The absorption of the cold energy took but a few moments.
Yang Shifei quickly perceived that the young woman's body pressed upon him was growing increasingly soft and pliant, as if even her strength had been completely drained.
Her original kneeling posture had, at some unknown point, shifted to her legs being wrapped around his waist.
True to her name, Tanxiang, a faint, wondrous floral fragrance permeated his nostrils.
The young woman's eyes were suffused with a watery sheen, like a fire that had just been ignited, a heart-trembling allure flickering within their depths.
Their lips met and rubbed against each other, somewhat clumsily.
And Yang Shifei, after his initial astonishment, soon gave a helpless, inward smile.
It seems I'm not the only one who's been single since birth; Tanxiang is too. Even if she's moved by emotion, she doesn't even know how to properly kiss.
Thinking this, he managed to dodge her ceaselessly nuzzling cherry lips. "That's not right. Want me to teach you?"
"Who… who'd want you to!"
Tanxiang's face was beet red, her watery eyes filled with a mix of shame and anger, along with a hint of inexplicable grievance. Crystalline teardrops even welled at the corners of her eyes.
But this interruption did allow her to regain a sliver of clarity.
I can't do such a shameless—Mmph!
Yang Shifei smothered the words she was about to utter, warming her cool little lips once more.
Tanxiang's beautiful eyes widened, and whimpering sounds escaped her lips, but her mind grew increasingly dazed and adrift. Her delicate figure swayed back and forth uncontrollably, causing the soft persimmons beneath her collar to be pressed into large, flat cakes.
In the next instant, a terrifying cold energy swept through the surroundings. The clothing on the young woman's back burst open, and her dark hair whipped about wildly.
Yang Shifei's heart skipped a beat.
She's revealing her true form.
Under the moonlight, several dark blades could be vaguely seen extending from the young woman's back, unfurling like sharp claws. They struck down fiercely, piercing the bedboards on either side. With the creaking, twisting, and shattering sounds of the bed, their bodies were slowly bound tightly together.
"…"
Yang Shifei's breathing grew heavy, the heat in his heart not diminishing in the slightest.
A beauty in his arms! So what if there are spider legs? What's there to be afraid of!
His mind gradually settled. He slowly caressed her along the lines of her night-traveling clothes, and Tanxiang's slender waist swayed back and forth as if coquettishly, twisting this way and that, exceptionally cute.
So, the servant girl's figure is even more buxom and fleshy than I imagined.
This thought flashed through Yang Shifei's mind, but his consciousness slowly grew hazy.
Two distinctly different cold energies battled within his body. Though it didn't cause sharp pain, it transformed into waves of fatigue and drowsiness that washed over him.
He fought against the exhaustion, kissing Tanxiang back a couple of times. Finally, he only had time to see the young woman curve her lips into an alluring smile, lift her glossy hair, slightly part her cherry lips, revealing sharp, pointed teeth that glinted with a cold light…
Sunlight streamed into the room from outside the window, stinging Yang Shifei's eyelids and making them twitch.
"Hiss—!"
The moment he woke from his dream, he couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath, feeling an intense soreness and numbness throughout his entire body, as if he'd lost all sensation.
Vaguely, in his dream, he seemed to have been ensnared in a giant spider's web, layer upon layer of pale webbing binding him tightly until he couldn't move at all.
"What kind of dream was… ugh."
Just as Yang Shifei was about to sit up, his face suddenly stiffened, and he quickly looked down at his embrace.
Tanxiang was still lying on top of him, her dark hair disheveled and scattered. Her night-traveling clothes had, at some point, become shredded strips, revealing her slender, delicate body. Her skin was fair and moist, as tender as mutton-fat jade.
And beneath her fragrant shoulders, one could see prominent, ripe mounds, rising and falling with their breathing.
Yang Shifei's throat moved slightly. For a moment, he couldn't bear to wake the dream-like, elfin young woman in his arms—although the bed they lay on was now in tatters, thoroughly ruining the atmosphere.
He tried to shift his body and found that her legs were still clamped tightly around his waist, clinging to him like a small animal, making it completely impossible to move.
Yang Shifei's expression was complicated. He gave up on trying to get up and tidy things, and instead tried gently stroking Tanxiang's back.
Those terrifying limbs from last night seemed to have been an illusion; her jade-like back was still smooth, without a single trace to be found.
Tanxiang let out a soft whimper and nuzzled against his shoulder, looking very much like an affectionate, clingy little girlfriend. This unconscious display of allure was truly captivating.
Yang Shifei admitted it; he was moved.
Tanxiang's crescent-moon-like eyelashes trembled slightly, and she woke up with a lingering, hazy drowsiness.
The young woman lifted her head, her gaze meeting his, still misty. She soon revealed a lazy, faint smile. "You're awake… awake…"
The words had just left her lips when Tanxiang's smile instantly froze. Her pupils unconsciously contracted, until her face was filled with utter shock.
"You—!"
Yang Shifei's eyes and hands were quick; he immediately covered her pink lips.
"Wait a moment! Miss, please listen to me first!"
He racked his brains frantically, sweat beading on his forehead. "Yesterday, you absorbed too much Filth and temporarily suffered a Qi deviation. And I just happened to be able to help you, so we just…"
"I understand."
Tanxiang forcefully pushed aside the hand clamped over her lips. The shock in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a look of complex helplessness.
"…There's no need to be so nervous. I remember what happened last night, and I understand you were helping me."
The young woman pressed her lips together slightly, her voice growing even softer. "It is I who should be thanking you. How could I possibly blame you?"
Seeing her so understanding, Yang Shifei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Tanxiang's gaze was incredibly complex, her heart filled with a myriad of worries and anxieties, which all ultimately dissolved into a soft, shallow sigh.
"Let's get up first before we talk."
The young woman unclasped her legs from around his waist and was about to get up, but she quickly realized her 'disastrous state' of being scantily clad and hurriedly raised her arms to cover her chest.
At the same time, she felt a rough touch on her lower back, as if a hand were resting on her…
Tanxiang's beautiful eyes gradually widened.
Only then did Yang Shifei realize—mainly because his left hand, which had been pressed underneath, was numb.
Tanxiang's face suddenly changed, her breathing growing more rapid. An alluring flush flew up her cheeks, actually revealing a hint of bewitching charm.
Yang Shifei's mouth fell open, and the words blurted out before he could think:
"Those plump, springy mounds, felt pretty good, huh?"
"You!" Tanxiang's pretty face instantly turned scarlet with shame. She glared fiercely with her almond-shaped eyes, her angry gaze looking as if she wanted to take a bite out of Yang Shifei.
But seeing the several bleeding teeth marks on his shoulder, the young woman hesitated, then merely shot him an indignant glare. "Libertine! Let go, quickly!"
"Oh, oh—" Yang Shifei, belatedly realizing, quickly withdrew his hand.
Tanxiang casually pulled the nearby blanket and threw it over his face, her voice turning cold. "Don't take it off. Close your eyes."
With that, she hurriedly scrambled off the bed and ran to the nearby wardrobe, rummaging through it for a while.
After a long moment, Yang Shifei finally heard a cold, low whisper:
"Open your eyes."
Yang Shifei pulled the blanket off his face and got out of bed. He saw Tanxiang had changed into his oversized robes. The ill-fitting hem almost trailed on the ground, and the two sleeves completely covered her small hands, actually giving her an added touch of adorable playfulness.
"What are you still looking at?"
Tanxiang subconsciously hugged her chest and cast a slightly disdainful glance at him. "Lewd!"
Yang Shifei could only manage a peculiar smile. Wrapped up like a rice dumpling like this, what was there left to see?
"…"
Tanxiang bit her lower lip, standing rooted to the spot, momentarily speechless.
She remembered everything that had happened last night clearly.
This man, he truly wasn't as gentle and refined as he appeared on the surface. He looked honest and simple, but in reality, he was a despicable, lewd scoundrel. It was just that… just that…
Tanxiang subconsciously fiddled with the hair at her temples, her gaze darting about. "Last night, we didn't… go all the way. So, Young Master, you don't need to be overly nervous."
Yang Shifei smiled helplessly. "Are you planning to return to the Luo Residence like this?"
"…No one will find out."
Tanxiang took a deep breath, trying to clear the distracting thoughts from her mind, and only then did she revert to the cool, aloof Luo family servant girl of usual.
She shot him a cold glance. "Don't reveal my secret to outsiders, and I won't reveal your peculiar ability. As for what happened last night, you'd best forget all of it."
"Then, can I tell Miss Luo?"
"…You may."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Yang Shifei quickly threw on his robes, got up, and saw her to the door, not attempting to stop her during this time.
Seeing her flustered and hurried steps, it was probably best to let her calm down a bit right now.
"Interesting~"
Just then, a young woman's light laughter came from behind.
Yang Shifei followed the sound and turned his head, only to see Yue Rui leaning on the windowsill, cupping her face. Her usual playful and cute smile was gone, only her eyes shimmering enigmatically.
"You two were fighting with your tongues all night long, weren't you?"
"…"
Almost forgot, this girl is a genuine night owl.
Wait, just how long was she listening in?!