When Lu Li first went back to the Lu Family, Lu Zhengtan, Lu Suan, and Lu Ni were away.
Back then, Lu Li was wondering how they could leave when the Mystic Armor City was sealed off. Now he knew that Lu Zhengtan brought Lu Suan and Lu Ni to the Demon-slaying Grounds.
There were three entrances to the Demon-slaying Grounds located at the north, the south, and the center. One of them was close to the City of Delicacy. Families lower than the fifth rank were not allowed to know about this and disciples who didn"t come from major families could not get into the Demon-slaying Grounds. This was the privilege of being in a major family.
Jiang Qiling promised Lu Li that she will try to bring him to the Demon-slaying Grounds, which soothed Lu Li"s nerves. He had matters to deal with at the Deserted World and he must improve on his realm as well. After a year and a half, he should be able to stabilize the Deserted World and the Northern Desert.
Lu Li regained his calmness. As long as there was a way and a direction, he could make due efforts—to struggle and to take risks. The worst was having no way out, rendering all efforts useless…
Lu Li sat and pondered about it for some time before he looked at Jiang Qiling and asked, "Qiling, can I trust you?"
She was taken aback by the question and became angry. She stared back at him and replied, "If you don"t trust me, say no more. I don"t want to know."
Jiang Qiling"s pouting mouth triggered Lu Li"s laugh. This young lady was such a candid girl. She was not pretentious at all—daring to do and think as she liked. She must be afraid of n.o.body in the world. As far as she was concerned, she was alone and she didn"t mind her life so much. So, what was there to be concerned about?
"I have spoken inappropriately. I am sorry," Lu Li said apologetically. He stood up and said, "Come with me."
Lu Li walked to the isle. Jiang Qiling threw him a look and followed him unwillingly. They entered a side chamber, where Lu Li opened a door of a secret room and led her in.
Lu Li pushed on some gear in the room and the Inhibition Formation in the room glowed. Jiang Qiling looked around the room with her eyebrows knitted together. It was dim inside and s.p.a.cious. But there were strange things inside.
There was a bed, some whips, a swing, chains and candles and stuff. There was an air of… s.e.x and l.u.s.t.
Jiang Qiling seemed to have realized something. She asked with a blushed face, "I think those were used to abuse s.e.x slaves. Lu Li, what are you going to do to me? I tell you. My realm is higher than yours and I will scream…"
Lu Li rolled his eyes and said, "I am a guy of moral standards. Those were left by the former king. I brought you here because I don"t want your patriarch to listen to us. You can tell n.o.body about this or I can die a pretty horrible death."
Jiang Qiling a.s.sumed a serious air as she could hear Lu Li was getting serious as well. She walked over to the bed, swinging her slim waist, picked up a whip, pointed it at Lu Li and said, "Go ahead."
"I discovered a small world at the Northern Desert."
Lu Li explained, "There are some special races there and they survived the purge once put on by humans. I have taken control of that small world and many races have sworn their allegiance to me. I found many rare Mystical Material in it but… I won"t dare to sell them. I think you know why."
Jiang Qiling squinted and smiled an enticing smile. She took the whip, walked over to Lu Li, and asked with a grin, "You are afraid that somebody is going to get greedy? Or that the 12 Royal Families will find those surviving races? You want me to sell them for you? You really do trust me. Are you not worried that I might leak the information and sell you out?"
Lu Li threw up his hands and replied, "I only have a few friends and you are one of them. Also, you are the only one who can help me. You are all I have. I will not let you work for nothing. You can get a 10% share of what I gain. If… you pocket all the Mystical Materials, I think I am just unlucky."
"Ha, ha, ha~"
Jiang Qiling grinned ear to ear. She looked at Lu Li arrogantly and said, "10%? Do you think I am a beggar? I want 50%!"
Lu Li rolled his eyes. He looked at her and begged, "My lady, those Mystical Materials don"t belong to myself. I have a group of warriors to support and I must get them rare Mystical Materials. If you want 50%, I would have to provide subsidies. Do you think I can afford that with what we have at the Northern Desert?"
"Then I want no cut from it, not even 10%."
Jiang Qiling suddenly became quite flirty. She swept the whip across Lu Li"s face, pointed to the bed and said, "Then have some fun with me on the bed. Let"s call that a fee. How about that?"
Lu Li was speechless. He looked at her and said, "My lady, don"t mess with me now."
"Mess with you?"
Jiang Qiling tilted her head and asked with a smile, "Lu Li, do you not want to cheat on your lover? Or… you loathe me as I am a fallen girl. Just for fun. Think about it as a one-night stand."
Lu Li shook his head and told her seriously, "Qiling, I cherish our friends.h.i.+p. I don"t want anything else to get involved and ruin our friends.h.i.+p."
"I don"t want friends.h.i.+p."
Jiang Qiling said with a faint smile, "I never treated you as a friend. I think of you as my lover, my pet.i.te lover. You can regard me as the same or a confidante."
Lu Li answered with a straight face, "I am serious. If you continue this, I will get mad."
"Alright~"
Jiang Qiling laughed mischievously, stuck her tongue out, and said, "You are no fun. I am kidding. Don"t be so serious. You say you are of moral integrity, but you didn"t want to let my feet go just now…"
"No, I didn"t!"
Lu Li touched his nose out of embarra.s.sment. Jiang Qiling"s feet were beautiful. Lu Li fondled them admiringly, but he didn"t have any untoward thoughts, just pure admiration.
"Ha, ha, ha!"
Lu Li"s rosy cheeks amused Jiang Qiling. Her eyes flickered.
"Okay, back to business."
Lu Li put on a straight face and said, "What are you going to do with the Mystical Material? I don"t want anybody to know. Also, I will be needing some Mystical Materials for the Human Sovereign Realm. This will certainly catch attention from the big families. Do you have a way to deal with that?"
"This is nothing, nothing."
Jiang Qiling raised her head proudly and said, "Don"t worry. I"ll handle it. I promise you that n.o.body will trace it back to you. Not even the Pavilion of Delicacy is going to know. Don"t underestimate me. I am much better than those good-for-nothings at the Lu Family."
Jiang Qiling gave Lu Li her firm and solemn promise. Lu Li said no more. He nodded and began to leave. Jiang Yi was outside. Staying too long in here would make Jiang Yi suspicious.
Jiang Qiling followed Lu Li out but there was a cunning smile on her face. Suddenly, she messed up her hair and her cloths and unb.u.t.toned a b.u.t.ton.
"Buzzing!"
Lu Li activated the Inhibition Formation and walked out. Jiang Qiling followed him out s.h.i.+llyshally while tidying up her clothes. She looked pretty shy.
"Eh?"
Lu Li saw both Jiang Yi and Madam Yan outside of the secret room and noticed they were looking behind him. Jiang Yi immediately became angry and a killing intent spread out.
Lu Li turned back to look at Jiang Qiling. He was taken aback by what he saw. He quickly waved his hands and said, "Wait, we didn"t do anything. Jiang Qiling, what the h.e.l.l?"
Jiang Qiling showed some hidden sadness, seemingly to blame Lu Li for shying away from responsibility after getting his way. Jiang Yi was getting more furious.
Madam Yan knew Jiang Yi wouldn"t make a move and she was not worried. She cast a curious glance at Lu Li and asked, "Emperor, it"s been… a short while. Is everything alright with you?"
"Ha, ha, ha!"
Seeing how Lu Li was getting gloomy because of the suspicion, Jiang Qiling laughed out loud. She trembled as she laughed, like a rose dancing in the sky.