Several moments after the door had closed behind Wu Ling and the two other men, Chu Dieyi blinked several times before turning to Su Xiang and Su Yao. "How did he do that? Did you see the way that woman looked at him? For all he was smiling, she acted like she was looking at a grinning wolf."
"Cousin Xiang," Su Yao said, looking at her older cousin with wide eyes. "When Brother Wu said he wasn't really a big deal, he was being modest, wasn't he? Does he have some powerful background he's been hiding from us all this time? Maybe someone on his mother's side?" Su Yao speculated.
She knew that Wu Ling's father had been a member of the Shining Blade Hall before his death but she'd heard almost nothing about the Wu family on his mother's side. It couldn't just be the Aunt he mentioned on the carriage ride over. After all, a Master Alchemist was powerful but if the young woman was reacting to Wu Ling's aunt, Su Yao would have expected her to attempt to curry favor with the nephew of a such an extraordinary person. For her to react with fear implied something else entirely.
"Well," Su Xiang hesitated for a moment before being a little more forthcoming with her younger cousin and her friends. It was all but impossible for her to tell a lie but she could tell them a smaller piece of the truth and allow them to draw their own conclusions from there.
"Remember when I said Wu Ling could enter the Inner City whenever he wanted? It's not because his Aunt is a Master Alchemist, it's because his mother is a sect elder and he's considered her direct disciple. His mother is very powerful," she said carefully, not wanting to give away any secrets. "The way that woman reacted, it's probably related to that."
"Just what sect is he a member of?" Zheng Qingye asked, increasingly intrigued by this handsome young lord. With Su Yao, he acted like a kind elder brother, dispensing advice and watching out for the approach of men who might not be worthy of her. When something threatened to disrupt the group, he'd stepped forward quickly to ensure they had a comfortable space to themselves, even though no one asked him to. Now she learned that he had a powerful background and was descended from a strong lineage… Kind, brave, well connected, powerful… It was an enchanting combination for any woman even if he was a few years younger than her!
Similar looks could be seen in the eyes of Su Yao's other friends. Being the nephew of a Master Alchemist and the son of a sect elder was a status none of them could match up to! And yet, before them, he'd been polite, humble and even served tea.
"It's better that you don't know," Su Xiang said, respecting Wu Ling's desire to keep his sect affiliation private at this gathering. "It would only complicate things," she said, hoping that it would discourage Zheng Qingye and the other young women from showing even more interest in her sworn brother than they already were.
Unfortunately, the added mystery only added to the attractive image of Wu Ling settling into Zheng Qingye's mind. Seeing the look in the older woman's eyes, Su Xiang could only shake her head and wonder if this was Wu Ling's own doing or some bloodline ability he'd inherited from his father. Even if it was, it shouldn't be this exaggerated!
Down the hall, the timid employee opened the door to the other waiting room and bowed deeply to Wu Ling. "Young Lord Wu, this is Young Lord Fang's waiting room. I'll tell the House Mistress you're here right away and we'll send a few Sisters with more wine for the Young Lords to enjoy," she said with yet another deep bow before scurrying away without waiting for a reply.
"Brother Wu," Xiong Dahuo said, giving Wu Ling an appraising look. While his build was slight and he seemed more like a refined gentleman or even a dandy than a dangerous warrior, looks weren't everything when it came to evaluating how dangerous someone is. There was something about the way he wore that fur-lined robe that made it feel like more than just a fashionable statement piece and lent him an almost familiar bloody aura. "You are certainly a surprise to find here."
"I get that more than you might think," Wu Ling said with a warm laugh. "Now, I've already met Brothers Xiong and Liu, which of you can introduce me to the man of the hour?"
"Then let me," Liu Mingtao said with a smile, striding confidently into the waiting room. "Brother Fang," he called, interrupting the men gathered around the table and drinking. "We met someone surprising on our way here. Evidently, Brother Wu," he trailed off after a moment.
"Ling," Wu Ling supplied easily. "Wu Ling."
"Right," Liu Mingtao said, looking back to the men at the table. "Brother Wu Ling is acquainted with the House Mistress of this place and he's having her send us more wine along with some beauties to serve us."
"Is that so," Fang Lin said, standing to raise a cup in a toast. "In that case, Brother Wu Ling is most welcome company. How is it that you ran into Brothers Liu and Xiong?"
"It's nothing extraordinary," Wu Ling said, taking a seat at the table like he belonged there. Inwardly, he suppressed the memory of the last time he'd entered a room like this with a group of hot-blooded young men having too much wine. This time would be nothing like his encounter with the Red Tiger's Den, he'd make sure of that! "I came here with Sister Su Yao. We shared a few teachers and she invited me along for old time's sake."
"You came with Su Yao?" Zhang Buyan said, his dark eyes glinting with eagerness and a hint of hostility. "Does that mean you're the Artist who painted her portrait for Brother Fang?"