Section 11: It's Just Seduction

Fang Yuan's brow furrowed slightly. Relying on his intuition and five hundred years of life experience, he sensed a conspiracy.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes and disappeared. His brow smoothed out. "I was just feeling a bit hungry. You've come at a good time, bring it in."

Outside the door, Shen Cui carried a food box. Upon hearing his words, a hint of disdainful cold laughter leaked from the corner of her lips.

But when she pushed open the door, only a docile expression remained on her face.

"Young Master Fang Yuan, this wine and food smells so good. I could smell it even through the food box," she said, her voice sweet and cloying, laced with a seductive charm.

She placed the food box on the small table, then took out the plates one by one and arranged them.

The plates indeed held delicious food, perfect in color and aroma.

She then took out two wine cups and poured the wine.

"Come, young master, sit. I dare to accompany you for a drink today," she said with a smile as bright as flowers. She walked to Fang Yuan's side, boldly took his hand, and pulled him to sit on the stool by the table.

Then, she directly sat on Fang Yuan's lap, her delicate body leaning against his chest. Like a small bird seeking shelter, she whispered in his ear, "Young Master Fang Yuan, I've always liked you. No matter your aptitude, I want to be with you, rely on you, and comfort you. Tonight, I want to give myself to you."

She was dressed to the nines today.

With rouge on her lips, which were like cherry blossoms, she spoke close to his ear. A soft, youthful aura tickled Fang Yuan's earlobe.

As she sat in his lap, Fang Yuan could clearly feel Shen Cui's full figure.

Her bouncy thighs, her slender waist, the softness of her chest.

"Young master, let me feed you the wine," Shen Cui said, picking up a wine cup. She then tilted her head back and took a sip of the wine. Her eyes, as if filled with water, gazed steadily at Fang Yuan. Her cherry-like mouth parted slightly, and she slowly leaned towards Fang Yuan's lips.

Fang Yuan's expression was cold, as if the person sitting in his embrace was not a young girl, but a sculpture.

Seeing Fang Yuan's expression, Shen Cui was initially a little uneasy. But when her lips were just a finger's width away from touching Fang Yuan's, she felt confident and gave a disdainful smile in her heart, "Still pretending."

Just then, Fang Yuan let out a cold laugh, his tone filled with disdain. "So, it was just seduction."

Shen Cui's expression froze. She swallowed the wine in her mouth and feigned a coy rebuke, "Young Master Fang Yuan, what are you talking about?"

Fang Yuan's eyes emitted a cold light as he stared into Shen Cui's eyes. At the same time, his right hand rested on her fair neck, slowly applying pressure.

Shen Cui's pupils contracted sharply, and her voice trembled with alarm. "Young master, you're hurting me."

Fang Yuan didn't reply, only increasing the strength in his hand.

"Young Master Fang Yuan, I'm a little scared!" Shen Cui was already struggling to breathe, her expression panicked. Her delicate hands instinctively clutched Fang Yuan's hand, trying to pry it open. But Fang Yuan's grip was like an iron clamp, impossible to break.

"It seems my uncle and aunt sent you to seduce and frame me? So, you must have arranged people downstairs as well," Fang Yuan sneered contemptuously. "But what are you, to try and seduce me? With these two piles of trash-like flesh on your chest."

As he spoke, his left hand climbed to Shen Cui's chest, fiercely grasping the soft flesh and causing it to deform violently.

Intense pain shot through her chest. Shen Cui's eyes widened, tears welling up from the agony. She wanted to scream, but her throat was choked by Fang Yuan. All she could manage were a few whimpers. She began to struggle fiercely; if she didn't resist now, she would truly suffocate!

But at this moment, Fang Yuan slowly relaxed his grip.

Shen Cui immediately opened her mouth wide and greedily inhaled air. She was breathing so rapidly that it triggered a violent bout of dry coughing.

Fang Yuan chuckled softly, reaching out to gently caress Shen Cui's cheek. He said leisurely, "Shen Cui, do you think I can kill you?"

If Fang Yuan had roared and shouted angrily, Shen Cui might have resisted fiercely.

But when Fang Yuan chuckled softly and asked her in a gentle tone if he could kill her, Shen Cui felt a genuine fear.

She was terrified!

She looked at Fang Yuan in horror, watching the young man gaze at her with a smile.

In that moment, Shen Cui vowed she would never forget Fang Yuan's eyes. These eyes, devoid of any emotion, were dark and deep, like an ancient pool hiding a terrifying beast.

Under the gaze of these eyes, Shen Cui felt as if she were naked, standing in a world of ice and snow!

This person before her would absolutely dare to kill her, and could kill her...

My heavens! Why did I provoke such a devil?!

Shen Cui's heart was filled with regret. At this moment, she wished she could turn and flee.

But she was currently in Fang Yuan's embrace and dared not escape, nor even make any movement.

Her entire body was tense, her delicate frame trembling, her face as pale as paper, unable to utter a word.

"Considering you've been my personal maid and served me for so many years, I won't kill you this time. Don't you want to get rid of your slave status? Go find my younger brother; he's foolish and naive," Fang Yuan said, his smile gone. He patted Shen Cui's cheek, his tone as calm as water.

He sighed and finally said—

"You may go."

Shen Cui walked out in a daze, like a wooden puppet. She was utterly dejected and had no idea how she had escaped from the presence of this devil, Fang Yuan.

Those hidden in the shadows, seeing Shen Cui emerge in such a state, exchanged confused glances.

"They actually arranged a honey trap. It's more novel than in my previous life. Heh, uncle and aunt, I deeply appreciate this kindness of yours!"

Not long after Shen Cui left, Fang Yuan stood up and went out.

No matter what, he couldn't stay in this residence.

A wise person does not stand under a dangerous wall, let alone a demon? With insufficient strength, only a fool would place themselves in danger.

"Innkeeper, do you have any rooms?" he asked the price upon arriving at the only inn in the mountain stronghold.

"Yes, yes, we have rooms on the second and third floors. They're not only cheaper, but they're also kept very clean. The first floor is the dining hall, where guests can eat. You can also ask the staff to deliver meals directly to your room," the innkeeper said enthusiastically to Fang Yuan.

This inn was the only one in the mountain stronghold, and business wasn't good, making it seem rather deserted. Only when merchant caravans came to Qing Mao Mountain for trade each year did the inn fill with people.

Fang Yuan was indeed quite hungry, so he tossed two complete primeval stones to the innkeeper. "Give me a good room to stay in first. Also, prepare two jars of wine and three or four side dishes. You can give me change if I overpay."

"Certainly." The innkeeper took the two primeval stones and asked, "Would you like to eat in your room, sir, or in the main hall for some lively atmosphere?"

Fang Yuan glanced at the sky. The rain had stopped, and it was nearing evening. He decided to eat in the hall and then leave the stronghold immediately to explore the Flower Wine Wanderer's hidden treasure. He then told the innkeeper, "I'll eat in the hall."

The inn's first-floor dining hall had over a dozen square tables, each surrounded by four long benches. Between the tables stood thick pillars supporting the inn. The floor was paved with large marble slabs, but they were damp, unable to hide the mountain's moisture.

There were three tables of people in the dining hall.

At a table by the window, an old man was quietly drinking wine, gazing at the sunset clouds in the mountains outside, enjoying his solitary drink.

At the table in the center sat five or six hunters, sitting in a circle and talking loudly about their hunting experiences. A pile of pheasants and wild rabbits lay on the ground by their feet.

At a table in the corner were two young people, seemingly discussing something in hushed tones. Their figures were hidden in the shadows, making them indistinct, and their genders couldn't be determined.

Fang Yuan chose a seat near the entrance. Soon, wine and dishes were served.

"With my C-grade aptitude, I need to rely on primeval stones to refine the Moonlight Gu. If I'm lucky and the Moonlight Gu's will isn't strong, I'll only need five. If it's stubborn, it'll be troublesome, requiring at least eight."

Gu worms were also living beings, naturally possessing a will to survive.

Some had strong wills and would constantly resist the Gu Master's refinement. Others had weak wills; by the end of the refinement, they would despair and surrender. Once their will to resist was gone, refinement would be extremely easy.

"I only have six primeval stones on me now. Two have already been given to the innkeeper, leaving only four. That's not quite enough."

In this world, primeval stones were hard currency with strong purchasing power.

The monthly living expenses for a mortal family of three were at most one primeval stone.

However, for Gu Masters, the consumption of primeval stones was much greater. For Fang Yuan, just refining Gu required an average of seven primeval stones.

And this was just for the Moonlight Gu. If he actually found the Wine Bug, refining it would require at least ten more primeval stones for Fang Yuan, given his aptitude!

"This means the current situation is—even if I find the Wine Bug, I might not have enough primeval stones to help me refine it. But I still need to keep exploring, because the Flower Wine Wanderer's legacy very likely contains a large amount of primeval stones."

This wasn't difficult to deduce.

The Flower Wine Wanderer was a Rank 5 Gu Master, a famous demonic path expert. How could he not have primeval stones, an essential cultivation item for Gu Masters?