Qi and Zhou Pingchang raised their hands, indicating that they should dispense with formalities, and then she took her seat in the place of honor. She had come today because she had heard the news that You Shuyao had been taken in by Qi. She couldn't let go of the easy prey that was already in her grasp. Not only could she not let Qi send her away, but she would also do her best to bring them together.

“Contract…”

"My lord!"

"I know you've had your eye on Shu Yao for a long time. Now that she's broken up with Huo Jingsha and joined your ranks, isn't this a golden opportunity? Why not take this chance and win her over? Then you two can work together as husband and wife to serve the organization. Wouldn't that be wonderful!"

Qi knew best what the leader was thinking. He had only agreed to release Huo Jingsha after receiving 100,000 taels of gold for nothing, and now he wanted to get the person back through him. To put it nicely, it was serving him; to put it bluntly, it was risking his life. He was really cunning in his calculations.

He originally thought that Shu Yao's visit was done secretly, but he didn't expect that the leader and Zhou Pingchang would find out one after the other. That makes sense, he must have quite a few spies around him.

However… Shu Yao had finally escaped this dangerous profession where she could lose her life at any moment, and he couldn't possibly drag her back into that hellhole for his own selfish reasons. Besides, he could see that Shu Yao had absolutely no feelings for him!

“My lord, I took Shu Yao in entirely because we were acquainted before, and I had no ulterior motives.”

Zhou Pingchang just said that Huo Jingsha is looking for Shu Yao everywhere. It seems he has to go and meet him. If there are any misunderstandings, it might be safer for Shu Yao to return to his side.

“How could I not have any improper thoughts? Qi, don’t forget that I watched you grow up. I wouldn’t be wrong about your special feelings for You Shuyao.” Xiao Jiangyue said sternly.

"What you say is true, my lord." Zhou Pingchang immediately switched sides, having long forgotten that he was the one who had suggested sending the people back earlier.

Qi fell silent again. He knew his leader's iron-fisted style; once he made up his mind, it was extremely difficult to change it. Shu Yao's return to the organization would be entirely beneficial to her, so how could he easily give up? Unless… he had someone else he liked, perhaps things could be salvaged.

“My lord, please forgive me for being unable to comply, for I already have someone else in my heart.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Pingchang's eyes widened in surprise. Someone else? How could that be? He and Qi had grown up together since childhood, and this was the first time he had ever seen Qi so close to a woman. Qi had even knelt down and begged the Lord to grant You Shuyao and Huo Jingsha their wish to be together. Could it be that he had misunderstood?

Xiao Jiangyue sneered repeatedly, "Who?"

He can fool others, but he can't fool her! Does he really think she's blind? With his aloof and arrogant personality, he wouldn't even glance at other women. It's less about having someone else in his heart and more about wanting to fulfill Shu Yao's wishes. Does she really not understand that? But the benefits of bringing Shu Yao back to the organization far outweigh everything else.

Qi Wei choked. Having lived for twenty-five years, Shu Yao was indeed the first woman he had ever fallen in love with. Asking him to name another woman immediately would be harder than climbing to heaven. Yet, his expression remained flawless as he steadfastly met his lord's seemingly insightful eyes.

If he answered too quickly, or made up a name, it would seem like he had planned it all along. His silence at this moment was a way of protecting himself, as if he didn't want to reveal the woman's identity easily.

Sure enough... Xiao Jiangyue's heart began to pound. Had he really fallen for someone else after Shu Yao and Huo Jingsha got married?

If we compare You Shuyao and Qi, Qi is definitely more valuable. If things go wrong, it could backfire, forcing Qi to leave the organization as well, which would be a huge loss and would bring immeasurable damage to the entire "Netherworld Slaughter Gang." With Qi's current abilities, betraying them would be a piece of cake.

She calmed down and softened her tone: "Alright, after all, you have served the organization for many years and made great contributions. I don't want to force you. How about we compromise? Today you let me see the girl in your heart, and I won't force you to keep Shu Yao. How about that?"

"This..." He couldn't possibly grab a woman off the street to make such a request, could he?

"What do you mean 'what'? If such a person really exists, why the delay?" Xiao Jiangyue slammed the teacup she had picked up back onto the table.

"My lord, please calm your anger," Zhou Pingchang quickly reassured him, then a thought suddenly struck him, and he remembered someone. "Qi, why do you have to upset your lord? Last month when you returned from the capital, didn't you rescue a woman? Is she the one you've been longing for?"

Otherwise, given his temperament, he would be lucky not to kill anyone, so why would he go back to save people?

Qi's heart stirred slightly, and the image of the proud woman in yellow appeared before his eyes. She was the only one besides Shu Yao who dared to approach him. Thinking of this, he knew that he had no choice but to take a desperate gamble.

"Hmm." He closed his eyes and forced himself to agree. You see, he was cold and aloof by nature, and had a severe case of mysophobia. He couldn't stand women who had been with a thousand men. The thought of having a woman with such an unscrupulous lifestyle as the object of his affections was simply unsettling.

"Oh?" Xiao Jiangyue narrowed her eyes and smiled at Zhou Pingchang. "There's such a thing? Then what are we waiting for? Bring the person here quickly!"

After speaking, his gaze returned to Qi, who stood with his head bowed in the center of the hall, and a mysterious smile appeared on his face, making Zhou Pingchang's heart tremble. He knew that he had suffered from this kind of smile many times since he was a child.

Then, she suddenly added, "Someone, bring Shu Yao here as well."

Upon hearing this, Qi frowned tightly, but now he had no choice at all.

***

As soon as Si Qiao woke up, she was led to the main hall by two servants.

Stepping across the threshold, she immediately saw Qi standing like a wooden statue in the room, while a middle-aged woman sat at the head of the table. She was dressed in gorgeous clothes and looked radiant. Beside her stood a man in black with a serious expression, standing respectfully. Considering Qi's identity as an assassin, whoever could be superior to him... she didn't need to guess; she already knew who was in the room. Yingying stepped forward, bowing slightly with graceful movements, and said, "This servant greets Master and Vice Leader."

"You're too polite, young lady." Zhou Pingchang's eyes lit up, and he secretly praised his good fortune. What man wouldn't want to possess such a charming and stunning beauty?

Xiao Jiangyue gave a cold snort, her face gloomy as she looked at Si Qiao's frivolous behavior and clothing, her impression of her greatly diminished. "What's your name?" Since she was someone Qi had taken a liking to, she naturally had to find out more about her background. If it was a family with a blood feud with people in the martial arts world, she absolutely could not marry her and risk getting herself into trouble.

"This humble servant is Si Qiao." Although she didn't understand why she had been brought here, Si Qiao still answered truthfully.

She stepped back to Qi's side, her gaze falling on his expressionless, coffin-like face. Tsk tsk tsk… what a waste of such a handsome face. But then she immediately said in a weak voice, “Brother Qi, I’ve been sick all this time, why haven’t you come to see me? How heartless of you! You’ve made me so bored! Tell me, how are you going to make it up to me?”

Brother Qi? If Qi didn't have extraordinary self-control, he would have choked to death with his own saliva. Are they that close? What is this woman up to?

"I'm sorry, I was a bit busy today, so I overlooked it," he replied quickly.