“Miss Su, what’s wrong? Is there an issue with the contract?” Fang Mingzhu asked, seeing Su Luo’s dazed expression.
“Oh, no, I haven’t finished reading it…”
Su Luo snapped back to attention and focused on the contract.
The contract content was already written. The Fang family would purchase the Rejuvenation Pill formula from Qing Xu Tian for a certain amount of spirit coins, with the space left blank to be filled in. Both parties would exchange spirit coins for the formula, along with some follow-up details, which were all fine.
One party’s signature was already there, Fang Taiyu’s name. The other side awaited Su Luo to fill in the transaction amount and Li Tianjue’s signature, and then the cooperation would be complete.
The shopkeeper brought the brush and ink. Su Luo picked up the brush and wrote down the amount of fifty million, and was about to write her own name when a flicker of unease crossed her mind, and she stopped.
This sudden feeling was strange, as if something was about to happen.
What was going on?
Seeing Su Luo hesitate, Li Tianjue noticed something was amiss and asked her, “What is it? Is something wrong?”
The feeling was too strange for Su Luo to articulate. She decided to hand the contract to him, saying, “I don’t know, Senior Brother. Can you see if there are any omissions? It’s my first time signing a contract, and I’m not sure about some things.”
Li Tianjue took it and examined it carefully.
He understood what Su Luo meant. She likely felt there was something wrong with the contract but didn’t want to say it directly, hence asking him to look.
However, after a moment, Li Tianjue found no issues.
This made Fang Taiyu a bit awkward, and he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong, both of you? Is the price not right? If you think it’s too little, we can still discuss it, as long as you are willing to sell the Rejuvenation Pill formula to us.”
Su Luo looked at Fang Taiyu’s sincere demeanor and quickly said, “No, Young Master Fang, we are very satisfied with the price. It’s not about the money.”
She truly couldn’t explain why, only that it felt wrong.
It was her sixth sense warning her, but Su Luo couldn’t find any problems with the contract. Even after showing it to Li Tianjue, the content was clear, and there was absolutely no way Qing Xu Tian was being cheated.
Perhaps she was overthinking it?
Fang Mingzhu smiled and urged, “Since that’s the case, Miss Su and Young Master Li, please sign. Once the contract is finalized, it’s settled. My brother has already prepared the spirit coins!”
Su Luo suppressed the inexplicable feeling, picked up the brush again, read it word for word, and finally wrote her name at the bottom: Su Luo.
She then handed it to Li Tianjue.
Just as Li Tianjue was about to sign, Su Luo, who had been contemplating, suddenly had a flash of inspiration and realized what was wrong.
The address!
Fang Mingzhu’s address to her!
The first time Fang Mingzhu met her, she called her Sister Su, acting very affectionate, like a little fangirl.
But this time, Fang Mingzhu called her Miss Su, which was clearly different from before.
“Wait!” Su Luo suddenly exclaimed.
Her gaze suddenly fell on Fang Mingzhu’s face. She became stern and questioned sharply, “You’re not Fang Mingzhu, are you? This contract is also problematic. What exactly did you do to it?”
Su Luo’s words were a test, but Fang Mingzhu’s expression changed. She quickly retreated, laughing strangely, “Hehehehe! Su Luo, you truly are from Qing Xu Tian to have noticed the problem with the contract. But… it’s too late!”
Fang Mingzhu chuckled charmingly, causing Fang Taiyu to jump up in shock, looking at her.
“Sister, what are you talking about?”
Fang Mingzhu snapped her fingers, and the contract in Li Tianjue’s hand suddenly burst into flames.
Su Luo shouted, “Senior Brother, be careful!”
Li Tianjue immediately dropped the contract. The papers were licked by blue flames, burning rapidly, and fluttering to the ground. The few of them clearly saw that the content had changed.
As if fading, the writing disappeared quickly, revealing a hidden second layer.
They were not words, but some strange lines.
It was a formation pattern!
Li Tianjue recognized it instantly and knew something was wrong.
He moved like lightning, reaching for Fang Mingzhu, but she had already been on guard. She flew further away, her triumphant laughter echoing in the courtyard, “Hahahaha… Too late, Young Master Li. Miss Su has already written her name on it. The contract is complete and cannot be changed!”
Fang Mingzhu’s appearance also changed.
She was seductive and alluring, vibrant and enchanting, revealing herself to be the long-lost Hua Xiangrong.
It was indeed her!
Su Luo finally remembered the strange scent she had smelled; it was the same scent she had smelled on Hua Xiangrong before.
Fang Taiyu stared at her in a daze, shocked, and said, “Sis… Sister… No, who are you? Where is my sister? Where did you take Mingzhu?!”
Hua Xiangrong chuckled charmingly, floating in the courtyard with an indescribable, eerie aura. “Young Master Fang, of course, I am not your sister. However, if you wish to be my elder brother, it’s not impossible, as long as you give me your life.”
She flicked her hand, and a flower vine covered in thorns flew out, directly piercing Fang Taiyu.
Li Tianjue’s eyes sharpened. He formed a sword with his fingers and shot out a ball of flames, burning the vine completely.
“Oh dear, Young Master Li, you’re so unchivalrous. Are you even a man?”
Hua Xiangrong’s expression shifted slightly, but she still smiled, “We are old acquaintances. Don’t worry, I am only responsible for taking Miss Su away. Anything else is not my concern.”
As the paper burned out, the black ashes began to glow brightly, then flashed.
Su Luo felt a strange, powerful force envelop her entire body. Before she could do anything, she vanished into thin air before Li Tianjue.
“Luoluo!” Li Tianjue cried out in alarm, reaching for her but grasping at empty air.
Without hesitation, the Cold Light White Feather Sword appeared in his hand, and he slashed at Hua Xiangrong in mid-air.
This strike used all of Li Tianjue’s strength, wanting only to keep her there.
Hua Xiangrong’s expression changed. A large, crimson flower quickly bloomed in her palm.
The petals unfurled layer by layer, engulfing her. Then, rumbling thunder sounded, striking the petals, their imposing aura like divine punishment. A startled cry was heard as the petals instantly turned black and shattered.
A large pit erupted in the courtyard ground, smoke and dust rising, burnt petals scattering everywhere, but Hua Xiangrong was nowhere to be seen.
Li Tianjue stood in the empty courtyard, his face ashen.
He had been careless!
After a while, Fang Taiyu stumbled out, looking at the courtyard in shock, “Young Master Li… What… what is going on? Where is my sister… Where is Miss Su?”
His mind was a mess.
His sister was gone, and Miss Su was also gone. Something terrible had happened!
…
When Su Luo saw everything before her, she found herself in an unfamiliar wilderness.
Surrounding her was a dense forest, with sparse weeds nearby, indicating the area had recently been cleared. She stood on a black platform about ten feet square, resembling an altar. Beneath her feet was a peculiar formation pattern, slowly rotating and glowing before gradually dimming.
This formation was the same one she had seen on the paper earlier. She must have been teleported here this way.
Su Luo checked herself, finding no issues. She didn’t see anyone around. Just as she was about to step off the platform, the ground not far away suddenly rose, earth and sand flying as it quickly formed a human shape.
“Fantian!?” Su Luo blurted out.
“Bratty woman, you’ve finally fallen into my young master’s trap!”
Fantian looked at Su Luo with malice and triumph, laughing heartily. His cloak billowed as he floated in mid-air, extending his hand towards her, “Return my young master’s Sand Vein Heart, or prepare to die!”