"What do you want, Madam Liu?" Shen Qingfeng asked in a low voice.
Liu Mei twisted her body and leaned towards Shen Qingfeng. "Do you still remember the thing you promised me before?"
Shen Qingfeng glanced at her but said nothing.
"Until now, no one has ever snatched prey from the hands of the Ten Directions Lodge. You, Young Master Shen, are the first. However, seeing that you're a passionate man, I won't take your life. Moreover, I'll give you a favor and help you kill the person you hate the most. How about it?" Liu Mei smiled charmingly, but her smile sent an inexplicable chill down Shen Qingfeng's spine.
The person I hate the most?
Wasn't it Xia Chuli? No, that was wrong. Since nothing had happened yet, the person he hated the most now should be King Xia Jie.
What could Liu Mei gain from killing King Xia Jie?
"Why do you want to kill him?" Shen Qingfeng stared at Liu Mei and asked in a low voice.
"Does killing someone need a reason?" Liu Mei said this casually, as if she were discussing what to have for dinner.
Indeed, the influence of the Ten Directions Lodge was much greater than he had imagined. Although it seemed almost impossible for Liu Mei to kill King Xia Jie in Shen Qingfeng's eyes, since she dared to say so, maybe she really could send someone into the Bian Palace and kill the king!
If King Xia Jie could die, would it mean that the root cause of everything would be eradicated?
Xia Chuli wouldn't go crazy in the struggle for power, and the Shen family would be safe. Nothing would happen, and no one would die.
A fire burned in Shen Qingfeng's heart, but he still retained a glimmer of rationality. "Why would you help me?"
Liu Mei's expression was rather intriguing. "I don't need a reason to help others either."
"If I assist your people in killing him, then our debts will be written off?" Liu Mei always acted without a set pattern. Shen Qingfeng felt his fingers trembling with excitement.
"Sure. I'll give you Yu Shuang too." Liu Mei curled her lips. "Deal?"
Shen Qingfeng looked at her. He had never thought that Liu Mei would also want to kill King Xia Jie. His heart was filled with excitement, but he still managed to hide it on his face.
Liu Mei still sat on the table, crossing her legs and smoking. Her heavily - made - up eyes stared at him without blinking, as if waiting for his answer.
"..." Should he agree? It was such a good opportunity, and Liu Mei was actually willing to cooperate with him.
Although he had known in his previous life that Liu Mei always did things as she pleased. He had once begged Liu Mei to help overthrow King Xia Jie for Xia Chuli's sake, but she had refused because she was afraid of offending the court. So, if he missed this chance, he didn't know when Liu Mei would agree again.
After thinking for a while, Shen Qingfeng's expression suddenly turned solemn. He gritted his teeth and said, "Deal."
"Good." Liu Mei shook the pipe in her hand, emptying the ashes. She smiled faintly at Shen Qingfeng. For some reason, Shen Qingfeng thought her smile was a bit strange and eerie.
"Then, as you wish." Liu Mei slowly wiped the pipe clean and inserted it into her deep cleavage. Then, she slowly bent down, putting one hand on Shen Qingfeng's shoulder. With her fragrant and fiery body approaching him, she blew gently into his ear and said, "I've already sent someone to the Marquis of Dingbei's Mansion."
At that moment, time seemed to stretch infinitely. Liu Mei's words echoed in his mind, and Shen Qingfeng seemed to hear nothing from the outside world. His eyes widened, and his mind was suddenly struck by a thunderbolt!
... What?
What did she just say?
The Marquis of Dingbei's Mansion?
The person she was going to kill - was Lu Yan?!
"The night is deep. The sacrificial ceremony ended half an hour ago. He should have just arrived at the mansion by now. Young Master Shen, why don't you come with me? Maybe you can still see his warm blood." Liu Mei's voice was like a ghost's low moan, exploding directly in Shen Qingfeng's ear!
Shen Qingfeng didn't know how he pushed Liu Mei away or how he rushed out of the Ten Directions Pavilion, through the vast crowd, and out of the Ten Directions Lodge.
He ran like a soul - lost man, crazily pushing aside the bustling crowd with his hands. He fell and got up again. He didn't notice that his clothes were torn somewhere. There was only one thought in his blank mind: Hurry up, hurry up even more!
How could he be so stupid! How could he be so stupid!
He had fallen into the ideological trap of preconceived notions after his rebirth. At this time, he and Lu Yan were rivals bound by a marriage contract, and everyone thought the person he hated was Lu Yan!
Only he knew that he didn't hate Lu Yan anymore, but how could others know!
How could he be so naive as to assume others' thoughts based on his own after - rebirth ideas? Especially when it came to Liu Mei!
Shen Qingfeng's heart sank into an ice cellar. Liu Mei's words lingered in his ears, making him shiver all over.
How could he not know the influence of the Ten Directions Lodge? If it was difficult for Liu Mei to get King Xia Jie's life because the Bian Palace was heavily guarded, Lu Yan was just a vassal king who came to the capital to report on his duties. He didn't even bring a single soldier. How could he fight against those assassins from the Ten Directions Lodge?!
Shen Qingfeng ran like a madman. He didn't dare to stop. Although he had reached his physical limit and his throat hurt from gasping, Liu Mei's words were like a nightmare. In his mind, he vaguely saw Lu Yan covered in blood, lying in a pool of it.
His chest began to ache faintly from the intense running.
No! No! Lu Yan!
Shen Qingfeng ran all the way and finally arrived in front of the Marquis of Dingbei's Mansion. Without saying a word, he shouted hoarsely while knocking on the door, "Lu Yan!"
There was no response.
Shen Qingfeng's heart sank deeper and deeper. "Lu Yan! Lu Yan!"
The thick and cold red - wood gate was as red as blood. Shen Qingfeng's face showed fear. He kicked open the gate of the Marquis of Dingbei's Mansion and rushed into the courtyard.
The gate of the Marquis of Dingbei's Mansion wasn't even locked!
"Lu Yan! Answer me, Lu Yan!" Shen Qingfeng shouted hoarsely, but there were only a few lights on in the courtyard. In the dark night, the entire mansion was as silent as death.
Shen Qingfeng felt dizzy. He rushed into the main room by the moonlight. The room was very dark. There was only a small candle lamp lit behind a screen in a corner.
Shen Qingfeng held his breath. Through the screen, he could see a still figure and the clear and terrifying sound of dripping water.
"Lu... Yan?" Shen Qingfeng felt as if his heart was crushed in an instant. He seemed to be grabbed by an invisible hand around his neck. His voice was so faint that he could hardly hear it himself.
"... Lu... Lu..." His voice began to tremble. His mouth was open, but he couldn't utter a clear sound.
It couldn't be... It couldn't be!
Was Lu Yan just... dead?