Everything Is Like a Game

Lu Shuyao gazed with tender affection, pouring wine once more as she spoke.

"Shuyao offers another toast to you, sir."

She edged closer, secretly channeling the power of the Great Dao, her meridians brimming with a subtle yin energy as a delicate fragrance emanated from her graceful form.

This was a fragment of the Celestial Soul Art she had learned from ancient texts—a life-saving trump card meant to bewitch the minds of others.

The technique was profoundly esoteric.

Even she had only mastered three layers of it!

Had it not been a last resort, Lu Shuyao would never have revealed this final ace. With their eyes locked and her peerless beauty enhancing the effect, success was assured!

To secure Yi Feng’s allegiance, she cast aside her noble status, even willing to sacrifice her dignity.

In the eyes of this scion of the Lu family,

no price was too great if it meant reclaiming control of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Once she regained power, who would ever learn of such secrets?

Her resolve hardened.

Lu Shuyao intensified the yin energy, her allure growing ever more potent.

Seeing the young woman offer another toast, Yi Feng, as a man, could hardly refuse out of courtesy.

He raised his cup and drained it in one go.

"My thanks."

His reaction was indifferent, his expression barely shifting.

Lu Shuyao’s heart skipped a beat.

She had employed the Celestial Soul Art at close range, yet this man remained utterly composed, completely unaffected by her charms?

Had it been anyone else,

they would already be panting with thirst, their face flushed like a fool!

This gentleman’s willpower was truly extraordinary.

Mildly astonished, Lu Shuyao leaned in further, activating the second layer of the Celestial Soul Art!

Yi Feng caught a stronger whiff of the fragrance, feeling only awkwardness.

Good grief.

Who douses themselves in such heavy perfume just to go out for a meal? It’s practically suffocating.

She must’ve sprayed two pounds of the stuff.

Just because she’s rich doesn’t mean she has to flaunt it like this—doesn’t she worry about asphyxiating people?

Wait… could she have… body odor?

Ew…

As Yi Feng subtly covered his nose and eyed her,

Lu Shuyao grew even more bewildered!

The second layer of the Celestial Soul Art had failed too?

Not only was the gentleman immune to her allure, but he seemed wary, as if repelled by the very fragrance meant to entice him?

Stunned once more,

Lu Shuyao abandoned all restraint, channeling every ounce of her yin energy.

Celestial Soul Art—Third Layer!

Her eyes locked onto his, brimming with tenderness.

Her gaze, soft as silk, shimmered like autumn waters, her bewitching, dreamy eyes capable of ensnaring any man with a single glance!

Without a word, Lu Shuyao plucked at his heartstrings, her crimson lips curling into an intoxicating smile.

Before him stood a beauty surpassing all wonders of the world.

But to Yi Feng,

the scene was even more awkward than before.

What’s with all the blinking?

"Uh…"

"Miss Lu, did you get something in your eye? Want me to blow it out for you?"

Lu Shuyao froze.

The elegant chamber fell dead silent.

The carefully cultivated atmosphere of intimacy vanished in an instant, leaving only her flushed cheeks and a creeping embarrassment.

Damn it!

Not only had this man seen through her seduction, but he’d also mocked her outright—what a clueless blockhead!

Infuriating!

All traces of her allure dissipated instantly, replaced by a mix of humiliation and frustration.

After a few stiff seconds, she felt so awkward she could’ve dug out an entire essay with her toes, itching to verbally eviscerate Yi Feng!

But when she met his gaze again,

his eyes were calm as still water, as if tempered by millennia of wisdom.

There wasn’t a hint of mockery in them.

Suddenly,

Lu Shuyao came to her senses.

This gentleman adored calligraphy and painting—how could he possibly lack an appreciation for romance?

Impossible!

His teasing remark had to be deliberate,

a gentle way of telling her to back off.

Hiss—

Lu Shuyao’s eyes sharpened with realization.

He’d effortlessly dismantled the Celestial Soul Art—this man’s methods were terrifying! His polite but firm rejection made it clear: he was dead set on supporting Lu Xinlan!

Faced with the truth, Lu Shuyao seethed with resentment.

But with no further cards to play, she had no choice but to abandon her attempts at winning him over.

A glint of cold ruthlessness flashed in her eyes.

If she couldn’t have such a figure on her side,

then he must not be allowed to exist—better dead than aiding her rivals!

With her sinister scheme in mind,

Lu Shuyao retreated to her seat, masking her thoughts with a graceful smile.

"You jest, sir. This humble woman is quite alright."

"You seem disinterested in the wine—could it be this ordinary immortal brew fails to impress you?"

With that, she called to the door.

"Attendant! Bring out my private reserve."

Moments later,

a maidservant presented an exquisite wine flask, adorned with intricate carvings of cranes soaring through clouds—a piece of undeniable rarity. An intoxicating aroma filled the chamber.

Yi Feng’s curiosity was piqued.

"Many thanks for your hospitality, miss. What manner of wine is this?"

Lu Shuyao rose gracefully, pouring for him herself.

"A discerning eye, sir."

"This wine is brewed from the Black Isle’s Heavenly Spring, infused with eighteen precious ingredients. It tastes like water at first sip, but its fragrance lingers endlessly, clinging to the lips for three days without fading. I hope you’ll savor it slowly…"

As she spoke, her fingers discreetly triggered a hidden mechanism in the flask.

She filled her own cup as well, raising it steadily.

"To your health!"

Yi Feng, now even more intrigued, drank without hesitation.

Watching him drain the cup,

Lu Shuyao’s spirits lifted, her confidence returning.

This was the Ten Thousand Poisons Brew!

A concoction of refined toxins, colorless, odorless, and undetectable. Paired with the dual-chambered flask to allay suspicion, her poison plot was flawless!

Even a man of his caliber

would surely perish upon drinking it.

With her scheme unfolding smoothly, Lu Shuyao felt the reins of control back in her hands.

But after several moments,

Yi Feng showed no signs of distress. Instead, he smacked his lips, as if yearning for more.

"Hmm. Smells great, but it really does taste like nothing. Mind pouring me another, Miss Lu?"

Lu Shuyao’s fingers twitched imperceptibly, her mind racing.

Impossible.

The Ten Thousand Poisons Brew was lethal upon ingestion—a Black Isle specialty. How could it have no effect?

Was his cultivation so profound he could suppress the toxins temporarily?

No matter.

The brew was rare, but if it meant sending him off for good, she’d let him drink his fill—a final courtesy.

Smiling, she refilled his cup, her anticipation mounting.

Yet by the time the flask ran dry,

Yi Feng’s complexion remained rosy and unblemished.

Finally,

Lu Shuyao could sit still no longer!

Snatching the flask, she inspected it closely, her pupils trembling with disbelief.

It was empty…

This man had truly consumed an entire flask of the Ten Thousand Poisons Brew—unscathed! Just how formidable was his cultivation?

What kind of monster was he?!

Lu Shuyao stood frozen, her mind reeling.

Yi Feng, mistaking her shock for dismay, rubbed his nose sheepishly.

"Apologies, Miss Lu. This wine’s so tasteless I got carried away. Hope you don’t mind."

Tasteless?!

You’re critiquing it like a connoisseur?!

Faced with such absurd understatement, Lu Shuyao understood: poison of this caliber was utterly useless against him.

Fine!

His power was undeniable!

No one in the entire Black Isle could match such confidence!

If neither soft nor hard tactics worked…

She refused to believe he had no weaknesses at all!

Though inwardly gnashing her teeth,

Lu Shuyao forced a smile.

"Sir, you truly have a way with words…"

"How could a mere girl like me begrudge a bit of wine? Since the gentleman does not care for drinking, please indulge in the island's delicacies instead!"

With another clap of her hands, a platter of chilled sashimi was brought into the elegant chamber.

"Please."

Lu Shuyao's enthusiastic invitation carried unwavering confidence.

This ice-carved cod was a rare delicacy, said to even grant insights into the Dao's profound power. With such a treasure before him, who could resist temptation? Hidden within it was the Heart-Devouring Gu—a parasite invisible to the naked eye, barely the size of a speck. Only the one who planted it could detect its presence!

Utterly undetectable.

A single bite would send the gu worm burrowing into the victim's body, turning them into a mindless puppet. Their cultivation would wither, and they would eventually perish, drained of all vitality.

Under Lu Shuyao's expectant gaze, Yi Feng felt a chill crawl down his spine.

Sashimi again?

Did these people from the Eastern Sea have no sense of hygiene? There, right on the slice of fish—wasn’t that a parasite?!

Noticing Yi Feng’s hesitation, Lu Shuyao tensed and couldn’t help but urge him.

"Sir, please, do take a bite?"

Faced with such insistence, Yi Feng was at a loss. He really wasn’t fond of raw fish, let alone when it came with parasites.

Still, he couldn’t outright refuse without causing offense.

He picked up his chopsticks—

And directly plucked out the parasite!

Instantly, Lu Shuyao’s delicate frame shuddered in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Impossible…

This was absolutely impossible!

The Heart-Devouring Gu was formless and colorless—how could anyone spot it at a glance, let alone fish it out so effortlessly?!

An unprecedented wave of terror crashed over her.

Caught red-handed, Lu Shuyao paled, her face draining of color.

Seeing the young woman so flustered, Yi Feng took it upon himself to patiently explain.

"Miss Lu, eating raw fish isn’t hygienic. This right here is a parasite!"

"Let me tell you, most freshwater fish carry parasites. A tiny worm like this, if swallowed, would definitely—"

His profound lecture fell on deaf ears.

Lu Shuyao didn’t absorb a single word.

To her, this man was utterly terrifying—his cultivation unfathomable, his perception and insight reaching inconceivable heights, as if he were an ancient legend who had walked the river of time itself.

Before such a being, all her schemes seemed like child’s play. She felt like a naive girl in his presence.

Worse still, he had seen through everything yet couldn’t even be bothered to expose her, let alone lift a finger against her.

This absurd intuition battered her mind relentlessly, leaving her unable to regain her composure.

"Do you understand now?"

His gentle voice echoed like temple bells at dawn.

Only then did Lu Shuyao snap out of her daze, hastily bowing in deference.

"Sir, forgive me… This lowly one understands now…"

She sat back down, trembling, her eyes now filled with even deeper reverence. Whatever Yi Feng asked, she answered without reservation.

By the time the wine had been poured thrice and Yi Feng finally took his leave, satisfied, she could no longer contain her frustration. Slamming the table, she gnashed her teeth.

"Damn it!"

"How did Lu Xinlan manage to win the aid of such a master? What price did she pay?!"

Fuming, the young mistress had no outlet for her rage. All her curses were directed at Lu Xinlan, leaving her seething with humiliation.

And in the depths of her mind—an indelible mix of dread and resentment toward Yi Feng took root.