"?"
Lu Ye calmly shook his head, "Then I won't eat it."
Hearing this, Jiang Lingyue was suddenly a bit anxious.
"Come on, I won't eat you. Brother-in-law, just try one bite. It's a token of my heart~~"
Towards the end, she even had a bit of a coquettish tone.
Watching her private little airfield swaying in front of him, Lu Ye quickly grabbed Jiang Lingyue.
"Stop swaying, I'm getting airsick."
Not sure why, but despite being sisters, the difference between them was so vast.
"First, tell me what you want to ask."
"It's nothing scary, it's just..." Jiang Lingyue leaned closer, bringing a fragrant breeze, whispering, "Two bodies showed up in the city's alley. It's said they were killed in one blow, suspected to be by finger technique."
"Brother-in-law, you didn't do it, did you?"
Bodies appeared in the city, and as the Jiang Family had a dominant position in Cloud Leaf City, they got the news through certain channels right away.
However, not many people in the Jiang Family cared about it.
In the great world of Martial Dao, which day doesn't involve death? There's nothing strange about it.
Jiang Lingyue, who had just returned, wasn't too concerned either.
But upon unintentionally hearing that the deceased were killed by a very fierce finger technique attack, she immediately got interested.
Fist, palm, leg techniques, swords, and spears are mainstream paths martial artists cultivate.
As for finger techniques... they're considered niche martial arts.
Lu Ye showed a trace of surprise, "This isn't scary? You'd expect me to kill chickens when I'm scared of that. Do I seem like such a bold person to you?"
By Lu Ye's estimation, the bodies should have been discovered much earlier.
Didn't expect it to be delayed until the evening before news started to spread.
This also proves that particular area is quite remote.
Jiang Lingyue stared straight at Lu Ye, apparently not convinced by his words.
Is there really anyone afraid of killing chickens these days?
But seeing Lu Ye's calm demeanor, Jiang Lingyue stared for a while before giving up.
"Alright, maybe it wasn't you."
"What do you mean maybe? I, Lu Ye, stand firm and act righteously. If I say it wasn't me, then it wasn't."
Lu Ye explained, "Even though finger technique is less practiced, that rarity means those who do are extraordinary when they make a move."
"It's like training for three years to astonish the world with one move. Among the finger technique experts in the city, there should be at least a hundred."
Thinking about it, Jiang Lingyue also felt it made sense.
Though few cultivate finger techniques, in a city as vast as Cloud Leaf City with nearly a million people, at least a twenty or thirty percent are martial artists.
Having a few hundred who've practiced finger techniques isn't exaggerating.
"Alright then, I've finished asking. Brother-in-law, hurry and eat, don't worry, I didn't drug it." Jiang Lingyue said with a mischievous smile.
Lu Ye didn't stand on ceremony, taking one bite after another, finishing everything in no time.
Sitting beside Lu Ye, watching him finish everything, Jiang Lingyue's eyes squinted into crescents with her smile.
"How is it, tasty?"
"Not bad." Lu Ye said, "You didn't just come to bring food, did you?"
"Of course not, I'm here to bring you silver." Jiang Lingyue counting on her fingers, said, "In a few days, the Worldwide Escort Agency under our Jiang family will have a shipment to Luohua City."
"Since you're short on silver, I plan to add you to the guard team. Of course, all you have to do is collect a hundred taels of silver at the end."
Upon hearing this, Lu Ye was a bit surprised.
Just being a guard one could earn a hundred taels of silver?
Though escorting a shipment is a dangerous job, akin to licking blood off the knife's edge.
For a regular escort, a mid-stage Condensing Origin guard would consider ten or twenty taels a good reward.
Only late-stage Condensing Origin and Postnatal Realm escorts get increased pay.
That hundred taels likely represent a Postnatal Realm leader's income for that escort.
Indeed, Jiang Lingyue continued.
"Do you think the escort silver is high? I calculated it as if you were at the Postnatal Realm!"
Lu Ye pondered for a moment, they're considering him at the Postnatal Realm...
Could this bratty sister-in-law have figured out his true level?
Impossible.
He never showed any signs of being in the Postnatal Realm!
Lu Ye calmly asked, "Why calculate at the Postnatal Realm level?"
"As soon as I returned, I heard you were in the Condensing Origin Seventh Layer. Brother-in-law, you've hidden it well from me." Jiang Lingyue gazed at Lu Ye with a hint of grievance in her tone.
Lu Ye composedly said, "It's not that I didn't tell you. It's not excessive to keep some cards to yourself while roaming the martial world. It's not like I'd tell you the color of my underpants, that's inappropriate."
"Pah! Brother-in-law, your comparison is awful!"
Watching Lu Ye's serene face, always shrouded in a layer of mystery, Jiang Lingyue's intelligent eyes moved.
He always has this unruffled look, as if he has everything under control, nothing can disturb his peace.
She can't believe in that!
Having an idea, Jiang Lingyue suddenly leaned in, her voice trembling, "Who says you can't say it, if you want to know... Lingyue isn't unwilling to tell you, hmm!"
As soon as she finished, Jiang Lingyue quickly retreated, a bashful red blooming on her perfectly crafted cheek.
Lu Ye: "..."
This era isn't Blue Star, and concepts are very conservative.
Though Jiang Lingyue is usually lively and witty, Lu Ye never expected this little devil to be so bold.
Of course, Lu Ye understood she was just talking, but it still surprised him.
Glimpsing at Lu Ye's slightly helpless expression, Jiang Lingyue secretly chuckled.
Always staying so composed, so confident!
You can crack my sister's defense, but I can crack yours.
"Don't joke like that, it damages your image." Lu Ye regained his composure, saying calmly.
"It's okay; I only say it in front of you." Jiang Lingyue changed the topic, "Weren't you asking why the escort fee is calculated at the Postnatal Realm rate?"
"Because I'm giving you a backdoor deal. Even though you're at the Condensing Origin Seventh Layer, I'm counting your compensation as the Postnatal Realm. Can't let the benefits flow outside, right?"
"Brother-in-law, I've never given anyone a backdoor before. Didn't I do well?"
So that's it.
Lu Ye nearly thought he'd exposed something.
Looking at Jiang Lingyue's still slightly blushed face, Lu Ye patted her head.
"Since that's the case, thank you very much."
...
A few days later.
With a hundredfold talent boost, Lu Ye advanced to the Postnatal Seventh Layer.
The inner strength in his dantian surged again, becoming more substantial.
Early in the morning, someone knocked on Lu Ye's courtyard gate.
Lu Ye opened the door, and outside stood the gallant Jiang Lingyue, carrying a Mortal Lower Grade Longsword.
"Brother-in-law, time to escort, let's go."
"You're going too?" Lu Ye was puzzled; she hadn't mentioned she'd be going.
"Why, looking down on me? I, Jiang Lingyue, am also at the Condensing Origin Sixth Layer! My sword is yet to fail!"