At dusk.
The Song residence, in the southern part of Changle County.
As usual, Gu Cheng crossed the flagstone path and entered the back courtyard of the Song residence.
Ignoring Madam Song's burning gaze, he went straight into the side room next door and gently shut the door behind him.
This was the room where Gu Cheng had been staying these past few days.
If the flower-snatching thief really did strike, he would be able to react at once.
The few maids in the back courtyard had long since grown used to the Banner Chief's visits.
As they swept the dead leaves from the courtyard, they gathered together and whispered:
"Hey! What do you think... This officer's so fair and delicate, like some frail scholar. If that flower-snatching thief really comes, can he catch him?"
"Of course! Why else would our master have gone out of his way to invite him?"
"He's a martial arts expert who can climb a mountain and slay two tiger demons. How could a little girl like you understand the skills of a martial arts master?"
"Exactly, exactly..."
"All right, stop gossiping about him. We'd better worry about ourselves.
"Have you heard? That flower-snatching thief has no scruples about who he targets. He doesn't even spare maids and serving girls.
"And every woman that thief has ravaged has died without exception!"
"Hiss—"
The maids drew in sharp breaths, their faces turning pale as paper.
They were just about to ask for details when Butler Li strode past with a stern face.
The maids hurriedly fell silent and got back to work.
Butler Li paid no attention to the maids shirking their duties and hurried to Madam Song's quarters.
"Madam..."
"Mm. Is everything taken care of?"
"It is."
Butler Li nodded, his expression strange, and lowered his voice.
"I've had the kitchen prepare goji berry, ginseng, and venison soup.
"Also, as you instructed, I added some 'stimulant' powder to Lord Gu's late-night snack.
"Even a martial arts expert won't be able to resist after eating it."
"Good. You may go."
"Yes."
Butler Li gave a slight bow and left.
The vast room was left with Madam Song all alone.
Bright candlelight fell across her fair, charming face, revealing the resentful longing of a woman unsatisfied.
"You little brat, I refuse to believe you'll be able to hold back after tasting my 'special' late-night snack!"
Madam Song clenched her delicate fists and murmured under her breath.
In her eyes, how could a person change their nature so easily?
If Gu Cheng had been ignoring her charms these past few days, it had to be because he'd found someone new and forgotten his old flame.
He must have some other little fox spirit waiting for him at home!
(Meanwhile, in the Gu family courtyard, Miss Xu, who was writing furiously, suddenly sneezed for no apparent reason.)
If that was the case, then to make her dear little brother come around, she had no choice but to resort to this. With a little help from the drugs, she'd make Gu Cheng realize her charms all over again.
Time slipped by.
Madam Song estimated that enough time had passed.
She bathed and combed her hair, applied her makeup, and dressed herself to look breathtakingly beautiful.
She even changed into an exceedingly alluring pink gauze robe, with a red apron embroidered with "Two Carp Playing in the Water" underneath.
As her body swayed from side to side, the two carp seemed to "swim" amid roiling waves, creating a scene of singular allure.
On top of that, Madam Song placed a pot of fine wine on the table, sprinkled some "stimulant" powder into it, and lit incense in the room.
In the drifting haze, the atmosphere instantly turned unbearably suggestive.
Once everything was ready,
Madam Song lay on the bed and waited quietly for her dear little brother to eat the "special" late-night snack, burn with "passion," and be forced to come to her to relieve himself...
For some reason, the night was unusually quiet.
Lying alone in bed, Madam Song could even hear her heart beating a little too fast.
Yet she waited and waited, and the person she longed for never came.
Another incense stick's worth of time passed.
Madam Song was growing impatient. She couldn't help wondering if Gu Cheng hadn't eaten his late-night snack at all.
Just as she was about to take matters into her own hands and investigate the side room next door—
Creak—
The window opened!
He's here!
Madam Song's spirits soared. She was so excited she nearly cried out, her heart fluttering wildly.
What a coward!
I left the door open for you. Why come through the window?
You're acting like some sneaky chicken thief...
Madam Song covered her mouth and giggled, privately teasing him.
Then she sat up and reclined sideways on the bed, presenting him with a back view full of feminine allure.
After calming her restless heart, she teased him in a sweet voice:
"Little brat, so you do know how to come over?"
"Do you have any idea how hard I've been holding back these past few days?"
"???"
The intruder's breathing hitched.
Clearly, he hadn't expected this graceful, charming beauty to put on such a show.
After a long pause, he finally asked in a hesitant voice:
"Madam... have you been waiting for me this whole time?"
"..."
Madam Song's charming smile froze on her face.
That wasn't her dear little brother's voice!
Who was this intruder?
She hurriedly turned over and sat up on the bed. In the unsteady candlelight, she stared at him.
A strange man stood in her room.
He was of average build, dressed all in black. His features were unremarkable, and his face was deathly pale, as if he'd indulged in too much debauchery.
He was leering at her, his greedy gaze crawling over her with undisguised possessiveness.
Clearly, the "attack-speed gear" she'd specially prepared for her dear little brother had only made this unwelcome guest even more excited.
"You... You're the flower-snatching thief?!"
Madam Song cried out in terror. Her rosy cheeks turned pale as paper.
She had plotted and prepared so carefully.
And instead of waiting for her lover, she'd ended up waiting for this flower-snatching thief?
Madam Song had heard long ago that this thief was ruthless.
Every woman he ravaged died after being violated; not one lived to see the next sunrise!
"Help! Help! The flower-snatching thief is here!!!"
Madam Song screamed for help with all her strength.
She might have been lonely and unsatisfied, but she didn't want to die!
"Madam, don't waste your breath."
The flower-snatching thief leisurely picked at his ear and said offhandedly:
"I set up a barrier in your room long ago. Even if you scream your throat raw, no one will come to save you!"
With that, he flicked his sleeve. A rope shot out like a venomous snake lunging from its hole, quickly binding Madam Song tight and sealing her mouth.
"Madam, were you expecting another guest tonight? What a pity he seems to have stood you up."
"Hmph. To leave a beauty like you alone in an empty chamber—he's truly guilty of a grave sin."
Reluctantly tearing his gaze from Madam Song's alluring figure, the flower-snatching thief turned his attention to the pot of wine on the table.
He snatched it up and drained it in one long gulp.
The stimulant powder mixed into the wine took effect at once, and a burning heat spread through his lower abdomen.
"Hahaha, good wine!"
The flower-snatching thief laughed wildly, wiped the wine from his lips, and looked back at Madam Song.
Under the wine's influence, his pitch-black eyes had turned back into the vertical pupils of a beast, glowing with a terrifying light!
"Mm-mm—"
With the end of the rope stuffed in her mouth, Madam Song could only make muffled whimpering sounds.
When she saw his eyes, she felt as if she'd plunged into an icy abyss. She couldn't even summon the strength to struggle.
She had never imagined
that the flower-snatching thief who had terrorized the city for days was actually a demon who had taken human form!
"But it doesn't matter. Since the person you were waiting for tonight stood you up, let me take his place and show you some tender loving care!"
The flower-snatching thief grinned and advanced toward the beauty on the bed.
Just as this indecent scene was about to unfold—
BANG—
With a muffled crash,
the wooden door was blasted to pieces by a tremendous force, as if it were made of paper.
The demon's protective barrier crumbled before that force as well.
"Tell me, have you ever heard this saying?"
Gu Cheng stepped over the splintered remains of the door and walked into the room.
He raised his eyes to the flower-snatching thief, his gaze icy as he spoke:
"Minotaur, you must die!"
Before you continue