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Blood splattered all over the wall and ground but the sound of feminine laughters and giggles did not cease to exist and continued to resound within the cave.
Shen Jiu would never believe that women could be that ruthless, but the proof was shown in front of him.
They were all women.
They were all monsters.
A bloody corpse of Wu Yanzi laid there, lifeless. Died just a few seconds ago for offending this group of beautiful ladies. Gorgeous monsters. Died because of his arrogance.
Shen Jiu should really feel something for his dead ‘master’, but truthfully he felt nothing. A few months following him, Shen Jiu knew he had landed in a wolf’s den after escaping the lion’s trap, but he was helpless and couldn’t do anything.
It was a good thing he died, now Shen Jiu was free.
Too bad he would die soon too.
The sound of giggling ceased as a very beautiful lady, that seemed to be the leader of the pack, raised her hand. “Girls, girls, cease,” she said with a naturally alluring voice. She looked young, but Shen Jiu didn’t dare to guess her age.
Her eyes landed on Shen Jiu who had hidden himself when Wu Yanzi entered and strutted in arrogantly. For all that man’s brilliance in scamming people and escaping people who wanted him dead, he really looked down too much on this group of ladies... No, monsters.
Shen Jiu straightened, eyeing the gorgeous woman cautiously. He needed to know whether silence or words of defense could save him from this situation.
The gorgeous woman blinked in surprise when she saw Shen Jiu’s clear eyes, she threw her head back and laughed in a flippant manner, however, she still looked very charming whilst doing that. “How curious!”
Every other girl within the cave blinked curiously and looked at Shen Jiu with their own clear eyes that seemed to gleam in the dark. If there wasn’t a bloody mangled corpse in the midst of them and if Shen Jiu didn’t see how they just brutally murdered someone, Shen Jiu wouldn’t believe that they could kill someone so easily even if you threatened him.
After the leader seemed to cease laughing, she tilted her head back to look at Shen Jiu, “I’ve never seen a human male past his ten that didn’t even get moved by my charm! Only those with a higher level of cultivation could,” she licked her lips. “So clean and clear, your eyes are. What’s your name, boy?”
Every other girl purred when they heard their leader was interested and not murderous towards the youth, delighted. It would be such a waste to kill such a handsome seed.
Shen Jiu shifted, carefully answering, “Shen Jiu...” he replied.
“Who is that man to you?” The woman asked again, no malice in her voice. Just a simple curiousity accompanied by a hint of tease and seduction, a normalcy for her kind.
“He was my master...” Shen Jiu answered.
“Master? Oh dear, you must be feeling so at loss now...” The woman cooed, almost mockingly.
“No,” Shen Jiu shook his head. Worried that the next sentence would be ‘why don’t you follow your dear teacher???’
“No?”
“He was a scum. I don’t really care about him,” Shen Jiu said honestly. “I followed him because I got no choice. If I quit, he would kill me for sure because I’ve seen all of his horrible deeds and secrets...”
“I don’t doubt that,” The lady smiled with her crimson-smeared lips. “You had to go through such a difficult time to follow him. Why don’t you step forward, boy?”
Shen Jiu only hesitated for a second before he stepped forward.
The lady extended her hand, “Your hand,” she softly demanded and Shen Jiu put his hand on hers. She put a flower in his hand, did something that Shen Jiu couldn’t comprehend, and then smiled beautifully as she said, “Blow on it.”
Shen Jiu reluctantly blew on it and then she snatched his hand closer and looked at the flowers. Her expression changed so many of times within a span of a minute and when she was back from whatever trance she had been she looked at Shen Jiu deeply and pulled him closer.
“Oh, poor child. The fate is really treating you like her stepson, but have no worries, your future is still a mystery. I will protect you from whatever misery. Live with me, be my subordinate,” the lady sighed as she stroke Shen Jiu’s hair. Shen Jiu froze.
“P... pardon?” Shen Jiu said formally.
The lady smiled, “I’m called Madam Meiyin, as you can see, I’m the madam, the leader of this whole bunch of succubi. They’re all my girls. From now on, you may become our person. You may live here.”
“Ah...?” Shen Jiu gaped, the change was too much and too drastic that he couldn’t comprehend what had happened. Madam Meiyin pulled away and directed him to face the other succubi.
“Girls, from now on, he’s one of us. Treat him like how you treat each other, okay?” Madam Meiyin said as she looked at the other succubi who looked at her with some confusion.
Wait, they wouldn’t squeeze this handsome youth dry?
Madam Meiyin glared at them and shook her head subtly, she made some vague gestures with her hand and the succubi all widened their eyes and looked at Shen Jiu with a smile on their face.
Child abuse, slavery, attempted rape, emotional abuse, he had nothing left.
Demons like them had seen many terrible deeds. It was hard for demons to feel pity for humans because of their misery, but succubi were demons that control emotions of their victims, manipulating them. They worked with feelings even though they played with it mostly.
They didn’t care about rape. Essentially, some of them raped their victims.
They didn’t care about most misery.
But they were all surprisingly motherly. They couldn’t stand child abuse, they couldn’t stand any kind of abuse subjected to a child.
Since their leader, the coldest of them all, even pitied the youth. Then, his misery must have been really great.
The giggles restart, much lighter and less murderous than before.
“A-Jiu, Miao-jie will take good care of you!”
“Don’t be afraid to ask anything to me, you can call me Su-jie!”
“My, my, I never thought I would actually have a younger sibling, call me Xiu-jie jie, okay?”
“Finally, a man with clear mind around might be a nice change.” Dozens of succubi fussed and introduced themselves.
Shen Jiu blinked and looked at them all, getting dizzy from all the names and information. This... This is his life now???
There was a reason why Shen Jiu vastly preferred women than men.
First thing first, women are soft, gentle, and very kind. They rarely could hurt you, they had a big heart, their compassion was really bigger than men.
Back when he was still a beggar, he liked to beg to women, although some of them had nasty mouths, especially those young ladies from rich family, in the end they usually gave something or just simply leave. Men, on the other hand, if you displeased them, they wouldn’t simply leave, they would beat you up.
Women are easy to be manipulated by their feelings, they were really kind, more women sympathized with him when he was a beggar than men. Men usually would urge their wives to not give money to a beggar.
In the Qiu’s too. Some women would sneak him food, water, fruits. Some would accidentally drop their money before him just so he could go and buy food, some would stuff him a bundle of warm clothes to be ‘thrown away’. Although they didn’t do anything to stop the men, Shen Jiu didn’t mind. He knew their power was limited and he was already very grateful with their simple help.
Whenever Qiu Haitang was present, he would never be miserable. Her presence protected him from all cruelty in her household even though she didn’t know that.
In the end, it was even women that freed him from his scum master’s evil clutch. A man.
“Jiu-jiu, come here,” Madam Meiyin called out with her sweet alluring voice. “You’re a human, our cultivation is not suitable for you,” granted, their cultivation is sucking the life out of men through sex, “This lady has worked hard and found a suitable cultivation for you. Toss that scum’s manual away, my dear. You’ll be stronger with this,” Madam Meiyin handed over the manual and patted Shen Jiu’s head.
Shen Jiu accepted the manual and looked at it, he felt like he didn’t deserve it but on the other hand, he knew the manual Wu Yanzi gave was terrible. “You gave me a place to live, you give me this too. What do you expect from me?” Shen Jiu finally dared to ask. Even Qiu Haitang expected something back after all of her presents, that was, his love and consent to marry her.
Madam Meiyin blinked and chuckled in amusement, “What can you give to me?” she asked teasingly.
Shen Jiu was struck speechless for a while before he clenched on the manual, “What do... you want?” He asked reluctantly.
Madam Meiyin stared as Shen Jiu’s face slowly reddened, her lips formed a grin that simultaneously grew larger as Shen Jiu turned redder. Soon, she laughed again, “Boy, you’re really funny. Cease your worry, nothing will happen to your chastity!” she ceased her alluring laughter to look at Shen Jiu again, “How about this, if you expect me to expect something from you, how about you become my disciple in name, hm? Sounds fair, right? I saved you, gave you a manual, those seemed to be more than some human teachers could do.”
Shen Jiu stared at her in astonishment, he gulped, “Shi... Shifu?”
Madam Meiyin giggled, “Cute! I like that, you may call me that instead of ‘madame’ now.”
“Madame, you’re not fair at all! Why is it only you that get the credit?” Some succubi pouted petulantly.
“That’s right, that’s right, we also worked hard to seduce those cultivators to get manuals too,” they gestured to a pile of human cultivation manuals behind them.
Madam Meiyin laughed, “Those are unworthy of my notice nor suitable for Jiu-jiu’s talent, toss them to the corner. But bring over some books that aren’t manuals for Jiu-jiu to study,” she ordered and the succubi, as always, replied her with giggles.
“Yes, madame!” They all looked at Shen Jiu and smiled alluringly, telling him that they would get the best books for him to learn from.
Shen Jiu smiled at them all, a genuine smile that he ever only showed to one man and several kind women. “Thank you, everyone.”
Shen Jiu couldn’t be any more grateful towards women.
“Do you want me to see your love fortune, Jiu-jiu?” Madam Meiyin tilted her head. “At your age, isn’t it supposed to be the early spring, where you fell in love, out of love, and repeat? Why didn’t I hear any juicy love gossips from you? Even though I already sent you on missions quite often...”
Shen Jiu shook his head, “I don’t think I’m ready for that. If it doesn’t work out, it would only be a trouble. It’s fine if it’s only me who feel heartbroken, but I couldn’t let any girl experience that especially because of me...”
“How gentlemanly,” Madam Meiyin mocked as she leaned back boredly. “Human girls are all weak and fragile, they’re really easily hurt.”
The succubi all nodded fervently, “That’s right! Human girls are weak! A-Jiu should consider a demon girl!”
“Female of demon kinds are more steadfast, you won’t disappoint, A-Jiu!”
“Female of demon kinds are not damsels in distress, Jiu’er is certainly going to be more happy with a demoness!!”
“You all are like sisters to me,” Shen Jiu smiled dazzlingly at them all and all the succubi paused, smiling bitterly.
Madam Meiyin laughed at their silliness.
Shen Jiu got home to loud and furious sounds of swords and chaos from inside the cave, he frowned. Did his sisters fight over a handsome man again? If that was the case, Shen Jiu should high-tail away quick before he got dragged in as a referee.
Shen Jiu really liked the succubi, but he really couldn’t stand it when they began to cat-fight each other.
Shen Jiu was about to leave when a loud sound of man could be heard. A man...?
Shen Jiu paused and listened more closely and his frown deepened. It seemed like rather than fighting each other, the succubi were fighting someone. Don’t tell him, another abandoned ex-victim that wanted to bring one of them as a concubine?
Shen Jiu’s face darkened as he unsheathed his sword, a gift from Madam Meiyin too, and rushed in.
When Shen Jiu entered he saw a man in white was fighting with dozens of succubi and somehow, they were losing.
Madam Meiyin, who was looking at the fight thoughtfully, noticed Shen Jiu and waved at him, “Jiu Jiu, you’re back!” she exclaimed.
Shen Jiu nodded at her before jumping into the fight, his sword swung and the other side parried. Two pairs of eyes met and the man looked surprised about the presence of a human man inside the cave full of naked succubi. Shen Jiu was also surprised, this man looked to be about twenty or so but he was already so strong, he shouldn’t be a normal cultivator.
They pulled back and rushed at each other again, the sounds of the metal dance rang inside the cave. The succubi stayed in their place, watching silently, it wasn’t like they didn’t want to help, but the moment Shen Jiu fought that handsome cultivator in white, their movement couldn’t be traced.
They moved too fast, the pace changed so quickly, and they were too close to each other. The other succubi couldn’t risk on accidentally attacking Shen Jiu so they waited for the perfect time to help.
Finally, Shen Jiu found an opening from the man’s movement and flicked his fingers to send an acupuncture needle on his ankle making the man stumble. Shen Jiu swung his sword and the man parried it if barely, Shen Jiu spun and kicked the man on his chest.
“Cheater!” The man exclaimed indignantly, glaring at Shen Jiu.
Shen Jiu raised an eyebrow, “Please, cry me a river,” he answered sarcastically.
The man growled and stood up again, rushing toward Shen Jiu at a top speed. Shen Jiu scowled, why did the sisters get themselves a man like this? Annoying. Shen Jiu parried the sword and stepped aside, he deflected an attack and stepped back- he needed to lure this man out.
After a few minutes of the fight, Shen Jiu was already a bit tired and said, “Listen, I’m sure you can find a better woman, the succubi couldn’t be taken home.”
The man choked, “What!? I’m here on a mission!” he growled as he pointed his sword on at Shen Jiu. “Those succubi had kidnapped many young men of the nearby village. One of those men’s parents asked Cang Qiong Mountain Sect for help.”
Ah... So it was still the problem his sisters made in the first place. “Who is it?” Shen Jiu rubbed his head. “I’ll drag him out and you can bring him away,” Shen Jiu despised the men the succubi brought home, his room was far away from the pleasure hall and he despised to step there. But to help them, he didn’t mind to go there.
“Who are you anyways?!” The man demanded. “A cultivator yet seeking worldly pleasure! Repent and return to the righteous path!”
Shen Jiu rolled his eyes. Hypocrite. “This is none of your business, just say the name.”
The man scowled, “Fan Minghua.” He spat out distastefully.
Shen Jiu scowled and looked at the succubi who pouted. After a while, a scholarly man who looked way drowned in lust and reeked of sexual smell got dragged out, Shen Jiu simply kicked the man out.
Damn it, they might need to relocate after this.
To Shen Jiu’s chagrin, even after Shen Jiu dragged Madam Meiyin and the pack of succubi away and moved out to an entirely new location and new cave with rich yin energy, the man from Cang Qiong could still found them and challenged time to time.
Shen Jiu even learned that brazen fool’s name. Liu Qingge of Bai Zhan Peak. Bai Zhan, the peak of war and battle, how fitting. Brainless brute.
After their nth clash, Liu Qingge growled at him begrudgingly, “Why are you defending those demons!? Are you completely seduced by them? How shameful!”
Shen Jiu sighed harshly, every time it always like this. Liu Qingge seemed to be really firm in detesting Shen Jiu’s ‘lewd interest’. “Listen, Liu Qingge of Bai Zhan. Do you want to know why I’m protecting this group of succubi?”
Liu Qingge paused, listening. Huh, it seemed like he was really interested.
“That’s because... They’re my family. They raised me and saved me when I was young, now it’s my turn to protect them all,” Shen Jiu said as he flicked his wrist and the high-tier (very expensive) teleportation talisman he stuck on Liu Qingge’s back flared.
Liu Qingge jolted in shock, “Shen Jiu, you cheater!!!”
And he was gone.
Shen Jiu resheathed his sword back and shook his head. He entered the yin cave to see the succubi were still giggling and gossiping to themselves, fully trusting Shen Jiu to not let Liu Qingge hurt them.
When Madam Meiyin saw him, she sighed, “Too bad. I really like that handsome- beautiful man named Liu Qingge.”
“Shifu, why do you like to keep attracted to bad news?” Shen Jiu shook his head.
“I like pretty face and I can’t lie, Jiu Jiu. But it seems like that pretty young man is out of my reach,” Madam Meiyin eyed her disciple that is steadily growing stronger than she is. “Jiu Jiu, are you sure you don’t want me to read your love fortune?”
Shen Jiu blinked, “Shifu, I already said this. Even if you look, the only thing you will see is a broken string,” he smiled bitterly.
Madam Meiyin frowned in concern before she shrugged, her smile returned. “Alright, then. You can always tell me when you change your mind.”
If people asked Liu Qingge why he always took the missions that mentioned ‘succubi’, he would simply tell them, “A mission is a mission.”
He didn’t care that his reputation went up and down because of his frequent act of snatching succubi missions from the mission board. He didn’t care that the girls from Xian Shu looked at him with hidden disappointment and contempt. He didn’t care that others called him names. His Shifu didn’t stop him, so no one can stop him.
In fact, Bai Zhan’s peak lord seemed to think it was just a phase. Since Liu Qingge rarely showed interest to women, not even the pretty and soft sisters from Xian Shu. Then, maybe, his type was the bold and spicy one like the succubi? As long as he didn’t mess around and finished the mission, the peak lord didn’t really have the energy to scold Liu Qingge.
What they didn’t know was, Liu Qingge took every mission that was suspected to have a succubi in it was just to solely track down that person. That person that waste away his time fooling around with those lewd demons.
Liu Qingge didn’t know when this became a habit.
At first, Liu Qingge did it out of anger and wanted to uproot all those lewd demons. And then, it changed to wanting to fight with that dirty, scheming and despicable cheater that always cheated to win over Liu Qingge.
That man that looked at him with disdain.
That man that always sprouted out harsh words and insults that made Liu Qingge broke his own character and cursed back...
That man that always played dirty.
That man... whose name couldn’t leave Liu Qingge’s mind lately.
That man that made Liu Qingge’s heart raced whenever he looked at him.
That man... Liu Qingge’s face reddened.
That man had...
“Qingfang, I have something to ask,” Liu Qingge said urgently as soon as he dropped off from Cheng Luan and looked at Qian Cao peak’s head disciple who was tending his medicinal herb bed.
“What ailment do you have, Liu-shixiong?” Even though Mu Qingfang was obviously older, he still called Liu Qingge ‘shixiong’ because of their peak’s seniority.
“I always felt this short of breath whenever I’m around a certain person. My heart will start racing. My face will feel hot. I will always have this certain urge to pull their attention to me or else I would feel at a loss,” Liu Qingge eloquently explained his ailments to the astonished Mu Qingfang.
“Only towards a certain person?” Mu Qingfang couldn’t believe Liu Qingge was so dense.
“Yeah. And lately, even hearing their voice alone is already enough to rile me up. Whenever they move, I just felt my scalp went numb. Whenever I’m faced to them, my stomach would churn like I’m going to a qi deviation- it made me feel frustrated!” Liu Qingge paused to breath. “I just want to drag them away from their immoral life!”
Mu Qingfang paused from his amusement at Liu Qingge’s denseness and blinked. “One question. Is this ‘person’ you met is someone you often met when you’re going on your missions???” Mu Qingfang air-quoted.
Liu Qingge blinked, “Yeah.”
“Liu-shixiong, it’s most probably yin poison,” Mu Qingfang bluntly said. Sigh, Liu Qingge really needs to take a break from all of those succubi-hunting.
Liu Qingge’s eyes widened and he gritted his teeth, “I knew it!!!” He stomped his feet and scoffed in disdain.
That man had poisoned him!
“That’s how it is!” Liu Qingge yelled, incredibly pleased that he had uncovered the dirty playing of Shen Jiu when the accused man was standing before him, looking thoroughly baffled.
“Hah?” Shen Jiu tilted his head. "Liu Qingge, I think you need medicine."
Madam Meiyin was laughing hysterically since she heard the story and never stopped even once for five whole hours. She only stopped for a breath and a tease before she continued laughing.
“Jiu’er, are you really sure you don’t want to check your love fortune?” Madam Meiyin teased.
“Shifu, I’m going to go out for an entire season,” Shen Jiu spoke coldly as he took his qiankun bag.
“No way, Jiu’er. How should I explain to your cute ‘you used yin poison on me’ boy that you’re gone?” Madam Meiyin grinned.
“Don’t expect me to come back,” Shen Jiu snapped.
“Hahaha!”
Qi Qingqi dragged her problematic shidi to Qian Cao for a cure to his stupidity poison. “You did just fine before, why did you suddenly decide to be overdosed with yin poison now!? If I wasn’t nearby, you would be gang-raped already, damn it Liu Qingge!” Her manner of speaking clearly did not reflect the supposed gentle, refined, and soft Xian Shu girls’ manner at all.
Liu Qingge only made gurgling noises to answer Qi Qingqi. When he came to the cave again, he didn’t see the sight of his intended target so he simply fought with the succubi. Of course, the succubi couldn’t win against him and poisoned him with their yin poison.
It was already a miracle that Liu Qingge could stand for an entire hour without immediately succumbing to the poison before Qi Qingqi arrived with her entourage from Xian Shu peak.
“Mu-shidi! Mu-shidi, do something about this fool’s yin poison!” Qi Qingqi dropped Liu Qingge before Mu Qingfang. The mild-tempered head disciple immediately hurried over and checked over Liu Qingge’s pulse.
“So many? This is really dangerous, Liu-shixiong,” Mu Qingfang shook his head as he took out a red pill and inserted it into Liu Qingge’s mouth. After a moment period of acupuncture, Liu Qingge stopped being so red.
Liu Qingge weakly sat there, meditating his state of mind back to the state of tranquility. When he opened his eyes again, there was only Mu Qingfang left, writing something in his note.
“Qingfang,” Liu Qingge hoarsely called out.
Mu Qingfang was pulled back from his trance-like concentration and looked at Liu Qingge, “Liu-shixiong, you’ve stabilized yourself. Just to be sure, consume this pill at night and everything will be fine,” he took out a green pill and handed it over to Liu Qingge.
Liu Qingge looked at the green pill with a complicated feeling, the colour of the pill really resembled the silk robe that man always wore. He clasped on the pill and looked at Mu Qingfang, “It’s not yin poison,” he said.
“Hm...?” Mu Qingfang blinked in bewilderment.
“Those strange ailments, it’s not yin poison. It’s different,” Liu Qingge said stubbornly. “I didn’t feel the urge to corner them and triumphed over them when I’m under the influence of yin poison. All I felt was heat, numb limbs, and light-headed. Not the same at all.”
Mu Qingfang stared at Liu Qingge with a slightly agape mouth, “How do you know?”
“Because they weren’t around and even after being poisoned by yin poison, I still didn’t feel the same way like when they’re around!” Liu Qingge gestured stubbornly.
“The ‘certain’ succubus was not around?” God, how should Mu Qingfang break it to his shibo, Liu Qingge’s Shifu? How would the peak lord of Bai Zhan react to his disciple falling for a demon?
“What succubus?” Liu Qingge looked at Mu Qingfang disbelievingly. “It’s a human!”
Mu Qingfang’s fear immediately dissolved and turned into astonishment, what a bad luck! It was all only a misunderstanding! “Thank God! I know what that means, shixiong,” Mu Qingfang smiled. “You’re in love with that person!” he exclaimed.
Liu Qingge froze in disbelief.
“Who the hell like your stupid face?!” Liu Qingge hollered at the top of his lung as he pointed rudely to Shen Jiu who was tending his garden around the cave’s surrounding.
“Who the fuck asked your opinion?!” Shen Jiu yelled back.
Liu Qingge tried to avoid and ran away from reality. He began to avoid missions about succubi, leading everyone to believe that his ‘rebellious phase’ had finally ended.
However, on the other hand, Liu Qingge couldn’t stand not fighting Shen Jiu and he would always end up going to the den of succubi anyway to challenge the man. Sometimes, in a rare lapse of depravity, he would ask Shen Jiu if he would ever leave the succubi and went out independently.
This persisted for years, even when Liu Qingge became the peak lord, he still persisted on in visiting and challenging Shen Jiu. Many times, he insisted to himself that he just admired Shen Jiu’s strength but most of the times, his heart just longed to see that person once in a while.
In the end, the itch in his heart just couldn’t go away.
He didn’t know what possessed him. Maybe it was the atmosphere, it was night with bright full moon, it was quiet and the grass just seemed rather poetic.
Liu Qingge managed to push Shen Jiu to the ground in the middle of their fight, their swords both knocked aside. Naturally, reacting faster than anyone, Shen Jiu had flicked his wrist to summon countless leaves up in the trees to come and attack Liu Qingge.
However, Liu Qingge flipped him over, making Shen Jiu as his own shield, rendering Shen Jiu unable to attack. Then, before Shen Jiu could react, Liu Qingge just wrapped his arm around the other’s slim waist and pulled him down, his other hand cupped Shen Jiu’s smooth face and their lips connected.
Shen Jiu stiffened on top of him, letting Liu Qingge earn an easier time in slipping his tongue into the other’s mouth. It was unknown how long they kissed, but the moment Shen Jiu gained his wit back, he immediately pushed away.
“What the fuck!?” Shen Jiu exclaimed.
“Are you satisfied now!?” Liu Qingge challenged back, making Shen Jiu speechless. Why did Shen Jiu feel like he was the one being a rogue!?
“What!?”
“You succeeded! You seduced me!” Liu Qingge’s face was red as he squeezed those words out.
“Seduced!? Who the fuck is seducing you!? I’m not that desperate!” Shen Jiu yelled.
“But you did!” Liu Qingge straightened, looking at Shen Jiu solemnly. “I’ve fallen for you. I love you.”
“Why are you phrasing it like it’s my responsibility?!” Shen Jiu exclaimed.
“You sure it would only be a broken string?” Madam Meiyin asked teasingly to Shen Jiu who just entered the main hall.
Shen Jiu’s face darkened, “What I’m sure of is there’s something broken in that fool’s head.”
“Whatever you say, Jiu’er,” Madam Meiyin laughed.
Shen Jiu returned to the cave with his Zhuangyuan robe and titled scholar sash going from his left shoulder to his right side of waist. He just got back from another imperial examination that he deceived his way through. This made it the fourth kingdom that he had took the prize money from but ditched the gifted position of.
He saw several succubi were giggling to themselves in front of the main hall’s entrance, when they noticed him, their expressions brightened, “A’Jiu, you’re home!” they all gushed and giggled.
Shen Jiu was used to their gushing, he nodded at them with a smile, “Is Shifu inside?” he asked.
“Mm, yes. Madam is inside, but she’s having a guest over,” Meng Li, one of the senior succubi, giggled.
“A very handsome guest,” Liang Shi nodded with flushed cheeks.
“Certainly madam’s type,” Lu Chan giggled. “And my type too.”
“Bet one way or another madam will bed him somehow,” Rou Shui covered her mouth and said hushedly. The girls burst into another fit of giggles.
“They’re not doing anything strange in the hall, right?” Shen Jiu asked calmly. This was a common occurence.
“No,” they shook their heads. “Not yet, at least,” another fit of giggles.
Shen Jiu nodded and easily walked into to the lavish hall, pushing several silk covers aside as he entered. The hall was cold and humid, brimming with yin energy. The walls were covered with red silk that swayed demurely even without a breeze.
His Shifu was inclining languidly on the ice bed in the middle of the hall, accompanied by a man in black robe, sitting patiently before her. Shen Jiu glimpsed the man had a flowed in his palm. Oh, someone seeking for an answer. He had no interest in that and looked at his Shifu who noticed his arrival.
“Jiu’er, you’re finally home! This madam missed you so much,” Madam Meiyin leisurely claimed with her usual alluring and seducing voice. “Hoho, you won another imperial exam, my dear?” she chuckled when she saw Shen Jiu’s attire that was very different that the silk robes she gifted.
“This disciple will not settle less than best,” Shen Jiu greeted Madam Meiyin with a smile. When Shen Jiu spoke up, the guest before his Shifu turned his head to look at him, the red demon mark on his forehead became visible to Shen Jiu and he stiffened.
A royal demon.
Shen Jiu shouldn’t have interrupted this, it seemed. “Did I interrupt something?” Shen Jiu asked calmly.
Madam Meiyin chuckled, “No, Jiu’er. You will never interrupt anything in here.”
Shen Jiu nodded, he hid his expression behind his silk fan, “Then, I’ll take my leave,” he nodded curtly and excused himself. Before he completely exited the hall, Shen Jiu curiously looked back but shockingly his eyes still met with a pair of red eyes.
Shen Jiu quickly turned his head away and hurried out.
After Shen Jiu was gone, Luo Binghe looked back to Madam Meiyin, “Who is he?” He asked, feigning indifference and curiousity at the same time.
Madam Meiyin smiled, “My lovely disciple. He’s the only human male in our pack right now, such a sweetheart,” she chuckled. “But he’s aggressive towards strangers.”
“Name?” Luo Binghe demanded calmly.
Madam Meiyin looked at Luo Binghe and calmly twirled her black lock, “Shen Jiu,” she replied. “You don’t have to mind him. He’s our guard most of the times,” she said without any ripple in her voice.
“Mm,” Luo Binghe tapped his finger.
Shen Jiu...
Luo Binghe chuckled, “Not Qingqiu?”
“Pardon?” Madam Meiyin raised an eyebrow.
Luo Binghe smiled an enigmatic smile. He thought he would never meet that familiar face. But meeting him again, he turned to be prettier and more feminine than in his original world. Who knew he would end up in a den of succubi and laid low from Luo Binghe’s radar from all these years?