Feng Jiu’er glanced back at the others; Yu Jingfeng and the five soldiers each found seats.

Soon, several women of striking beauty and bold dress entered from outside the tent.

They served pastries and wine to those inside, then withdrew to one side.

“Master Lei, weren’t you going to teach me how to lift the demonic affliction?” Feng Jiu’er looked at the man seated at the head of the tent.

“I came here today for Jian Yi’s sake.”

“This isn’t really an appropriate time or place for a meeting between us, much less for eating and drinking together, is it?”

“If you have any other demands, just say so.”

“Jiu’er, I like you. I want to marry you — I’ve wanted to marry you. Haven’t you always known that?” Lei Shenbao picked up a cup of wine.

“Come, let’s have a drink.”

Feng Jiu’er curved her lips slightly. “Knowing full well there’s poison in the wine, why would I drink it?”

“Master Lei, you know what I want — boundless wealth and unshakeable power. I don’t think Master Lei meets my standards.”

Lei Shenbao smiled and drained the cup of wine in one gulp before setting it down.

“Jiu’er, you say boundless wealth — I have it, I truly do, did you know that?”

He looked at Feng Jiu’er, his eyes brimming with desire.

“Did you think I’d be backed into a corner so easily? Jiu’er, do you know — if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have kept giving way like this.”

“I don’t want to hurt your people, I don’t want to hurt your heart — do you understand that?”

“My apologies. I didn’t know,” Feng Jiu’er shook her head.

“Jiu’er, I have a great deal more money — my wealth is stored away safely. One could say half of Lichen City’s fortune belongs to me,” Lei Shenbao went on.

“When it comes to money, you needn’t think twice — I am without question the wealthiest merchant in all of Heitan, the Black Pool region.”

“As for power — with money, what power can’t be bought? Jiu’er, rest assured, I’ll satisfy your every need.”

“Let’s get married tonight, what do you say?”

Lei Shenbao sighed, withdrawing his gaze from Feng Jiu’er’s face, which was lovelier than any blossom, and picked up the wine jug.

“You two — taste the wine for Miss Long and her people first.” He raised his eyes, sweeping a glance over several of the beautiful women.

“Yes.” Several of the women nodded in unison and approached Feng Jiu’er and her companions.

These women were dressed so sparingly that nearly everything that could be exposed was exposed, decency or not.

With so many guards around Lei Shenbao, he certainly knew what men needed most when off campaigning at war.

But he’d miscalculated this time — Yu Jingfeng and his five soldier companions didn’t so much as glance at these women.

They were Longwu Army men, not bandits or thugs — what scenes hadn’t they witnessed, to qualify for the Longwu Army?

The women knelt down before the six men, one to one.

As they took up the wine cups, they leaned forward deliberately, sparing nothing in showing off their most alluring features to the men, even casting flirtatious glances.

Feng Jiu’er looked at these “voluptuous” beauties and gave a light cough.

“Master Lei, what exactly is the meaning of this? This is the most obvious honey trap I’ve ever encountered.”

“Jiu’er, what could I possibly mean by it?” Lei Shenbao took another sip of wine, laughing heartily.

“The soldiers have worked hard — I just wanted to reward them a little, nothing improper about that.”

“What man doesn’t want a few beautiful women by his side? Without that, what’s the point of working so hard, hm?”

No sooner had Lei Shenbao finished speaking than Feng Jiu’er let out a short laugh.

“Well, that’s disappointing for you then — they have very little interest in women.”

“Master Lei, you really don’t need to go to all this trouble. If you have no sincere intention of teaching me how to break the affliction on Jian Yi, then we’ll be taking our leave!”

The moment Feng Jiu’er stood up, all six men beside her, hands on their swords, rose as well.

All six remained calm and composed, completely unaffected by these women.

Feng Jiu’er sensed nothing amiss either, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Lei Shenbao — too cunning by far!

“Jiu’er, don’t be angry. If you don’t like it, I’ll have them leave at once.” Lei Shenbao stood up immediately too.

“Tell me — how is the affliction to be removed?” Feng Jiu’er asked, looking at Lei Shenbao, her voice cold.

“As for marrying you — impossible. As for trading my brothers’ lives for it — also impossible. If Master Lei wants to talk money, we can talk.”

“And besides, the one who cast the spell is Chen Hong. With Chen Hong absent, how do I know Master Lei isn’t simply toying with me?”

“Jiu’er.” Lei Shenbao took a step forward. “I have a great deal of money, a great deal — I don’t need money, I only need you.”

Before he could get any closer, Yu Jingfeng and the five soldiers all drew their swords at once, shielding Feng Jiu’er among the six of them.

“What are you doing? I only want to talk with Jiu’er.”

“Lei Shenbao, if you don’t tell me how to break the formation, I really will leave.”

“I’ll trade a hundred dan of sulfur for the method to break this affliction. Sulfur — don’t you like that too?”

“Sulfur?” Lei Shenbao composed himself. “Fine. A hundred dan, it’s a deal!”

As he turned, something small at the top of the tent made a faint click.

The sound wasn’t loud; Feng Jiu’er heard it, but having sensed Qiao Mu’s presence moments before, she didn’t think much of it.

Lei Shenbao returned to his seat, turned, waved a hand, and sat down.

“Sit, let’s talk it over sitting down.”

“Just say it plainly!” Feng Jiu’er said, with some irritation.

“Fine.” Lei Shenbao nodded. “Jiu’er, don’t be angry! I’ll tell you now.”

Clearly, he was just stalling for time.

Lei Shenbao smiled faintly and continued, “The demonic affliction is indeed Chen Hong’s specialty, but that doesn’t mean there’s no way to counter it.”

“Jiu’er, did you say this Jian Yi has come along too? Let him come in — I’ll remove the formation from him myself.”

“No need to trouble yourself — just tell me the method,” Feng Jiu’er said coldly.

Never mind that Jian Yi hadn’t come — even if he had, she would never hand him over.

“How should this method even be described?” Lei Shenbao frowned, looking troubled.

Outside, a guard’s voice suddenly called in.

“Master, Miss Long’s attendant says she wants to come in.”

Feng Jiu’er caught something odd in that guard’s tone right away.

What was Qiao Mu up to? Coming in only now — was she trying to get herself killed?

Qiao Mu’s hypnotic technique had improved somewhat lately, but still — how much internal energy must it cost her to maintain it for so long?

“Let her in,” Lei Shenbao said magnanimously.

The guard entered, with someone following behind.

Qiao Mu swept a glance over Lei Shenbao and walked straight toward Feng Jiu’er.

She wasn’t worried that Feng Jiu’er and the others would drink Lei Shenbao’s wine or eat his food.

As Qiao Mu approached, passing behind Yu Jingfeng, she glanced up at the top of the tent and frowned again.

She’d deliberately given the signal through Yu Jingfeng to Feng Jiu’er, not wanting Lei Shenbao to catch on.

—