Chapter 15: The Scoundrel’s Stratagem and the Shocking Revelation

Surveillance magic was the most advanced form of tracking spells.

It could transmit not only visuals but also audio.

The spell was incredibly subtle, a fact Zhang Liang knew all too well, having once fallen prey to it himself, which made him particularly sensitive to its presence.

As Zhang Liang recalled Lin Na’s scandalous bath photos, he surmised the culprit must be his ‘good brother’.

Surveillance magic was not something one could simply pick up; to Zhang Liang’s knowledge, only world-renowned Archmagi, almost exclusively old men, possessed such mastery.

Lin Na, with her striking looks and equally stunning figure, embodied the unattainable ice queen many yearned for.

Her purple hair cascaded to her waist, a breathtaking sight, while her captivating figure moved with an alluring grace.

If an old man were indeed monitoring her, a glimpse of something he shouldn’t would surely lead to him spitting blood and dying on the spot.

That ‘good brother’ of his, despite his mediocre strength, had gone to such lengths just for a peek.

If such talent were applied to legitimate pursuits, he would have long since broken through to the Emperor Realm.

Considering his future interactions with Lin Na would only increase, and continued surveillance was unacceptable, Zhang Liang resolved to send his ‘good brother’ a potent, all-encompassing tonic recipe as a token of his ‘apology’.

Anyone possessing so many aphrodisiacs was undoubtedly a lecher, destined for kidney deficiency; a ten-fold dose of the tonic would surely set him straight.

‘It might be a bit excessive,’ he mused, ‘but a young man can certainly handle it.’

“Wait,” Zhang Liang whispered, halting the others who were about to depart.

After ensuring no one was outside, he quietly shut the door.

“I possess a secret recipe, passed down through my family.”

Zhang Liang, with a furtive air, gathered them into a tight circle.

Witnessing Zhang Liang’s heightened vigilance, they instantly surmised the recipe was no ordinary one, their expressions turning gravely serious.

Zhang Liang lowered his voice.

“This recipe, taken thrice daily, shows effects on the very first day, and after a month, your cultivation will see a remarkable boost.”

“Is that truly real!?” Lin Na exclaimed, her voice laced with excitement.

Zhang Liang offered a sinister smile.

“Absolutely, without a doubt.”

“And remember, you must never speak of this to anyone, understood?”

“I shall never reveal it,” Lin Na affirmed with a nod.

Watching Lin Na listen with such solemnity, Zhang Liang nearly burst into laughter.

Thanks to her unwitting performance, everyone else likewise adopted serious expressions, believing his words to be gospel.

Zhang Liang felt certain that the ‘good brother’ monitoring Lin Na was also listening intently.

Such was human nature: a treasure freely given would be met with suspicion, but one acquired through surreptitious means would be cherished.

Having navigated this world for years, Zhang Liang had mastered this particular stratagem.

“Wait!?” Zhang Liang’s eyes widened in feigned panic as he stared at Lin Na.

“Surveillance magic!?”

“D*mn it! Someone just overheard the recipe!”

Ignoring the startled Heng Naixin, Zhang Liang snatched the sword from her waist and swiftly brought it down, shattering the surveillance spell on Lin Na like a fractured mirror.

‘Hmph, the performance is over.’

A true gentleman, aware of a woman being spied upon, would discreetly remove the spell without her knowledge, sparing her feelings and preventing distress.

Zhang Liang, however, was a grand villain, utterly unconcerned with Lin Na’s modesty; he preferred to bestow his ‘kindness’ right before her eyes.

Her despondency would be even better, providing an opportunity to console her and further boost his favorability.

Zhang Liang glanced at Lin Na, his heart soaring with delight; her delicate face, pale as moonlight, clearly betrayed her shaken state.

After all, she was a young woman; who wouldn’t be deeply affected by being spied upon?

If ‘this’ and ‘that’ were witnessed, wouldn’t it lead to immediate social ruin?

Though Zhang Liang couldn’t recall his ‘good brother’s’ face, this ‘kindness’ he’d bestowed was etched into his memory.

Once Lin Na was properly consoled, he could set her aside for a moment and focus on conquering Heng Naixin.

When Feng Aotian eventually arrived, she would undoubtedly look bewildered and exclaim, “Where’s my teammate? I haven’t even gotten in the carriage yet!”

“Forg-forgive me,” Lin Na stammered, apologizing to Zhang Liang with a hint of panic.

“I was so careless, failing to notice I was being monitored.”

“The recipe just now… I’m so sorry.”

‘Emmmmm.’

Zhang Liang fell silent.

‘You care more about the recipe than your chastity?’

‘What? Are you serious?’

‘Could it be that not a single curve of your voluptuous figure is natural?’

This completely threw Zhang Liang off his game.

‘He’d meticulously planned the script, and she pulled this?’

Nevertheless, there was still an alternative.

He could rebuke Lin Na, making her feel remorseful, thereby earning a favor.

‘But… that recipe was meant for his “good brother.”‘

‘What if Lin Na took it and grew a beard?’

‘A stubbled ice queen? Unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable.’

‘Tsk, if only he had known, he would have chosen a different recipe.’

‘Never mind, it’s only just begun; opportunities abound.’

“It’s nothing,” Zhang Liang said, waving a dismissive hand.

“That recipe was fake, intentionally leaked.”

“Fake…?” Lin Na murmured, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Everyone but Lin Na gazed at Zhang Liang with sparkling eyes.

‘Zhang Liang is truly too cunning and resourceful!’ they thought.

‘He didn’t immediately remove the surveillance; instead, he turned the tables on his opponent!’

‘That recipe must have been poison!’

‘A pervert who spies on women deserves to die! No pity for him!’

Heng Naixin, in particular, clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes practically sparkling like stars.

With the matter settled, Zhang Liang and his companions set off for breakfast.

****

The lobby of the Zeus Hotel.

At that moment, not only the plaza but even the grand lobby was teeming with people.

According to Zeus Hotel regulations, outsiders were not permitted to enter or exit the lobby at will.

To secure the best vantage point for the unfolding drama, every guest room in the Zeus Hotel had been swiftly booked.

Some even paid guest room prices to secure a small plot of space within the lobby itself.

Financial reports indicated that this influx of business had not only recouped the repair costs for the presidential suite but had also generated a profit of several hundred gold coins.

It was clear just how eagerly Zhang Liang’s demise was anticipated.

With nobles, tycoons, beauties, the Ten Prodigies, prostitution, and a public shaming all converging, it would have been impossible for the event not to dominate the headlines.

Watching the magic elevator’s numbers slowly descend, they knew Zhang Liang and his party were moments away from the first floor.

Many clutched betting slips, having placed enormous wagers; the moment the elevator doors opened, some would undoubtedly be plunged into despair, while others would erupt in cheers.

“Ding!” The magic elevator chimed crisply as it reached the first floor.

The crowd collectively swallowed, beads of sweat tracing paths down their cheeks as they fixated on the slowly parting elevator doors.

“As expected of Sir Zhang, you are truly too—Holy c*ap!”

Sebas had just begun to lead everyone out of the elevator when he was startled by hundreds of bloodshot eyes glaring back at them.

More stunned than Zhang Liang and his companions, the onlookers gaped, utterly disbelieving the scene before them.

“Holy c*ap? Why is he still alive?”

“That makes no sense! They fought so fiercely just now, how could he not have a single scratch?”

“Why aren’t those women shunning him? They’re even riding the elevator down with him! Is this logical?”

Upon seeing Zhang Liang, the manager eagerly rubbed his hands together, showering him with obsequious flattery before explaining the crowd’s purpose.

Hearing the crowd’s absurd speculations, Ying grew visibly displeased, a sentiment shared by Heng Naixin; yet, just as they prepared to clarify, Zhang Liang held them back.

“No need for lengthy explanations,” Zhang Liang scoffed.

‘If explanations were truly effective, I wouldn’t have failed to become the Sword Demon Venerable in my previous life.’

Under the collective gaze of the crowd, Zhang Liang led his companions toward the exit.

Suddenly, a man clutching a betting slip stepped forward, his face contorted with indignation, and hurled the ticket at Zhang Liang.

With a casual puff, Zhang Liang diverted its trajectory, sending it fluttering elsewhere.

“Don’t be fooled by his sweet talk, everyone; he’s nothing but a scoundrel!”

Encouraged by this defiant act, those who had wagered on Zhang Liang’s demise joined in a chorus of condemnation.

Lin Na rarely interacted with others, with Ying being her sole friend; her aloof demeanor often led to misunderstandings.

She understood the sting of being misunderstood, how holding onto such feelings could muddle one’s heart and dull one’s blade.

Yet, Zhang Liang’s predicament seemed even more severe than her own.

She watched Zhang Liang, eager to see how he would handle the situation, only to witness him break into a crooked grin.

“Hmph, a bunch of trash,” Zhang Liang sneered coldly.

He took half a step back, embracing Heng Naixin with his left arm and Ying with his right, then declared loudly with an expression of utter disdain, “So what if I’m a scoundrel? This grandpa is just that wild!”

Heng Naixin’s face instantly flushed a vibrant Fuji apple red, her eyes swirling in confusion.

Ying, on the other hand, was utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

In any case, neither of them made any move to resist.

For a moment, the Zeus Hotel fell into a stunned silence, the crowd’s eyes wide and jaws slack with disbelief.

Suddenly, Ji Suyuan embraced him from behind, her soft curves pressing against Zhang Liang’s back.

“I like him best! He was absolutely wonderful last night~!”

‘Well played! When it comes to fanning the flames, you’re truly unmatched, Ji Suyuan!’

‘Some people over there are practically tearing their hair out in fury!’

Even if they scratched their heads raw and their eyes bled from hatred, Zhang Liang paid them no mind.

He continued to walk forward, his arms around the two women, as the stunned onlookers parted to create a path.

Just then, Ying seemed to remember something.

“Ah! I almost forgot, Sebas, the gold coins!”

At the mention of gold coins, Sebas recalled the 200 gold coins he still owed Zhang Liang.

He immediately retrieved the sum from the counter.

Seeing Zhang Liang preoccupied, Lin Na stepped forward to accept the bag on his behalf.

At the sight of the heavy pouch, a sharp-eyed merchant immediately discerned the amount.

“200 gold coins!?”

At this exclamation, the onlookers were even more dumbfounded.

It was already preposterous that the man caught in a scandalous affair was unharmed, but why was he receiving money?

And 200 gold coins, no less! That was enough to buy a house!

More importantly, Lin Na, one of the Ten Prodigies and a hero who had slayed the Black Rock Dragon, was actually assisting him?

‘This is like using a small knife to cut an a**—truly an eye-opener!’

A beam of sunlight shone directly upon Zhang Liang’s head, and many in the crowd instantly fell to their knees.

“A god! He’s the God of Harem!”

“No! He’s the God of Eating Soft Rice with a Hard Attitude!”

“Wait! Aren’t those 200 gold coins our money?!”