A Drunken Rampage

"Were you afraid I'd get the wrong idea, Heroine Luo?"

The moment he finished speaking, Luo Ning's gaze darkened a little. She looked displeased.

Ye Jingtang quickly raised a hand. "All right, all right. How could I get the wrong idea about you, Heroine Luo? I'll believe whatever you say. Come on, cheers."

Only then did Luo Ning let the matter drop. She lifted her delicate hand and rubbed her brow. "I can't hold my liquor. I'm leaving first. Yunli is still waiting..."

"Then shall I drink it for you? We're about to be apart for a long time. We should at least finish the meal."

Ye Jingtang naturally took hold of Luo Ning's cup-bearing hand, brought the cup to his lips, and drained it, then finished his own wine.

"Will that do?"

Seeing that Ye Jingtang wasn't trying to ply her with wine, Luo Ning lightly bit her lower lip without saying anything. She merely picked up the wine pot and poured for him.

Splash, splash-

The cool wine flowed into the cup, spilling a little, but she still filled it to the brim.

Ye Jingtang had intended to take it himself, but Heroine Luo beside him picked up the cup and brought it toward his mouth.

"Hurry up and eat. Once you're finished, I can leave..."

Hearing her slightly slurred words, Ye Jingtang wanted to call it a night and let her rest first. But the cup nearly reached his nose, so he could only open his mouth to receive it.

"Gulp..."

Before he had finished the cup, his shoulder sank beneath a fragrant, soft weight.

Clink-

The cup slipped from her pale fingertips, only to be caught by Ye Jingtang.

He turned his head to look. Heroine Luo's cheeks were flushed, and her whole body rested limply against his shoulder, her hand hanging helplessly at her side.

Her expression still retained its cool beauty and sternness, but her brow soon relaxed, leaving only a tender allure like spring waters in March. She murmured something barely audible.

"You little rogue, if you dare again... take liberties..."

"Chirp?"

Niao Niao, who had been busily eating beside the table, raised its head and tilted it, watching with big, glossy black eyes.

In the past, Adoptive Father had often drunk himself into a muddy stupor and slept on the floor, and Ye Jingtang had always dragged him onto the bed to rest.

Seeing that its big sister had also drunk herself under the table, Niao Niao naturally pointed a wing toward the bed, signaling-just toss her over there, and we can keep eating.

Ye Jingtang ignored Niao Niao. He gazed at the face so close to his own as a faint, delicate fragrance washed over him.

He had intended to give Luo Ning a little shake, but the moment he raised his hand, Luo Ning, whose position wasn't very secure, began falling backward. He could only hastily catch her shoulder, ending up with her in his arms.

"Heroine Luo?"

"Hoo..."

Luo Ning's willow-leaf brows twitched, but she gave no response.

Ye Jingtang blinked. Stray thoughts stirred in his heart, but in the end, he sighed.

Last time, he had impulsively kissed her and made her cry with anger. She had spent an entire day on the bed facing the wall, nursing her grievances. Thinking back afterward, he really had gone a little too far. It hadn't been the conduct of a chivalrous man.

After hesitating for a moment, Ye Jingtang still refrained from touching her improperly. He merely supported Luo Ning's back and the bends of her knees, lifted her swallow-light body, and laid her on the bed.

Though he hadn't undressed her, her shoes certainly had to come off if she was going to lie down and rest.

Ye Jingtang crouched before the bed and took hold of the embroidered shoe beneath her blue-green skirt. A few bamboo leaves were embroidered on it, and its design was quite lovely.

When he removed the shoe, a beautiful foot wrapped in a white cloth sock appeared before his eyes. Its contours were exquisitely graceful; even through the thin fabric, he could sense its creamy tenderness.

Ye Jingtang removed her embroidered shoes and laid her legs flat on the bed, then came to the head of the bed and looked at Luo Ning's peaceful face. Seeing that the jade hairpin in her bun might dig into her, he reached out to remove it.

But...

Luo Ning was a master of the internal arts. Having drunk a little too much, she had closed her eyes for a dizzy doze. It felt as though only an instant had passed before she noticed someone feeling around her feet.

The vigilance deep in her heart made Luo Ning open her eyes, only to discover that she had somehow ended up lying on the bed.

Directly above her was that familiar man's face. He was leaning over her, reaching toward her face.

?!

More than half of Luo Ning's drunken haze was instantly frightened away. Her finger shot out as swiftly as thunder and jabbed the man in the chest.

Thump!

Ye Jingtang saw Luo Ning suddenly open her eyes and was just about to speak, but before a word left his mouth, his chest went numb. His limbs instantly lost all sensation, and his whole body toppled forward.

Flump!

His vision went black.

His face struck something.

"Mmph...?!"

Luo Ning's eyes filled with shame and anger. Without even noticing their current position, she demanded furiously:

"Ye Jingtang! What did you do to me? Are you trying to anger me to death?!"

"Mmph..."

Ye Jingtang lay facedown as though his entire body had been paralyzed. He couldn't even feel his limbs. Only his mouth could move, but something blocked his vision, and his words came out muffled.

The moment Ye Jingtang opened his mouth, Luo Ning felt his hot breath.

Her whole body shuddered violently. She shoved Ye Jingtang away, tossed him to one side, and sprang to her feet. Her drunken cheeks turned red as apples as she drew her flexible sword and demanded in a trembling voice:

"You shameless little rogue! What did you just do to me?!"

Ye Jingtang rolled onto his back and could finally see again, though his limbs remained numb and insensible. Astonishment filled his eyes.

"What technique is that? Acupoint sealing? Hey, hey... I didn't do anything just now. Believe me..."

Luo Ning didn't believe a word. Ye Jingtang already had a prior offense. She had been plied with wine and had no idea how long she had lain there. She didn't even dare imagine what might have happened between them.

She looked down. Her clothes were intact, and it seemed nothing had happened.

But what if this little rogue put them back on after he was finished?

Still somewhat drunk, Luo Ning's heart was a tangled mess, and she had begun losing her reason. She pointed her sword straight at Little Jingtang.

"Again and again and again! Do you really think I'm a woman you can bully so easily? If I don't teach you a lesson today..."

"Hey! Stay your hand, heroine!"

Ye Jingtang's expression changed drastically. Seeing that Luo Ning was thoroughly drunk and pointing her sword below his belt, he somehow mustered enough strength to force his sealed acupoints slightly open and twist his waist out of the way.

"I really didn't do anything! Don't act rashly. If you hadn't jabbed me, I wouldn't have landed face-first in your chest..."

"Chirp, chirp, chirp..."

Seeing this, Niao Niao hurriedly waved its wings too, helping Ye Jingtang explain.

Only after glancing at the light outside and the food that had yet to cool did Luo Ning confirm that she hadn't been unconscious for long.

But Ye Jingtang had carried her onto the bed-that was a fact. Had he really not kissed or fondled her along the way?

Even if Ye Jingtang hadn't done anything, he had been taking liberties with her all these days. She still had to show this little rogue a thing or two.

Seeing the terror in Ye Jingtang's eyes, how could Luo Ning stop? Putting on the air of a fierce, deranged fairy, she jabbed her sword wildly, threatening to castrate him.

"What wouldn't you dare do? Don't you enjoy bullying women? Come on, then! I'll let you bully me..."

"No, no, no! Why don't you stab me in the arm instead? Stop waving that thing around..."

"I won't! You little rogue..."

Luo Ning aimed her sword between Ye Jingtang's legs, frightening him into becoming a noodle of a man, twisting wildly from side to side to dodge. Once the numbness in his limbs had completely faded, he sprang up and ran around the room.

"Stop right there!"

"I really didn't do anything! Why won't you believe me..."

"What reason have you given me to believe you? Tell me honestly-what did you just do?!"

Luo Ning chased Ye Jingtang, her clothes fluttering with her movements, waves rising and falling in a breathtaking display.

But Ye Jingtang had no time to admire it. Luo Ning was showing not the slightest martial honor, after all; every thrust went straight below the belt.

Even knowing that Luo Ning was only trying to frighten him, he didn't dare gamble his future bedroom bliss on her not slipping up. He could only use the table and chairs for cover as he circled the room.

"Heroine Luo, my dear sister, you're drunk..."

"I'm not drunk! Stop right there!"

"Chirp..."