A Brilliant Stratagem and a Shattered Heart

After that, Su Mo observed the entire situation, remaining silent. The Kunshan Mirror, which was ultimately nothing more than an empty artifact, was covertly manipulated by the Golden Core cultivator and given to one of their own.

These greedy cultivators would follow suit, venturing outside the city tonight, only to be astonished by the hordes of specters awaiting them, suffering a devastating defeat.

This maneuver would not only eliminate those who coveted her but also allow them to probe the risks and gauge the intensity of the specter siege.

It was a brilliant stratagem.

“…” Su Mo watched in silence as the cultivators’ trading fervor surged once more.

Some, in their preparations or simply to turn a profit, pulled out their most prized possessions, making Su Mo practically drool at the sight.

A stark comparison revealed just how impoverished she truly was.

“Miss Su,” Mo Lian spoke, casually producing three items.

These were a bracelet, a necklace, and a string of red-corded bells, all small and charming.

Her eyes lit up. ‘Isn’t this the reward the adult mentioned?’

As Mo Lian explained in detail, Su Mo gradually understood.

The bracelet was a mid-grade defensive artifact, capable of partially deflecting attacks. It resembled solidified black rock, heavy and rough to the touch.

The necklace was a mid-grade detection artifact, able to locate people and objects, and even possessed some exorcism properties. It had a rather feminine appearance, clearly having been used before.

The red-corded bells were a high-grade artifact, yet their effect was exceptionally singular: they amplified sound, making them effective against sonic attacks. It was an artifact whose efficacy depended entirely on its wielder.

After a moment of thought, Su Mo fixed her gaze on the red-corded bells and asked,

“What are these red-corded bells called?”

“They are called the Resonant Red Fortune Bells. Legend says they achieve their maximum potential when wielded by lovers together… I’ve never managed to activate that effect, so it might just be a rumor. Miss Su, it’s best to simply consider them an artifact for amplifying sound waves.” Mo Lian shook her head.

Su Mo reached out, and seeing Mo Lian’s silent nod of permission, she picked up the Resonant Red Fortune Bells. She gave them a gentle shake, and the chimes rang out, clear and crisp, even seeming playfully charming.

They were crafted from the fibers of a peculiar red grass, twisted into a delicate red cord. The two small golden bells were spherical, seamlessly formed, as if hollowed out from a single, extraordinary golden stone.

Delighted by the sight, Su Mo looked up and asked,

“Can I have these?”

Startled for a moment, Mo Lian found her question quite endearing and immediately nodded.

Once Su Mo happily put them away, Mo Lian pushed two more items forward.

These were the remaining bracelet and necklace.

“What are these?” Su Mo asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

“They are of no use to me, so I shall give them all to Miss Su.” Mo Lian was exceptionally generous.

She had initially thought it was a single-choice question, racking her brain to pick, only to find it was a multiple-choice, an ABCD scenario.

Yet, wary of unearned favors, Su Mo hesitated.

Even though she knew Mo Lian was an upright individual, a sense of caution still arose within her.

“Take them. In the future, if you have nothing to do, you are welcome to come to the Demon Suppression Bureau and chat with me.” She spoke without using her true voice, making her gender indiscernible and somewhat peculiar.

However, Su Mo listened closely and detected a hint of kindness within, gentle and casual.

Having maintained her disguise in the Demon Suppression Bureau for so long, she had protected Dangyang County and eliminated numerous demonic cultivators. Yet, who truly knew of her accomplishments?

Only the common people remembered her benevolence, while she had accumulated considerable enmity with cultivators.

There was no one to share her joys with, and no place to voice her sorrows. Now, conversing with Su Mo, she felt the same carefree joy she had once shared with her playmates in the sect.

The nostalgia was so strong that she wished to acknowledge Su Mo as her younger sister.

But she dared not, unwilling to implicate Su Mo.

“Alright, then we’re good friends!” Su Mo put away the two items and extended a hand. She understood that, for Mo Lian, sincerity was the ultimate weapon.

Her small hand opened, awaiting Mo Lian’s grasp, causing Mo Lian’s eyes, hidden beneath her mask, to show surprise:

“What is this?”

“It’s a handshake, a custom from my hometown, a gesture to affirm friendship.” Su Mo smiled sweetly.

After a moment of stunned silence, Mo Lian gazed at the innocent and romantic girl before her, a warmth spreading through her heart.

She extended a gloved hand from beneath her robes and gently clasped Su Mo’s.

Their first handshake was even a bit clumsy, with Su Mo playfully shaking it a few times, a smile gracing her lips.

“Adult, from now on, we’re friends. You can call me… Su Yao.”

“Mm…”

****

This scene, observed by Xu Qingzhu from across the way, sent a tremor through his heart.

“…” He silently watched the ‘intimate’ clasping of hands across from him, an inexplicable irritation bubbling within.

He squeezed the cup in his hand, and with a soft “crack,” a fissure appeared, leaving the nearby attendant speechless.

‘This master just crushed one cup, and now another?’ The attendant prepared to make another trip to fetch a fresh set of utensils.

“Brother Xiaozhu, what are you looking at?” Lu Yanling asked, feigning ignorance, pulling his attention back.

Pinching his arm, his childhood sweetheart brought Xu Qingzhu back to reality, and he realized his unseemly behavior.

“Nothing,” he mumbled, then drank heavily, his mind swirling with countless thoughts.

He had believed that being with Lu Yanling would bring him absolute inner peace.

Yet, after hundreds of years of longing in his previous life, now that it had suddenly materialized, he found himself unable to feel any tranquility?!

‘Is it because of Su Mo’s influence? Yes, that’s right. I’ve already embarked on this path; the trial of slaying my wife to attain enlightenment is upon me. Only after overcoming this can I truly gain power…’ He forced himself to analyze.

Inadvertently, he looked up again, only to see Su Mo chatting and laughing with the Golden Core cultivator.

“Crack!” The cup shattered, scattering across the floor.

It was then that he truly understood the terror of the Path of Heartlessness; it rendered him utterly unable to control his own actions.

A trace of obsession taking hold, he lowered his eyes, phrases surfacing in his mind:

‘Do you like him that much? My Su wife, you are my future wife…’

‘Disregarding wifely duties will lead to family discipline…’

Having witnessed the entire interaction, Lu Yanling somewhat understood: her beloved seemed to have found a lover.

This demeanor clearly indicated genuine affection.

She lowered her small head, her eyes filled with disappointment. But a moment later, she looked up, full of renewed vigor, and encouraged herself:

‘But Brother Xiaozhu hasn’t realized his feelings yet, I can still salvage this!’

‘All I need to do is deliberately redirect that spark of affection he has for Su Mo towards myself.’

‘With Brother Xiaozhu’s clueless mind, he definitely won’t be able to tell the difference.’

‘Who he ends up loving in the end is still uncertain!’ She gazed across at Su Mo, her eyes brimming with determination.

She stood tall and proud, her small face radiating a hint of arrogance.

‘Just watch. This is the bond between childhood sweethearts!’

****

“Pop! Pop!” The sound of firecrackers erupted outside. Everyone looked, realizing the hour was late and the bright moon had ascended high into the sky.

The streets and alleys of Dangyang County were packed with people, and the glow of lanterns, like shimmering glass, illuminated the entire city.

Under the moonlight, the lively atmosphere infected everyone, and at Mo Lian’s invitation, they all rose.

From the high platform, overlooking the vast county town, an inexplicable sense of ease filled their hearts.

“The festive atmosphere of the ancients truly is profound,” she remarked, leaning against the railing. She glanced sideways at the peacefully living populace, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.

The lights from the pavilion shone upon her, and beneath their warm, yellow glow, her lowered beautiful eyes gleamed brightly, her faint smile a delightful sight.

Mo Lian stood nearby, her disguised, towering figure overshadowing a considerable area.

Compared to Su Mo’s delicate frame, it created a distinct impression of a general and their spouse.

This scene, once again, fell upon Xu Qingzhu’s eyes, causing him to uncontrollably step forward and approach Su Mo.

He stood behind her, his dark hair fluttering in the evening breeze.

A cold, clear voice pierced Su Mo’s thoughts, prompting her to turn.

“Is something the matter, Young Master Xu?”

Those three words, “Young Master Xu,” caused him to frown, and he said with displeasure,

“Come outside with me for a moment.”

Su Mo raised an eyebrow, her tone quite disdainful.

“Who do you think you are, calling me whenever you please? Appearing at your beck and call, dismissed at your whim—that’s how you treat a dog.”

“I’m not joking…”

His words were cut short.

Mo Lian couldn’t stand by. He already had a wife, yet he was openly seeking out another person, and for what reason?

She stated coldly,

“Young Master Xu, since Su Yao does not agree, then do not press the matter.”

“Boom!” Like a clap of thunder, her words exploded in his mind, leaving Xu Qingzhu frozen in place.

His mind replayed the words incessantly, filled with utter disbelief—

‘She actually called her Su Yao?! How dare she!’