Chapter Eighteen: Walls Have Ears

At times, even Liuru herself found it difficult to judge whether Su Ziye was truly a good person. She had followed him for nearly half a year now, and in all those days spent together, he had never committed any wrongdoing. Even the unforgettable ruthlessness he had displayed back in Liutun Village, in the end, had only been a matter of turning the tables in the name of justice.

Yet, if one were to call him a good man, the things he had done and the means he had employed seemed hardly befitting of one. The longer Liuru followed Su Ziye, the more convinced she became that everything he had done to her from the very beginning was part of some elaborate scheme. He had so carefully and deliberately won her over, making her utterly loyal to him, and although even now Liuru did not regret following this man, his actions could not be described as honorable or aboveboard.

Just as now, Liuru knew how crucial it was to have a truly reliable safe house upon entering Nightleaf City. Even with their near-perfect disguises, they needed a place to communicate freely, to discuss plans, and not endlessly play this master-servant game. This fragile link had always been her concern, for such a worry-free safe house was as elusive as the spherical chicken in a vacuum Su Ziye often joked about—something that didn’t exist.

Yet now that the safe house was right before her, witnessing the lengths Su Ziye went to, Liuru could only sigh.

“Is there any way we could simply ask the Third Princess directly?” she asked, looking at Su Ziye. After all, the Third Princess seemed so kind; if they requested her help outright, perhaps she would oblige. There was no need to manipulate her, to exploit her kindness. Even Yiyi and Sisi were indignant, yet powerless.

“First,” Su Ziye said, holding up a finger, “how would you find her?” Liuru was instantly silenced. Indeed, how could she reach the Third Princess? The flaw in her plan became clear.

“No one can find the Third Princess. You must wait for her to find you,” Su Ziye said calmly. “Because she almost never walks.”

Not walking, of course, meant she used teleportation instead.

“So setting a bait at a predetermined location is necessary. I’ve reviewed her sightings over the past twenty years—our street corner stall is a place she often passes and takes notice of. If we pique her interest, she might appear and linger.”

Listening to Su Ziye’s seemingly ordinary yet meticulously calculated approach, Liuru sighed. “And if she doesn’t show up?”

If she didn’t, it would be like batting your lashes at a blind man—not just wasted effort, but a recipe for being made a fool.

“I told you, my success rate is always one thousand percent,” Su Ziye smiled at her. “So every coincidence must become an inevitability.”

“The Third Princess isn’t unfeeling; she’s simply an odd child. She gets curious, likes cute and interesting things like any ordinary girl, dislikes conflict, and cares about fairness and equal exchange. If you understand her well enough, she’ll respond perfectly to your expectations.”

“Let me remind you,” Liuru whispered, “isn’t the Third Princess able to hear all this?”

What did it mean to quietly dig your own grave? This was exactly that.

“She’s simply not very talkative,” Su Ziye replied with a smile. “Don’t underestimate her intelligence—she’s truly, extraordinarily clever.”

“There you go, praising her again,” Liuru muttered.

“In any case, our first day’s plan was a complete success.” Su Ziye stretched lazily. “Now we need to think about what comes next.”

“The secret casket Zhou Yi gave us earlier…” Liuru recalled. “Was that part of your plan too?”

“No,” Su Ziye admitted honestly. “But I do know a bit about the current chairman of Nightleaf Academy’s student council, Carlotus.”

“Carlotus?” Liuru had never heard the name.

“He’s quite peculiar,” Su Ziye said, defining him at once. “Or rather, he’s the most unconventional chairman in Nightleaf Academy’s history—he loves to stir things up.”

“So even if he’s pulling off something big right now, I’m not too surprised. Still, it will certainly add plenty of excitement.”

“Should we go?” Liuru asked.

The casket Zhou Yi gave them included a time and place. She didn’t know what it meant, but if they didn’t go, they’d never find out.

“We’ll go, of course. But before that, I need to prepare and investigate a few things,” Su Ziye said calmly. “But our task and purpose remain singular: to successfully pass the Three Trials of Nightleaf and enter the White Tower’s inner court.”

“Mm.” Liuru nodded quietly.

She had accepted Su Ziye’s training for half a year, all for this purpose.

She still didn’t fully understand why Su Ziye was so intent on entering Nightleaf Academy. His reason was that it was the safest place in the world, and certainly, that seemed true. But Liuru knew it was not the whole story.

“By the way, what would you like for dinner?” Su Ziye asked. “There should be a kitchen here at the Third Princess’s place.”

“Beef soup!” Liuru replied without hesitation.

She still loved beef soup, loved it dearly. If Su Ziye allowed, she’d eat it every meal.

“All right, all right,” Su Ziye nodded.

The young man pushed open the door and made his way to the kitchen downstairs. It was fully equipped, even featuring the most advanced magical flames for the stove. Su Ziye expertly kindled the fire, set the pot, and began kneading dough for flatbread.

Soon, the whole first floor was filled with the aroma of fresh bread and meat broth.

Liuru inhaled the delightful air, and just then, a quiet knocking sounded at the door.

Su Ziye was still cooking—who could be knocking?

Liuru instantly thought of the only possibility.

The monster.

She drew a deep breath and stepped forward to open the half-closed door.

This was, after all, the girl’s own house. The door wasn’t locked. She couldn’t possibly be stopped by it.

Yet, standing patiently outside and knocking, the little girl inspired a gentle pity with her politeness.

Sure enough, it was the girl in the black cloak, standing quietly, holding a square writing board.

“May I have a portion?”

She turned the page and wrote again.

“I’ll pay.”