The Reasons

"Miss Peach, do you have guests tonight?"

"Oh! What a coincidence, Master Escort! Miss Peach just happens to be free today!"

Even though more than a month had passed and the two had only met once, the head maid still quickly revealed Chen Lu's identity.

Chen Lu was somewhat annoyed. The reason he always changed into expensive clothes when he came to places like this was to avoid people associating him with his identity and to avoid some trouble.

However, upon closer reflection, the reason why the head maid could call out her identity so accurately must be because of the card she used last time.

"As expected, there's a price to pay for free services, but fortunately, the price isn't too important, since it'll be exposed sooner or later anyway."

"Lu Lang~ I've learned quite a few interesting new skills. Shall we try a few more tonight?"

Peach Girl's voice was soft and charming, making people feel very comfortable and unconsciously wanting to get to the point.

Chen Lu straightened his expression and said seriously, "Miss Tao'er, I have something to discuss with you. We can talk about the rest later."

"Is there something you want to discuss?"

Peach looked puzzled, wondering what a bodyguard would need to discuss with a prostitute like herself.

But when she saw that Chen Lu's serious expression contained not a trace of filth, Tao'er was taken aback.

Many people here can't tell if a cultivator is pretending to be a virtuous gentleman, but she can often tell at a glance whether the other person is truly a virtuous gentleman.

But so far, no one has been able to remain righteous under the influence of the atmosphere and aphrodisiacs here.

But today, she saw an exception.

When I first came in, I did have a lot of lust, but I managed to completely eliminate it and treat it with a serious expression.

No matter how she observed or how alluring she was, she couldn't be moved in the slightest.

This surprised her greatly and touched her unintentionally, but she quickly calmed down.

She withdrew her allure and gently blew out the incense burner that would have stirred up passion.

"Tell me what you need first. If I can help, I will definitely help if you pay the right price."

Tao'er's expression returned to normal, her alluring charm vanished, replaced by a somewhat cold seriousness.

It seemed that in her eyes, nothing in the world was worth her attention or interest.

Those in a bad mood may also feel some fear.

"Let me be clear from the start: if I can't help you, no matter how much you offer, I won't help you."

Chen Lu felt somewhat uncomfortable with that cold tone and expression.

He even had a slight suspicion that the woman in front of him might be a possessed person, but he immediately dismissed the thought.

Thinking that I am aboveboard, I have no reason to feel uncomfortable.

Thinking about the great opportunities she would have in the future, he felt a sense of understanding upon seeing this scene.

Those who can obtain great opportunities and hold onto them are certainly not ordinary people.

Perhaps it was precisely this unique quality that led her to such a great opportunity.

Chen Lu organized his thoughts and said, "I am a bodyguard from the Wang family of Fenglinfang, as you probably already know."

Last time I came here, I used that Crimson Sun Grass to become an apprentice to an alchemist.

During the five-day rest period each time I escorted the caravan to Chizhu Immortal City, I followed my master to learn alchemy.

However, the escort agency has some matters to discuss with me, but I don't want to reveal the matter of learning alchemy to my family.

"Could you please trouble you, young lady, to have someone pass on this message for me? The reward is twenty spirit coins per month."

"Twenty spirit strikes... seems a bit too many," Peach Girl pondered.

"You only come for five days a month, and at most you can deliver two or three messages. According to the market price, three times will cost at most ten lower spirit coins."

"I know, but I would like to ask you to arrange for someone who can keep the secret to pass it on for me."

How to allocate this money is the girl's business; if it's not enough, we can discuss it further.

Tao'er instinctively wanted to refuse, but when she inadvertently met Chen Lu's clear eyes, she inexplicably swallowed her words of refusal.

She suppressed her slightly rapid heartbeat, took a deep breath, and then, with a slightly flushed face, answered seriously:

"If it's too dangerous, I won't let anyone transport it for you."

"It's just some contract documents that I need to review and approve."

Chen Lu had no intention of hiding it, because according to the results of the last divination, Miss Tao'er was an absolutely upright female cultivator.

Since he is absolutely upright, he is trustworthy.

After listening, Peach nodded weakly: "Okay, but we have to pay in advance."

"Well, I need to discuss it with my master first. Once he agrees, I'll go back and settle the bill with Miss Tao."

"Then... the forty lower-level spirit stones for tonight?" Peach hesitated before speaking.

"Whether you stay overnight or not, you still have to pay."

Chen Lu remained silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, before asking:

"After I pay and leave, can I come back that night to have sex with you?"

The escort agency's income is normal, even higher than before.

In Chizhu Immortal City, the monthly reimbursement limit of one hundred lower spirit coins no longer needs to be withdrawn.

Moreover, he had to spend the money from the brothel every month.

In Fenglinfang, you have to pay for your own food, and the food is just average. But in Chizhuxiancheng, not only can you get reimbursed, but you can also eat much better. Why not?

Moreover, with one hundred lower spirits, after deducting the delivery fee for twenty lower spirits, there would still be enough for two overnight stays.

Once on the night of arrival and once on the night of return, fully utilizing the reimbursement limit.

"Of course."

Chen Lu was overjoyed and readily paid the money and took the invoice. The transfer fee of twenty lower spirit coins was also included in the invoice in another way.

After things were settled here, it was already dark, and the city was brightly lit, so there was no sense of night at all.

But once they left the city and headed towards the suburbs where Li Danshi was, the surrounding environment gradually became dark and quiet.

Although traveling at night is a basic skill for bodyguards, this is the Red Bamboo Immortal City.

There are many treacherous cultivators in the city, making it no less dangerous than the escort route.

For safety reasons, Chen Lu had to slow down.

By the time he arrived at Master Li's residence, it was past midnight, and he was somewhat worried that the other party was already resting.

But when he smelled the charcoal smoke from the refining of elixirs coming from inside the mansion, he immediately felt relieved.

With disciples refining pills inside the mansion, how could they possibly sleep soundly?

Boom boom boom!

"Master! It's me! Chen Lu! I'm back from escorting the goods!"

Alchemists are most averse to being disturbed while refining pills, so Chen Lu knocked on the door as quietly as possible and spoke only slightly louder than normal.

Master is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so such a sound in the quiet night must be very clear to him.

But it wasn't until Chen Lu knocked several times that hurried footsteps came from behind the courtyard gate.

The courtyard gate opened a crack, and Li Danshi peeked out with only half his head.

Even though visibility was limited in the darkness, Chen Lu still noticed his unusual behavior at a glance.

First, there's that faint, almost imperceptible scent of perfume on her body.

Secondly, and most noticeably, was Li Danshi's unusually rosy cheeks.

Coupled with the scent of perfume emanating from her body, Chen Lu immediately thought of something.

Having endured an unspeakable secret for many years, it is now resolved in one fell swoop, making it difficult to suppress the desire in this area.

When Li Danshi saw that it really was Chen Lu, his extremely gloomy expression turned amiable, and his tone was tinged with a bit of embarrassment.

"Ah, kid, it really is you!"

There's been so much going on at the alchemy workshop lately, we got the timing of your arrival wrong!

"Quick! Come in! It's getting late. Let me get you a room so you can rest for a while."

Although they extended a warm invitation verbally, they made no move to open the door.

Chen Lu waved his hands repeatedly, refusing with a smile.

"Master, there's something I want to discuss with you, and then I need to return immediately."

I can only come here tomorrow to learn alchemy for five consecutive days.

"Huh? Okay."

His tone was full of regret, but his eyes held a hint of relief.

"What's the matter? Kid, hurry up and say it, lest you get back late and it delays your business."

Chen Lu didn't care about those things. After repeating what he had said to Miss Tao'er, Master Li Dan agreed without hesitation.

"Alright! Since you trust me, you can send someone to deliver the message."

After all, I don't have anything here worth coveting.

Li Danshi agreed readily without asking for further details.

This made Chen Lu very happy, and he felt much more favorably toward Master Li.

Although Master Li was somewhat impatient to get rid of people and wanted to get down to business, he felt a pang of reluctance when he thought of Chen Lu rushing over in the night.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an alchemist, few people in Red Bamboo Immortal City would dare to attack him.

But Chen Lu is different. His cultivation level is only at the Qi Refining stage, so both that escort agency and some hidden cultivators will target him.

It was nighttime all the way, making it difficult to spot ambushes along the roadside. If something happened, escape would be very difficult.