54: Chapter 54 The Funeral Clothing Shop is Making Progress

The next day, early morning.

The sun was bright, and the streets of the capital were already bustling with activity, the cries of street vendors echoing endlessly.

After washing up, Chen Shanzhi changed into a flashy purple brocade robe.

Flicking open a folding fan, he swaggered out of the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion.

At the entrance, the mansion's carriage, bearing the insignia of the Marquis of Zhenguo, was already waiting.

Chen Shanzhi stepped onto the mounting block and boarded the carriage, giving an order to Coachman Zhao Da outside.

"Let's go. To the Yihong Pavilion."

Sitting in the swaying carriage, a wicked smirk played on Chen Shanzhi's lips.

"I've been busy in the Secret Realm for several days.

I wonder if our Saintess of the White Lotus Sect...

...has missed This Heir."

Before long, the carriage came to a steady halt before the Yihong Pavilion's archway, which was adorned with red lanterns.

Even in the early morning, the scent of rouge and powder lingered within the Yihong Pavilion, filled with the sounds of flirting women.

The moment Chen Shanzhi stepped through the main entrance...

...the sharp-eyed madam in the hall, her eyes heavily made up, instantly lit up like two-hundred-watt light bulbs.

Waving her scented handkerchief and swaying her thick waist, she trotted over with a face full of smiles.

"Oh my! My Heir Apparent! You've finally come!"

The madam slapped her thighs with exaggerated drama, cooing coquettishly:

"You haven't shown your face for days; our Miss Youyou has been worried sick.

She hasn't been eating or sleeping properly these past few days, sitting by the window every day, waiting for you until her eyes are nearly worn out!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Hearing this, Chen Shanzhi played along, his face wearing the characteristic frivolous smile of a profligate son.

"Miss Youyou misses This Heir that much? Where is she now?

Quick, quick, lead the way. This Heir must see her immediately to comfort her wounded soul!"

The madam giggled, covering her mouth, and pointed toward the most luxurious private room upstairs.

Chen Shanzhi snapped his fan shut and quickly headed upstairs in the direction she pointed.

As he walked, the lecherous grin on his face vanished instantly, his mind racing with calculations.

"Though that madam talks a lot of nonsense, saying Jiang Yingrao has been waiting for me...

...must mean that there's been substantial progress with that shroud shop I told her to watch."

Arriving at the door of the 'Heaven' rank room.

Without even knocking, Chen Shanzhi pushed the door open and strode inside.

"Miss Youyou, This Heir has come—"

Before he could finish, Chen Shanzhi's gaze was firmly captured by the scene before him.

Meeting his eyes was a stunning figure leaning by the carved window.

Today, Jiang Yingrao wore a provocatively bright red silk dress.

Her waterfall-like black hair was not tied up.

Instead, it was casually draped over her rounded, fragrant shoulders, exuding a natural laziness.

At that moment, perhaps because she had been sitting for a long time...

...she was slightly raising her arms, defenselessly letting out a long stretch.

It was this one simple action.

Instantly, her stunning curves, already tightly wrapped in the red clothing, were revealed in their full glory.

The proud fullness of her chest nearly strained the silk threads of her collar to the point of bursting.

With her movement, her slender waist, which could be spanned by a single hand...

...was accentuated by her waistband, appearing so delicate it seemed it might snap with the slightest force.

Looking further down.

The hem of her skirt did not properly cover her feet; instead, following her reclining posture, it had slipped and bunched up at her ankles.

It left a pair of exquisite, jade-white feet, bare of shoes or socks, completely exposed to the air.

Her translucent toes were painted with blood-red balsam flower polish.

The stark contrast of red and white, illuminated by the morning sun, was so dazzling one could hardly look away.

It showcased the unique sexiness and allure of a demonic sect enchantress in a heart-stopping manner.

Even though Chen Shanzhi had just tasted the forbidden fruit with Tang Xiaowu in the Secret Realm last night and released quite a bit of his fire...

...at this moment, seeing Jiang Yingrao's seductive attire, he still couldn't help but swallow hard.

"This vixen is becoming more and more lethal."

Chen Shanzhi gave a chuckle and strode directly to Jiang Yingrao's side, sitting down right next to her.

Then, quite naturally, he reached out with his right hand.

He intended to wrap his arm around Jiang Yingrao's slender waist.

Jiang Yingrao's soul-stirringly beautiful eyes were looking at the street scenery outside, seemingly completely unaware of Chen Shanzhi's movements.

But at the very instant Chen Shanzhi's wandering hand was about to touch the fabric at her waist...

*Slap.*

Jiang Yingrao's slender, jade-like hand seemed to have eyes of its own.

With extreme precision, it landed on the back of Chen Shanzhi's hand, pinning his restless hand firmly in place.

She slowly turned her head, looking at Chen Shanzhi with a faint, knowing smile.

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice carrying a hint of resentment and mockery:

"The Heir Apparent is such a busy man. Several days in a row without a trace, let alone coming to the Yihong Pavilion to find Courtesan Alias.

I fear you've found some more seductive new flame out there.

You must have long since forgotten your old love, Courtesan Alias, cast her to the back of your mind?"

"How could that be!"

Chen Shanzhi immediately put on an exaggerated expression of being wronged and deeply pained.

Shaking his head like a rattle, he explained loudly:

"Miss Youyou, you're truly wronging me to death!

These past few days, This Heir has been staying strictly within the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion, in secluded cultivation of the martial Dao!

I haven't even stepped a foot outside my door; how would I have time to look for anyone else?

Look, I only finished my seclusion yesterday.

Early this morning, before I even had time for breakfast, I rushed over here immediately to see you.

My sincere heart for Miss Youyou can be witnessed by the sun and moon!"

Having finished, Chen Shanzhi's wicked intent remained. With a sudden flick of his wrist, he broke free from Jiang Yingrao's restraint.

He moved to embrace Jiang Yingrao's waist once more.

To his surprise, Jiang Yingrao didn't dodge; instead, she leaned in close to Chen Shanzhi.

Her shapely nose twitched ever so slightly at Chen Shanzhi's collar, like a little dog sniffing.

Then, Jiang Yingrao suddenly pulled back.

Looking at Chen Shanzhi, the faint smile on her face instantly turned into a sharp, cold sneer:

"Secluded cultivation? Heh..."

Jiang Yingrao's eyes were icy:

"The Heir Apparent's method of seclusion is truly unique and interesting.

To be able to Cultivate... such a heavy scent of woman all over yourself?"

Chen Shanzhi's hand, extended in mid-air, suddenly froze stiffly.

He couldn't help but curse inwardly: "Shit, I was careless!"

He had come out of the Secret Realm in the middle of the night yesterday.

First, he had been with Tang Xiaowu in that enclosed stone chamber.

Engaging in a fierce, real-deal battle for a full two hours.

After coming out, he had been held tightly in his aunt Chen Rou's arms, his face buried in her chest.

Then, on the way back to his room, he was pulled aside by his aunt for a barrage of questions.

Immediately upon returning to his room, he was busy researching and practicing that scroll of the Spirit Forging Art.

After finishing his cultivation, his mind relaxed, and he fell straight asleep.

He had completely forgotten such an important thing as bathing and changing clothes!

Facing Jiang Yingrao's cold, sneering gaze that seemed to see through everything with extreme contempt...

...if Chen Shanzhi showed even a shred of panic or rushed to explain at this moment...

...then this attempt to cover things up would be completely confirmed.

The self-cultivation of a master player told him: as long as I'm not embarrassed, the embarrassment belongs to others!

Chen Shanzhi's expression didn't change; not only was there no panic from being caught red-handed...

...but instead, his face hardened as he took the offensive.

His hand suspended in mid-air suddenly dropped, sweeping around Jiang Yingrao's lower back.

Aiming for that perky, full curve, he showed no mercy.

*Slap!*

A crisp slapping sound echoed in the room.

Chen Shanzhi's hand, without any hesitation...

...slapped Jiang Yingrao's perky, rounded buttocks hard!

"Ngh..."

Ambushed by Chen Shanzhi's sudden and extremely rogue slap...

...Jiang Yingrao's whole body trembled, and she couldn't help but let out a seductive moan.

Her previously frost-cold cheeks were instantly flushed with a deeply embarrassed and annoyed blush.

"You bastard..."

Jiang Yingrao's brows shot up, about to erupt.

Before she could finish, Chen Shanzhi had already pounced like a hungry tiger.

He grabbed the back of Jiang Yingrao's head, forcing her into his embrace.

Then he leaned down and, without any warning, pressed his lips...

...firmly against those two vivid, crimson lips!

"Mmph!"

Jiang Yingrao's eyes widened in shock.

She hadn't expected Chen Shanzhi to be shameless to this extent.

Having his lie exposed on the spot, he didn't explain, but instead went straight for a forced kiss?!

In that moment of her daze...

...Jiang Yingrao clearly felt that Chen Shanzhi wasn't just kissing her.

He even pushed his luck, forcing her teeth apart.

And thrust a certain flexible thing directly into her mouth!

Boom!

Jiang Yingrao's brain completely short-circuited at that instant.

It wasn't until every inch of her mouth had been unscrupulously explored by that thing...

...that Jiang Yingrao suddenly snapped back to her senses.

A powerful sense of shame and Killing Intent erupted simultaneously!

*Bang!*

The True Yuan within her Twelve Mysterious Apertures exploded, and she violently shoved away Chen Shanzhi, who was pressed against her!

Jiang Yingrao stood up, her chest heaving, wiping her lips hard with the back of her hand.

Her brows were raised, her beautiful eyes overflowing with Killing Intent as she pointed at Chen Shanzhi's nose and cursed:

"Chen Shanzhi! Do you really want to die?"

Chen Shanzhi was pushed back a couple of steps, landing on a chair.

Not only was he not angry, but he even stuck out his tongue and smacked his lips with relish.

As if he were savoring some peerless delicacy.

Then, looking at the fuming Jiang Yingrao, he chuckled and said shamelessly:

"Oh, I just saw our Miss Youyou was jealous.

Seeing you jealous made my heart ache.

So I thought I'd use some practical action to properly compensate you.

Well? Was my sincerity enough?"

"Jealous? Who the hell is jealous of you!"

Jiang Yingrao repeatedly and forcefully wiped her swollen lips.

She glared at Chen Shanzhi, her voice as cold as ice:

"Chen Shanzhi, stop flattering yourself!

Who would be jealous of a profligate like you!

If you came here early in the morning with nothing but these filthy things on your mind...

...then the door is right there, you can get lost!

You are not welcome here!"

Hearing Jiang Yingrao's furious cursing...

...Chen Shanzhi didn't leave; instead, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She took the bait.

Distracted by his rogue combo of moves...

...Jiang Yingrao's attention had completely shifted from the "scent of a woman on his clothes" to the anger of "being forcibly kissed."

Indeed, when a woman is extremely angry or extremely shy, her IQ temporarily drops.

Knowing when to stop is the mark of a true scumbag.

Chen Shanzhi quickly put on a smiling face and shamelessly approached her again.

Before Jiang Yingrao could lose her temper and strike...

...he was quick, his hands directly grasping Jiang Yingrao's other soft hand, the one not wiping her mouth.

Jiang Yingrao's skin was excellent, smooth as silk and cool to the touch.

While shamelessly rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb, Chen Shanzhi quickly shed his previous frivolity.

His face instantly changed to an extremely serious and solemn expression:

"How could that be, Miss Youyou.

Am I, Chen Shanzhi, the kind of person who can't distinguish between what's important and what's not?

I came here so early in the morning because I have serious business."

Chen Shanzhi looked directly at Jiang Yingrao and lowered his voice:

"I came this time to ask you.

That shroud shop in the south of the city I had you set people to watch... has a lead finally emerged?"

Jiang Yingrao was originally resisting intensely, her True Yuan circulating frantically as she tried to pull her hand from Chen Shanzhi's clutches.

Hearing Chen Shanzhi finally mention the serious business.

Jiang Yingrao instinctively tried to pull her hand back, only to find this fellow was gripping it so hard she couldn't move it.

She cursed him inwardly as a rogue.

But she also knew that, being constrained by the Heart-Devouring Life-Sharing Gu, she and Chen Shanzhi were grasshoppers tied to the same string.

If she didn't give this guy some benefit, with his shameless personality...

...who knew what other scandalous things he might do in a moment.

Thus, Jiang Yingrao had to take a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her heart.

She allowed Chen Shanzhi's wandering hand to hold hers.

Her face was slightly flushed, but her gaze gradually became serious as she spoke of the matter:

"You guessed correctly. Just in the middle of the night before last...

...someone from our Yihong Pavilion went to that shroud shop."