Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Playing Both Sides

Master Lu’s eyelid twitched, and his tone hardened once more.

’In any case, the Lu Family is in the right this time. If Song Wanning refuses to pay compensation, then I’ll just have to blow this whole thing wide open!’

"It seems True Monarch Song has no intention of dealing with this matter?"

"If that’s truly the case, then don’t blame me for being merciless..."

He was about to threaten Song Wanning further, but he was cut off by her scornful, mocking laughter.

"Go ahead, make a scene. The bigger the better. Then the whole world will find out what kind of trash the Lu Family raised."

"What do you mean by that? Everyone knows Lu Nanfeng was killed because he witnessed the affair between Gu Qingyuan and Ye Chuxue. As his master, are you really going to slander him?"

Master Lu sensed a hidden meaning in her words, which only stoked his anger.

However, in the next instant, Song Wanning took out a Memory Stone and played the scene of Lu Nanfeng tearing at Ye Chuxue’s clothes.

The rest of Master Lu’s words caught in his throat.

His fingertips trembled, and blood rushed to his head.

’What was the truth?’

’Lu Nanfeng... he actually did something like that...’

’And just moments ago, I was so righteously threatening Song Wanning. The thought alone is utterly humiliating.’

Master Lu’s face was as black as thunder, and his resentment for Song Wanning grew even deeper.

’She had the Memory Stone this whole time and didn’t take it out. Wasn’t she deliberately trying to make a fool of me?’

’What a wicked woman!’

"Surely you understand me now, Master Lu?"

A smile played on Song Wanning’s lips as she savored the shifting expressions on Master Lu’s face.

’In her past life, Master Lu’s triumphant expression was nothing as comical as this.’

’Back then, when Lu Nanfeng was hypocritically trying to guilt-trip her, this very Family Head had told him to stop wasting his breath...’

’Song Wanning remembered it all.’

’These families were all in cahoots. She just didn’t know who the main instigator was.’

Song Wanning’s thoughts shifted, and her gaze returned to Master Lu.

"After Lu Nanfeng discovered their relationship, he was filled with resentment and assaulted Ye Chuxue... How could such a degenerate be worthy of being my disciple?"

"Keeping this matter under wraps for him is already an act of utmost benevolence. Wouldn’t you agree, Master Lu?"

The smile on her face was blinding. Master Lu was so furious he clenched his fists, inwardly cursing that worthless idiot Lu Nanfeng. ’To do something like this... even his death was a complete waste!’

’But on second thought,’ he mused, ’Song Wanning is also responsible for this. The Lu Family can’t take all the blame.’

"True Monarch Song, Lu Nanfeng became your disciple when he was five. For him to do something like this, is it not a failure of your teaching?"

"If this gets out, won’t the public blame you, too?"

In that moment, Master Lu felt he had a handle on Song Wanning’s weakness.

’Who in this world doesn’t care about their reputation?’

’Now we’re in the same boat.’

’Tsk. Shameless as always.’

Song Wanning clicked her tongue, unsurprised by Master Lu’s reaction.

’Everyone’s greedy. Who doesn’t want to squeeze out a little more for themselves?’

’But when they try to scheme against me, that’s when I get annoyed.’

"Master Lu, I think you’re confused. Your concern right now shouldn’t be demanding compensation, but rather how you’re going to convince me to keep this secret."

"For Ye Chuxue’s sake, Gu Qingyuan was willing to risk universal condemnation just to be with her. That alone shows how deep his love runs."

"Once he finds out that Lu Nanfeng tried to defile Ye Chuxue... tsk, tsk, tsk..."

"He’s got nothing left to lose now."

"I’m his junior sister, so he certainly wouldn’t kill me. But as for whether he’d kill all of you... I can’t make any promises."

Master Lu: "!!!!!!!!"

His eyes snapped wide in a mixture of anger and shock.

’Song Wanning, you shameless wench!!’

"You—you—"

"You’re shameless! Lu Nanfeng was still your disciple, no matter what—"

"And?"

Song Wanning crossed her arms, then her legs, a look of complete indifference on her face.

"I’ll give you ten breaths to consider. One..."

Before she even reached three, Master Lu "surrendered."

"I... What will it take for True Monarch Song to keep this secret?"

His face was flushed red with suppressed fury. If looks could kill, he would have already torn Song Wanning limb from limb.

"Hmm... I won’t make things too difficult for you. Just prepare everything on this list."

As she spoke, Song Wanning tossed over a piece of paper with a list of items already written on it.

’She hadn’t asked for too much. After all, while Gu Qingyuan was a threat, the Lu Family would rather face him than give in if her demands were too outrageous.’

Sure enough, Master Lu’s expression twisted for a moment after he read the list, but after a short while, he nodded.

The veins on his hand bulged as he clutched the list. "I will prepare these items for True Monarch Song as soon as I return home," he said, his voice thick with resentment. "I trust True Monarch Song will keep her word."

"But of course. The moment I receive the items, I will destroy the Memory Stone right in front of you. You have my word, Master Lu."

Song Wanning’s gentle and considerate expression only made Master Lu’s blood boil.

’He’d come here to turn a profit and ended up losing his shirt!’

He turned to storm out, but as Song Wanning escorted him to the door, they came face-to-face with several elders from the Sect.

They were all concerned about how much compensation would be given to the Lu Family.

"Junior Sister Song, is everything settled?"

the Seventh Elder asked.

"Yes, it is." Song Wanning smiled, glancing at Master Lu before announcing:

"On behalf of the Sect, I have agreed to compensate him with two hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones, in addition to various Magical Treasures and medicinal herbs."

"What? Why so much?"

The elders’ expressions faltered, their gazes filled with disapproval.

Meanwhile, Master Lu’s jaw dropped, his face a mask of utter confusion.

’When did Song Wanning agree to compensate me for anything?’

In the next instant, however, he caught Song Wanning’s meaningful gaze.

He watched as she said with a sigh, "Alas, it couldn’t be helped... Lu Nanfeng was the most outstanding disciple of the Lu Family’s current generation. Now that he’s been killed, the impact on the Lu Family’s future is immense. Master Lu refused to yield an inch, so what else could I do?"

"Isn’t that right, Master Lu?"

Song Wanning winked at him with a playful smile.

Master Lu nearly choked, his face turning purple with suppressed rage.

The disapproving glares from the other elders, in particular, made him want to vomit blood.

’Song Wanning...’

’This is simply too much!’

’But what could he do?’

’Gu Qingyuan is incredibly powerful, and now that he’s been expelled from the Sect, he’s at his most volatile. If he were to truly strike against the Lu Family, who knows how many disciples they would lose.’

’On top of that, if this matter got out, it would tarnish the Lu Family’s reputation...’

’It was better to just pay to make the problem go away and save himself the headache.’

’Besides, the Heavenly Inquiry Sect was footing the bill...’

’So why did it feel so humiliating? And why did it sting so much?’

His heart dripping with figurative blood, Master Lu forced himself to agree. "Yes... yes..."

"I have other matters to attend to. I’ll be leaving now."

He couldn’t stand to stay a moment longer, afraid he might actually be angered to death by Song Wanning.

Master Lu scrambled away, leaving the elders looking utterly bewildered.

Song Wanning watched Master Lu’s hasty retreat, the smile on her lips deepening.

’The Lu Family...’

’This is only the beginning.’

She withdrew her gaze and, without another word, headed straight for the Sect’s repository to collect the items.

’She had wasted so many resources on Lu Nanfeng. Now, she’d finally gotten it all back.’

Song Wanning pursed her lips into a smile.

’Lu Nanfeng, your death was truly a blessing!’