187: Chapter 187 Xiao Wu, did you take a special bath?

"Click."

Chen Shanzhi reached back to gently close the door and slid the bolt into place.

The subtle sound of the wooden door closing felt like a heavy hammer striking Tang Xiaowu's heart in the silent night.

Before the young girl could react, Chen Shanzhi had already stepped in front of her like a hungry wolf eyeing its prey.

"Ah!"

Tang Xiaowu let out an extremely short cry of surprise.

Her vision blurred, and her body suddenly felt light; she had been swept up by Chen Shanzhi in a dominant princess carry.

The man's scent instantly enveloped her from all sides, and his firm chest pressed against her side, radiating a continuous stream of heat.

"What... what are you doing!"

Tang Xiaowu flailed her legs in panic, her hands subconsciously clutching Chen Shanzhi's neck.

Chen Shanzhi ignored her protest entirely, strode to the bedside with her in his arms, and naturally let go.

Tang Xiaowu tumbled into the soft brocade quilt.

The bed was soft, and she sank halfway into it.

Her chest heaved violently from intense nervousness, tracing a breathtaking curve.

She propped herself up on the bedding behind her, her clear, beautiful eyes—like those of a startled deer—filled with a hint of timid moisture as she looked nervously at Chen Shanzhi standing by the bed.

Chen Shanzhi looked down from above, his gaze like a fiery brush unceremoniously sweeping over her body.

At this sight, Chen Shanzhi's breathing immediately grew a bit heavier.

This girl had definitely just bathed!

At this moment, Tang Xiaowu was only wearing a light, moon-white silk dress. Its texture was extremely smooth, almost clinging to her exquisite and graceful body.

The large patches of skin exposed outside the clothes were so white they were almost dazzling under the dim candlelight, exuding a startling moisture and luster.

Her collarbones were delicate, like two small jade fans.

The hem of the silk dress was very short, barely covering her thighs, and completely open further down.

A pair of well-proportioned calves, without a trace of extra fat, were exposed to the air so defenselessly.

Looking further down...

...were a pair of delicate and small jade-like feet.

Perhaps due to nervousness, or perhaps because of Chen Shanzhi's unmasked, aggressive gaze...

...Tang Xiaowu's ten crystal-clear toes, rounded like peeled grapes, were currently curled tightly and slightly downward.

The arches of her feet formed an alluringly beautiful curve, and the faint blue veins beneath her skin were almost visible.

This pitiful yet seductive look was the ultimate test of a man's willpower!

Chen Shanzhi licked his lips, a mischievous smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

He propped his hands on the bed on either side of Tang Xiaowu's body and slowly leaned in.

"Chen... Chen Shanzhi."

Watching that handsome face grow larger and larger, Tang Xiaowu was so nervous her breathing almost stopped, and her body involuntarily shrank back.

Chen Shanzhi was in no hurry to make his next move; instead, he brought his face close to her long, ivory neck.

The tip of his nose nuzzled her skin wantonly.

A pleasant feminine fragrance, mixed with the faint scent of flower petals from her recent bath, flooded his nostrils.

"So fragrant."

Chen Shanzhi's lips were almost touching her ear, his warm breath hitting her skin directly, his voice extremely low and magnetic:

"Xiao Wu knew I was coming, so... you took a bath specifically for this?"

Tang Xiaowu's face instantly turned bright red. She turned her head away and hummed softly, "N-no, I bathe every night."

She hesitantly pushed against Chen Shanzhi's chest. "You still haven't said what you're doing barging into my room in the middle of the night."

Chen Shanzhi's lips curled into a wicked smile. "A while ago, I accidentally obtained a secret Dual Cultivation method. I thought I'd take advantage of the quiet night to study it with you."

"Dual... Dual Cultivation?"

Tang Xiaowu was stunned.

She hadn't expected Chen Shanzhi to be talking about serious business, even if this 'serious business' sounded a bit embarrassing.

"What rank is it?" Tang Xiaowu asked, forcing herself to remain calm out of curiosity.

"Mortal Rank."

Chen Shanzhi answered bluntly.

Tang Xiaowu pursed her lips.

What was the point of practicing a Mortal Rank Cultivation Technique?

This man must have seen her avoiding him and was just looking for an excuse.

But in her heart, Tang Xiaowu felt a faint sense of secret joy.

"Fine." She turned her head back, pretending to be businesslike as she pursed her lips and said, "I'll practice this Cultivation Technique with you just this once. You have to leave as soon as we're done."

Chen Shanzhi found her tsundere act amusing, but he nodded solemnly. "No problem, whatever Xiao Wu says."

As he spoke, he didn't give Tang Xiaowu a chance to regret it. He slid smoothly down the bed to its foot.

Before Tang Xiaowu could realize what he was doing...

...she saw Chen Shanzhi reach out with his large, warm hands and grab her small feet.

"Ah..." Tang Xiaowu let out a soft cry.

Chen Shanzhi's palms were very wide, and they bore slight calluses from his martial arts practice.

(Every abrupt ellipsis in this chapter is because the Censorship Divine Beast has unleashed its power; the author is trembling.)

The scene from the banquet earlier that evening involuntarily surfaced in Chen Shanzhi's mind.

Under the table...

It was just a pity that Xiao Wu had been sitting opposite him at the time.

A flash of heat passed through Chen Shanzhi's eyes.

...

"Mmm..." Tang Xiaowu's body suddenly stiffened.

This... this was too shameful!

Chen Shanzhi... he... he actually...

Tang Xiaowu's pure and lovely face instantly turned so red it looked like it might bleed, and her mind went completely blank.

...

A moment later.

Chen Shanzhi's body moved like an elegant leopard, sliding smoothly up the bed.

He propped his hands on either side of Tang Xiaowu again and naturally lay down.

They were face to face, the distance between them reduced to zero.

Tang Xiaowu could even clearly feel the powerful heartbeat coming from Chen Shanzhi's chest.

She was so nervous she squeezed her eyes shut, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Chen Shanzhi looked at her charming, submissive appearance, and a smile touched the corners of his mouth.

He didn't go for her lips.

Instead, he precisely tilted his head and gently took Tang Xiaowu's crystal-clear, deep red earlobe into his mouth.

He let his tongue swirl nimbly around that sensitive earlobe.

"Nngh..."

Tang Xiaowu's defenses instantly collapsed.

A sweet and soft moan escaped from deep within her throat.

She snapped her eyes open, her once clear eyes now completely blurred and clouded with a thick, inseparable mist.

Her hands weakly climbed up Chen Shanzhi's back, her fingertips clutching his clothes tightly.

Her entire body felt as soft as spring water, completely melting into Chen Shanzhi's embrace.

Feeling the startling body temperature and the completely lowered guard of the beauty in his arms...

...the fire in the depths of Chen Shanzhi's eyes erupted.

He knew the time was right.

Tonight, he would not only reassert his husbandly authority...

...but also let this girl know what a real Mortal Rank Dual Cultivation Technique was!