Mr. Matsutake?

Kujo Kazuya's brow furrowed slightly.

What business could he possibly have with him?

An arrangement florist responsible for tending the courtyard flowers and plants didn't even have the qualification to speak to him on ordinary days.

Yet after all, he was a favorite in front of Madam Kaori.

And Madam Kaori was his nominal aunt, the most favored concubine of the head of the Kujo Family.

It wouldn't do for him to refuse.

Kazuya instructed the waiter at the door, "Please invite him to the reception room; I will be over shortly."

"Yes, Young Master."

The waiter bowed and withdrew.

A moment later.

Kujo Kazuya met that Mr. Matsutake.

The other party was still wearing that meticulous kimono, with a rigid face and a calm expression.

Yet for some reason, Kazuya always felt that today's Matsutake was somewhat different from usual.

In those eyes that always carried flattery and ingratiation, at this moment there was only a calm as still as an ancient well.

It was as if he were looking at a stranger completely unrelated to himself.

Kujo Kazuya suppressed the abnormality in his heart and sat down in the main seat.

He picked up the tea just brewed by the maid and spoke in a flat tone.

"Mr. Matsutake, is there something you need me for?"

Zhou Huai did not beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

"I want to see Polina."

"Click."

The teacup in Kujo Kazuya's hand cracked in response.

Scalding tea overflowed, burning the back of his hand, yet he seemed completely unaware of it.

A chill surged straight from the soles of his feet to his crown.

But his good upbringing allowed him to steady his emotions and not lose his composure on the spot.

He put down the teacup, leisurely wiped the water stains on the back of his hand with a handkerchief, wearing a just-right look of bewilderment on his face.

"What is Mr. Matsutake talking about?"

"What Polina? I don't know her at all."

A faint smile appeared on Zhou Huai's face.

"Young Master Kazuya, there's no need to keep pretending."

"I know that the woman who broke into the Ise Grand Shrine is hidden in this villa."

Kujo Kazuya's pupils suddenly constricted.

Zhou Huai continued speaking, his tone unhurried.

"If you try to play dumb with me again, I will have no choice but to invite the guards outside in to search."

"After all, if we can catch the thief who broke into the grand shrine, it would be a great achievement."

"By then, how do you think the Clan head will view you, a nephew who is hiding a wanted criminal?"

Kujo Kazuya abruptly stood up from his seat.

He stared fixedly at the face belonging to Matsutake in front of him, his voice trembling slightly with anger and fear.

"Who on earth are you?"

"What exactly do you want?"

Zhou Huai also stood up, the smile on his face unchanged.

"I have already stated my purpose."

He took a step forward, and that invisible sense of oppression caused Kujo Kazuya to subconsciously take half a step back.

"Take me to see Polina."

Kujo Kazuya's chest rose and fell violently, and his brain raced.

The person in front of him was definitely not Matsutake.

Who on earth was he? How did he know all this?

Was he someone sent by his father to test him? Or was he a spy from the Omiya Family?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, only to be rejected one by one.

After a moment of struggle, he finally gave up resistance.

Since the other party dared to come looking for him so blatantly, they must have absolute certainty.

No matter how he struggled, it was already in vain.

Kujo Kazuya dejectedly lowered his shoulders, his voice hoarse.

"Follow me."

He turned around and led the man with Matsutake's face through the long corridor, walking toward the depths of the villa.

Pushing open a heavy room door.

Inside the luxurious room, a rich herbal scent rushed over them.

On the sofa, a golden figure was lying quietly.

In another corner, the tall figure of Kalen suddenly jumped up from the sofa.

Seeing Kujo Kazuya followed by a strange middle-aged man, his face instantly filled with a ferocious murderous intent.

"Bastard!"

Kalen's roar was like a thunderclap, echoing in the room.

"You actually dare to betray us!"

The muscles all over his body knotted, and exerting force with his feet, his entire body rushed fiercely toward Kujo Kazuya like an enraged bull.

"I'll kill you first!"

"Kalen, stop."

Kalen's movement suddenly stiffened, stopping in front of Kujo Kazuya.

He turned his head, his face filled with grievance and puzzlement.

"Polina!"

On the sofa, Polina slowly sat up.

Her alluring eyes fell past Kujo Kazuya's shoulder onto Mr. Matsutake.

"If Kazuya-kun really wanted to betray us, he wouldn't have brought just one person."

Her words were very light, yet they instantly calmed Kalen down.

Polina's gaze sized up Zhou Huai unscrupulously.

"Tell me, who is this?"

Zhou Huai felt a chill in his heart.

He could feel that an invisible Mental Strength carrying a seductive intent was following the other party's gaze, trying to invade his mind.

As expected of the Sovereign of Desire.

This woman was using her ability at every moment.

Zhou Huai deliberately avoided her gaze, his eyes falling on the exquisite Persian carpet beside her.

"Pardon the abrupt interruption."

A gentle smile hung on Mr. Matsutake's face, and his voice was calm.

"To give a simple self-introduction, my name is Ever-changing Star Lord, a person from Great Xia Nation."

Ever-changing Star Lord?

From Great Xia Nation?

Hearing this introduction, the hearts of Kujo Kazuya and Kalen suddenly startled at the same time.

Kujo Kazuya adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, and a trace of shock flashed through his eyes behind the lenses.

He had imagined countless possibilities.

The other party might be an expert from some Hidden Family, or perhaps a spy sent by the Omiya Family.

The one thing he never expected was that the other party actually came from Great Xia Nation.

Kalen's reaction was even more direct; his bronze-colored face instantly filled with vigilance.

"People from Great Xia Nation?"

"Do you also want to come and share a piece of the pie?"

Polina on the sofa, however, showed an expression of as expected.

"Mr. Ever-changing Star Lord, your methods are truly remarkable."

"So many fools from Sakura Country couldn't find us, yet you, an outsider, found us first."

"And to be able to sneak into the villa area of the Kujo Family without anyone noticing, it really makes one look at you in a new light."

Zhou Huai manipulated Caesar, wearing Matsutake's gentle smile on his face, and slightly bowed.

"I equally admire the courage of Ms. Polina."

"To dare to rashly break into a place like the Ise Grand Shrine, stir up a storm, and still withdraw unscathed."

Polina's eyes rippled, and she didn't pick up this topic, instead cutting straight to the point.

"Speak, you went through such great pains to find us, what are your plans?"

Zhou Huai's gaze swept across the three people present, his voice calm yet powerful.

"Sakura Country used despicable means to steal the Divine Artifact Pendulum of Life from our Great Xia Nation."

"My plan is very simple."

"To cooperate with the two of you and take back the Pendulum of Life."

Hearing this, Kalen sneered and was just about to start mocking.

But Polina spoke first, gently shaking her head.

"Although I very much want to cooperate with you."

"But now I am cursed by the Ise Grand Shrine, and my injuries simply cannot heal."

"I'm afraid it will be hard to be of any help to your actions."

Zhou Huai's gaze fell on the ferocious wound on her thigh.

Sure enough, strands of black corrosive power were still continuously corroding the wounds on Polina's legs and arms.

Her health bar had also been maintained at around fifty percent, unable to recover.

It seemed that the medicine provided by that Kujo Kazuya could not have much effect.

Zhou Huai raised his head and looked at Kujo Kazuya.

"Are there no better medicines to remove this kind of curse?"

A bitter expression appeared on Kujo Kazuya's face.

He nodded, then shook his head.

"There are, yes."

"But that level of Curse-Breaking Spiritual Incense is a special medicine specifically targeting Shinto curses."

"Within the Clan, it is also a top-level controlled material."

"Once I actively apply for this type of medicine, it will inevitably arouse the suspicion of interested parties."

"By then, Young Miss Polina's whereabouts might be at risk of being exposed."

Hearing this, Zhou Huai fell into silence.

He lowered his head and pondered for two seconds.

"Regarding the medicine, I will find a way."

Hearing this, Kujo Kazuya and Kalen were stunned at the same time.

A trace of astonishment and disbelief flashed through Kujo Kazuya's eyes.

A matter that even a direct-line young master of the Kujo Family was helpless against—what way could an outsider have?

Kalen unceremoniously curled his lips, his eyes full of contempt.

Only Polina had a flash of brilliance in her emerald eyes, sizing up Zhou Huai with great interest.

Zhou Huai ignored their reactions and redirected his gaze to Polina.

"Before that, I want to understand the situation inside the Ise Grand Shrine from Young Miss Polina."

Polina leaned back on the sofa, adjusting into a comfortable posture.

"What do you want to know?"

Zhou Huai's voice became serious.

"I want to know, when you broke into the Ise Grand Shrine that day, did you see the Pendulum of Life?"

However, before Polina could speak,

Kalen on the side spoke up first,

Saying indignantly,

"We've all been tricked!"

"In that damn Ise Grand Shrine, there is no Pendulum of Life at all!"