Yun Ruoyan informed Lin Qingchen that she would be going with Pei Ziao to the Shenxian restaurant. Lin Qingchen wanted to go along, but Yun Ruoyan had her stay put to wait for Yun Moxiao instead.

When Lin Qingchen pulled on Yun Ruoyan’s arm with no intention of letting go, the latter could only smile and say, “You’re familiar with Young Master Pei, aren’t you? I have a few matters to discuss with him. When my brother comes back, you don’t have to wait for me. Young Master Pei will naturally send me back home.”

“Miss Lin, there’s no need to worry. I promise I’ll send Sister Ruoyan home,” Pei Ziao hastily added.

When Lin Qingchen saw the gleam in her cousin’s eyes, she knew that she had to be hatching a plan. While she was still somewhat concerned, she ultimately did let go of her. Yun Ruoyan followed Pei Ziao toward the north of the villa. Not fifteen minutes later, they arrived at their destination.

The restaurant’s courtyard consisted of a magnificent lake, around and on top of which were dotted a number of small pavilions. Moonstones were inlaid along the balusters and the paved walkways, illuminating the entire courtyard with a dream-like glow.

Yun Ruoyan glanced all around her. Each pavilion was packed with feasting guests. Directly beyond the pond was a small building: the Shenxian restaurant itself.

“They say that delicacies from all four kingdoms on the Chenyuan continent are available at this restaurant,” Pei Ziao introduced, while leading Yun Ruoyan up a bridge through the pond. “And as for alcohol, the shenxian is undoubtedly the queen of liquor. Sister Ruoyan, you must try some later.”

The two of them headed inside the restaurant, and Pei Ziao asked for a private suite on the second floor. The waiter led them there and handed a menu to Pei Ziao, who then passed it on to Yun Ruoyan.

When Yun Ruoyan saw that the menu was full of the abstract titles so prevalent in haute cuisine—Phoenix’s Rebirth, Dance of the Dragons, Spires on the Jade Sea—she simply picked out seven or eight of the most expensive dishes without caring what they described.

A conservative estimate put the price of dinner at no less than ten gold. Even Pei Ziao, born with a golden spoon, couldn’t help but gulp upon seeing the dishes that Yun Ruoyan had ordered.

“Alright, let’s go with this.” Pei Ziao handed the menu to the waiter and replied extravagantly, “Add on a flask of shenxian and of eryuehong.”

The suite was right by the edge of the lake, and Yun Ruoyan could see the courtyard from her vantage point. The stars were dazzling. Yun Ruoyan’s sight had greatly improved upon becoming a seventh-rank blademaster, and she could even make out the mountain range far into the distance. One of the mountains rose up above all others.

“The tallest mountain is the main peak of the Kongming Mountains, and the Kongming Academy is situated at the top of that mountain.” Pei Ziao followed her gaze.

Yun Ruoyan nodded. “Young Master Pei, I’ll pay for this banquet. Please hand me the tiger-canine arrows at your earliest convenience.”

“No, no—it’s my treat, Ruoyan!” Pei Ziao continued embarrassedly, “I’d like to hand you the arrows soon to complete our agreement, but they’re with my father, so…”

“Oh, is that so?” Yun Ruoyan once again turned to the window, hiding her mocking smile. In that case, you can’t blame me for wresting it from you.

The dishes were served rapidly. Pei Ziao placed the flask of shenxian in front of Yun Ruoyan, whereas he took the flask of eryuehong.

“Sister Ruoyan, please have a taste of this magnificent liquor.” Pei Ziao poured her a full cup of alcohol.

“Ah, why aren’t you having any yourself, Young Master Pei?”

“The shenxian is sweeter than I’d like, and I prefer the spicier notes of eryuehong.”

Yun Ruoyan held up the cup of shenxian to her lips. It was clear and fragrant, and just the smell alone was intoxicating. But just as she looked as though she would drink from the cup, she suddenly said, “It’s not good to drink alcohol on an empty stomach, so let’s have some food first.”

She put her cup down again.

Pei Ziao immediately recommended her a few dishes. Although the food was decent, it wasn’t as amazing as Pei Ziao had made it out to be.

“Does it not suit your taste? If not, when don’t you have a sip of that liquor first?”

Pei Ziao was so insistent that she try the wine that Yun Ruoyan knew that there had to be something suspicious about it.

“I’m really too famished. These dishes are a little bland, and they’re not very filling. Young Master Pei, could I trouble you to order me some desserts?”

When Pei Ziao heard Yun Ruoyan’s stomach grumbling, he nodded immediately. After he left, Yun Ruoyan quickly took out a soul-stealing pill from her pocket dimension and dropped it into Pei Ziao’s flask of wine. She shook it quickly, and the pill immediately dissolved in the alcohol.

When she heard his returning footsteps, Yun Ruoyan put down the flask and sat back in her seat. Not long after Pei Ziao returned to the suite, the waiter brought in a tray of snacks. Yun Ruoyan really was quite hungry, and she began eating immediately.

“Here, Young Master Pei, let’s have a toast.” Yun Ruoyan finished a snack and raised her cup toward Pei Ziao.

She had seen the waiter bring the alcohol in directly, so she was certain that Pei Ziao hadn’t had a chance to poison her. Thus, the only reason he would keep insisting that she drink was in order to make her drunk. But now that she had spiked Pei Ziao’s wine, there was no chance of him doing anything untoward to her.

Pei Ziao downed his cup in one gulp, whereas she only had a little sip. The liquor was sweet and fragrant, and the alcohol so faint that she felt she was only drinking juice.

“Sister Ruoyan, a toast to you! I know you’re still a little upset with me about what happened within the imperial territory, and I’ll be sure to try to compensate you,” Pei Ziao replied passionately before pouring himself another cup of wine. “Ruoyan, why aren’t you drinking?”

Yun Ruoyan downed the shenxian liquor in one gulp.

“Another round!” Not feeling anything unusual even after consuming the alcohol, Yun Ruoyan relaxed. Following Pei Ziao’s lead, she had another cup.

By this time, Pei Ziao had already drunk three or four cups of wine, and he felt his head go fuzzy. Under Yun Ruoyan’s command, he continued drinking when she told him to drink, and stopped when she told him to stop. It was then that she knew that the soul-stealing pill had begun to take effect.

“What’s your name?”

“Pei Ziao,” Pei Ziao replied woodenly.

“What’s your father’s name?”

“Pei Yingxiong.”

“Who am I?”

Pei Ziao’s head swiveled slowly to her face. “Mistress.”

Yun Ruoyan smirked. “Very good. Now, I have a task for you.”

“Your wish is my command, mistress.”

Yun Ruoyan nodded in satisfaction. “Return to the Pei manor, steal the tiger-canine arrows, and send them to the Lin manor for me.”

“Yes, mistress.”

Not yet satisfied, Yun Ruoyan added, “Also hand me your family’s entire collection of high-grade spiritual pills.”

“Yes, mistress.”

How good it felt to get revenge! But Yun Ruoyan quickly changed her mind. No, that was too much. If she really were to ransack the Pei family, Pei Yingxiong would surely go crazy. Pei Yingxiong had even dared to barge into the Yun estate in order to obtain a core foundation pill to save his son. If she truly were to drive him into a corner, who knew what he would do?

Yun Ruoyan wasn’t afraid of him, but it wasn’t worth the effort for just a moment’s satisfaction. As a result, she modified her previous command. “Ignore my previous command. Don’t steal all your family’s spiritual pills; just two is enough.”

Yun Ruoyan waved two fingers in front of Pei Ziao’s eyes.

Her promise with Pei Ziao was to have him bring her a set of tiger-canine arrows and two high-grade spiritual pills, and she was just claiming what she was owed.

“In that case, I’ll be leaving now.” Yun Ruoyan stood up and downed another cup of shenxian. “Leave an hour after I do. You only have three days, so work quickly.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Pei Ziao replied woodenly once more.

Yun Ruoyan pulled open the door to the suite and found a cold wind blowing at her. Suddenly, she felt as if her head was as heavy as a rock, and she couldn’t help falling onto the ground.

“Damn it! That shenxian… has too strong an aftereffect,” Yun Ruoyan cursed. Why did she drink three cups of it even knowing that it was suspicious?!

She forced herself to stand upright as she hobbled out of the suite, clutching a railing. I can’t get drunk now. If Pei Yingxiong comes looking for me, wouldn’t I just be stepping into a lion’s den myself?

But her drunken haze persisted and even grew stronger over time. She looked at a person walking toward her; even though she’d wanted to step aside, she still ended up knocking into him.

“So-sorry,” Yun Ruoyan mumbled, continuing to force herself down the hallway. She was almost at the stairs, and she gingerly took a step forward. The stairs appeared just like waves in a pond, rising and falling, curved and unsteady. As expected, she stumbled on the very first step.

Yun Ruoyan closed her eyes, prepared to roll down the stairs. Once she was outside the restaurant, she would climb back up. At any rate, she had to leave as soon as possible.

Just then, a pair of arms suddenly grabbed her waist from behind, pulling her up and dragging her into its embrace. Yun Ruoyan’s heart thumped as she raised her head to see who had stopped her, but her vision had gone blurry.

Subconsciously, she reached a hand out toward him, but that person grabbed her by her wrist.

“Who… are you?” Yun Ruoyan’s tongue lolled out as she asked.