Volume 4: Hidden Battles – Chapter 143: The Pirated Man

With this pleasant melody, the two excited people and one indifferent one in the store were awakened, all turning simultaneously in the direction from which the sound came. At the entrance of the store stood a tall, fair-skinned foreign woman with golden hair and blue eyes, around twenty years old. She had a high-end garment in her hands and was arguing with the clerk.

Chu Tianyu felt a stir in his heart. As she argued with the clerk, an inexplicable energy fluctuation suddenly emanated from her. Upon closer inspection, it was definitely not some kind of cultivation energy from China—it was a purely natural force, yet different from the cosmic energy he and Xue Feifei possessed. The aura it emitted was calm and enduring, as if it could soothe all things and penetrate the soul. Chu Tianyu had heard his masters explain about some miraculous forces and mysterious sacred energies from other lands!

The final transformation of that Norse war god from last time probably fell into this category. But while that Norse guy represented aggressive energy, embodying fighting spirit, fury, and death, the energy emanating from this girl was of a completely different nature. Its fluctuations evoked only feelings of peace, purification, and protection…

Such energy posed no threat or danger, which explained why even Chu Tianyu’s cultivation skills and keen senses hadn’t detected her presence earlier. It wasn’t until she spoke and drew everyone’s attention that he became aware of her.

Thinking of this, Chu Tianyu curiously examined her from head to toe. Though she didn’t seem very old based on her face, her beautiful and curvaceous figure was striking. A beige off-shoulder top paired with a gray-and-white skirt not only highlighted her elegance and fashion sense but also exuded a noble and gentle aura!

She was truly the perfect embodiment of an angelic face and a devilish figure…

Yet at that moment, her elegance and gentleness were being fiercely challenged by Ouyang Ziyi!

“Pretty lady, didn’t you hear me say I want everything here? If you really want to shop, over there by the corner is a pile of items we discarded just now—feel free to choose whatever you like!” Ouyang Ziyi said rudely, pointing at the pile of “tattered clothes” they had rejected.

Joking aside, to disturb a woman’s interest in shopping and even openly compete for items she’s interested in—let alone the piece she’s holding, which Ouyang Ziyi already loves so much—was simply an extreme provocation to a woman who’s shopping frantically! As the saying goes, an unclaimed horse attracts competitors once it’s claimed!

“Sir, don’t you have any sense of masculinity or gentlemanly behavior? You’ve already bought so much—why not let me have this one?” the young lady said, holding the dress tightly, showing no intention of giving in.

But clearly, she was wrong from the start—completely wrong! The person across from her not only lacked any sense of masculinity or gentlemanly behavior but also wouldn’t give in at all, because “he” wasn’t even a man!

Shopping is a woman’s instinct, and Ouyang Ziyi took this instinct to its extreme. Though she wasn’t a typical shopping addict, she was definitely a top-tier shopper. Expecting her to concede was nothing but a fantasy!

However, the girl’s words reminded Ouyang Ziyi that she was still dressed as a man and had just been talking about shopping. She had forgotten everything.

Faced with this “provocation,” Ouyang Ziyi deepened her voice and deliberately performed an elegant and proper Guizhou knightly gesture, while saying mockingly, “Oh, this beautiful and noble lady, it’s my greatest honor to let you choose first. But that’s only if my honey isn’t here…” As she spoke, Ouyang Ziyi playfully pulled over Li Rou, who was trying hard to hold back her laughter, and gave her a passionate kiss on the cheek.

Chu Tianyu was completely defeated by Ouyang Ziyi’s antics and could only turn his head aside, whistling softly to pretend he didn’t see anything!

Ouyang Ziyi turned back to the girl, her face still seeming to carry a tender expression, which made the girl’s heart flutter. Then Ouyang Ziyi continued, “And even if my honey agreed to give you this dress, my love—my all-consuming love for her—would never allow it. This dress can only belong to this even more beautiful lady beside me. So, I can only apologize to you, beautiful lady!”

Chu Tianyu, who was listening nearby, could hardly hold back his laughter. To come up with such a compelling reason! He believed that any romantic and affectionate French girl would be moved by such romance. She would put down her clothes, leave with envy in her heart and obsession in her eyes. Amazing! Truly amazing!

Sure enough, as Ouyang Ziyi spoke those words, the girl across from her immediately showed an expression of admiration and intoxication. Her eyes shone as she gazed at Ouyang Ziyi affectionately, unconsciously raising the piece of clothing in her hands. She said apologetically, “I’m sorry, so sorry. I apologize for being rude enough to disturb your deep affection!”

“It’s okay. I’m also very regretful that I can’t give you this piece of clothing. Really!” Ouyang Ziyi said, but she took the clothing without hesitation, accidentally touching the girl’s hand. Apart from feeling its extreme delicacy and softness—unlike ordinary European girls who seem delicate and smooth on the outside but are actually rough to the touch—Ouyang Ziyi didn’t have any other sensations or “daydreams.”

But the girl was different. The moment she made contact, her body trembled, and her clear eyes instantly turned into ones filled with obsession and intoxication…

Just then, the door of the shop suddenly opened. With a voice saying, “Sofia, are you here…?” a tall, handsome blond man appeared at the door. He had dark brown, bright, deep eyes and was wearing a well-fitting black top. A wide black bow was tied at the collar of his snow-white shirt, giving him a very distinctive look.

In fact, Chu Tianyu had sensed the arrival of that man as he rushed over. Now that he saw him in person, he felt that the man exuded a strong aura of combativeness and arrogance just by standing there—like a lion ready to pounce on its enemy at any moment.

However, after observing the situation in the shop, especially regarding the Sofia mentioned by the man, his attitude immediately changed to one of gentleness and courtesy. He said, “Sofia, why did you run away secretly without saying a word? Your father, Mr. Orsini, is in a very critical condition. I’m even more worried…”

Upon seeing the blond man at the door, Sophia immediately erased all expressions from her face. Not only was the “appreciation” she had for Ouyang Ziyi gone, but even her initial enthusiasm for shopping disappeared instantly. Her face took on a calm and serene expression, yet the coldness beneath it was striking. It was amazing how humans could display such complex emotions—especially for those like Chu Tianyu, Ziyi, and Li Rou who had seen her other side, who found her demeanor even more unpredictable and confusing!

“Hmm, nothing much. I just suddenly wanted to come here and take a look. Alright, let’s go!” Sophia said calmly, then turned and left the store.

“Good, that’s good. The convoy will be here soon, probably at the intersection ahead. Things are complicated right now, and Mr. Orsini can no longer take care of you. If it weren’t for me sensing your presence here with my sacred power… I…” The blond man’s lowered voice still reached Chu Tianyu’s ears as he followed Sophia out of the store.

“Okay, okay, I get it! I’m already going back with you, right?” Sophia interrupted before he could finish.

“I never expected that coming to Paris would mean meeting such unique experts. And from the way they spoke, there seems to be some Mr. Orsini as well—probably Sophia’s father—and it seems like he represents some kind of faction, preparing for some action or plan…” Chu Tianyu was just thinking this when Ouyang Ziyi and Li Rou interrupted him, chatting with him laughingly about the interesting events just now. They said they never expected Paris to truly live up to its reputation as the City of Love—anything related to romance made everything else seem unimportant.

Amidst the laughter, Chu Tianyu smiled inwardly and teased himself, “Whether they’re experts or what kind of faction they belong to, what does it matter to me? Am I not just meddling like a dog chasing mice? Remember, this trip is just about casually shopping, enjoying the trip, and doing my simple job as a companion! Why worry about so much else?”

After this little scolding, Ouyang Ziyi and Li Rou finally stopped wanting to shop. They remembered that both Chu Tianyu and Li Rou were visiting Paris for the first time. Shopping was one thing, but there were also many famous attractions to see! Although time was tight, they couldn’t afford to miss the nearby famous sites.

Coincidentally, as they left the store, they walked along the Champs-Élysées and passed by the Arc de Triomphe. Of course, Ouyang Ziyi took on the role of guide.

“Hehe, this Arc de Triomphe—Napoleon never got to cross it in his lifetime, and today we’ll do it for him. Though he’s also my idol, I still feel sad about his failures…” Ouyang Ziyi said jokingly while introducing the scenery.
“The reliefs on the Arc de Triomphe depict Napoleon’s army’s march, battles, and routes to victory. Additionally, the names of over 600 generals who followed Napoleon are also engraved on it, forever inscribed in history…” Ouyang Ziyi continued.
After that, following Ouyang Ziyi, they talked about the Palace of Bourbon and the Eiffel Tower, then the solemnity and mystery of Notre-Dame de Paris, and finally the Mona Lisa’s smile, Venus, the Goddess of Victory, and The Death of Socrates in the Louvre…
Chu Tianyu and Li Rou truly had to admire Ouyang Ziyi’s erudition. Her explanations at each place were more detailed than those of professional tour guides, filled with humor and occasional witty remarks.
Especially when it came to art, Ouyang Ziyi and Li Rou seemed to find common ground again, leaving Chu Tianyu, who had no artistic sense, far behind…
…
The next day, Ouyang Ziyi and Li Rou woke up late—not because of Chu Tianyu’s mischief, but because they had been having fun nonstop from early morning until late at night, truly exhausted.
Chu Tianyu, on the other hand, got up early and went out for a walk on his own. The hotel booked by Qianfeng for them was really nice, in a typical vintage manor style, with a unique exotic scenery outside.
The garden was shaded by green trees, and the water in several ponds flowed continuously from mountain springs. Looking further in, the trees were lush and green, like a sea of green!
Just as Chu Tianyu stretched and took a breath of fresh air, he saw a long convoy emerge from the hotel—all black luxury sedans, with silver-colored ancient crown emblems on their badges. Chu Tianyu had heard Ouyang Ziyi mention this before; he knew it was likely the emblem of some European noble family. Those who used a crown as their symbol were usually royalty or members of ancient noble families with hereditary titles.

Before the car even passed Chu Tianyu, he already knew who was inside. It was none other than the mysterious man and woman he had met at the store the previous day. At that moment, the powers of those two came from the cars in front and behind. Next to the one named Sophia, there was another immense energy—calm, restrained, yet seemingly ready to unleash its greatest force at any moment, filled with intimidation and power. It seemed that person must be his father, Mr. Orsini.

When Sophia’s car passed by Chu Tianyu, he clearly felt a surge of energy along with a slight “Eh~” sound. Clearly, the girl had recognized Chu Tianyu, which surprised him greatly. His impression of Sophia was greatly altered, as her attention had been entirely focused on Ouyang Ziyi and Li Rou. Moreover, Chu Tianyu wasn’t very close to them at the time, and Sophia never even glanced in his direction. Indeed, it was quite difficult to recognize a stranger in a fleeting glance just by glancing sideways. So Chu Tianyu had to think of her naturally gentle aura, which seemed to bring peace to everyone. If she could use this power to obtain and remember information about everyone around her, that would be truly terrifying!

But obviously, Chu Tianyu wasn’t Ouyang Ziyi, that counterfeit man. Sophia was only slightly surprised before driving on.

Suddenly, Chu Tianyu had a playful idea. What if he were replaced by Ouyang Ziyi now? Would that romantic and affectionate girl stop the car right away, leading to a beautiful and tragic love story?

But before Chu Tianyu’s filthy thoughts could unfold, he heard Ouyang Ziyi’s anxious voice…