Do You Think You Are Qualified to Negotiate with Me?

"Brother Xu, I feel you can reconsider," Xue Huan looked up at Xu Lu, her expression calm as she spoke.

"My movements are very fast, you won't feel any pain," Xu Lu said calmly.

"Brother Xu, what if I tell you that I am also a rebel?" Xue Huan was not tense at all, still carrying that gentle-as-water appearance as she spoke.

As she spoke, a hazy mist rose from her body.

A secret art!

Xu Lu's pupils contracted.

The mist only existed for a breath before vanishing without a trace.

Xue Huan withdrew the secret art, looked at Xu Lu, and slowly said, "Alright, Brother Xu, now you also know my greatest secret. It seems there is no need to kill me to silence me."

Xu Lu frowned.

He had a bizarre feeling in his heart.

Jiangdu City, the Marquis of Bohai's Manor, the City Lord's Manor, the wealthiest Dao family in Jiangdu.

The descendants of these three houses were all rebels?

In the entire Taixuan Dynasty, just how many high officials and noble families had Mystic Cultivators in their households?

On second thought, it made sense. The temptation of longevity—how many people could resist it?

No matter how strict Tiangong was, there would always be moths flying into the flame.

After all, without cultivating secret methods, a human life was only a brief few decades. Cultivating secret methods easily allowed one to live for over a hundred years, and with achievements, even several hundred years.

However, the threshold of Tiangong was too high. Even for high officials and nobles of the Taixuan Dynasty, joining Tiangong was extremely difficult.

Since they could not learn secret methods through normal channels, stealing them was only natural.

Tiangong and the Taixuan Dynasty were only outwardly compliant but inwardly unsubmissive.

Xu Lu sighed in his heart.

"So, your flight from marriage was not because you disliked Prince Huai, but because you are a rebel Mystic Cultivator?" Xu Lu looked at Xue Huan and asked.

"A bit of both," Xue Huan said. "I have only met Prince Huai twice, so there is no liking to speak of.

If I did not cultivate secret methods, marrying him would be fine.

However, I just so happen to cultivate secret methods.

The members of the Taixuan Imperial Family are not permitted to cultivate secret methods, and Tiangong's surveillance over the Imperial Family is extremely strict; there will be no fish slipping through the net.

If I marry Prince Huai, the secret methods on my body will definitely be exposed."

"Tiangong strictly forbids the Taixuan Imperial Family from cultivating secret methods, and they just accept it like that?" Xu Lu could not help but ask.

Who could reject the temptation of longevity?

Thinking of the emperors in his previous life, which one did not try every means to seek longevity?

"In the past, when Tiangong helped the Taixuan Imperial Family win the world, this was one of the agreements.

Furthermore, the Taixuan Imperial Family cannot afford to offend Tiangong; even if they are unwilling, they have no choice.

Forbidding the Imperial Family from cultivating secret methods is also because Tiangong does not want one person to remain emperor forever."

In this secret room, Xue Huan was candid, showing not much respect for the Taixuan Imperial Family.

"Brother Xu, shall we sit down and chat?" Xue Huan smiled, making an inviting gesture.

Xu Lu rolled his eyes. Was Xue Huan turning the tables on him?

This place was supposed to be his territory.

"Did you know I was a rebel long ago?" Xu Lu sat down opposite Xue Huan, a wisp of fragrance wafting into his nose, and asked.

"I had suspicions, but no proof," Xue Huan said. "If I had not seen this secret room of yours and this recipe, I would not have dared to be certain."

"I was still careless," Xu Lu sighed, saying, "I originally thought this alchemy room of mine would not be entered by anyone casually, but I never expected..."

In truth, his alchemy room was designed with many hidden compartments. Previously, he had always hidden recipes in the compartments, but this time he was just too lazy to put them away, and as a result, something went wrong.

Sure enough, one cannot let down their guard at any time.

"It was Zhengyi's discourtesy," Xue Huan said. "However, in Jiangdu City, other than this place, I could not find any other suitable place to hide."

"How is that possible?" Xu Lu frowned. Jiangdu City was so large; you could hide anywhere, so why did you have to hide at my place?

"I went missing. Even if my father only does it for show, he will send people to search all of Jiangdu, and there is Prince Huai as well.

This place of yours has inscriptions written by my father and uncle; ordinary bailiffs will not enter.

Furthermore, you know Prince Huai, and he will definitely come to find you.

If he hears that I borrowed money from you, he will not treat you like that, let alone search your place. After all, you are still the Deputy Workshop Master of Workshop No. 65 of the Tiangong Secret Treasure Bureau," Xue Huan said calmly.

Sure enough, borrowing money was also a disguise.

"Prince Huai indeed came to find me, and I also promised him that if I obtained news of you, I would inform him immediately," Xu Lu said.

"Will you, Brother Xu?" Xue Huan was not tense either, smiling as she said. "If you inform Prince Huai, with you and me, an unmarried man and woman, staying in the same room, how will you explain?

Although I have only met Prince Huai twice, I know he is not a broad-minded person."

Xu Lu let out a cold snort. Was this a matter of being broad-minded?

What man would be willing to let his fiancée stay in a secret room with another man?

"Even without mentioning the rebel identity, Brother Xu, if I say something happened between you and me, will Prince Huai believe it or not?" Xue Huan continued.

"Do not care about your own reputation?" Xu Lu frowned. He still felt that Xue Huan was the gentlest woman he had ever met.

It turned out that the gentlest knife could also kill.

"Do you think a rebel would care about these things?" Xue Huan smiled. "In that case, wouldn't I escape the marriage contract with Prince Huai?

Actually, if it were marrying you, Brother Xu, I would also be willing."

Xu Lu felt a rush of heat to his head. In this environment, a gentle and beautiful young lady saying she was willing to marry him—was she not afraid of being taken on the spot by Xu Lu?

Xu Lu instinctively swept his gaze over Xue Huan's chest and waist—full marks!

Xue Huan's face flushed red. She had actually never been so bold before.

Staying in a room with a man was also a first for her.

She was currently only forcing herself to appear calm; her heart was already in a chaotic mess.

Xu Lu's predatory gaze almost made her lose her composure.

Gently brushing a stray lock of hair by her face, Xue Huan spoke, "Brother Xu, I only want to hide at your place for a few days. Once the news settles down, I will leave on my own and will not implicate you.

I will absolutely not reveal a single word of your rebel identity to anyone."

"You make it sound nice," Xu Lu said in irritation. "If you are discovered during this time, wouldn't I be unable to wash myself clean even if I jumped into the Qu River?"

If Prince Huai, Li Zongyi, truly knew that Xue Huan was hiding at his place, he would gain no benefits but instead invite a body full of trouble.

Although Xu Lu was not afraid of Prince Huai, Li Zongyi, there was no need to provoke the other party.

Although the Taixuan Imperial Family did not cultivate secret methods, they were still rulers and had ways to deal with low-level Mystic Cultivators.

"Does Brother Xu truly want to drive me out?

If you drive me out, I will be captured and returned to marry. At that time, my rebel identity will be exposed, which is also a path of death.

Since it is death either way, I would rather die at your hands, Brother Xu.

Brother Xu, please make your move."

Xue Huan said, sitting up straight and thrusting her chest forward, her curves instantly becoming even more pronounced.

Xu Lu could not help but roll his eyes.

This woman was basically playing with fire.

Did she not know how great an attraction her gentle-as-water temperament held for men?

"Are you not afraid that I will violate and kill you, and violate you again?" Xu Lu said fiercely.

"Brother Xu is not that kind of person." Xue Huan looked at Xu Lu, her face as red as the sunset clouds. "If Brother Xu truly wants Zhengyi, Zhengyi will not resist either."

She looked like a little wife, weak and helpless.

Xu Lu looked up to the sky and sighed. Women were truly born actresses.

He could no longer distinguish whether Xue Huan was telling the truth or lying.

Several times, he wanted to transform into a hungry wolf.

But in the end, he still held back...