"What do you want?" Lu Baiyu said in a low, hard tone.

He was still on his knees on the ground. Xiao Ran had also tied his feet in order to completely restrain his movement and prevent him from pulling any tricks. Lu Baiyu was a warrior, so his body was his weapon. Without his hands and legs, he was useless.

Shu Yue regarded him with cunning yet amused eyes. "I assumed you had an idea already."

"Well, I don't. Just tell me what you want and let's get this over with."

Lu Baiyu was clearly lying, and they both knew it, but Shu Yue chose not to press him. She'd let him lie for the time being, knowing he wouldn't be able to later. Unless he didn't care about his grandson Lu Rui as much as Shu Yue assumed.

"First, let me ask you a question," Shu Yue started. "Where did you get the soul-binding scroll?"

A smile formed on her lips as she looked at Lu Baiyu, who seemed so tense.

"I've been wondering, Elder Lu," Shu Yue went on. "Given its price, the soul-binding scroll is considered one of the most valuable items, so I'm surprised that something so expensive was used as a prize for such a small competition. Isn't that strange?"

Lu Baiyu set his jaw in a tight line. "I bought it from a traveling merchant, and why do you care what I do with it? It's none of your business. Besides, you should be grateful that you were able to obtain such a valuable item in such a small competition. Don't you think you should thank me for making that happen?"

Shu Yue picked up on the slightest change in pitch in his voice. His pathetic attempt to redirect the conversation only proved his deception. What was funny was that Shu Yue already knew the truth, so it was amusing to watch him lie to her face.

He's not that of a good liar.

She tapped her finger against the sword's hilt. "Oh, but I'm sure you got the soul-binding scroll for free as well."

Lu Baiyu grew tenser. "What are you talking about?"

"According to Dishan, someone gave it to you, and from what I recall, that man is a Saint-rank, a gold belt bearer. Does that ring a bell?"

"That stupid young man!" Lu Baiyu hissed, glancing away.

Shu Yue grinned. "So he's telling the truth."

Lu Baiyu looked at her, an expression of frustration coming over his face. "What exactly do you want? Are you planning to acquire another soul-binding scroll? Is that why?"

A light chuckle escaped Shu Yue's lips. "I'm not that greedy, Elder Lu. One is enough. I just want to know who the mysterious sponsor is."

Hearing that, Lu Baiyu narrowed his eyes at her. "And why are you interested in that man?"

"Because I'm hoping to get a chance to return the favor he's done for me," Shu Yue replied with a sly smile.

"Return the favor?" Lu Baiyu asked with a frown.

"Yes, Elder Lu, so I need your help in finding that guy. If you know anything, please tell me."

Lu Baiyu averted his gaze. "I know nothing about that man." There was a hint of hesitation in his answer.

Shu Yue smiled.

He's not really a good liar.

"You see, Elder Lu, this is an urgent matter; I know you know something, and I need you to tell me right now."

"I said I didn't know anything about that man!" Lu Baiyu snarled and lowered his eyes again, avoiding her probing gaze.

Shu Yue let out a breath, her features calm and remote. "You're not going to make it any easier for me, are you?" Her gaze fell on the cloth-wrapped sword in her hand. She slowly unwrapped it. Lu Baiyu watched her in bewilderment, wondering what she was up to.

As the white fabric fell to the ground, Lu Baiyu gasped and his face blanched. "Why do you have my grandson's sword? What did you do to him?"

Shu Yue ran her fingers along the wooden scabbard, lingering on the characters engraved on it; Lu Rui. "Let me ask you a question, Elder Lu. What weighs more: your fear of that man or your fear of losing your precious grandson?"

Lu Baiyu glared at her. "He did nothing. Why are you involving an innocent kid?"

"You didn't answer my question," Shu Yue said, her expression cold and neutral. "Let me ask you again: do you fear that man more than you fear losing your grandson?"

Lu Baiyu gritted his teeth.

Shu Yue twirled the sword in her hand and spoke in a calm and patient voice. "I already told you it's an urgent matter, Elder Lu, and you're not making it any easier for me, so I'm afraid I won't make it any easier for you either. If you still want to see that boy again, you must tell me what you know about that traveling merchant."

There was silence for a second. Lu Baiyu hissed a curse and lowered his head. "P-pipe Forest."

"Pipe Forest," Shu Yue repeated.

"That's what he said," Lu Baiyu replied. "He told me to look for him there in case I ever needed him."

Shu Yue stared at him. After careful observation, she could tell Lu Baiyu wasn't lying. She gave him a smile.

"One more thing," she added. "Did you meet him yesterday?"

All of a sudden, Lu Baiyu's face went white. "I-it's you..." His voice trailed off slowly as he looked at her with wide eyes. "You're the person he was referring to."

Shu Yue's brow furrowed with a tiny line. "What do you mean?"

"It was you! I should have known it when he showed up this morning; I should have realized he was referring to you! That fucking bastard!"

"I'm not following, Elder Lu. What do you mean he was referring to me? What did he say?"

Lu Baiyu shot her a hostile glare. "Maybe you two are working together; maybe you planned this two together to mess with me!"

Shu Yue reacted to his claim with indifference and said, "From what I know, I'm not the one working with him."

Lu Baiyu stiffened.

"Besides, if I'm working with him," Shu Yue reasoned, "Then why would I go to the trouble of interrogating you?"

When Lu Baiyu remained unresponsive, Shu Yue let out a sigh. "Listen, I know you're not really working with that man. He threatened you to do his bidding. You were forced to use the soul-binding scroll as a prize, am I correct? If you look closely, he is the reason why you're in this mess. It's all his fault." A mischievous smile touched her mouth. "If you want, I can help you pay back the trouble he caused you."