Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: The Advancing Yu Suzhen

After refining the Black-clothed Ghost with the Myriad-Soul Banner, Lü Yang didn’t linger. He immediately summoned a flying light and departed, ready to begin his grand ghost-hunting endeavor.

’The most urgent task is still to gather ghosts on a large scale and complete this Nether Lord’s Position.’

’Also, I need to add my training for the Soul Splitting Technique to the schedule. And as for Yu Suzhen, I wonder how she’s progressing.’

’If everything goes smoothly... once I gather the Third Grade Qi, master Theft to Sainthood, and refine the Corpse Shed Immortal’s Position, I’ll then need to complete the Soul Splitting Technique and obtain the Nether Lord’s Position. After that, I’ll use the Bond of Devouring Fate to drain Yu Suzhen dry. Only then will my chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment reach sixty percent.’

At this thought, Lü Yang frowned again.

’A sixty percent chance still isn’t a sure bet. If I could also get the Ascension Order from Perfected Yin Shan, a seventy percent chance would be worth a real gamble.’

’The Ascension Order... It’s not impossible.’

’If I can take control of the Wu Ghost Secret Realm and deal with the problem of the Golden Core Sword Qi, I might be able to use that to trade with Perfected Yin Shan for the Ascension Order.’

’That said, I still need a long-term plan.’

Lü Yang knew very well that in this life, he was no ally of the Sanhe Association. Rather than trading with him, Perfected Yin Shan would find killing him and taking his things to be more in line with the Stain Sect’s way...

’Perhaps I can have Yu Suzhen figure something out...’

At this thought, Lü Yang immediately had his avatar find a desolate spot to hide. He then withdrew his consciousness, intending to check on Yu Suzhen’s situation.

.....

Stain Sect, Sea of Clouds.

Yu Suzhen had long since been refined by Lü Yang into a puppet for the Bond of Devouring Fate. Their karmic links were extremely deep, so performing Divination was effortless, and he quickly established a connection.

Heaven Mending Peak, inside a Cave Mansion of the Sanhe Association.

The Cave Mansion was already packed inside and out, bustling with people. One after another, cultivators from the Sanhe Association surrounded a young man, their attitudes enthusiastic and fawning.

”Congratulations, Senior Brother Luo, on mastering a Legendary Technique! Foundation Establishment is just around the corner!”

”Please look after us in the future, Senior Brother Luo...”

”Senior Brother Luo, do you remember me? I treated you to a meal back in the day...”

At the banquet, Luo Wuya appeared calm, but inwardly he was quite satisfied. After all, he was still young, and mastering a Legendary Technique meant he had a promising future of reaching Foundation Establishment.

At this thought, a heroic feeling surged in Luo Wuya’s heart:

’My older brother took the first step and achieved the rank of a Perfected Person, but I might not be inferior to him in the future!’

Just then, a clamor suddenly arose from outside the door. Then, someone with a look of surprise said in an adoring tone, ”Fairy Su Zhen is here too!”

The next second, a graceful figure walked into the Cave Mansion.

Her stunningly delicate face, her curvaceous and shapely body, combined with a cold expression and a Sixth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation, made her seem like a proud and aloof snow lotus on an icy mountain. Yet it also made people’s minds wander, imagining what kind of passion lay beneath those cold, arrogant lotus petals.

”What a beautiful woman...”

Many people looked at Yu Suzhen, their faces showing clear admiration.

”As expected of Fairy Su Zhen. It’s been less than a year since she formally joined the sect, and her cultivation has already advanced by leaps and bounds. She’s just one breakthrough away from becoming a Late-phase Qi Refiner...”

”Su Zhen greets Senior Brother Luo.”

Yu Suzhen gracefully walked up to Luo Wuya and gave a slight bow. Her bearing was proper and without a trace of seductiveness, yet her dignified posture was all the more tantalizing.

”It’s thoughtful of you to come, Junior Sister Yu.”

Luo Wuya smiled with satisfaction. Yu Suzhen was quite famous on Heaven Mending Peak, but she lived a reclusive life, rarely socialized, and almost never attended banquets. The fact that she was willing to accept his invitation truly flattered his vanity and made him feel quite fond of her.

”And Senior Brother Zhao, Little Sister Qinghe.”

Turning, Yu Suzhen bowed to Zhao Xuhe, who was standing beside Luo Wuya. Her gaze swept briefly over Fairy Qinghe, who had accompanied him.

”Senior Brother Lu, you as well. I must thank both of you senior brothers for your care.”

Then she looked beside Zhao Xuhe, meeting the eyes of Lu Yuanchun, who was also a disciple of the Master of Heaven Mending Peak. But she quickly looked away as if nothing had happened.

Soon, the banquet began.

Before long, crowds swarmed around both Luo Wuya and Yu Suzhen. One side was driven by greed for profit, the other by lust for her beauty, instantly livening up the atmosphere.

Such a scene naturally caught Luo Wuya’s attention.

He himself was the center of a crowd and was adept at handling such sycophants. Now, he was naturally curious to see how Yu Suzhen would handle it.

But when he looked at Yu Suzhen, he saw that while she remained as cold as ever, she wasn’t so arrogant as to be repulsive. Her conduct was proper and measured. She responded to everyone, and her words might suggest a certain closeness, but in the next moment, she would be happily chatting with someone else.

In short, it was a game of push and pull.

It’s just that no one present noticed this game. Or even if they did, they would think, ’She’s playing hard to get with me. She must be interested in me...’

’Those poor junior brothers... being played right into this woman’s hands...’

Luo Wuya shook his head, but he couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of unease. From beginning to end, Yu Suzhen had not once actively tried to get close to him.

’It seems she really is that type of cold, proud woman, solely focused on cultivation.’

’An interesting woman...’

The banquet didn’t end until sunset, when the guests finally dispersed. Yu Suzhen came before Luo Wuya, still as poised and proper as ever, and gave him a curtsy:

”It is late, and Su Zhen must return to her cultivation. I will take my leave now.”

Hearing this, Luo Wuya let out a soft chuckle. ”It must have been trying for you, Junior Sister. After all, you usually focus solely on cultivation, so dealing with this crowd must have been difficult.”

”...As long as you know, Senior Brother.”

At his words, Yu Suzhen looked up. Her previously cold face suddenly relaxed, and she gave Luo Wuya an exasperated roll of her eyes as she spoke in a half-complaining tone.

Her tone and expression were the complete opposite of the aloof pride everyone had witnessed at the banquet. It was like watching ice and snow melt. The charm she revealed in that instant made even Luo Wuya’s heart skip a beat. He even felt a thrill of excitement, as if he had just seen another side of the cold fairy.

But Luo Wuya quickly regained his composure.

He let out a hearty laugh. ”...Then I suppose that’s my fault. Very well, if you have any questions about your cultivation in the future, Junior Sister, feel free to ask me anytime.”

”Then I thank you, Senior Brother.”

Hearing this, Yu Suzhen finally showed a hint of pleasant surprise. She then nodded solemnly before turning and leaving under the adoring gazes of the crowd.

Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe, who was not far away, had a sudden glint in his eyes.

Soon, he brought Fairy Qinghe over to bid farewell to Luo Wuya as well. Luo Wuya acknowledged them on the surface, but inwardly, his heart stirred with a hint of suspicion.

The next second, he split off a wisp of his spiritual perception to secretly follow Zhao Xuhe as he left.

After leaving the Cave Mansion, Zhao Xuhe first sent away Fairy Qinghe, who had been prepared to discuss the Dao with him. He then found a hidden spot and concealed himself.

He then took out an Invisibility Talisman to conceal himself and made his way all the way to Yu Suzhen’s Cave Mansion. After confirming the secret signal on the door, he snuck inside. The moment he entered, he immediately saw a beautiful figure seated at a dressing table, her smooth, jade-like back an enchanting sight...

A fire of desire instantly ignited in Zhao Xuhe.

”Su Zhen...”

”Mmm...”

Yu Suzhen tilted her long, slender neck back, letting out a sigh that could have been helplessness or resignation, yet she allowed Zhao Xuhe’s hands to roam freely over her.

The two of them instantly set the entire Quiet Chamber ablaze with passion.

When Zhao Xuhe thought of Yu Suzhen’s cold demeanor at the banquet, and then the passion she showed before him now, he felt he had endless strength.

A long time later, the two of them gradually came to a stop.

On the bed, Yu Suzhen clung to Zhao Xuhe, whispering, ”Xuhe... I don’t want to wait anymore. Can we really not make our relationship public?”

”Su Zhen, I have my own difficulties that are hard to speak of.”

Zhao Xuhe shook his head but didn’t elaborate, merely offering a few perfunctory excuses... The truth was simple: the Master of Heaven Mending Peak had arranged a marriage for him with none other than the Peak Master’s daughter. Under these circumstances, how could he possibly have a Dao Companion? Their affair had to remain a secret.

At this thought, Zhao Xuhe even felt a hint of guilt.

’After all, Yu Suzhen is so innocent, and here I am, deceiving her like this...’

The two of them shared another long, tender moment before Zhao Xuhe reluctantly left. Before going, he left Yu Suzhen some Qi Pills for her cultivation.

After watching Zhao Xuhe leave, Yu Suzhen’s charming expression gradually faded. She then hid the Qi Pills and took out a Jade Scroll.

A moment after she had input a message into the Jade Scroll, another moment passed.

”KNOCK, KNOCK KNOCK, KNOCK...”

The prearranged secret knock came from the door. Yu Suzhen immediately went to open it. A moment later, a figure darted in and swept her up by the waist.

”Don’t! Senior Brother Lu, I’m not that kind of person...”

”What do you mean, ’don’t’? You pretentious bitch, I knew you still had feelings for Zhao Xuhe. Don’t forget that I have something on you...”

”SOB... SOB... SOB...”

...More than four hours later.

Lu Yuanchun left, satisfied. Yu Suzhen lay on the bed, silently shedding tears. But the next second, the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps suddenly came from behind her.

Yu Suzhen whipped her head around, stunned. Seeing the figure that had suddenly appeared behind her, a triumphant glint, as if everything was going according to plan, flashed in her beautiful eyes, but her expression was one of shock as she cried out:

”Senior Brother Luo!?”

...

Withdrawing his senses, Lü Yang fell into a deep silence. After a long while, he let out an emotional sigh:

”What a talent...”

Even he had never imagined that in just a few months, Yu Suzhen would achieve such tremendous success as a serial dater.

He didn’t get it, but he was thoroughly impressed.