Chapter Fifteen: The Lu Zhou of the Past

The rising sun slowly revealed its brow, and outside the city of Shen Prefecture, a carriage was parked by the river.

“Let’s rest for a bit before we head into the city,” Lu Zhou said, washing his face at the river’s edge, addressing Chao Jin’er.

Of course, before entering the city, they still needed to disguise themselves.

Chao Jin’er sat on the grass, gazing at Lu Zhou’s back in a daze. Her mind kept overlapping the Lu Zhou from Lingyun Pavilion with the Lu Zhou who had killed just a few days ago, leaving her anxious and unsettled.

She knew their mission was to hunt down Withered Leaf and that killing would inevitably be part of it. Yet only when Lu Zhou actually took a life did she realize how different he was from the image she had held in her heart.

What kind of person had Lu Zhou been before?

Chao Jin’er remembered that in Lingyun Pavilion, Lu Zhou never looked at anyone casually. He once said that even a single glance could invite a heap of trouble.

He didn’t chat idly with others, keeping a respectful distance from every female disciple. Of course, Chao Jin’er was an exception.

Back then, she was just a little girl.

She recalled once accompanying Lu Zhou to the black market, as he needed materials for poison refining. No matter how much he needed something, he would only bid once; if someone competed with him, he’d simply let them have it.

She had asked him why.

Lu Zhou had replied calmly, “I worry the other person might not have enough money.”

She remembered how warm-hearted Lu Zhou had been in those days. He would always help the so-called ‘useless’ disciples and the scruffy, disheveled old men of the sect with all his might.

How kind Senior Brother Lu had been!

Lu Zhou showed special care for disciples surnamed Ye, Xiao, Lin, or Han in Lingyun Pavilion; if a disciple was solitary and withdrawn, Lu Zhou would avoid them as much as possible.

This point always puzzled Chao Jin’er...

All in all, Senior Brother Lu had once been steady, composed, gentle, and good-hearted—very different from the man who killed days ago.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Zhou’s words broke her reverie.

“Oh, nothing. I was just wondering why you let Huang Yisheng, that villain, go,” Chao Jin’er came back to herself.

Though she didn’t want Lu Zhou to kill, she still couldn’t understand why he released Huang Yisheng, given he was no good.

Lu Zhou smiled lightly. “I remember saying, our mission is only Withered Leaf.”

“Would killing Huang Yisheng earn a reward?”

“But he saw us take the Arhat’s Golden Body,” Chao Jin’er frowned slightly.

Lu Zhou chuckled. “What he saw was the Thousand-Faced Poison Lord taking the Arhat’s Golden Body.”

“We’ve been in Shen Prefecture all along, haven’t we?”

Chao Jin’er was silent.

She didn’t ask further, but Lu Zhou could clearly sense her mood was off. By rights, the task was done and she ought to feel relieved, yet her lovely face was tinged with gravity.

Just then, a paper crane drifted over and landed at Chao Jin’er’s feet.

Chao Jin’er infused it with her vital energy, and the crane slowly unfolded.

She glanced at it. “My mother wants me to return home first.”

Lu Zhou nodded. “Then go on ahead, but make sure to find a place to change your appearance back.”

Chao Jin’er looked up at him. “You should come too.”

Lu Zhou thought for a moment. “I’ll hand in the mission first. I won’t go during the day—it’s not safe. I’ll come later tonight.”

A covert agent with backing had privileges; she could go home as she pleased. Lu Zhou could only secretly envy her.

“Alright.”

Chao Jin’er seemed in better spirits, waved goodbye, and soon Lu Zhou saw a pale yellow arc streak across the sky.

That was how cultivators ought to be—flying whenever they wished.

Unlike undercover agents, who always feared their origins being discovered and, unless absolutely necessary, preferred ordinary means like carriages.

Besides, flying in open air was hardly safe.

...

Lu Zhou returned to the Spring Blossom Courtyard, finding the whole street deserted.

Such business was always quiet in daylight.

That was why Lu Zhou chose to return during the day instead of at night.

Of course, before coming back, he’d circled Shen Prefecture’s alleys many times, only stopping at the Spring Blossom Courtyard’s rear when he was sure no one followed.

“You’re back?”

Qu Qiniang was sunning herself in the yard. The warm sunlight touched her calm face, radiating a tranquil serenity.

Lu Zhou nodded, placing the Arhat’s Golden Body on the ground behind him.

“Where’s Scorpion Tail?”

Qu Qiniang didn’t see Chao Jin’er.

“She went home,” Lu Zhou replied with a smile.

Qu Qiniang lifted her eyelids, apparently unconcerned about Chao Jin’er’s private departure.

“How did the mission go?”

She asked softly, her eyes never once glancing at what Lu Zhou had laid on the ground.

As the keeper of scorpions, she cared more about Lu Zhou’s performance as Scorpion Head on his first assignment, for he would be under her charge for a long time.

Lu Zhou answered, “Mission accomplished. Withered Leaf was killed, the Arhat’s Golden Body was recovered. News of Withered Leaf’s death should reach Shen Prefecture within three days. The Arhat’s Golden Body is right here.”

He pointed to the corpse wrapped in black cloth behind him.

Qu Qiniang nodded. “No need for three days. Last night, the Azure Cloud Ranking updated. The Thousand-Faced Poison Lord, who ranked first, was automatically removed because he broke through to the Primordial Immortal stage. The reason: during Withered Leaf’s killing, he displayed Primordial Immortal strength.”

Her gaze was intense, searching Lu Zhou’s face for any sign.

Lu Zhou merely smiled. “They believed I was the Thousand-Faced Poison Lord. I didn’t contradict them.”

“They?” Qu Qiniang was momentarily surprised.

“Dantai Mingjing and Huang Yisheng.”

Lu Zhou recounted the events of the pursuit in brief. Qu Qiniang listened carefully, nodding; at least, there was no flaw in the logic.

There had been some slip-ups during the chase, indicating Lu Zhou’s judgment had faltered; but that was also because Qu Qiniang hadn’t relayed the latest intelligence to him in time.

Fortunately, the outcome was perfect. Lu Zhou’s abilities were impressive—at least, he was very qualified for this line of work.

She said softly, “I’ll report the results. After the organization verifies everything, the reward will be distributed.”

“Of course, maybe I won’t have to report—Scorpion Tail might have done so already.”

As she spoke, her brows and eyes were tinged with a faint sadness.

Lu Zhou wisely offered no response.

Clearly, this touched upon Qu Qiniang’s past memories—and those memories were not entirely pleasant.

“By the way, Sister Qi, Huang Yisheng claimed he knew Withered Leaf’s secret.”

Lu Zhou changed the subject.

“Did you ask?” Qu Qiniang brushed her bangs from her forehead.

“No.”

Lu Zhou shook his head. “Knowing too many secrets is seldom a good thing. Many who believe they possess secrets, in the end...

All end up dead.”

...