Zeng Mu had no idea how that night passed.
All he knew was that when he woke, the first ray of dawn slipped through a gap in the boat's canopy and fell across his forehead, making him open his eyes.
The moment he opened them, he saw the silhouettes of mountains.
Towering mountains lined both sides as the little boat moved slowly between them. Time seemed to slow, and all his irritation and worries vanished, leaving only awe and vibrant life.
Zeng Mu gazed at the scene, entranced. Only after half a minute did he realize someone was beside him. He turned his head and found a woman sleeping there.
She wore nothing. The quilt, folded down beneath her armpits, perfectly revealed her rounded shoulders and delicate back, with half-exposed snowy curves faintly visible. Her fragrance surpassed golden osmanthus blossoms. One gentle breath of it seemed to draw him into a tender, sweet dream, softening even his bones-while one part of him alone grew hot and hard.
"Heavens." Zeng Mu broke into a cold sweat. He scrambled out from beneath the quilt and pulled on his clothes and trousers in a flash, then glanced at the boatmen at the bow and stern. They were not looking his way, but there seemed to be smiles on their faces.
His rough movements woke the woman. She opened her long-lashed eyes, rubbed them sleepily, and sat up, clutching the quilt over her breasts. Looking at him drowsily, she said, "Sir, it isn't even light yet. Why are you up so early? Go back to sleep. If you're hungry, there are dry provisions for breakfast in the cabin."
Women were most alluring at two moments: when they took off their clothes, and when they first opened their eyes upon waking. Zeng Mu had once