She closed her eyes and ignored him. It was better to end the conversation before she said anything that made Lei huojin's life harder. He had already suffered enough because of her. When Shen duyi didn't get a rise out of her, he went on. He wanted her to understand who held the power between them. 

'When I'm done with him, i'll go next and find your family. The Tang kingdom. I hear that's where you hail from. It'll only be a matter of time before i am able to locate them.'

Bai li yue opened his eyes and closed them after meeting his eyes.

'See yourself out.'

Shen duyi was fated to get no satisfaction from the last threat. She wouldn't give him anything. 

Was he certain or was it a fishing expedition? With the resources of the whole sect at his disposal, it wouldn't be too hard to trace her origins back to the thousand bamboo immortal sect. It would take time, but it was capable of finding those she considered family. The Immortal sect was ill prepared for the death and destruction that will visit them. 

She had to take her revenge: now more than ever, she couldn't live without it. But she also had to think of a way to protect those she'd left behind from reprisals. 

Ba li yue decided to go out the next day, but her path was blocked by guards. They remained impervious to her demands. 

"Am i now a prisoner?"

They watched her nervously, none of them daring to answer. Shen duyi had given them precise orders. As usual it was the subordinates who were left to suffer the wrath of their superiors.

"If i can't leave then bring someone-" 

Bai li yue was glad that she didn't have to expend any more effort to see Hu an who she spotted walking toward the courtyard entrance where they were.

"Never mind! Stand aside and let her in!"

She ordered.

The men exchanged worried looks. Shen duyi hadn't said anything about visitors. One visitor shouldn't cause them any trouble.

"What are you wasting time for? Let her in!"

Hu An entered the courtyard minutes later with a peeved expression.

"What is it?"

Bai li yue asked.

Hu an sighed. Bai li yue was really pitiful. 

"Your bodyguard is really something."

She said, handing Bai li yue a small green book and made herself comfortable while watching Bai li yue.

"When he saw the book i brought you, he acted as if i was a criminal. He asked so many questions any one would think i was planning a conspiracy against you."

Bai li yue inspected the book and put it down. She wasn't in the mood to read poems.

"Did you come today to know if i've made a decision?"

"About that… I think we should renegotiate. I was too distraught yesterday and said some things i didn't mean."

Hu An said.

"I didn't take you for the kind of person who swallows their vomit. So you no longer want your brother dead?"

"Oh no! Is that what you thought? No. No."

"Speak clearly."

Bai li yue's eyes narrowed. Hu An was getting on her nerves. Now more than ever, she didn't like games… or those who played them. She planned to make an ally of Hu an and use her as a decoy, but if this was a sign of things to come, she'd rather do without her help or her presence.

"At first, I only wanted to remove my rival. But now, it's personal. Someone tried to poison me last night. I can't let him go now."

"Do it yourself."

"I prefer using other people. Besides, you want to kill feng jia lin. What's another body in the pile?"

Bai li yue's eyes narrowed even further. Hu qi was already on her list, but she wished to hear what Hu an was willing to pay her since she was asking her to be a hit woman.

"If I kill him for you, what will you give me in return?"

"Instead of becoming a subordinate like that bastard Hu qi, i will offer you a favour."

"What kind of favour?"

"Before i say anything more, can you even do what i want? No offence, but you are currently incapable. You can't use spiritual energy, can you?"

"Don't worry about me."

"Are you going to hire someone to do it?"

"Does the method matter to you?"

"Only that it doesn't come back to bite me. In case you've forgotten what we are planning is against sect rules."

Bai li yue ignored Hu an. If she was truly scared of the sect she wouldn't have proposed the plan or met with Bai li yue. She was here talking in the open about killing her twin brother as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world. 

"Let's talk about what you are offering. A favour? Is it worth anything to me?"

"I can't say, but in your situation, isn't it better to have a friend?"

Bai li yue knew what she was being offered. In essence, she was working for free. Hu an had already guessed that she was going to kill Hu qi. A reward or the absence of one wouldn't change her mind. 

She didn't know if she could trust her, but she had few options and time was running out. It was better to lie with a snake than a wolf in sheep's clothing.

"Hu an, I have just one question for you? Did you meet Shen duyi?"

"You know about that?"

"What did he say?"

"He wanted me to serve you without asking for anything in return. The way he spoke was weird. He said it as if i should be honoured to serve you."

"You rejected his offer? No one refuses him."

Hu an chortled and sat up proudly.

"You should be thinking of yourself, not me. A strong wind could blow you away or break you. As for Shen duyi, All i'm saying is some people need to travel more. "

Bai li yue nodded and drank the rest of her tea in silence.

It seemed like they had reached an understanding. 

Although Hu an was relieved, she couldn't help feeling a little guilty. She hadn't missed the signs that things weren't right in Bai li yue's world. The guards at the entrance, the shadow guard eavesdropping on their conversation and Bai li yue's absent aura were clues that fit together to paint an unsettling picture. She remembered the rumours of Bai li yue's refusal to enter a union with Shen duyi. The rumours died quickly, but she was now sure that they weren't baseless rumours. 

What an unfortunate creature Bai li yue turned out to be! Hu an couldn't imagine being forced to marry against her will. Not even an ant will escape death if she was in Bai li yue's shoes. But as despicable as the situation was, bai li yue was one example among millions and Hu an wasn't interested in poking her nose into other peoples' affairs. This was none of her business. If Bai li yue wasn't such a willing worker, she would have already cut her losses and allowed her brother to live until it was time to return home. 

She decided to give Bai li yue a chance. If she didn't succeed, it was only a matter of cutting contact and going her merry way.

Hu an finished her tea and stood. She left with a promise to return the next day.

"Don't bother. I'll be too busy to see you."

"Whatever! Just do what you promised."

While Bai li yue returned to her room to take a bath, protector Yuchen was making a report to Shen duyi. 

'So far there is nothing suspicious about the contents of the book. The guards went to the library to confirm. It is a real book borrowed from the library.'

"What do you think? Is she planning something or playing with my head?"

"My lord, we'll soon have answers. I posted one of my men near student Hu an's courtyard. He has orders to report any unusual activity."

"Is there any information about her?"

"Her brother is close mouthed on the subject. The men I sent haven't discovered any trace of them before they arrived in the sect vicinity. We believe the brother and sister are using fake names."

'Her disregard of me is rather displeasing. There's more to them than meets the eye.'

'My lord, if she bothers you that much, i can take care of her.'

Shen duyi looked up from his book. He entertained the idea for a brief moment but instead shook his head.

"I've barely calmed the uproar when i used the demon seal on li yue without the council's knowledge. We have three days left till the ceremony. There's no need to cause trouble."

"Yes, my lord."

"Between yesterday and now, I feel like i've been waiting a year."

"You've waited this long, my lord. Three days will pass in a blink of an eye."

"Will it?"