I’ll Definitely Play the Stand-in Villain

Chapter 10: Identifying a Woman by Her Scent

“With the sisterly bond between the two of you, if she were to know that you’ve fallen into my hands, I’m afraid I wouldn’t even need to go looking for her—she would come knocking on her own.” Shen Yanzhou spoke leisurely with a faint smile.

“You…”

The woman in hemp clothes slightly changed in expression, the chill in her heart deepening.

Though Shen Yanzhou’s words were spoken casually, they carried a wealth of information.

Not only about herself, but even her young lady, Fu Yuying, he had investigated thoroughly and knew inside out.

“Relax. Fu Yuying is a famed beauty of the Southern Border. Surely you wouldn’t want her to walk into the net and fall directly into my hands, would you?” Shen Yanzhou said with a light chuckle.

At these words, the woman in hemp clothes completely lost her spirit.

Gone was her earlier defiance, and she slumped like an eggplant struck by frost.

Chunchao, on the side, looked at this scene with wide-eyed astonishment, as if she was seeing Shen Yanzhou for the first time.

“What exactly do you want?”

After a while, the woman in hemp clothes finally asked with a wooden face.

“Take me to see Fu Yuying. I want to have a proper chat with her and discuss a matter of cooperation.” Shen Yanzhou said.

“That’s impossible…” The woman in hemp clothes shook her head firmly, her posture even carrying the resolve of preferring death over compliance.

“What’s impossible about it? Isn’t it true that your Luofu Cloud Cavern’s aim is to grasp hold of me, in order to force the Demon Suppression King’s stationed army to withdraw from the hundred-thousand mountains of the Southern Border, in exchange for peace among your hidden sects there? Now that I’m the one taking the initiative to cooperate with you, doesn’t that suit your purpose perfectly?”

“If this isn’t something you can decide on, then send word to Fu Yuying. With her intelligence and wit, she’ll surely tell you what to do.” Shen Yanzhou spoke in the same unhurried tone.

The woman in hemp clothes froze, then a trace of struggle flickered in her eyes.

After fumbling inside her bosom, she took out a jade talisman resembling warm jade and began to send a message.

Shen Yanzhou gave a slight nod, calmly lifting a cup of warmed wine, taking a sip, not at all impatient.

It wasn’t long before—

The woman in hemp clothes finally lifted her head, her gaze at Shen Yanzhou carrying some surprise.

She had not expected that after hearing of tonight’s events, her young lady had actually agreed, even taking the initiative to say she would meet with Shen Yanzhou.

Her young lady was so clever—could she really not have thought, what if this was all a scheme by the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion, intending to use this opportunity to uproot all of Luofu Cloud Cavern’s eyes and strongholds within the capital of Great Qian?

“It seems Fu Yuying has agreed.” Shen Yanzhou, seeing the expression of the woman in hemp clothes, already knew that her young lady must have consented.

From what he understood of that Saintess of Luofu Cloud Cavern, at this moment, she would surely agree to meet him.

The woman in hemp clothes nodded.

Since it was her young lady’s decision, she could not say more.

“You need only wait for me later in the alley outside the rear-right gate of Yuxian Pavilion.”

Shen Yanzhou had long anticipated what would happen tonight, so he had already instructed Elder Mo to prepare a carriage in that alley.

His own sedan carriage was too ostentatious, drawing too much attention.

Though, for now, the Demon Suppression King, far away in the Southern Border, had not suspected his “fake son,” Shen Yanzhou believed that with the Demon Suppression King’s cunning, he would soon connect the dots from this series of actions.

Therefore, he had to settle the trouble of the Nether Curse tonight.

“Alright.”

The woman in hemp clothes said nothing further.

Shen Yanzhou signaled to Chunchao, telling her to leave.

“How did you know she was from Luofu Cloud Cavern?”

Once the woman in hemp clothes departed, Chunchao finally could not hold back her curiosity any longer and asked.

Luofu Cloud Cavern—this was one of the hidden sects of the Southern Border’s hundred-thousand mountains, with an ancient heritage, famed for its arts of medicine, gu poison, and witchcraft.

Their most common methods lay in concocting poison and raising gu worms.

In today’s world, five great cultivation systems coexisted.

Among them, the witchcraft system could perceive spirits, inscribe totems, summon gods and ghosts, killing without leaving a trace.

Its most crucial medium was the spirit medium.

By accumulating spirit mediums, one raised one’s realm.

When medicine and gu arts combined with witchcraft, the effects often exceeded expectations.

Thus, when disciples of Luofu Cloud Cavern roamed outside, few dared to provoke them.

“By smell.”

Shen Yanzhou glanced at the curiosity-filled Chunchao and smiled faintly.

“By smell?” Chunchao was startled, her eyes filled with doubt.

“Identifying a woman by her scent. This heir has spent so many years in Yuxian Pavilion. What kind of woman has he not seen? Disciples of Luofu Cloud Cavern may burn the branches and leaves of Cloud Resting Mist Wood to mask the herbal fragrance on their bodies, but the aura of gu worms—they can never conceal that.” Shen Yanzhou explained with utter seriousness.

Chunchao was left completely dumbfounded.

To her, it all sounded mystical and incomprehensible.

After all, back when she trained in the Sword Lodge, she had never encountered such things.

Each day was nothing but sword practice—almost no dealings with the sects of the outside world.

“Though your sword talent is astonishing, you lack much worldly experience. Today, this heir will teach you a lesson: taverns, inns, brothels—these places where all sorts gather are where news flows fastest.

“If you ever wish to know anything, all you need do is inquire at such places.” Shen Yanzhou said with a long, meaningful smile.

Chunchao listened earnestly, not feeling that Shen Yanzhou was deceiving her.

“So, these pieces of information were all things you gathered over the years in brothels?” Her clear eyes, black-and-white like ink and snow, now carried a trace of admiration.

Shen Yanzhou shamelessly chuckled: “But of course. Did you really think this heir went to brothels merely to indulge in women?”

How could he truly be so resourceful? It was nothing more than the foresight of someone who had entered the book.

Chunchao nodded seriously, an inexplicable and complicated emotion rising in her heart.

It seemed she might have misjudged the heir somewhat.

Her earlier prejudice had indeed been quite deep.

But soon after, she noticed the faint smile at the corner of Shen Yanzhou’s lips.

Her sword intuition told her she had just been tricked…

Negative emotions from Chunchao +3 +3 +3 +3.

……

“Is the heir not going to linger a while longer tonight?”

When Shen Yanzhou left the room and stepped out of the pavilion, the flower-robed old woman who had been waiting at the door hurriedly came forward to greet him.

By now, the entire Yuxian Pavilion had heard the news—that the heir, who abstained from neither meat nor vegetables, had chosen to keep that ugly maid with a large birthmark on her face to accompany him in bed.

The flower-robed old woman had not expected Shen Yanzhou to emerge so quickly.

Earlier, when she saw Xiuniang rushing out nervously toward the backyard, she had even worried if she had offended this young lord.

“Boring. I’m done.”

Shen Yanzhou waved his hand, displeasure on his face, and without another word, walked straight toward the doorway at the corridor’s end.

The flower-robed old woman followed fearfully behind him.

Outside Yuxian Pavilion, Elder Mo was already waiting by the carriage.

Upon seeing Shen Yanzhou emerge, he hurriedly came forward.

“Return to the mansion.”

Shen Yanzhou said nothing more, lifting the curtain and stepping inside.