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Lu Sheng hesitated for a moment, then took the initiative to approach the nearest man.
"Brother." He revealed a silver ingot in his palm.
"What for?" The man eyed him warily.
"I just want to ask—why are so many people gathered here, searching for things?" Lu Sheng asked, a look of confusion on his face.
"Why are you here if you don't even know? Get lost!" The man scoffed and looked at him like he was an idiot.
As the man turned to leave, Lu Sheng quickly retrieved a gold ingot from his waist pouch and held it out.
The glint of gold made the man stop. He weighed it in his hand, then glanced over Lu Sheng’s clothing. Judging by his appearance, Lu Sheng didn’t seem like someone here to compete for scraps. The man finally spoke.
"Why bother showing up if you don't know what's going on? Last night, a bunch of experts gathered here to exorcise ghosts. But halfway through, a strange treasure suddenly appeared. Things spiraled out of control after that. One of them snatched the treasure and fled, and the rest chased after him. This whole place turned into a ruin."
He lowered his voice slightly.
"We came here hoping to drink some soup from the aftermath—pick up whatever the dead left behind and make a bit of coin."
"Make money from the dead?" Lu Sheng murmured. It became clear that these people had come specifically to loot the corpses.
He hadn’t heard anything about what had happened last night—but for it to attract this many people, including powerful forces, it was definitely no small matter.
Lu Sheng’s thoughts drifted. “These people must know more than they let on… Duanmu Wan, Yan Kai—people like them coming to Jiulian City with unknown goals… they might be on the same level as demons or ghosts.”
Letting the man left, Lu Sheng continued walking, circling around a few more times. He noticed several spots where blackened lumps sat on the ground—like melted steel.
He didn’t linger. Without delay, he turned and rushed back to the Lu residence.
Just as he stepped through the mansion gates, a servant came hurrying toward him with a report.
"Young Master, Miss Duanmu is here again. She’s waiting for you in the guest hall," the servant whispered.
Duanmu Wan? Lu Sheng's heart skipped a beat. He recalled her cryptic words from their last meeting. His energy renewed, he strode toward the guest hall with purpose.
The moment he stepped inside, his eyes landed on Duanmu Wan—her distinct figure and striking attire were unmistakable. In this era, even courtesans wouldn't dare to dress like her.
She sat elegantly on a wooden chair, a white porcelain teacup in hand, sipping gracefully. Her hat lay beside her, and the gauze outer layer of her robe was undone, revealing the jet-black tights she wore beneath.
The tights clung to her body like a second skin, tracing every curve with precision—her chest, hips, and long legs all outlined clearly, as if she wore nothing at all. The maids and guards nearby struggled to avert their eyes, their faces flushed with embarrassment.
Lu Sheng, however, remained composed. He stepped forward, gaze steady.
"Miss Duanmu, it’s been a while. I’d like to know—what exactly did you mean the last time we spoke?" He didn’t bother with pleasantries. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the attendants, then fixed his eyes on her, unbothered by her provocative attire.
Duanmu Wan looked up at him with a curious smile, her expression unreadable.
"Mr. Sheng, I hope you've been well. It’s a relief that you survived the recent chaos. There’s no need to worry now—things are much safer."
Lu Sheng narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean by that, Miss?" Her words hinted at deeper knowledge—knowledge he wasn’t yet privy to.
"Oh, nothing," she replied with a small smile. She set down her teacup, clapped her hands softly, and rose to her feet.
As she stood, her form came fully into view. The motion of her chest, the subtle contours beneath the fabric—every detail was accentuated. Yet Duanmu Wan remained composed, as if unaware of the effect she had.
"Since the others have been dismissed," she said, "and since you didn’t die in the last disaster, you’re now qualified to learn a few things."
Lu Sheng’s expression sharpened with anticipation.
"Then please enlighten me, Miss Duanmu." He leaned slightly forward, eager—yet wary—of what she might reveal.
Duanmu Wan steadied one of the deadly weapons at her chest with a single hand and smiled..
"Since Young Master Sheng is still alive, you must’ve had contact with demons and ghosts. Those filthy, sinister things aren't so easy to handle. Without certain… special methods, there’s no way to survive once they’re after you."
"Demons and ghosts...?" Lu Sheng’s voice deepened. "Can you tell me more? Where do they come from? What do they want?"
"No need to rush..." Duanmu Wan chuckled softly. She began circling Lu Sheng slowly, then reached out to gently brush his cheek.
Her touch was featherlight, like a silk veil trailing across his skin. The sensation was subtle—tingling, teasing, almost intimate.
"Miss Duanmu," Lu Sheng said, stepping back just slightly to put distance between them, "you still haven’t told me the truth. If you didn’t plan to reveal anything, you wouldn’t have come to me. Surely, you have your own reasons, don’t you?"
Duanmu Wan laughed suddenly, her body trembling with amusement.
With a soft puff, she leaned in, her entire upper body pressing against Lu Sheng’s. The shape of her chest, snug against his form, carved out a perfect silhouette between them.
"Mr. Sheng, you’re really not ordinary. The moment I saw you, I felt something." Her voice was smooth, dripping with warmth. "At the time, I took a gamble—just a passing thought, really. But I never expected you'd survive. That surprised me... You don’t know how, even in life-and-death moments, the thought of you lingered in my heart."
Her words oozed with emotion, her tone so tender it could’ve melted the hardest of men.
Lu Sheng held himself steady, keeping his composure even as she leaned closer.
"Miss," he said coolly, "are you in love with me?"
"Who knows?" Duanmu Wan’s smile was playful as she stepped back and turned away. The weapon hanging at her chest swayed with her movement, heavy and unbalanced.
"I do like you," she continued softly, "and when I see you... I’m reminded of the man I loved most." Her voice dropped, and a flicker of sadness passed through her eyes. "But he died far too early... and the affection I carry has had nowhere to go."
For a moment, her gaze lost its usual confidence—loneliness and quiet self-doubt flickered beneath her usual poise.
Lu Sheng was certain—he hadn’t imagined it. That fleeting look in Duanmu Wan’s eyes… it was self-abasement. A rare, fragile emotion only shown by those who carried deep insecurities. And yet, it had appeared on the face of this mysterious woman.
Whoever the man she spoke of was, his identity, strength, and status were surely extraordinary.
"Now, Miss Duanmu, can you finally tell me—what exactly are these demons and ghosts? And who are you, really?"
Duanmu Wan smiled faintly. Without answering, she circled behind him, pressing her body gently against his back.
"Whenever I see you, I can’t help imagining... that you’re him." Her voice was laced with a wistful sigh. "Alas..."
"Tell me—why is it that even though demons run rampant and ghosts keep appearing, most people still live in peace? Just like how you lived for over a decade in relative normalcy?"
Lu Sheng’s eyes sharpened.
"Because someone’s protecting them?"
"Yes... Even if you call it protection..." she whispered. "This world is harsh, yet people must be given some hope, some comfort to hold onto."
She raised her face slightly, drawing in the scent of his skin, her cheeks tinted with a delicate flush—her voice barely above a breath.
"This world is ruled by two great powers."
"Which two?"
"Demons... and aristocratic families," Duanmu Wan said, raising two slender fingers. "The demons are those monsters you’ve encountered—beings of death and corruption. And the noble families… are people like me, and Yan Kai. We were born with power."
"Born with power? It’s not something you can gain through training?" Lu Sheng’s voice trembled slightly, a flicker of hope rising in his chest.
Duanmu Wan looked at him and smiled with quiet sorrow.
"No... I know you still cling to that hope—but sadly, there is no method, no cultivation technique in this world that can rival the demons." Her voice was calm, yet final. "We of the noble bloodlines don’t learn techniques. We awaken to power—born with it, shaped by it. We train only to better control what’s already inside us."
"And the rest?"
"Ordinary people..." she said softly, "will always remain ordinary."
Lu Sheng fell silent.
This—this was the truth he had least wanted to hear.
Duanmu Wan continued, her tone light but the weight of her words undeniable.
"There are two true ruling classes in this world—demons, and aristocratic families. We are born with power, power far beyond the reach of ordinary people. The gap between us is immense. Even the weakest among the aristocracy possesses strength that ordinary people couldn’t begin to imagine."
"I don’t believe that ordinary people have no chance," Lu Sheng replied, shaking his head slowly, stubbornness glinting in his eyes.
Duanmu Wan let out a soft, amused laugh.
"Young Master is so cute when he's naive..." she said, a playful edge in her voice. "You need to understand—this world isn't like those fantasy tales filled with spiritual energy or immortal qi. The air around us is empty. There’s nothing magical sustaining us. The only thing anyone can rely on... is themselves."
She stepped closer again, her slender fingers brushing lightly across Lu Sheng’s firm chest.
"Warriors gain internal energy through nourishment, through eating and training the body. But the power of the noble bloodlines... it sleeps within our veins. It’s in our blood, buried deep, and born with us. That difference can never be bridged by effort alone."
She slowly pulled away and walked to his side, voice softening.
"In Jiulian City, two great forces were fighting over a treasure. One of them is especially dangerous—they command demons and ghosts, and they were the ones who chose the Xu family and your Lu Mansion to be sacrifices."
Lu Sheng’s breath caught. He straightened, his attention sharp.
"Miss, what is the name of that force?" he asked, urgency creeping into his voice. "Please tell me."
Duanmu Wan leaned gently against his arm, her voice low and laced with sweetness.
"They call themselves Juanren Mansion," she whispered. "They’ve been rooted in this land for generations. They control legions of ghosts. And yes—it was they who marked the Lu family for sacrifice. Treasures like the one they sought require immense blood... endless death."
Lu Sheng’s expression darkened.
"If my father is still alive… does that mean they’ll come for us again?"
Duanmu Wan suddenly giggled, the sound strange and melodious.
"Hehehe… if they do, you can always come to Wan’er... If you manage to make me happy, maybe I’ll save you~~ just once~~"
Lu Sheng turned, pulling away from her touch, his tone now cold and composed.
"Miss Duanmu, please don’t joke about such things." He looked her directly in the eyes. "I wonder… do you possess any internal skills beyond those used for maintaining health?"
He wasn’t sure if Duanmu Wan was telling the truth, but that hardly mattered. True or not, if he could gain access to a stronger internal skill through her, then this meeting would have been well worth it.
Duanmu Wan tilted her head, playing with a lock of her hair as her chest subtly leaned toward him.
"Internal skills? That kind of thing… is it really useful?" she said with a teasing smile. "Why fuss over internal skills when you and Wan'er could go into a room and play some far more interesting games?"
Lu Sheng’s expression remained composed, his voice firm.
"Miss Wan’er, please don’t jest. What is the price for such an internal skill? I would appreciate it if you told me clearly."
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