“You lecherous little maid—so you *were* up to no good!”

Zhou Jiuyu shot Nan Mengling a wary glance and even took half a step back.

“Didn’t *you* also have eyes for my body, Young Master?”

Nan Mengling spoke calmly, her eyes clear and steady.

“I was just joking! You actually believed me? A maid aiming to become the mistress?”

Nan Mengling’s mouth fell slightly open. Her mind went blank for a moment before she murmured, blushing, “I was joking too, Young Master. Please don’t take it seriously.”

“Then… want a taste of my finger as a reward?” Zhou Jiuyu lifted his hand.

“Yes.” Nan Mengling lifted her head quickly, eyes sparkling.

“Heh heh—see? You *are* up to no good. But this Young Master won’t give it to you.”

Beside them, Shao Xiuqi watched the flirtatious exchange, momentarily speechless. He’d overlooked this factor…

True, Nan Mengling was a sword fairy descended into the mortal realm—naive yet proud, vigilant, hard to deceive. But she was still young. Still… a girl.

And girls experience first love.

A handsome youth rescuing her at her lowest, fleeing danger beside her, unraveling her parents’ death, healing her heart—all during the tender, vulnerable age of eighteen. How could she *not* see only her Young Master?

…Though, in the end, it hardly mattered.

Shao Xiuqi’s smile returned. He shook his head. “Since Little Mengling has chosen you, I won’t stand in your way. Go awaken your abilities.”

Nan Mengling hesitated, glancing at Zhou Jiuyu before stepping toward the ritual platform.

“They’ve cleared the way for your awakening. What are you waiting for?”

Zhou Jiuyu took her hand—soft, slightly damp—and placed it on the Awakening Stone. “Don’t pressure yourself. Even if it’s not perfect, we have backup plans.”

“I’m not nervous, Young Master.”

“Your sweat’s already soaked my sleeve.”

“It’s… *that* acting up. I had to tense up…” she whispered, face flushed.

Zhou Jiuyu: “….”

No wonder she’s the heroine of a steamy novel. He thought *he* was shameless—but his maid had truly surpassed her master.

Just then, Shao Xiuqi approached with a gentle smile.

“Zhou Gongzi, my earlier words were impolite. Forgive me. Since Mengling chose you, we’re allies now. We both wish to help her…”

Zhou Jiuyu raised an eyebrow. “Speak plainly.”

“A small favor… I owe the Sword God a debt. I told him I’d bring Mengling to Sword God Mountain—to set a trap.” Shao’s voice dropped.

“How?”

“You play along. I ‘kill’ you on camera. I send the footage to the Sword God, claiming I rescued Mengling. Then the three of us storm the mountain… for a *surprise*.” He smiled. “What do you think?”

“Trivial. I accept.” Zhou Jiuyu nodded, matching his smile.

Shao Xiuqi smiled warmly—but inwardly, coldly.

*Arrogant youth… laughing now. Let’s see if you can later.*

Unbeknownst to him, Zhou Jiuyu thought the exact same.

“The play begins now, Zhou Gongzi. Perform well.”

An earth spike slowly formed in Shao’s palm.

“Don’t worry—it’ll barely pierce your clothes,” he explained with a smile.

Suddenly—

Behind him, Nan Mengling touched the Awakening Stone. A violent surge of Spirit Energy erupted. Light flooded the Awakening Spire. A gale roared within, swirling like a tempestuous sea!

“Ninth Tier… she awakened at *Ninth Tier*… Heaven aids me! Heaven aids me!”

Ecstasy twisted Shao’s face. The earth spike shot toward Zhou Jiuyu.

“Remember… *act well*.”

“The same goes to you, Lord Shao.” Zhou sidestepped effortlessly.

He never intended to play along.

Nor did Shao.

The spike whistled past Zhou, pierced the Spire’s thick wall, then the buildings beyond—a tunnel stretching into the horizon.

“Can’t keep acting now, Lord Shao?” Zhou sneered.

“My goal is already achieved. Rest assured—I won’t harm Mengling. Most of what I said was true: I *do* want to eliminate the Sword God. I *do* want to nurture Mengling. The only lie? That I’d *pretend* to kill you. I truly intend to.”

Shao’s eyes turned icy. No more gentle facade.

“To perfectly control a puppet, there can be only one master. *Me*. You… are surplus.”

The entire Spire trembled. Earth spikes erupted from all directions.

Zhou countered spike with spike. “If it were me? I’d keep acting. Say such things *in front of my maid*? Try to kill me? She’s Ninth Tier now. Are you *that* fearless?”

“Unnecessary. She’s *already* my puppet. Why do you think I let her touch the Stone so easily?” Shao chuckled, radiating absolute control. His eyes gleamed. “Imagine… having this girl, who looks at you with such devotion, kill you herself. What would she feel? How pitiful would your final moment be?”

“Little Mengling—obey! Draw your sword… and kill the Young Master you *adore*!”

A crimson ancient sigil flared on Shao’s palm—a forbidden puppeteer art from the ancient martial traditions. Not wood or clay… but *people*.

He’d planted the mark inside the Awakening Stone. Upon contact, it fused with her soul, turning her into a true puppet.

With himself as Ninth Tier… and *her* as a new Ninth Tier… he’d stand among the world’s strongest.

Two Ninth Tier adepts? Everything else was dust.

Why act further?

“I truly wasn’t lying about her body. However lovely… it’s trivial. What I coveted was her potential. To become my finest puppet.”

Shao smiled faintly at Zhou. “Farewell, Zhou Gongzi.”

The words hung in the air.

Behind Shao, black-and-white energy coiled around Nan Mengling’s White Moon Longsword. She stepped forward—vanished into mist—then reappeared. A sword aura, spiraling with yin-yang force, thrust forward!

Crimson splashed across the Spire’s floor.

“Ugh… mm… ah…”

Shao Xiuqi turned, disbelief freezing his face. Nan Mengling stood behind him in flowing white robes—ethereal, transcendent. He looked down at the blade buried in his heart. Pain choked his voice. With immense effort, he rasped:

“…How…?”

Zhou Jiuyu strolled up, beaming. He gave a cheerful wave.

“Farewell, Lord Shao.”