The fragrance of wine mixed with a faint scent of rouge made Zhu Pingniang squint her eyes, and then... she cast a sidelong glance at Xu Chang'an as if looking at a heartless man.

"Heartless thing."

Xu Chang'an: '...'

"What are you looking at?" Zhu Pingniang pouted. "In front of me, you don't say you like me more... The answer is quite obvious."

She didn't understand.

"Clearly, I treat you no worse than Ah Bai, clearly, I came first... clearly, Ah Bai only taught you for a while, and later even prohibited you from entering the Sword Hall, yet you side with her, not me?"

Xu Chang'an continued to stay silent.

Not pretending to be dead, just not knowing what to say.

Should he say it's because Zhu Pingniang has "malice," and because Li Zhibai is more vulnerable, that's why he sides with Li Zhibai?

Impossible.

Xu Chang'an is quite familiar with women's issues on Muyu Peak, and at times like this, rather than explaining and making things more chaotic... pretending to be dead is more effective.

Zhu Pingniang looked at the silent young man with his head down, the corner of her mouth curled slightly, but when Xu Chang'an sensed something and looked up, he still saw the resentful look.

"Heartless, but at least not too foolish." Zhu Pingniang stretched lazily, "Ah... For me, the best choice is if you don't want to be my spy, then I can only go for the second-best option."

In Xu Chang'an's puzzled eyes, Zhu Pingniang said, "Alternative plan, Chang'an, come be my spy."

"?"

Xu Chang'an's eyelashes trembled.

Is there any difference between this alternative plan and the previous one?

"Of course there's a difference." Zhu Pingniang, in front of Xu Chang'an, took back the gift she initially wanted to give him into her storage ring, and said, "Before, you were supposed to hide from Ah Bai and be my spy, gathering her intelligence... that would be the best for me, but you didn't want to do it..."

"Then..."

Under Xu Chang'an's surprised gaze, Zhu Pingniang dragged the tone slightly and then chuckled.

"Not hiding from Ah Bai is definitely fine, right?"

Xu Chang'an: "..."

Baffled.

He was completely baffled.

Being a spy, can you do that without hiding from someone?

Zhu Pingniang picked up the wine cup, taking a sip, and said: "Chang'an, you'll go back and see Ah Bai, tell her I want you to be my eyes on the mountain, tell her I want you to report her every move on the mountain."

Putting down the wine cup, Zhu Pingniang smiled brightly.

"Go and ask her, say that I want to monitor her, let her choose herself. If Ah Bai herself has no objections, then you have no grounds to refuse me, right?"

——

Xu Chang'an stared blankly at Zhu Pingniang, suddenly realizing something.

He...

He's completely no match for Zhu Pingniang.

From the moment they met, whether it's the rhythm or his thoughts, it's all nearly in her control.

Indeed.

He forgot about Li Zhibai's temperament.

With Li Zhibai's character, if he went back to the mountain and told her about it, she probably wouldn't care at all.

Li Zhibai, even if she knew Zhu Pingniang wants to place a spy by her side and even asks her permission... she'd just helplessly chide and then agree.

Others would dislike being monitored.

But when it's Zhu Pingniang and Xu Chang'an, it's a different story.

"Ms. Zhu, you... planned it all along?" Xu Chang'an murmured.

"What do you mean planned, don't make it sound so unpleasant."

Zhu Pingniang scoffed and then gave Xu Chang'an a look: "Silly boy, do you really think I'd place a spy by Ah Bai's side? Think about her cultivation, what kind of spy can escape her eyes... If I really did that, what if she resents me?"

She couldn't afford the risk of being resented by Li Zhibai.

"So..." Zhu Pingniang squinted her eyes: "Even if there's a spy, I'd let her know and report in advance at her place, got it?"

"So you've chosen me."

"Both Ah Bai and I like you, making you the most suitable." Zhu Pingniang laughed: "Chang'an, have you thought it through? If you agree now to be my spy, then I'll be the one to inform Ah Bai, and this sword will be yours now."

"If you don't agree now and go back to ask her before coming back as my spy, then... when this sword will be given to you depends on my mood."

Zhu Pingniang spoke, pausing her tone.

"Of course, no matter which choice you make, in the end, you'll be my spy, just a matter of sooner or later." Zhu Pingniang reminded him: "So what's your answer."

Xu Chang'an sighed: "You already know, don't you?"

Zhu Pingniang had already put the longsword back into her storage ring, she knew what his choice would be.

From the very beginning, Zhu Pingniang didn't give him any option to refuse, only voluntary... and forced voluntariness.

Indeed.

He would go back and ask Li Zhibai, and the answer would definitely not be a refusal.

Though odd, Li Zhibai would surely agree to Zhu Pingniang's "monitoring" proposal... but even so, Xu Chang'an couldn't agree to Zhu Pingniang before Li Zhibai had consented.

It's a matter of principle.

"Having principles is good, I like it too." Zhu Pingniang's closed eyes opened slightly, revealing some enchantment: "Then we've agreed, after returning to the mountain, if Ah Bai agrees... remember to often send Jade Scrolls to inform about her movements, did you hear me, my little spy?"

"As you say." Xu Chang'an just found the woman in front of him scary.

It should be said, her many years weren't lived in vain.

"There's one more thing." Zhu Pingniang gently twirled her long hair with her fingers, and said: "The sword, although it'll be given to you sooner or later... it's better to forge some more Water Spirit into it, it'll suit you better."

So she wouldn't let Xu Chang'an take it now.

"Thank you, Ms. Zhu." Xu Chang'an rubbed his forehead.

She's truly calculated everything clearly.

Whether to be a spy or to take the sword... it looks like his choice, but in reality, all options were orchestrated by Zhu Pingniang for him to choose.

"Am I not good to you?" Zhu Pingniang shifted her body, pretending to reach for Xu Chang'an, but this time he didn't avoid her.

Of course, Zhu Pingniang had no real intention of hugging him, just to tease him.

Previously, Xu Chang'an would dodge.

Now, he didn't dodge.

Because he realized, even his evasion was calculated by Zhu Pingniang.

Indeed, as Zhu Pingniang was about to lean on him, she slightly shifted and didn't truly embrace him.

"Are you a child?" Zhu Pingniang said with a hint of helplessness, pointing at his face: "Trying to turn things around even in such trivial matters?"

Not afraid she'll really hug him and rub his face?

If so, how would he dare to face Miss Yun with a face full of rouge?

"Ms. Zhu." Xu Chang'an curled his lips, then said: "Chang'an... always has a competitive spirit in such inexplicable places."

Though he lost many times, just winning this insignificant time pleased him greatly.

"Look at your so-called success."

Zhu Pingniang let out a hum and then exchanged glances with Xu Chang'an... both of them smiled.

Whether coincidence or something else, everything was expressed clearly.

"My matters are done here." Zhu Pingniang sat back down opposite Xu Chang'an.

She had achieved her aim of letting Xu Chang'an understand her and Li Zhibai's relationship and helping her with tasks, now... it was Xu Chang'an's matters to deal with.

Start from the less crucial matters.

Zhu Pingniang thought for a moment, raised a finger, and asked somewhat meaningfully: "Chang'an, how's that Ni Zi Qingluo doing lately?"

"Miss Liu?" Xu Chang'an recalled their meeting when descending the mountain and shared it with Zhu Pingniang.

After a while, Zhu Pingniang blinked.

"Qingluo asked you to send her regards to me?"

Liu Qingluo asked Xu Chang'an to tell her everything is good on the mountain and not to worry.

"Yes." Xu Chang'an nodded.

"...That dead girl." Zhu Pingniang covered her face.

Concern?

What's she worried about?

Liu Qingluo was sent to the mountain by her, how could she not pay attention to her matters?

That remark wasn't meant for her ears, but for Xu Chang'an.

Liu Qingluo wanted to tell Xu Chang'an she's doing well and he shouldn't worry.

But she had no right to say those words herself, so she borrowed her face to say them.

Zhu Pingniang acted as a shield.

While Zhu Pingniang could constantly win over Xu Chang'an, she was used by Liu Qingluo, losing this time.

"Am I so easily used?" Zhu Pingniang chuckled, turning her gaze to Xu Chang'an's bewildered expression.

She needed to find some trouble for Liu Qingluo.

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