Тhе dооr hаd been treаtеd with pine rеsin, and as it ореnеd, а рleasаnt pine scent drifted in with the соol night wind. Тhe уоung mаstеr had сlеаrlу сhangеd his clothes. Не worе a wide-cоllared, nаrrow-sleеvеd, dаrk gоld lоng rоbе. Belоw thе hem оf his rоbе was а pаir оf navy bluе bоots, thеir surface аdorned with a dаrk суan рattern of а руthon-drаgоn. Тhе раttern wаs еxquisitеly dеtailed, уet соnсeаlеd bу а dark design of thе same color. Аt a glancе, it apрeаrеd plаin and understated, almost unnoticeable without close inspection. Upon closer examination, however, a hint of ferocious grandeur subtly emerged.
The room was dimly lit, with only two palace lanterns placed in the north and south corners. The lanterns were covered with pink lampshades, casting the entire room in an amorous, shadowy light. A woman in a peach-pink, wide-chested muslin dress knelt on the floor. Seeing someone enter, she kowtowed deeply, her head lowered in an extremely deferential manner. From above, one could only see a neck as graceful and white as a swan's.
City Lord Tian’s face was still a little pale, but he forced himself to remain composed and said, “Young Master, please rest. This official will take his leave.”
The young master nodded and said in a deep voice, “Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Tian.”
City Lord Tian nodded and bowed, offering a few more fawning words. Before leaving, he said to the woman kneeling on the floor, “You are to serve the young master well, do you understand?”
The woman quickly lowered her body even further, appearing all the more humble and cautious. In a soft, gentle voice, she replied, “Yes.”
Her voice was lovely—as gentle as water, humble and obedient—but it seemed as if she had just woken up, carrying a slightly heavy nasal tone. The young master paid it no mind, and City Lord Tian clearly didn't think anything of it either. After bidding the young master farewell, he withdrew and carefully closed the door.
The sound of footsteps gradually faded, but one could tell that at least twenty guards were still standing watch outside the room. They were all skilled experts, not ordinary men.
The lamplight flickered, casting the room in a hazy glow. At the front of the room was an absurdly large bed. It was called large because it was less a bed and more like a raised platform on the floor; even five or six people lying side by side would likely not feel crowded. It was covered with scarlet brocade, soft quilts, and high pillows. In front of the magnificent red silk canopy was a curtain of dazzling Eastern pearls, veiled by an outer layer of red gauze. There was no wind in the room, yet for some unknown reason, the gauze curtains danced on their own, swaying lightly. Under the warm-toned light, they exuded a fluid, extravagant, and amorous air.
The young master in the dark gold robe nonchalantly lifted the gauze curtain and sat on the bed. He leaned back casually and looked at the woman still kneeling by the door. In a flat voice, he said, “Aren't you coming over?”
His voice was very deep, with a heavy nasal tone, as if he had caught a cold. Even his breathing seemed a bit labored.
The woman responded with a hum as faint as a mosquito's buzz. Then, remaining on her knees, she began to crawl forward with her head still lowered. Reaching the young master's side, she extended a pair of fair, delicate hands, lifted one of his legs, and placed it on a small footstool. She then gently removed his boot, and then proceeded to remove the other.
A sudden “thump” was heard. The young master kicked the woman's shoulder. The force wasn't great, but it knocked her hands away. The woman froze, her body instantly trembling. She prostrated herself on the floor, not daring to lift her head.
The young master sat on the bed, frowning as he looked down at her. His expression was grim, seemingly a mix of anger and disappointment, yet faintly tinged with an inexplicable sense of relief.
There was no need to look any further. The man slowly raised his head and stared at the ceiling.
It had been too much of a fantasy to begin with. If it were her, how could she have been captured so easily? Even if she were captured while heavily injured, wouldn't she have definitely escaped afterward? Let alone serve someone so meekly and humbly, so cautiously and silently?
On the other hand, that female assassin from earlier, that final cold voice, and those nimble, superb combat skills…
At this moment, he was almost eighty percent certain of that person's identity!
At this thought, he couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. Had the drenching rain muddled his brain? But even so, he hadn't sent his own tracking experts along with the City Lord's guards to capture the assassin. It was a strange psychology, one that made it difficult for him to grasp his own intentions for a moment. Was it because he didn't want to stir up more trouble? Was it because of that twenty percent of lingering doubt? Or was it that he didn't want her to fall into anyone else's hands?
He decided not to dwell on it. He stood up abruptly and strode toward the bathing pool behind the screen, unfastening his outer robe as he walked. He tossed it carelessly to the floor, wearing only a white cotton inner shirt. His ink-black hair came loose, scattering untamed down his back. His face was fair, his lips crimson, and his eyes held a wicked charm. His entire being radiated a handsome, devilish aura.
She was just a woman, after all!
The young master thought to himself, I just want to get my things back.
The lamplight flickered. The young master had already taken off his inner shirt, revealing his well-built arms. Bare-chested, he walked into another room behind the screen. As he opened the door, steam billowed out, and a wave of warmth washed over him.
Chu Qiao kept her head down the entire time, never once looking up at the man. Yes, the woman in the peach-pink light muslin was none other than Chu Qiao. A large number of the City Lord's soldiers had just gathered outside. No matter how much confidence she had in herself, she knew that even with an AK-607 assault rifle, she couldn't possibly fight her way out of an encirclement of so many people. Not to mention that even if she broke out of the room, there was still the vast City Lord's manor, the entire defense system of Wupeng City, and all the guards outside with drawn bows hunting for the assassin. And the man she had just fought on the corridor roof was definitely not easy to deal with.
In her haste, she could only resort to this desperate plan: hide the unconscious woman, change into her clothes, and try to bluff her way through. Sure enough, her gamble paid off. She had successfully deceived City Lord Tian, and the highly skilled man before her was clearly not interested in her.
A corner of Chu Qiao's mouth twitched in self-satisfaction. It would be best if this sanctimonious man who kept thwarting her plans had no interest in women, yelled at her, and threw her out. That way, she could just swagger out of the encirclement of those dozens of guards.
“You, come here.”
Her joy was short-lived. Just as Chu Qiao was secretly celebrating, a deep voice suddenly came from the entrance of the bath chamber. “Scrub my back.”
Chu Qiao's expression instantly became very colorful. She frowned, considering whether she should sneak in now and finish him off with a single strike while he was off guard. But the man's next words immediately put her at ease.
“Then you can leave.”
It was better to avoid trouble. Chu Qiao instantly perked up and stood, taking the small, quick steps of a humble and obedient slave girl as she followed him.
The moment she opened the door to the bath chamber, a wave of hot air rushed to meet her. White steam was everywhere, making it impossible to see and a little difficult to breathe. Chu Qiao frowned and was about to enter when she heard the man's deep voice from inside, “Take off your shoes.”
Sure enough, a warm, damp feeling spread from her feet; her shoes were already half-soaked. Chu Qiao quickly pulled her foot back, took off her wet shoes, and walked in barefoot.
The bath chamber was built to be enormous, even more so than the bedroom outside. But from the outside, one would never have guessed that such a large space existed behind a single screen. In the center of the chamber was a large bathing pool that could rival a swimming pool. On three of the pool's walls were four white jade statues of beautiful women. Each statue was half-naked, in a seductive pose with alluring eyes. Steaming hot water gushed from behind these twelve statues, flowing into the pool, then spilling over the edge and running along the floor into surrounding troughs, before being drained out through pipes.
Chu Qiao estimated that it would be difficult to sustain such consumption if the water were heated manually. Moreover, the water temperature was extremely high; with the current technology, the water would probably have cooled before it even flowed in, and there wouldn't be so much steam. Clearly, the City Lord's manor must have been built over a subterranean hot spring. This City Lord Tian was a man who knew how to enjoy life. He had people drill into the ground to channel the spring water up, spending a fortune to build such a luxurious artificial hot spring. The pipes that transported the hot spring water were cast from copper and iron, heated red-hot by charcoal fires, so that the water hissed and released a huge cloud of white steam the moment it flowed in.
A few palace lanterns were lit around the bath chamber, some bright, some dim, but all were faint and gloomy. On the walls of the chamber were some relief carvings. Chu Qiao looked closely and saw that they were all portraits of bewitching women, uniformly unclothed, merely covering a few key areas with their hands in various alluring, shy poses, which only made them more enticing.
Unsure if it was because the room was too hot or for some other reason, Chu Qiao's face flushed red. She immediately lowered her eyes, not daring to look anymore.
Above the bathing pool was a high platform, with a roaring fire underneath heating a warm kang bed on top. On the kang was a whole white bearskin rug, with fruits, wine, and meat placed on either side. Chu Qiao knew at a glance what it was for. With this heated kang, the furs would not get damp even in such a bath chamber, making it very convenient for men to engage in some intense, health-benefiting exercise with these charming little slave girls after a bath.
“Are you dead?”
The deep voice slowly drifted over. Even with the heavy nasal tone, it couldn't hide the powerful, murderous aura in his voice.
Chu Qiao rolled her eyes coldly. Scrub his back? We'll see if I don't scrub a layer of your skin off!
Then, she walked in barefoot.
The closer she got to the pool, the thicker the steam became, and the harder it was to see. By the time she reached the edge of the pool, she couldn't see her hand in front of her face.
Chu Qiao fumbled forward, testing the ground with her feet. Water vapor was everywhere, and she couldn't tell if she had reached the pool's edge. Suddenly, with a “plop,” Chu Qiao stumbled. Her foot slipped, and her body lost its balance, toppling toward the pool. She could have easily regained her footing with a simple cross-step stance, but considering the man in the pool was a combat expert she couldn't even get the better of, she could only let herself fall into the huge pool with a bitter expression, not daring to make any move.
However, just then, a slender hand shot out and caught Chu Qiao by the waist. A powerful force came, and with two deft pushes, she was left half-kneeling by the side of the pool.
“I just told you to come scrub my back. Don't pull so many stunts.”
The deep voice echoed slowly in the steamy bath chamber. The man's tone was extremely cold, laced with undisguised disdain. Clearly, he had already decided that Chu Qiao's actions were a form of seduction.
Chu Qiao took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her heart. She fumbled to her knees by the pool's edge and looked around for a moment, but she couldn't see where the back-scrubbing towel was. A light sweat broke out on her forehead, and her brows slowly furrowed.
A splashing sound came from the water. Although Chu Qiao couldn't see, she could still feel that the man in front of her had turned back around. Through the hazy mist, Chu Qiao could even feel his sharp and impatient gaze. Because she had spoken at the end of their fight, to prevent him from recognizing her by her voice, she deliberately changed her pitch. Her voice became high, thin, and soft, tinged with a careful sycophancy. “This slave, how about I give the young master a massage first?”
The man in front of her didn't speak, just turned his head away, seemingly giving his tacit approval.
Chu Qiao rolled up her sleeves, extended a pair of fair, delicate hands, and began to massage the young master.
An excellent special agent must be able to perfectly interpret various identities in different environments. This was especially true for a female agent, who inevitably had to make some sacrifices involving her looks for the sake of her work. Chu Qiao had received professional training in massage techniques in the modern world. Even after so many years without using them, her skills had not grown rusty. Soon, her professional techniques, which were different from those of this era, won the satisfaction of the man before her. At the very least, from the gradual relaxation of his muscles, Chu Qiao knew that he was slowly calming down.
Although she couldn't see his face, it was undeniable that this man had a very good physique. Or rather, "very good" was an understatement. His muscles were extremely firm, but not grotesquely knotted like a common martial artist's. Instead, they had perfect lines, smooth and well-toned, not an ounce too much, not an inch too little. He possessed both the refined elegance of a scholar and the masculine beauty of a man. Just by looking at his upper body, one could tell he was very tall, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs, without a single inch of excess fat. It was evident that he exercised regularly, a fact to which Chu Qiao's still-aching shoulder could attest, proving his exquisite martial skill.
Using a nearby ladle, she scooped up hot water and poured it over the man's shoulders. The water flowed down his latissimus dorsi muscles and into the steaming pool. Chu Qiao's fair fingers worked hard, kneading his body. Unlike ordinary women, her wrists were strong, her acupoint recognition was precise, and her technique was very professional. The man let out a slow, deep breath, then tilted his head back slightly, actually leaning against Chu Qiao's thighs as if he intended to take a nap.
Chu Qiao's brows furrowed tightly, but she was helpless. She knew this man's skills were extraordinary; even if she went all out, she might not have a chance of escaping unscathed. And even if she killed him while he was off guard, it would be difficult to escape the siege of the guards outside. Moreover, her mission tonight was to rescue Cai Qin, and she didn't even know where that woman was being held. She didn't want to create more complications. Suppressing her anger, she held the man's shoulders and continued to massage him slowly. In a short while, her forehead was covered in sweat, and she felt more tired than if she had fought a round of Seven Forms Fist.
Plink. A drop of sweat slid from her forehead and landed right on the bridge of the man's nose. Without opening his eyes, the young master said faintly, “Take off your clothes.”
“Ah?” Chu Qiao was stunned for a moment, but then she realized her gaffe and quickly composed herself. “Young Master, what are you planning to do?”
“You're probably dying for me to do something to you right now, aren't you?” The young master chuckled, his voice tinged with faint mockery and coldness. “Unfortunately, I'm not in the mood. I just haven't seen anyone wear clothes in a bath chamber. A kind reminder, so you don't die of heat.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Young Master, but this slave is not hot.”
Although he knew this was a lie, the young master recalled City Lord Tian's words and said nothing more, lapsing back into silence. After all, she was still an untouched virgin. She might have a few little tricks, but her skin was still a bit thin.
Chu Qiao's expression was grim. The steam here was thick, making her as good as blind, so there was no need to keep up the pretense. This man was simply pushing his luck. Recalling how he had groped her on the corridor roof, Chu Qiao's lips curled into a cold smile. Her brow arched as a plan came to mind. Her fingers slid slowly down his shoulder, her fingertips like butterflies, tracing a path with a hint of flirtation, moving bit by bit over his shoulder, neck, and firm chest muscles, then drawing circles up and down.
The man's lips curved into a faint smile, but he didn't say anything, clearly acquiescing to this teasing.
Chu Qiao lowered her voice, speaking in a coquettish tone, “Young Master, this is the Qianyun acupoint. It's the best for relieving fatigue.” With that, she clenched her five fingers into a fist and slammed her knuckles viciously into his chest.
As expected, the man let out a muffled grunt, his body arching completely, all traces of his previous languor gone.
Chu Qiao feigned panic, quickly kneeling with her head down, and said in a flustered voice, “Did this slave use too much force?”
The man grunted a few times, breathing rapidly. After a long while, he managed to say in a hoarse but manly voice, “It's not your fault.”
Then, panting, he sat back by the edge of the pool and said in a deep voice, “Damn girl, you really hit hard.”
“Is the young master talking about me?”
“Not you.”
Chu Qiao naturally knew who he was talking about, because that spot was exactly where she had landed a punch on him during their fight. But there was something strange about his tone, as if he knew her. Chu Qiao slowly frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“Were you bought by Lord Tian from Xianyang City a few days ago?”
The man was suddenly in the mood, graciously wanting to chat with her.
It seemed the woman in the cabinet had just been bought from Xianyang City. What a coincidence. Chu Qiao continued to use that sickeningly sweet voice, “Replying to the young master, yes, this slave was.”
“En,” the man continued to ask, “From which merchant were you bought?”
Chu Qiao only knew one slave trader in Xianyang City, so she immediately said, “Boss Mu from the West Market.”
“The West Market?” At these words, the man in the pool suddenly became interested. He turned his whole body around and asked in a deep voice, “Then have you seen a woman—oh, no, a young man, about your height, very handsome, and very skilled in martial arts?”
Chu Qiao frowned and said, “Skilled in martial arts? If they were skilled, would they be captured and sold as a slave?”
“She was injured, quite heavily it seems. And she seemed to have a companion with her.”
The more Chu Qiao heard, the more alarmed she became. Her brows knitted together as she asked probingly, “There are many people like that. Does the young master know the young man's name?”
“Her name is…” The man paused, thought for a long time, then said, “Forget it. She would probably use a fake name.”
“Then this slave wouldn't know,” Chu Qiao said, feigning a relaxed tone. She even let out a small laugh, then asked cautiously, “Who is the young master looking for? Right, someone of the young master's status wouldn't have slave friends. Is it one of the young master's family slaves?”
The man's interest instantly waned. He turned his head away and said no more. Behind the beautiful statues, steaming hot water continued to pour in with a gurgling sound. After a long time, Chu Qiao suddenly heard the young master say softly, “I'm hunting her.”
A chill went down Chu Qiao's spine. She secretly thought that the pursuers from Daxia had most likely arrived. They were truly formidable, to have found her like this, cornering her in Wupeng City and even finding Boss Mu's stall. It seemed that if she hadn't managed to sneak onto the Zhan family's large ship, she might have really been in trouble. At this moment, she had to once again reconsider whether escaping the Zhan residence was the right move. It might be better to temporarily stay on the ship and see what Jing Han was up to than to be caught by Daxia's pursuers.
Just as she was lost in thought, the man in front of her suddenly stood up. Chu Qiao was massaging his neck at that moment. With his abrupt movement, she completely lost her balance. With a loud splash, before she could even struggle, Chu Qiao plunged headfirst into the pool, sinking to the bottom in an instant. Her head slammed hard against the pool floor. If the water hadn't been deep and buoyant, that impact alone would have been enough to make her head bleed.
Chu Qiao was dizzy. Just then, a strong force gripped her hand. Her body felt light as she was pulled up like a radish from the ground.
Whoosh!
“Cough, cough, cough, cough!”
The water dragons on both sides suddenly intensified their spray, sending up huge splashes. White mist and steam billowed up, filling the entire bath chamber. The man helped Chu Qiao up. She leaned against his arm, coughing loudly and ungracefully. A special agent who had choked on water was just like a normal person—face red, neck thick, and throat burning as if seared by hot coals.
The two of them stood in the center of the pool, the warm water reaching their waists. White steam filled the bath chamber, making it nearly impossible for them to see each other.
The young master could only feel the woman in his arms trembling violently, as if she were about to cough up her lungs. She was quite tall but extremely thin. Her arms had almost no flesh, yet they felt good to the touch, her skin full of elasticity, smooth and warm.
Looking up, he saw that in the hazy white mist, the woman's clothes were soaked through, clinging tightly to her body. This further accentuated her slender and graceful figure, with its captivating curves and well-defined contours. Her long, shapely, and toned legs were pressed firmly against his own; a single touch was enough to know she was no match for the high-born ladies raised in sheltered boudoirs.
For some unknown reason, a trace of gentleness arose in the man's heart. He reached out and patted Chu Qiao's back lightly to help ease her coughing. But unexpectedly, the moment his hand landed, the thin gauze of her clothing slipped away, and his palm was suddenly pressed against the woman's smooth, soft back. It felt like the finest suet jade, slick and supple to the touch, an astonishingly good sensation.
Chu Qiao's body stiffened, and for a moment, she even forgot to cough.
A gloomy look flashed in the man's eyes. He grabbed Chu Qiao's arm, and in the next instant, he abruptly lowered his head and kissed her lips fiercely, a deep, bruising kiss.
In that moment, Chu Qiao was completely stunned, both horrified and enraged. She felt the man's strong arms pull her into a tight embrace. Before she could clench her teeth, her jaw was deftly pried open by his tongue. A fierce and wild aura broke through as he held her fast with one arm and pressed the back of her head firmly with the other, leaving her no room to escape, unutterably domineering.
Immense terror left Chu Qiao's mind blank for a moment, but in the next, she snapped back to her senses. She raised a foot to kick the man viciously. In her haste, however, she forgot they were in the water. The resistance not only prevented her kick from landing but also caused her to slip and fall backward.
The man gave a wicked smile, a devilish glint in his eyes. Holding her, he followed her down into the pool. With a loud splash, a huge spray of water erupted.
Warm water rushed in from all directions, instantly filling their ears. Their long, dark hair danced chaotically in the water, obscuring their vision. The man pressed down on Chu Qiao as they slowly sank in the meter-deep water. Flower petals scattered in disarray. Just as they were about to hit the bottom, the man supported the back of her head with one hand and her waist with the other, then once again crushed his lips against hers in a bruising kiss.
The young master's kissing technique was skilled and frenzied, as if he were venting some pent-up emotion. His wild tongue roamed inside her mouth, draining her sweetness and strength. One of his hands began to climb slowly upward from her waist. Chu Qiao's brows furrowed tightly. No longer caring about hiding her skills, she balled her hand into a fist to stop him. But all her movements were greatly diminished in the water. The man withdrew the hand from under her head and, with a few practiced moves, pinned both of her hands behind her back. He clamped his legs more tightly around hers, and his other hand continued its ascent, sliding over her soft waist, her flat abdomen, her high, full breasts...
"Mmph..."
Chu Qiao let out a muffled groan and began to struggle violently. She suddenly opened her mouth and bit down hard on the man's lip. The thick taste of blood instantly filled their mouths. Yet, he did not retreat. Her resistance only fueled his desire. He reached out and tore open the front of her dress, revealing a large expanse of crystalline skin.
Chu Qiao's eyes flew wide open. She let out a sudden, furious grunt, feeling his warm palm touch the smooth skin of her chest, which made her even more incensed. With a deft joint-locking technique, she broke free from his grasp, then slammed her elbow back into his chest. With a light leap, she burst out of the water.
"Hah!"
The long time spent holding her breath left Chu Qiao's cheeks flushed. She gasped for air. A moment later, with a plop, the man's head also emerged from the water.
"Come here!" His deep, hoarse voice sounded slowly, cold and tinged with impatience. He said in a low tone, "Don't play this game of playing hard to get with me!"
Oh, fine. Chu Qiao was so angry she laughed. She curled her lips into a cold smile and narrowed her eyes, like a hunter who had spotted its prey, filled with the resolution to fight to the death.
Unfortunately, the mist was too thick for the man to see her expression. So when she began to walk slowly toward him through the water, he thought she had come to her senses and was going to obey him.
But just then, the woman's body suddenly shot forward like a cheetah. She leaped into the air from a standing start, clearing half a meter even in the water. Then, with a swing of her arm, her right leg whipped up in a whirlwind kick!
BANG!
An even bigger splash than before erupted. In his stunned state, the man took Chu Qiao's kick square in the chest and was sent flying backward.
Close behind, the enraged lioness pounced, catching up to him and falling into the water with him. She then raised her fists and mercilessly pummeled the man's handsome face.
It all happened in a flash. Although the man's skills were in no way inferior to hers, he had no time to react to such an explosive assault. A series of loud thuds rang out as his face took several consecutive punches. If they hadn't been in the water, those few blows would have been enough to break his nose.
The man was momentarily dazed by the beating. He couldn't win; he had no chance to fight back. He then made a move that was very much out of character. He shoved Chu Qiao away, scrambled up clumsily, and started crawling toward the edge of the pool.
"Trying to run?"
Chu Qiao spat out a mouthful of water. Like an enraged leopard, she leaped at him again.
At this moment, with her speed, surprise attack technique, and powerful rage perfectly combined, the man had no chance to retaliate. After being pinned down and thoroughly beaten by the formidable woman once more, he finally climbed out of the pool and ran toward the bathhouse exit.
Chu Qiao gave him no such opportunity. Now that she had been exposed, she had to eliminate the threat completely. Otherwise, if he escaped, she would be the one to die.
She flew forward and wrapped her arms around the man's waist. With a thud, they both fell to the ground.
Now that they were on dry land, the man adjusted quickly and was no longer completely on the defensive. Instead of retreating, he advanced. In the thick white mist, two figures erupted simultaneously, launching a series of rapid attacks in head-on close-quarters combat. Elbows collided, knees drove forward, and fists met, the speed and force of their blows a sight to behold.
Chu Qiao had already exposed herself. If he managed to escape, she would have no hope of survival, so she naturally fought with her life on the line.
As for the man, he was no longer naive enough to treat her as an ordinary slave girl. He was on full alert, unleashing all his ultimate moves without reservation.
There were no weapons, no assassinations, no sneak attacks—only genuine, unadulterated skill, with no fancy tricks or techniques. In the blink of an eye, it had become a life-or-death duel.
Clang, clang, thud, thud. After dozens of exchanges, their elbows, knees, and feet were numb from the impacts, and their hands had lost all feeling. But they both held on for dear life. No one spoke, and no one tried to call for help. It was a showdown of fast attacks against fast attacks, allowing for no distraction. Neither could afford to let their assault slow for even a moment.
Both their eyes were bloodshot. Suddenly, the two shadows shot toward each other in the white mist like bolts of lightning. After a round of exchanges that reached the peak of speed, their fingers simultaneously closed in on each other's throats, a mutually destructive move.
Death was descending! They were evenly matched!
Their movements were astonishingly identical, their five fingers forming claws that gripped the other's windpipe. If either one made the slightest move, they would mercilessly crush the other's throat.
Then, with surprising tacit understanding, neither moved. Instead, they both slowly raised their other hand and gave a slight wave, signaling a truce.
Perish together? Only a fool would do that.
Then, almost at the same time, they released their fingers from each other's throats and slowly backed away, indicating a temporary ceasefire before resuming the fight.
Just then, the loud sound of rushing water suddenly filled the air. At this critical juncture, the hot spring began a large-scale refill.
And in that instant, the fingers that had just retreated shot forward again. Just as they were about to snap the other's neck, they both felt the pressure on their own.
In unison, they both shot each other a cold, rolling glare.
"Despicable!"
The word came out in perfect, simultaneous unison.
At that moment, however, the man suddenly kicked a wooden bucket by the pool's edge, sending his body sliding backward. He then stood up and, ignoring Chu Qiao behind him, turned and bolted.
This woman was a super expert in close combat. There was no need to fight her head-on. As long as he got out of the bathhouse, the guards outside would hear the commotion, and he would be in an unbeatable position.
However, Chu Qiao's reaction was incredibly fast, her calculations incredibly precise. She leaped up, her figure like a phantom as she gave chase.
Their eyes were in sync! Their steps were in sync! Their movements were in sync! Even their chosen escape routes were identical!
BANG! The bathhouse door finally let out a loud, muffled boom. Taking a side kick from Chu Qiao, the man kicked the door open.
Chu Qiao's scalp instantly went numb. She knew that sound would have alerted the guards outside. In three seconds at most, they would break in. Arrows would fly, and she would have no escape.
Her only chance was to take down this man within three seconds, then get onto that ultra-luxurious bed with him, strike an ambiguous pose, and bluff their way through.
Without time to think about the flaws in this plan, Chu Qiao took several flying leaps forward, tearing off her cumbersome gauze dress as she ran, leaving her in only a small cloth top and scandalously short pants.
A direct assault was her only option. Pushing off the wall, Chu Qiao launched herself into the air. With immense momentum, she crashed onto the man's back. They tumbled twice, and she landed a punch squarely on his back, sending them both sprawling onto the magnificent, soft, luxurious bed.
By now, the footsteps outside were drawing near. Either subdue him and bluff her way out, or subdue him and take him hostage. All paths led to the same prerequisite: she had to subdue him, to capture him!
In that instant, Chu Qiao felt like she was going crazy.
With a skilled flick of her wrist, they exchanged more than twenty blows in a flash. Their wrists were red and swollen, their elbows bruised. Finally, just as the footsteps reached the door, Chu Qiao accomplished the feat.
She had successfully captured him, her hand once again closing around the man's neck. But the price she paid was that her own neck was also firmly in the man's grip.
The situation was uncannily similar to before. Perish together? Perish together!
A frantic knocking came from the door, along with the anxious shouts of the guards.
The lights in the room flickered, casting a hazy glow, but it was still clear enough to make out the other person's face.
At this point, the man and woman who had been tormenting each other for half the night finally had the chance to look up and see just who their opponent was.
But upon seeing each other, their mouths fell open in unison. Like a pair of idiots, they stared wide-eyed, frozen like mummies.
BANG!
A loud crash suddenly sounded as the door was rammed open. The soldiers outside crowded into the room. The young warrior in the lead shouted, "Fourth Young Master! Fourth Young Master! What happened?"
Then, everyone's gaze fell upon the two on the bed, and they all froze with the same horrified, dumbstruck expression.
The entire room was in chaos, as if it had just been ransacked by a thief. Water puddled everywhere, the carpet was a mess, the quilt was half on the floor, and their clothes were strewn about. And on that magnificent bed, a man and a woman were entangled in an extremely ambiguous position, staring wide-eyed at each other, before turning in unison to look at the door.
"WHO LET YOU IN!!!"
In an instant, it was as if a Category 10 typhoon had swept the land. Yue Qi and the others felt as if they were about to be blown away. On the bed, the man, his dark hair standing on end and his face beet red, let out a world-shaking lion's roar. The men's faces instantly turned ashen, and a few of the more timid ones even fell to the ground with a thud.
Then, in less than three seconds, the door was carefully closed again. The men, terrified as a flock of quails, had lost all semblance of master warriors.
After a long, stunned silence, the only two people left in the room turned their heads in unison and roared furiously at each other:
"How is it you?"
OpenNovel