Ultimative Intelligenz

Kapitel 15

After a moment of hesitation, the girl said, "Master, I can get married now."

Shen Tianxing picked up his teacup and frowned: "Who told you all this nonsense? Was it that little rascal of your senior brother? He really is itching for a beating if he doesn't get a good beating in a couple of days!"

"He's not my senior brother." The girl blushed slightly.

"Oh, that's..."

The girl blinked twice: "Master, I like you. Let's get married."

He spat out a mouthful of tea.

"I've done the math. If I marry my master, I can save on betrothal gifts and dowry. I won't need to invite any relatives or friends either, since it's only a short walk from my courtyard to my master's. I can also save on the bridal sedan chair. The only trouble is decorating the new house and preparing the wedding dress, but I should be able to keep the cost under five taels of silver!"

Shen Tianxing coughed twice more while holding his teacup, his old face showing signs of embarrassment: "Zhi Li, a wedding doesn't need to be so frugal."

The girl frowned slightly, then relaxed. "That's true, I should only get married once, so... ten taels will do." She paused, then counted on her fingers, "Master, I've already had our birth dates and times checked. The third of next month is an auspicious day for marriage. The wedding dress and butterfly gown are already being made, and I think they should be finished by the end of the month. Um, what's still missing? Let me think..."

A hand suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair.

Shen Tianxing's slightly hoarse chuckle sounded above her head: "Silly girl, how can you marry your master? And... even if you get married in the future, you don't need to worry about these things. My Zhili deserves better."

The girl wanted to say something, but Shen Tianxing got up and took a jar of wine from the wine cabinet and handed it to her.

"This will be your birthday present this year."

The girl, holding the wine jar, asked in confusion, "What kind of wine is this?"

Shen Tianxing laughed: "A dream."

Shen Tianxing led her to the woman in the stone coffin, and they sat in front of the stone steps and finished the jar of wine.

It starts with a slight bitterness, followed by a subtle, mellow aroma. The unique taste, a blend of crispness and richness, lingers on the lips and teeth, leaving a long and pleasant aftertaste. After drinking it, one feels as if waking from a deep dream.

She'll probably remember that feeling for the rest of her life.

A fleeting dream, a lifetime of misplaced love.

Seeing that Su Chenche remained silent, Shen Zhili smiled and said, "Hey, you're not jealous, are you?"

Su Chenche pursed his lips and honestly said, "I feel a little uncomfortable." Then he smiled and said, "However, it seems a bit unnecessary to be jealous of a dead person, after all... he can no longer take you from me."

Shen Zhili rubbed her forehead: "...Your words really aren't very credible."

Su Chenche smiled, his clear amber eyes reflecting the sunrise: "It's okay, believe it or not, I like you."

The red sun on the horizon has gradually risen to halfway up the sky.

Stepping out of the Valley of Rejuvenation, Shen Zhili sighed, "Where to go next..."

On the way, she asked Dieyi, and although there was bound to be some actions to make an example of someone, Hua Jiuye did not go on a killing spree.

Her worst fears didn't come true, so there was no need for her to go to Hana Kuya's door anymore... cough cough...

Su Chenche's eyes suddenly lit up: "Zhi Li, are you asking me?"

Shen Zhili: "...Is there a third person here?"

Su Chenche reached into his chest and pulled out a piece of cloth stained with blood. With a "whoosh," he unfolded the cloth, which instantly transformed into a landscape painting, with dozens or even hundreds of locations marked on it in a flamboyant style.

Shen Zhili asked, puzzled, "What is this? A treasure map?"

Su Chenche: "No, it looks like a map of my house."

—The Central Plains Martial Arts Wealth Ranking: Young Master Twelve Nights has held the top spot for many consecutive years.

Chapter Fourteen

Rich people!

All the way, Shen Zhili stared at Su Chenche with the eyes of someone looking into a gold vault. She knew he was rich, but she didn't expect him to be this rich!

Moreover, eight or nine out of ten of those fenced-off areas are incredibly wealthy!

Su Chenche stopped driving the carriage, turned around with a slightly shy look in his eyes and said, "Zhili, I feel embarrassed looking at me with such a passionate gaze."

Shen Zhili cried out in anguish, "Su Chenche, what exactly do you do? How can you be so rich!"

Su Chenche blinked: "Zhi Li, you know... I have amnesia."

No matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem like amnesia. How can someone with amnesia be smarter than someone without amnesia!

Shen Zhili asked suspiciously, "...To be honest, have you regained your memories?"

Su Chenche pulled on the reins, shook his head with a smile, and then casually took out a stack of gold notes from his pocket and placed them in Shen Zhili's hand. His eyes were clear and serious as he said, "I don't know anything about memories, but... Zhili, marry me. After you marry me, everything that's mine will be yours."

Shen Zhili looked down at her face.

He swallowed hard, his mind racing with calculations.

...Wow, so much money...So tempting.

After a fierce internal struggle, he reluctantly stuffed the gold note back into his hand: "It's true that I love money, but I have no intention of selling myself for silver."

Holding the gold note, Su Chenche smiled instead: "Zhi Li, it's not about selling you to me, but... selling myself to you. Are you willing?"

Shen Zhili: "Can I just take the money and not you?"

Su Chenche was a little discouraged, as if his ears were drooping: "Am I really that bad?"

“…No, not really.” Shen Zhili considered for a moment. “I feel like if I just agree to you like this, it’ll be like falling into some kind of trap. You don’t seem like a good person at all.”

Su Chenche added insult to injury: "Am I not good enough to you?"

Shen Zhili said decisively, "No, it's just too good."

Therefore, it's easy to associate such unsolicited kindness with ulterior motives or theft...

Su Chenche turned his head and thought for a moment, his expression somewhat troubled: "So, Zhili, you prefer to be treated a little fiercely? Uh, that's a bit difficult, but if you like it, I can try my best..."

Shen Zhili's lips twitched: "Stop talking nonsense! Let's get on the train!"

Su Chenche said aggrievedly, "Zhi Li, you've been getting fiercer lately."

Shen Zhili grinned: "That's just my nature, I'm sorry."

Su Chenche sighed, "Never mind, I like you no matter what, but..." He blinked and smiled, "Seeing you so fierce makes me feel like I'm seeing a more authentic version of you. At least you wouldn't act like this with people you don't know well."

He held Shen Zhili's hand, smiling broadly: "Zhili, be mean to me only, okay?"

...This guy seems a bit like a masochist...

A terrifying image flashed through Shen Zhili's mind in an instant.

Under the flowers and the moon, spring is enchanting.

A man dressed in white, as white as snow, reclined on the couch, his starry eyes half-closed, his smile gentle and clear. He beckoned to her and said, "Please don't pity me just because I'm a delicate flower. Feel free to ravage me!"

Shen Zhili suddenly shuddered, quickly clearing the remnants from her mind, abruptly pulling her hand away, and leaning back against the carriage.

"It's getting dark, hurry up and catch the train!"

Finally, just before dusk, the carriage stopped at an inn that looked quite nice from afar.

It's good to have an inn. After so many years of living a life of luxury, it would be difficult for Shen Zhili to actually live a life of hardship and sleeping in the open.

However, after seeing the price list, Shen Zhili's expression turned ferocious.

"Why is it so expensive!"

The shopkeeper, sitting behind the counter, smiled modestly: "Sir, have you seen our shop's signboard?"

Shen Zhili stepped back and saw two words written on the entrance of the inn: Black Inn.

So what if it's a shady business? Do you have to be so arrogant?

The innkeeper strolled to the entrance of the inn, still smiling: "My inn is the only one within a ten-mile radius. Whether you wish to stay or not, please feel free to do so, sir."

Shen Zhili: "Then let's book a room."

The shopkeeper announced the prices.

Shen Zhili roared in fury: "Why is one room more expensive than two rooms?!"

The shopkeeper slowly calculated the bill and said, "When traveling the world, how much pressure would it put on our shop if two people, a man and a woman, were to stay in the same room? You know, such passionate encounters are most likely to cause trouble. Although my shop is a national chain, if someone were to die, the risks... would naturally be more expensive."

Shady businessman!

Blocking Shen Zhili from his impending outburst, Su Chenche took something out of his sleeve and placed it in front of the shopkeeper, smiling gently, "Shopkeeper, could you give me a discount?"

The innkeeper's previously nonchalant eyes suddenly sharpened, and he quickly said, "Alright, alright! Come on, waiter, hurry up and take these two young heroes upstairs, and tidy up the unused No. 1 room! You little brat, hurry up and escort our distinguished guests upstairs! Hurry up! Or I'll kick you!"

Shen Zhili followed behind the waiter, puzzled, and asked, "Su Chenche... what did you show him just now? Why did he suddenly..." His attitude changed completely.

Su Chenche: "Uh, it's just a token. I was just trying it out, and I didn't expect it to work."

Shen Zhili sighed, still feeling somewhat resentful: "I wonder who owns this shady establishment. If I find out..."

Speaking through gritted teeth at the end, it's clearly not going to end well...

Su Chenche coughed twice, looking somewhat troubled, and said, "...It seems like I own this shop."

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Rich people! Rich people!

Shen Zhili felt deeply indignant.

Seeing the so-called "Top-Tier Room" only fueled my anger. The entire floor was covered with fine cashmere felt, the wardrobe had twenty-four intricately carved rosewood panels, and the bed was carved from sandalwood... It was outrageously luxurious...

Su Chenche: "Zhi Li, don't you like this room? Then we'll change it..."

Shen Zhili rubbed her forehead: "No need, go out and ask the shopkeeper to bring a bucket of hot water."

"Hot water?"

Shen Zhili: "I haven't had a proper shower after being away for so many days."

Su Chenche gave Shen Zhili a deep look, then stammered, "Are you... going to take a bath here?"

Shen Zhili: "Don't look at me like that, I didn't invite you to shower together! You can go to another room after you've ordered water!"

Su Chenche hesitated for a moment: "But this is our room, where do you want me to go..."

Shen Zhili: "Anything is fine. Anyway, I'm the only one staying in this room. Don't expect me to wake up this morning carrying me like I did a few days ago when I was sleeping so far away!"

Su Chenche pouted: "I'm just worried about you..."

Shen Zhili bluntly stated, "I think you're the most dangerous one! You even run a shady business..."