Xian Lin'er's phoenix eyes, once sharp as blades, suddenly widened as far as they could go. She stood rooted to the spot, as though turned to stone.
The depths of her pupils brimmed with disbelief and a sense of utter absurdity!
What on earth... was she looking at?!
Was this really Cai Mei'er, the conservative vice dean who ordinarily kept even the hems of her clothes immaculate at meetings of the Sea God Pavilion Elders, and would frown and coldly rebuke Yan Shaozhe for so much as looking at her twice?!
Black stockings?!
Such flimsy, vulgar things were actually wrapped around the mature, jade-like legs of this dignified level-ninety-five Vice Dean of the Martial Soul Department?!
"You... Cai Mei'er, have you gone mad?!"
Xian Lin'er sucked in a breath of cold air, so shocked that her voice cracked slightly despite herself!
Beside her, the corners of Dongfang Hao's eyes also twitched hard twice from the shock.
Who could have expected that, provoked by Xian Lin'er, this normally lofty vice dean would actually reveal her ultimate trump card-a hand as devastating as a pair of jokers!
"Tsk... truly exquisite..."
Once his astonishment passed, Dongfang Hao's golden eyes settled without hesitation on those long, full, rounded legs, shamelessly feasting on the sight.
It had to be said that black stockings on an inexperienced young woman would, at most, add a little allure. But wrapped around the legs of a gorgeous mature woman whose charm had ripened to her very bones, their destructive power increased exponentially!
Through the black silk, thin as a cicada's wing, her snowy skin, smooth and rich as cream, showed a beguiling hint of pale pink. The black lace edges bit firmly into the plump inner curves of her thighs, leaving two deep, enticing indentations-taut, voluptuous, seductive!
Every detail was wildly teasing a man's most primal instincts!
Sensing Dongfang Hao's invasive gaze, so scorching it almost seemed capable of melting her, Cai Mei'er's graceful, lovely face, already burning hot, suddenly filled with pride and triumph!
Though she felt so ashamed that she almost wanted to dash her head against a block of tofu and die, the thrill of thoroughly stunning her sworn rival sustained her. For once, Cai Mei'er did not lower her robe. Instead, she deliberately raised it another half inch, lifted her chin, and looked down at Xian Lin'er with a sneer.
"What's wrong, Xian Lin'er? Gone mute?!"
"Weren't you just insisting that I was rigid and conservative, without the slightest charm as a woman?!"
"Come on! Open those dog eyes of yours and take a good look! This figure, this allure-even if you stripped yourself naked, could you ever match so much as a fraction of what I have?!"
Every word stabbed straight into the heart!
Each sentence was like a resounding slap, striking Xian Lin'er's strikingly heroic face!
"You... shameless! Vulgar! Utterly wanton!!"
Xian Lin'er trembled violently with fury, her beautiful face turning livid, then pale, while the full, proud snowy peaks at her chest heaved wildly. Though her heart overflowed with towering defiance and anger, faced with Cai Mei'er's beautiful stocking-clad legs-a veritable strike from a higher dimension-she could not even muster the confidence to argue!
In sheer dominance, movement techniques, or mastery of Soul Tools, she, Xian Lin'er, would lose to no one!
But when it came to competing in these... these wanton tricks that bewitched men and left them unable to stop, how could a martial goddess like her understand such twists and turns?!
The shame and humiliation of being at a disadvantage nearly drove her mad!
"Fine... fine, Cai Mei'er! Today I've finally seen what you're capable of!"
Xian Lin'er clenched her teeth, her eyes reddening with shame and fury. She glared at the triumphant Cai Mei'er, then cut Dongfang Hao a fierce look filled with resentment and unwillingness to concede, grinding out a threat through her teeth.
"You little bastard... just you wait! Isn't this just some vulgar trick to get the blood pumping? Do you really think I can't do it?!"
"When I get back, I'll prepare an outfit a hundred times more seductive than this vixen's! Then... let's see where you can run!!"
After viciously throwing out those shameful words, which amounted to a declaration of war, Xian Lin'er knew she had no shred of dignity left here today. How could she dare linger another second?
She stamped her foot and shot toward the Soul Tool Department without looking back, fleeing in utter disarray!
"Phew..."
Watching that disheveled streak of blue light disappear into the horizon, Cai Mei'er finally relaxed her taut body. The bitterness that had been pent up in her chest for decades poured out in that instant, leaving her so refreshed that every pore seemed to open!
She had won!
She, Cai Mei'er, had finally turned the tables and won a complete victory over that insufferably arrogant Xian Lin'er!
Yet...
That supreme exhilaration lasted less than two breaths.
The next moment, Cai Mei'er abruptly realized the situation she was in, and her body jolted violently as though struck by lightning!
"Ah!"
A brief, mortified shriek escaped her throat. Cai Mei'er hurriedly released her robe, letting its heavy, dark-green hem fall and conceal those soul-stealing, stocking-clad legs deep within its shadows.
Yet after doing all that, this Vice Dean of the Martial Soul Department, renowned across the continent, stood frozen in place. She lacked even the courage to turn around and face the young man.
In the sunlight, Cai Mei'er's translucent earlobes and long, elegant neck had flushed as red as blood-red agate. Her body trembled faintly, radiating a mature woman's charm that set the blood racing.
"Vice Dean Cai, you were so bold and spirited just now. How is it that the moment Dean Xian leaves, you become so shy and distant?"
A clear young voice, thick with teasing amusement, quietly sounded behind her.
Steady footsteps approached. Dongfang Hao walked to within half a foot of Cai Mei'er, his dark-gold eyes lowering slightly as he brazenly surveyed the area beneath her skirt. A wicked smile curled his lips.
"I hadn't had my fill of looking just now... Vice Dean, why not lift it again and let me appreciate it properly?"
"You little bastard! You... don't you dare take a mile when I've given you an inch!"
Cai Mei'er bit her lower lip, her beautiful eyes veiled in a watery haze of tender desire. Ashamed and annoyed, she raised her phoenix eyes to glare at Dongfang Hao. Her faintly trembling, petulant voice was soft and weak-where was even a trace of a Titled Douluo's authority?
"I only did that as a stopgap to drive off that madwoman Xian Lin'er! Don't you actually take me for some shameless, wanton woman!"
"A stopgap?"
Dongfang Hao raised an eyebrow. Rather than retreating, he reached out with both warm, strong hands, unabashedly pressed them against Cai Mei'er's full, supple shoulders, and shoved hard!
"Mm..."
Cai Mei'er let out a soft cry as the young man's forceful shove sent her straight against the green bamboo behind her!
There was nowhere left to retreat!
Dongfang Hao's nose nearly touched Cai Mei'er's hot, flushed cheek. Breathing in the subtle fragrance of a fully ripened peach that drifted from her, a flash of burning heat crossed the depths of his eyes. He lowered his voice and spoke with a half-smile.
"Dean Cai, you must have changed into those black stockings afterward..."
"Could it be that you put on this outfit first thing this morning... specifically to come and see me?"
Before you continue