Like Ji Yunshu?

Luoyang clearly didn’t believe it!

His eyes stared straight at Ji Yunshu for several moments, then he smiled and asked Yao Niang, “You say she’s beautiful?”

After saying this, he burst into laughter.

Laughing so hard his front pressed against his back!

Because in his view, Ji Yunshu must be unbearably ugly. Seeing the young fellow laughing until he nearly lost his breath, Yao Niang raised her eyebrows, the corners of her lips curving upward slightly. Then, her graceful body leaned forward over the table in front of her. Extending her slender fingers, she tapped Luoyang’s forehead and said with a smile at the corner of her mouth, “Young master is clearly handsome, so why do you have such a wooden head?”

Pfft—

This remark immediately caused everyone to stifle their laughter.

Luoyang’s laughter came to an abrupt halt. His face showed some embarrassment as he frowned deeply and retorted, “Who has a wooden head? You woman, you speak without thinking! This young master is quite clever and sharp-witted.”

Seeing him get agitated, Yao Niang merely smiled.

Seeing this, Tiger Master quickly pulled Yao Niang back and said, “Alright, alright, are you going to let us eat or not?”

“I’m just happy to see Master Tiger, aren’t I? I couldn’t help but say a few extra words!” Yao Niang pouted briefly, then immediately broke into smiles. Waving the fan in her hand, she ran her hands over Tiger Master’s muscular chest again and said, “Fine, then I won’t disturb your meal. If you need anything, just ask. My Tiansha Inn may not have everything, but wine and dishes are in abundant supply.”

Tiger Master grunted in acknowledgment!

Yao Niang then twisted her serpentine waist and walked to another table, exchanging flirtatious words with other men.

With her gone, the table became much quieter.

Ji Yunshu also breathed a sigh of relief, because she had truly worried that Yao Niang would take advantage of her inattention to pull off the cloth covering her face. Although she wasn’t some world-shaking beauty, she wasn’t ordinary-looking either. Covering herself would always do more good than harm.

Tiger Master said, “Don’t mind her. Yao Niang’s temperament has always been like this. Just pretend you didn’t hear what she said.”

Luoyang was still upset about Yao Niang calling him wooden-headed earlier, but then he said, “Your woman’s words are indeed rather unpleasant, but there’s one thing she wasn’t wrong about.”

Hmm?

The people at the table stared at him.

Xiao Ba, his mouth bulging with meat, asked, “Brother, what thing?”

“She praised me for being handsome! Both my ears heard it.”

Xiao Ba had a sudden realization and nodded. “I heard it too. That sister did indeed praise you as handsome—you’re the most handsome in Zhuxin City.”

“Of course!” Luoyang was extremely pleased with himself.

He completely ignored the half-smiling expressions of the others.

This fellow was just too narcissistic.

But Luoyang was indeed handsome. If he washed his face clean, compared to those crowned as beautiful men, he wouldn’t be inferior either.

After everyone finished eating, they each returned to their rooms to rest.

Tiger Master had Yao Niang arrange a cleaner room especially for Ji Yunshu.

She asked the waiter for a bucket of water and took a bath.

After washing up, she cleaned herself thoroughly.

It had been a long time since she’d had such a satisfying hot bath. It was truly comfortable. Moreover, being in this desert in the middle of nowhere, obtaining a bucket of water was like receiving a divine blessing.

Seeing that it was getting late, she was just about to rest when someone suddenly came knocking at the door.

She quickly put on her cloth covering and asked, “Who is it?”

“Me.” Luoyang’s voice.

What was he doing here so late?

That fellow must be scheming something again.

She hesitated about whether to open the door, but Luoyang seemed to have some urgent matter, knocking until the door rattled loudly.

Left with no choice, Ji Yunshu opened the door.

Luoyang entered and immediately plopped down on a chair, carelessly propping his foot up on a stool.

Bad habits die hard!

Ji Yunshu glanced at him. “What do you want?”

Luoyang grinned. “I’ve come to negotiate terms with you.”

“Terms? What terms?”

Luoyang stared at her and smiled strangely, then narrowed his eyes and said, “I’ve come for the antidote.”

As expected, he was scheming something!

Ji Yunshu’s attitude was resolute. “Didn’t I already tell you? Once we reach Qujiang and find that person called Shatuo, I’ll naturally give Xiao Ba the antidote.”

“Don’t rush to give me that speech. I’m here to negotiate terms. Let me finish speaking first.”

Ji Yunshu endured patiently. “Fine, speak.”

Luoyang assumed a negotiating posture. “Now I’ve already followed you into this Nansai Desert. There’s no chance for regrets! Even if I wanted to escape, there’s nowhere to escape to. So you giving me the antidote now versus giving it to me after reaching Qujiang amounts to the same thing, right?”

“What if you run away after reaching Qujiang?”

“Am I, Luoyang, that kind of person?”

Without thinking, Ji Yunshu said, “Yes.”

“You…” Luoyang held back his anger and smiled. “Actually, that’s not the condition I want to negotiate with you.”

“Stop beating around the bush. Just get straight to the point.”

Luoyang stood up, his foot still propped on the chair, and said with great momentum, “What I want to say is this: after you cure Xiao Ba’s poison, we’ll make another transaction. I’ll do everything in my power to help you find the person—whether it takes one month, one year, or even ten years! Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I’ll definitely help you dig the person out. But the prerequisite is that you give me one hundred taels of silver as compensation.”

Ha!

Ji Yunshu thought she had misheard.

If it were anyone else, they would surely be confused by this fellow’s roundabout logic.

It must be said, Luoyang was indeed someone who knew how to play clever tricks!

But Ji Yunshu was even sharper than him. She said, “Have me give you the antidote and also give you one hundred taels of silver? No matter how I calculate this deal, I’m the one at a loss.”

“No loss, no loss!” Luoyang explained. “Think about it! Qujiang is so vast, finding someone called Shatuo would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Right now, I’m the only one who’s seen that person, and I’m the only one who can help you. After we leave the Nansai Desert, we’ll only have one month left. Even if I help you search day and night without rest, I might not find him. At that time, if Xiao Ba dies without the antidote and you have to give the dagger to Tiger Master, I’ll definitely have to flee! Once I’m gone, who will help you find the person? Therefore, our relationship can’t be one of coercion—it must be one of cooperation. You provide the antidote and one hundred taels, and I’ll help you find the person. You won’t lose anything at all.”

Oh my goodness!

Ji Yunshu was truly astounded.

Looking at this unscholarly person before her, she shook her head in admiration and said, “You certainly have a way with words! If it were someone else, they might truly fall for your trick!”

“This…”

“Luoyang, let me make it clear to you once more: you only have two months to help me find the person. As for whether Xiao Ba will die by then, or whether you’ll escape, I don’t care at all.” Ji Yunshu’s tone left no room for negotiation.

Luoyang’s plan had failed!

He had miscalculated! He had also misjudged the situation!