Shu Yue was seated on her bed. She took the soul-binding scroll from the bamboo tube and unfurled it. There were a number of intricate runes inscribed on it, taking up the entire surface. After studying the complicated runic symbols, she stood up and sat on the dressing table. There was a slip of blank parchment, a brush, and a bottle of ink placed on the table, which she had prepared earlier.

She dipped the brush in the ink and began scribbling on the paper. Since she couldn't exactly imitate the runes on the scroll, she drew random symbols instead. It wasn't like she was trying to make a soul-binding scroll. She was just making a fake one, in case something happened.

Just as she was about to finish the last symbol, there was a knock at her door. She set her brush aside and took the other scroll from the table.

"Come on in, Xiao Ran," she said. She didn't need to know who was outside her door. Xiao Ran's hushed footsteps and soft knocks were as familiar to her as her own breathing.

Xiao Ran opened the door and went inside her room. "Young Mistress, it seems that you're right."

"About what?" Shu Yue asked as she met his gaze.

"About the old man. I saw him talking with a suspicious guy. Unfortunately, the guy already left before I got close, so I didn't see his face. But one thing I'm certain of is that he's the same guy as the one from the sparring ground. He also wore the same white robe. However," His brow furrowed. "He was wearing a white belt instead of a gold belt this time, so I'm confused."

"A white belt," Shu Yue mumbled and thought for a minute. Disciples who wore white belts were classified as E-rankers, the lowest rank. It was the belt that Xiao Ran wore, but only for appearances' sake.

Disciples took great pride in their rank; they valued them like how a noble valued their status, hence possessing the lowest rank was considered humiliating. Nobody wanted to be perceived as weak. Everyone desired to be strong; to be superior; to be predators. So, if a disciple was of high rank, it was unlikely that they would want to be seen in public wearing a white belt. That was akin to a high-ranking noble walking out in public dressed as a commoner.

So, if this mysterious man was willing to wear a white belt in public, he was more cunning than Shu Yue had thought.

"He's clearly messing around," Shu Yue stated. "We don't know if he's a Saint-rank, but he's definitely not an E-rank. I'm afraid we're up against a very calculating man."

Xiao Ran frowned, falling into silence. "At the very least, we now know that the old man is working with him."

"Nope," Shu Yue said with a thin smile. "Elder Lu isn't actually working with him; he's simply another pawn in his game. He used Elder Lu to get to me, and now we'll use Elder Lu to get to that man."

She handed Xiao Ran the scroll. "Here. Take a look."

Frowning, Xiao Ran unrolled the scroll and examined its content. "This..."

"Is a portrait of Lu Rui, yes," Shu Yue finished for him.

Xiao Ran glanced at her, then back at the scroll. He studied the portrait for a few moments before returning his gaze to Shu Yue. His eyes showed understanding of the task at hand.

"You want me to me to find him now, Young Mistress?"

Shu Yue nodded. She took up the brush and finished the last symbol on the parchment. A satisfied smile stretched her lips as she lifted the paper, staring at her handiwork. The symbols looked nothing like the original, but they weren't all that bad. It was enough to fool someone's eyes at first glance.

I will catch you soon.

She waved her hand, and a gentle wind blew the ink dry. Satisfied, she rolled up the parchment and tied it with a dark red ribbon.

"Remember to be nice to him, Xiao Ran. As much as you can, don't intimidate him," Shu Yue reminded him as she placed the parchment on the table.

"I'll do my best, Young Mistress."

A faint smile flickered across Shu Yue's face. Lu Rui was Lu Baiyu's youngest grandson and one whom he doted on the most. He would serve as her backup plan should she ran into unexpected problems or if peaceful negotiation failed to work with Lu Baiyu, which she could already sense would happen.

If the mysterious man threatened Lu Baiyu with the death of his entire family, then Shu Yue would use an equally cruel method to force the old man to speak. The only difference was that Shu Yue would instill a different level of fear in Lu Baiyu by holding a family member hostage. In this manner, he would have no choice but to immediately comply.

It might seem cruel, but she had already chosen this path. She would use whoever she needed, and there would be no turning back. She wasn't afraid to use any kind of method as long as it could help her achieve her goals. The best she could do was to spare innocents from harm. Although she would take Lu Rui as a hostage, she had no intention of harming him. Once he fulfilled his role, she would gladly release him, safe and sound.

"Are you heading out now?" Xiao Ran asked. He rolled up the portrait and stuffed it inside his sleeves.

"I am," Shu Yue answered, looking at herself in the mirror. She had her mask on this time, which she wore on the side of her head, so she didn't encounter emotional triggers. "Please remain hidden until I give you the signal, okay?"

Xiao Ran smiled warmly. "All right, Young Mistress. You can summon me anytime." He reached out a hand toward her, brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Your fox will never disappoint you."

***

In the carriage, Shu Yue pulled the curtain back and looked out the window. There were rows of umbrella-covered stands and stalls on the side of the street with plenty of people passing through. They already reached the western market sector, so at any moment they would arrive at the Lu residence.

After a few moments, the carriage rattled to a stop and the driver announced their arrival. Shu Yue climbed out of the carriage. The sparring contest had ended an hour before, so the place was deserted. Twirling her bamboo stick, she strolled toward the Lu residence. Just then, someone grabbed a hold of her sword, stopping her from twirling it.

"Jeeze! Careful, young miss. You don't want to smack someone with that stick, do you?"

Startled, Shu Yue clutched her sword tightly and turned around to face the speaker. The man was tall, probably as tall as Xiao Ran, and dressed in a white robe. His left arm was out of the sleeve, letting the garment hang down behind him. Underneath his disheveled outer robe was a black tunic. He was wearing a bamboo hat that obscured most of his features, so Shu Yue couldn't see his face clearly.

But what stood out the most to Shu Yue was the grey belt he was wearing. Such a belt signified that the man was neither a warrior nor a magus. He was a mere civilian.

"Hey, are you ...mute?" the man said when Shu Yue remained unresponsive. His voice had a playful tone to it. He lifted the brim of his hat to properly look at her, revealing the handsome features of a man in his twenties. His long, dark hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, with a few loose strands framing his face. Painted on his chin was a beauty mark.

He blinked and stared at her. He had beautiful eyes the color of the moon that seemed to glow as they gazed at hers. They had a sharp, wild aspect to them, almost predatory.

Shu Yue blinked and broke her gaze. She regarded him with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry about that." She kept her expression neutral as she studied his face.

He's no ordinary man.

Despite the grey belt, Shu Yue was doubtful that the man in front of her was a mere citizen. There was something strange about him that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

The man was still staring at her, his brow furrowed slightly. He then pulled down his bamboo hat, covering his face once again.

"Oh...well, be careful next time," the man mumbled. Then he nodded a goodbye, clasped his hands behind his back, and left.

Shu Yue watched his receding figure, a puzzled frown on her face. His movements were elegant and confident, in stark contrast to his disheveled outfit.

What a weird man.