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Lu Sheng was stunned.
Yanshan City was nothing like Jiulian City. A single restaurant here could be worth ten in Jiulian! And there were fifteen of them—fifteen! This was no ordinary business deal. Even if he sold everything the Lu family owned, it still wouldn’t be enough to buy them all.
It wasn’t just about money. To open a restaurant in a place like this required more than capital—it required influence, connections, and behind-the-scenes maneuvering. At the very least, one would need a million taels in silver notes to make it work. The Lu family’s entire fortune wouldn’t cover it.
This was what it meant to be truly wealthy.
Only now did Lu Sheng fully grasp the concept of crushing people with wealth—what it meant to spend money like water and still be respected for it. And Mr. Chen’s power went far beyond silver.
If Mr. Chen gave his support, not only would problems with medicinal herbs and supplements be instantly resolved, but even the path to advanced martial arts would become smoother.
Yanshan City wasn’t just a larger city—it was a critical strategic hub between the northern territories and the Central Plains. The city’s military officials had direct ties to the imperial court. For Mr. Chen to stand firm here as the wealthiest man in town, his background had to be unimaginable. There was no way he was just some ordinary businessman, as that arrogant young man had claimed yesterday.
Faced with Chen Yunxi’s confession, Lu Sheng understood one thing clearly—when a woman confesses, no matter how open the local culture may be, it still takes immense courage.
She had done it.
He drew in a long breath and looked steadily at the girl before him.
"Put your things away first."
Hearing this, Chen Yunxi studied Lu Sheng's face, then looked down at the contract in her hands. She bit her lip gently and obediently tucked the papers away.
"Brother Lu, you..."
"It's not that I don't like you..." Lu Sheng interrupted softly. "Others might see your long legs as a flaw—a deformity—but to me, they’re your most beautiful feature."
He hadn’t planned to say it. It just slipped out.
He simply couldn’t hold it back.
When Chen Yunxi first heard Lu Sheng’s words, she thought he was simply trying to comfort her. But as she looked closely into his eyes, she saw no trace of pity—only sincerity. In that moment, she understood. He truly meant what he said. Lu Sheng genuinely preferred long legs over the delicate, dainty types that others admired.
"But," Lu Sheng shifted his tone, "Chen Yunxi, are you sure you really understand me? Do you truly know what kind of person I am? We've only known each other for a few months. The version of me you've seen is just the side I show at the academy. You haven’t seen the rest of me—and I haven’t fully seen all of who you are either. I don’t want my future partner to regret their decision once they uncover other sides of me."
He wasn’t just being cautious—he was trying to protect her.
Lu Sheng wasn’t a normal person. He had a mysterious modifier, and he had encountered things beyond reason—ghosts, demons, and darkness hidden in the world. He wasn’t content with mediocrity or relying on luck and society’s scraps. He wanted power—true power. He wanted to seize control of his destiny in a world teetering between shadow and survival.
That path was dangerous. And to marry early, to tie someone to his fate, would only create a vulnerability—a weakness others could exploit.
But Chen Yunxi didn’t waver. Instead of disappointment, her eyes shimmered with resolve.
"Brother Lu treats money like dirt. Yunxi knows she hasn’t misjudged you!" Her beautiful eyes sparkled with admiration as she gazed at him.
"Since Brother Lu is unwilling for now, Yunxi will respect your wishes. I’ll take the time to truly understand you—and everything about you. And I’ll accept all of it!"
As soon as she finished, her face flushed red. She quickly covered her cheeks with both hands, turned around with a soft whimper, and ran off in a flurry.
Lu Sheng watched her retreating figure, stunned into silence.
"Did that... backfire?"
Shaking his head, he turned back toward the academy and resumed his classes.
Before he knew it, the day passed. Wang Ziquan never showed up.
Later, Song Zhenguo made time to check on the rental house where Wang Ziquan was temporarily staying, only to find it empty. Worried, he spoke with Lu Sheng, and the two agreed:
If Wang Ziquan didn’t appear the next day, they would go look for him together.
The night passed quietly.
The next morning, as usual, Lu Sheng stepped into the academy. Master Lu began the lecture—but once again, Wang Ziquan was nowhere to be seen.
Master Lu called the roll, then casually asked a few questions about the students’ living situations.
"The student rented a room next to Wang Ziquan," a frail-looking scholar stood up and responded. "I didn’t see any light from his room last night. It seems he went out."
Master Lu frowned.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyxagp3hlL
"Did he return to his hometown? Even if that’s the case, he should’ve informed the college. That’s not proper behavior. Doesn’t he want to be recommended for this year’s annual exam?"
The annual exam required a formal recommendation from the college. Without that, a student wouldn’t even be eligible to take the test. And a poor record in school could easily cost someone that recommendation.
"The annual exam is almost here. Ziquan would never make such a careless mistake," Song Zhenguo muttered, then quickly stood up. "Master Lu, perhaps Ziquan ran into some urgent matter. I know his cousin who lives in the city. I’ll go and check with him after class."
Master Lu nodded slightly, his tone gentler.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmplZlhtCA2
"Very well. Classmates should look out for one another." A faint trace of approval flickered in his eyes.
With that, the matter was put aside, and Master Lu resumed reading from the scriptures.
Lu Sheng glanced over at Song Zhenguo. He noticed the deep furrow in his friend’s brow—clearly, he was worried about Wang Ziquan. Lu Sheng focused for a moment and recalled the midnight pleasure boat from a few nights ago. Perhaps Song Zhenguo could provide some clues if asked directly.
He waited until the end of class. The material taught that day wasn’t difficult for Lu Sheng—his graduate-level foundation made these lessons feel easy. But for someone like Song Zhenguo, even a bit of distraction could make the scriptures harder to grasp.
After class, Song Zhenguo remained at his desk, carefully reviewing Master Lu’s explanation. He was diligently sorting through his notes and transcribing key points into his own files.
"Brother Zhenguo," Lu Sheng approached quietly. "Something doesn’t feel right. Ziquan is usually the most cautious among us. He treats his studies more seriously than anyone I know. How could he miss class two days in a row without a word?"
Song Zhenguo slowly put away his pen and ink, his expression equally troubled.
"That’s exactly what I was thinking. That’s why I plan to look into it right after this."
"Let me come with you," Lu Sheng said firmly. "I’m worried too."
Song Zhenguo looked at Lu Sheng in surprise. Earlier during the break, he had quietly asked around among the classmates who often hung out with Wang Ziquan. To his disappointment, none of them were willing to help. Whether male or female, they all made excuses and quickly distanced themselves from the issue. Their shallow loyalty left him bitterly disillusioned.
But now, Lu Sheng had taken the initiative to come forward—without being asked.
"Alright, Brother Lu. Give me a moment to pack up."
"Okay."
After Song Zhenguo finished tidying his belongings, the two left the academy together. A pre-booked carriage awaited them at the gate, and they set off into the city without delay.
During the ride, both men remained quiet, their expressions grim. Wang Ziquan was the type who treated the upcoming annual exam as a matter of life and death. For him to vanish without a trace was deeply uncharacteristic—and troubling.
Soon, they arrived at a powder shop on Jinyuan Street, where they quickly found Wang Ziquan’s cousin, Chen Hong. Though still young, Chen Hong managed the store personally and carried himself with confidence.
"Cousin Ziquan?" Chen Hong blinked in surprise. "No, I haven’t seen him. If he were going back home, he’d usually stop by first and ask me to help move his things—books, boxes of clothes, that sort of stuff. Come to think of it, it’s been several days since I last saw him. Didn’t he go to a party recently with Brother Song?"
The moment he heard this, Song Zhenguo’s face darkened further. He turned to Lu Sheng, and the two exchanged a heavy, uneasy glance.
"Yes, he did hang out with us before," Song Zhenguo replied. "But we haven’t seen him for the past two days, so I came to ask."
"Oh..." Chen Hong scratched his head, then suddenly chuckled. "Now that I think about it, my cousin came by in the middle of the night the night before last. He asked me for some good sachets and powder." He laughed. "I think he might be in love! Heh, the sachets and powder he picked were all in girlish styles—pink and floral. Tsk, tsk..."
"The night before last? What time exactly?" Lu Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, his tone suddenly sharper.
"Around the Chou hour, I think… anyway, it was really late," Chen Hong said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I was already asleep when he came knocking, insisting I get up to help him. I remember it well because he woke me up so late. But taking sachets and powder at that hour… tsk tsk…" He gave a knowing smirk.
Song Zhenguo looked confused, his brows knitting together. He hadn’t made the connection yet.
But Lu Sheng’s heart sank. A vague suspicion began forming in his mind, and a sense of unease took hold.
Noticing Lu Sheng’s troubled expression, Song Zhenguo quickly wrapped up the conversation.
"Thank you, Brother Chen. We’ll be on our way."
After leaving the shop, Song Zhenguo led Lu Sheng into a quieter alley nearby.
"Lu Sheng, tell me—do you have a lead? Ziquan didn’t even tell his cousin, and yet he went out that night. But… wasn’t that the same night we went drinking on the painting boat?" He looked at Lu Sheng with growing concern.
Lu Sheng returned his gaze, eyes serious.
"Zhenguo… the truth is, after we parted ways that night—I went back to the painting boat."
Song Zhenguo blinked in surprise.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLKe2bNFhz
"Lu Sheng, why would you go back? It was so late. Wasn’t the place already closed?"
"It was." Lu Sheng nodded grimly. "But I realized I had left my money pouch on the boat, so I returned to look for it. I didn’t expect…"
"Didn’t expect what?" Song Zhenguo’s face tightened as he picked up on the weight in Lu Sheng’s voice.
The atmosphere grew heavy. A sense of something ominous pressing in.
"I didn’t expect the entire pleasure boat to be deserted, with red lanterns hanging everywhere," Lu Sheng said, narrowing his eyes as he recalled the scene. "I rushed into the room we had stayed in before. There were two large lanterns lit inside, but still—no one was there. Not even the cleaning staff. I found my money pouch and left in a hurry."
"No one...? Could it be..." Song Zhenguo’s eyes widened as a thought struck him. "Could it be that Ziquan went to see his cousin in the middle of the night just to bring those sachets and powder to one of the girls on the pleasure boat? But if you also went back that night, then how could—"
"It’s very possible!" Lu Sheng interrupted, his voice tense. "Let’s not sit here guessing. We should go to the pleasure boat and ask directly."
Song Zhenguo immediately nodded. Without wasting a word, the two hailed another carriage and headed straight for the Songbai River.
By now, dusk had fallen, and the riverbank was beginning to stir with life—just the right time for music, wine, and entertainment. They arrived quickly at the familiar dock and spotted the boat they had visited before.
It was called the Yingying Pleasure Boat.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B139GLIxs
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