The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

As Lu Jing walked past Ting Yue Pavilion, he was pondering about the Pleasure Palace mentioned in the book's remnant.

If this demonic sect still existed, the most likely place for their successors in Wujiang City to be would be Ting Yue Pavilion, since it was practically the largest brothel in the city, making it the most convenient place for Pleasure Palace disciples to hide.

Lu Jing wondered if, as he looked up at the building, the Pleasure Palace disciples were also looking down, searching for their prey for the night.

This feeling of delivering himself to their doorstep was not pleasant.

Moreover, Lu Jing didn't know how the Pleasure Palace disciples treated the martial artists they drained, whether they would kill them to avoid exposing their whereabouts and facing revenge from the victims' relatives and friends.

If that were the case, his rash approach would likely be very dangerous.

It seemed he still needed to consider things more carefully, but the problem was that he only had ten days left before entering the first-rate realm, leaving him little time for careful consideration.

Lu Jing was filled with worry and didn't notice the change in Gu Caiwei's expression beside him. After retracting his gaze from Ting Yue Pavilion, he continued forward while pondering the future.

After that, Gu Caiwei, who had been quite talkative, fell silent for some reason and followed behind Lu Jing with her head lowered.

After walking for about another quarter of an hour, the two finally arrived at Gu Caiwei's residence.

This was a riverside mansion that not only occupied a much larger area than Zhang Sanfeng's courtyard but also had gardens and artificial hills. From a high point, one could even get a panoramic view of the river.

The bricks and stones used were quite exquisite, yet it wasn't as ostentatious as many merchants' mansions, instead revealing elegance everywhere.

Perhaps because she had returned home, Gu Caiwei perked up a bit and began to introduce the place to Lu Jing, "Speaking of this mansion, it has quite a history. The ancestor of the original owner once served as a third-rank high official, but he died shortly after his mother passed away and he returned home to observe the mourning period. This mansion was built during that time."

"Unfortunately, things in this world are impermanent. There are no eternal emperors or generals, nor wealth that can be passed down through generations. The descendants were unworthy, not only spending all the wealth left by the high official but also having to sell this old house. My late husband loved it very much and bought it at a high price, but he didn't expect to live in it for less than a year before he too passed away."

"My condolences, Madam Gu," Lu Jing said.

"It's just a momentary emotional response; it's not really grief. Besides, I personally don't really like this place; it always feels a bit deserted. But today, with Young Master Lu here, it feels much livelier… Oh, Young Master Lu, what are you looking for?"

"I want to see where is suitable for practicing martial arts," Lu Jing said truthfully.

Gu Caiwei's riverside mansion looked quite impressive, hundreds of times better than Lu Jing's small, dilapidated hut, but as a modern person, Lu Jing had even visited the Humble Administrator's Garden, so he wouldn't be mesmerized by the scenery here.

On the contrary, Gu Caiwei was very impressed when she heard this. "Young Master Lu is so devoted to martial arts and unmoved by external things. No wonder you have become a peerless expert at such a young age."

This wasn't the first time Lu Jing had heard this, but every time he heard it, he could only smile wryly.

He was indeed curious about martial arts and hoped to become a great hero, but he couldn't be called devoted to it, and being unmoved by external things was even more nonsense. He was simply forced into it.

It was just like a poor programmer desperately fixing bugs after the program went live.

"If Young Master Lu is looking for a place to practice martial arts undisturbed, there is a small courtyard behind the main chamber. No one can enter without my permission; it's the quietest place."

"Thank you," Lu Jing said and prepared to leave.

But he didn't expect to be stopped by Gu Caiwei again. "Young Master Lu… thank you for accompanying me today. It's getting late, so why not have dinner first before practicing? Also…"

As Gu Caiwei spoke, she leaned in closer, "Young Master Lu, have you forgotten our plan? If I host a grand banquet to entertain Young Master Lu, it will be more convincing for those with ulterior motives that Young Master Lu is here to do something big tonight."

"Oh," Lu Jing was helping her with something and would receive benefits afterward, so he couldn't be too perfunctory. Hearing this, he finally nodded.

Subsequently, under Gu Caiwei's persuasion, he first took a bath and changed into the new clothes Gu Caiwei had bought for him. Gu Caiwei also took off her coarse linen clothes and changed into a set of everyday silk robes at home, fully displaying her alluring figure.

She sat at the table, personally cutting meat and pouring wine for Lu Jing.

However, making a monk's staff with so much fine iron would definitely cost a lot. Although Lu Jing had earned a lot of money these days, he really couldn't afford the casting fee, especially if he wanted to find a skilled craftsman and use good materials.

Since Gu Caiwei needed his help, Lu Jing took this opportunity to solve the equipment problem.

However, Gu Caiwei's expression stiffened when she heard this, "A monk's… staff?"

"Yes," Although Lu Jing's heart was entirely focused on solving the problem with his internal energy, Gu Caiwei's series of fierce offensives had finally made him realize something, realizing that the other party was probably not just acting for the mole to see, but he was about to face a life-or-death situation, so he really had no mood for romance.

Gu Caiwei also felt the rejection in Lu Jing's words, and her heart was filled with bitterness and frustration. She opened her mouth to say something, but thousands of words gathered at her lips, and in the end, she only let out a long sigh, "Young Master Lu, let me take you to the small courtyard behind the main chamber."

"Thank you for your trouble, Madam Gu," Lu Jing said.

After everyone had left and there was no one around, Lu Jing began to practice the Surging Waves again. At about the third quarter of Hai hour (around 10:30 PM), after Lu Jing finished a set of steps, he saw Amu again on the opposite wall.

Lu Jing's spirit was also shaken, "Is there any movement? Which direction?"

Amu pointed in one direction when he heard this.