Shu Qianqian stepped into the dark room. Every movement she made was graceful, with perfect posture and an elegance befitting her station as a noble lady. Her footsteps were so light, even the barest whisper of them could not be heard. The subtle rattle of the jingling jewels attached to her hairpin was the only indication to her timely arrival.

She was dressed extravagantly in an embroidered yellow gown, patterned with shimmering blue butterflies, and a soft looking fur shawl covered her narrow shoulders. Her exquisite countenance appeared as though she had barely aged a day since she had first arrived.

Captain Liang's gaze fixed upon Shu Qianqian, staring at her with barely concealed resentment. Her mouth filled up once more with a bitter taste.

"Bring the screen panel over here!" Captain Liang swiftly ordered the nearby maidservant to move the wood panel in front of her, setting it directly between Shu Qianqian and herself.

"Leave."

The maidservant did as she was ordered and hurriedly departed.

The corners of Shu Qianqian's lips curved downwards into a disdainful sneer, criticizing the senior disciple's unbecoming behaviour. Nevertheless, she bobbed her head and addressed Liang Rou Yan with the proper amount of respect, minding her rank. "This Junior Disciple has arrived as requested."

"Thank you for visiting so late in the evening. Please, have a seat." Liang Rou Yan gestured towards the unoccupied stool.

"Thank you for the offer, but this Junior Disciple is busying herself with preparation for the upcoming battle tournament and has very little time to indulge herself." Shu Qianqian politely declined.

She had no interest in chatting with the disfigured Senior, when right now she could have been practising martial arts with Brother Cheng. That would have been the case, if Captain Liang hadn't summoned her.

Liang Rou Yan's small eyes squinted, her lips curved into a forced smile. "Heh. Very well. Then let's talk business. I know the man you like is lusting after another girl. I can help you. Rid you of that nuisance."

Shu Qianqian sneered, "Humph. Captain Liang, I am Brother Cheng's most favored person. Please don't spout baseless tales about him."

Liang Rou Yan snickered. "Oh, are you really? Then why was succeeding disciple Mo Cheng seen day after day requesting permission to visit my division's junior disciple, Li Meirong? Why, if he wasn't barred from seeing her, he would most likely be at the girl's home right now, sniffing after her like a dog in heat."

Shu Qianqian's lips drew into a thin line.

After a minute of silence, her sweet sounding voice took on a menacing undertone. She clenched and unclenched her fists, and asked, "What do you propose to do? I won't jeopardize my position in the sect and end up as you did."

It was now Liang Rou Yan's turn to look down upon the other girl, assessing her from behind the screen with contempt. 'Spineless bitch.' Yet, she bit back her annoyance and continued, "Rest assured, you will not be affected in any way. I know that you and that furnace, Li Meirong, have been friends for a long while-"

"I was never her friend. My father taught me to keep my friends close, and keep my enemies even closer." Shu Qianqian interrupted.

"Your father is certainly a wise man. Now would be the best time to use this friendship, which you have so painstakingly cultivated, to your advantage." Liang Rou Yan announced, finally coming to the crux of the matter.

Shu Qianqian averted her stare, nervously reaching up to rub the back of her neck. "I fear that might not work out… the last time I spoke to her, we ended up fighting."

Shu Qianqian revealed to Liang Rou Yan what had occurred on that day when she had barged in on Li Meirong in her moment of intimacy with Teacher Zhu Qingyue.

"That bitch!" Liang Rou Yan screamed, no longer caring about her image.

After listening to the story, Liang Rou Yan grabbed the blanket covering her, ripped it into shreds and tossed the torn fabric angrily onto the ground, wishing nothing more than to throttle the damned furnace girl at this very moment!

Why, seducing Master Zhu Zhang and succeeding disciple Mo Cheng was not enough for that bitch? She had even made Teacher Zhu Qingyue besotted with her! How terrible was Li Meirong?! Liang Rou Yan grew all the more determined to murder the wretched girl.

Liang Rou Yan huffed a few times, regaining a semblance of composure. She turned back to the nervous younger girl in front of her.

"Listen carefully. It's not your Brother Cheng's fault that he's obsessed with Li Meirong. She's a furnace, and that means she has the power to ensnare men. It's in her very blood." Liang Rou Yan stepped out from behind the folding screen and stood face to face with Shu Qianqian.

Shu Qianqian stumbled backwards almost instantly, yelping in alarm. Her eyes grew wide with horror and revulsion. She hadn't imagined Liang Rou Yan's condition to be as bad as it was. If all of her face was covered up with bandages, didn't that mean that she would never be able to step out of her home without being ashamed of herself? The very idea terrified Shu Qianqian. To be marred and disfigured… it was simply too horrifying!

Liang Rou Yan threw a small map straight at Shu Qianqian's petrified looking face. "Forget the fact that she ruined my skin. For the sake of the men we love, we must discover a way to kill that girl. Find a way to lure Li Meirong to the location marked on this map. It's a secluded area, which only a small amount of people know how to reach. Get her to that location, and I will handle the rest."

At the beginning, Shu Qianqian wanted to refuse the offer once more, knowing the plan would most likely not work out. Why would Li Meirong want to meet up with her after their last exchange of words? But then she remembered someone who might be able to help convince the girl.

Brother Cheng's sibling... Mo Jing.

Shu Qianqian pulled back her nervousness and fear, resuming her calm, graceful exterior. She then said confidently, "I'll find a way to lure Li Meirong over to that island!"