Chapter 178: Chapter 178

"Hmm," Hua Xiaomo smiled noncommittally. "Then I’ll head upstairs first. Goodbye, President Wang."

Hua Xiaomo quickly made her way to the second floor, while President Wang left the ancient castle mansion, a trace of suspicion in his thoughts.

The aroma of tea slowly wafted from the stove.

"Master, your tea is ready."

"Put it aside. Let Hua Xiaomo come in."

Soon, a young man approached Hua Xiaomo. "You’re Hua Xiaomo, right? Master has asked for you."

"Master? Who are you?" Hua Xiaomo asked, taken aback.

She looked at the young man in a white Tang suit, who seemed to be about seventeen or eighteen. His neat, short hair, glinting with a purple sheen, was even more striking. Only one of his eyes was visible; the other was hidden beneath strands of hair, making it hardly noticeable.

Anyone else might think he was cosplaying some handsome anime character! However, my first instinct tells me he isn’t Sha Po Lang, the one who stole "Blue Moon."

His frame was slender, whereas Sha Po Lang had strong, well-built muscles. Fresh chapters posted on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱

"As for that question, it’s better to let Master tell you," the young man said indifferently.

A dark gleam flickered in Hua Xiaomo’s eyes. Without asking further, she quickly entered the room.

"Xia Shuangming, ’Blue Moon’ was stolen on your orders, wasn’t it?" Hua Xiaomo asked, looking at the man sitting cross-legged on a cushion, draped in a Black Mysterious Patterned Robe.

He still wore the carved Platinum mask, as if he had never taken it off.

But these things really didn’t matter to her. She never cared what was beneath the mask.

"Hmph!" Xia Shuangming snorted coldly.

"’Blue Moon’ is gone, and you still have the nerve to come here accusing me?" Xia Shuangming’s eyes flashed sharply. He then pulled a contract from a drawer under the table and handed it to her.

"This is a five million debt agreement. Sign it," Xia Shuangming said without further ado, his voice tinged with a dark, icy coldness.

For a moment, Hua Xiaomo felt at a loss. After a while, she said, "’Blue Moon’ is indeed lost. But how do I know it wasn’t you, Xia Shuangming, playing tricks to deliberately draw me into this scheme?"

"Me draw you into a scheme?" Xia Shuangming suddenly laughed, looking at her sarcastically. "Hua Xiaomo, you’re rarely so smart, yet also rarely so confused!"

Xia Shuangming remained unmoved on his cushion, his voice sharp and cold. "I ask you, did the person who stole ’Blue Moon’ mention his name?"

Hua Xiaomo looked at him and, after a pause, said, "He said his name was Sha Po Lang!" But her heart immediately filled with suspicion. Could it really be that he wasn’t the one who ordered it?

"Sha Po Lang..." Xia Shuangming’s voice carried a faint warmth. Then, suddenly, "Yunsha, check this person’s details."

"Yes, Master." The young man who had been standing outside quickly walked in and proceeded to open a laptop on a nearby shelf.

Only then did Hua Xiaomo clearly see that the young man’s purple hair was tied back in a small braid. Such an alternative and distinctive style was definitely representative of the non-mainstream in this world.

But how had he become Xia Shuangming’s apprentice? I’ve never seen him take on an apprentice in all these years.

After a moment, Zi Yunsui reported, "Master, I found him. He’s a convicted murderer who escaped from The Eleventh Prison of England. He has a Chinese name: Situ Cheng."

"Now you understand who the real thief of ’Blue Moon’ is," Xia Shuangming said, looking at her. He continued, "According to the agreement we signed, if ’Blue Moon’ is lost, the remuneration of half a million is multiplied by ten. You now owe me a debt of five million."

Hua Xiaomo’s ears buzzed. Five million! Heavens! This could really be the death of me! If I really owe this sum, who knows how many years it would take to pay it off!

Xia Shuangming looked at her, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He then stood up from the cushion, hands folded inside his sleeves, and strolled to the window. Gazing at the suburban forest scenery, he spoke indifferently, "Xiao Mo, you’ve followed me for nine years. I, Xia Shuangming, am not a completely unempathetic person. How about this..."

"As long as you agree to follow me for life, I can forgo this five million debt." Xia Shuangming’s voice filled the air. He turned his head slightly, his gaze from behind the mask fixing on her with an eerily gentle intensity.

"What?" Hua Xiaomo gasped, immediately exclaiming, "Xia Shuangming, are you asking me to follow you for a lifetime... to engage in this undignified thievery and sneaking around?"

"Heh... Why put it so unpleasantly? You’ve been with me for nine years. In that time, you’ve seen the splendors of the entire world. Haven’t you lived a sufficiently thrilling and novel life? That’s something many people can’t even dream of," Xia Shuangming smiled flawlessly.

"I’ve indeed led a thrilling life!" Hua Xiaomo couldn’t help but retort sarcastically. Every time was fraught with peril! This guy really knows how to make light of things.

"However, if you don’t wish to take any more risks, that’s fine too. You just have to agree to marry me and stay by my side," Xia Shuangming stated lightly.

"What? Marry you?" Hua Xiaomo was astounded. So *that’s* what he meant by ’follow me for life’!

Suddenly, Hua Xiaomo laughed, shaking her head repeatedly. "Xia Shuangming, I’ve followed you for nine years, but I don’t even know what you look like. You want me to marry you? Have you lost your mind?"

Throughout their conversation, the young man, Zi Yunsui, stood by silently, listening without a word.

"There are no exceptions to my rules, and I’m only trying to help you. Otherwise, you must pay me the five million within a month." Xia Shuangming’s tone was remarkably casual, as though discussing something as trivial as everyday conversation.

Hua Xiaomo looked at him, feeling flustered, and couldn’t help but ask, "And if I don’t?"

"Then I will proceed in my own way. As for what my method is, you can wait and see," Xia Shuangming stated calmly. His hands were nestled in the wide sleeves of his robe, and the mysterious pattern on his chest looked very unconventional.

Coupled with the Platinum mask he never took off, his entire being exuded an aura of profound and inscrutable otherworldliness.

Hua Xiaomo clenched her teeth. This guy...

Xia Shuangming always keeps his word. No, I can’t just wait and let that happen!

"I will find a way to retrieve ’Blue Moon’ for you!" Hua Xiaomo declared, her tone steady, her amber eyes shining with a quiet intensity.

"A fugitive like Situ Cheng is not someone you can handle. I will personally reclaim ’Blue Moon’. You are left with only two choices: either pay the debt or fall into my arms..." Xia Shuangming said, his lips curving into a faint smile.