Yu Pianfei stopped pressing for answers and instructed the housekeeper to arrange a refined and quiet courtyard for Hua Rongjian.

Seven days passed in a flash.

Chu Dingjiang received the message from the Yu family at the Fulai Tavern. On the day of departure, he arranged for the caravan to set out first. As evening approached, he went to the alley mentioned in the letter to wait.

After waiting for a while without seeing Zhu Pianzhan, Chu Dingjiang effortlessly subdued the guards at the west gate of Yu Mansion, tied them up, and hid them in a fake mountain cave, clearing the way for Zhu Pianzhan.

As he turned to leave, he spotted a young man drinking at the entrance of the warm pavilion.

Chu Dingjiang was about to depart when he heard the man shout, “Hey, you! Come here!”

Chu Dingjiang paused, sensing no one else nearby with his spiritual energy, and changed course toward the man.

“Who are you?” Hua Rongjian scrutinized Chu Dingjiang with bleary eyes. He noticed Chu’s imposing figure, face almost completely hidden by a beard. Though dressed in plain clothes, he didn’t carry himself like a servant.

Chu Dingjiang felt a sense of déjà vu. The face before him was identical to his own during the Warring States period, now at the prime of his life. Chu Dingjiang often felt that by secretly killing this illegitimate son’s mother and turning him into Hua Rongjian, he had somehow corrected a deviant fate, as if… he had erased the superfluous version of himself from this world.

It seemed as though fate was toying with him, and he had merely outsmarted himself by becoming entangled in his schemes. This realization was infuriating.

Chu Dingjiang gazed at Hua Rongjian for a long time, then raised his hand to lightly touch that familiar face. Startled, Hua stumbled back several steps, crashing into a corridor pillar with a loud bang. “I’m warning you, this young master can be killed but not humiliated.”

“You asked who I am,” Chu Dingjiang withdrew his hand and said slowly. “I am you.”

“Ha,” Hua Rongjian touched his face. “Nonsense. This young master is exceptionally handsome. Stop daydreaming. Hahaha.”

Chu Dingjiang flicked a pine nut, striking Hua Rongjian’s sleep acupoint.

Hua Rongjian’s laughter cut off abruptly.

Chu Dingjiang moved swiftly, catching the falling wine pot. He watched as Hua collapsed to the ground, then gently placed the pot on the railing before turning to leave.

At the alley entrance, he saw a village woman in a simple dress and hairpin, her head wrapped in a blue floral cloth, looking around furtively.

Chu Dingjiang leaped lightly, landing deep in the alley, and coughed once.

The village woman turned to see Chu Dingjiang and scurried over. “Sir Chu, let’s go.”

“Madame Zhu, don’t you think this disguise is somewhat inappropriate?” Chu Dingjiang asked expressionlessly.

Only well-bred ladies would cover their faces; village women usually walked the streets with their faces exposed. Moreover, Zhu Pianzhan’s dull gray clothes contrasted sharply with her bright new blue floral headscarf. This outfit would surely draw attention on the street!

“Oh, this!” Zhu Pianzhan pulled off her headscarf and shook it out. “This humble one thought that my beauty might attract ruffians and hooligans, which could delay our journey.”

While Zhu Pianzhan wasn’t exceptionally beautiful, her fair and delicate skin alone was enough to tempt those ruffians. This explanation made some sense. But how could Chu Dingjiang be so easily fooled?

She merely wanted to delay their journey!

Chu Dingjiang gave her a cold look. “I’m here because I knew you would come. What I predict never goes wrong, so Madame Zhu had better behave on this journey. It’s best not to cause trouble for me, don’t you think?”

Zhu Pianzhan shuddered, lowering her head and fidgeting with her clothes. She muttered, “What I said wasn’t wrong. Even if Sir Chu isn’t interested in me, surely there are times when even he could be swayed by exceptional beauty? To those ruffians, someone like me would be considered a great beauty.”

“No beauty, no matter how stunning, could sway me,” Chu Dingjiang said coldly. “Let’s go!”

Zhu Pianzhan pouted, thinking to herself: So indifferent, he must be impotent!

Zhu Pianzhan’s martial arts were impressive. Using her lightness skill at full power, she kept pace with Chu Dingjiang, though her stamina was lacking.

Two hours later, they caught up with the caravan. By then, Zhu Pianzhan was panting heavily.

Chu Dingjiang pointed to one of the carriages.

Zhu Pianzhan climbed in happily.

Inside the carriage, Lou Mingyue and An Jiu, who had been resting, opened their eyes and looked at her in unison.

Lou Mingyue wore plain clothes, with two simple white silk flowers adorning her jet-black hair. Her sculpted eyebrows and beautiful features exuded a heroic air. An Jiu wore a dark purple satin jacket and skirt, her hair in an elegant bun, with eyes like black lacquer, looking like a celestial being from a painting.

However, what was a moment ago like spring blossoms suddenly turned into hellfire!

The undisguised killing intent emanating from both women made Zhu Pianzhan’s eyelids twitch. After a moment of frozen silence, she forced a smile and squeezed herself into a corner of the carriage.

An Jiu had worn a human skin mask that day, so Zhu Pianzhan didn’t recognize her now. But when An Jiu saw her, her eyes lit up — this woman who could cry on command was indeed interesting.

As the carriage started moving again, a chilling silence filled the compartment.

An hour passed, and Zhu Pianzhan couldn’t bear it anymore. She coughed lightly and said, “May I ask who you two ladies are…?”

“…” Lou Mingyue kept her eyes closed, not even lifting an eyelid.

“…” An Jiu glanced at her curiously but didn’t respond.

However, An Jiu’s response encouraged Zhu Pianzhan, who didn’t lose heart. “Are you two Sir Chu’s sisters? You look like siblings, so…”

They didn’t look alike at all!

“You both have such extraordinary demeanors,” Zhu Pianzhan bowed slightly to An Jiu. “This humble one’s married name is Zhu, given name Pianzhan. I’ve been invited by Sir Chu to accompany you to Bianjing.”

“He invited you?” An Jiu said.

An Jiu’s neck wound hadn’t fully healed, so she couldn’t speak forcefully. She had to speak softly, which suited her current appearance.

Delighted to get a response, Zhu Pianzhan quickly said, “Yes, he said he wanted to find a companion for his friend. His friend is a young boy. You must know him, right?”

An Jiu’s expression became subtle.

“Oh my, hehe,” Zhu Pianzhan quickly covered her mouth and laughed. “Not that kind of companion, just someone to talk to.”

An Jiu pulled out a bundle from behind her, rummaged through it, and pulled out a human skin mask. She unfolded it in front of Zhu Pianzhan.

“You… you…” Zhu Pianzhan’s voice trembled, her lips turning pale. “Did you kill him?”

As an information broker, Zhu Pianzhan knew there were people in the jianghu who specialized in killing and skinning faces to make incredibly lifelike masks. The mask in An Jiu’s hand was Lu Danzhi’s masterpiece, as detailed as a real face.

Seeing her horrified expression, An Jiu felt mischievous again. She carefully examined Zhu Pianzhan’s face and said, “Your face… is very good.”

“Hehe, my lady has quite a sense of humor,” Zhu Pianzhan said with tears in her eyes as she struggled to open the carriage door.

The carriage was still moving when suddenly there was a thud, and the entire convoy came to a halt.

Chu Dingjiang rode his horse closer, glanced at the dusty and disheveled Zhu Pianzhan, and knocked on the carriage wall. “Don’t be naughty.”

An Jiu pushed open the window, poked her head out, and grinned at him.

Her deep, dark eyes seemed to have caught starlight, suddenly brightening. Her already beautiful face was painted with vivid colors, outshining everything around her.

This was the epitome of alluring beauty.

Chu Dingjiang was stunned.

Seeing his dazed expression, Zhu Pianzhan got up, rubbing her waist and grumbling, “I wonder who it was that so righteously declared: ‘No beauty, no matter how stunning, could sway me.'”

Chu Dingjiang snapped back to his senses and said sternly, “Get in the carriage.”

“Can I sit in the carriage behind?” Zhu Pianzhan asked.

Chu Dingjiang glanced at that carriage and smirked. “Are you sure?”

Zhu Pianzhan nodded quickly. Sitting with those two women had first damaged her self-confidence as a woman, and secondly, that “celestial being” looked like a beast in human skin.

“Go ahead,” Chu Dingjiang relented.

That carriage only had Mo Sigui in it. He had been in a foul mood lately and would attack anyone who came within three meters with poison, except for the driver.

The reason for his bad mood was primarily because Chu Dingjiang’s method of beating people was too horrific. The black and blue bruises all over his face hadn’t healed even after applying the medicinal ointment!

They. Hadn’t. Healed!

This was a blatant disregard and insult to his, Mo Sigui’s, medical skills!

Zhu Pianzhan took a few steps, then remembered Chu Dingjiang’s expression and how An Jiu had scared her earlier. This childishness felt somewhat familiar.

Ah, right! It was that young boy. Back when they were about to attack Piaomiao Mountain Villa, that boy had deliberately suggested bringing her along, scaring her to tears and snot!

Realizing this, Zhu Pianzhan turned and darted back into An Jiu’s carriage, frowning as she stared at her.

“Zhu the Swindler,” An Jiu said cheerfully.

“You are…” Zhu Pianzhan leaned in, reaching out to tug at her face.