Chapter 121: Stinky Bug or Lord Illusion Butterfly

The dishes began to arrive one after another. Aside from a few reasonably priced vegetable plates, the rest were absolute delicacies: golden-leg braised double abalone, expertly prepared deep-water carp, crab meat with dual bamboo shoots, pine-tree lion's mane mushrooms, and the "Longevity" five-spice lobster. Almost every dish was a rarity, especially the grand finale, "Dragon and Phoenix Prosperity," which was extravagant to the extreme.

It had to be said that these three women were truly extravagant in their ordering. Even Xue Tian'ai’s mouth twitched when he saw the dishes being served. However, the food was impeccable in color, aroma, and taste, justifying its exorbitant price, so Xue Tian'ai kept his thoughts to himself.

Su Jiaqi had completely let her guard down, wielding her chopsticks frantically. The normally lively and sharp-tongued girl showed no restraint, stuffing large chunks of meat and vegetables into her small mouth. As she ate, she remarked, "Food really tastes different when someone else is paying!"

Gan Bingning acted more like a refined lady. Although she and Xue Tian'ai had been intimate many times, this was their first time dining face-to-face in such a setting, so she maintained a touch of maidenly shyness and reserve. Yet, it didn't feel forced, and she seemed to enjoy the meal thoroughly.

Qin Mengxue appeared the most natural. Since she and Xue Tian'ai were already living together, she didn't feel the need to put on an act, simply enjoying the meal with her usual composure. The main thing was that despite the high price of the food, she still found Xue Tian'ai’s home cooking better. For some reason, however, she detected a hint of a familiar flavor in these dishes—some of the tastes were quite similar to Xue Tian'ai’s own cooking.

"Ladies... there’s a handsome man at the table, too. Could we perhaps tone down the table manners a bit?" Xue Tian'ai remarked as he picked up a piece of fish, feigning indignation.

"Where is there a handsome man? I don't see one!" Su Jiaqi looked up in confusion, scanned the room, and then looked at Xue Tian'ai with a wicked grin. "All I see is a lecherous jerk at the table!"

"Hey, Ms. Su, you’re eating food I’m paying for right now—could you at least say something nice? How am I a lecherous jerk?" Xue Tian'ai replied, clearly dissatisfied.

"I’m just stating facts!" Su Jiaqi retorted immediately, then turned to Qin Mengxue and Gan Bingning. "President Qin, President Gan, what do you think?"

"Mhm, Xue Tian'ai is quite lecherous! And a bit of a jerk, too!" Qin Mengxue nodded seriously in agreement. Her mind drifted to the moments he would take advantage of her, and whether from the alcohol or shyness, a blush slowly crept across her face.

"I don't think President Su is wrong," Gan Bingning said, stealing a glance at Xue Tian'ai. She knew better than anyone how "lecherous" he could be, but she added with a radiant smile, "But if Assistant Xue is going to be lecherous, it wouldn't be bad if he could treat us to meals like this every day!"

"President Gan makes a good point. After all, this Xue fellow is a little fat sheep; might as well take advantage of him!" With the support of the two women, Su Jiaqi didn't hold back.

"How about it? Are you willing to treat us every day? I might consider giving you a raise!" Qin Mengxue felt she should join in the banter to tease him.

"Oh... well... I... I have a sudden stomachache. I’ll head to the restroom first... you ladies go ahead," Xue Tian'ai said, clutching his stomach and fleeing the table.

Watching his "hasty retreat," the three women all wore enchanting and slightly triumphant smiles.

...

The night in Jiangnan, China, was absolutely quiet and beautiful.

After dark, a hazy, dreamlike mist rose from the cobblestone paths, enshrouding this land of lush willows and prosperous, gentle wealth. Every blue brick and ink-colored tile was steeped in poetic rhythm. Deep within this ancient Jiangnan town stood a traditional teahouse; its mottled, peeling walls told a story of the passage of time and the vicissitudes of age.

Though the exterior looked weathered, the interior was crafted with Dongyang wood carvings. The tea hall was meticulously arranged with exquisite tea sets and tables, radiating an aura of art and high sophistication.

In one of the tea rooms, a young man sat upright, pouring emerald green tea from a purple clay pot into a delicate cup. Wisps of faint steam rose, filling the room with the fragrance of tea.

After pouring, the man didn't immediately reach for the cup to savor the expensive brew. Instead, he pulled out his phone and made a call.

The call was answered quickly. The voice on the other end was distorted, clearly altered: "Is this Mr. Y? Calling me so late—are you looking to inquire about something?"

The young man smiled softly and spoke in a calm tone: "Indeed. A killer’s greatest virtue is efficiency. Two days have passed, and yet there is no movement on your end. Can you blame me for being curious?"

"Is Mr. Y perhaps a bit too impatient? Efficiency is important for a killer, but it doesn't apply to me," the voice on the other end, neither male nor female, replied calmly.

"Why is that? Is there someone by Qin Mengxue’s side who is giving you trouble?" The young man lifted his cup, blew gently on the steaming tea, and took a sip.

"Well... if I have to say, there is one. It’s the man who took down those four losers at KFC," the voice replied thoughtfully. "His real name is Xue Tian'ai. I don't think he’s a simple man."

"Xue Tian'ai? A decent name," the young man murmured, looking at the bright moon outside the window. He continued, "So, is this former bar waiter actually that skilled?"

"I don't know about his martial arts skills, but his intuition is quite sharp," the voice confessed. A moment later, the person on the other end seemed to stretch, letting out a soft, satisfied moan. "However, I don't think it would be too difficult to defeat him, though it would certainly be easier and safer if he weren't around."

"It seems I was indeed a bit impatient," the young man said with a gentle smile. However, his snake-like, narrow eyes flashed with an icy, sinister glint, showing he was not entirely satisfied with the answer. "Do not disappoint me, China’s Second."

"Heh, you can rest assured of that, Mr. Y," the voice replied cryptically, then added with a hint of ruthlessness, "The prey I set my sights on never has a good ending."

"Then I shall look forward to your good news," the young man said flatly before hanging up.

He placed the phone on the table, stood up with the exquisite cup, walked to the window, and stared at the crescent moon, downing the scalding tea in one gulp.

He then slammed the cup onto the floor. The fragile porcelain shattered instantly, reduced to unrecognizable shards.

The young man no longer wore his refined, gentle demeanor. In its place was a ferocious, bloodthirsty intent, which appeared even more sinister on his deathly pale face. A morbid, jarring laugh echoed through the elegant tea room.

"You vermin, just wait for me in Europe! Once I obtain the Ancient Xia Token and seize that power, I will surely slaughter you and avenge my father!"

Meanwhile, in a pitch-black room in Beiyang City, China, the light from a phone screen was the only illumination. A slender silhouette tossed the phone onto the bed and collapsed onto the mattress. After lying still for a moment, she pulled the phone back out and opened her photo gallery.

The gallery contained dozens of photos. If the young man could see them, he would surely smash his phone, for the person in these photos was none other than his greatest enemy—the God of Assassins, Phantom Butterfly!

As she looked at the candid shots of the man wearing the magnificent Bright Goddess Butterfly mask from various angles, her face flushed red. The next second, she pressed her lips against the screen and kissed it fervently, not stopping until the entire display was covered in saliva.

"Lord Phantom Butterfly, please bless my assassination attempt! Neither that Qin Mengxue nor that Xue Tian'ai will be allowed to stand in my way!"

"And one day, I will surely have you! By any means necessary! Hahahaha..." She held the phone in one hand and rested the other on her face, which was twisted into an exaggerated, manic grin.

...

Simultaneously, in a restroom at Lishui Longxuan in Beiyang, Xue Tian'ai gently removed the tiny earpiece from his ear. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Not too difficult to defeat me, huh? ...And, sure enough, it’s Mr. Y again..."