Everyone stares at Yuan Shao with a shocked face, even his subordinates couldn't believe what their leader said. Sanguan Li Ye's face turns from white to bright red while everyone else drops their jaw. The truth is Yuan Shao didn't mean bad the problem he is very straight forward and brutally honest, grew up as a soldier and lived inside the military he becomes a rigid and firm young man, he doesn't like beat around the bush.

He likes to clear everything in the first-place especially when ut involve with noble people. He rather drew the distinctive line between them and make his stance clear because he knew how sly and cunning noble people could be especially the women since he experiences firsthand with his step-mother.

​​

So. when he encounters Sanguan Li Ye he knows he must be responsible because the accident involves him even though is not his fault but as a man, he has to be a gentleman which is making sure the other person is not hurt and he is responsible to give them necessary assistance when in need but beyond that, he would never have the intention to go further.

Since what happened with his family Yuan Shao has sentiment towards noblewomen, for Yuan Shao, all noblewomen are devious, cruel, and heartless, nothing is taboo for them to get whatever they wanted.

Only after he met with Ming Yue Yin his opinion slightly change and then he met Yang Xi Ying and realizes that there still kind and honest noblewomen among them, but still is hard to change one behavior that's been ingrained through his life.

On the other hand, Sanguan Li Ye was shocked, she doesn't know how to react in front of Yuan Shao. Because of her beauty and background, everyone treated her with respect and politeness facing this indescribable situation she unconsciously let her mouth hang loose.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shao feel annoyed with the lack of response he even wonder if the young lady in front of him is a retard, but of course, he can voice his thought because that will be rude, he doesn't realize he already rude from the beginning. Too tired to talk further he waved his hand "Prepare the carriage!" he shouts at his subordinate.

His loud shouted awaked his subordinated from their stupor, the coachman immediately pull the horse and the other subordinated make sure that there's nothing wrong with the carriage. Yuan Shao then nods his head "Excuse me then…"

Sanguan Li Ye startled when she realizes Yuan Shao is prepared to leave "WAIT!" she unconsciously shouted.

Yuan Shao turns around in question looks very much displeased "Is there anything wrong?" he tries to maintain his courtesy.

Sanguan Li Ye eyeball run left and right as she searching for a reason then she says: " You have help me a lot, would you mind come to my home, my father and mother would like meet my savior" she smiles brightly like an innocent little girl, any man would have no heart to refuse a dainty beautiful girl like her too bad Yuan Shao mind in somewhere else so he didn't pay attention at all.

Yuan Shao's eyebrows knit closely, he doesn't understand what the point of meeting this woman's parents, is not like he wanted to propose to her, right. Sanguan Li Ye blushed heavily her eyes filled with expectant Yuan Shao now confirm that Sanguan Li Ye is an idiot and he better not wasted more time with an idiot.

"It's not necessary, excuse me" Yuan Shao turn around and left without waiting for an answer then he jumps to his carriage and the coachman jolts the horse reins and the horse neighs loudly a second later the carriage leave in hasted leaving smoke and dust behind it.

Meanwhile, Sanguan Li Ye agape watching Yuan Shao and his subordinate leaving her alone on the street, Sanguan Li Ye maids servants bite their lips, they did not expect this would happen. The plan was perfect and the execution is impeccable but why the result is so…..awful?

Sanguan clenched her fist as anger rush into her head, this is not the result she expected, what wrong with that man, could he be denser? Sanguan Li Ye stomped her feet on the ground angrily. The old physician who was left behind nervously approach Sanguan Li Ye "Miss…Uhm, about my payment…"

At that moment Sanguan Li ye stare at the old physician with bloodshot eyes just like a wolf eyeing the rabbit "I already give you enough money, what else you want, don't you dare show your face in front of me again!" she berated the old man furiously, sanguan Li ye expression change drastically there's no trace of a demure and frail lady from before.

The old physician staggered as the color drained from his face "Yes, yes, Miss sanguan, Thank you miss, ex…excuse me" he bends his waist repeatedly then runs like a ghost chased his tail.

Sanguan Li Ye snort in disdained, she darted her gaze back to the road where Yuan Sao carriage disappeared, her expression darkens and furry boil inside her, she will make Yuan Shao pay for today humiliation tenfold, she flicked her sleeves and walk back to her carriage in long strides, she moves so fast she almost hit her maid "MOVES!" she shouted.

"Yes, young miss…I'm sorry young miss" the young maid bows her head profusely in fear.

______________________________

"So, Zhao Li Xin used Li Xin's identity to pretend to be his biological father Son?" Lory pursed her lips.

"Why it sounds ridiculous when you say it like that?" Ming Yue Yin props her chin on the table.

Mong Ki has no word to refuted because he admits it does sounds weird "Yes young madam…"

"Okay, you can back to your work, thank you Mong Yi" Lory wave her hand slightly.

"Yes, young madam" Mong Yi cupped his fist then he closes the door gently before he left the room.

"Well, if he wants to investigate what happened with his mother in the past and what they know about Crimson lightning sword map its better start from the inside" Lory sip her tea and sigh.

��When would uncle moves to Sanguan Manor?" Ming Yue Yin asks.

"Approximately in two to three days" Mong Yi answers indiscreetly.

Ming Yue Yin moves her gaze at Lory "How many pieces of map you still need it?"

Lory looks up then used her hands to count "One from Huo Long, the second from the sacred mountain peak society, the third we got it from your good 'general', and the fourth….we got from auction, it seems we only need one more" Lory smile in jest.

"And uncle think the last piece is in Sanguan family hand?"

"That's only the reason why a lazy and unsociable man like him stay in that place"

"Not to mention separate from you, we both know how clingy uncle could be" Ming Yue Yin snickered.

"There's nothing wrong with your husband love you too much" Lory raised her teacup and winks.

"Indeed" Ming Yue Yin nods in response then both of them laugh.

Ming Yue Yin let out a long exhale she fixed her gaze at the crystal vase on the small table on the corner while she ponders for a second then she look at Lory "Imagine when we got all the map, we finally able to find the sword and perhaps we can kill that da*n Serpent" she make victorious grinned.

Lory filled her empty teacup, the white smile float about the small porcelain teacup, she lifts the hot teacup and blows the cup gently, Lory looks down at the pink color tea then she muttered "Could it be that easier?"

"What you mean?" Ming Yue Yin narrows her eyes.

Lory takes a sip then put down the teacup on the table without making a sounds "Something you must never forget when you deal with Demon, he is a liar, a schemer and brutal, he hides all of that behind their sweet words and temptation but I never forget, because he gives me the ugly marks on my body to gives me constant reminder….."

Ming Yue Yin tilted her head "What kinda reminder?"

Lory look down with self-deprecating smiles "That I was weak, I've failed my family – my lineage, he wanted me to know that he never forgot me and no matter where I go I would never escape from his claw"

Ming Yue Yin feel the hair behind her nape raised "He wanted to drive you mad…" she quietly said.

Lory bitterly smiles then she takes another sip and the sweet taste spread in her mouth, it slowly calmed her down "And he succeeds for a while, well….the reason he able to do that to me because I'm not in a good condition, I lost my father, I was separated from my brother and friend then later I lost Girsha, I'm not in the right mind…"

"But you are not like that anymore, I mean – you have me, uncle, Xi Ying, and everyone…you not alone now, why you suddenly bother with that?"

Lory scratches her eyebrows with her finger "Well….Lazarus is sneaky basta*d, I just realized Lazarus never truly tried to stoped us to get the swords, can you see it…?"

"Mmm, that's true, I mean Lao Min Na barely keeps up with the fight" Ming Yue Yin folded her hands on the table after she heard Lory Ming Yue Yin also feel there something wrong with Lazarus behavior, although she is not sure how demon supposed to behave, nonetheless some of Lazarus decision make ger raised her eyebrows.

"Do you think he had another plan?"

Lory shrugged "I just can't believe everything is so simple, gather the map, find the sword, and killed the Demon….is it really that simple?" Lory looks down with a contemplating look, there always a question behind her back, why Lazarus never put up a real fight toward her, why he let her gather her fragments, why Lazarus let her built a new life with her lover and friends, why he never stopped her from gathering the map to the sword that might able to kill him, is it because he doesn't enough power? is because he doesn't know how to stop them….? Oh, please…she will not believe that.

They talk about a thousand years old Demon who had been existed for god's know for how long, Lazarus should have many tricks under his black scales, how could he stay silent and watch Lao Min Na failed all the times, since when he suddenly become so passive?

'What is he up to?'

Lory bites her thumbnail as a dark foreboding feeling starts to creep into her heart.