Lillian truly was a breathtaking beauty.
She stood there quietly, her eyes shimmering like a pool of spring water—soft, alluring, and enough to stir ripples in Adrian's heart.
Adrian quickly steadied himself and asked, calm and professional:
"Miss Lillian, how would you like your husband's funeral to be arranged?"
Lillian's expression instantly shifted into sorrow. Her voice trembled faintly as she replied,
"I have only one wish… I just want my husband to be buried as soon as possible. Let his soul rest in peace."
Adrian nodded with confidence.
"Rest assured. My service specializes in complete funeral rites—fast, clean, and fully handled. I guarantee that your husband will depart in peace."
Hearing this, Lillian's eyes lit up.
She stepped forward, gently grabbing Adrian's hand with her pale, jade-like fingers.
"Adrian… thank you so much."
As she spoke, she blinked slowly, sending him a gaze filled with unmistakable implication.
Yet, to her surprise, Adrian smoothly withdrew his hand, expression cool and businesslike.
"Miss Lillian, before anything else, we should discuss the fee. My senior sister and I are disciples of the adepti—the money we earn is used to support their cultivation needs. So the cost may be a bit high. I hope you understand."
Lillian's eyes flashed with a hint of disdain—fleeting, but sharp.
"As long as he is buried quickly, I'm willing to pay however much Mora it takes."
Adrian replied plainly:
"Five hundred thousand Mora, with two hundred thousand paid upfront as a deposit."
The moment he finished, the handsome butler Victor immediately exploded.
"Five hundred thousand?! Why don't you just rob us?! Wangsheng Funeral Parlor only charges one hundred thousand for this kind of arrangement!"
Adrian remained calm.
"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is indeed highly reputable. Their director, Hu Tao, is powerful enough to personally guide the souls of the deceased. An outstanding service."
The compliment, however, only angered Lillian.
She snapped, glaring at Victor:
"Victor, shut your mouth! I am discussing important matters with Adrian. Your opinion is not needed here!"
Victor bit back his words, glaring daggers at Adrian before falling silent.
Lillian immediately returned to her frail, gentle demeanor.
"Adrian… My husband revered the adepti all his life. If his spirit knows that an adeptus disciple is handling his funeral, he would be comforted. Money is not important."
She paused, then turned to Victor:
"Go fetch two hundred thousand Mora from the treasury. Quickly. Don't delay Mr. Adrian's arrangements."
Victor clearly despised the order, but he had no choice—he turned and left.
At this moment, Adrian leaned slightly toward Shenhe, who had been silently standing at his side.
His voice lowered gently:
"Senior Sister, I'll trouble you next."
Shenhe nodded softly and walked toward the covered body.
She extended her pale, slender fingers.
The air trembled.
In an instant, the Cryo element surged toward her palm—gathering, weaving, merging.
Within moments, a clear, crystalline ice coffin formed, enveloping the corpse in a solemn, chilling radiance.
Lillian gasped in awe.
"As expected of an adeptus disciple… astonishing."
Soon after, Victor returned, carrying a heavy bag filled to the brim with Mora.
His expression was dark, but he forced himself to hand the bag to Adrian.
Adrian accepted it—but immediately passed it to Shenhe.
He leaned close to her ear and whispered a few quiet instructions.
Warm breath brushed against Shenhe's ear, making her flinch slightly.
A faint blush crept across her pale cheeks—barely visible, yet undeniably present.
When Adrian finished speaking, Shenhe carried the bag and left the hall with light, swift steps.
Adrian did not begin the burial preparations as Lillian expected.
Instead, he calmly sat down in a chair, closed his eyes, and began to rest.
Time passed.
Unable to bear it any longer, Lillian approached him anxiously.
"Adrian, please… let my husband be buried quickly."
Adrian slowly opened his eyes.
"No rush, Miss Lillian. The ice coffin will preserve him perfectly—even for half a month."
Lillian grew frantic.
Her voice rose slightly:
"Before he died, he told me he wished to be buried immediately. We can skip all the ceremonies. Just—please—begin the burial!"
Adrian shook his head.
His eyes gleamed with meaning.
"If your husband passed today, we could follow your wishes. But… he died yesterday."
Lillian's face was drained of color.
The beautiful widow froze like a struck deer, eyes trembling with panic.
"A-Adrian… what do you mean?"
She tried to remain calm, but her shifting gaze betrayed her fear.
Adrian looked at the lovely widow before him and sighed softly.
"Such a beautiful woman… yet committing such a crime."
His gentle words struck like a hammer.
Lillian trembled violently.
She choked out, delicate and breathy:
"Adrian… if you help me, I'll give myself to you however you want."
Her voice dripped with seductive sweetness, like misty perfume swirling in the air, tempting and dangerous.
Adrian studied her for a moment.
Then he sighed.
Compared to his two senior sisters and master…
Lillian fell far short.
He shook his head.
"Lillian, that kind of blessing… I cannot accept."
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Why must you be so heartless? Do you truly feel no pity for me?"
As she cried, she cast a secret glance toward Victor behind Adrian.
Victor received the signal.
A cruel smile twisted across his face.
Slowly, silently—
He reached toward his waist…
…and drew a gleaming dagger.