Others might see Lü Hanyan merely as an exceptionally beautiful brothel keeper, unaware of her true value. But for Cao Wenbin, the bearer of the spirit of the Otherworldly Dragon King, her significance was as clear as daylight. Like Qin Yunmeng, she was one of Wu Chengqian's closest confidantes. However, while Qin Yunmeng had the potential to reach saintly status, Lü Hanyan's gift lay in the art of governance. Years from now, when Wu Chengqian would seize the throne and crown himself emperor, it would be Lü Hanyan who would stand beside him as prime minister. Her talents were formidable enough that Wu Chengqian would one day call her the Zhuge Liang of their era.
"Wu Chengqian, you're digging your own grave," Cao Wenbin thought to himself, a smirk tugging at his lips as he watched. Yet his thoughts did not distract him from his actions. With the elegance of a player in complete control of his game, he toyed with the scene, and within mere minutes, Lü Hanyan was beginning to yield to him completely.
"Sir," she murmured softly, stepping closer, "perhaps you would join me for a drink…"
Wu Chengqian saw this as his cue to join in, swiftly encouraging, "Exactly, my lord! What's the enjoyment in mere flirtation? Upstairs, I've prepared a room for your relaxation should the need arise."
There was a glint of excitement in Wu Chengqian's gaze, fully aware that the moment Cao Wenbin ascended the stairs, it would mean Qin Yunmeng would be left unattended—the very moment he had been waiting for to fulfill his own desires. Yet, much to his disappointment, Cao Wenbin did not follow the script that Wu Chengqian had envisioned.
"What do you know, boy?" he scoffed. "A rare delicacy ought to be savored, not devoured. Where's the thrill if it's rushed?"
With those words, Cao Wenbin continued to amuse himself, brushing Wu Chengqian aside without another glance. That is, until...
"Boom!"
The sudden crash reverberated through the hall. Cao Wenbin's head snapped up from his idle entertainment, his lascivious grin instantly replaced by an expression of surprise—perhaps even fear. Yet, if one looked closely, they might catch the hidden sparkle in his eyes, betraying his true amusement. Under normal circumstances, a man as sharp as Wu Chengqian would have detected the discrepancy, but at this moment, he had no time to pick up on such fine details. He recognized the source of the sound: it was coming from the lower floors. His underground laboratory was in trouble.
Every secondary thought vanished in the face of this crisis. Bowing deeply to Cao Wenbin, Wu Chengqian expressed his regret with urgency, "Young Master, forgive the interruption. That sound—it's from the lower storage. It appears there's been some sort of incident."
With a dismissive wave, Cao Wenbin replied, "Attend to your business; I won't keep you from your duties."
"Oh, one more thing," he added with a sly grin. "I'd like to take this woman with me. I trust you have no objections?"
The request struck Wu Chengqian in a way that stung, though he concealed his emotions with a forced smile. The demand was entirely reasonable, leaving him no room for refusal.
"If the Young Master is so taken with her, please, she's yours to take."
It was all the encouragement Cao Wenbin needed. With no hesitation, he seized Lü Hanyan's hand, and, securing his other arm around Qin Yunmeng, he quickly led them both out of the premises.
On the road...
"Young Master," Lü Hanyan's voice came softly, a flicker of shrewdness in her eyes. "I suspect that everything that took place tonight was of your own design."
There was no denying her skill. In such a short time, she had managed to piece together the truth.
"Sometimes, knowing too much can be dangerous," Cao Wenbin replied, his words carrying an edge that hinted at more than he was saying.
Lü Hanyan, however, only laughed in response. "Young Master wouldn't harm me."
Cao Wenbin raised a brow, his interest piqued. "And what makes you so sure? Don't tell me you think this beautiful face of yours is enough to save you?"
She shook her head with a calm smile. "Of course not. What use is mere beauty to one in your position, when you could have whatever beauty you desire? No, it's not that. My confidence lies in my mind."
Amused, Cao Wenbin opened his mouth to continue the banter, but before he could reply, a sudden figure appeared beside them, landing gracefully out of the darkness. Both women's hearts leaped into their throats, fearing that perhaps Wu Chengqian had sent his finest after them to retrieve them. But Cao Wenbin remained entirely unshaken.
"Is it done?" he asked, his tone so casual it bordered on the dismissive.
The figure who answered was none other than his loyal protector, Xue Rou.
"Yes, Young Master," she replied in her usual composed manner. "Everything salvageable from the underground facility has been secured in storage pouches. As for everything else, I made sure it was destroyed. Oh, and I managed to capture a prisoner—a Quasi-Saint."
In an instant, Cao Wenbin recognized the captive's power level and knew exactly who it was. Without question, this was the very quasi-saint Wu Chengqian had recently revived.
"Well," he murmured, a wicked gleam lighting up his eyes. "They say fortune favors the bold."
At last, he had found a suitable vessel for his Heaven-Devouring Technique.
"How poetic, Wu Chengqian," he mused inwardly, a smirk twisting at the corner of his lips. "Your carefully guarded weapon will soon be nothing more than nourishment for my power."