He was a seasoned veteran who had weathered the vicissitudes of life.
He absolutely could not drool, and his eyes absolutely could not wander.
Even if he had already turned into a wolf inside, his expression had to resemble an old monk deep in meditation.
He forced himself to pick up the hot tea beside him and take a leisurely sip, concealing his frantic swallowing.
Before long, Xiao Wu entered a fitting room first.
Zhu Zhuqing took the black cheongsam into another.
A while later, the door to Zhu Zhuqing's fitting room opened a crack.
Zhu Zhuqing leaned halfway out. Her normally cool face was now as red as a ripe apple, her gaze somewhat evasive.
She bit her lower lip and called softly, "Shaoqing..."
"What is it?" Xiong Shaoqing set down his teacup and walked over with a stern expression.
"The ties on the back of this dress are too complicated. I can't reach them..." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, and she was so embarrassed that even her fair neck had turned pink.
"Xiao Wu's door is shut. Could... could you help me tie them?"
At those words, a boom went off in Xiong Shaoqing's head, as though countless fireworks had exploded.
Testing an official's resolve? This was absolutely testing an official by striking at his weak spot!
Xiong Shaoqing roared inwardly, his heart pounding like a drum. Help this little kitty tie her dress?
What kind of heavenly fucking perk was this? But... I was playing the cold, aloof type!
What expression should I use?
Should I coldly tell her that men and women shouldn't touch?
No, that would be too stupid. Heaven wouldn't tolerate refusing a taste when it was offered right to my door.
He drew a deep breath and firmly pinned down the lustful wolf howling inside him, maintaining that stern composure that would not falter even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.
"Turn around." His voice was low, without the slightest fluctuation of emotion.
Zhu Zhuqing obediently turned around.
Her beautiful, jade-smooth back lay fully exposed before Xiong Shaoqing. That supple waist, slender enough to encircle with his hands, and the astonishing curves outlined by the black cheongsam nearly shattered his composure on the spot.
He even had to mobilize the Soul Power within him to forcibly suppress his blood pressure before it soared.
Xiong Shaoqing reached out with his broad hands, his fingers slightly cool. The instant they touched the ties on Zhu Zhuqing's back, she gave a sensitive shiver, and even her breathing quickened.
"Don't move." Xiong Shaoqing's voice was a little hoarse as he feigned composure and threaded and knotted the intricate ribbons.
Outwardly, his movements flowed like drifting clouds and running water, carrying an unapproachable steadiness.
In reality, however, his fingers were trembling faintly from the sheer effort of holding himself back.
This was torture. Damn this cold, aloof persona! I really wanted to hug her from behind.
That waist, that feel... Amitabha, form is emptiness, emptiness is form... Tying the final knot, Xiong Shaoqing withdrew his hands as though electrocuted, stepped half a pace back, and clasped his hands behind him, delivering a cold appraisal: "Passable."
Zhu Zhuqing turned around. Seeing his aloof manner, as though nothing had happened, his gaze not lingering even half a second longer, she felt both a trace of disappointment and a deep surge of admiration. Shaoqing had such self-control. He respected me so much that he wouldn't risk offending me with even one extra glance. As Zhu Zhuqing thought this to herself, her gaze toward Xiong Shaoqing grew gentler still. Had she been able to hear the shrieking groundhog screaming inside his head at that moment, her expression would probably have been quite a sight. Thud!
Xiong Shaoqing casually tossed the brocade pouch filled with Gold Soul Coins onto the counter with a heavy bang and spoke coldly to the shopkeeper, who had long since been staring in a daze. "These two, along with that whole row they tried on earlier. Wrap them all up."
He had the domineering CEO version of a God King down perfectly at that moment, making stars shine in Xiao Wu's and Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. Shrek Academy, the boys' dormitory. Behind a tightly closed door, Tang San, sitting cross-legged on his bed, slowly opened his eyes. A dense flash of purple Qi passed through them. "Whew."
Exhaling a breath of stale air, Tang San felt the powerful Soul Power surging through his body like mighty rivers. A long-absent smile finally appeared on the face that had been gloomy for days. Level thirty-nine. The Mysterious Heaven Skill had finally broken through its bottleneck. Tang San clenched his fists, feeling the bones in his left shoulder that had now completely healed, as frenzied killing intent churned in his eyes. During this time, he had trained madly day and night without rest. Not only had his Soul Power reached level thirty-nine, but Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had also both broken through under the sting of humiliation, reaching levels thirty-eight and thirty-six respectively. "Third Brother, you broke through?"
Ma Hongjun excitedly came over from beside him. Dai Mubai also clenched his fists until they cracked, a fierce gleam blazing in his eyes. "Good, excellent! Little San, our strength has grown enormously. It's time we settled the score at the Great Soul Arena.
"This time, I'm going to tear that pretty boy Xiong to pieces!"
"Mubai, Fatty, don't be rash."
Tang San raised a hand slightly, that refined, cultured smile returning to his face. "Though that bastard Xiong Shaoqing relies on nothing but brute strength, his Martial Soul really is strange. We might not necessarily gain an absolute advantage by fighting him head-on."
"Besides, blades have no eyes. It would be bad if we accidentally hurt Xiao Wu or Sister-in-law Zhu Zhuqing."
"Then what do you suggest? We just swallow this insult?"
Dai Mubai gritted his teeth. "Of course not!"
A sinister sneer curled Tang San's lips as he lowered his voice. "Against a brute with nothing but raw strength, the finest warfare is to attack through strategy."
"Over the last few days, I learned that Suotuo City's underground black market will hold a secret auction tomorrow night at a quarter past seven. The final lot is a rare stalk of Netherworld Dark Fragrance Bamboo, which has a miraculous, transformative effect on Sister-in-law Zhu Zhuqing's Nether Civet Martial Soul."
Chapter 74: Almost losing his composure
A calculating gleam flashed in Tang San's eyes. "That bastard Xiong Shaoqing loves slapping his own face swollen to look impressive. Once he hears this news, he'll definitely go to the black market to ingratiate himself with Sister-in-law Zhu Zhuqing. And the black market is a place where fish and dragons mingle. Murdering people for their goods is an everyday occurrence."
"Third Brother, you mean killing him with a borrowed knife?" Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up.
"No. I wouldn't trust someone else to kill him." Tang San slowly took an exquisite, pitch-black mechanism case gleaming with a cold light from Twenty-Four Bridges Bright Moon Night. It was the Tang Sect Heavy Mechanical Hidden Weapon he had poured his heart's blood into crafting these past few days: the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.
Moreover, every bolt in it had been coated with the most potent compound poison he could currently concoct.
"The black market is dimly lit, making it the perfect place for hidden weapons to unleash their power. We'll set an ambush along his inevitable route ahead of time. Once he comes out after winning the treasure at auction, at the very moment he's most relaxed, we'll unleash ten thousand arrows together."
Tang San screamed madly inside, yet spoke in the compassionate tone of a saintly father mourning the world's suffering. "To rescue Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing from that devil's clutches, I won't hesitate even if I have to bear the infamy of launching a sneak attack."
"For justice, for Xiao Wu, and for Sister-in-law Zhu Zhuqing, Xiong Shaoqing must die."
Seeing Tang San's righteous demeanor, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun believed him without question and immediately began discussing the ambush planned for the following night.
Meanwhile, on the bustling streets of Suotuo City's South Market.
Xiong Shaoqing was facing the sternest trial since his transmigration: accompanying women on a shopping trip.
Seven or eight exquisite brocade boxes hung from his left hand, while his right carried clothing parcels of all sizes.
Although the Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear's stamina was unfathomable, this mental "torment" still made the groundhog screams inside him deafening.
Holy shit, this was more fucking exhausting than taking on a Titan Giant Ape alone!
Did women not get tired when shopping?
They had been shopping for four whole hours!
Xiong Shaoqing wept frantically inside, but outwardly, his back remained straight, his face as cold and stern as ice. His deep black eyes exuded the bearing of an unrivaled master who would remain unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, making him resemble an emotionless bag-carrying machine.
"Big Brother, look at that!" Xiao Wu's eyes suddenly lit up, and she pulled Zhu Zhuqing toward a stall selling Flame Burst-Filled Fruit.
It was a common street snack unique to Suotuo City. Fresh off the grill, its skin was crisp, enclosing scalding-hot, sweet fruit pulp.
Xiao Wu bought two skewers and took a bite from hers, sticking out her little tongue repeatedly from the heat.
Holding the other skewer, Zhu Zhuqing turned around and approached Xiong Shaoqing with some hesitation.
"Shaoqing, would... would you like a taste?" A blush tinged Zhu Zhuqing's cool cheeks as she held a skewer of still-sizzling, steaming burst-filled fruit to Xiong Shaoqing's lips.
An enticing fruity fragrance mingled with the girl's faint scent and wafted into his nose.
Xiong Shaoqing lowered his eyes to the fruit so close to him, while towering waves already surged inside him.
Little kitty was feeding me herself. Who could withstand this?
This was killing me. Would I even be human if I refused?
Eat it. I absolutely had to eat it.
He parted his lips slightly and, maintaining the cold, aloof bearing of a God King, bit the fruit into his mouth without expression.
Hiss, hot, hot, hot!
The instant the fruit pulp burst inside his mouth, Xiong Shaoqing rolled around frantically inside from the heat, tears nearly shooting from his eyes.
Yet through his extraordinary control over his facial nerves, he forcibly prevented even the slightest grimace from appearing. Only after swallowing did he coldly utter, "Passable."
Seeing how he remained unruffled by praise or humiliation and composed at all times, the admiration in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes deepened. Xiao Wu's smile bloomed like a flower, and the two girls each linked one of his arms and continued shopping.
As the night deepened, the three returned to the Listening Snow Inn laden with purchases.
After settling the two girls in, Xiong Shaoqing returned to his Heaven-Class Room, casually dumped all the parcels he carried onto the table, and collapsed onto the bed like a puddle of mud.
Finally, it was over. The burden of this aloof God King image was far too heavy.
He let out a long sigh and summoned the Destiny Diary in his Sea of Consciousness.
Time to get to work tonight. I had to deliver some heartfelt contrast.
[Shopping with women truly is a form of cultivation a hundred times more arduous than training.] [Today, we spent four whole hours wandering the South Market. Even with this thoroughly tempered body of mine, I found it a little hard to endure. Strangely, though, seeing those heartfelt smiles on Xiao Wu's and Zhu Zhuqing's faces, I felt that this hardship amounted to nothing.] [That burst-filled fruit Zhu Zhuqing fed me was actually so hot that I nearly lost my composure. But I couldn't show it.] [I am their sole support in this troubled world. If I showed a ridiculous, weak side, how could they feel at ease?] [Undercurrents surge across this Douluo Continent. Those ill-intentioned fellows from Shrek will never let matters rest, especially Tang San. With that venomous-snake gaze of his, he is most likely secretly brewing an even more sinister scheme.] [How I wish I could spend a carefree lifetime shopping and eating with them, just like today. But this damned world will not allow it.] [So be it. Since they are willing to stand behind me, I shall be the hardest shield and the sharpest sword. Even if the road ahead is filled with poisoned hidden weapons, I will protect them through lifetime after lifetime, ensuring their hundred years are free of worry.]
The golden words slowly unfolded in Xiao Wu's and Zhu Zhuqing's minds, carrying a trace of a man's helplessness, forbearance, and that peerless devotion of someone willing to endure everything and pretend to be cold to protect those he loved.
In the room next door.
Having just finished washing up, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing sat by the head of the bed, reading the Diary in their minds.
"So Big Brother actually burned his mouth?" Xiao Wu covered her mouth, both aching for him and finding his stubbornly enduring manner adorable beyond measure. "Why is he so silly? He burned himself but still pretended to be cold and aloof, just so we'd think he was dependable..."
Zhu Zhuqing tightly clutched the clothing over her chest, her cool eyes now melting into pools of spring water.
Even if the road ahead is filled with poisoned hidden weapons, I will protect them through lifetime after lifetime, ensuring their hundred years are free of worry...
Zhu Zhuqing turned those words over and over in her heart, which filled entirely with that incomparable sense of security.
That man used his seemingly icy shell to single-handedly keep all danger and pressure outside, leaving only the safest, happiest moments for them.
Just as the two girls were moved beyond measure, the roots of love sinking deep.
A series of system notifications suddenly exploded in the mind of Xiong Shaoqing, who lay sprawled on the bed next door.
[Ding! Detected extreme tender concern and absolute reliance from Xiao Wu. Bond Points off the charts!] [Ding! Detected unforgettable, bone-deep emotion and unwavering devotion unto death from Zhu Zhuqing. Bond Points off the charts!] [Dual goddess emotional resonance triggered. Bond feedback mechanism activated at full power.] [Congratulations, host. Received a tremendous influx of pure Soul Power.] [Host's Soul Power increased by one level.] [Current Soul Power: level thirty-eight.]
Chapter 75: That was the extent of his little tricks
Holy shit, hahaha!
Xiong Shaoqing sprang up from the bed with a carp's flip and excitedly flailed his fists around the room.
Level thirty-eight! That was so fast. At this rate, the next time I met Tang San, I shouldn't have any reason to fear him at all.
At that moment, in Heaven Dou City, thousands of miles away.
Candlelight flickered in the Eastern Palace's study.
Wrapped in a heavy cloak, Qian Renxue had her head buried in mountainous piles of memorials and official documents.
Seeing the Diary appear in her mind, Qian Renxue paused slightly with the vermilion brush she used to review memorials. A drop of scarlet ink fell onto the rice paper like a glaring tear of blood.
Shopping... eating snacks...
A deep trace of envy flashed through Qian Renxue's beautiful golden eyes, mingled with a little despondency.
She, too, longed to shed this heavy, false male disguise, put on a beautiful dress, and stroll carefree along bustling streets with her arm linked through his, like an ordinary woman.
But looking at the seemingly endless pile of documents before her, then thinking of Spirit Hall's usurpation plot resting on her shoulders, she knew this was ultimately only an unattainable wish.
She could not even spare the time to go to Suotuo City and see him once.
"Even if the road ahead is filled with poisoned hidden weapons, I will protect them through lifetime after lifetime..."
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