The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Liu Ling was momentarily speechless. Although she believed no one from the Demon Race could find that location, she couldn't be certain.

Chen Dong snorted. "I'm only at the Early-stage Golden Core. Even if I got the Dao Essence, I wouldn't dare to refine it. The moment it manifested, which Nascent Soul Stage expert wouldn't come prying!"

Liu Ling instantly grew nervous and blurted out, "I can help you..."

Chen Dong quickly cut her off. "Say no more. I'm not going, and I certainly won't help you return to the Demon Race!"

Although Chen Dong had never experienced the dangers of the Demon Race firsthand, he had gotten a sense of them recently. Ordinary mortals turned pale at the mere mention of demons. The cultivators who had fought in the great war against the Demon Race all wore grave expressions, their hearts still filled with lingering fear whenever the topic arose.

At his words, Liu Ling lowered her head, her expression desolate. 'Her intuition told her Chen Dong was someone she could trust, which was why she had been so honest. But in the end, the Human Race was still the Human Race. He found it hard to believe the words of a demon and wouldn't help her even with the promise of a great reward. It was just like her own past; despite being part of the anti-war faction, she had been forced onto the battlefield in the name of the greater good of her race.'

Liu Ling asked weakly in a small voice, "What are you going to do with me?"

Her strength had only recovered a little; she was no match for Chen Dong at all. But she knew that although the man before her was compassionate, he wouldn't just let her recover her cultivation, especially not after she had revealed her identity.

Chen Dong was also struggling with this. Killing her or keeping her—neither was a good option. Just as he was about to take out the token Zisang Jin had given him to subtly ask how they would handle a Demon Race Sacrificial Priest, the array of his mansion lit up, signaling a message.

Chen Dong scanned with his Divine Sense and was surprised to find it was Meng Yingluo. 'What is she doing here? Don't tell me she's planning to come and rob me outright?'

Chen Dong was about to pretend he wasn't home, but Meng Yingluo shouted from outside the mansion, "Chen Dong, I know you're in there! Open the wards! I'm here to return your Spirit Stones!"

'Return my Spirit Stones? What new trick is this?' With Liu Ling here, Chen Dong didn't want to let Meng Yingluo in. If Meng Yingluo saw through Liu Ling's identity as a demon, it would be a problem that couldn't be solved with Spirit Stones.

Although Liu Ling's transformation was quite profound—even Chen Dong wouldn't have noticed anything strange without using Mu Qingzhu's Great Divination Art—Meng Yingluo was, after all, the personal disciple of a Nascent Soul expert. It would be troublesome if she had some special technique and saw through the disguise.

So, Chen Dong sent a voice transmission: "There's no need, Martial Aunt. Just consider the Spirit Stones a gift from me to show my respect!"

But Meng Yingluo didn't seem pleased at all. Instead, she sounded urgent.

"Chen Dong, hurry and open the wards! I have something else to talk to you about."

As she spoke, she began forming a Sword Technique with her hands, looking as if she were about to force her way into the mansion.

Chen Dong was taken aback and had no choice but to open the wards. It would be bad if she caused a commotion and attracted more people. This was someone who dared to rob people right at the gate of the City Lord's Mansion; she was definitely capable of breaking into a Cultivator Mansion.

At the same time, Chen Dong sent a voice transmission to Liu Ling, telling her to maintain her disguise and not expose herself.

When Meng Yingluo saw the wards open, she walked in with a smile, a complete change from her bandit-like demeanor the day before. She said earnestly, "My master found out about me robbing you yesterday and gave me a scolding. He insisted I return the Spirit Stones. And you're one of Martial Uncle Zisang's people! Why didn't you say so sooner? If I'd known, I never would have robbed you."

She casually glanced at Liu Ling, certain she had never seen this person before. Seeing her standing respectfully beside Chen Dong, she figured she must be his maid. 'It's normal for a wealthy cultivator who can casually offer three Top-Grade Spirit Stones to have an exceptionally beautiful maid.'

Chen Dong hadn't used that pass token, so he didn't know how Fu Xiao had found out, but it clearly wasn't important. The main thing right now was to get rid of this rather unconventional Martial Aunt.

Chen Dong bowed to Meng Yingluo and said, "Martial Aunt, you really don't have to. Please, just keep the Spirit Stones. Also, I need to enter secluded cultivation. If you have no other important business, I must ask you to leave."

Meng Yingluo plopped down at the stone table. "Hypocrite. Just say you're dual cultivating, why pretend it's secluded cultivation? But I really do have something important to discuss with you. It won't take up much of your time."

Chen Dong's brow furrowed. 'This Martial Aunt is really wild!' But he also felt a sense of relief. It seemed that Meng Yingluo, who was only at the Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment, couldn't see through Liu Ling's identity.

"Martial Aunt, if you have something to say, please be direct!"

Meng Yingluo took out three Top-Grade Spirit Stones, the very same ones Chen Dong had given her.

"Me robbing you—no, wait, me collecting compensation from you was wrong. To be honest, my hand was forced. I'm at a critical stage in forging my Lifebound Spirit Sword and was just too desperate for Spirit Stones. That's why I resorted to such a measure. Please don't hold it against me, Martial Nephew Chen Dong."

"Martial Aunt, please get to the point. You really don't have to return these three Spirit Stones. Just consider them my contribution to your cause."

Meng Yingluo's face lit up. "Really? That's great! If Martial Uncle Zisang asks about it later, you know what to say, right?"

Chen Dong nodded quickly, but he could see in his heart that this woman wasn't afraid of her own master at all; she was afraid of Zisang Jin.

"If this was the important business you mentioned, Martial Aunt, please leave!"

Meng Yingluo quickly put away the three Spirit Stones. "Hey! Don't be in such a hurry! This won't take long! We briefly crossed hands yesterday, and you were able to block my finger-sword technique. It seems your cultivation is quite impressive, Martial Nephew. I have a way to get rich. Are you interested in joining?"

Chen Dong shook his head. "I'm not short on Spirit Stones."

Meng Yingluo stood up and tried to persuade him, "Who would ever complain about having too many Spirit Stones? This is a great opportunity to strike it rich!"

Chen Dong still shook his head.

Seeing this, Meng Yingluo adopted a mysterious air and whispered, "I'm only asking you because you know how to play the game, Martial Nephew. I wouldn't ask anyone else! This is about a large Spirit Ore Vein. If we make one trip, forget three Top-Grade Spirit Stones—we could get thirty, maybe even three hundred!"