Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

As Zi Nu took her seat, a unique, rich yet not pungent fragrance, like an invisible thread, quietly entered Li Chengze's nostrils.

It was a scent that blended some precious orchid with a hint of musk, exuding an ultimate adult allure that could instantly distract any man with weak willpower.

Li Chengze turned his head slightly, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Zi Nu's snow-white, slender swan neck, which was so close to his own, and the deep cleavage that was faintly visible at the neckline.

Unlike ordinary men, he did not show any infatuation or hesitation. Instead, he took a deep breath naturally, smelled the fragrance emanating from the woman beside him, and a faint smile with a hint of appreciation appeared on his lips.

"The incense on Miss Zi Nu is elegant and refined, with a lingering aftertaste. It must be the work of a master, and it complements the style of this Zi Lan Xuan perfectly," Li Chengze praised in a calm tone, his eyes clear and without the slightest hint of disrespect.

"Young Master Li, you flatter me. It's nothing but coarse perfume and fragrance; how could it possibly meet your standards?" Zi Nu covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes sparkling with a hint of probing. "Young Master Li, on the other hand, possesses an extraordinary bearing; every gesture exudes the elegance of a master. May I ask where you reside, and what business have you undertaken in Xinzheng?"

Li Chengze smiled faintly and did not directly answer Zi Nu's question.

He took a brand-new white jade wine cup from the table, lifted the pot of warm Lanling wine, tilted his wrist slightly, and the clear wine drew a beautiful arc in the air before falling accurately into the wine cup without spilling a single drop.

"Why must we have known each other before? I am but a wandering merchant, a free spirit, making my home wherever I go. I heard that Xinzheng in Korea is prosperous and thriving, so I came to take a look and perhaps do some small business." Li Chengze gently pushed a white jade cup filled with fine wine in front of Zi Nu with elegant and composed movements. "Miss Zi Nu, please."

On the other side, Han Fei held his wine glass, watching the scene before him, and couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly.

Han Fei was an extremely intelligent man, and he naturally saw that Zi Nu's descent downstairs was not for the sake of the wine, but to test Li Chengze. Li Chengze also clearly saw through Zi Nu's intentions, but deliberately did not expose them, instead playing along with her skillfully.

If he had free time, he certainly wouldn't miss it, but right now he needed time to think about the clues in the robbery of the Soul-Severing Valley's military funds, and how to deal with Ji Wuye's next counterattack. Moreover, after his conversation with Li Chengze just now, he was certain that Li Chengze wouldn't reveal a single detail…

Therefore, Han Fei decided to make room for these two.

The three drank and chatted for a while longer. Zi Nu subtly inquired about the state of the world and the various schools of thought, trying to find clues about Li Chengze's identity from his answers.

But Li Chengze's answers were always watertight, demonstrating both his profound knowledge and unique insights while cleverly avoiding all substantive questions about his own background.

After a few drinks, Han Fei suddenly put down his wine cup, rubbed his temples, and showed a pained expression on his face, as if he couldn't hold his liquor.

"Oh dear... I can't take it anymore..." Han Fei swayed slightly, slurring his words, "This wine from Zilan Pavilion is really too potent. I've been running around outside the city all day, and I'm really tired. My alcohol tolerance... is not what it used to be."

As he spoke, Han Fei braced himself on the table with both hands, stood up unsteadily, and looked as if he might collapse drunk at any moment.

"Brother Li, Miss Zi Nu, you...you can drink slowly, you...you must go and rest." Han Fei let out a burp, deeply exploring the essence of fantasy novels.

A hint of a smile flashed in Li Chengze's eyes as he watched Han Fei's slightly exaggerated acting.

He didn't expose Han Fei, but turned to Zi Nu beside him and said gently, "Since Brother Han is drunk, he naturally needs to rest well. Miss Zi Nu, please arrange a fine guest room for Brother Han in this Zi Lan Pavilion so he can rest properly. As for the cost..."

As Li Chengze spoke, he took out a pure gold ingot from his sleeve, gently placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Zi Nu.

"Consider this gold ingot as payment for Brother Han's drinks and room tonight. If there's any left over, please give it to the girls in the brothel to buy some cosmetics."

"Young Master Li is too kind. Ninth Young Master is a regular at our Zilan Pavilion. Even if you didn't pay, Zi Nu would never let him sleep on the streets." Zi Nu smiled sweetly, extending her slender hand to discreetly slip the gold ingot into her sleeve. Then she turned and beckoned to a maid not far away, "Cai Die, help Ninth Young Master to the top-tier room to rest. Take good care of him. If anything happens to Ninth Young Master, I will hold you responsible."

"Yes, Sister Zi Nu." The maid named Cai Die responded obediently, stepped forward, and carefully helped the swaying Han Fei.

"Brother Li, Miss Zi Nu, then... I must take my leave. We'll fight again tomorrow!" Han Fei, supported by his maid, turned back and waved to the two of them before stumbling towards the stairs.

As he watched Han Fei's figure disappear around the corner on the second floor, the smile on Li Chengze's face gradually faded, replaced by a deep and unfathomable calm.

With Han Fei's departure, the environment in this small private room seemed to undergo a subtle change without anyone noticing.

The once noisy hall, with its music, the men's laughter, and the women's coquettish voices, seemed to be isolated by some invisible force, becoming extremely distant and blurred.

The temperature in the air seemed to drop a few degrees, and the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere that had been between the two disappeared completely, replaced by a suffocating sense of oppression and tension, like the calm before a storm.

The smile on Zi Nu's face gradually disappeared.

She abandoned her charming demeanor, straightened her back slightly, and her alluring eyes became as sharp as blades, staring intently at Li Chengze, who was standing close at hand.

She didn't speak, and neither did Li Chengze.

The two of them just stared at each other in silence.

"Miss Zi Nu," Li Chengze put down his wine cup and broke the silence first.

"Brother Han is gone, and this play should come to an end. You went out of your way to come downstairs, sit beside me, and use every trick in the book to test me. Now, have you gotten the answer you wanted?"

Upon hearing this, Zi Nu's pupils contracted slightly. She hadn't expected Li Chengze to be so direct in revealing everything. This unconventional style of doing things made her feel a strange sense of pressure.

But Zi Nu was Zi Nu after all; she quickly adjusted her emotions, and a cold, elegant smile once again appeared on her lips.

"Young Master Li is indeed a man of few words." Zi Nu's voice was no longer languid, but carried a chilling quality. "Since you've made your point clear, then I'll speak frankly as well. Tonight in Broken Soul Valley, a torrential downpour raged, and danger lurked everywhere. The Ninth Young Master nearly lost his life, but was saved by a mysterious master. That master's swordsmanship was domineering, and his actions were decisive; he was no ordinary person."

Zi Nu leaned forward slightly, her stunning face almost touching Li Chengze's. She lowered her voice and asked, word by word, "Zi Nu is very curious: is that master who manipulates the night's top assassins in the shadows truly one of Young Master Li's men?"

The latest chapter is packed with exciting plot twists! Come check it out!