Chapter 64: She Was Really Eaten; Shen Yanzhou Was Truly Terrifying
Chu Dao was merely a martial warrior, whereas Gu Ruoxi came from an immortal sect—she cultivated Daoist arts and even possessed a special physique.
In the past, when interrogating criminals, she only needed to make a move, toss a charming glance, and the criminal would instantly go weak all over, confessing even to wetting the bed in childhood.
“Sounds easy, but what if I slip up and get eaten by him instead? You know the reputation this Heir Shen has in the Imperial Capital.”
“Don’t regret it later.”
Gu Ruoxi shot him a sidelong glance, instantly full of allure.
If he didn’t already know her temperament, Chu Dao might have fallen for it. He quickly lowered his gaze, focusing his breath to steady his heart.
He certainly didn’t believe that someone like Gu Ruoxi—a proud daughter of heaven—would harbor any thoughts toward a rough man like him.
Their cooperation as partners was purely a matter of complementing each other: his experience matched her extraordinary talent, clear mind, and decisive methods.
After speaking, Gu Ruoxi rose and made her way toward the upper pavilion, confident in her own abilities.
Her graceful figure swayed elegantly, the pink dress outlining every curve. With each step, her long, snow-white legs shimmered beneath the hem.
Many Chilin Guards couldn’t help but glance her way, their throats slightly dry, before hastily lowering their heads in unison.
Anyone who knew Immortal Officer Gu dared not harbor any improper thoughts toward her.
……
Negative emotions from Xu Fan +7 +7 +7...
What a baffling fellow. Still, since you’re providing me with negative emotions, I’ll let it slide.
By the window in the private room, Shen Yanzhou sat lazily on the soft couch, appearing to enjoy the grand scenery outside the window.
In truth, his gaze was fixed upon his own panel.
【Name: Shen Yanzhou】
【Technique: The True Explanation of Primordial Unity (Incomplete, First Realm 10/16)】
【Secret Art: Selfless Sword Heart (Fragmented, Minor Accomplishment 1/4)】
【Realm: Martial Path—Seventh Rank; Daoist Path—Seventh Rank】
【Available Basic Points: 0 (61.33/100)】
Since losing Shen Tian—the biggest “leek”—the negative emotions others provided him had become very scarce.
He hadn’t even managed to accumulate a full 100 points in the past few days.
Of course, that was also because here, in the Hidden Moon Mountain region, it was hard to find suitable “targets” to harvest emotions from.
Only Zhou Yang and a few of the Chilin Guards, due to their feelings for Wu Ruyue, occasionally harbored some jealousy toward him.
“I still need to return to the Imperial Capital—after all, it’s the power center of the entire Great Qian Dynasty, full of plump leeks waiting for me to harvest...”
Shen Yanzhou sighed inwardly, thinking fondly of the thriving new leeks within the Dragon-Tiger Institute.
So far, Shen Jingxiao hadn’t provided him with any negative emotions—meaning Shen Jingxiao still hadn’t begun to suspect him.
“Young Master has finally matured.”
Elder Mo had been worried that Shen Yanzhou would get angry or lose control upon hearing the outside news, perhaps raging as he had before the Princess Consort Yu Chenyu.
Instead, he was calm, betraying no emotion.
That pleased Elder Mo deeply; the crisis at Hidden Moon Mountain had indeed made Shen Yanzhou grow.
Knock, knock, knock...
Just as Elder Mo was about to advise Shen Yanzhou to study martial techniques for self-defense, a knock sounded at the door.
Perplexed, he went to open it—only to see a radiant beauty smiling sweetly in the doorway.
“Immortal Officer Gu.”
Elder Mo naturally recognized the woman before him—the famous prodigy of the Imperial Capital, a woman whose skill had solved many major cases that even the Chilin Guards couldn’t crack.
Not even twenty-five years old, and already an Immortal Officer within the Bureau of Immortal Inspection, holding a Seventh Rank official title.
“Elder Mo, might you allow me to speak with the Heir Shen alone? I represent the Bureau of Immortal Inspection and wish to ask the Heir some questions.”
Gu Ruoxi spoke with a gentle smile, brows curved, skin like porcelain—like a blooming, bewitching flower.
Her tone was polite, even soft, with none of the stiff formality of an official.
Elder Mo hesitated, but given her identity and official capacity, she surely meant no harm.
“Young Master?”
He turned back to Shen Yanzhou to seek his opinion.
Shen Yanzhou sat up from the couch and nodded slightly. “Since she represents the Bureau of Immortal Inspection, you may withdraw.”
“Yes.”
Elder Mo obeyed, and once Gu Ruoxi stepped in, he closed the door behind her.
“Heir Shen doesn’t seem surprised by my arrival?”
Gu Ruoxi smiled as she walked forward, her steps light and fragrant, seating herself casually as though it were her own room.
Her posture was neither refined nor demure—crossing one leg over the other, the hem of her skirt lifting slightly to reveal pale, delicate skin.
“A little surprised, but not entirely. My thanks to you all for the effort spent searching and rescuing me,” Shen Yanzhou replied calmly.
Gu Ruoxi raised a brow, intrigued. His composure was beyond her expectations.
So this Heir Shen wasn’t as simple as he appeared.
If he were truly a lecherous wastrel, his eyes should be glued to her by now.
Gu Ruoxi was confident in her charm.
“By convention, shouldn’t the Heir be asking why I’ve come?” she asked with a teasing smile.
“It’s nothing more than questions about my abduction, and whether the rumors of the real and fake Heir are true,” Shen Yanzhou said casually.
“It seems your mind is as clear as a mirror—you’re not as foolish as the rumors say.”
“Well, that saves us both some time.”
Gu Ruoxi’s eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of amusement glimmering as she chuckled behind her hand.
“Then why should I waste time on you?” Shen Yanzhou replied coolly.
“……”
Her smile froze; she hadn’t expected him to reject her outright.
Recovering quickly, she kept her tone playful. “Heir Shen, no need to be so heartless. It’s just a few trivial details—telling me wouldn’t affect you at all.”
Speaking, she slowly rose from her seat, smiling enchantingly as she walked toward him.
A faint, intoxicating fragrance wafted from her body. Strands of her dark hair brushed past his cheek.
A shadow loomed over him from above.
At some point, that soft, alluring pink figure had moved behind him.
She lowered her head slightly, her flawless face bearing a gentle yet seductive smile.
Her figure was full and graceful—pure as a maiden yet enticing as a ripe peach.
“Tell me, how were you captured?”
“And this matter of the real and false Heir—is it true? Have you truly been a wastrel all these years, or merely pretended to be one?”
Her voice carried a subtle enchantment as it drifted down from above his head.
“Lean a little closer, and I’ll tell you.”
At his words, Shen Yanzhou lifted his head.
Following his gaze, one could see a vivid lotus embroidered at her collar, the petals framing a faintly visible expanse of snowy skin.
Then, he turned and reached toward that slightly open neckline.
Yet just as he was about to touch, she tilted back slightly to evade him.
“Then tell me first—how were you captured, how did you escape safely, and are the rumors from the Capital true or false?”
“No.”
“There’s no such thing as getting something for nothing,” Shen Yanzhou said, shaking his head, reaching again.
Such a crude charm technique—anyone with a strong enough spirit could see through it easily.
The real Gu Ruoxi still sat in her seat, propping her chin on one hand, watching him with an amused smile.
But in the next instant, her expression froze—shock filling her eyes as goosebumps rose on her skin. She tried to move away, but a firm, strong hand pressed heavily on her shoulder, pinning her in place.
The other hand followed the exact movement from the illusion just now.
Pain flickered briefly on her face as she turned in disbelief—Shen Yanzhou was no longer on the couch but standing right behind her, his eyes calm and deep.
“Mm—”
“You... stop it…”
Gu Ruoxi bit her lip, her face burning with shame and anger. She couldn’t believe she—the hunter—had been caught by her prey.
She hadn’t even seen when Shen Yanzhou had moved behind her—was he really that fast? Wasn’t he supposed to be trapped in her illusion?
Even if his panel said he was only Seventh Rank in both Martial and Daoist Paths, his spirit strength had already far surpassed cultivators of the same realm.
The essence of charm arts lay in manipulating the soul and altering sensory perception.
Treating him like an ordinary man and trying to bewitch him was pure folly.
In the True Explanation of Primordial Unity’s first realm, once the third stage was achieved, the Primordial Mother Qi within formed a self-cycling flow, granting his soul “chaotic resistance” and “chaotic perception.”
These two traits allowed his soul to easily perceive the nature of any spell and resist its influence.
Her clumsy charm art had been instantly seen through—her own spell even backfired under his subtle interference.
Of course, Shen Yanzhou had no intention of explaining any of this to her.
“Feels nice.”
He commented casually, sensing her attempt to struggle. With a slight increase in pressure, she was completely immobilized.
“Stop—let’s talk this out.”
Gu Ruoxi’s face burned like fire, her usual seductive demeanor completely gone.
Though she often played the part of a temptress, that didn’t mean she truly was one.
“So now you want to talk properly? You’re the one who first used charm arts—no sense of martial virtue,” Shen Yanzhou said mildly, not moving his hand.
“I apologize! I was wrong...”
“Please let go.”
Gu Ruoxi hurriedly pleaded, truly stunned by how deep he hid his strength.
Before coming upstairs, she had even joked with Chu Dao—never imagining it would actually come true.
“Your apology doesn’t sound sincere.”
“And even if it did, that doesn’t mean I have to accept it.”
Shen Yanzhou glanced around the room. As a special cloud vessel of the Bureau of Immortal Inspection, the chamber was engraved with formations—its soundproofing far better than any inn room in the Capital.
“You...”
“Don’t do anything rash.”
Seeing his gaze, panic surged within her. Remembering the tales of Shen Yanzhou’s debauchery in the Capital, she truly felt a trace of fear.
From the power in that one hand alone, his martial strength must be profound.
If he restrained her completely, silencing her voice, even screaming herself hoarse would be futile—no one outside would hear a thing.
“Now, can we talk properly?”
Sensing her fear and confusion, Shen Yanzhou finally loosened his grip slightly, allowing her to breathe.
“Yes, yes…”
Gu Ruoxi nodded rapidly, like a pecking chick, not daring to hesitate.
Only then did he release her.
She instantly tried to flee for the door—but an invisible gust of force swept out, slamming into her like a wall of iron. She gasped and nearly fell.
“If you dare step a single foot outside this room, consider the consequences yourself.”
Shen Yanzhou sat back down calmly, lifted the cup of hot tea Elder Mo had poured earlier, and gently blew on it.
Clutching her aching chest, Gu Ruoxi cast him a wary glance before obediently sitting back in her original seat.
Negative emotions from Gu Ruoxi +11 +13 +16...
“The Bureau of Immortal Inspection—someone there intends to move against the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion?”
Shen Yanzhou took a sip of tea, setting it down as he asked casually—but his tone was certain.
Gu Ruoxi froze. Under his gaze, she could only nod honestly. “Yes.”
“You come from the Gu Family. Though the Bureau of Immortal Inspection is nominally overseen by the National Preceptor, in truth, since the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty, it’s been controlled behind the scenes by three great families—the former National Preceptor was a Gu as well.”
“A prodigy like you—entering the Bureau at such a young age and already holding a Sixth Rank title—wouldn’t personally descend just for a trivial merit.”
“It must be that someone in your family ordered you to act, yes?” Shen Yanzhou said, meeting her eyes directly.
Gu Ruoxi sat stunned, a chill running down her spine. Shen Yanzhou was terrifying.
With just a few words, he had seen through everything.
And this was the man everyone in the Capital called a debauched wastrel?
Some even claimed he was a false Heir?
Which version was true?