Chapter 338: Defeated by Tang Wanzhuang

Chapter 338: Defeated by Tang Wanzhuang

Huangfu Qing truly wanted to test him once more.

This fellow was indeed good to her... When she was in a berserk state, he risked being killed by her, took a claw wound that left him bleeding, yet swung his blade to block a sneak attack for her; when faced with the Dragon-Elephant Blood Ginseng, so crucial for his body forging and likely never to be found again, he didn't care at all, instead feeding the ginseng liquid into her mouth, only seeking to restore her overdrawn body.

That moment truly touched her heartstrings. Huangfu Qing knew her fondness had turned into genuine affection. She was willing to be held in his arms, willing to help him release the aftereffects of the Blood Ginseng.

It was the atmosphere that made it so—she was willing, she wanted to be intimate with him, to kiss him... even if the surroundings were stained with blood and mud.

She liked him, yes, but she didn't want him to be fixated only on this matter, for her to exist merely as an outlet for his desires, even if the bed curtains were warm, the bath fragrant, the environment pleasant.

If that were the case, Huangfu Qing would be deeply disappointed, truly severing the ridiculous bond that should never have existed between them.

So they embraced and entered the tent. Huangfu Qing didn't even put on a nightgown, deliberately doing so to see if he could truly hold back.

After all, skin-to-skin contact was already ordinary... Hmm, his muscles were quite enticing. Leaning against his shoulder, she reached out to lightly stroke his chest, thinking to herself how she often heard in the capital about noblewomen seeking young lovers. She used to find it incomprehensible, but now it seemed understandable. This kind of thing wasn't just men being lustful; women could be too...

"Sister..." In the darkness, Zhao Changhe spoke helplessly.

"Hmm?" Huangfu Qing kept touching.

"Are you making this harder for me?"

Huangfu Qing pouted, withdrew her hand, then wrapped her arms around his waist again, adjusting her head comfortably in his shoulder: "Then let's sleep."

Even just that was already making it very hard.

Soft jade in his arms, the sensation of contact stirred his heart and soul. The fragrance of the bath lingered at his nose. Even in a normal state, it was hard to resist, let alone after being provoked earlier and having comprehended the Azure Dragon's intent, nearly bursting from suppression.

It was sheer torture, no easier than enduring the aftermath of consuming the Blood Ginseng.

Zhao Changhe lay stiffly, muscles taut, staring straight at the ceiling. He knew the tale of "beast or worse than beast," but he understood clearly that this moment was not the time for that.

She would never want to be a mere tool, and he could not treat her as one or a substitute.

Holding her smooth, jade-like shoulder, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to circulate the Heart Method of the Moon Reflecting Water, casting aside all thoughts, and closed his eyes.

Sensing his restless heart calming down, even his surging blood beginning to settle and suppress, Huangfu Qing in his arms glanced up at his profile in slight surprise.

This was Tang Wanzhuang's heart method, wasn't it?

That dead woman's technique indeed had some merit—this calming and mind-stilling effect surpassed even the Four Symbols Sect's methods. But using such a top-tier heart method to deal with this situation felt a bit like cheating, didn't it?

No, why was she analyzing martial arts here?

No, you're using Tang Wanzhuang's heart method against me?

Huangfu Qing didn't know what she was thinking. Driven by some impulse, she reached out to steal a peach, just to make him cheat.

Zhao Changhe, who had just closed his eyes, nearly popped his eyes out. What are you doing?

The next moment, he felt a warmth on his chest. Huangfu Qing brushed aside her hair, quietly lowered herself, and licked his chest.

Could Tang Wanzhuang's heart method withstand that? Hah!

Zhao Changhe's entire body tensed. This situation was off—was this a test? It seemed more like she wanted it herself.

Could it be that if he didn't make a move, he'd be worse than a beast?

Then who was going to hold back? Zhao Changhe decisively turned over, pressing the now muddle-headed Huangfu Qing beneath him, and lowered his head to kiss her.

"Hey, hey, hey?" Huangfu Qing was stunned. "No... mmm..."

This time, chaos reigned.

Once he took the initiative, he was truly aggressive as fire. Huangfu Qing once again felt a suffocating experience, unable to gather her thoughts for a moment.

This feeling was so strange... Though she was countless times stronger than him, she felt incredibly weak, as if she had no power to resist.

Their bodies tangled in the darkness, and gasps gradually arose.

The night grew even more hazy.

Huangfu Qing suddenly came to her senses and pushed him hard, gasping: "No, no... it's not supposed to be like this..."

This would ruin everything. She hadn't tested his intentions, but had debased herself instead. What was the point?

Zhao Changhe was truly exasperated this time: "Are you messing with me, sister?"

"No..." Huangfu Qing felt guilty and weak, her own words sounding like a plea and a beg: "Don't be like this, okay? I was wrong just now. I was just being playful..."

Zhao Changhe had no idea what she was thinking. She started it, and now when it came down to it, she backed out. Wasn't this torture? Thinking it over, he figured she probably needed coaxing, like the well-known line: "I'll just rub..."

"Don't..." Huangfu Qing was both amused and annoyed. Using that to coax a young girl was one thing, but coaxing a twenty-eight or twenty-nine-year-old, a demoness who had roamed the jianghu for over a decade, only hit a funny bone.

But this time, it really wasn't his fault. He had genuinely decided to sleep, even using a top-tier heart method. It was entirely her own misunderstanding. She didn't know what had gotten into her head—some kind of Spring Water Sword Technique.

"I was wrong, okay..." Huangfu Qing whispered into his ear: "Can we do it like in the cave?"

"That's not enough. Add something else?"

Huangfu Qing pouted pitifully and said softly: "Alright... Your concubine will serve Your Highness."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

She slowly slid down...

Zhao Changhe let out a long sigh, lying flat and still.

Huangfu Qing secretly looked up at his expression, wondering if this counted as passing the test... If he had endured, he had actually solved the problem; if he hadn't, he had indeed been willing to stop.

She might as well consider it a pass. After all, once that dead woman Tang's heart method was used, he could truly set aside all thoughts and sleep.

This defeat was a defeat at the hands of Tang Wanzhuang.

...

Neither of them knew when they fell asleep.

After everything, only the quiet of heartbeats remained. Huangfu Qing leaned against his shoulder again, no longer caring where his hands were placed. Before they knew it, they had both drifted off to sleep.

In truth, Huangfu Qing felt she hardly needed sleep anymore, perhaps only once in a very long while.

But lying in his shoulder, with an inexplicable peace, listening to his steady breathing, watching his profile, she felt like laughing and a little sweet.

This young man was quite endearing, and quite reliable.

Before she knew it, she had actually fallen asleep.

Waking at dawn, she opened her eyes to find they were still in the same position as when they had fallen asleep, almost unchanged. The only difference was that her leg was draped over him, holding him tightly like an octopus.

Looking up, she saw he seemed to have been awake for a while, holding still, afraid to disturb her sleep.

Huangfu Qing gazed at him steadily, a smile appearing once more.

Feeling her gaze, Zhao Changhe looked down at her and smiled too: "Awake?"

Huangfu Qing smiled without speaking, her expression softer than ever before.

This feeling was really nice—sleeping together, waking together, suddenly giving off the flavor of an old married couple.

She suddenly understood why Chi Chi had developed feelings for him so early and had so simply been willing to be shameless with him. It wasn't just the little enchantress's capriciousness... This feeling of sharing a bed and sleep, even if neither spoke of it, love gradually grew, as if home was here.

She felt that if she lay like this for another two or three days, she would give in, not even considering whether she was willing... In that sense, the trap Chi Chi had set had ultimately achieved its effect.

Huangfu Qing deliberately said: "Was Your Highness comfortable last night?"

"Hey, don't say that word. It gives me a headache."

Huangfu Qing said lazily, "What's the use of avoiding? You'll have to face it sooner or later."

Zhao Changhe fell silent; it was clear that this was what had been on his mind before.

He had tried to persuade them not to keep lingering in the palace, but they never listened. Yet persuading Huangfu Qing was useless too—she was just an executor. Perhaps he needed to meet with Zhuque and explain the pros and cons?

Huangfu Qing didn't continue either. She rose languidly, running her fingers through her hair, no longer caring how clearly he could see her in the morning sunlight.

"Knock, knock~" The door was rapped. Xia Chichi didn't wait for a reply; she opened the door herself, sauntered in with her hands behind her back, swaying as she walked, and poked her little head around the screen: "Are the newlyweds happy?"

Huangfu Qing dressed slowly and deliberately: "Does the Saint still plan to go to Yuxu Palace? Let me advise you: Changhe can go. A junior in the martial world paying respects to a local senior is a common courtesy. There are no conflicts of interest, so nothing should go wrong. But if our Four Symbols Sect pays a visit, the nature changes, and it will only hinder and affect what Changhe needs to do."

"So you really call him 'Changhe' now?"

Huangfu Qing shot her a sly glance: "Is that not what the Saint desires?"

Xia Chichi didn't catch the malice in Huangfu Qing's heart. Suppressing the sourness rising within her, she said, "I've thought it over too. I won't go to Yuxu Palace. The Yuxu True Person's attitude toward the Four Symbols Sect is unpredictable. Our business in Kunlun is done; I can return today."

Huangfu Qing said, "Yesterday the Saint said I should travel with you. I've thought about it—we should take different paths. The Saint should go to Hongnong, while I return to the capital..."

She paused, revealing a charming smile: "I've had someone to cherish me for a night, and I'm content. I'll take my leave now, leaving some space for the Saint to act spoiled."

Xia Chichi: "..."

Huangfu Qing finished adjusting her clothes, turned, and naturally kissed Zhao Changhe on the lips. She said softly, "I really have too many things to do; I can't stay long. Farewell."

Zhao Changhe knew she had more on her plate than anyone. Reluctantly, he hummed in acknowledgment: "Take care."

Huangfu Qing turned and walked away gracefully: "The martial world is full of temptations, little brother. Don't let others drain you dry first. If fate allows us to meet again in the future, even if you don't want me, I'll devour you."