Chapter 82: Making Deals with Tigers
Chapter 82: Making a Pact with the Tiger
Unlike Zhao Xuhe and Lu Yuanchun, Luo Wuya was not a man driven by lust. From beginning to end, he had merely been observing the scene covertly with his divine sense.
Yet even so, when he saw the woman who had appeared as pure and cold as a snow lotus at the banquet now lying disheveled on the bed like a ravaged flower, her delicate face still bearing tear stains, the stark contrast stirred an inexplicable feeling within him.
"Junior Sister Yu..."
Luo Wuya took a deep breath, then waved his hand, enveloping Yu Suzhen in a radiant glow, easing the awkward atmosphere between them.
He clearly saw a flicker of relief and gratitude cross Yu Suzhen's face.
But soon, her expression shifted to resignation and self-mockery: "To think Senior Brother witnessed such a disgraceful scene... Please don't spread word of this."
"Junior Sister worries too much."
Luo Wuya sighed. Having observed everything, though unaware of the details, he understood Yu Suzhen had likely been coerced by Lu Yuanchun.
"I will keep this matter confidential for you."
"Thank you, Senior Brother..."
At these words, Yu Suzhen's beautiful face grew even more sorrowful, her eyes reddening as tears fell like pear blossoms, her gaze brimming with countless unspoken grievances.
Soon, Luo Wuya learned the full story.
"So it was like this... Junior Sister Yu and Junior Brother Zhao were originally deeply in love, but after Junior Brother Zhao was taken as a disciple by the Mending Heaven Peak Master, Junior Brother Lu interfered and made things difficult. You went to reason with him for Zhao Xuhe's sake, only to be tricked into losing your virtue and left with no choice but to submit..."
Luo Wuya looked at Yu Suzhen and sighed.
As the second senior brother of the Three Rivers Association, he naturally knew Zhao Xuhe was now the Mending Heaven Peak Master's designated son-in-law—how could he possibly form a Dao companionship with an outsider?
Undoubtedly, Yu Suzhen had been deceived in matters of the heart.
Meanwhile, Yu Suzhen weakly raised herself and said softly, "Senior Brother, it's late now... I need to rest. Please forgive my rudeness."
"I understand."
Luo Wuya nodded, recognizing Yu Suzhen's embarrassment. Though he wished to help, he didn't want to be dragged into this messy affair and could only sigh.
"I shall take my leave."
With that, he turned and departed.
Only after he left did Yu Suzhen slowly rise, sealing her cave dwelling. The sorrow and melancholy on her face swiftly vanished, replaced by complete indifference.
"...That should suffice."
Zhao Xuhe, Lu Yuanchun, Luo Wuya—these were the three big fish Yu Suzhen had set her sights on recently, for which she had specially prepared three different approaches.
Different targets required different tactics.
For Zhao Xuhe, Yu Suzhen had pegged him as sentimental and pretended to fall in love with him, willingly becoming his secret lover.
For Lu Yuanchun, after repeated probing, she discerned his hidden jealousy toward Zhao Xuhe for gaining their master's favor. Posing as Zhao Xuhe's Dao companion, she approached him—one willing to hit, the other willing to be hit—and smoothly entangled him.
As for Luo Wuya, her approach differed again.
Unlike the other two, Luo Wuya was at peak Qi Refining, aiming for Foundation Establishment. To him, feminine charms were nearly as insignificant as rouge on a skull.
Such men sought emotional value.
Put simply, it was about persuading a fallen woman to reform. If Luo Wuya truly fixated on this, he'd be hooked, and Yu Suzhen naturally had ways to control him.
If he remained detached and truly stayed out of it, that was fine too—he was just a backup after all. Yu Suzhen wouldn't pester him. Her pond was vast enough not to lack this big fish. Everything before could be considered sowing goodwill that might bear unexpected fruit someday.
Tailoring the remedy to the case, serving dishes according to the guest.
This was Yu Suzhen's self-cultivation as a master manipulator. These were just the big fish—she also nurtured many smaller fish utterly devoted to her.
Without this, how could her cultivation progress by leaps and bounds?
"Remarkable, truly remarkable."
Even Lü Yang inside Skeleton Mountain couldn't help but marvel at Yu Suzhen's extraordinary talent for forging her own path. At this rate, she might genuinely surpass all other disciples.
"Pity her movements are still too conspicuous."
Lü Yang formed a hand seal, the circular light behind him rotating to reflect countless possible events—all pointing to the same outcome.
"What are you doing?"
Instantly, the sudden voice startled Yu Suzhen into trembling violently as she whirled around. Even Lü Yang, prepared as he was, gulped.
A youthful-looking man with white hair, clad in black-and-white Daoist robes and exuding an immortal's grace, had appeared without warning in Yu Suzhen's cave dwelling. His kindly smiling face contrasted sharply with his icy gaze that seemed to pierce through her soul.
For a moment, Yu Suzhen's beautiful features froze in place.
Not just her expression—her thoughts, consciousness, even fear solidified instantly, as if she'd turned to stone.
And this was merely the peripheral effect.
Because at this moment, the Mending Heaven Peak Master wasn't looking at her. The divine sense imbued in his vision was firmly locked onto Lü Yang behind her!
"Which fellow Daoist dares scheme against my disciple?"
"Where did you obtain the Stealing Heavenly Secrets technique?"
Facing the Peak Master's interrogation, Lü Yang remained calm, unsurprised by his appearance—after all, both Zhao Xuhe and Lu Yuanchun were his disciples.
Moreover, Lü Yang had acquired Stealing Heavenly Secrets from Zhao Xuhe in his past life.
But where had Zhao Xuhe obtained such a marvelous secret technique? Considering its dual cultivation nature, the answer was obvious.
It had been created by the Mending Heaven Peak Master himself!
Thus, from the moment Lü Yang began crafting Yu Suzhen as the Chosen One, he'd prepared for the Peak Master's discovery and confrontation.
Of course, he couldn't meet the Peak Master in person.
So poor Yu Suzhen had to suffer as bait to draw out the Peak Master, allowing Lü Yang to communicate with him through her.
"...Crude methods that must amuse you, Senior."
With a thought, Lü Yang activated Stealing Heavenly Secrets, taking over Yu Suzhen's body as he chuckled lightly: "I merely wish to discuss a transaction with you."
"...It was you?"
Before Lü Yang finished speaking, the Peak Master raised an eyebrow: "That day—it wasn't Daoist Hong Yun, but you who secretly seized True Person Panlong's karmic inheritance?"
Yet instead of anger, the Peak Master smiled: "Interesting."
"What gives you the right to transact with me?"
"Your blood relative."
Lü Yang said calmly: "I saved Senior Brother Chen. There's still hope for his rebirth—surely you don't wish to see your son's soul scattered to the winds?"
"Xin'an!?"
The Peak Master's expression changed instantly.
He immediately began calculating karma, swiftly uncovering Liu Xin who had lost the divine talisman's protection.
But no matter how he deduced heavenly secrets, he couldn't obtain further information or determine Chen Xin'an's current state.
This only deepened the Peak Master's curiosity. Being able to block his heavenly calculations indicated either another Foundation Establishment True Person backing this person or possession of a rare heavenly secret treasure... Yet regardless, daring to threaten him marked unparalleled audacity.
Truly worthy of a Saint Sect disciple!
"...Speak."
After a moment, the Peak Master finally said: "What do you want in exchange for returning Xin'an? A Foundation Establishment rare item? Or a great divine ability..."
"Neither."
Lü Yang shook his head: "I plan to have Yu Suzhen use Stealing Heavenly Secrets to harvest Xiao Shiye, but need a senior to conceal the karma for her."
"...Oh?"
The Peak Master's expression shifted noticeably as he regarded Lü Yang with interest: "You wish to scheme against Hong Yun?"
Lü Yang smiled: "Exactly!"
Xiao Shiye was Daoist Hong Yun's bait. If Yu Suzhen recklessly harvested him, they would certainly be discovered—and Lü Yang alone couldn't obscure the heavenly secrets.
Thus, to snatch food from the tiger's mouth, their only option was cooperating with a Foundation Establishment True Person. The Mending Heaven Peak Master was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate—not only because Chen Xin'an served as leverage, but also because the Peak Master clearly didn't get along with Daoist Hong Yun.
Of course, Lü Yang fully understood the risks of cooperating with the Peak Master.
A slight misstep could turn cooperation into mutual betrayal.
This was truly making a pact with the tiger!