. The enthusiasm and brightness that once characterized his face are no longer visible; instead, his thick eyebrows convey a sense of fierce and violent temperament. He is not lacking in talent, and with his fierce determination and hard work, he has now become a highly capable assassin in front of the squad leader. He has also formed alliances with like-minded brothers, indulging in gambling, drinking, and pursuing women.

Unbeknownst to her, Lu Li had already stood behind her, slowly leaning towards her

The guards were extremely vigilant, and several shouts rang out. Twenty to thirty guards quickly and orderly surrounded the area, each possessing considerable skill. At the same time, the ground's magical formation sensed the intrusion of outsiders and immediately activated, forming a crescent shape that trapped Lu Li in the center

Just now, having been teased by him like that, Liu Shao's anger had not yet subsided. She opened her mouth to call out, but then thought of how he had spent the entire night busy with her, and probably was tired. After hesitating for a moment, Liu Shao still walked over and softly called out: "Hey, Lu Li"

Zhang Fengtu is dead, so I won't be punished!" Liu Shaoxing exclaimed, "How could that guard possibly kill Zhang Fengtu?"

Why have you returned again

Let's wait and see! With a sweet and sickly throat, Du Ming ultimately did not dare to take risks with his injured body and fled in a hurry

"Such qualifications, his vision is commendable," the man suddenly said, "but unfortunately, you have been turned into a useless person by him"

Did you not take action

Seeing his action, Liu Shao felt an overwhelming glare; she immediately frowned, forcefully pulled his hand away, deliberately opened his cloak, and then looked at him provocatively

Knowing full well that hope is slim, I still cannot help but expect; being protected by him has become a habit

Once, someone had unconditionally pampered her, and she tried hard to hold on, but he turned away mercilessly after three days; however, Lu Li was different. No matter how much she threw tantrums or how unreasonable she was, he never abandoned her, for a full five years

The person showed no reaction

Lu Li entered, and the woman hurried over to pay her respects, serving water attentively

Can you see me? He spoke first, his voice hoarse and muffled

Lu Li said: "I will provoke him to take action"

Almost unconsciously, Liu Shao struck the ground with his left palm

Silence

Well... much better than before, has grown up

Liu Shao almost bit her lips until they bled, concentrating all her spiritual power in the palm of her hand, but before she could make a move, a tremendous killing intent erupted from the arena

Thin lips linger by the ear, warm breath brushes across the face, gentle and ticklish

"Ah, what have we done?" Lu Li asked with a smile

Do you still consider her a nuisance

Looking at that sleeping face, the heat on Liu Shao's face intensified, and she quietly pulled over the quilt to cover him.

The change occurred in an instant, leaving everyone present, including Liu Shao, astonished

Lu Li straightened up and said, "Go, sweep the yard."

Du Ming looked at her with ill intentions and said, "Why are you out here alone?"

While speaking, a sudden argument erupted outside the courtyard, it was Liu Shao and Bai Feng, who had unfortunately encountered each other and exchanged just a few words before clashing again

The door closed, and there was no more sound from within. After a moment, a tall figure appeared under the eaves, the black cloak not very conspicuous in the morning light

As the protector, Lu Li found himself in a perilous situation, and for the first time, Liu Shao lost her support, a wave of unprecedented panic surged in her heart. She was dazed for a while, but finally remembered what she needed to do. She hurriedly gathered her spiritual energy in her eyes and carefully observed the formation. When one has no one to rely on, their own abilities can instead be manifested. Liu Shao discovered that there was no earthly energy within the formation and immediately deduced that this formation belonged to a type of separation formation. Its power lies in isolating a person from the outside world, cutting off the source of spiritual energy. Martial skills must rely on spiritual energy to be executed; if one cannot timely absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, they can only be at the mercy of others. Martial practitioners are usually most wary of such formations, but fortunately, they are easy to recognize, and typically, few fall for them. Liu Shao also did not expect that the usually cautious Lu Li would easily fall into a trap. At this moment, he was likely unable to do anything within the formation.

However, the anticipated failure did not occur; instead, a surge of blood coursed through my veins, and an extraordinary force suddenly erupted from within my vessels

Under the suppression of the magic array, the dispersed divine consciousness is forcibly drawn together

Driven by a strange intuition, Liu Shao suddenly turned her face to the side, and indeed there was a figure by the riverbank

Hello! Liu Shao hurriedly stepped into the water and chased after him, "Do you know about the Heart-Eating Demon?"

"If a useless person like you were to die, the lord wouldn't pursue the matter further, would he?" Du Ming sneered, gesturing in front of her chest, "Even if he did pursue it, it would be of no use. Who knows... it might have been the Heart-Eating Demon that did it."

She herself gathered energy extremely quickly, with a full ten points of spiritual power, and her might was indeed not to be underestimated. Her palm force transformed into six enormous white light arrows that shot straight towards the eye of the formation, stirring up a whirlwind of sand and dust. This strike exhibited quite a bit of the demeanor of a master. The guards, already in a state of disarray due to their master's death, were further startled, thinking that another formidable opponent had arrived, and they hurriedly dodged.

That doesn't matter; she doesn't want to see them at all

Liu Shao stood in place, her face still bearing a smile, yet her body was so stiff that she could not move at all, her back soaked with cold sweat. She was no match for Du Mingchong, which is why she took the risk of bluffing; fortunately, Du Mingchong believed her and fell for it.

"Liu Shao'er," he called softly

The person stopped in their tracks and said softly, "My name is Lu Sheng, you may try to understand, I look forward to becoming your subordinate."

Who!" For a moment, she was distracted and lost her vigilance. At first, Liu Shao was startled, but upon recognizing who had arrived, her face immediately showed a look of disgust. "Du Mingchong? What are you doing here!"

Noticing something unusual, Du Ming hurriedly raised his face. Unfortunately, at this moment, he was so infatuated that his reaction was much slower than usual. Before he could do anything, he heard a thunderous sound, and the three array plates were shaken out of the ground, exploding in mid-air

Liu Shao ignored him, shifting her gaze and walking away, yet she found her feet felt as heavy as if burdened by a thousand pounds. A violent wave of dizziness surged from her head, causing Liu Shao to stagger and come to a halt, focusing her energy to stabilize her spirit.

Fool! Knowing that the defenses here are tight, he still barged in to seek death!

Liu Shao suddenly guessed the key: "Did Bai Feng send you?"

Du Mingchong pressed her to the ground and tore her clothes: "That's right, she is with Lu Li at this moment, and Lu Li will not suspect her."

The willow branches are completely cold

Seeing Liu Shao standing in the center of the room with a stern face, Lu Li asked, "Aren't you leaving yet?"

Lu Li remained standing still, not uttering a single word. Zhang Fengtu was already accustomed to such situations, a trace of cold laughter flickering in his eyes. Generally, assassins would not easily betray their masters; to pry open their mouths naturally required some methods. He signaled to two guards, who understood and walked towards Lu Li.

The argument did not last long, and Liu Shao hurriedly walked back to the courtyard, unceremoniously pushing open the door to enter the room. There lay Lu Li on the bed, fully dressed, seemingly asleep, with a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Only then did Liu Shao feel a bit better: "I just can't stand the way she looks!"

Du Mingzhong was truly astonished this time: "You ... ... "

Liu Shao pointed to the woman beside her and said: "She hasn't left either, why did you leave her here while you sleep?"

That figure is exceptionally distinctive, tall and thin like a bamboo pole, with his clothes hanging loosely on him, giving an empty appearance. He stands there silently, resembling a ghostly king from the underworld, his hands clasped behind his back, exuding a demeanor of calm confidence, with an air of decisiveness that feels strangely familiar

No, it turns out it was not as I had imagined. Liu Shao looked at the indifferent bystanders with a sense of despair, opened his mouth, but ultimately did not utter a sound

The willow branches proudly lifted their faces

Zhang Fengtu upstairs noticed the commotion, turned over and got off the singer, put on his clothes, and went to the window to ask: "What is happening?"

You just said she is a child

This formation is not difficult to break. Liu Shao found the core of the formation without expending much effort. However, the opposing side has too many people, including several experts, and she truly lacks confidence. Moreover, whether the two of them can escape smoothly after breaking the formation is also a concern

The willow branches whispered: "It's only you who likes it dirty and messy! Don't think I don't know what you all are up to!"

That person no longer paid her any attention and walked forward

Lu Li's response was off-topic: "Well... human desires can be well controlled, and it is not necessarily through language."

A stone fell into the water, and the sound of "splash" shattered the tranquility. The tips of the willow branches felt a moment of guilt, as if caught in a wrongdoing, and she hurriedly covered her face with her hands. However, she soon realized there was no need to do so, as there was no one around at all. Thus, she lowered her hands and couldn't help but laugh.

The cool breeze blows, yet the heat on my face intensifies rather than diminishes. The events of the early morning resurface in my mind once again, along with the chaotic dreams I had during the day. It seems that a familiar scent still lingers around my neck

That person spoke no more, vanished, and then reappeared on the opposite bank of the river, seemingly preparing to leave

An unprecedented closeness, an unprecedented feeling, a heart beating wildly, crashing and colliding within the chest, the willow branches stiffening their necks in fear, stammering: "Wh... what?"

Lu Li remained silent, his eyes, which were exposed beyond the veil, glimmering with a purple light. His appearance attracted the attention of everyone, while no one noticed the presence of a willow branch in the shadows.

A chill crept up my spine, and the willow branches trembled: "What do you mean!"

Liu Shao witnessed his indifferent reaction, and her joy gradually faded, turning into unease

Du Mingchong froze for a moment, staring at her for a while, his gaze gradually turning fierce: "If you obediently listen, I might consider keeping you to serve me, but it seems..."

He had long anticipated that she would come to his rescue, yet he did not discuss it with her in advance, leaving her anxious

After a long while, the willow branches exhaled deeply, only then did it remember there was another person, and hurriedly turned to look.

Upon meeting those sparkling purple eyes, Liu Shao suddenly felt a surge of confidence, and without a second thought, she flipped her palm and pushed forward

Du Mingchong steadied himself, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. Seeing her unafraid, as if she had become a different person, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of suspicion.

The woman had a beautiful face, an alluring figure, and her skin was as smooth as water, exuding an inimitable charm that was far from that of an ordinary courtesan

Liu Shao had always relied on her beauty, firmly believing that Lu Li liked her, and had never seriously considered the women around him. The impact of this situation was so great that Liu Shao felt an unexpected discomfort in her heart

"Alright," he sighed helplessly, "I admit I was wrong; she is still quite troublesome"

"What is Lu Li? He is merely relying on that face to deceive women!" Du Mingchong had long harbored resentment over the events of that year, and upon hearing this, he became furious, snorting coldly, his face filled with jealousy. "I, Du Mingchong, can also speak in front of the Marquis. But if he wants a woman, what can he do to me? The Marquis can only scold me a few times and then choose two more women for him." He paused, laughing heartily while touching Liu Shao's face, "Or I could just return her to him after I'm done. With so many women, do you really think Lu Li would defy the Marquis for you?"

Lu Li did not mind either: "The task is completed, hurry and report to Captain Fang."

Many years ago that night, she encountered the heart-eater, and fortunately, that "husband" appeared just in time and spoke with a mysterious person for quite a while

This move can be described as an unexpected gain; not only did the two turn danger into safety, but they also completed Liu Shao's task. Lu Li managed to escape with her, moving through several locations. After confirming that no one was pursuing them, the two finally returned to Lu Li's courtyard within the city. At this time, the sky was already lightening, and the crowing of roosters was incessant.

A broom was inexplicably thrust into my hands, and it was not until I was pushed out the door that Liu Shao reacted, furiously shouting: "Lu Li!"

Liu Shao continues to strive: "There is still a month! You have talked to him about the Heart-Eating Demon, I am that child! Do you remember now?"

Upon hearing that sound, the willow branches were so frightened that they dropped the quilt

"Do you really think I am incapable of anything? You look down on others!" Liu Shao spat on the ground, "With such a lack of discernment, what do you have to compare with Lu Li!"

You... how can you be such a jerk! Perhaps feeling guilty, Liu Shao was not as assertive as usual, and she dropped the broom and fled out of the courtyard

Lu Li indeed did not agree, so Bai Feng was also afraid of bringing humiliation upon herself and did not dare to come. Liu Shao was very pleased and made up her mind to publicly mock Bai Feng the next day

Liu Shao bit her lip heavily, not knowing where her courage came from, and shouted at his back: "Aren't you my subordinate!"

Lan Chi, you are truly quite unlikable

Without any obstacles, the white arrow struck directly at the heart of the formation, completely destroying the magic array

The woman named Yuki did not linger much and obediently left

The dark five years passed, and no one came to see her; she had not seen a single relative, only Lu Li remained by her side

No one saves oneself! Liu Shao closed her eyes and clenched her fists tightly.

The willow tips change color: "If you dare to touch me, he will not let you go!"

The guard of slightly higher rank reported: "My lord, this person has come to assassinate."

She is no longer a child, Master

In response to her anger, Lu Li adopted a customary attitude of avoidance. He raised his left hand, casually tugged at the right lapel of his cloak, and then walked towards the room

The hot air sprayed against the chest, still carrying the stench of wine and meat, while the tips of the willows made one feel nauseous, struggling endlessly

Liu Shao understood and glared angrily

Liu Shao was frightened and stepped back

That person still stood in place, the empty garment swaying in the wind; were it not for those sparkling eyes, he would appear to be nothing more than a tavern sign.

Wood shavings swirl in the air, the magic circle is broken

It is said that the heart-eating demon is terrifying, but it turns out that the human heart is even more frightening. I wonder how many such "heart-eating demons" exist in the world? Are all those people truly killed by heart-eating demons?

The aura was scattered, and the features of his face could barely be discerned among the willow branches.

Do you want to know what to do

The torn garment revealed her snow-white skin, and Du Ming's eyes sparkled with excitement as he eagerly leaned down to nibble indiscriminately.

Liu Shaoface raised her head and said: "Why should I leave?"

Lu Li found it difficult: "But I need to go to sleep now"

The woman was also quite impolite, leaning against the table with a flirtatious smile: "I am his person, so of course I must stay to serve."

The two usually only bicker, yet Bai Feng unexpectedly colluded with Du Mingchong to harm others! Liu Shao desperately clutched her clothing, instinctively resisting, but this dispersive formation was indeed formidable, her consciousness was constrained, and the spiritual energy was swirling chaotically around her body, making it difficult to gather.

The man turned sideways to look at her

Lu Li said: "Alright"

The enthusiasm suddenly extinguished, and the willow branches fiercely kicked the stone beneath her feet: "Eating from the bowl while watching the pot!"

Realizing she had misspoken, Liu Shao pretended to be indifferent and averted her gaze, turning to the side: "I just wanted to remind you, such a woman is merely after your..." Suddenly, she stopped mid-sentence, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, as if she had been greatly startled

The change occurs in the blink of an eye, the willow branches regain vitality, rage reaches its peak, and without any consideration, a palm strike is unleashed with full force

Zhang Fengtu arrived at the steps and stood still, sizing up Lu Li: "Who sent you here?"

Du Ming never expected that she could break the formation. In a flurry, he rolled over to evade, yet even so, the backlash from the shattered formation still caused a sharp pain in his chest, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood

Lu Li has opened his eyes: "Is there something else?"

Lu Li smiled at her through the crack in the door: "What?"

He indeed made no move, watching everything that happened with a cold gaze

Tenfold spiritual power, flashing light waves, and turbulent air currents

By the riverbank outside the city, there is no one in sight

Witnessing his transformation, the last remnants of gratitude in Liu Shao had long been worn away, and she could only feel an overwhelming disgust towards this person, not even wanting to look at him any longer

No! No! Liu Shao is in great panic; she does not want to be intimate with such a scoundrel! Lu Li! Does Lu Li know? Hurry and save her!

After dawn, Jiang Yun's body was discovered. The arrival of the Heart-Eating Demon in Smoke City caused widespread panic. Duke Wu Yang and Captain Fang Wei summoned everyone for questioning. Liu Shao dared not speak the truth and pretended to be unaware. Fortunately, Jiang Yun had ulterior motives in trying to get close to Lu Li and did not disclose his whereabouts to others, so no one suspected Liu Shao.

Lu Li said: "He has long been in contact with the people of King Zhu and has harbored thoughts of betrayal, but he has never had the opportunity. I entered the formation, which caused Zhang Fengtu and the other guards to let their guard down, thus creating the perfect opportunity for him."

Catching a glimpse of the figure in the room, Liu Shao suddenly understood and rushed in before him

"Sanyuan Formation?" Liu Shao noticed something unusual and glared at him, "What do you want to do!"

No matter how formidable a martial arts master may be, they are still human; no matter how great the strength, it cannot compensate for the frailty of the body. Zhang Fengtu has already lost the ability to return to life, Huangfu Xun has betrayed, and the guards are left leaderless, plunged into chaos, which in turn causes them to overlook Lu Li in the formation

A person appeared beside her, yet Du Mingchong was completely unaware, reaching his hand down towards her...

At the gaze directed towards the willow tips, a hint of surprise flashed across his face, but he quickly regained his composure

The act of burning one's boats has resulted in damage to the consciousness, causing a splitting headache at the tips of the willow branches, nearly leading to a fainting spell on the spot

Who is it

It is indeed him! Liu Shao confirmed his identity, and without bothering to consider the evaluation of the useless person, she eagerly asked: "Where is Yue? Where is he?"

Until Zhang Fengtu's body fell to the ground, everyone finally came to their senses

Lu Li said: "Good"

Liu Shao returned to the room to sleep until dark, and upon waking, remembered the bet made with Bai Feng, eagerly rushing out to escape.