Was It Worth It, Before Others and Behind Their Backs?

When Fang Shu heard the voice from the courtyard, his face went blank. For a moment, he did not quite react.

Jingle, jingle!

A string of silver bells rang out, and the doors of the retreat opened on their own. A rich fragrance wafted out from within.

What entered Fang Shu's sight next was a white deer, carrying upon its back a female Daoist clad in gauzy robes, her figure supple and graceful.

She truly was white as silver, her jade body like snow. Her elbows and arms rivaled congealed rouge, her fragrant shoulders outshone pressed powder. Her belly was soft and smooth, her back lustrous and pure. Her knees and ankles formed half-rounded curves, her golden lotus feet narrow as three inches. Between them lay a tender stretch, revealing the cave of seductive charm. (Note 1)

Her eyes, seeming pleased yet not quite pleased, brimmed with feeling. As her gaze flowed, it carried a watery allure—at once languid and touched with an air of standing apart from the world.

The newcomer was none other than Senior Sister Fang Lu, one of Solitary Gu Hall's talented disciples on the mountain!

With shy, timid eyes lowered, she did not look directly at Fang Shu, giving off the air of both a respectable woman and not one.

Noticing that Fang Shu was still standing dumbly at the door, Senior Sister Fang Lu chuckled.

"Little sir, what are you standing there blankly for? Hurry and hook the door shut."

Fang Shu was startled awake by her voice. He emerged from his daze, and a sudden awkwardness rose in his heart—leaving was not an option, yet neither was staying.

Still, he suppressed the stray thoughts in his heart. After taking a deep breath, he silently closed the door.

With a creak, the world outside