Third-Tier Inner Armor, Xiao Chunan

With his captive in tow, Zhou Changqing headed to Mittel under the escort of Xiao Zhan and Gu Ni.

When they reached the Mittel auction house, Ya Fei was already waiting anxiously at the entrance.

The moment she saw the three of them, Ya Fei hurried over, then caught sight of Zhou Changqing's face, covered in dust and blood.

"Changqing!"

Her expression anxious, Ya Fei threw caution to the wind and took him from Xiao Zhan, supporting him as she asked worriedly, "How are you? Are you badly hurt?"

"I'm fine. Just a minor injury. Master Gu Ni already gave me a healing pill."

Zhou Changqing leaned limply against Ya Fei's shoulder, breathing in the delicate fragrance wafting from her body as he answered weakly.

Seeing this, Gu Ni and Xiao Zhan exchanged a glance before quietly entering the auction house.

At that moment, Ya Fei had eyes only for Zhou Changqing and never noticed that the two had already left.

"That's a relief. Come on, I'll help you somewhere you can rest."

Feeling a soft warmth against his arm, Zhou Changqing let Ya Fei support him into the auction house and up to a guest room on the second floor.

Only after helping Zhou Changqing sit on the bed did Ya Fei begin checking his injuries.

After repeatedly confirming that he had no obvious external wounds, Ya Fei finally felt some of the tension in her heart ease.

"Sister Ya Fei, could you prepare some hot water for me? I need a bath. I'm filthy."

Once Ya Fei finished examining him, Zhou Changqing spoke up at the right moment.

He was covered in plaster dust, and his face was an utter mess. It felt terribly uncomfortable.

"All right."

Ya Fei nodded. "I'll go prepare it now. Call someone if you need anything. I'll have someone wait outside."

"Mm."

Once Ya Fei had left.

Only then did Zhou Changqing sit cross-legged and circulate his dou qi, hastening the effects of the healing medicine remaining in his body.

"Phew..."

A little while later, his injuries had improved further. Zhou Changqing opened his eyes and exhaled a breath tinged with blood.

Getting out of bed, he took off his shirt, removed the completely ruined outer layer of inner armor, and tossed it onto the floor. Then he examined the other set he was wearing underneath.

This set of inner armor was now dull and lightless, completely stripped of its metallic sheen, its surface riddled with tiny cracks.

"Good thing I prepared in advance. Otherwise, even if that blow hadn't killed me, it would've taken half my life."

Running his fingers over the cracks in the inner armor, Zhou Changqing looked relieved.

After developing his Weapon Refining Technique, his cautious nature had driven him to keep seeking ways to improve his chances of survival.

He had previously worn flexible inner armor of Mortal Weapon grade, but no one had ever landed an attack on it back then.

After developing Magic Core Armament, he had replaced his Mortal Weapon inner armor with Magic Core Inner Armor.

Having made a mortal enemy of Che'erluo, with a Da Dou Shi lurking in the shadows like a tiger watching its prey, Zhou Changqing felt that armor capable of channeling only the energy of a peak second-tier magic core no longer met his needs.

So he had begun researching inner armor capable of withstanding the surging energy of a third-tier magic core.

Not long ago, he had successfully forged a set that could house a low-grade third-tier magic core—the weakest of that tier—without collapsing when its defenses were activated.

This inner armor had been extremely expensive. It required not only a low-grade third-tier magic core, but also three rather precious materials, consuming a full third of the savings he had amassed over the past year.

Its effects, however, were impressive. It could form a defensive membrane comparable to a One-Star Great Dou Master's Dou Qi Armor.

After forging the third-tier Magic Core Inner Armor, Zhou Changqing had told no one and leaked not a whisper about it. He had simply worn it beneath his peak second-tier Magic Core Inner Armor.

Earlier, it was precisely because he had activated this third-tier Magic Core Inner Armor in the moment of danger, blocking most of the enemy's Dou Technique, that he had survived the masked Da Dou Shi's strike.

But that masked Da Dou Shi was clearly far more than a One-Star Great Dou Master.

Otherwise, a single strike from his Dou Technique would not have dispersed the armor's energy, shattered its artifact patterns, and left its surface riddled with tiny cracks.

The remaining force of the Dou Technique had even seeped through the inner armor into his body, injuring his internal organs.

Even now, his organs still ached faintly.

Removing the now-useless Third-Tier Inner Armor as well, Zhou Changqing bared his upper body.

His physique was naturally beyond reproach. Years of exercise and smithing since childhood had given him perfectly proportioned V-lines, pecs, and abs.

His muscles were lean rather than bulky. He did not look massive or hulking, yet still gave an impression of solid strength.

He practically had a body straight out of a comic.

Creak...

The door creaked softly as Ya Fei entered with two servants, bringing in a large wooden tub filled with hot water.

Her eyes gleamed when she caught sight of Zhou Changqing's bare upper body, and she waved the two servants away.

"Little Brother Changqing, the hot water's here. Hurry and wash up."

Zhou Changqing naturally noticed the glances Ya Fei kept casting at his upper body, but he did not mind.

He was a man, after all. It was only his upper body. He was hardly some innocent maiden who needed to blush over everything to preserve her purity.

"Mm. Thanks, Sister Ya Fei."

After nodding in acknowledgment, Zhou Changqing turned to take off his trousers. A moment later, however, he stopped and looked back at Ya Fei, who was still standing there.

"Sister Ya Fei?"

"Hmm?"

Ya Fei blinked her lovely eyes, looking puzzled. Why are you calling me? Go on, take them off.

"Ahem!"

Seeing that she remained unmoved, Zhou Changqing could only cough twice before saying, "Well, Sister Ya Fei, I'm about to take a bath."

"Yes, go ahead."

Ya Fei still did not move, her expression seeming even more puzzled. Then take your bath. Why tell me?

Dark lines seemed to creep across Zhou Changqing's forehead as he said helplessly, "Sister Ya Fei, shouldn't you be leaving?"

"Oh... so that's what you meant. Heehee... Little Brother Changqing actually gets shy."

Ya Fei finally "saw the light." Folding her arms across her chest, she laughed prettily, the ample mounds lifted by her arms quivering with her laughter.

"Sister Ya Fei, stop teasing. I really need to wash, or I'll be uncomfortable all over."

Faced with Ya Fei's teasing, Zhou Changqing could only keep urging her helplessly.

"Just take your bath. What are you shy about? Afraid your big sister will gobble you up?"

Instead of leaving, Ya Fei sauntered over to the tub and beckoned to Zhou Changqing with her delicate hand. "Come here. You're injured and can't move easily, so you probably won't be able to wash properly. Your big sister will make a little sacrifice and help you."

"This is my first time bathing a man. No one else gets this treatment. Surely you wouldn't be so heartless as to reject your big sister's kindness?"

As she spoke, Ya Fei blinked her beautiful eyes again.

Unlike her earlier show of innocence, this wink was indescribably alluring, leaving anyone who saw it tingling and weak all over, as though struck by electricity!

That was exactly how Zhou Changqing felt. His mind exploded with a boom, and for a moment, he had no idea what to do.

By the time he came to his senses, he was already in the tub. Beneath the water, his lower body wore nothing but a pair of loose white boxers.

Meanwhile, a pair of soft little hands glided over his back and chest, gently washing away all the sweat and grime.

"Huh? How did I get in here? Where are my trousers?! Sister Ya Fei..."

"You have quite the figure, Little Brother Changqing..."

"Hey, hey, hey! Sister Ya Fei! What are you doing?! I'll wash there myself!"

"Just lean back and leave the rest to your big sister, all right?"

"Don't...!"

His handsome face flushed crimson, Zhou Changqing kept refusing. He looked exactly like a certain creature from his previous life known as Xiao Chunan...

(End of chapter)