Chapter 99: Under the Moonlight, a Handsome Man and a Beautiful Woman Alone in a Room...
As expected… this wasn't a friendly visit!
Lu Bu narrowed his eyes, his lips curling into a mocking sneer. "Miss Xun'er, don't you think you're being a bit presumptuous?"
"And which of your eyes saw me following Xiao Yan? It seems more like I'm the one being stalked, don't you think?"
Xiao Xun'er pursed her red lips but was left speechless by Lu Bu's retort. It was true Lu Bu first appeared in the Magic Beast Mountain Range when Xiao Yan trespassed on his territory. That was how they had met.
Afterward, Lu Bu left without hesitation and disappeared without a trace, only reappearing near the three year agreement because of the arrangement. In fact, without Lu Bu's help, Xiao Yan would have struggled to leave Yun Lan Sect unscathed.
"Could it really just be a coincidence?" The thought crossed Xiao Xun'er's mind but vanished just as quickly. No matter what, this person clearly harbored ill intentions toward her Xiao Yan gege.
"State your purpose!" Xiao Xun'er's tone remained icy, her attitude unchanged despite Lu Bu's assistance to Xiao Yan in the past. As far as she was concerned, whatever had transpired between Lu Bu and Xiao Yan was already over. Both had gotten what they wanted, and Xiao Yan had even paid a hefty price.
Neither of them owed the other anything.
"Jie, you really live up to the title of 'Young Miss' so imposing and self righteous!" Lu Bu teased, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He didn't bother hiding his indifference toward her demands.
Xiao Xun'er's gaze sharpened. The way Lu Bu repeatedly referred to her as "Young Miss" made her wonder if he knew her true identity. It seemed highly possible.
Her mind raced. Lu Bu had once sold information to Xiao Yan; perhaps he had learned about her from that. Determined, Xiao Xun'er made up her mind she couldn't let an unstable factor like this, especially one that threatened Xiao Yan, remain.
"Leave Jia Nan Academy, and I'll pretend we never met," Xiao Xun'er said coldly.
"You think I'll leave just because you tell me to?" Lu Bu sneered. "Do you think the Gu Clan rules the entire Dou Qi Continent?"
Snap!
Xiao Xun'er snapped her fingers, and behind her, Ling Ying's shadow began to ripple as he merged into the darkness.
"A girl cultivating late at night was suddenly attacked by a villain. Fortunately, Senior Ling Ying happened to pass by and scared off the intruder, allowing the girl to escape unscathed," Xiao Xun'er said calmly, crafting the narrative with just a few words.
The story had been laid out if negotiations failed, they would fight. In this version, she was the victim, while Lu Bu, an outsider with obvious ill intent, would be the villain. Anyone could see through him as a wolf in sheep's clothing!
Lu Bu narrowed his eyes. This girl's tactics were impressive. She was forcing him to act. If he revealed his true strength now, there was no way Jia Nan Academy would allow him to remain.
All of his plans would go to waste.
This was true "borrowing a knife to kill." Compared to this, Fan Ling was nothing but an amateur!
"Ling Ying, make your move," Xiao Xun'er commanded coldly.
"Fine…" Lu Bu sighed softly, his face showing a hint of reluctant resignation.
In the shadowed corner of the room, Ling Ying's dark spear stopped mid thrust. If they could resolve this without bloodshed and force Lu Bu to leave quietly, that would be the best outcome.
Xiao Xun'er's expression softened slightly. At least he knew when to back down.
However, in the next instant, a plume of black mist rose silently from Lu Bu's neck, quickly engulfing his entire face. In the blink of an eye, his head was shrouded in dark, twisting fog, leaving only his body exposed to the air.
"I am Protector Wu of the Soul Hall," Lu Bu rasped, his voice eerily sinister. "That Yao Chen and his disciple Xiao Yan are heading for the Black Corner Region. I'll claim their souls and present them to the elders… Jie, Jie, Jie!"
As he spoke, scarlet eyes glowed ominously within the black mist, and an oppressive, malevolent aura filled the room.
This was a skill from the Soul Hall, derived from the soul pouch and jade token left behind by Protector Wu after his death. The jade token detailed the method for releasing the black mist, though it lacked the technique for summoning soul chains.
If it did, Lu Bu could have perfectly impersonated a Soul Hall Protector.
"You dare?!" Xiao Xun'er's golden eyes flared brightly as she shouted furiously.
"Jie, Jie, Jie… Is there anything in this world the Soul Hall doesn't dare to do?" Lu Bu cackled arrogantly, fully embodying the Soul Hall's domineering arrogance.
"…"
Xiao Xun'er clenched her fists tightly, her chest rising and falling in anger, but she ultimately didn't dare to act.
Lu Bu's message was clear: whether or not he had ill intentions toward Xiao Yan was irrelevant at the moment. But if she dared to attack, then his hostility would be immediate and immense!
In the shadows, Ling Ying withdrew his spear and slithered back into Xiao Xun'er's shadow. The oppressive aura Lu Bu exuded earlier had revealed his true strength a late stage Mortal Soul Realm, a Tier 7 alchemist, and combat power rivaling that of a Dou Zong.
If Lu Bu fought with full force, Ling Ying wouldn't be able to protect Xiao Xun'er.
After a tense silence, Xiao Xun'er slowly withdrew the golden light from her eyes, her once overwhelming aura receding.
"This time, I'll let you go. But if I find out you harbor ill intentions toward Xiao Yan gege, you're dead!" Xiao Xun'er said coldly.
The black mist surrounding Lu Bu's face dissipated without a sound, revealing his mocking expression. "The Gu Clan's young lady is nothing special after all."
"Let's go!" Xiao Xun'er turned sharply and prepared to leave.
"Wait a moment. Do you think this is a market where you can come and go as you please?" Lu Bu's voice turned cold as he stepped forward.
"What, do you want to fight?" Xiao Xun'er snapped. The shadows at her feet rippled as Ling Ying prepared to strike again.
Lu Bu smiled faintly, showing no sign of using Dou Qi. As Xiao Xun'er grew puzzled by his intentions, he spoke. "Do you know why I never told Xiao Yan about Ling Ying's presence?"
Xiao Xun'er's expression shifted slightly, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
"Miss Xun'er, you know Xiao Yan well," Lu Bu said with a sly grin. "He's a proud man. He doesn't take kindly to others meddling in his affairs or offering him help, especially from you. It makes him feel… weak."
As he spoke, Lu Bu stepped closer and closer to Xiao Xun'er. Though he neither unleashed Dou Qi nor soul power, she found herself retreating until her back was against the wall.
Smack!
Lu Bu placed one hand on the wall beside her, leaning in with an intense gaze and a mischievous smile. "Miss Xun'er, you wouldn't want your Xiao Yan gege to find out you've been secretly monitoring him, would you?"
This close, intimate stance filled Xiao Xun'er with fury. She raised her palm and shoved him away.
Lu Bu didn't mind. He landed lightly on his feet, looking at her with a smirk.
"What do you want?" Xiao Xun'er asked angrily.
"I've heard your family has some valuable items…"
"You can forget about it!" Xiao Xun'er interrupted coldly before he could finish, scoffing at the idea that she would spend resources to resolve such a minor issue.
"Your threats are meaningless!" Xiao Xun'er sneered. "Did you forget that Xiao Yan gege has a powerful soul spirit by his side? If you can sense Ling Ying, don't you think that spirit can sense you?"
"That teacher of his already told him about Ling Ying after the three year agreement ended!"
Lu Bu chuckled at her wit. "Smart girl."
"Let's go, Ling Ying," Xiao Xun'er said, turning to leave.
"Not so fast." Lu Bu's playful voice stopped her. With a flick of his foot, a jade token flew into his hand.
Annoyed, Xiao Xun'er turned to scold him, but her expression froze when she saw the token light up.
An image appeared Lu Bu pinning her against the wall in the "wall slam" position. While her face betrayed no emotion in the image, their proximity looked… intimate. The space between them was barely a fist's width.
Damn it! When did he plant that recording talisman?
"Under the moonlight, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, alone in a room…" Lu Bu teased with a grin as Xiao Xun'er's face twisted in shock and anger.
"Miss Xun'er, you wouldn't want your Xiao Yan gege to hear about our 'secret meeting,' would you?"
(End of Chapter)
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