"This woman is more than she seems. She’s likely an Inner Sect Disciple of the Sutra of Ultimate Sect."

Shen Qingyao spoke coldly, then averted her gaze to look only at Chen Cheng. "Brother Chen," she said in a low voice, "it’s not convenient for me to observe the people here.

Why don’t you take a careful look? We’ll leave immediately after you’re finished!"

Chen Cheng had no interest in watching such a vulgar display himself. He shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Let’s just leave now."

"Alright." Shen Qingyao nodded, rising to her feet first and heading for the door.

As the two reached the doorway, the zither-playing woman hastily stopped playing and hurried over.

The two Qing Guanren followed gracefully behind her, swaying their hips. Their already sheer garments slipped even lower, becoming the very picture of seduction...

"Esteemed guests, was our service at Le Wuji somehow lacking?" the woman in red asked, bowing gracefully. Her voice was soft.

Chen Cheng’s expression didn’t change. "We just remembered some urgent matters we have to attend to," he replied casually, "so we can’t stay for the entertainment."

"Oh, if you have urgent business, then I can’t insist you stay." The woman in red’s eyes shimmered, her shapely eyebrows arching slightly as she spoke politely.

She then reached into her robes, pulled out two thin booklets, and offered them to Chen Cheng.

"Since you esteemed guests have come to Le Wuji, it must be fate.

It is a true pity that I, Qiluo, cannot personally entertain you. This is our establishment’s treasured Worry-Relieving Album. It contains a volume of the Sutra of Ultimate Bliss, which is most profound, and I would like to gift it to you.

The next time you grace Le Wuji with your presence, you may use this Worry-Relieving Album to come directly to the Worry Relief Pavilion, no further payment of silver taels required.

This is just a small token of my goodwill. I do hope you won’t refuse it."

"Alright. In that case, thank you, Miss Qiluo." Chen Cheng gave a slight nod, casually taking the albums and tucking them into his robes.

He then fumbled inside his robes for a moment before producing a ten-tael silver note and handing it back to Qiluo.

"Please accept this small token in return, Miss Qiluo."

"Thank you, esteemed guest."

Qiluo gave a dazzling smile and reached out to take it, but Chen Cheng suddenly made a forward gesture, as if to stuff the silver note directly into her bodice.

His large hand followed, reaching for that impressive expanse.

"Oh!" Caught completely by surprise, Qiluo was grabbed squarely. She let out a soft, reproachful cry but broke free with practiced ease.

"Esteemed guest, why not stay a little longer?"

"Next time," Chen Cheng said flatly. He and Shen Qingyao then left the Worry Relief Pavilion, descending the stairs to the main street of the Black Market.

Shen Qingyao seemed angry. Without a word, she walked straight toward a quiet corner.

When she saw Chen Cheng follow, her delicate brows knitted together. "Chen Cheng," she said coldly, "I never thought you were that kind of person!"

Her words were clearly a rebuke for his earlier, brazen display with his wandering hand.

"Sigh..." Chen Cheng let out a soft sigh. "I had no choice. I was just testing Miss Qiluo’s Martial Arts Power."

Shen Qingyao’s expression softened slightly, but she asked with a hint of suspicion, "Really?"

Chen Cheng shrugged, his expression turning serious. "I’m a respectable man. Why would I do something so vulgar?

If I hadn’t made a move just now, how could I have gauged Miss Qiluo’s Martial Arts Power?"

"So what is her Martial Arts Power?" Shen Qingyao asked.

Chen Cheng thought for a moment before replying, "I used my full strength just now, and I only managed to land a hand on her because I took her by surprise.

But even with my power at the Small Success in Muscle Strengthening Realm, she still broke free with ease. Her strength is very likely at the level of Muscle Strengthening Realm Perfection."

Chen Cheng was being conservative. In truth, he had only used about twenty percent of his strength, which was already far more powerful than an ordinary Small Success Martial Artist.

And his action was indeed a test. When faced with an unexpected sneak attack, an ordinary Martial Artist would subconsciously react with their full strength.

Especially in a place like the Black Market, Qiluo, as a Perfect Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm, would never allow Chen Cheng to get a hold of her, not knowing whether he was friend or foe or the true extent of his Martial Arts Power.

After all, this was the Black Market. While fighting and killing were forbidden, who could guarantee that no one would resort to murder?

If Chen Cheng had been an enemy, that grab could very well have cost her her life. How could she not have responded with her full power?

...

In Le Wuji, within an upper chamber near the Worry Relief Pavilion, Qiluo stood by the window. She watched the spot where Chen Cheng and Shen Qingyao had vanished, a peculiar glint flashing in her eyes.

Chen Cheng’s earlier action had indeed caught her completely off guard.

After all, Qiluo had been watching them from the moment they entered the Worry Relief Pavilion.

Even the way Shen Qingyao blushed and didn’t dare to look around hadn’t escaped Qiluo’s notice.

And Chen Cheng, though he appeared calm, had kept his gaze fixed forward, his eyes clear and unwavering.

Two young people like that were obviously inexperienced fledglings. It was even likely that, due to Cultivating Martial Dao, they were still virgins, brimming with pure Yang energy.

Guests like them were undoubtedly top-quality "cultivation cauldrons." That was precisely why Qiluo had given them the Worry-Relieving Album—to entice them back to Le Wuji.

But that unexpected incident had occurred just as they were leaving. Chen Cheng’s surprise move had been truly shocking—so much so that if her own Martial Arts Power hadn’t been so formidable, she might have truly been at a disadvantage.

’Heh, to think Linji City has someone like him! 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

To have the strength of a Small Success Martial Artist in the Muscle Strengthening Realm at such a young age, and to be so brazen... This young master is quite interesting indeed.

I truly look forward to the young master’s next visit to Le Wuji. When that time comes, I will be sure to entertain you... properly!’

Qiluo chuckled, tilting her head up slightly to gaze into the distant sky.

The Black Market below was ablaze with light, but the night sky above was a deep, profound black. Suddenly, a point of light streaked across the darkness—a brilliant shooting star.