Chapter 161 The Art of Serving
I felt my heart drop.
My steps almost didn’t stop in time, and I skidded to a halt so badly that I left a deeply undignified “emergency brake mark” on the ground.
It was over.
I was about to get exposed.
I stiffened my neck and slowly turned around, forcing a smile onto my face. My voice came out as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
“…E-Elder… what… what instructions do you have…?”
Elder Luo narrowed his eyes at me. That gaze looked like it wanted to strip me from head to toe, inside and out.
I seriously started calculating whether I should just fake fainting.
Right as I was about to headbutt a nearby pillar, he said calmly:
“You just said… there’s a snake here?”
My breath caught.
“…Ah… yes.” I nodded quickly, my brain spinning at full speed. “Yes, there is. A lot of them. Very many. There were even two fighting in the courtyard earlier… one tried to bite me… I bravely scared it away…”
Elder Luo suddenly fell into thought.
My heart hammered so loudly I thought it would come out of my throat. I assumed he was about to ask about the snake’s species, color, or ancestral origin.
Instead, the old man suddenly stood up.
“I hate poisonous things hiding in the dark.”
He looked up at the sky and said slowly:
“You will come with me to find it.”
Me: “……”
Elder Luo paused briefly, then turned and went back into the room.
My instincts screamed danger, but I still followed him in. I saw him pick up his brush again and continue writing on the paper—adding a few more lines as if continuing that unsigned letter.
The brush moved rapidly. I could only hear the “shh-shh-shh” of ink and paper.
Without looking up, he said:
“You said there’s a snake. Why aren’t you coming in to look for it?”
Me: “…Oh.”
Alarm bells rang in my head.
This room was clearly spotless. Not even a mosquito. There was no way he actually believed me so easily.
He was definitely testing me.
I forced myself to walk in while pretending to scan the room, secretly watching the paper on his desk.
As I got closer—
“Pa.”
The paper suddenly slipped off the desk.
Too coincidental. Too natural. Too deliberate.
I instantly understood.
This old man was deliberately giving me a chance to see it.
I hesitated for half a second, then quickly bent down to pick it up.
The moment I unfolded it, I saw a newly added line:
“Beware of traps under the bed.”
My heart dropped.
That line was written so large, and it had fallen right in my direction.
It was practically begging me to read it.
I handed the paper back.
Elder Luo glanced at me lightly and took it.
Then, in the calmest tone possible—like asking about the weather—he said:
“Have you checked under the bed?”
Me: “?????”
So it really was a test!!
If I could read, I’d hesitate or avoid it carefully. If I couldn’t read, I’d go check directly and trigger the trap.
I quickly put on a naive, harmless smile.
“Check under the bed? I’ll check right now!”
Elder Luo paused almost imperceptibly.
I was secretly pleased.
Heh. Literacy trap? Not catching me that easily.
I grabbed a broom and, without any hesitation, crouched down beside the bed—
and shoved it straight under the bed.
“Click.”
A faint mechanical sound.
My brain froze.
I was done.
The next instant—
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!!
Three cold flashes shot out from under the bed!
Me: “AAAAAAAH!!”
My body reacted purely on instinct:
I froze.
Because I couldn’t fight, couldn’t dodge, and dodging would probably make me die faster.
Just as the blades scraped past my nose—
A hand shot out like lightning.
“Pa! Pa! Pa!”
Elder Luo swept his sleeve and knocked all three projectiles down.
The metallic clatter hit the floor. My legs nearly gave out.
My voice trembled:
“E-Elder!! No snake under the bed!! But there are traps!! TRAPS!!”
Elder Luo looked at me coldly.
“You don’t know martial arts?”
I immediately shook my head like a rattle drum.
“No no no no! I’m just a cleaning servant! I joined a month ago! Martial arts? What’s that? Can it make you immortal?!”
Elder Luo: “……”
I didn’t stop. I kept spiraling into full panic-performance mode:
“Elder, do you have enemies?! Someone’s trying to kill you right?! Why would there be traps in your room?! Was there an ambush?! I almost died!! You were amazing just now, Elder!!”
He narrowed his eyes at me, cold and probing.
Probably evaluating:
Did I trigger it on purpose?
Can I read but pretend not to?
Am I an enemy spy?
Unfortunately for him, my reaction was too real.
Trembling. Pale face. Almost tears.
No trace of calculated deception.
After a long silence, he said:
“You have no martial arts… and no schemes… clean.”
Me: “???”
Before I could process it, he added:
“Stay by my side. People like you are suitable to serve me.”
Me: ???????
Why am I being recruited just because I’m useless, clueless, and almost got killed?!
He continued:
“I don’t need people who are too smart.”
Me: “……”
I felt deeply insulted, but I still had to smile.
So I could only hold my broom and bow shakily:
“Th-thank you… Elder… for your kindness…”
Inside: LET ME GO YOU BASTARD!! I NEED TO REPORT BACK!! THE PLOT IS BREAKING!!
Elder Luo nodded with satisfaction.
“Good. From today on, you will serve at my side.”
Me: “?????”
—It was over.
I hadn’t even completed my infiltration and I’d already been “recruited” by the villain elder!!
But Elder Luo thought I was moved and added calmly:
“Do well. I will not treat you badly.”
Not treat me badly?
You’re literally imprisoning me next to you!
I forced a smile. “T-thank you, Elder.”
Inside I screamed:
Lian!! I’ve been detained!!
Hua!! HELP!!
Feng Yu!! I know stabbing people won’t help here but stab something for morale!!
No one heard me.
That night, I was forced to stay by Elder Luo’s side. From serving tea to lighting incense, from organizing documents to accompanying him on patrol, I did everything.
He looked increasingly satisfied.
I, however, felt increasingly dead inside.
I might actually be officially joining the Blood Lotus Sect at this rate.
By the time it was deep night, Elder Luo finally stood up.
“You may rest.”
I nearly cried on the spot.
So I don’t have to stay up all night serving him?!
The heavens still have mercy!!
I quickly bowed and slipped into the side room, fully intending to escape as soon as possible.
But before I even turned over, his cold voice came from outside:
“Remember. Tomorrow you will accompany me into the dungeon.”
I shot upright in bed.
“Ah?!”
The dungeon?
For what?!
Elder Luo said calmly:
“To interrogate Hua Xiang.”
My heart jolted.
Interrogating Hua Xiang—that was exactly our key lead!
I instantly became fully awake.
Good.
Even though I’ve been trapped under Elder Luo, this also gives me access to the deepest core areas of the sect!
The heavens are still on my side!
The next morning, just after dawn, Elder Luo pushed open the door.
“Up.”
I was still in bed. I jolted upright instantly.
“YES!!”
Elder Luo glanced at me.
“Stay close.”
I quickly combed my messy hair and followed him.
The Blood Lotus Sect dungeon lay deep within the mountain. Cold, eerie, descending layer after layer of stone stairs. Massive torches lined the walls, their flames forced blue by the freezing air.
As we descended, the echo of footsteps grew heavier and more oppressive.
With every step downward, I felt more of the sect’s suffocating authority.
And now I was walking beside the highest-ranking elder… heading straight into the deepest part of the dungeon.
In a strange way…
This might actually count as successful infiltration.
Just… I wasn’t sure whether Lian had also successfully infiltrated the dungeon too.