Although Shen Qingfeng knew that Liu Mei was a remarkable figure, he had actually been extremely cautious. To prevent being discovered, he even asked A Man to take a detour and conceal their tracks. Yet, Liu Mei still managed to detect them. It seemed that this woman's intelligence network had already spread far and wide.
Shen Qingfeng sat expressionlessly in the Shifang Pavilion. This was the inner attic of the Shifang Zhai. It seemed that in order to demonstrate her so - called "hospitality" to Shen Qingfeng, Liu Mei had specially invited him to the top floor of the Shifang Pavilion. From here, through the window, one could overlook the entire capital city of Lixia - Ligew.
Shen Qingfeng was actually no stranger to this place. In his previous life, every time he came to the Shifang Zhai to find Liu Mei, he would be brought here. This was the highest - standard place for entertaining guests in the Shifang Pavilion. Generally speaking, only the royal relatives and nobles could enter.
In his previous life, Shen Qingfeng had held a position second only to the king, and he was also a confidant of Xia Chuli. Moreover, he had the dangerous organization, the Tingfeng Pavilion, in his hands. That was why Liu Mei thought highly of him and allowed him to enter here. But this time, Shen Qingfeng couldn't figure out why Liu Mei had brought him here.
Shen Qingfeng sipped his tea and waited quietly.
Before long, there came the crisp sound of footsteps at the door, and then the door was pushed open from the outside.
Shen Qingfeng looked at the charming woman standing at the door without any surprise, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
"Proprietress Liu, long time no see."
Liu Mei let out a charming laugh. Holding a pipe in her hand, she walked gracefully towards Shen Qingfeng. She was still wearing a low - cut dress, with a white fox fur draped over her arms. Her heavy breasts swayed as she walked. She twisted her snake - like waist. Instead of sitting on the seat, she deftly turned and sat on the table. Then, crossing her legs, she gave Shen Qingfeng a coquettish smile and said, "It seems that Young Master Shen is not surprised?"
Shen Qingfeng remained calm. Ignoring the cleavage that Liu Mei showed, either deliberately or unintentionally, he picked up the teacup and took a sip, saying, "It's my honor that Proprietress Liu intends to invite me. How could I be surprised?"
"Oh?" Liu Mei laughed. She lifted Shen Qingfeng's chin with the pipe in her hand, forcing him to look at her. "Does Young Master Shen know that the seat you're sitting on now is a seat that even King Xia Jie in the Bian Palace can rarely sit on?"
Shen Qingfeng tilted his head slightly, dodging the teasing pipe. In a sarcastic tone, he said, "I don't know, but this seat offers a view of the mountains in the distance and the city nearby. It's a great place for overlooking the scenery. It would be a waste if it weren't used for people to sit on."
Liu Mei snorted softly and pursed her lips. "Then who do you think should sit here, Young Master Shen?"
"A refined person."
"Then, are you that refined person, Young Master Shen?" Liu Mei looked at Shen Qingfeng meaningfully.
"Shouldn't this be up to you, Proprietress Liu?" Shen Qingfeng clasped his fists. "If you think I am, then I'll stay. If you think I'm not, then I'll leave now."
Liu Mei's lips curled slightly. She put away the pipe, took a light puff near her lips, and then slowly exhaled a wisp of green smoke. Her voice was full of temptation and charm. "Sure enough, you're Young Master Ruyi. An ordinary person wouldn't have such good self - control. But I have to remind you, Young Master. It's easy to enter my Shifang Pavilion, but it's not certain if you can leave."
Shen Qingfeng said, "I already owe you a debt, Proprietress Liu. If you don't let me out, how can I repay you?"
Liu Mei countered, "Do you know how many debts you owe me?"
Shen Qingfeng's heart sank. After thinking for a while, he said, "Two."
Liu Mei gave him an appreciative look, took another puff of the cigarette, leaned forward, and blew all the smoke into Shen Qingfeng's face. Then she showed her cleavage in front of Shen Qingfeng and whispered, "Young Master Shen is really an understanding person."
Shen Qingfeng waved away the smoke and glanced at Liu Mei. "You want Yu Shuang?"
Liu Mei just smiled without answering. She sat up straight, propping one hand on the table. She had no intention of sitting back on the seat. "That's right. Young Master Shen used the debt you owed me to save Yu Shuang again. It's really a coincidence. However, I can overlook it. As long as you give Yu Shuang to me, all the previous debts can be written off."
There was no way Shen Qingfeng would give Yu Shuang to Liu Mei. Although he didn't know how Xia Chuli had protected Yu Shuang back then, Yu Shuang must stay under his command. After all, with Yu Shuang, Shen Qingfeng had a greater chance of protecting the Shen family.
"Proprietress Liu might as well write an IOU directly." Shen Qingfeng smiled, but there was no real smile in his eyes. It was an obvious refusal.
Liu Mei was silent for a moment. Playing with the pipe in her hand, she said, "Young Master Shen, you'd better think it over. I'm a businesswoman. I only talk about interests. If you refuse me, you'll have to pay an equal price. Can you afford what I want?"
Ridiculous! If Xia Chuli could afford it back then, why couldn't he?
Shen Qingfeng raised his eyebrows. "Proprietress Liu, just say it. But may I know why you want Yu Shuang?"
Liu Mei laughed. "You're so smart. Don't you know?"
Shen Qingfeng sneered. "Proprietress Liu, greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. You may be able to take in the wandering assassins of Wuhen, but can you swallow the whole Wuhen?"
"Don't worry, Young Master Shen. If I wanted to swallow it, you wouldn't be here." Liu Mei looked at him. Her eyes were still curved, but there seemed to be a deeper meaning. "Moreover, Yu Shuang is a unique master in Wuhen. You said, didn't you snatch my prize?"
Shen Qingfeng knew about Liu Mei's ambition. After all, it could be seen from her continuous efforts to develop her power network. However, in his previous life, Liu Mei was more like a client to him rather than a partner. So he had always been unclear about Liu Mei's real intention.
Fortunately, he had sent Yu Shuang to the Shen Mansion before Liu Mei could act. No matter how arrogant Liu Mei was, she was just a person in the martial world. She didn't have the guts to directly send people to break into the Shen family to snatch someone.
"Now that Yu Shuang has been saved by you, his life is yours." Liu Mei said. "But now, your life is in my hands. Young Master Shen, have you thought about what to use to exchange for your life?"
"You want to kill me?" Shen Qingfeng scoffed. "Killing me is equivalent to the Shifang Zhai provoking the court. Do you think King Jie will allow a merchant who provokes the noble families to continue doing business?"
Liu Mei covered her mouth and said, "You think too much, Young Master Shen. If I wanted your life, I could do it perfectly, and no one would know it was me."
Liu Mei was telling the truth. Shen Qingfeng had witnessed the strength of the Shifang Zhai in his previous life. It was widely rumored in the streets that the Shifang Zhai's black - market business was extremely ruthless. There was no one they couldn't kill as long as they had enough money. Moreover, Shen Qingfeng was now inside the Shifang Zhai. It would be easy for Liu Mei to get rid of him.