Snowy Charity

To the west of Fifth University stood a small grove, dotted with over a hundred villas, each with its own courtyard. It was home to the university's senior administrators and distinguished professors, and the quietest, most scenic place on campus. At its heart lay even a small lake.

Thick clouds blanketed the sky, but could not hold back the morning light. As the eastern horizon gradually brightened, Gelang, head of academic affairs at Fifth University, was already seated at the breakfast table, immaculately dressed and enjoying a delicious meal.

Applewood crackled in the fireplace. Its faint fragrance was soothing to the soul. The room was warm and cozy, and through the broad, floor-to-ceiling windows, one could see the heavy snow still falling outside. It must have been bitterly cold out there, while inside it was as warm as spring. The stark contrast made Mr. Gelang sigh with satisfaction. He opened his mouth wide and took a hearty gulp of fresh milk.

The room was lavishly furnished, with brightly colored wallpaper and gold- and silver-inlaid furniture and knickknacks everywhere. One whole wall on the east side was lined with precious porcelain from the East. All the chairs and beds were upholstered in silk. Everything proclaimed the family's immense wealth.

Head of academic affairs at Fifth University, an imperial lord, and married to a lady from a count's family—Mr. Gelang was a satisfied man. He burped contentedly, rubbed his slightly balding head, and smiled, his round, ruddy face beaming.

The pretty young maid carefully carried in a silver tray and served Mr. Gelang's favorite white bread, studded with dried fruit and nuts. He chuckled softly as his right hand slipped naturally beneath the maid's skirt and firmly grasped her youthful, tender thigh. Remembering her delicate moans the night before, he felt a warmth stir in his chest.

The previous night, he had finally gotten the adorable young woman into his bed with a few gleaming gold coins. His wife had been away for the past couple of days, leaving Mr. Gelang with every opportunity.

He knew his wife had recently gotten involved with some powerful figure in Berely, and he knew exactly what those so-called literary salons were all about. But he could accept it all. She didn't mind whose body he sweated over, so he wouldn't complain about whose arms she lay in, crying out and moaning. It was only fair. Everyone found their own amusements!

The maid let out a coy little hum and shot Mr. Gelang a sidelong glance, full of allure.

Mr. Gelang gave a lecherous chuckle, and warmth stirred in his chest once more. But one thing worried him: though his mind was full of sensual thoughts, his body—or, more precisely, a certain part of it—was utterly unresponsive. Cold and limp, like a little grass snake in winter hibernation, it showed no reaction at all.

His spirits dampened, Mr. Gelang pulled his hand away and, with some concern, picked up the white bread. He slowly dug out the hazelnuts and crunched them between his teeth. This was not a good sign. Not good at all. He knew his own body well: it meant he wouldn't be able to perform for the next few days.

Normally, that wouldn't have mattered. But he had just made a delicate little request of Father Balin, and Father Balin should have passed the task along, as requested, to those few particularly capable student "thugs" in University City.

There was no doubt in Mr. Gelang's mind that students like Lin Qi were nothing but thugs through and through. He had little fondness for those troublemakers who ran wild in University City. But he had to admit one thing: even a big shot like him couldn't do without the help of those bad students.

Take Gina, the lead dancer in that Gissian traveling troupe. In Mr. Gelang's experience, after so many years chasing women, she was probably still a chaste girl. She was different from his wife and his maid. His noble-born wife, and these obedient little maids, were all like pampered lapdogs.

Mr. Gelang glanced sideways at the little golden dachshund snoring by the fireplace and couldn't help shrugging.

Gina was different. She was a wildcat, a sleek and powerful little leopard. Her youthful, vibrant body and her strong, agile movements had captivated Mr. Gelang completely. He would pay any price for a night with the beautiful girl. At the thought of her lovely young body twisting and struggling beneath him, his heart began to pound violently.

But damn it, that important part of his body still showed no reaction at all.

"Damn it!" Thinking of Gina, fiery and untamed, Mr. Gelang began to regret his excesses the night before.

He could enjoy his own maid whenever he pleased, even with his wife at home. But a girl from the Gissian traveling troupe—a prize catch like that was exceedingly rare. Her looks, her figure, her skin, and that wild spirit so unlike ordinary women—Gina was simply too great a temptation for Mr. Gelang.

Give up Gina for a maid? It was a disaster.

But he knew his own body. There was no way he'd be back in fighting form for three to five days, and the Gissian traveling troupe never stayed in one place for more than three! Mr. Gelang rose with a gloomy expression. The delicious breakfast could no longer hold his attention. With a weary sigh, he snatched up the gold-trimmed, three-cornered hat on the table, picked up his old mountain-vine cane, and shuffled out of the house, head hanging.

The cold wind hit him, and Mr. Gelang shivered. With his pent-up rage finding no outlet, he roared furiously. Those damn lazy servants! His lordship Gelang was going out, and they still hadn't readied his carriage?

Yawning repeatedly, Lin Qi sauntered into Mr. Gelang's courtyard and waved cheerfully at him.

Like finding a fly in his breakfast first thing in the morning, Mr. Gelang looked at Lin Qi with utter disgust. He admitted that a scoundrelly student like Lin Qi could be useful, but that didn't mean he could tolerate Lin Qi freely wandering into his courtyard. His face darkened. He swung his cane, making it whistle through the air, and roared with a thoroughly imposing air, "Lin Qi, you damned rascal! What business do you have here?"

Whatever the case, this was the residence of a lord and a young lady from a count's family. How could a scoundrel like Lin Qi barge into a noble's home?

Lin Qi displayed a crystal vial no bigger than his thumb in his palm and smiled brightly at Mr. Gelang. "Dear Mr. Gelang, I've brought you something good! I thought you might need this precious, miraculous potion, refined from a mysterious herb from the East!"

Lin Qi's gaze flicked suggestively toward Mr. Gelang's lower body. He had plenty of ears in University City, and Mr. Gelang's carriage driver was an outer member of the Iron Fist Brotherhood. Lin Qi knew all about the trouble Mr. Gelang kept hidden.

For this bottle of potent medicine, he was going to extort a hefty sum from Mr. Gelang.