In a room full of men and women, Bai Fanlu was personally chosen by Wu Yue Shuang to be her “guest of honor.”

Wu Yue Shuang, who in this place was not known as the head of the Qingyang Sect but as Qian Dai, the newly crowned top courtesan of Baihua Pavilion, known to all as Miss Qian Qian.

As soon as the door slammed shut behind him, Bai Fanlu could still hear the exaggerated discussions and the jealous or resentful comments from the men outside, full of bitterness and envy.

Miss Qian Qian had always been known for selling her talents but not her body, and she had never shown interest in anyone. Yet tonight, she had unexpectedly chosen a weak-looking pretty boy to take back to her boudoir. The men outside assumed that the young man must be inexperienced and incapable of satisfying her…

Even if Bai Fanlu had blocked his ears, he could easily imagine how the situation was being twisted by gossip.

In fact, Bai Fanlu’s hearing was excellent, and every word reached his ears without missing a beat.

But now was not the time to be concerned about his so-called masculine pride. The woman standing before him, who was supposedly the head of the Qingyang Sect, Wu Yue Shuang, had released the red silk she had used to pull him inside, but her gaze remained as intense as ever, wrapping around him even more tightly than the silk. Her eyes conveyed a suggestiveness even more blatant than that of the women who had approached him earlier.

Bai Fanlu felt uneasy under her gaze and wasn’t sure if she was really the head of the Qingyang Sect. The incense in the room was too overpowering, clouding his judgment. Even though they were standing close, he couldn’t tell if there was any immortal energy emanating from her.

Since she had forcibly brought him here, it seemed she had something to say. If she really was the head of the Qingyang Sect, she should recognize him. Perhaps the way she greeted him would provide some clues.

Bai Fanlu considered a few possible ways she might start the conversation, but he didn’t expect it to be anything like what she actually said.

Wu Yue Shuang smiled charmingly, exuding a warmth and allure that contrasted sharply with the cold and unapproachable image of the ruthless female immortal from the stories. She spoke in the tone of an ordinary young woman, “Senior Brother Ling Jue, it’s been a long time. How have you been?”

Bai Fanlu was no stranger to being mistaken for someone else, but this time it was truly baffling. He had been mistaken for someone whose name didn’t even appear in the novel, which was beyond the scope of his logical reasoning.

After a moment’s hesitation, Bai Fanlu cautiously asked, “Master Qingyang, could it be that you’ve mistaken me for someone else?”

Wu Yue Shuang was just about to pour tea when she heard this and turned to smile at him. The gesture, with her clothes brushing against her skin as white as snow, was breathtaking.

“Senior Brother, you still like to joke.”

How could someone be so stubborn? Bai Fanlu was speechless; he had just told her she had the wrong person.

But he couldn’t just leave either. Whether or not he could actually walk away was one thing, but he was here to investigate the head of the Qingyang Sect, and now that she was right in front of him, this might be his chance.

“Why don’t you sit down and talk? We haven’t seen each other for so long, don’t you want to spend some time with your little sister?”

Bai Fanlu sat down at the table, but Wu Yue Shuang moved to the beauty couch on the other side of the room, half-reclining on it. She propped her chin on one hand, her gaze fixed on Bai Fanlu, her eyes filled with seductive allure.

She wasn’t wearing shoes or socks, and her delicate feet were exposed, with red string and silver bells tied around her ankles. The soft jingling sound they made as she moved, either intentionally or unintentionally, added to the overall charm.

Bai Fanlu frowned slightly.

Amid the overwhelming scent of makeup and perfume in the room, there was another faint fragrance. Remembering his previous encounter with the flower thief, he concentrated, holding his breath and casting a protective spell within himself to avoid being affected by any external influences.

He then discreetly surveyed the room, wary of any hidden traps.

The room wasn’t large, and aside from the table where he sat, the most prominent piece of furniture was the beauty couch where Wu Yue Shuang reclined.

The couch, made of intricately carved redwood, draped with silver tassels, seemed as light as a cloud. When she reclined on it, a certain graceful elegance naturally emanated from her.

“Senior Brother Ling Jue,” Wu Yue Shuang called out, seeing Bai Fanlu sitting upright and proper. She pouted playfully, “Don’t you think I look beautiful today?”

This kind of question was usually rhetorical. Bai Fanlu nodded slightly, “Of course, you’re beautiful, but…”

He wanted to say, “But you’ve got the wrong person.”

But then he thought, Wu Yue Shuang was clearly trying to seduce him. Maybe this was his chance to get closer and confirm whether she was really the head of the Qingyang Sect, sparing him the trouble of holding back out of respect for her status.

“What about me?” Wu Yue Shuang asked with a coquettish smile.

Bai Fanlu didn’t respond. Instead, he stood up from his chair and approached the couch.

Seeing him come closer, Wu Yue Shuang’s smile grew even more enchanting, and she deliberately made a slight twisting motion.

The bells jingled softly as the movement accentuated her curves beneath her red dress, making her figure even more alluring.

Despite his resolve to carry out a “beauty trap,” Bai Fanlu hesitated as he approached the beauty couch and met Wu Yue Shuang’s seductive gaze.

Wu Yue Shuang stared straight at him, her expression full of anticipation.

But the romantic moment she was hoping for didn’t happen. Instead, Bai Fanlu suddenly grabbed her wrist with a grip that was anything but gentle.

Wu Yue Shuang chuckled softly, allowing him to hold her wrist. She even released her other hand from supporting her chin, leaning closer to him.

As she moved closer, the scent in the room grew even stronger, almost as if invisible hands were wrapping around him. Bai Fanlu gritted his teeth and, after a moment, released her wrist.

Wu Yue Shuang blinked and exhaled softly, asking again, “What about me?”

Bai Fanlu had already taken two steps back, putting more distance between them. “Master Qingyang, do you really not recognize me?”

“Why must you keep pushing me away?” she asked.

“…Are you really Wu Yue Shuang?” Bai Fanlu was starting to lose his patience with her delusional behavior.

Wu Yue Shuang was taken aback, her beautiful eyes showing a hint of hurt. “Why do you call me that? You used to always call me Shuang’er.”

Bai Fanlu was at a loss for words. This wasn’t going anywhere. He couldn’t communicate with her like this.

His repeated attempts to retreat and his undisguised irritation seemed to have finally disheartened Wu Yue Shuang. She shook her head slightly, her smile tinged with bitterness, and let out a deep, sorrowful sigh.

An ordinary man witnessing such a display would probably have already been captivated and would never want to see such a beauty so troubled.

But Bai Fanlu could only feel more exasperated. He couldn’t tell if she was genuinely delusional or just pretending. Either way, she was completely immersed in her own reality, mistaking him for someone else and blocking out everything else. It felt very much like she was possessed.

As Bai Fanlu pondered what to do next, Wu Yue Shuang suddenly sat up from the couch, casually sweeping her long hair over her shoulder. Seeing this, Bai Fanlu immediately grew wary.

“What are you afraid of, Senior Brother?”

Wu Yue Shuang moved with graceful, delicate steps, inching closer to him.

“You didn’t like how cold I was, so I changed. Am I still not good enough compared to her?”

Bai Fanlu felt like his head was about to explode. He wanted to say, “Sister, I don’t understand a word you’re saying, please stop coming closer.”

But Wu Yue Shuang ignored his obvious discomfort and continued to advance, raising her hand to touch her right shoulder.

As she moved, her wrist flipped, and before Bai Fanlu could see how she did it, her previously conservative outfit suddenly fell apart.

The thin veil slipped to the floor, leaving her delicate figure clad only in a corset and long skirt, exposing large swaths of skin as white as snow.

Bai Fanlu panicked. Acting purely on instinct, he spun around and marched toward the door.

Not appropriate to look, not appropriate to look. First, figure out how to deal with this. He really couldn’t handle being seduced by a beautiful woman.

Wu Yue Shuang’s soft laughter followed him, and just as Bai Fanlu’s hand touched the door, he felt the overwhelming fragrance in the room coalesce into a wave that nearly knocked him out.

Even though he had been prepared, some of the scent still managed to seep into his body.

Bai Fanlu quickly used a spell to resist the effects. Fortunately, it was just in time. When he regained his senses, he saw Wu Yue Shuang’s delicate hand sliding over his, her fingers intertwining with his.

Her voice was gentle and alluring as she whispered, “I’ve learned all of her seductive techniques. Why not give it a try and see if I’m better than her?”

“…”

Bai Fanlu took a deep breath. Enough was enough!

Gathering his energy, Bai Fanlu prepared himself for a tough fight, knowing that Wu Yue Shuang was powerful and that it would likely take several moves to break free.

But to his surprise, as soon as he released his spell, the pressure behind him abruptly vanished, and the door in front of him opened easily.

Bai Fanlu looked up in surprise to see who was outside and exclaimed, “Chongyu!”

“Senior Brother!”

The fresh air from outside hit him, and Bai Fanlu wobbled slightly.

Wang Chongyu quickly caught him, and Bai Fanlu took a deep breath. He had been holding it in for too long, and his brain was a bit oxygen-deprived. Although the air in Baihua Pavilion was still thick with perfume, it was nothing compared to what he had just endured.

“What happened to you?” Wang Chongyu asked, concerned by Bai Fanlu’s flushed and pale complexion.

“I’m fine.” Bai Fanlu remembered Wu Yue Shuang and turned to look, but the room was empty.

“Where is Master Qingyang?”

“She was just here. How could she disappear so suddenly?”

Bai Fanlu was puzzled. He recalled how Wang Chongyu had been following him when Wu Yue Shuang had forcibly taken him away, only to be blocked by Yun Zhan.

But now Yun Zhan was nowhere to be seen, and only Wang Chongyu stood at the door.

Still shaken by the near-assault, Bai Fanlu couldn’t help but ask, “Junior Brother, why didn’t you come in earlier?”

It was clear that Wang Chongyu had been right outside the door and must have seen Wu Yue Shuang drag him into the room.

“What did Master Qingyang do to you?” Wang Chongyu asked, unusually tense upon hearing Bai Fanlu’s complaint.

“…Sigh!” Bai Fanlu didn’t know how to explain. After hesitating for a moment, he could only sigh in embarrassment and wave his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. I’m a man; how could I suffer? It’s just that… she… how should I put this…”

He couldn’t find the words to explain the situation. Should he say that he had been mistaken for some flirtatious, unfaithful man? That a woman had fought over him and then tried to force herself on him?

“Where is Yun Zhan?” In situations like this, changing the subject was always the best strategy.

Seeing that Bai Fanlu didn’t want to elaborate, Wang Chongyu didn’t press him and simply explained, “Yun Zhan said we shouldn’t rush in and scare her off. Maybe we could use the opportunity to confirm whether she’s really Master Qingyang. I thought it made sense, so I decided to wait. I didn’t expect to let Senior Brother be startled. That was my fault.”

“I don’t blame you. I was just anxious earlier,” Bai Fanlu quickly reassured him. “Don’t take it to heart.”

However, Yun Zhan’s idea did align with what Bai Fanlu had been thinking. “So where is Yun Zhan now?”

Wang Chongyu’s expression darkened, clearly displeased even to mention him.

When Bai Fanlu and Wang Chongyu returned to the elegant room, they found Yun Zhan still there, drinking and enjoying the company of two beauties, as if completely unconcerned about his senior brother’s safety.

Even though Bai Fanlu wasn’t particularly fond of Yun Zhan, seeing him act so nonchalantly made him feel a bit upset. He couldn’t help but think of how the original protagonist had been so devoted to this ungrateful person, who now seemed nothing more than a scoundrel.

But this was the protagonist, and Bai Fanlu couldn’t hit or scold him.

Seeing Bai Fanlu return, Yun Zhan at least had the decency to dismiss the courtesans.

With no one else in the room, Bai Fanlu quietly shared the results of his spiritual probing. “I tested her. Even if she’s not Master Qingyang, she’s definitely a powerful immortal.”

Wang Chongyu was surprised. “Why do you say that? If she’s an immortal, why doesn’t she admit she’s Master Qingyang?”

Bai Fanlu thought for a moment, not wanting to reveal too many details, and said, “When I addressed her as Master Qingyang, she never responded directly, just kept going in circles with me. But when I called her Wu Yue Shuang, she didn’t deny it.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know either,” Bai Fanlu shook his head. “She was just rambling the whole time, as if she wasn’t in her right mind.”

Yun Zhan, who had been lost in thought, suddenly looked up and asked, “Why did she target you? Do you have any connection with her?”

Wang Chongyu also looked over.

Yun Zhan really knew how to hit the sore spots. Bai Fanlu had been trying to steer the conversation toward the possibility that Wu Yue Shuang was being controlled, but Yun Zhan had honed in on the key issue.

“She didn’t recognize me and mistook me for someone else.”

“Who did she mistake you for?”

Bai Fanlu wanted to know that too, so he went along with it, hoping they could help him figure out who this “Ling Jue” was.

“She mistook me for her ‘Senior Brother Ling Jue’.”

“Ling… Jue?” Wang Chongyu was astonished.

Yun Zhan, however, raised an eyebrow and smiled slyly.

Seeing Wang Chongyu and Yun Zhan’s vastly different reactions, Bai Fanlu felt a sinking feeling in his gut.

It was clear that they both knew this “Senior Brother Ling Jue,” but he himself had no idea who that was. This was no longer a simple matter of asking for help in identifying someone.

Because if they both knew this person, and if he was a senior brother of the head of the Qingyang Sect, then logically, he would be a senior or junior brother of Ling Qingzi. Such a person wouldn’t be unknown in the immortal sects, so the original protagonist should definitely have known him. But Bai Fanlu had no memory of this name.

Could this be a character mentioned somewhere in the novel that he had completely forgotten about?

Wang Chongyu and Yun Zhan’s reactions were telling, and Bai Fanlu’s curiosity was burning, but he couldn’t ask them outright. If he did, it would expose the fact that he wasn’t the original protagonist.

“…What do we do now?”

After a long silence, Bai Fanlu finally gathered the courage to speak first. His curiosity about who Ling Jue was outweighed his fear of not being able to continue the conversation once Ling Jue was brought up.

Wang Chongyu clearly hadn’t decided yet. “This concerns Master Qingyang’s safety, so it’s a serious matter. We should report back to Master…”

“What’s the point of reporting back without knowing anything? Are we going to ask him to investigate personally?” Yun Zhan interrupted.

His words subtly suggested that Bai Fanlu had failed in his task, that he had gone into the tiger’s den but hadn’t brought back the tiger cub.

Bai Fanlu glanced at Yun Zhan, but before he could say anything, Wang Chongyu had already retorted, “That’s still better than you, who has spent over a month in Yufang City and come back empty-handed.”

During their journey, Bai Fanlu had briefly mentioned to Wang Chongyu that after they split up, Yun Zhan had gone directly to Yufang City. This reminded Bai Fanlu—what exactly had Yun Zhan been doing for the past month? It seemed like a complete waste of time.

Yun Zhan didn’t respond to Wang Chongyu’s taunt. He simply downed the cup of wine in his hand, his eyes flashing with determination.

“In that case, I’ll spend the night here.”