The Unblemished Blood Sect

Su Ji looked at his junior sister’s flustered and annoyed expression, and the smile on his face only grew wider.

"Was I not speaking properly just now?"

His tone was utterly matter-of-fact. "Let’s get back to business."

There was an indescribable excitement in Su Ji’s voice.

"Junior Sister, tell me—when faced with a rich, arrogant young master from a prominent cultivation family, one who seems both foolish and loaded, do you think they’d be able to resist making a move?"

Su Jiu’s clear fox-like eyes widened slightly as she instantly grasped his intention.

"You mean…"

"Exactly. That would be me."

Su Ji flashed her an exaggeratedly smug expression.

He crossed his legs, hooked his finger around the teapot on the table, and lifted it high, pouring water into a teacup.

The stream of water cascaded down, splashing noisily, and he stopped pouring once the cup was barely half-full.

Then, with a frown, Su Ji pinched the teacup between his fingers, carefully brought it to his lips, and took a delicate sip.

The next second—

"Pah!"

He violently spat out the tea, his face twisted in disgust. "Is this even fit for human consumption?"

"Ah, well. This backwater place clearly has nothing decent to offer. No matter."

Wiping his mouth, Su Ji turned back to Su Jiu with a lecherous grin. "Ah-Jiu, your young master has been traveling all day and is exhausted. Come, give me a leg massage."

Su Jiu: "…"

When she didn’t move, Su Ji raised an eyebrow.

"You took over a hundred top-grade spirit stones from me, and this is the attitude you give in return?"

"Do you believe that with just one word from me, I could have you stripped naked and lying on my bed?"

"Today, these legs will be massaged whether you like it or not."

"Don’t push your luck!"

Why did Su Jiu feel like…

This didn’t seem like an act?

Then, she reached out.

Su Ji felt Su Jiu’s soft, boneless hand rest on his leg and nodded in satisfaction.

But the next moment—

His smile vanished.

"Ack—easy! Easy…!"

Su Jiu had grabbed a pinch of flesh on his thigh and twisted it nearly halfway around.

The smile now belonged to her. "Young Master, is this pressure to your liking?"

Su Ji yelped and leapt back, escaping her clutches. "Anyway, starting now, I’m the rich, brainless Young Master Su."

"And you," he said, giving Su Jiu a once-over, "are the personal bodyguard my father assigned to protect me—but can’t actually control me."

Su Jiu’s pretty face instantly darkened.

What kind of ridiculous setting was this?

"This plan is idiotic. Full of holes."

"Junior Sister, you’re mistaken."

Su Ji shook his head, correcting her with a straight face. "Whether the plan is stupid or not doesn’t matter. What matters is whether the fish will bite."

"If the Blood Fiend Sect really plans to massacre the city…"

"In their eyes, a fat sheep delivered to their doorstep is too good to pass up."

"While carrying out their mission, why not pocket some extra profit? Who would say no?"

"The only uncertainty is… if the target turns out to be tougher than expected, can you handle them, Junior Sister?"

Su Jiu wanted to argue, but seeing the absolute confidence in Su Ji’s eyes, she swallowed her words.

She had to admit—Su Ji’s twisted logic always sounded convincing.

In the end, she could only let out a cold snort through her nose, silently conceding.

"Their strength is unclear, so I can’t say for sure. But at the very least, I can guarantee we both walk away unharmed."

Hearing this, Su Ji cast aside his hesitation.

Straightening his robes, he threw open the door with his head held high and swaggered out.

Su Jiu followed behind, her face expressionless, though inwardly she had cursed Su Ji at least ten times.

The two descended the stairs one after the other.

Su Ji deliberately stomped his feet loudly, as if afraid no one would notice him.

"Innkeeper!"

He bellowed toward the counter.

"Is this swill you call tea fit for humans? It’s pig slop!"

The innkeeper, who had been tallying accounts, nearly sent his abacus beads flying in shock.

The lively atmosphere in the hall froze for a moment at the outburst.

Every pair of eyes turned toward Su Ji.

Especially the table of Blood Fiend Sect disciples in the corner, who had been deep in their own scheming.

"Big Brother, your plan is brilliant!"

"Even if Wan’an City is massacred, we can pin the blame entirely on the mastermind in Anyang City."

"Our Blood Fiend Sect remains spotless."

"Even better—we’ll be credited for uncovering the truth! The very picture of righteous—"

Suddenly, the disciple’s voice cut off.

They paused their drinking, their interest piqued as they turned to watch.

The innkeeper hurried over with an apologetic smile, though inwardly he cursed Su Ji.

He’d known that spirit stone wouldn’t come easy.

But even half a low-grade spirit stone was worth a month’s wages for him.

He had to stay polite. "Esteemed guest, please, calm your anger! If the tea isn’t to your liking, this humble one will fetch the finest we have at once!"

"It’s just… we had no idea you’d grace us with your presence tonight. We weren’t prepared."

"My fault, my fault."

Su Ji didn’t even glance at him. He strode to an empty table, plopped down, and propped his feet up on the surface.

Then, he thrust a hand toward Su Jiu.

Su Jiu’s face was icy. "Young Master…"

Su Ji cut her off. "Money. Now."

With a cold snort, Su Jiu pulled out a mid-grade spirit stone and tossed it onto the table with a crisp clink.

Su Ji then addressed the innkeeper. "Bring me the most expensive dishes and the finest wine you’ve got!"

"This spirit stone is your tip."

A mid-grade spirit stone!

The innkeeper’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.

A single meal, and a mid-grade spirit stone as a reward?

Just whose spoiled young master was this?

Bowing repeatedly, he scurried to the table to collect the stone, babbling, "Right away! Right away! Young Master, please wait just a moment!"

This one stone was worth more than what he could save in three to five years.

A mortal’s life was short—how many three-to-five-year spans did one even have?

This time, when he called him "Young Master," it was no empty courtesy. He meant it from the bottom of his heart.

He’d truly encountered a noble patron today.

However…

The atmosphere in the hall grew subtly tense.

Many eyes lingered on Su Ji, now glinting with greed—though none dared act on it.

Meanwhile, the Blood Fiend Sect disciples huddled together, whispering.

"Big Brother, look at that kid."

One disciple kept his voice low.

"His outfit alone looks expensive, and he throws money around like it’s nothing."

The leader of the group—a burly man posing as a merchant caravan chief—took a swig from his bowl, but his gaze lingered on Su Jiu standing behind Su Ji.

Su Jiu stood with her arms crossed, her face frosty and silent.

Though she kept her Golden Core cultivator’s aura tightly restrained, to another cultivator like the burly man, her presence was still unmistakable.

"Don’t cause trouble. That woman behind him isn’t simple."

"For a family to have a Golden Core cultivator—and a young woman at that—as a bodyguard…"

"It’s not worth it."

The man set down his bowl, his voice steady.

After all, it was just one mid-grade spirit stone.

Risking a fight with a Golden Core cultivator over that? Not worth it.

And it might even interfere with the sect’s greater plans…

Another disciple chuckled under his breath.

"Big bro is right, but... I noticed that woman, even though she's standing there, seems pretty annoyed by that guy's arrogance."

"Most likely she was sent by his family to protect him. Doesn’t seem like they get along."

"This kind of setup is perfect for an ambush."

The burly man didn’t respond, just silently kept watching.