Qing Jin’s words made Su Yi frown. What’s that supposed to mean?

Zhou Zhili sensed that the atmosphere was someone off. He hurriedly smiled and asked, “Young Lord Su, are you planning to leave with Miss Cha Jin?”

“That’s right.” Su Yi nodded.

Zhou Zhili had only asked conversationally; he didn’t expect that Su Yi would actually give him an affirmative answer. Despite himself, he was stunned. Has he developed a taste for her? Does he plan to keep her for himself?

“Can’t bear to part with her?” Su Yi asked with great interest.

Zhou Zhili’s expression froze, and he forced a laugh. “If you like her, that’s all that matters. Miss Cha Jin is deeply fortunate to have the opportunity to serve at your side.”

He looked at Cha Jin, as if searching for signs of resistance or hesitation in her gaze, but to his surprise, he saw nothing but meek humility…..

“She’s just a courtesan,” snorted Qing Jin. “Whatever she does, she’ll never escape her fate as a mere toy for men to play with.”

Cha Jin furrowed her brow, pursed her lips, and laughed, “Miss Qing Jin, why is that I sense a hint of bitterness in your tone? Don’t tell me you’re jealous?”

Qing Jin was instantly displeased, and she said coldly, “Who’s jealous? Why would I envy a courtesan with no control over her destiny?”

“She’s no courtesan, and her background is no inferior to yours,” said Si Yi flatly.

Qing Jin was stunned, but she obviously didn’t believe it. “You’re comparing me to her? Don’t you think that’s a bit ridiculous?”

Su Yi turned to Cha Jin. “Tell them.”

Cha Jin hesitated briefly, then took a deep breath and said with pride, “I’m actually the daughter of one of the Great Wei’s ‘Eight Great Prefectural Kings, Shen Zhangkong, as well as an inner sect disciple of the Great Wei’s top holy land, the Wheel of the Moon Sect. Tell me, Miss Qing Jin, am I qualified to compare myself with you?”

When she said this, everyone fell silent.

“You’re from the Great Wei?” Zhou Zhili was stunned, and he found it hard to believe.

There was a perennial conflict between the Great Zhou and the Great Wei, and they saw each other as bitter enemies. Their relationship was as terrible as it gets.

Who would have guessed that Cha Jin hailed from the Great Wei, and moreover, that her status was highly special?

“A Wheel of the Moon Sect inner sect disciple….” The expression on Qing Jin’s beautiful face shifted; she looked a bit flabbergasted. Why would a Wheel of the Moon Sect inner sect disciple disguise herself as a courtesan and appear here?

“When you approached me earlier, you actually had ulterior motives!” Zhou Zhili’s expression was unsightly. And here he’d thought it was his elegant bearing that won him Cha Jin’s favor.

Who would have thought that the reality of the situation was so cruel?

“Sixth Highness, you have your second brother to blame for that. Without his orders, do you really think I would have gotten close to you?” Cha Jin’s gaze was cold, and her brow carried faint hints of disdain.

This dealt Zhou Zhili an enormous blow, and his expression darkened.

“Why would an esteemed inheritor of the Wheel of the Moon Sect work beneath His Second Highness? I’m afraid you had an ulterior motive for that, too. Am I right?” asked Qing Jin coldly.

“That’s right,” said Cha Jin frankly.

She no longer disguised herself or hid anything, and there was no longer any need to play the part of a courtesan. She could say whatever was on her mind. To her surprise, it was a wonderful, relaxing feeling.

Zhang Duo and the others were instantly on guard, their expressions unfriendly.

From their perspective, as an agent of the Great Wei, Cha Jin was the enemy of their nation, someone to be killed on sight!

“Young Lord Su, might you hand her over to us?” Qing Jin’s sharp eyes glinted like swords, flashing with cold light.

Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t you think that request is a bit excessive?”

Qing Jin’s eyes widened. “Excessive? She’s a spy from the Great Wei, and she’s hidden herself at the second prince’s side and attempted to approach His Sixth Highness. She’s obviously up to no good!”

Su Yi’s smile frosted over, and his brow furrowed. “Didn’t you proclaim yourself a true cultivator unconcerned with mundane affairs? Why have you suddenly changed your mind?”

Qing Jin’s expression froze, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

Cha Jin chuckled. “Young Lord, that’s easy to explain. The Great Zhou’s Hidden Dragon Sword Sect has always seen our Wheel of the Moon Sect as their enemy. As one of their inheritors, it’s only natural that she’d detest me.”

“A spy like you has no right to speak here,” snapped Qing Jin. “Do you really think I won’t kill you where you stand?”

Her aura was cold and harsh, and murderous intent surged around her.

“Enough.” Su Yi’s gaze was sharp.

“Su Yi, are you planning to protect her? Or have you simply gone mad with lust and let her good looks muddle your brain?”

Whap!

A resounding slap followed, leaving a red, five-fingered imprint in her stunningly beautiful face.

Everyone fell silent.

Even Qing Jin was dumbstruck. She stared at Su Yi in disbelief; she never would have guessed Su Yi would actually strike her!

“Bear this in mind: Cha Jin is now my serving girl. I certainly can’t be bothered to concern myself with any other status she might have.”

Su Yi’s gaze was utterly aloof. “Given our pre-existing friendly relationship, I’ll let this go this time, but if you keep pushing your luck, don’t blame me for turning my back on old associates.”

Qing Jin’s delicate frame quivered. Her face alternated between green and white, and her heart filled with shame, dejection, confusion, and indescribable bewilderment.

She never would have guessed that Su Yi would slap her over Cha Jin of all people!

She’d never experienced anything like this before, and for a moment, her mind went completely blank.

Zhou Zhili, Zhang Duo, and the other onlookers were stunned too. They glanced at each other.

Even Cha Jin herself was a bit surprised.

This… Should I take this as Su Yi protecting me?

Isn’t he afraid of thoroughly offending the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect and the sixth prince?

Waves of emotion rose and fell within her heart, and she found it hard to calm down. She suddenly realized that she felt a hint of secret delight….

This feeling stunned even her.

Why would I feel like this?

But Su Yi’s thoughts were nowhere near as complex. The way he saw it, before you hit a dog, you had to check and see who owned it. Besides, Cha Jin was still useful to him. How could he just hand her over?

Of course, what really displeased him with Qing Jin’s attitude. The moment they laid eyes on each other, she started mocking him out of nowhere, and now she dared push her luck even further? Did she really think him that good-natured?

Next, he glanced at Zhou Zhili. “What about you? Do you see me as your enemy now?”

Zhou Zhili jumped, then said deliberately, “Young Lord Su, if you’ve chosen to keep Cha Jin by your side, there must be a reason for it. From my perspective, you’ve effectively removed a latent threat from my life. If anything, I ought to thank you.”

That cold, indifferent gaze of Su Yi’s put him under enormous pressure.

“Well said. That’s a decent answer.” Su Yi nodded. He couldn’t be bothered to remain here any longer, so he headed outside.

Cha Jin hurried after him. That’s right; he’s not even afraid of my Wheel of the Moon Sect, so why would he care about the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect or the sixth prince…?

When she saw that tall, lean figure, Cha Jin felt a wide array of complex emotions.

There was humiliation, suppression, terror, and intimidation. She ought to hate Su Yi with all her heart.

Yet what just happened dispersed some of her initial resentment, to the point that she even felt a hint of unspoken glee.

This left her incomparably distressed and conflicted.

Meanwhile, as Zhou Zhili watched Su Yi and Cha Jin leave, he sighed. Every inch of him relaxed.

But when he saw Qing Jin standing there in silence, his heart tensed, and he hurriedly asked, “Martial Aunt, are you alright?”

Qing Jin’s expression was icy, and her tone was wooden. “He slapped me right across the face. Tell me, do you think I’m alright?”

Zhou Zhili grimaced. “Martial Aunt, I wouldn’t have guessed Su Yi would be so heartless either. To think he’d cast aside all pretenses of cordiality over Cha Jin….”

Then, he took a deep breath. “But rest assured. In the future, if I ascend to the imperial throne, I’ll be certain to get justice for you!”

Qing Jin laughed coldly. “He’s only seventeen, and he’s only in the Qi Accumulation Realm, yet he can slaughter Grandmasters as if they were chickens. Even if you really get the opportunity to sit upon the throne, I’m afraid he’ll already have become a peerless expert by then. How exactly will you ‘get justice for me’ then?”

“That….” Zhou Zhili didn’t know what to say to that.

When she saw how ill at ease he looked, Qing Jin shook her head with flagging interest. “Let’s go. I don’t want to spend any more time in the Cloudriver Prefecture, and I never want to see Su Yi ever again!”

When she spoke that last part, her voice carried a hint of irrepressible indignation.

“Alright. We’ll begin our journey to the Imperatorial Provincial Capital tomorrow!” Zhou Zhili hurriedly pounded his chest and agreed.

……

It was only after he exited the Sand-Scouring Waves that Su Yi realized that Huang Qianjun had yet to emerge.

“Forget it. I won’t wait for him. He might very well be in the throes of passion as we speak. If I make him leave now, I’ll ruin his good time.”

Su Yi was a normal man too; he naturally knew better than to spoil a moment like this.

“Can you drive a carriage?” asked Su Yi.

“Uh….” Cha Jin froze. “Yes, I can.”

Su Yi walked right into the carriage, then slumped lazily in his seat. “Take us back to Bottlegourd Alley.”

“....” Cha Jin simply bit her lip, then took on the role of carriage driver. She gripped the reins, then steered the horses away.

Throughout their journey back, she attracted countless flabbergasted gazes. Countless men cursed and spat.

Most likely, they simply couldn’t understand what kind of scumbag would make such a delicate, peerless beauty act as his carriage driver! Whoever he was, he deserved death by a thousand cuts!

To Cha Jin herself, this was an unprecedented and novel experience.

After all, as an inner sect disciple of the Wheel of the Moon Sect, as well as the daughter of a prefectural king, she was a noble born into luxury. Throughout her years of life, she’d never done anything remotely comparable to driving a horse-drawn carriage.

Yet it seemed that in Su Yi’s eyes, making her drive him around was simply a matter of course…

It seems he really does plan to order me around like a servant girl…. Cha Jin sighed to herself, suddenly conflicted. If her father, master, friends, relatives, and sectmates found out about this, how would they respond?

But Su Yi had no outward reaction at all. When they arrived back at Humble Tranquility Cottage, he just sprawled out in the wicker chair beneath the gazebo again.

There was nothing for it. He’d always been lazy when he wasn’t cultivating.

“Do you know how to brew tea, wash clothes, and cook?” asked Su Yi.

Cha Jin grimaced. It’s just as I thought! In his eyes, I’ve already sunk to the level of a serving girl.

She thought it over, then whispered, “I’ve never done anything like that before, but I can learn.”

Su Yi couldn’t help but nod to himself. Her attitude, at least, is worthy of praise.

He ordered, “Starting tomorrow, you’ll be washing and folding my clothes, as well as brewing and pouring my tea. During your spare time, you’ll keep the courtyard and garden in order. If there’s still time left afterward, you can use it as you see fit.”

Cha Jin’s scalp went numb. Is he planning to make me single-handedly take responsibility for every chore and odd job around the house?

She asked tentatively, “Young Lord, why not just hire a group of servants?”

Su Yi glanced up at her. “Feeling wronged?”

Cha Jin hurriedly shook her head. Even if she did feel wronged, there was no way she’d say it out loud!