Chapter Seventy-Five: Devotion Reserved for One

At the gates of Jin City, Yinyao and Chu Su Yi, after five more days on the road, finally arrived back! Along the way, they received a message from Li Suo: Ji Muyu’s search for the Shattered Lotus was growing ever more intense—hurry back so we can discuss our options!

“I’ll return to the Hidden Sect now. If anything comes up, I’ll have someone contact you,” Yinyao said from horseback, her posture spirited and gallant. She smiled as she said farewell to Chu Su Yi.

“Alright! If you have any new plans, please let me know immediately. I look forward to your ideas!” Chu Su Yi replied with a smile. After exchanging a warrior’s salute, the two parted ways.

Inside the Hidden Sect, someone was pacing anxiously. He wasn’t afraid Yinyao couldn’t handle those people; what worried him was that Chu Su Yi had suddenly followed her. That man alone was a force to be reckoned with…

But—he had promised to trust Yinyao! It was only after much convincing that he managed not to secretly follow her. In the end, he just didn’t want Yinyao to be upset.

Watching Li Suo’s current state, Li Yue and Yin Rou exchanged a covert laugh. Poor Sect Master! But who could blame him, when their mistress was so endlessly charming?

Yinyao entered to find Li Suo frowning and pacing the hall, while Li Yue and Yin Rou were trying to stifle their laughter—a scene both exasperating and amusing.

With her sharp eyes, Yin Rou spotted Yinyao. Tugging at Li Yue, the two stepped out of the hall and called out, “Mistress, you’ve returned!”

The deliberately raised voices were, of course, to draw someone’s attention. As expected, Li Suo immediately turned, looking at Yinyao as if he wished he could rush over and give her a bear hug.

But upon seeing her inscrutable, half-smiling expression, he withdrew his hands and grinned sheepishly. “Yinyao, you’re back!”

“Li Yue, Yin Rou, if you want to laugh, just laugh. Don’t hold it in and make yourselves uncomfortable,” Yinyao said, raising an eyebrow at the two whose faces said it all.

“Haha!” At their mistress’s command, they no longer restrained themselves and burst into hearty laughter. They quickly received a murderous glare from Li Suo, but with Yinyao backing them, what did they have to fear?

“Yaor, how could you treat me so?” Li Suo, seeing his threats failed, switched tactics and played the pitiful one. Unfortunately, someone refused to indulge him, only watching with a more ambiguous smile.

Seeing this, Li Yue and Yin Rou wisely excused themselves. Who knew what outrageous thing the sect master might do next? Best to keep out of sight and out of mind, lest he vent his frustrations on them later.

Once the two had left, Li Suo drew closer to Yinyao, who remained where she was, looking on with amusement. In just a few days apart, Li Suo’s penchant for playfulness seemed to have grown. How had she never noticed this side of him before?

“Enough!” Yinyao called out, putting a stop to it. If she let him carry on, she really would be laughed into submission.

Li Suo immediately obeyed, his clownish demeanor vanishing in a heartbeat. If not for the faint discomfort in her stomach from holding back her laughter, Yinyao might have thought she’d imagined the whole scene.

“Yaor, did you accomplish what you set out for this time?” Li Suo asked as they walked further into the Hidden Sect.

Yinyao glanced back at him. “How did you know I had another purpose? Wasn’t I just going to protect Muye and Ai Shuo?”

Li Suo, pleased with himself, had spent a long time deducing that Yinyao’s sudden departure wasn’t so simple. It cost him quite a bit of brainpower.

With a raised eyebrow, Li Suo said smugly, “If you only meant to protect those two, you could’ve sent someone else. Why go in person? Clearly, you had ulterior motives!” He looked at her with a hint of challenge.

“It’s true this time. Didn’t you notice the change between Li Yue and Yin Rou?” Yinyao, seeing through his guess, didn’t bother to hide it.

Li Suo hadn’t expected Yinyao would go to such lengths to play matchmaker for those two. Li Yue and Yin Rou truly had their bond tested through hardship.

Following her lead, he said, “Of course I noticed! Just now, they’re becoming more and more unruly—and that’s all thanks to you!”

His tone was indulgent, and Yinyao caught it instantly. Her steps faltered as she thought of his feelings for her, and of the memories that Chu Su Yi might soon recover…

Sensing something was off with Yinyao, Li Suo started to wonder if he’d said something wrong. But he hadn’t, had he? Wasn’t it all true?

Yaor, what’s wrong?

He gently patted her shoulder, giving her a roguish smile. “What, are you lost in the affection I’ve given you?”

His words, so teasing, made Yinyao’s nose sting and her eyes threaten tears. She rubbed her eyes, touched her nose, and smiled at him. “Your affection?”

Seeing her eyes rimmed red, Li Suo wanted to ask why, but wisely held his tongue. Suppressing his questions, he resumed his rakish demeanor. “Isn’t it?”

At this, Yinyao couldn’t help but laugh, and with her laughter, the heaviness in her heart seemed to lift, brightening her mood.

Feigning a demure smile at him, she said, “Just don’t spread your affection around.”

Li Suo recognized the jesting tone but was happy to take her words to heart and keep playing along. “Rest assured, Yaor, my affection is for one alone—and that is you.”

Even knowing he hid a confession beneath his playful banter, Yinyao found herself unable to accept such exclusive affection: was she truly worthy of it?

Their light sparring accompanied them as they entered deeper into the Hidden Sect. Composing themselves, their laughter faded, and both donned the impassive expressions befitting their positions.

Watching the intelligence team swiftly organizing new reports, Yinyao was reminded of her first arrival here. Back then, she’d been unable to bear their sluggish pace, so she’d taken matters into her own hands, sorting reports at a glance, categorizing them, and pulling out the most urgent information in record time. In a span that would have taken the whole team an hour, she’d done it all herself, leaving her subordinates stunned and Li Suo thoroughly startled. She’d been grateful not to have forgotten her old skills.

Now, with her methods, they’d shortened their time and increased efficiency, quickly bringing her the information she needed.

“Mistress.” The head of the intelligence team handed her a stack of papers.

Yinyao took them, leafing through as a similar set was brought to Li Suo, though the order made it clear Yinyao’s status was in no way below his.

After reviewing the latest updates, Yinyao looked to Li Suo. “Li Suo, what about the Shattered Lotus—have you found it? I asked you to investigate.”

“There is indeed a Shattered Lotus at Hidden Manor. As I recalled, there are only three left,” Li Suo replied, signaling for the relevant report to be brought to Yinyao.

Scanning the report, she asked, “Would it be possible to obtain one from the manor?”

Li Suo considered it. “It shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Gather all recent details on Ji Muyu’s search for the Shattered Lotus—the more comprehensive, the better. Bring me everything.” Yinyao set aside the report, her mind already working.

To save time, Li Suo summarized the intelligence he’d gathered over the past days. “Ji Muyu has indeed dispatched many to search for the Shattered Lotus. Judging by their recent actions, they seem to have pinpointed the location of the last one here. Their movements are focused, no longer casting wide nets as before.”

Yinyao nodded. “Go on.”

“I have, as you ordered, sent people to join Ji Muyu’s team in the search. The Copper Shadows are operating secretly, and the Silver Shadows are, as you instructed, lurking nearby, ready to interfere or obstruct at any moment.” He spoke with satisfaction, having already set Yinyao’s plan in motion.

As he finished, someone handed Yinyao another batch of reports. Her eyes skimmed the pages at lightning speed, and soon she set them down, deep in thought.

Li Suo, knowing she was planning the next step, gestured for everyone to lower their voices and not disturb her. The whole team understood the importance and moved quietly.

“Li Suo, summon Li Yue and Yin Rou. After these days of rest, I imagine their injuries are healed—it’s time they contributed.” A glimmer sparked in Yinyao’s eyes; she’d formed a new plan and was ready to deploy her people.

“Mistress, Sect Master.” The two soon arrived at the intelligence room.

“How are your injuries?” Yinyao asked with concern.

“Thank you for your care, Mistress. We have recovered,” Yin Rou answered with a gentle smile.

“I thought you might be well by now. Since you’re fit, it’s time for a new assignment.” Yinyao spoke casually. In truth, whether they were healed or not, this task could only fall to them. She was merely going through the motions.

“Please issue your orders, Mistress!” Li Yue and Yin Rou knelt on one knee, awaiting their instructions.

Seeing their readiness, and recalling how even the intelligence team had delivered the reports to Yinyao first, Li Suo couldn’t help but feel his own status in the Hidden Sect was being overshadowed by her.

Still, he didn’t mind.

“You two are to return to the manor and persuade Uncle Li to let us have one Shattered Lotus,” Yinyao assigned them their task.

This mission could only be theirs because Li Yue was Li Suo’s younger brother, and Uncle Li’s son—it was far more effective than sending anyone else.

“Yes, Mistress! We take our leave!”