The Tang Family's inner courtyard.
An hour or two later, the rustle of clothes came from inside the courtyard.
Fang Shu flicked his sleeve, looking entirely at ease. He cupped his hands toward the buxom woman in the elegant room. "Thank you for granting my request, fellow Daoist. I won't trouble you any further. Hu will take his leave."
At that, Lady Tang gazed at him with deep resentment, suspicion and teasing glinting in her eyes.
She stammered, "What are you doing, Fellow Daoist Hu? Were you really only inspecting the goods, without even giving it a try—?"
Her brows drew together. Then, as if something had occurred to her, she asked, "Could it be that you find me distasteful? Or perhaps you're unwilling to heed what I said about not eating from one bowl while eyeing the pot?"
Fang Shu was taken aback, then laughed.
Just moments ago, he had thoroughly toyed with Lady Tang, stripping her bare without the slightest hesitation. But he had kept his word: he had only inspected the goods and hadn't sampled them.
It wasn't that he had suddenly become haughty about his status or that the temperament of a righteous gentleman had come over him.
He was simply cautious. He had already decided that today he would only play along.
After all, this sort of easy gain had come knocking at his door. Taking his share and earning a recommendation was enough. If he took more, he might well fall into the woman's schemes.
Fang Shu thought to himself, It's not that I lack confidence. But setting everything else aside, you're an Eight Tribulations Earth Immortal, while I may be a Dao vein with a solid foundation.
*If I really did sleep with you, should I release some yang qi out of respect,