Noah Duanmu flashed a wickedly charming smile. "Now that you know my secret, I can't just let you go. Either I kill you, or you become my woman. Pick one!"
"Master, we didn't find the Imperial Silver. There were traces of it being stored there, but by the time we arrived, someone had already moved it!"
Morgan Shangguan still held her teacup in one hand and the lid in the other, gently stirring the floating tea leaves. She seemed completely unsurprised and asked calmly, "Did the Grandmaster's Estate yield anything?"
Qin Yan's birthday celebration didn't invite any of the demonic sects, only her and Damien Gray. Judging by the current situation, it's highly likely that the righteous factions are trying to unite against them. The lure of the treasure has made most people temporarily set aside their fears.
The Grandmaster's Estate is one of the three major orthodox sects, and with Liam Duanmu as the Martial Alliance Chief, it's impossible for them not to know if the righteous factions are planning anything!
Upon hearing this, Mo Li was stunned for a moment. "Xiao Yan hasn't returned yet?"
Morgan Shangguan frowned and said, "Send someone to look for her!" Then she set down her teacup and walked outside—she had an account to settle with someone!
As for Muriel Murong, she wasn't particularly worried. That girl might be innocent and lively, but when it comes to important matters, she's anything but careless. Otherwise, why would she have chosen her as an elder?
And right now, this elder—who was anything but careless about serious matters—had just run into her nemesis.
"Noah Duanmu, what exactly do you want? If you don't let me go, I'll burn the Grandmaster's Estate to the ground!"
Noah Duanmu raised an amused eyebrow. "Burn down the Grandmaster's Estate? Have you forgotten what kind of situation you're in right now?"
Muriel Murong snorted coldly, completely unafraid. She could sense whether someone was truly dangerous, and Noah Duanmu clearly had no intention of harming her!
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly cried out, "Ah... You scoundrel, where are you touching?"
"Right here!"
"Hey, what are you doing? You can't possibly mean... that, right? I won't let you! Cloud Guildmaster, help!"
Noah Duanmu saw the flash of panic in her eyes, smiled, and pulled her into his arms. "Sleep with me tonight, and I'll let you go tomorrow!"
"Really?" Seeing Noah Duanmu nod, Muriel Murong asked curiously, "Aren't you afraid I'll reveal your secret?"
Noah Duanmu leaned in, his lips nearly brushing hers. His hot breath fanned across her face. Muriel Murong looked at him, her cheeks suddenly flushing red. She cursed herself inwardly—why was her heart beating so fast? He was just a rogue, nowhere near as charming as the Cloud Guildmaster!
Noah Duanmu saw her flushed little face and teased, "What secret do you think you know about me?"
Muriel Murong frowned. In truth, she didn't actually know his secret! Although she'd heard the sound of mechanisms turning, she'd searched carefully and found nothing at all.
So all that talk about killing her to keep her quiet? He was just messing with her!
Seeing her fuming, Noah Duanmu suddenly said, "Little enchantress, I think I really do like you!"
Muriel Murong was stunned for a moment, then angrily slapped him. "You're the real demon here!" After yelling, she froze, staring at the clear handprint on Noah Duanmu's face, awkwardly coughing twice. She swore she hadn't meant to slap him—she hadn't even realized she could move!
Seeing her evasive gaze, Noah Duanmu narrowed his eyes, turned his back to her, and fell silent.
Muriel Murong looked at his back and muttered to herself, Surely he's not that petty! It's not like she did it on purpose!
Then she thought, Even if it was on purpose, so what? She's been kidnapped—doesn't she have the right to fight back?
After a while, Muriel Murong couldn't help but poke his back with a finger and whispered, "I didn't mean it. It's your fault for calling me a little enchantress! I'm clearly a cute beauty!"
"Pfft..." Noah Duanmu couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Muriel Murong kicked him. "What's so funny? It's true! Even the Cloud Guildmaster says I'm adorable!"
Noah Duanmu turned to look at her, smiling. "People of the Righteous Path always call women from the Evil Path 'enchantresses.' Didn't you know? I'm just going with the flow!"
Muriel Murong's expression darkened, a hint of wariness in her eyes. "You know who I am?"
Noah Duanmu smiled. "People of the Righteous Path wouldn't do something so sneaky—at least not so brazenly! If I'm not mistaken, you're either from the Ghost Guild or the Cloud Guild! Otherwise, you wouldn't dare come alone to the Grandmaster's Estate and search so thoroughly!"
Even her father and older brother hadn't noticed her—clearly, appearances can be deceiving!
Muriel Murong truly was, as she claimed, a cute beauty—she looked as harmless as the girl next door. But to move freely in the Grandmaster's Estate, her abilities were not to be underestimated.
Muriel Murong quickly covered his eyes. "Sleep! And remember to let me go tomorrow!" It's best to say less in front of a clever person—otherwise, you'll only reveal more. She wasn't planning to escape right now; after their earlier showdown, she'd realized Noah Duanmu was no easier to handle than Liam Duanmu!
Morgan Shangguan returned to the Shadow Court. Dawn was breaking. She walked straight into the room and, seeing the sleepless figure on the bed, said with a half-smile, "Your Highness, don't you have something to say?"
Damien Gray pulled her into his arms and sighed, "I missed you."
Morgan Shangguan gripped his neck and snorted, "Where's the Imperial Silver?"
Damien Gray replied innocently, "It should be at the Ghost Guild by now!"
Morgan Shangguan's lips curled dangerously. "Damien Gray, you dare play me!"
Damien Gray held her waist, rolled over to pin her beneath him, and gently stroked her cheek. Somewhat helplessly, he said, "When I told you, the Imperial Silver was still there. But I'd already ordered it moved, so by the time you got there, someone else had already taken it. That's not lying to you!"
"Then why didn't you say so?"