Lory rarely heard someone calling her Miss Luo, she turned around and saw a man dressed neatly like a scholar, a man who was quite handsome but too rigid in her opinion. The young man looked familiar, but Lory couldn't remember who he was.

"You are?" Lory furrowed her brows.

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The man realized that he had not introduced himself yet, he immediately cupped his fists and said: "My name is Gu Lian Fu, I apologize for the late introduction" he said respectfully.

Lory widened her eyes for a moment but then she smiled meaningfully, "I see .... Mister Gu, right"

"You know about me?" Gu Lian Fu's face suddenly glowed, he believed Lory knew him from Yang Xi Ying, it seemed that she didn't completely forget about him, but then he remembered everything he had done to Yang Xi Ying and his face turned ashen, he realized it might not be good things for Yang Xi Ying to remember about him, however, he forced himself to be positive, at least she still remembered him.

Lory saw Gu Lian Fu's expression change from happy to worried than happy again, he didn't know what made his expression changed so many times, Yang Xi Ying was right, this man was difficult to understand, no wonder there were so many misunderstandings between them.

Lory did not probe further, "Can you play chess, Master Gu?" Lory casually asked.

"Yes," he answered with a puzzled look.

"Good, you can help me practice then" Lory turned around and sign him to follow her.

Lory met halfway with one of Xi Lin's servants then she ordered her to served beverages and prepare a chessboard in one of the empty pavilions, the maid lowered her head before she rushed to carry Lory's order.

Not long after they arrived at one of the small pavilions near the lake, it wasn't long before the male servants came to prepare the chessboard while the servants prepared wine for Gu Lian Fu and tea for Lory, they had already been warned by Yang Xi Ying that Lory didn't like wine and he only drank the tea provided by the Hei Shen sect which was 'pink flower tea' or 'sun orange' tea, or other tea provide from the Hei Shen sect.

They thought Lory had an expensive taste but no one thought that the truth is Lory couldn't handle the bitter taste that came from ordinary tea and wine.

"Mister Gu, please sit down." Lory raised his hand, politely inviting him to sit opposite him.

As Gu Lian Fu sat down, Lory casually asked again, "Do you prefer white or black stones?"

"Anything is fine for me" he smiled stiffly, feeling uneasy when Lory treated him so casually almost like they were friends.

she feigns ignorant about his anxiousness, Lory maintained her friendly demeanor "I'll use black than..."

Gu Lian Fu secretly observes Lory's behavior, he has seen many women in his life, and he thinks he is good at judging someone's character, although this self-proclaimed will be completely refuted by Yang Xi Ying, however, this is what Gu Lian Fu believes in himself.

Unfortunately, even though he was very confident in his abilities, he still couldn't read the woman in front of him, he couldn't pinpoint what was wrong with her but he could feel that there was something more than meet the eyes.

Regardless, the game continued, this was Gu Lian Fu's first time playing chess with a woman, he had always thought that this strategic game was not suitable for women who were easily swayed by his own feelings. however, Lory successfully forces him to reconsider his previous opinion about women.

Lory's moves are bold, calm, and fierce, at first, it looks reckless but every step she takes was calculated carefully beforehand and gradually trapped his chesspieces in the middle. Gu Lian Fu peered at Lory's face, he expected a proud and smug face from her but no, what he got is a calm and serious face, people said chess will show people true characters, then.. is it her characters?

To be honest, Gu Lian Fu has some prejudice about Lory, he knows Lory was once a servant at Zhao Li Xin's manor then somehow she suddenly became Zhao Li Xin's wife, and not only did she have Zhao Li Xin's heart in the palm of her hand, but he also successfully able to control him too.

Because of her, Zhao Li Xin couldn't take any more wives, he even didn't have concubines, and this was a mindblowing fact for a strong man like Zhao Li Xin who had the ability to control a nation if he wanted to fall in woman grasp, so Gu Lian Fu drew a picture of Lory. in her head as a mischievous cunning, and devious woman especially after what happened to Tang Mei Yi.

Even though it was wrong for Tang Mei Yi to try to kill Luo Ri Yi but this wouldn't happen if Lory didn't provoke her and wasn't Lory turned out to be fine. Gu Lian Fu thought Tang Mei Yi didn't deserve to die in a violent way like that, Gu Lian Fu blamed Lory who possibly the one who incited Zhao Li Xin to went that far and because of her Zhao Li Xin even killed the whole of the Lu clan.

Gu Lian Fu believed soon or later Lory would end up hurting yang Xi Ying one day, but Li Mo Zhen wouldn't care because he had enjoyed the benefits from making connections with the Hei Shen sect. Gu Lian Fu didn't think he was wrong since it was a fact that the Jiu Yun sect thrived even further after Li Mo Zhen met Zhao Li Xin.

Gu Lian Fu did not realize that he was biased about Tang Mei Yi, it was a sheer of luck that Lory able to survive Tang Mei Yi's assassination attempt, if lory was not resourceful and protected by Girsha, she might not be alive today and Gu Lian Fu did not want to admit that Li Mo Zhen success is due to his own abilities, although the Hei Shen sect and the Jiu Yun sect have an amicable relationship, their cooperation is mutually beneficial for both parties so it is not like the Jiu Yun sect got a free ride from the Hei Shen sect.

Alas, Gu Lian Fu either ignored this fact or maybe he didn't want to know because it must have been difficult for him to accept that Yang Xi Ying was surrounded by great people and that she wouldn't need his help anymore in this lifetime.

"Checkmate" Lory smiled, "You played well, Mr. Gu," said Lory in a low voice.

Her face turned red from embarrassment, "You did even better, Miss Luo?" Gu Lian Fu responded with a heavy sigh, Lory had blocked all of his movements, without any way out. It was a shame for him, luckily no one knew this except them, he only hoped that Lory would not spread this news to others.

Good news for him, Lory didn't see this as an accomplishment, there's a chance she would forget about this the sooner they finish their game "I'm glad I don't disappoint you, Master Gu" Lory said while pouring herself a cup of tea.

Gu Lian Fu raised his gaze to see Lory's arrogant face but what he saw was her indifference, "I didn't know Miss Luo could play chess very well."

"Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Gu" Lory replied humbly, she calmly put the chess stone back to the bowl then close the lid and put it on the side of the chessboard, Lory smiled then say: "Even though you said I played well but I never won against my husband"

Gu Lian Fu stunned "Lord long Ming?"

It was hard for him to imagine a strong figure like Long Ming who could burn the entire city and exterminate any major clan and sect in the world would spend his time playing chess with his wife, that imagination was too… peaceful.

Lory nodded "En, my husband's moves were more decisive, quicker, and more ruthless than mine, he doesn't;t hesitated to sacrifice his chess piece to win the game….turned out it was something that I couldn't do…" she make mirthless smiled while blowing her tea.

"Are you describe your husband as a hearthless man, Miss Luo?"

Lory tilted her head and say: "I think I describe him as a determined leader"

"Even though he had killed many people?" Gu Lian Fu frowned.

"Which cultivator never kills, master Gu?" Lory sipped her tea calmly then she turned her gaze to the lake, she ponders for a second then quietly said: "My husband made the decision to stand above others so that he can survive without anyone being able to dictate his ways of life, he knows there is a price to pay and sacrifice to make, even though I may not always agree with his actions, but I understand why he made that decision so I chose to believe him just like he believed in me… "Lory pulled her gaze back from the lake and then smiled warmly at him "After all. Love is about accepting each other's flaws and understanding each other's faults, isn't that so, master Gu"

Gu Lian Fu mum's the word, he was told from a young age with his parents, if he had a problem with his first wife then take a second wife when he found another problem then take concubine if something happens then moves on to the next concubine so he doesn't understand Lory's words about acceptance between husband and wife since man and woman position was not equal even though they said otherwise.

Gu Lian Fu cleared his throat then quickly changed the subject, "I ... I need your help, Miss Luo"