Chapter 48

"Xiao Wu, what is wrong with you?" Zhu Zhuqing sensed that something was amiss and immediately got up to support her.

Yet Xiao Wu acted as though she had lost her mind, her whole body burning like a furnace, her body twisting uncontrollably, and she even shoved Zhu Zhuqing's hand away with a sweep.

Following instinct, she threw herself directly into the embrace of Xiong Shaoqing, her two hands clasping his neck for dear life as she rubbed against his chest continuously.

"Big Brother... Xiao Wu is so hot... So uncomfortable..." She exhaled like orchids, her voice sweet and sugary to the point of drawing threads, carrying a fatal charm that could make one's bones melt.

Chapter 87: Taking Advantage of Someone's Vulnerability?

The deep black eyes of Xiong Shaoqing shrank sharply into needle-points in this instant.

He pressed down with one hand on Xiao Wu's restless little hand, while his other hand picked up the remaining half-bowl of lotus seed soup to sniff it near the tip of his nose.

With his cultivation as a Level 40 Soul Ancestor and the acute perception of the Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear regarding vital Qi and blood, even though this medicine was colorless and odorless, he still perceived an extremely overbearing force of evil fire from the residual soup.

Potent aphrodisiac.

The expression of Xiong Shaoqing sank to rock-bottom instantly, the temperature around his body seeming to plummet to freezing point in a split second.

This bowl of soup had clearly been served to me, and Xiao Wu had snatched it away on a sudden whim.

That is to say, the target of the person who poisoned it was not Xiao Wu at all from the start, but yours truly.

Who was so despicable?

Aside from that sanctimonious Tang San from the Great Soul Arena, the only person in Suotuo City with whom he had a grudge was that Poison Shadow Sect elder in the black market.

Big Brother has noted this debt down, but now there is a huge problem. Even a Soul Ancestor could not withstand this medicinal potency, and if Xiao Wu did not undergo Yin-Yang balancing, she was bound to suffer a counterflow of Qi and blood and die from her body bursting.

What the hell kind of situation was this? Although he was no saint, he had never even thought of using this kind of taking-advantage-of-someone's-vulnerability method to possess her.

Yet if he did not save her, was he supposed to watch her die with his own eyes?

Amitabha, a heavy sin indeed. To preserve this lass's life, Big Brother could only bite the bullet and go through with this "bitter chore" today.

Although he was ranting crazily in his heart, and even carried a fair bit of helplessness at being forced into self-sacrifice, the surface reaction of Xiong Shaoqing was as fast as lightning.

He slammed a hand heavily down on the table.

"Someone has poisoned us."

The voice of Xiong Shaoqing was as cold and hard as ten-thousand-year glacial ice. He swept Xiao Wu up in a horizontal carry-she who was burning all over and continuously clawing at her own clothes-while looking at Zhu Zhuqing with an unquestionable gaze. "Zhuqing, keep close to me and return to the inn immediately."

Zhu Zhuqing also realized the gravity of the matter. Her face turned pale, and she immediately released her Martial Soul, following closely and vigilantly behind Xiong Shaoqing.

Holding Xiao Wu, Xiong Shaoqing exerted a sudden burst of force in his feet, directly breaking out through the second-floor window and transforming into a black afterimage as he sprinted wildly in the direction of the Listening Snow Inn.

At this moment.

Tang San, hiding in the dark, took in everything before him, and the entire person was dumbfounded.

How could this be? How had the medicine been drunk by Xiao Wu?

A trace of panic flashed across the depths of Tang San's eyes, but very quickly, this trace of panic was replaced by an even more sinister scheme.

So be it. Even if Xiao Wu drank the medicine, the result would be the same.

This medicinal potency was incomparably overbearing; if Xiong Shaoqing were truly a gentleman, he would boundlessly be at his wits' end.

If he were a beast, he would happen to take advantage of her vulnerability.

Tang San calculated frantically in the bottom of his heart: he would follow over right now, and when Xiong Shaoqing was about to lose control of the situation, he would smash the door open and catch them in the act right on the spot.

As long as he stopped Xiong Shaoqing, Xiao Wu would hate him to the bone upon sobering up and realizing she had almost been defiled by him.

This Xiong Shaoqing was destined not to escape; tonight was the moment he would ruin his own reputation.

Tang San sneered, his figure flashing like a ghost as he closely trailed behind Xiong Shaoqing and the others.

And at this moment, Xiong Shaoqing, who was sprinting along the rooftops, already had his formidable perceptual power detect that looming "tail" behind him.

Heh, follow along then, you stinky rat hiding in the dark.

Xiong Shaoqing lowered his head, casting a glance at Xiao Wu in his arms-she who had completely lost her reason and was blindly kissing his chin-and feeling that startling softness and astonishing heat, a chilling murderous intent flashed within his deep eyes.

Daring to plot against yours truly, and even causing Xiao Wu to fall victim to the trick.

Since you want to follow, Big Brother will leave a door open tonight, letting this fellow see with his own eyes what they call a double loss and a broken army.

The night was deep. Inside the Heaven-Class Room of the Listening Snow Inn.

Xiong Shaoqing placed Xiao Wu-who was burning hot like fire and had completely lost her reason-onto the soft bed.

Xiao Wu's ruby-like eyes, which had originally been crystal clear, were covered with a layer of hazy water mist at this moment. Her hands clutched tightly at the lapels of Xiong Shaoqing's garment, her delicate body twisting restlessly while emitting murmurs that caused Qi and blood to churn.

Xiong Shaoqing took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the agitation inside his body stirred up by this charm.

His face was like jade, his expression as stern and cold as an ice sculpture unsullied by the mortal world. He slowly untied the frog buttons of his dark Xuan-colour outfit, peeled off his outer robe, and revealed his well-proportioned, sturdy chest.

"Xiao Wu, this medicinal potency is too overbearing; it has already entered your heart meridian," Xiong Shaoqing said, looking down at her from above with a low and solemn voice. "If we do not balance Yin and Yang in time, you will surely die from your body bursting."

"The circumstances are urgent, but I, Xiong Shaoqing, walk upright and sit straight. Since I take you today, I will definitely protect you for all your days to come and take full responsibility for you."

Hearing these resonant words, Xiao Wu-whose consciousness had already plunged into chaos-miraculously managed to recover a trace of lucidity.

Looking at this man right before her who was "reluctantly sacrificing himself" to save her, wearing a thoroughly solemn expression, she shed a scalding tear from the corner of her eye, her peerless face blossoming with a smile of unreserved infatuation.

"Big Brother... I am not afraid..." Xiao Wu raised her hand with difficulty, stroking his cold and hard profile. Although her voice was sweet and sugary, it leaked a desperate resolve akin to a moth flying into a flame. "Xiao Wu is willing... Even without this medicine, Xiao Wu had long since chosen you..."

This confession, brimming with deep affection, struck like a heavy hammer right onto the apex of Xiong Shaoqing's heart.

On the surface, he still maintained that cold-looking, ascetic male-god appearance, only nodding slightly.

Yet in reality, he was already moved to a complete mess deep inside his heart.

My goodness, this foolish rabbit is simply too easy to trick... No, she is simply too endearing.

At a time like this, was her mind still actually full of worrying that I would be in a difficult spot?

Although I am a worldly person, for this wave of detoxification today, Big Brother will definitely pull out twelve points of gentleness and sincerity.

That hypocrite Tang San would never even get to touch a single strand of her hair in this lifetime.

Xiong Shaoqing bent down, preparing to proceed with this sacred and great "detoxification ritual."

"Bang!"

With a loud crash, the already not-very-thick wooden door was kicked directly into smithereens by an aggressive wave of Soul Power.

Amidst flying wood splinters, Tang San stood at the doorway with a gloomy face and eyes breathing fire, his entire body wreathed with dense Blue Silver Grass vines.

"Beast, stop!"

Staring fixedly at Xiong Shaoqing-who was half-undressed-Tang San put on a heartbroken, righteous stance and scolded angrily, "Xiong Shaoqing, I saw long ago that you were a sanctimonious hypocrite."

"Xiao Wu is now out of her right mind, yet you actually want to take advantage of her vulnerability and defile her innocence. You are simply utterly disgusting, unworthy of being a human being."

Faced with this impassionedly high-sounding accusation from Tang San, Xiong Shaoqing couldn't even be bothered to pull his clothes back on, merely straightening his body slowly.

He turned his head, his deep black eyes coldly watching Tang San as the corners of his mouth hooked into an undisguised sneer.

"Taking advantage of someone's vulnerability?"

Xiong Shaoqing chuckled coldly, his voice not loud, yet carrying a soul-piercing penetrative force. "Xiao Wu and I are already in a mutual affection, two hearts beating as one. When it reaches your mouth, how did it become taking advantage of someone's vulnerability?"

Chapter 88: Tender Honeyed Words

"On the contrary, you, Tang San." Xiong Shaoqing took half a step forward, the terrifying coercion of the Archaic Heaven-Shaking Bear vaguely emanating and tearing Tang San's disguise directly to shreds. "We had only just stepped into the inn on our front foot, and you smashed the door open on your back foot."

"Judging by your exasperated appearance of having been fully prepared, you've been tailing us for a long time, haven't you?"

Tang San's expression shifted slightly. "I... I was only worried for Xiao Wu's safety, and as expected I ran right into your beastly conduct."

"Is that so?" The mockery in the depths of Xiong Shaoqing's eyes grew even heavier. "That bowl of snow lotus seed soup was originally served to me. If Xiao Wu hadn't been greedy and snatched it away, the one suffering the outbreak right now would be me."

"This medicine is colorless and odorless, capable of incapacitating even a Soul Ancestor. In Suotuo City, aside from you, who else could possess such a fine trick?"

"Failing to harm others with your own poison, you instead act like a thief crying 'stop thief' right here and play the savior. Tang San, this play of yours is acting rather too poorly indeed."

With his bottom line exposed to his face, Tang San's handsome face instantly swelled to a purplish-red. Driven to fury by humiliation, his Level 41 Soul Power burst forth with a crash as Blue Silver Grass surged out crazily like venomous snakes. "A pack of lies! I'll kill you scum today to uphold justice for the heavens."

"You are courting death."

Just as Tang San prepared to make his move, a cold and furious feminine shout came from the corridor.

Zhu Zhuqing in the neighboring room had already heard the commotion. Arriving at the doorway, she happened to hear Xiong Shaoqing exposing Tang San's drugging.

At the thought that Xiao Wu's current state-worse than death and facing imminent peril-had all been single-handedly concocted by this sanctimonious Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing shook with anger, her murderous intent exposed in her eyes.

"Hell Stab."

Without any waste of words, Zhu Zhuqing's First Soul Ring flared with intense light, transforming her whole body into a streak of black lightning.

Having undergone the tempering of the "Archaic Body Tempering Art", her speed and explosive power had risen by a full thirty percent compared to before.

"Swish!" Her sharp cat claws tore through the air, heading straight for Tang San's throat.

A shock jolted through Tang San's heart. Clearly not expecting Zhu Zhuqing's speed to become this terrifying, he hurriedly executed the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to retreat violently, barely dodging this fatal blow.

"Zhu Zhuqing, have you lost your mind? I am saving Xiao Wu!" Tang San roared.

"Saving? A despicable and shameless petty person who uses poison like you has the cheek to mention the word save?" Zhu Zhuqing's cold face was covered in frost as her Second Soul Skill, Netherworld Hundred Claws, instantly activated, filling the sky with claw shadows that enshrouded Tang San like a violent storm.

Even as she attacked frantically, she glanced back at Xiong Shaoqing behind her, her tone carrying an unquestionable resolve. "Shaoqing, leave this place to me. Hurry and detoxify Xiao Wu; under no circumstances can you let anything happen to her."

With that, Zhu Zhuqing's offensive grew even more ferocious, forcibly driving Tang San back step by step.

"You bitch, daring to block my path!" Watching the plan he was about to ruin get disrupted by Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San was so enraged he nearly vomited blood. The Blue Silver Cage activated instantly, attempting to trap her.

Yet remembering the breathing technique imparted by Xiong Shaoqing, Zhu Zhuqing executed an incredible twist of her body mid-air, slipping through the gaps in the vines like a slippery loach before raking her claws fiercely across Tang San's chest and kicking up a few wisps of blood.

"Get outside to fight, don't dirty the floor here." Zhu Zhuqing gave a cold shout, leveraging the recoil force to forcefully shove Tang San out through the inn window. Their two figures vanished into the boundless night in an instant, leaving behind only the sound of colliding Soul Power continuously transmitting from the street.

Inside the inn room, tranquility was restored once more, leaving only Xiao Wu's increasingly heavy and burning breathing.

Standing by the window, Xiong Shaoqing watched the retreating back of Zhu Zhuqing leading Tang San away, a trace of gratification flashing within his deep eyes.

This little cat really did have rather good comprehension.

After practicing the Archaic Body Tempering Art for only a few days, she could already raise her explosive power and movement technique to this sort of degree.

Xiong Shaoqing calculated silently in his heart: although Tang San had reached Level 40 and obtained a fourth soul ring, Zhu Zhuqing's current physical body strength and reaction speed were no longer what they used to be.

Even if she could not beat that cheat, relying on the speed of the Hell Spirit Cat, withdrawing completely unscathed was an absolute certainty.

Moreover, within this Suotuo City, Tang San would not dare to stir up too great a commotion either.

Thinking up to this point, Xiong Shaoqing was completely reassured.

He turned around, his deep gaze falling upon that young maiden on the bed who was already infatuated and panting repeatedly.

Someone was fighting the battle outside, and the battle inside was also about to begin.

Xiong Shaoqing took a deep breath, casting all those chaotic thoughts completely out of his mind.

Walking over to the bedside, he looked at Xiao Wu's face-one rendered exceptionally charming and deeply pitiable by the medicinal force-and finally, that layer of cold disguise faded from the depths of his eyes, replaced by undisguised heat and tenderness.

"Xiao Wu, I am coming."

The night was thick and deep. The air inside the Heaven-Class Room felt as though it were being slow-simmered over a gentle fire, viscous and burning.

Faint muffled sounds of Zhu Zhuqing and Tang San's Soul Power colliding drifted in from outside the window, while within the sheer gauze bed-curtains that cut off the clamor of the outside world, nothing remained save for heart-pounding, heavy breathing and coquettishly charming moans.

Xiao Wu was laid down gently by Xiong Shaoqing onto the soft brocade quilt.

The medicinal potency of the potent aphrodisiac had already flooded her reason like a breached dam.

Her skin, originally white and flawless, was now suffused from her slender neck all the way down with a layer of charming, blushing red akin to freshly blooming peach blossoms.

"Hot... Big Brother, Xiao Wu is so hot..."

She wriggled her slender waist helplessly, her eyes covered by a layer of hazy water mist that refused to disperse, instinctively reaching out to tear at the already skimpy clothes upon her body.

Her pink outer garment was half-slipped off, revealing her rounded, snow-white fragrant shoulders along with the undergarment embroidered with a little rabbit.

Beneath the undergarment, two mounds of softness-having just begun to take shape-undulated slightly with her hurried breathing, trembling and alluring to the extreme.

Xiong Shaoqing stood by the bed, taking in a deep breath of the air carrying her faint sweet fragrance, only to feel the blood within his body surging along with it.

His face was like jade, yet his expression was as cold as ten-thousand-year glacial ice as he looked down from above at the peerless maiden on the bed, his voice low and hoarse: "Xiao Wu, the words I intended to say earlier were interrupted, so I will repeat them again."

"This medicinal potency is overbearing. To detoxify it, you and I must cross the line tonight. I, Xiong Shaoqing, act in an open and aboveboard manner; since I take you today, I will definitely protect you for all your days to come. Do you... consent?"

Listening to these words of extreme restraint and solemnity even at the edges of passion, a scalding tear slipped from the corner of Xiao Wu's eye.