Heroine, don't turn back, I'm just a farmer.

There is a demonic technique called "Planting Demonic Seeds in the Heart of the Dao" in the Demonic Sect. Judging from Seventeen's appearance, he has most likely been planted with demonic seeds.

Her strength is not bad; this "Heavenly Blade Successor" obtained it so easily and effortlessly...

It is said that such mental techniques are the most bizarre and the most difficult to guard against. At this moment, Little Seventeen was as if he had been drugged, feeling lightheaded and ethereal.

The sorrowful face twitched its fingers.

It wasn't drawing a sword.

At this point, there was no need to draw the sword.

Tianluoxiang has five Heavenly-level assassins, each of whom was personally trained or subdued by the incense master.

She knew these people very well.

Su Wancheng is the youngest one.

Aside from her master and her mission, she cared about nothing else. The sect leader once commented on her: "Little Seventeen is a good knife, but too sharp."

But now, the knife seems to have gone dull.

So he re-examined his sorrow.

The swordsman had his back to her, and his aura was faint; he was either an ordinary person or far superior to her.

The person who could subdue Su Wancheng overnight is clearly not the former.

There is only one conclusion.

The strength of this Heavenly Blade successor, regardless of the methods he uses, far surpasses hers.

Should we continue to offend this swordsman because of a crippled Little Seventeen, and cause Tianluoxiang to provoke someone who might possess a relic, practice the "Heavenly Demon Strategy" scripture, or be a disciple of the Heavenly Blade Sect?

Admittedly, Tianluoxiang has enough strength and confidence to kill him, but what if he fails?

With a sorrowful expression, Lu Guo was also waiting.

[Change in favorability: None]

[Ai Mian is not a romanceable character; her attitude depends on Tian Luo Xiang's affection level.]

Seeing this notification, he felt more confident.

Sorrowful face isn't here to fight.

She came to test us.

Tianluoxiang sent her here, probably to test her worth.

If the quality is insufficient, kill and take Su Wancheng away; if the quality is sufficient, negotiate in another way.

So what he needs to do now is make his "quality" look good enough.

"You said the sect leader wants to talk to me." Lu Guo turned around, a hint of curiosity in his expression. "Talk about what?"

Ai Mian's answer was concise; she had figured it out: "Cooperation."

"cooperate?"

"Tianluoxiang can give up its pursuit of the relics and the Heavenly Demon Scriptures," Ai Mian said. "In exchange, you need to do one thing for Tianluoxiang, an equal exchange."

Lu Guo did not ask what it was about.

Asking the question would reveal my lack of knowledge.

A true master will not show any interest before the other party makes a offer. He raised his eyebrows slightly, as if listening to something that had little to do with him.

"What are the conditions?" he asked.

"After it's all done, Tianluoxiang will tell you information about your master, Tiandao."

The mission has begun.

The background of the character, a swordsman, and his identity as a successor of the Heavenly Blade, are revealed, along with the questline related to his identity.

Should we accept it?

We must accept it, but we need to figure out how to accept it.

Lu Guo was deep in thought.

Sorrowful face awaits his answer.

Su Wancheng was also looking at him.

Under the moonlight, Lu Guo's profile was half bright and half dark. His expression did not change, but Su Wancheng could see clearly what was churning in his eyes.

That means they really care.

It turns out he also has things he cares about.

She suddenly felt that the person in front of her was closer to her, not in terms of physical proximity, but in some deeper, inexplicable way, which gave her a glimmer of hope.

[Su Wancheng sensed your true emotions, and your favorability rating has slightly increased.]

[Current status: 30/100 people have met and gotten to know each other.]

Lu Guo didn't notice this notification.

He was thinking about how to answer.

Please select your response.

[1. "The cause of my master's death does not need to be told to me by the Heavenly Incense."]

2. "Explain yourself first. Tianluoxiang's reputation isn't worth the risk."

3. "What if I refuse?"

4. "..."

Four options, four attitudes.

Option 1: Refuse to cooperate, indicating that you do not need Tianluoxiang's information.

This will make Ai Mian think that he either already has a clue or doesn't care about his master's death. The former will increase his deterrent effect, while the latter will decrease it.

Option two requires the opponent to reveal their hand first.

This is the most pragmatic approach, but it's also the easiest way to reveal your interest in the deal.

Option three, directly asking about the consequences of refusal, is testing Tianluoxiang's bottom line while also demonstrating one's confidence—I'm not afraid of you.

Lu Guo's gaze lingered on the third option for a moment.

Then he made his choice.

"What if I refuse?"

Sorrowful face fell silent.

Tianluoxiang is indeed an assassin organization, but the value of the assassination targets must be considered. Xiao Shiqi is already crippled, so why should more people be crippled because of this swordsman?

In comparison, it's more valuable to win him over.

The courtyard was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

Then Ai Mian jumped down from the courtyard wall.

"Red Sheath, the seventeenth assassin of the Heavenly Luo Fragrance, challenged the successor of the Heavenly Blade in pursuit of his name, but was defeated in a single move and perished..."

She landed very lightly, like a leaf, so light that she didn't make a sound.

"If you refuse," said the sorrowful face, "though Tianluoxiang will no longer intervene..."

"But number seventeen—"

His gaze fell on Su Wancheng.

"They must die."

Su Wancheng did not move, but Lu Guo noticed that her fingers were on the hilt of the sword again.

It wasn't fear, it was instinct. Ten years of experience as an assassin had made her body react before her brain when faced with the words "must die."

Lu Guo reached out his hand.

His hand pressed down on her wrist.

The movements were very gentle.

Su Wancheng's hand, which was about to draw her sword, froze.

She looked down at the hand pressing on her wrist.

Her fingers were long and slender with distinct knuckles, and her palms were slightly cool. The force wasn't great, but she couldn't move. It wasn't that she was being suppressed; rather, it was an inexplicable force that made her unwilling to move.

"Su Wancheng's favorability +3."

Lu Guo didn't look at her.

He looked at the sorrowful face.

"She won't die."

Four words.

His tone was soft, steady, and deep.

Ai Mian looked at the hand that was pressing on Su Wancheng's wrist, and then at Su Wancheng's reaction of not pulling away.

Then she nodded.

"I will convey this to the head of the incense shop."

"While Tianluoxiang may not bother us anymore, there's no guarantee others won't!"

"Goodbye!"

After she finished speaking, she swayed and disappeared beyond the courtyard wall in the blink of an eye.

They came silently and left quickly and abruptly.

"?" Lu Guo.

They're leaving already?

Aren't you being overly cautious, assassin?

He was puzzled.

Su Wancheng looked down at the hand without saying a word.

The moonlight shone on her profile, revealing a faint red tinge at the tips of her ears.

[Su Wancheng's favorability +5.]

The hidden storyline "The Mystery of Tianya Mingyue Dao" has been unlocked.

[Hint: The new character "Sorrowful Face" has entered the relationship network; current relationship: Neutral to Cautious.]

The "Invitation from Tianluoxiang" event of the Chang Le Gang has been triggered.

Lu Guo withdrew his hand.

The movements were so natural, as if nothing had happened.

"That mournful-faced fellow," he changed the subject, "why didn't he draw his sword against me?"

Su Wancheng was silent for a moment, as if she was calming down.

Then she raised her head, regaining the composure befitting a top-tier assassin.

"She is a cautious person and never acts alone. She always sends people to test the waters before making her move. The fact that she is here shows that the sect leader values ​​the young master far more than expected."

"Young master..."

"Yes, young master." Su Wancheng looked at Lu Guo, "As she said, Hong Shao has already died under the blade of the successor of the Heavenly Blade."

"Your incense master seems to be quite interested in me."

"Wan Cheng never saw the true face of the incense master. For thirty years since the establishment of Tianluo Incense, the incense master has always worn a mask, and each incense master will inherit that mask."

"You've never seen it either?"

"I've only seen her mask," Su Wancheng said. "Like the Mourning Mask, it's a bronze mask, but the Mourning Mask has no patterns on it, while the Incense Master's mask... has an orchid engraved on it."

orchid.

Orchids again.

The orchid in Tianluoxiang clearly holds special significance.

"Your master," Lu Guo asked, "how did she get the name 'Youquan Yin' from the teachings she gave you?"

Su Wancheng was taken aback.

She didn't expect him to ask this so suddenly.

"Youquan... is a spring on the back mountain of Tianluoxiang," she said. "The spring water is icy cold all year round, and legend has it that the bottom of the spring leads to the underworld. My master said that this sword technique was comprehended by Youquan, so it was named after it."

Have you seen that spring with your own eyes?

Su Wancheng thought for a moment and shook her head.

"No, the back mountain is a forbidden area of ​​Tianluo Incense. Only the incense master and a few elders can enter."

Lu Guo didn't ask any more questions.

"Let's go to Jinling." He stood up. "Wait for me."

Su Wancheng raised her head.

"Where is the young master?"

"I'm already used to being alone!"

Su Wancheng hesitated for a moment, then stood up, picked up a face towel, but didn't put it on.

She folded the face towel and tucked it into her bosom, revealing her pale face.

"Young master."

"Um?"

"Would you agree to the collaboration that Ai Mian proposed?"

Su Wancheng asked.

The Heavenly Incense's ability to accomplish something requiring the assistance of someone of the young master's strength is by no means simple, and its reward lies in the cause of his master's death—

She knew that the young master cared about this. She hoped that he would agree because it would mean that he was willing to take risks for his master and that he was a person who valued loyalty and righteousness.

But she also hoped the young master would refuse, because—

Do you want me to say yes?

Lu Guo looked at her.

Even someone with poor emotional intelligence would know how to answer such a question.

Su Wancheng remained silent for a long time.

The moonlight fell on her eyelashes, casting fine shadows.

"I have no idea."

Are you worried about me?

Su Wancheng's eyelashes trembled slightly.

She did not answer.

But she did not deny it.

In the moonlight, a very faint blush rose on her pale face, like an apricot blossom falling on the snow, almost invisible, but undeniably present.

"Young master, won't you ask me more about the Heavenly Luo Incense?"

Why?

"The Sorrowful Face has already arrived." Su Wancheng gripped the hilt of her sword. "Even if Tianluoxiang doesn't come, others will."

Whether you come or not, I will be there.

"Su Wancheng's favorability +3."

"..."