Chapter 77: Here to Settle Accounts

While Lu Yunzhe was happily devouring the chicken-and-snake stew, in the front courtyard of the manor, Jiang Sui sat beside a flowerbed.

She held a tiny watering can, pretending to water the newly planted flowers.

“Miss, what’s that smell?”

Hearing a voice behind her, Jiang Sui turned her head and saw a maid walking over.

“Miss, don’t you think something feels strange?”

“Haha… this fragrance is a little suspicious, isn’t it?”

“You got it right,” Jiang Sui replied, acting like a child who was caught misbehaving.

If Lu Yunzhe ever found out what method she used to make the chicken-and-snake stew taste amazing, his face would definitely turn ugly.

After obtaining the Awakening Secret Art, Jiang Sui studied it seriously for a while and soon discovered something:

The technique was far more interesting than she expected, so she named it— Alchemy Arts .

Unlike Thunder Leap and the Crescent Blade , this secret art allowed her to create strange potions.

The ability had no direct offensive power, and required prepared ingredients before alchemy could begin. It was clearly unsuitable for combat on the front lines.

No wonder Hu Ming always carried a gun filled with special bullets; otherwise, he really had no means of attack.

In Hu Ming’s hands, the original ability could only refine explosive hallucinogenic drugs—

and they always emitted a strong, sharp scent.

However, with the enhancement from the Ancient Book, the types of potions Jiang Sui could make were even more diverse—and she could even suppress the smell, making them undetectable.

Lu Yunzhe thought the chicken-and-snake stew was delicious, but it wasn’t actually delicious.

He simply fell under the influence of a potion Jiang Sui wore on her, producing hallucinations without realizing it.

“You should be careful,” Black Cat warned. “If he notices, you won’t be able to explain.”

“Relax,” Jiang Sui replied lightly. “With Lu Yunzhe’s ability to ignore obvious hints, he’ll never find out.”

Alchemy was indeed useful—but its price was also high.

First, materials were expensive.

Even with the old con artist Black Cat helping her, Jiang Sui still spent a huge sum just to acquire ingredients for a single batch.

And even then, success was not guaranteed.

She failed twice before finally succeeding on the third attempt.

If she had failed again, all the investment would have been wasted.

This was a secret art that required money to function, and for a maid like Jiang Sui, there was no way to continuously maintain production.

She sighed—

Among secret arts, money seemed to matter… a lot.

Just then, both she and Black Cat noticed Lu Yunzhe walking out from the main gate.

Black Cat silently retreated into the shadows, disappearing behind the courtyard wall.

Jiang Sui continued watering the flowers—

so focused, she didn’t realize the soil beneath the little flower was already a muddy pond from overwatering.

When Lu Yunzhe saw the maid, he immediately ran over.

“Miss, you’re alive. Looks like you really did what I said,” Jiang Sui greeted him with a smile.

“To be honest, I didn’t think I’d survive either.” Lu Yunzhe scratched his head. “How did you do it?”

Jiang Sui blinked.

She hadn’t done anything during the breakfast—yet somehow Luo Yao’s egg stew ended up tasting incredible. Even Lu Yunzhe found it suspicious.

“I thought you didn’t know secret arts?” he asked. “Did you sneak something into Luo Yao’s egg stew when she wasn’t looking?”

Of course he misunderstood.

Jiang Sui stared at his smug expression silently.

She already prepared how to respond to his suspicion.

After a moment, Lu Yunzhe suddenly clapped:

“I get it! You must’ve secretly made your own pot of stew and switched it while Luo Yao wasn’t watching, right?”

Jiang Sui remained silent.

Lu Yunzhe immediately took that as agreement.

After all, her cooking was good. She probably anticipated Luo Yao failing, so she made her own ahead of time and swapped the dishes when Luo Yao wasn’t there.

Yes, definitely that.

“Miss, don’t underestimate me,” Lu Yunzhe bragged. “You can’t fool me forever. I’m super observant.”

“…You are truly hopeless.”

Jiang Sui stared at him like she was looking at an idiot.

“What’s hopeless?”

“Do you want to know the truth?” she asked, stepping closer and closing the distance.

“All about me—do you really want to understand it?”

There was a hidden flirtation in her tone.

As she leaned close, Lu Yunzhe smelled a faint fragrance—

his brain went hazy.

He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion,

but Jiang Sui looked like she was shining—

seductively gorgeous, purple eyes glowing with allure, lips full and flushed…

Normally, Lu Yunzhe would have backed away instantly.

But today, he stared blankly at her chest, blood boiling, wanting to reach out and touch her—

Jiang Sui did not move away.

She even leaned forward slightly, letting his fingers graze her skin, warm and soft.

Something inside him was about to break loose.

And then—

“Hello, you two.”

A sudden voice shattered the atmosphere.

Jiang Sui immediately stepped away, expression calm again.

Who ruined the moment?

Turning to the voice, Lu Yunzhe saw two strangers walking toward them:

One man and one woman—never seen before.

The man had half-white hair, looking around forty to fifty years old.

The woman was young—not even thirty—and held his arm affectionately.

When they approached, the older man spoke with a friendly smile:

“Sorry to interrupt. I am looking for the owners of this manor—Lu Yunzhe and Luo Yao.”

Lu Yunzhe blinked and pointed at himself:

“That’s me.”

The man quickly changed expression and extended a hand toward Jiang Sui:

“Then this young lady must be Luo Yao. I’ve heard young people today like wearing maid outfits.”

“No, she’s not Luo Yao,” Lu Yunzhe corrected. “She’s a maid.”

“Huh?”

The man froze.

“If she isn’t Luo Yao, then you two were just…”

Lu Yunzhe coughed quickly:

“Please explain why you’re here.”

He didn’t recognize the man, but the woman beside him looked a little familiar.

The man fixed his suit and smiled magnificently:

“It was your butler who let us in.

I am Jin Huancheng—the head of the Jin family, and Jin Shun’s father.”

Lu Yunzhe’s eyes narrowed.

“And this,” Jin Huancheng continued, “is my daughter, Li Zhiya.”

The young woman stepped forward and spoke sweetly:

“We’ve met before, Mr. Lu.”

“Oh… Miss Li. Yes, I remember.”

Lu Yunzhe politely shook her hand—

and immediately felt murderous intent stabbing into his back.

No need to turn around.

He knew whose eyes those were.

Jiang Sui stood behind him, staring at the father and daughter with a threatening aura—

mentally alert and ready to act.

What did Jin Shun’s father come here for?

To avenge his son?

Why did his daughter have the surname Li?

When did Lu Yunzhe meet her?

The thought that there might be women he knew behind her back

made Jiang Sui’s mind explode.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Yunzhe asked cautiously.

“You’re becoming a scumbag,” Jiang Sui answered faintly.

“…How?”

They exchanged simple greetings.

It was clear Jin Huancheng was here to talk business, so Lu Yunzhe invited them inside and called Luo Yao.

When it came to negotiation, Luo Yao was better at it than him.

Honestly, even if Luo Yao ignored Jin Shun’s crimes, she would never hurt Lu Yunzhe.

And if something did go wrong, Lu Yunzhe would help.

Fortunately, the Jin family brought no guards—just the two of them.

Lu Yunzhe felt confident he and Luo Yao could handle the situation.

Unexpectedly, Jin Huancheng opened the conversation by apologizing for his son.

Throughout the entire talk, he never showed a hint of pressure or hostility—

only courtesy.

Lu Yunzhe found that suspicious

but trusted Luo Yao to handle it.

He walked alone to the courtyard pavilion

only to be approached again—

not by Luo Yao or Jiang Sui…

but by Li Zhiya.

“Mr. Lu, why are you sitting here alone?” Li Zhiya asked gently.

“I couldn’t find you in the living room and got curious.”

Lu Yunzhe nodded:

“Hello. Do you need something?”

“It’s about my brother.”

Here it comes—

his sister was going to seek justice.

“Jin Shun really caused you trouble,” she said suddenly, bowing deeply.

Lu Yunzhe froze.

“Don’t worry—we aren’t here to defend him, and we will not plead on his behalf.”

“…Really?”

Her attitude truly did not feel like revenge.

Since she said that, Lu Yunzhe relaxed a little.

But then—

Li Zhiya continued,

and his expression tightened again:

“Compared to my worthless brother…

Mr. Lu, your heroic actions are far more impressive.”

She stepped closer, voice soft and alluring:

“Why don’t we take this chance…

to talk somewhere quiet?”

Lu Yunzhe stiffened—

because behind him, Jiang Sui stepped into the pavilion.

With a smile that could kill.