Chapter 92#
Little Cat Locks Away Love#
Youzhou, the Yan family mansion.
Zhou Xiaosu was doing her makeup in front of her dressing table mirror. The harder life got, the more beautiful she made herself; she wanted those pigs and dogs to know they couldn’t break her. A maid stood behind her, holding a bronze mirror, and Zhou Xiaosu checked her hairstyle in the mirrors in front and behind her. She lowered her head to select the hairpins and bracelets she would wear today. When she looked up again, she suddenly noticed that the maid behind her in the bronze mirror had become Yan Jinyu. She was startled, almost screaming out loud.
She composed herself, smoothed her hair, and said coldly, “What are you doing here?”
Yan Jinyu gazed at her radiant reflection in the mirror, silent for a long moment. He had just received a message from Biandu; King Luofu wanted him to attend an alliance meeting at Beichen Hall. Though afraid, he dared not refuse, especially since Bai Ruoye had also sent a message, asking him to bring Zhou Xiaosu with him to Biandu. He had originally come to inform her, but seeing her doing her makeup, he realized he hadn’t properly looked at her in a long time. He suddenly found she seemed even more beautiful than five years ago.
He placed a hand on Zhou Xiaosu’s shoulder, lowering his head to inhale the osmanthus fragrance from her temples.
“I heard from Qingdai that you were ill. As your husband, of course, I’ve come to visit you.”
Zhou Xiaosu was disgusted. She pushed him away forcefully, stood up holding the dressing table, and said, “Get out! Who allowed you into my room!”
Her eyes were full of contempt, and that was the look Yan Jinyu hated most; it was as if, in her eyes, he was worthless trash. He grabbed her by the throat and threatened, “I’m in a bad mood today. If you don’t want a beating, humor me a little.”
Zhou Xiaosu sneered repeatedly.
“Wuxia has already given birth to several children, but you’ve produced nothing for years,” Yan Jinyu said condescendingly, “Zhou Xiaosu, you should seize the opportunity while I still find you desirable.”
“Pfft!” Zhou Xiaosu spat, “I’d rather sleep with a dog than share a bed with you!”
His face changed. He seized her and threw her to the ground.
Pointing at her, he said, “Do you really think I wouldn’t dare kill you?”
Her forehead was cut open at one corner, and blood blurred her vision. She looked up at him and smiled, “Do you have the guts? I heard King Luofu brought back the Saint Son, but my senior martial brother is nowhere to be found. Yes, I was blind, I broke ties with my senior martial brother and sister for a bastard like you. But in the end, I am their only junior martial sister. Try it, if you dare to kill me, my senior martial brother and sister will surely take your dog’s life.”
As she spoke, Zhang Wuxia gracefully emerged from behind a screen. Every time Zhou Xiaosu was beaten, Zhang Wuxia would certainly come to watch the show. While claiming to mediate, she was actually fanning the flames. She loved to see trouble escalate, flattering Yan Jinyu on one hand, and saying to Zhou Xiaosu on the other, “Madam, you can’t go two sentences without mentioning your senior martial brother. Could it be that you still have old feelings for him?”
Zhou Xiaosu had clearly also mentioned Bai Ruoye, but this fellow deliberately focused on Su Ruhui. Sure enough, Yan Jinyu’s expression grew colder, and he said sinisterly, “Zhou Xiaosu, do you like Su Ruhui too?”
Zhou Xiaosu observed his distorted expression and suddenly understood his hang-up. The reason he hated Su Ruhui so much was simply because he was jealous of him. Zhou Xiaosu smiled and said, “That’s right, I do like my senior martial brother. My senior martial brother is a genius blessed by heaven, unparalleled by anyone. You can’t even compare to his little toe!”
Yan Jinyu’s entire face instantly turned as venomous as a viper, startling even Zhang Wuxia with his terrifying expression. Bai Ruoye, Su Ruhui, Yan Jinyu didn’t care about any of them anymore. He shouted outside, “Someone! Strip this bitch naked and drag her to the manor!”
Zhou Xiaosu instinctively shivered. She slowly retracted her hand, touching something tied beneath her waistband. She had a small knife hidden in her bosom; as soon as someone came, she would immediately commit suicide.
The surroundings were silent. The three people in the room waited for a long time, but there was no sound from outside. Yan Jinyu grew impatient and called out again, but still no one answered.
“A bunch of lazy bones! Are your ears deaf?”
Yan Jinyu stormed out the door. Under the eaves, he suddenly saw a person standing in the snow, holding an oil-paper umbrella. That person wore plain dark robes, and though this was clearly the Yan family’s backyard, he seemed as calm as if he had come to admire the snow and scenery.
“Who are you?” Yan Jinyu asked.
Zhou Xiaosu, still sprawled on the ground, stared at the person’s back, slowly widening her eyes.
The person slowly turned his head. The oil-paper umbrella lifted slightly, revealing his handsome features. The youthful vigor of yesteryear was gone; even his usually unrestrained and whimsical eyes now held a vast, snowy quality.
“Junior martial sister,” Su Ruhui’s gaze bypassed Yan Jinyu and landed on Zhou Xiaosu, “Long time no see.”
Zhou Xiaosu covered her mouth, not daring to call out to him. The person in front of her resembled the one in her memories, yet was also somewhat different. How could this be? Yan Jinyu said he wasn’t dead, but was this truly him now? How could he possibly be here? But besides him, who else in this world would call her “junior martial sister”?
Yan Jinyu paled with shock. Just as he was about to draw his sword, the back of his head was suddenly struck hard by someone, and he instantly felt the world spin, falling unconscious. When he slowly came to, he first heard muffled voices. His blurred vision gradually cleared, and he found himself in a simply furnished eatery. He tried to get up but realized he was tied to a greasy chair.
Su Ruhui sat opposite him, legs crossed, crunching on a bag of fried sweet potato fries. All around them stood thugs and monks, each holding a musket, pointed at his temples and the back of his head. His wife and concubine were also knocked unconscious, their hands bound, lying limply on the ground. A masked, handsome man squatted down and pressed their necks, and they slowly began to wake up.
“Welcome to the Slum Quarter,” Su Ruhui said, “Big Dragon, do you know who I am?”
Yan Jinyu looked around, his mind racing. He said, “Su Ruhui, why all this hostility? Haven’t our past grievances long been settled? Now I am the Yan family heir, my father is old, and the power of Youzhou is in my hands. Whatever you want, just say it, we can discuss it. Oh, and your junior martial sister, Zhou Xiaosu, I can give her to you, and my beautiful concubines too, all yours. My sons, I can give them to you as hostages!”
This fellow’s shamelessness left Su Ruhui speechless. Su Ruhui waved his hand and said, “I have no interest in taking other people’s wives and children. Since you know who I am, you should also know who Sang Chiyu is, right?”
“Indeed, I know he is the Saint Son of the demon race. Old Ancestor Shentu told me everything,” Yan Jinyu said.
Su Ruhui smiled and said, “I heard you’re going to Biandu soon to meet King Luofu.”
“That is correct.” Yan Jinyu understood. “You want to go to Biandu to save Sang Chiyu?”
Su Ruhui stroked his chin, sizing him up. “Oh? Do you have a way?”
Yan Jinyu actually had no good plan, but for the sake of his life, he had to come up with one even if he didn’t. He quickly said, “What’s difficult about that? When King Luofu hosts a banquet, he, as the Saint Son, will certainly have to attend. As long as we can see him, with our combined efforts, we can definitely rescue him.”
Su Ruhui tilted his head in thought. “Makes sense.”
This fellow was so carefree and inconsistent in his speech that Yan Jinyu couldn’t gauge his attitude. He repeatedly chuckled, “It’s all up to you.”
“Working with you is indeed quite good, and your sincerity is also ample. However…” Su Ruhui put the sweet potato fries aside, stood up, took out a musket, loaded it, and aimed it at Yan Jinyu’s glabella. Cold sweat broke out on Yan Jinyu’s forehead. He was afraid Su Ruhui’s musket would misfire and kept tilting his head back. Su Ruhui said regretfully, “I am a ‘cat-loving model citizen,’ and I hate people who abuse cats the most.”
He was about to pull the trigger when Zhou Xiaosu suddenly shouted, “Wait!”
Su Ruhui turned to look at Zhou Xiaosu. The woman’s hair was disheveled, and the red marks on her face were very noticeable. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she gazed steadily at Su Ruhui.
Su Ruhui sighed, “You’re not going to plead for him, are you?”
Zhou Xiaosu stood up. The thugs on both sides tried to stop her, but Su Ruhui waved his hand, and they retreated. Zhou Xiaosu walked up to Su Ruhui and stared at Yan Jinyu.
Yan Jinyu, crying, said, “Xiaosu, we’ve been husband and wife for five years. Save me, please save me, I’ll surely treat you well from now on.”
“You’re right,” Zhou Xiaosu took a deep breath and said, “We have been husband and wife for five years after all.”
Yan Jinyu nodded continuously.
“So I can’t let you die so painlessly.” Zhou Xiaosu suddenly pulled out the small knife from her waistband and stabbed it into Yan Jinyu’s crotch.
Yan Jinyu screamed loudly, his face contorted.
Blood splashed all over Zhou Xiaosu’s face. She wiped her face, straightened up, and asked Su Ruhui, “Senior… Young Master Su, can we have him dismembered by a thousand cuts?”
Zhou Xiaosu had changed a lot, but when Su Ruhui looked down at her, he once again saw her old stubbornness on her face.
Su Ruhui turned his head and asked Han Ye, “Do you guys know how to perform lingchi?”
“No, we don’t have so many fancy ways of killing people on Black Street,” Han Ye replied.
Yan Jinyu felt a little relieved hearing their words. If he was going to die anyway, he’d rather die quickly.
“But we can learn on the spot,” Han Ye added.
Several thugs and monks advanced with sinister grins, carrying Yan Jinyu to the backyard. He howled for mercy, and the blood flowing from his crotch stained the ground. Zhou Xiaosu watched him being taken away, then wiped her face again, unsure if it was blood or tears. Only at this moment did she believe that her hard days were finally over.
On the ground, Zhang Wuxia looked at Su Ruhui hesitantly, her face covered in tears.
“Boss Su, this concubine is willing to offer herself to you, to work like an ox or a horse…”
Han Ye stuffed her mouth with an oiled cloth and dragged her away.
Only Su Ruhui and Zhou Xiaosu were left in the guest hall. Su Ruhui brought a handkerchief and handed it to Zhou Xiaosu, telling her to wipe her hands. She wiped her fingers one by one. A section of her sleeve accidentally turned up, revealing her scarred wrists. This girl, Zhou Xiaosu, had been pampered since childhood, and her temper was stubborn; she wouldn’t turn back until she hit a brick wall. When it hurt, she was too embarrassed to ask for help and could only endure it silently. Su Ruhui had been lying in Xianren Cave for five years, and Jiang Xueya was working in Biandu, so Zhou Xiaosu, far away in Youzhou, suffered grievances unknown to anyone. What’s more, Jiang Xueya had been acting all along; she even killed Su Ruhui, so it was unlikely she genuinely cared for this foolish junior martial sister.
Su Ruhui took her hand, frowning as he rolled up her sleeve. Her wrists were bruised in blue and purple, and some parts were swollen and red. The more Su Ruhui looked, the angrier he got; lingchi was too lenient for Yan Jinyu. Su Ruhui said, “I’m sorry, I resurrected two months ago, and I should have come to see you sooner, but there was just too much happening in Biandu.”
“Young Master Su…” Zhou Xiaosu retracted her hand, trying to cover the wounds on her arm.
They hadn’t seen each other for too long. They were once the most familiar people, yet now they felt so distant. She didn’t even know if she could still call him “senior martial brother.”
“Zhou Xiaosu, you’re not serious, are you?” Su Ruhui said helplessly, “I helped you kill the bad guy who bullied you, and you won’t even call me ‘senior martial brother’? It was you who sent someone to send the message about King Luofu attacking Black Street, wasn’t it? I saw your maid at the Yan residence.”
Zhou Xiaosu looked at her toes, a surge of bitterness immediately welled up in her throat, and tears fell pitter-patter.
“Senior…” She tried hard to stop her tears, stammering, “Senior martial brother.”
“Only turning back after hitting a brick wall,” Su Ruhui flicked her forehead with his finger, “Alright, at least you’re not completely foolish. Don’t cry, do me a favor.”
Zhou Xiaosu sniffled, wiping her tears. “What favor?”
“I need to impersonate Yan Jinyu and enter Biandu.”
“Senior martial brother, are you really going?”
Biandu was now a den of demons and evil. Zhou Xiaosu recalled Yan Jinyu’s earlier terrified look; Yan Jinyu, who had an alliance with the demon race, was so scared, which showed how terrifying Biandu truly was.
Su Ruhui, however, didn’t care, only smiling as he said, “If you raise a cat, you must be responsible for it, and never abandon it for life.”
“Senior martial brother, you have a cat?” Zhou Xiaosu was momentarily stunned.
“Yes,” Su Ruhui walked to the threshold, leaned against the doorframe, and gazed into the distance. “My dream cat.”
Suddenly, a “ding” sound rang in his ears.
【Information Change: Sang Chiyu, Devouring Secret Arts practitioner, Blade Master, Hates Su Ruhui the mostest.】
Su Ruhui’s eyes widened. Why did Sang Chiyu hate him again? And with two more “mosts” than before!
Could King Luofu’s Spiritual Heart Telepathy have done something to him?
【System permissions are limited, unable to ascertain the reason. However, the Host’s guess is plausible; “Spiritual Heart Telepathy” can modify cognition. Perhaps King Luofu reinforced Sang Chiyu’s image of you as a “playboy,” “chatterbox,” and “full of dirty thoughts."】
Su Ruhui opened his panel, and Sang Chiyu’s information bar had been updated.
Name: Sang Chiyu Race: Cat Demon Gender: Male Age: Hyperdimension/32 years old; Reality/31 years old Height: 185cm Length: 18.5cm Identity: Hyperdimension/Devouring Secret Arts practitioner, Demon Race Saint Son. Reality/Devouring Secret Arts practitioner, Colonel of the Predator Assault Team of the Alliance of Secret Arts Clans. Current Status: Angry, Sad, Sealed Chicken Locks Love!
Su Ruhui: ???
【Incidentally, a task has been issued.】
Task Issued: Seduce the Cold-Hearted Husband.
Task Description: The rebirth program has been deactivated, and dear Host has discovered that the cute cat is your greatest arch-enemy. Once Sang Chiyu’s memories awaken, he is very likely to unleash a cat-scratch combo to take your dog’s life. As the saying goes, “a single night as husband and wife creates a bond for a hundred days,” so to save your dog’s life, please, Host, seduce Sang Chiyu, have sex with him seven times in one night, and establish an inseparable intimate relationship, both mentally and physically!
Task Reward: System permissions released by 10%, Host will be able to copy others’ secret arts X1.