157: Am I really that ruthless?

Jiang Donghua had just rubbed his reddened ear and stepped back half a step when he was suddenly enveloped by a faint, elegant fragrance.

Without warning, Red Silk opened her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

The warm, soft sensation clearly transmitted through his clothes, making him stiffen instantly.

His nostrils were filled with the crisp cedar scent from his Senior Sister's hair, and even his breathing hitched.

"Se- Senior Sister?"

His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice caught in his throat.

At this distance, he could clearly see the shadow cast by her eyelashes, and could even count the small mole visible on her collarbone above her neckline.

Red Silk suddenly stood on her tiptoes.

When the petal-like touch landed on his lips, Jiang Donghua’s mind exploded.

The warmth was fleeting, yet it branded itself into his memory like a hot iron.

Jiang Donghua remained completely frozen, the trace of that warm, soft feeling still lingering on his lips, the faint, delicate fragrance of his Senior Sister still surrounding his nose.

His head was buzzing, and for a moment he felt utterly dazed.

What exactly was this woman playing at?!

One second she was viciously grabbing his ear and threatening to castrate him, and the next she was forcing a kiss and a hug on him?

What was even more ridiculous was that after kissing him, she acted like nothing happened, flopped casually onto the bed, patted the mattress, and adopted the bandit-like posture of 'come here if you dare look again.'

Jiang Donghua subconsciously touched his own lips, his throat feeling dry.

"Se- Senior Sister... what is this?"

Red Silk lay sideways on the bed, propping up her head with one hand, while the other casually twirled a strand of her hair, giving him a half-smile glance.

"What? Did one kiss make you dumbfounded?"

She deliberately drew out the last word.

"Junior Brother~ You couldn't possibly tell me that was your first kiss, could you?"

"Who, who said that!"

Jiang Donghua's ears grew hot, and he immediately retorted, but regretted the words the moment they left his mouth.

This reaction was practically a self-confession!

Red Silk immediately laughed even harder, her eyes curving into crescent moons, and she deliberately licked her lips.

"Oh~ It really was your first kiss."

She patted the empty space beside her, her tone teasing.

"Do you want Senior Sister to teach you something else?"

"Come play on the bed. Rookies have to start from the very beginning."

Jiang Donghua's scalp tingled, and he quickly stepped back two steps, speaking with righteous indignation.

"Senior Sister! We are discussing a life-and-death plan! Be serious!"

"I am very serious."

Red Silk blinked, wearing an innocent expression.

"I kissed you to give you some practical experience, so you won't show timidity in front of those two flirtatious vixens tomorrow."

She suddenly flipped over and sat up, leaning close to him and lowering her voice.

"Or are you perhaps more fond of the type like Bi Yao? Hmm?"

This woman was definitely just playing with him, right?!

He took a deep breath, struggling to calm his racing heart, and said through gritted teeth.

"Senior Sister, if you keep this up, I'm sleeping next door!"

Hearing this, Red Silk immediately flopped onto the bed, sprawling out to occupy the entire space, and said playfully.

"Go ahead! The room is only this big anyway; you can sleep on the floor!"

Jiang Donghua was so angry his temples throbbed, but he simply couldn't do anything about her.

He glared at her for a long time, and in the end, could only squeeze out one word.

"Bandit!"

Red Silk burst into laughter, casually grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him.

"Stop talking nonsense! Turn off the light quickly! We have a show to put on tomorrow!"

Jiang Donghua caught the pillow, looked at the unrestrainedly laughing woman on the bed, and suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness: Who exactly was the man and who was the woman here?!

Jiang Donghua stood in the room, where the candlelight flickered, his fingertip unconsciously rubbing his recently kissed lips, but his gaze gradually turned cold.

Although he was not skilled in assassination or stealth, the soul perception of an Alchemist allowed him to keenly detect that just moments ago, the auras of Hong Yu and Bi Yao had briefly lingered outside the door.

That faint, ethereal fragrance, mixed with the warm breeze drifting down the corridor, could not escape his senses.

"Heh, are they all testing me?"

He lowered his eyes, a hint of mockery flashing within them.

The Ninth Young Master's temperament was volatile.

If he rashly revealed anything to him, he would likely not only fail to gain trust but would also be discarded as a pawn used to sow discord.

"I cannot rely on him. I must do this myself."

His knuckles tapped lightly on the table, and Jiang Donghua suddenly let out a low chuckle, his gaze falling upon the night outside the window.

The two maidservants beside the Ninth Young Master—Hong Yu was spoiled and willful, Bi Yao was gentle and submissive—seemed like mere playthings, but to have remained by the Ninth Young Master's side for so long, they certainly weren't simple.

"But is it difficult for a Fourth-Grade Alchemist Master to want two women?"

He flipped his finger, and a dark red pill quietly appeared in his palm.

Its medicinal fragrance was restrained, yet it faintly exuded an enticing sweetness that could tempt others.

"Since you enjoy eavesdropping, why don't you come and personally put on a show with me?"

The night was deep, and the candlelight in the corridor flickered slightly, illuminating two slender figures pressed tightly against the door.

Hong Yu and Bi Yao held their breath, their ears almost pressed against the door panel, listening to the sounds of laughter coming from inside.

Jiang Donghua's usually stern voice now carried a hint of helplessness.

And Red Silk's laughter was even more unrestrained, even mixed with a few ambiguous moans.

"So Master Jiang wasn't a block of wood after all."

Hong Yu pouted and lowered her voice to Bi Yao.

Bi Yao pursed her lips and chuckled softly, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes.

"Someone obsessed with alchemy is still a man in the end.

How could he truly be indifferent to female beauty?"

While the two were secretly speculating, suddenly—

"A creak—"

The door opened without warning, and Jiang Donghua's tall figure suddenly appeared in the doorway.

The candlelight spilled from behind him, casting a long shadow on the ground.

Hong Yu and Bi Yao were caught completely off guard, their bodies instantly stiffened, and they almost fell to the floor.

The two hastily straightened up, forcing a stiff smile onto their faces, their voices trembling slightly.

"Ma- Master Jiang, good evening!"

Hong Yu gave two dry laughs, her eyes darting around nervously.

"We, we were just passing by, really!"

Bi Yao also quickly nodded, her fingers unconsciously twisting her sleeves tightly.

"Yes, yes, yes, we just happened to walk here!"

Before the words were even finished, the two had already quietly started moving their feet, preparing to slip away.

However, just as they turned to leave—

"Cough, cough."

Jiang Donghua coughed twice softly.

His voice was unhurried, yet it was like an invisible rope, instantly halting their steps.

Hong Yu and Bi Yao stiffened completely, slowly turning back, their faces already slightly pale.

"M- Master, do you need something else?"

Bi Yao's voice was as thin as a mosquito's buzz, her fingers tightly clutching the corner of her skirt.

Hong Yu's forehead was slick with fine sweat.

She was rapidly calculating that if Jiang Donghua angrily reported them to the Ninth Young Master, given the Ninth Young Master's temperament, they probably wouldn't survive the night!

"Master, please forgive us!"

Hong Yu suddenly bowed her head, her voice carrying a hint of panic.

"We truly didn't mean to disturb you!"

Before she finished speaking, Jiang Donghua suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

The laugh was low, carrying a hint of vague playfulness, making both women's hearts tremble.

"Since you've come, why rush to leave?"

He spoke slowly, his tone gentle, yet it inexplicably sent chills down their spines.

Hong Yu and Bi Yao felt a chill shoot straight from their feet up to the crown of their heads, their knees went soft, and they simultaneously dropped to the ground with a thud.

"Master, spare our lives!"

Hong Yu's voice trembled, her forehead almost touching the ground.

Cold sweat slid down her pale cheeks, condensing into a droplet at her chin that silently hit the floor.

Bi Yao was trembling all over, her slender fingers desperately clutching her skirt hem, her knuckles white from the force.

She didn't dare look up, only staring at the tip of Jiang Donghua's boot.

Her throat was tight, and she couldn't even articulate words of mercy clearly.

"We, we truly were just passing by, we ab- absolutely dare not harbor any intention of spying!"

They knew too well that although the Ninth Young Master favored them...

But if Jiang Donghua truly wanted them dead, the Ninth Young Master would never fall out with a Fourth-Grade Alchemist for the sake of two maidservants.

After all, who would offend a sharp knife for a mere plaything?

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Suddenly—

"Heh."

A low chuckle sounded above their heads.

Immediately after, a pair of long, strong hands supported each of their elbows, lifting them gently and pulling them directly up from the ground.

Hong Yu and Bi Yao looked up in astonishment, meeting Jiang Donghua's smiling eyes.

"Am I that ferocious?"

His tone was gentle, even carrying a hint of mockery, making the invisible sense of pressure they felt just now seem like their imagination.

Hong Yu froze, her lips trembling slightly, unsure how to respond for a moment.

Bi Yao was the first to react, forcing a weak smile, though her voice still sounded shaky.

"M- Master, you must be joking.

We were the ones who offended you and scared ourselves!"