151: You have to pay more!

Shen Yueyao's words, tinged with a hint of trembling, were still echoing in the reception hall.

Lu Yi was just about to put on a perfectly timed expression of surprise to play along with her.

"Ding!"

That long-lost and familiar crisp System notification sound rang out:

[Ding! The destined female protagonist has sent you a request. Please make your choice:]

[Option 1: Agree to pretend to be her Dao Companion and help her through this crisis; Reward: Cultivation Realm breakthrough (Early Stage Undying Realm → Early Stage Divine Soul Realm)]

[Option 2: Resolutely refuse, never let yourself be used as a tool; Reward: Seven Star Sword (Saint Rank)]

[Option 3: State that this request is difficult to fulfill and you'll need to be paid more!; Reward: Grade increase for "Star Immortal Art" (Quasi-Saint Rank → Saint Rank)]

...Looking at the light blue screen appearing before him, Lu Yi felt like it had been a long time; he had almost forgotten he even had a System.

"Good heavens, the System is being quite generous this time."

He quickly browsed through them. The reward for Option 1 could be described as extremely bountiful!

Directly increasing by an entire major Realm—how many years of bitter cultivation would that save?

As for Option 2, he ignored it immediately. Pushing away a target that had delivered herself to his door? He wasn't an idiot.

Lu Yi's gaze fell back onto Option 3.

The "Star Immortal Art" was the foundation of his existence. Although it was already very strong, as the level of people he encountered rose, the Quasi-Saint Rank was gradually becoming insufficient.

If it could be promoted to a true Saint Rank, the boost to his future combat power would be long-term and immense.

"As a person, one must have a long-term vision. Mostly... I really do want to take this chance to fleece this girl for a bit."

Lu Yi made his decision... After making his choice, Lu Yi quickly withdrew his thoughts.

In reality, only a split second had passed.

He didn't immediately answer Shen Yueyao's hopeful gaze.

Instead, he unhurriedly reached out, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a gentle sip.

"Sigh..."

A long sigh, filled with difficulty and hesitation, escaped his lips.

Lu Yi set down the teacup, his fingers lightly tapping on the tabletop with a rhythmic "thump, thump."

He frowned, looking at Shen Yueyao with a troubled expression, and spoke with earnest gravity:

"Yueyao, this request of yours... is very difficult to handle."

Shen Yueyao's heart instantly leaped into her throat, and her fingers tightly gripped the hem of her clothes.

Lu Yi began his performance, laying out the facts and reasoning:

"I know you want me to be your shield to help you deal with your Family's forced marriage. But have you thought about it? This involves taking a very big risk for me."

Lu Yi's gaze was like a torch, pointing straight to the core, his voice low:

"If I'm not mistaken... your Family shouldn't belong to the Lower Realm, but rather comes from the Upper Realm, right?"

!!

Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Shen Yueyao's beautiful eyes.

She clearly hadn't expected that Lu Yi, who usually looked so carefree and lazy, would have such meticulous thoughts, deducing the truth from just a few clues.

"I..."

She was about to explain, but Lu Yi raised a hand to interrupt her.

Lu Yi continued, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and rational indifference:

"Pretending to be your Dao Companion sounds simple. But it also means I have to directly face the wrath of a massive Upper Realm Family."

At this point, Lu Yi spread his hands, finally revealing his true intentions:

"Such a big risk, such terrifying Karma. And it seems... aside from gaining a hollow title, I don't get any substantial benefits? If it were you, would you take such a losing deal?"

When she heard the first half,

Shen Yueyao still felt that Lu Yi was performing a rational analysis, and a deep sense of guilt even welled up in her heart.

She felt that she was indeed too selfish and too abrupt, and shouldn't have taken it upon herself to drag him into this mess.

However, when she heard the following line about "not getting any substantial benefits,"

Shen Yueyao froze for a moment. She blinked, then immediately reacted.

This guy had laid the groundwork for so long, said so many grand principles, and even made the atmosphere so heavy.

It turned out... he was hiking up the price on the spot?! He was complaining about the lack of benefits?!

"You..."

The tragic atmosphere Shen Yueyao had originally built up was instantly destroyed.

That sense of guilt also vanished into thin air.

She looked at Lu Yi indignantly, her originally cold-as-frost face revealing a vivid, youthful girlishness.

She pouted resentfully and glared at Lu Yi, saying:

"Fine, fine! I get it! You just want benefits, don't you? To think I actually thought you were truly worried about your safety, but you were actually calculating gains and losses! You really are a guy who won't do anything without a reward! Profiteer!"

Scolding aside, Shen Yueyao actually felt a sigh of relief in her heart.

If Lu Yi had truly refused with righteous indignation, then it would have been truly hopeless.

As long as he was willing to talk price, it meant there was room for negotiation!

"Whew..."

Shen Yueyao took a deep breath, and as if resigning herself to fate, she said recklessly:

"Speak! What do you want? Spirit Stones? Medicinal Pills? Or high-grade Magic Treasures? As long as I have it, as long as I can afford it, I can give it to you!"

This was practically a blank check.

However, just as the words left her mouth, she seemed to suddenly think of something.

Her expression changed, and she subconsciously crossed her arms over her chest, adding with a wary look:

"But let's make this clear first! You aren't allowed to mention any... strange requests!"

By the end, her cheeks were flushed with a layer of crimson, and her voice grew smaller.

She wanted to find a shield, but she didn't want to actually throw herself into the bargain.

Looking at her expression as if she were guarding against a thief, Lu Yi spread his hands with an air of "righteousness," looking very innocent:

"What kind of person do you take me for? I, Lu Yi, am the Saint Son of Taichu, a true gentleman. How could I take advantage of someone in distress?"

Lu Yi rubbed his chin and gave a mischievous laugh:

"As for what I specifically want... to be honest, I haven't thought of it yet. I'm not lacking in those mundane things like Spirit Stones or Medicinal Pills."

He looked at Shen Yueyao, a flash of cunning in his eyes:

"How about this? We'll just consider this as you owing me a favor. In the future, when I think of something, I'll tell you. How's that?"

"..."

Shen Yueyao was very hesitant about this.

This kind of "unspecified request" was the most treacherous.

What if he really made some excessive request in the future? What should she do?

But on second thought,

The current Family crisis was already imminent.

If she didn't grab onto Lu Yi as a shield, she would be taken back to the Upper Realm to marry someone she had never even met.

Comparing the two, Lu Yi's "favor" didn't seem unacceptable.

After all, one must choose the lesser of two evils.

"Whew... If I owe a favor, I owe a favor!"

Shen Yueyao gritted her silver teeth and finally nodded heavily:

"Fine! I promise you! This debt will be recorded, but we have to agree first... it must be within the scope of not violating my Dao Heart or bottom line!"

"Deal!"

Lu Yi slapped the table readily, as if afraid she would regret it.