Chapter 516: Friends

Considering the woman's consistently flirtatious behavior, he couldn't think of any reason other than a romantic interest in men that would make her betray the Fiery Phoenix Sect for them.

Even he knew this was unrealistic.

Therefore, he also wondered if the woman already knew their identities.

Seeing no reaction from the two when she mentioned the Fiery Phoenix Sect, Yin Xu immediately understood that they were indeed individuals with connections to the sect.

Given their relationship, she could only hint so much. After a pause, she asked, "We shouldn't keep Constable Lou waiting. Would you two like to excuse yourselves?"

Shi Chun thought for a moment and countered, "Can we really avoid him? Sister Hong already said that if he wants to see us, he'll find a reason, and this is his territory. If we're mistaken, then fine, but if he genuinely wants to meet, Sister Hong doesn't need to be troubled. It won't hurt to see him."

Since he put it that way, Yin Xu stopped pressing. She stood up with a radiant smile, saying, "Alright, please wait here. I'll be right back."

Shi Chun extended his hand, motioning for her to go.

After walking away with Tian Shen, Yin Xu said coldly, "Lou Xiu showing up at this exact time isn't a mere coincidence. He knows I'm hosting a banquet. The city guards didn't even know where they were staying before, and no outsider knew I was hosting a banquet on the rooftop. Who leaked the information?"

This was no small matter for her. Some of the things they did here couldn't be exposed. If someone got hold of incriminating evidence, the situation could escalate significantly.

Tian Shen replied, "We're already investigating."

After the two left, Wu Jinliang, who was holding his wine glass and looking at his reflection, suddenly sighed, "Indeed, there's a difference between humans and demons."

Shi Chun was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Wu Jinliang sighed again. "Haven't you figured it out yet? The standards for what's attractive are different for demons and humans."

Shi Chun understood. This guy was jealous. He was sick; he could even get jealous over something purely for show. How did he survive in the land of exile? Shi Chun couldn't be bothered with him.

Wu Jinliang put down his wine glass, looking puzzled again. "If Lou Xiu is really here for us, there are only two possibilities: either our original identities have been exposed, or our identities as being from Dazhicheng have been exposed."

Shi Chun snorted, "Even if our Dazhicheng identities were exposed, it would be too easy for someone of his status to handle us. Would it be worth him coming to see us in person?"

Wu Jinliang's gaze sharpened slightly. "You mean he already knows who we are?"

Shi Chun replied, "If the Fiery Phoenix Sect knows, it's not impossible for him to know too. The Fiery Phoenix Sect is certainly after what we possess, and he's likely no different. It's normal for him to come for profit."

Wu Jinliang sighed, "Sigh, Chun Tian, I feel like we're quite important figures now. Even the second most powerful person in the demon city is rushing to cozy up to us when they hear we've arrived. With our cultivation levels, it feels a bit unreal."

Shi Chun said, "So you know your cultivation is weak? If you know that, spend less time in brothels and more time cultivating."

Wu Jinliang retorted, "It's easy for you to say. Cultivation is useless for you anyway; as long as you can absorb energy, you can sleep all day long and it won't matter."

Shi Chun continued, "Doesn't your cultivation method also have a shortcut? You know very well that you need to practice more techniques that strongly stimulate and expand your source of power. The more you practice, the faster your cultivation will progress. Didn't you say after practicing my techniques that breaking through to the mid-stage of High Martial wasn't a problem? It's been almost a year, why haven't you broken through yet?"

Wu Jinliang defended himself, "Soon, soon. You know, ordinary low-level techniques don't help much with expanding my source of power. Besides, who would randomly cast spells or unleash power on me? There's no reason! I can't just go around picking fights all the time. Most of those who've mastered high-level techniques are experts; am I supposed to walk up to them and commit suicide?

"Chun Tian, don't look down on courtesans. Many of them also practice cultivation techniques. Although their techniques are lower-level and don't expand the source of power much, it's still a way to accumulate progress little by little. Chun Tian, it's not that I like going to brothels; I go to brothels to discuss cultivation. I have unspeakable difficulties, and I'm quite embarrassed right now."

Shi Chun couldn't be bothered with his nonsense. If he couldn't grasp such basic priorities, it was pointless.

He did, however, understand Wu Jinliang's current predicament. With their current identities, it was indeed difficult to socialize widely and inquire about others' cultivation techniques.

Wu Jinliang also knew his excuses were a bit far-fetched. He mumbled, changing the subject, "How did we get exposed so quickly?"

Shi Chun glanced at his large physique and said nothing...

Downstairs in the private reception room, as soon as she entered, Yin Xu called out from afar, "My apologies, my apologies for keeping Constable Lou waiting."

Upon reaching the smiling Lou Xiu, she bowed repeatedly, "I'm so sorry, truly sorry. I was just hosting guests and kept Constable Lou waiting."

Lou Xiu, returning the bow, feigned surprise. "The madam is entertaining guests? Then perhaps I've come at an inconvenient time?"

Yin Xu waved her hand dismissively. "No bother, no bother at all. It's an honor for this humble concubine that Constable Lou seeks my company. How could I refuse? Please tell me which establishment you'd like to visit, and I'll have a carriage prepared."

Lou Xiu again feigned surprise. "Wouldn't that disturb your guests' enjoyment?"

Yin Xu said, "No worries, no worries. They are reasonable people. They will understand Constable Lou's esteemed presence."

Lou Xiu, however, said sternly, "Anyone the madam personally hosts must certainly be an esteemed guest. How could I presume to disrupt their enjoyment? Madam, please introduce me so I may offer my apologies."

As soon as he said this, Tian Shen couldn't help but glance at Yin Xu, realizing it was exactly as Sister Hong had predicted, without the slightest deviation.

Yin Xu naturally tried to brush it off, saying it was no bother, but Lou Xiu insisted it wasn't mere politeness and adamantly requested to apologize to the esteemed guests.

Alright, Yin Xu knew that letting him continue to argue would make things awkward, and she also knew he had come prepared with excuses for everything. In the end, she could only go along with it and lead him upstairs.

When Lou Xiu, with his young scholar-like appearance, appeared on the rooftop, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang exchanged glances, realizing that the madam had been right. He was indeed here for them; otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically come up to meet them.

Once he was present, Yin Xu naturally offered a courteous introduction to both parties.

Shi Chun, meanwhile, deliberately moved to Wu Jinliang's side and, in front of Lou Xiu, respectfully addressed Wu Jinliang as 'Big Brother,' presenting himself as a subordinate.

Wu Jinliang naturally understood the implication and knew there was no other way. Some judgments were just that—judgments—and couldn't be treated as absolute facts. What if, for some real reason, this person was indeed after their identities from Dazhicheng?

In their current identities at Bai's Rice Shop, Wu Jinliang was the boss.

Seeing this, Yin Xu could barely suppress a smile. She had, of course, understood. Earlier at the table, under her guidance, the two had, by their actions, implicitly acknowledged their roles, even if they hadn't explicitly said so. She hadn't expected them to use the same tactic on Lou Xiu.

As a result, Lou Xiu was almost thrown off.

Lou Xiu knew who was who just by looking at their heights, yet he had to pretend not to recognize them.

He was already putting on an act, and the other party's impromptu addition almost made him miss his cue. He had to quickly adjust his thoughts on the fly, adding more layers to his pretense, which affected his fluidity.

His main target for conversation was originally Shi Chun, but now it had to be switched to the other person, so his word choice needed to be adjusted accordingly.

"It was presumptuous of me to come uninvited, unaware that the madam was entertaining esteemed guests, disturbing these two esteemed guests..." Lou Xiu, in a humble posture, spoke with a slight stumble. He realized that despite his carefulness, he had slipped up. Saying 'these two esteemed guests' seemed inappropriate now, so he quickly forced himself to correct it: "My apologies, my apologies, for disturbing the esteemed guest's enjoyment! I specifically came to offer my apologies!" He looked genuinely apologetic.

Wu Jinliang said, "It's really not necessary, it's not. We're not worthy of Constable Lou stooping so low."

To be honest, had the madam not anticipated the situation and warned them beforehand, they would never have guessed that Lou Xiu was here for them.

After the polite exchanges, it was naturally illogical for the madam to abandon her esteemed guests to attend another engagement. So, instead of going elsewhere for the banquet, they decided to stay right there, smoothly adding dishes and another set of chopsticks as if it were the most natural thing.

Lou Xiu also shamelessly took a seat as if it were the most natural course of action.

Shi Chun, like Tu Bicheng, the subordinate Lou Xiu had brought, stood with his hands behind his back in a corner of the pavilion, looking insignificant.

Wu Jinliang chuckled to himself, quite enjoying the feeling of pretending to be the boss. Back in the land of exile, he had also wanted to be the leader of Dongjiuyuan, but he lacked the ability to survive, or to help others survive, which was why people didn't acknowledge him.

Lou Xiu, however, felt these people were insulting his intelligence. Damn it, what about the three sets of used chopsticks on the table earlier?

He tried to pretend he didn't see it, but his eyes couldn't help but drift towards the extra set of chopsticks.

Fortunately, Yin Xu was accustomed to reading people. She interjected, "An old friend was just helping to entertain guests but had to leave suddenly due to an urgent matter."

Lou Xiu cursed internally, thinking, *This bitch is colluding with these two to deceive me.*

Outwardly, however, he said, "Oh, indeed. Life is unpredictable; sudden matters are unavoidable. Just like how I unexpectedly came to invite the madam's esteemed presence, only to find you were already entertaining guests."

After several rounds of light drinking, Lou Xiu, true to his name, displayed great generosity, stating that anyone who was a friend of the madam was also a friend of his, Lou Xiu. He told Wu Jinliang to feel free to seek him out if he ever needed anything in the future.

Looking like a scholar, he deliberately raised his voice, hoping Shi Chun would hear him.

Shi Chun did indeed hear him. Upon hearing these remarks, his eyes flickered slightly. He then reached for a master-slave talisman, pretended to check it, and quickly approached Wu Jinliang, leaning in to whisper, "Big Brother, some news from home."

Wu Jinliang immediately understood. He cupped his hands and apologized to the two people present, "Something's come up at home. I need to go reply."

Yin Xu and Lou Xiu both raised their hands, motioning for him to do as he wished.

After the two brothers walked away to outside the pavilion, Shi Chun whispered to Wu Jinliang for a while.

After a slight nod of understanding, Wu Jinliang immediately returned to his seat. He picked up his wine glass, found the right words to offer a toast, then put the glass down and exclaimed, "Since Constable Lou thinks so highly of us and considers us friends, then I won't be shy. Having finally come to the foot of Mount Shen, I naturally wish to go up and broaden my horizons. And I've heard that Mount Shen isn't a place one can enter freely. I presume with Constable Lou's help, it shouldn't be an issue, right?"