Chapter 120: Is This a Request, or a Threat?

Tianluo pleaded with a bitter face, his demeanor sincere and touching.

Qin Luo was almost amused by this fellow, and he became slightly curious about his background. He asked, "Who sent you to invite me?"

"Qin Zongheng," Tianluo replied.

Qin Zongheng? So it was him.

Qin Luo felt a jolt of surprise. He had clearly rejected the deal with Wenren Muyue, and he wasn't competing with him for a woman. Why would he send someone to find him?

"I am not in the world of martial arts, yet why do legends of me still circulate within it?"

What Qin Luo did not know was that Wenren Zhao had long since revealed to Qin Zongheng that Wenren Muyue had feelings for him. Furthermore, when Wenren Muyue accepted Qin Zongheng’s invitation, she had vaguely hinted that she would be bringing someone along to the banquet.

Given Qin Zongheng’s intelligence, he could naturally guess that this person would be Qin Luo.

"Who is Qin Zongheng? I don't know him," Qin Luo said with a look of confusion.

"I know you don't. You'll know him once you meet," Tianluo said with a cheerful, encouraging smile.

"I don't know him. Why should I go see him?" Qin Luo asked.

"Perhaps he wants to make a deal with you. Don't worry, it will definitely be to your advantage. What kind of relationship do we have? I wouldn't come to you if there weren't some benefits involved, right?" Tianluo said with familiar ease, walking over as if to drape an arm around Qin Luo’s shoulder, acting as though they had been brothers for years.

Qin Luo stepped to the side, avoiding his embrace. He said, "I don't know you either. You’d better just tell me what this is about. Or, I can give you my phone number, and you can have him call me directly. We can talk over the phone. If I just follow you blindly like this, what if you guys try to harm me?"

"I don't know what it's about either. But rest assured, I give you my word of honor that we will never harm you in the slightest," Tianluo said with a look of earnestness.

"What is 'honor'?"

"This..." Tianluo thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I don't know either. But don't worry, I definitely have one. I'll look for it carefully later."

"I'm sorry. It's almost time for my meeting. Goodbye." Qin Luo said, turning to walk away. He had no desire to meet Qin Zongheng, nor did he want to continue chatting with this strange man.

"Do you know Wenren Muyue?" Tianluo shouted from behind.

Finally, the real issue. Qin Luo knew that if he answered that he didn't know her, this guy would only expose his lie on the spot.

Since they were able to track him down, how could they not have conducted a thorough investigation? They probably knew exactly how many times Wenren Muyue had visited Qingcheng International to see him, and how long each meeting lasted.

"I know her," Qin Luo nodded and said.

"Don't you want to learn some news about your fiancée? It seems you two aren't as affectionate as I thought." Tianluo had that lewd smile on his face again, his eyebrows and eyes crunched together, his whole face looking like a steamed bun.

He yawned, his cigarette craving acting up again. He pulled the half-finished cigarette butt from his pocket, lit it with a match, and smoked it with a look of pure bliss.

Qin Luo originally wanted to say that the woman’s affairs had nothing to do with him, but since they had come looking for him, they were clearly suspicious. It was even possible that Wenren Muyue had given them some false information.

Going to talk to him and clarifying things would be a decent option.

If he didn't go today, he might be subjected to their endless harassment in the future.

"Where are we meeting?" Qin Luo asked.

Tianluo said cheerfully, "Follow me. It’s definitely a good place. There’s wine, food, and beautiful women."

Qin Luo smiled and shook his head, following the fellow out of the school.

Wang Jiujiu stood at the door of the classroom, watching Qin Luo and the man walking side-by-side toward the exit.

"I feel like that man looks familiar. Who is he?" Wang Jiujiu wondered to herself.

When the man flicked his cigarette butt into a trash can from several meters away with pinpoint accuracy, a flash of realization struck Wang Jiujiu's mind, and she finally remembered where they had met.

She had seen this man at a banquet. He had been standing in the crowd, originally inconspicuous, especially since he was standing behind Qin Zongheng, who was brilliant and dazzling, the focal point of the entire room wherever he went.

However, a tiny movement had caught Wang Jiujiu's attention. Just like today, after he finished his cigarette, he stood several meters away and flicked the butt into an ashtray.

Wang Jiujiu remembered clearly that she had frowned at the time, thinking such a person was truly lacking in manners. Smoking in a banquet hall was already a behavior that invited disdain, and he hadn't even been willing to walk a few extra steps to put the butt in an ashtray.

However, the cigarette butt had traced a beautiful arc through the air before landing steadily in the ashtray.

"Isn't he one of Qin Zongheng's men? Why is he looking for Teacher Qin?" Wang Jiujiu felt that something was wrong. Worried that something might happen to Qin Luo, she quickly pulled her phone from her pocket and began to dial.

Tianluo hadn't lied; the place he brought Qin Luo to was indeed a good place. Whether there was wine and food remained to be seen, but the quality of the women greeting guests at the door was absolutely top-tier. Even if you randomly picked one and dropped her into any university, she would be considered one of the top ten campus beauties.

"Qiqi, you've lost weight again. It really makes your brother Tian’s heart ache."

"Oh, Tutu. Your chest is protruding even more today, isn't it? Did you not use sponge pads today?"

"Qinyin, my little cutie. Brother will treat you to a midnight snack tonight, and don't you dare run off again."

It seemed Tianluo was a regular here; every time he encountered a beautiful woman, he greeted her with a look of intimacy, as if he had a fling with every single one of them.

Seeing Qin Luo looking at him with surprise, Tianluo said with pride, "Once you’ve spent more time with me, you’ll realize that I love making friends more than anything."

He thought for a moment and added, "Especially young, beautiful female friends."

"I can tell," Qin Luo nodded.

"Tell me, as a normal man, how could you not like beautiful women? If anyone dares to tell me to my face that they don't like beautiful women, I’ll kick their backside. It’s too hypocritical. Don't you agree?"

"Yes," Qin Luo nodded.

"Do you like them?"

"I do."

"Hmm. You’re a straightforward man. If you want some beautiful women later, come to me. I’ll introduce you to a few. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied," Tianluo whispered lewdly in Qin Luo’s ear.

"Thanks," Qin Luo nodded awkwardly.

After rounding a rockery and passing through a winding corridor, Tianluo finally stopped with Qin Luo in front of the door of an ancient wooden building.

Tianluo knocked on the door, and after hearing a voice from inside saying "come in," he pushed the door open and entered, saying, "Young Master, I’ve brought Teacher Qin."

Because the house was of ancient Chinese architecture, the decorations and furniture inside were also largely made of raw wood. Bamboo tables and wooden chairs, wooden screens. A large calligraphy scroll hanging on the wall read "Hard to be Confused," and the occasional white-and-blue ceramic vessel served as the perfect finishing touch.

Simple. Elegant. Clean. Antique. These eight words perfectly described the style of the room.

A man sat on a wooden chair by the window brewing tea, wearing white casual pants, brown casual shoes, and a plaid-striped shirt. His smile was gentle, and his soft hair draped over the corners of his eyes. The man’s appearance could not be called handsome, yet any woman who saw him for the first time would surely be captivated by him.

Some people are handsome, but if they lack the corresponding temperament, they cannot be considered sophisticated. Some people have ordinary features, but their outstanding charisma can still catch a woman's eye.

Even Qin Luo, who remained ambivalent about him, felt a sense of calm and comfort upon seeing him. He made people feel that being with him would not be stressful, nor would it be dangerous. Serene, natural, and pleasantly at ease.

"Please, sit," Qin Zongheng said. He knew Qin Luo was sizing him up; this was a normal reaction when strangers met.

He did not look up at Qin Luo; it was not their first meeting, only the other party didn't know it. Regarding this person, he didn't need to look with his eyes to have a full understanding of him.

Sometimes, data on paper is more real than what your eyes see. One simply needs a wise brain capable of distinguishing truth from falsehood.

"Thank you," Qin Luo sat down opposite him.

"Do you like Longjing tea?" Qin Zongheng poured the brewed tea from the teapot into a white porcelain vessel, and then into the delicate, small cup.

"It's alright," Qin Luo said. Isn't a rich man's time very precious? Why do they all love to talk such nonsense?

Qin Zongheng used bamboo tweezers to place a cup of tea in front of Qin Luo, gesturing for him to drink.

Qin Luo picked up the teacup, smelled it, and drank the tea in one gulp. He said, "Good tea."

"It is good tea. Pre-Qingming Longjing, brewed with fresh spring water from the Heavenly Mountains. And I am a lazy person; I rarely have the interest to brew tea for others," Qin Zongheng said with a smile, as if boasting about himself.

However, Qin Luo could hear the subtext.

"I have not earned this. Having drunk such good tea, I should express something. I wonder how I might be of help to you," Qin Luo asked.

Qin Zongheng nodded, clearly satisfied with Qin Luo’s awareness. He said, "Three days from now, it will be my grandfather’s eightieth birthday. We will be inviting some friends to celebrate the occasion."

Qin Luo listened quietly, waiting for him to continue.

Could it be that this guy wanted to invite him to his grandfather’s birthday party?

He wasn't close to him, so he absolutely couldn't go; otherwise, it would be another huge expense. With a family background like theirs, if he gave a small red envelope, they would look down on him. If he gave a large one, his own heart would ache.

"I imagine you will be very busy that day, won't you?" Qin Zongheng looked at Qin Luo with gentle eyes and said nonchalantly.

His words were equivalent to having already made the decision for Qin Luo.

Three days from now is my grandfather’s eightieth birthday; whoever invites you to attend, you had best use the excuse of being busy to decline.

Qin Luo was stunned at first, not expecting the situation to be the exact opposite of what he had imagined.

However, he soon narrowed his eyes and smiled. He looked at Qin Zongheng and asked, "Is this a request, or a threat?"