The Mistress's Teasing

Night fell over the Li Family clan leader's residence. Li Shuidao walked heavily into the hall, a chill hanging over the estate.

Li Haimo sat in an antique chair. Candlelight fell across his weathered face, revealing a hint of worry.

Li Shuidao strode toward Li Haimo. Their eyes met, and Li Haimo spoke first. "Li Shuidao, how are the first days of married life? Is your lovely wife satisfied?" His tone held concern and expectation.

Li Shuidao smiled faintly and nodded. "Clan Leader, Xue'er is both beautiful and wise. We get along very well."

"That's good." Clan Leader Li Haimo nodded with a smile.

"Clan Leader, I want to ask about the killer who murdered Fourth Uncle. What did he look like? What was his cultivation level? Did he have a Spirit Companion? And where did he go when he escaped?" Li Shuidao got straight to the point.

"Why are you asking about this?" Li Haimo's gaze grew deep.

"Fourth Uncle died because of me," Li Shuidao said slowly.

"You're not to blame. I am, for failing to investigate Xia Ruoxue's background properly. I never imagined that woman had ties to cultivators." Li Haimo sighed.

"Xia Ruoxue is just an ordinary woman from the martial world. The one who truly had ties to cultivators was Lin Yunzhi—the man the killer rescued." Li Shuidao explained.

"Forget it. The world is vast, and we won't find him." Li Haimo shook his head.

"He'll come back," Li Shuidao said.

"No, he won't! That man was only at the mid-stage of the Spirit Channeling Realm. He escaped my pursuit only because his Spirit Companion was a black-feathered eagle. He doesn't have the guts to come back to the Li Family." Li Haimo shook his head.

"I mean Lin Yunzhi. Once he has finished cultivating, he'll certainly return. I want to know more about that black-feathered eagle, so we'll at least be prepared when the time comes."

At this, Li Haimo fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The killer looked middle-aged, with messy hair and a rather disheveled appearance. His cultivation was only at the mid-stage of the Spirit Channeling Realm, and his Spirit Companion was definitely that black-feathered eagle. When I pursued him, he fled to Cangzhou. Judging by the style of his techniques, he must be a cultivator from the Divine Eagle Sect."

"The Divine Eagle Sect?" Li Shuidao's expression turned grave.

"The Divine Eagle Sect's techniques may be formidable, but our Five Poisons Sect has ways to deal with them. I've already had the clan members on night patrol equip themselves with repeating crossbows. Every arrow is coated in deadly poison. If that fellow dares to come back, I'll make sure he never leaves!"

"Shuidao, instead of racking your brains over how to deal with others, you'd be better off thinking about how to improve your own strength. Your Fourth Uncle's death wasn't anyone else's fault. Ultimately, he simply hadn't mastered his skills. If he'd properly practiced a few techniques, how could a mere demon beast have killed him with one blow..." the clan leader said earnestly.

Golden-Faced Gentleman's cave abode.

Master's wife Qin Yue'e sat on an ornate throne, looking down at Li Shuilang.

Her legs were long and fair, and she wore rather revealing clothes. But her gaze was sharp, keen as a blade.

"After your Spirit Companion ate the gecko your husband bestowed on it, how much has its cultivation improved?" Qin Yue'e asked coldly.

Li Shuilang stood respectfully below Qin Yue'e, lowering his head slightly as he answered, "Mistress, my Spirit Companion ate the poisonous gecko. Its cultivation has indeed improved a little, but it still hasn't broken through to the mid-stage of the Spirit Channeling Realm."

Qin Yue'e gave a cold laugh. "Summon your Spirit Companion."

A flicker of unease crossed Li Shuilang's face, but he obediently released his golden scorpion.

The golden scorpion slowly crawled out from Li Shuilang's hand. Its body was golden yellow, gleaming faintly. Though it hadn't advanced yet, it seemed on the verge of a breakthrough, just one step away.

Qin Yue'e tapped her Storage Bag and took out a packet of Purple Poison Powder. She shook it in her hand and asked, "Want it?"

Li Shuilang swallowed and nodded. "I do..."

"Then come here," Qin Yue'e said coldly.

Li Shuilang approached Qin Yue'e cautiously. Now only a single step separated them; they were quite close.

"A little closer!" Qin Yue'e ordered in a soft, velvety voice.

Li Shuilang could only edge closer again, still cautiously.

Now he was only a little way from Qin Yue'e.

"Lift your head." His mistress's voice grew softer and more alluring.

Li Shuilang obediently raised his head and saw Qin Yue'e's exquisite face, as beautiful as a celestial maiden's.

Her skin was so tender it looked as though a touch would make water bead on it. Li Shuilang felt his throat go dry.

He swallowed, his gaze settling on Qin Yue'e.

She was so much more voluptuous than his own Xiao Cui. If only he could give her a couple of squeezes...

Qin Yue'e noticed Li Shuilang staring at her and deliberately thrust out her chest.

Li Shuilang's mouth grew even drier. He could hardly stop himself from pouncing on her.

But he held back. After all, she was his mistress.

Qin Yue'e chuckled. "Shuilang, you'd better do your best in a moment. If you satisfy your mistress, there'll be no end to the benefits you'll enjoy."

At her words, Li Shuilang's heart pounded with excitement. He hurriedly said, "Thank you for looking after me, Mistress. Don't worry, I'll give it everything I've got. Everything!"

"Come on." Qin Yue'e leaned back in her chair and struck a pose, as if ready to enjoy herself.

Li Shuilang didn't move.

"What's wrong? Don't know how?" She gave the man before her a challenging look.

"I'm giving you this one chance. If you don't seize it..." Qin Yue'e left the sentence unfinished.

Li Shuilang suddenly lunged at her...

Slap!

Qin Yue'e struck him across the face with the back of her hand, then kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him flying.

"Li Shuilang, you've got some nerve! How dare you disrespect your mistress?" Qin Yue'e sat up and looked at him coldly, her eyes full of amusement.

Li Shuilang looked terrified. His mind and body were at war with each other.

"Hahahaha..." Qin Yue'e burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying herself.

For the past six months, Qin Yue'e had been far from happy.

That bastard Li Shuidao!

Back then, when she'd seen him poisoned, she'd eagerly taught him the cultivation method, thinking she could easily bring him to heel afterward with her looks and wiles. But that fellow had taken the benefits without ever letting her control him.

Now that she was dealing with Li Shuilang, Qin Yue'e wasn't being nearly as gentle. First she'd get him under her thumb, then give him the benefits...

But it was truly no fun when a man was this easy to win over...

At the thought of Li Shuidao, Qin Yue'e's gaze turned resentful once more.

Li Shuidao had a toad Spirit Companion and was exceptionally clever. Given time, his cultivation would surely surpass Golden-Faced Gentleman's by far.

It was such a pity that she couldn't bring a man like him completely under her control.

It really was true: what you couldn't have always seemed the best.

"Take it." Qin Yue'e tossed the Purple Poison Powder in her hand to Li Shuilang.

He hurriedly caught it with both hands and kowtowed. "Thank you for this generous reward, Mistress. Your disciple is deeply grateful."

Qin Yue'e nodded. "Go back and get some rest. Tomorrow, I'll teach you how to ride a crane and make you a spirit-beast master."

"Thank you, Mistress!" Li Shuilang hurriedly kowtowed, then turned and left.