"Zhao Chenlu?!"

Upon hearing the woman’s voice, Shen Ruoshi quickly recalled that flawless face, and that air of haughtiness, as if she were the only one of importance in heaven and earth.

Anyone who has seen Zhao Chenlu would never forget her, no matter how arrogant or self-centered the person might be, they would have to admit that the phrase "one-of-a-kind" was tailor-made for Zhao Chenlu. Since the moment she was born, it was as if the entire world revolved around her. Whether in personal cultivation or family power dynamics, her life’s journey has more fantasy elements than those legendary novels. In an era where the direct descendants of major families generally break barriers at the age of eleven or twelve, she stepped on the path of immortality at seven, reached the Cloud Surge Realm by ten, and at fifteen, with cultivation of the Cloud Flipping Realm, she crushed the competition in the Golden Jade Tournament, making the other seed players of the same realm seem like mere wooden posts being battered from start to finish.

Such a legendary experience earned Zhao Chenlu the honorific of a reincarnator, although the existing theories of immortal cultivation do not support the concept of reincarnation, the uniqueness and extravagance of her life’s path could only be explained by reincarnation.

In front of such a person, despite being sixty years her senior, Shen Ruoshi did not feel the slightest ease and instead immediately tensed up, entering a state of readiness.

The next moment, a semi-transparent half-body shadow appeared beside Wang Jiu.

"Don’t be so tense, I’m here to help you."

Zhao Chenlu’s voice carried a hint of playfulness: "I’ll play the villain Great Demon King to save your precarious personal reputation, how about that?"

While, with surprise, looking at the shadow, which defied all known principles of immortal techniques, Shen Ruoshi said in a deep voice: "It can’t be that easy, right?"

Zhao Chenlu said: "Normally of course not, considering you dared to have designs on me before, I ought to teach you a lesson, but the situation is different now. Since you’re his friend, I can offer you some concessions. Just follow your previous plan and place all the blame on me."

Shen Ruoshi was astonished: "Really?"

"Of course it’s real, who has the time to joke with an old man like you?" Zhao Chenlu said, in a tone that belittled the entire world, "Besides, this matter could benefit me too."

"How does it benefit you?"

Zhao Chenlu replied: "Isn’t it obvious? Since Shen City is causing such a commotion, as long as there is solid evidence for accusations against Golden Jade City, we have to make a statement. Then I can use the opportunity to kick out some displeasing subordinates as scapegoats—it’s a win-win situation. Just right for purging disobedience among my ranks."

"... You are truly ruthless."

Zhao Chenlu laughed: "Being a City Lord and still talking about conscience, that’s the true ruthlessness. Mr. Shen, you’ve lived so long, why are you still behaving like a young lad? Anyway, do you want help or not, give a clear answer!"

Shen Ruoshi sternly stared at Zhao Chenlu’s half-shadow and said: "No need!"

Zhao Chenlu clapped her hands and laughed: "Then I’ll take it as you agreed."

"I said no need!"

"You clearly think it’s a pity."

"You can even read my mind?"

"A man’s thoughts are written all over his face, what’s so hard to see?" Zhao Chenlu said nonchalantly, "Clearly wanting something but stubbornly saying no need, I’ve seen plenty like you."

"I really don’t need it!" Shen Ruoshi said sharply, "There’s no need to tempt me. One should take responsibility for their actions, that’s the baseline of being human. Though I was confused before, I’m quite clear-headed now. The biggest difference between humans and beasts is the ability to suppress instinctive desires, and act by reason and morals!"

Zhao Chenlu pouted: "High-sounding words, but I’ll still consider it as you agreed."

"..." Shen Ruoshi felt like he was about to vomit blood.

Zhao Chenlu chuckled and said: "If you won’t do it, I’ll find someone else. Surely there’s more than one person in Shen City willing to maintain the City Lord’s reputation. For instance, your right-hand man—if I propose a partnership, he’d be happy to cooperate."

"So, Golden Jade City is determined to meddle in Shen City’s internal affairs?"

Zhao Chenlu replied: "Why, hasn’t Shen City meddled in Golden Jade City’s internal affairs? Do I need to spell out what sort of business you’re running in the Golden Chicken and Jade Horse Square’s tavern?"

"..." Shen Ruoshi slightly furrowed his brows, what nonsense is this about the tavern in the Golden Chicken and Jade Horse Square?

Zhao Chenlu was also surprised: "You really don’t know? Impressive, it’s rare to see a City Lord like you, dumping both big and small matters onto subordinates, just like Li Fengyun."

Shen Ruoshi suddenly lost his cool: "Who do you say is just like Li Fengyun?!"

Zhao Chenlu said, "Not happy? Fine, what strategic development plans for the city have you personally handled over the years? Besides listening to reports and signing papers, what else have you done over the years?"

Shen Ruoshi opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

"Shall I count for you? Like writing millions of words in romance novels? Or arranging a good marriage for your granddaughter?"

With those words, Shen Ruoshi immediately fell silent. In fact, the only things he had truly invested effort into over these years were these two, and the results were self-evident.

"Apart from that, the military training, expeditions, and welfare are mostly handled by Shen Jinghai, the management of the various cultivation sects in the city, financial planning, and other matters are all managed by Shen Yueying. You even attempted to use your veteran status to intervene in the Outer City Patrol Team’s Demon Tide prevention battle, only to realize the tactics had updated too much over the decades, forcing you to leave in embarrassment."

"How do you know that!?"

Zhao Chenlu generously replied: "Do you think we’re meddling in Shen City’s affairs for nothing?"

"..."

"By the way, tell Shen Yueying that the person in charge of the Golden Chicken and Jade Horse Square should be replaced. After staying in Golden Jade City for a few years, dazzled by gold and pleasures, they’ve become too cunning. Over these years, they’ve been deceiving and buying off others, earning quite a bit of dirty money. The number of concubines and mistresses he keeps privately in Golden Jade City is over ten, and his monthly expenses on new versions of the Dream of Scarlet exceed two thousand spirit stones. Currently, he’s ranked among the top five experts in the entire chart..."

Shen Ruoshi was instantly furious. Such an outpost representative from Shen City only earns a few hundred spirit stones annually in normal income, yet his monthly Dream of Scarlet expenses exceed two thousand spirit stones. Such a financial source is indeed suspicious!

"So, over the years, I have plenty of your Shen City’s information. But as for our Golden Jade City, the information you have is hardly credible. For instance, you believe I’m born in 1982, right?"

Shen Ruoshi asked, "This is known to everyone under the sky, what’s so strange about that?"

"The so-called ’known to everyone’ is just an illusion. Actually, I was born in 2001, and I’m only 17 this year..."

"Do you have any shame!?"

Zhao Chenlu sneered, "Looking at this face of mine, how did you even ask that question?"

"..."

Under Zhao Chenlu’s aggressive stance, Shen Ruoshi suddenly felt unable to cope, in a state of complete discomfiture. He couldn’t help but recall the previous private discussion about City Lord Golden Jade with the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect. The Sect Leader’s helpless, bitter, and poignant expression was truly memorable.

Perhaps his own expression was exactly the same.

Fortunately, Zhao Chenlu didn’t continue to press on. Seeing Shen Ruoshi finally showing a sign of concession, he turned around and said to Wang Jiu, "Alright, teasing someone from the Shen Family feels much better, my dear, shall we chat outside?"

Wang Jiu replied, "I still have something to do."

"Is it more important than me?"

Wang Jiu thought for a moment, "Your logic is somewhat flawed, first off..."

"Oh, I love it when you lecture me, but this isn’t the place for a lesson. Let’s talk outside, or the noise will make me forget."

"Alright."

As they spoke, the two of them stepped outside, leaving Shen Ruoshi alone in the room, feeling desolate and isolated. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

——

As Wang Jiu just stepped out the door, a phantom leaped towards him suddenly.

"My dear, I’ve missed you so much!"

Although Zhao Chenlu was a phantom, this leap felt almost tangible... passing directly through Wang Jiu’s Illusion Sword Technique.

"Huh? Why do you only have the Illusion Sword Technique left?" Zhao Chenlu seemed both surprised and a bit disappointed, then turned his gaze to the white sword at Wang Jiu’s waist, "Can I touch it? I’ve washed my hands, recently been fasting, and just took a bath and burnt incense half an hour ago..."

Wang Jiu retorted, "Are you injured?"

"Huh?" Zhao Chenlu said in surprise, "I’m injured?"

The next moment, with a change in expression, Liu Mei furrowed her brows, cupping her chest, "Yes, indeed I’m hurt. You haven’t looked for me since you’ve been awake, I’m so heartbroken."

Wang Jiu ignored this pretense, and said, "Of the ten meridians, seven are severed, saying you’re heartbroken isn’t inaccurate. But the backlash you suffered that day shouldn’t have been this severe. Did you later forcibly exert the Moon Yin Technique?"

At these words, Zhao Chenlu suddenly bit her lip, tears glimmering in her eyes.

"You... still remember. When I suffered the backlash from the Immortal Technique, forcibly exerting the Moon Yin Technique would sever the meridians..."

Wang Jiu said, "Sure, I’ve got a great memory. I remember everything from those years clearly. That year, you achieved a grim victory over the Red-Bearded Demon Venerable by forcibly exerting the Moon Yin Technique..."

Zhao Chenlu laughed, "And then you saved me with the Penetration Technique."

"Then I remember advising you not to forcibly exert the Moon Yin Technique."

Zhao Chenlu said, "Yeah, I didn’t listen again. Teacher, how do you plan to punish me?"

Wang Jiu thought for a moment, "No skincare products for three days."

"... Isn’t that too harsh!? We haven’t seen each other for so long, and you have no sentiment!"

Wang Jiu said seriously, "Without this, you’ll never learn the lesson, and there will be endless troubles for the future."

"But..."

Wang Jiu added, "Five days."

"There’s an increase in penalty!?" This, you couldn’t have come up with such a malicious idea, was it that little wench Shang Lanfei who taught you before she died!?"