Pei Liang dragged Situ Zhuo inside in a fit of excitement.
The first time she saw him at the Jiang residence, before she had even confirmed his identity, she had already found him rather tempting.
Although the original novel had retained only a small portion of the Demon Sect Leader’s role, he still seemed to be an astonishingly captivating character.
Once she confirmed that Situ Zhuo was Han Weiliu, how could she possibly resist, given the arrangement to keep him that they had already agreed upon?
Even then, she had wanted to experience this exotic, fiery, and uninhibited side of him.
In fact, during the first half-month or so, she had almost managed to win him over. Unfortunately, Jiang Xun had come and caused a huge commotion, and all her efforts had gone to waste.
But now, the man had actually delivered himself to her door—and with a perfectly legitimate excuse at that.
Pei Liang had always felt that her arrangement to keep a lover in this world had gone far too smoothly. There was hardly anything she needed to do, yet everything still ended up going exactly as she wished.
It made her wonder whether this world had truly been tampered with.
If merely losing the plot could bring her such benefits, then she would not mind losing the plot entirely from now on.
The system: “……”
While Pei Liang was indulging herself and bullying the gorgeously handsome Sect Leader, the four Guardians on the other side could no longer sit still.
They had been assigned a courtyard right next to Pei Liang’s. With the exquisite luxury of the Moon-Slaying Manor, naturally, not a single convenience had been overlooked.
Even though they were Guardians who had grown accustomed to the luxuries surrounding their Sect Leader in the Holy Flame Sect, they were still stunned by the convenience and novelty found throughout the Pei estate.
But this was no time to concern themselves with such things.
The four of them had gathered in one room, and Elder Guardian was already pacing around like an ant on a hot pan.
Even with their profound internal energy, there was no way they could hear what was happening in another courtyard from so far away.
Besides, since that witch had dared to commit such lewd acts in broad daylight, she had presumably made proper arrangements to ensure they would not be disturbed.
The four of them were in a complicated state of mind. On one hand, if they truly heard anything, they feared they would have no choice but to die in atonement for their sin. On the other hand, they could not help worrying about their Sect Leader’s situation.
Meng Liuli had grown dizzy from watching Elder Guardian pace back and forth. She finally said, “Please sit down first. Our Sect Leader is simply into this sort of thing. Worrying won’t help.”
Elder Guardian gnashed his teeth. “If she were an ordinary woman, letting them be would be one thing.”
“But that Pei woman is different. She’s a witch. Even you, in front of her, would be nothing more than a handsome but useless embroidered pillow.”
Meng “Embroidered Pillow” Liuli: “……”
“I’m worried that the Sect Leader will have his vitality sucked dry by that witch and damage his health.”
“It shouldn’t come to that,” Meng Liuli thought. Just how little confidence did he have in their Sect Leader? Yet when she remembered that this was Sect Leader Pei they were talking about, even knowing that their Sect Leader possessed peerless martial arts, Meng Liuli was suddenly no longer so sure.
Elder Guardian sneered. “I know all of you prefer to look on the bright side. Let us assume that our Sect Leader possesses divine skills, can handle several women in one night, and remains vigorous as a dragon. Perhaps that mere witch is still no match for him.”
“But did you see what happened just now? She was clearly planning to spend the price of keeping one pretty boy while getting two—bah! Our Sect Leader is no such lowly creature.”
“What I mean is, if this sets a precedent, that witch is very good at sweet-talking people. From the look of him, our Sect Leader is already deeply bewitched. If she wins him over completely, and has him disguise himself and dress up for her amusement every day, what kind of disgrace would that be?”
The topic had suddenly become so provocative that only someone as experienced as Meng Liuli could maintain a calm expression. She glanced at Flower Guardian, who had already begun avoiding their eyes.
Then she looked at Protector Jing. His head was nearly buried in the floor, and from the side, his ears were red enough to bleed.
Meng Liuli reminded them, “You should watch your language. Don’t corrupt the younger ones.”
Elder Guardian was deeply distressed. “I only regret having protected you all too well before this.”
Then he barked at Protector Jing, “Lift your head! What is there to be shy about? You should know that women like that witch love deceiving people like you.”
After saying that, he continued, “Those matters would be bad enough. But if the Sect Leader is deceived by that witch and agrees to some deadly promise in bed, we’ll be too late to cry about it.”
That was indeed a serious concern. The Holy Flame Sect placed great importance on promises, and the Sect Leader even more so. Once he swore an oath, he would fulfill it no matter what.
It was obvious that the woman had no intention of having a lasting relationship with their Sect Leader. What if she had schemed from the beginning, and the Sect Leader, unable to withstand her fierce advances, suffered a major loss?
At this point, Protector Jing could no longer sit still either. He abruptly stood up.
Of the four Guardians, he had the most robust build. His sudden movement startled the other three.
Elder Guardian scolded him, “Why are you jumping up like that?”
Protector Jing said solemnly, “I’m going to keep watch over them, so the Sect Leader doesn’t suffer.”
The other three: “……”
Foolish child. Being thickheaded did not mean one had to be thickheaded to this extent. A man and a woman were engaging in lewd acts in broad daylight, and he wanted to keep watch?
Where exactly was he planning to watch from? Standing beside the bed? Or removing a tile from the roof to spy on them?
The three of them imagined the scene, and shuddered all over. It was so stimulating that they were left speechless.
Meng Liuli struggled for a long while before managing to say, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Protector Jing, however, wore an expression of fearless resolve. “If I can prevent a possible crisis for the Holy Flame Sect, what does death matter?”
Flower Guardian hurriedly said, “It won’t necessarily come to death. The Sect Leader has always been lenient with this idiot. What we should fear is that witch.”
“She already seems interested in teasing Protector Jing. If he delivers himself to her door, what if she takes him for her own while she’s at it—”
As she spoke, she looked toward Protector Jing. “Are you confident that the Sect Leader could protect you?”
Elder Guardian had seen a great deal in his life. He spat dismissively. “He’d certainly end up like a personal maid sent along with the bride, dragged away to suffer in his master’s place and toyed with again and again.”
Then he gave Protector Jing a stern warning. “I told you long ago to stay away from that witch, lest she force herself on you.”
“Are you truly stupid, or are you pretending to be stupid for my sake?”
At first, Protector Jing really had not thought about it at all. But after the others analyzed the situation for him, his entire body reddened like a boiled shrimp.
Where was that fearless determination he had shown earlier? His expression was now filled with embarrassment and shrinking discomfort, and he was doing his utmost to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.
He no longer dared to boast about his willingness to risk his life.
Seeing that he finally understood the dangers of the world, Elder Guardian let him off.
Just then, Hongxiu and Qingyi entered carrying tea and pastries.
Whether the four Guardians had been too engrossed in their heated discussion to notice the two maids, or had noticed them but simply not considered them worth acknowledging, the result was the same: the two maids had overheard most of what they had said.
Naturally, they were not pleased. After setting the tea and pastries on the table, they immediately began arguing with the four men.
Hongxiu’s tongue was the sharpest. She spoke first.
“Oh, what distinguished guests you are. You’re nothing but willows in the wind, yet you’re guarding yourselves against everything. How laughable.”
“Rest assured. The Moon-Slaying Sect is a household of propriety, and our Sect Leader is practically an immortal descended from the heavens. There is no need for ordinary men like you to live in constant fear.”
“Bah!” Elder Guardian’s fiery temper flared on the spot. “According to you, our Holy Flame Sect’s Sect Leader should be grateful merely to be favored?”
“That is precisely how it is,” Hongxiu replied. “You may be loyal to your Sect Leader and believe that everything about him is wonderful, but you cannot shut your eyes and spout lies.”
With Hongxiu and Qingyi’s status, as well as Pei Liang’s trust in them, the two maids—though they possessed no martial arts—were the most important figures in the entire Moon-Slaying Manor after Pei Ye.
Even the fact that Han Weiliu and Situ Zhuo were one and the same person was known to them.
So there was no need for them to hold back in this argument.
Hongxiu said, “We two have served our mistress at close quarters for years. Naturally, we know everything that goes on in her chambers.”
“Since Cult Leader Situ is a man, even if he was inexperienced at first, in time he ought to have been the one taking care of our mistress. Yet after all this time, he still relies on our mistress to indulge him. And the Guardians never stop going on about how peerless Cult Leader Situ’s martial arts are.”
“Ha! Otherwise, we’d almost think Cult Leader Situ was one of those delicate young gentlemen,” Qingyi chimed in at exactly the right moment.
The two girls curled their lips. “He’s good for nothing.”
“You!” the Elder Guardian roared, pointing angrily at the two maids.
The other three Guardians hurriedly rose as well. The subject was shameful enough, but this concerned their cult leader’s dignity. They absolutely could not yield.
“You’re talking nonsense!”
Hongxiu scoffed. “Believe whatever you like. Even if we don’t bring that up, Cult Leader Situ may be perfect in your eyes, but to us, he’s nothing but a spendthrift.”
“What did you say?” The old cult leader puffed out his beard and glared. “Believe it or not, I’ll strike you down with one palm.”
Hongxiu was utterly unafraid. Instead, she thrust out her chest and met him head-on. “What? Elder Guardian, perhaps you know perfectly well that it’s true, so you’re lashing out in embarrassment?”
“Before Cult Leader Situ, our mistress built a bathhouse especially to make a beauty smile. She personally blended the fragrances and even developed the finest wine for him.”
“We don’t understand much about the affairs of the martial world, but despite having to manage countless matters every day, our mistress still devoted so much time and thought to Cult Leader Situ. How did that become our mistress taking advantage of him in your mouths?”
“There was such a thing?” Meng Liuli was stunned.
She was nothing like those three idiots. When it came to the subtleties between men and women, she understood them perfectly. Hadn’t Sect Leader Pei clearly been laying the groundwork from the very beginning?
Had their cult leader really been thoroughly enjoyed by Sect Leader Pei from start to finish?
Meng Liuli felt her vision go black. What made it worse was that the other three looked rather guilty, as though the cult leader had received some tremendous benefit. She practically wanted to crack their heads open.
If it had been some other kind of benefit, then fine. But adding fragrance and allure to a beauty—what kind of benefit was that? It was clearly Sect Leader Pei who had enjoyed herself.
Yet it was impossible to say so aloud. Otherwise, how could their cult leader ever show his face again?
Infuriatingly, the two maids only became more aggressive.
“Our mistress has given so much, yet Cult Leader Situ has shown not the slightest consideration for her difficulties.”
“He’s unbelievably stingy—”
“Who are you calling stingy?” Flower Guardian shouted. “Our cult leader is the most generous person there is.”
Qingyi sneered. “Yes, so generous that when our mistress was bathing and laughing around with the two of us, Cult Leader Situ became fiercely jealous. Truly, he couldn’t be more generous.”
“Bah! You can’t fool me,” the Elder Guardian said. “Don’t try to deceive this old man. Our cult leader would never fly into a rage without reason.”
“Could it be that you two girls have been fighting for favor without restraint, with no sense of propriety?”
The Elder Guardian was old and experienced, and his instincts were sharp. He had long since noticed that the two girls had no interest whatsoever in the handsome young men around them. Their loyalty toward their mistress, Sect Leader Pei, on the other hand, was extraordinary.
Sure enough, once their secret had been exposed, Hongxiu and Qingyi flew into a rage.
“Hmph! If we were men, would there even be any place for your Cult Leader Situ?”
“Absurd! That witch doesn’t even spare the women at her side?”
“Shut your mouth! Your cult leader still has no official status. Don’t come parading around in front of this old lady like some grand mistress and senior maid.”
For a moment, the air between both sides crackled with hostility, and a full-scale battle broke out.
The two principals were fighting inside the room, while the brainless diehard fans on either side fought outside it. If one could watch both scenes with an omniscient view, switching back and forth between them would have been extraordinarily entertaining.
By the time Pei Liang arrived at the dining hall the next morning, looking thoroughly satisfied and accompanied by a Situ Zhuo whose eyes were faintly red at the corners, the four Guardians and the two maids all looked somewhat drained.
The two sides had fought until well past midnight, and dark circles had formed beneath everyone’s eyes.
The moment they looked up and saw the pair, the two maids were envious and jealous, while the four Guardians were both heartsore and pitying.
Only Pei Liang, that shameless woman, was in an excellent mood. After taking her seat, she asked, “Guardians, have you settled in comfortably?”
The four men thought bitterly, With our cult leader in your grasp, how could we possibly settle in comfortably?
But they did not dare argue with this woman any longer. They might end up uncovering even more unbearable truths. Thus, like men swallowing their broken teeth along with their blood, they asked their cult leader instead, “Cult Leader, when shall we set out to return?”
Situ Zhuo’s voice was slightly hoarse. “There’s no rush. In seven days, the entire martial world will come here to pay their respects and witness the execution of the murderer who killed the Pei family father and son. How could our Holy Sect fail to be there?”
“We’re staying here?” Flower Guardian asked incredulously.
He barely managed to swallow the words that had almost escaped him: You’ve already been put through so much.
Then a box appeared in front of him.
Flower Guardian looked confused. “What is this?”
Pei Liang smiled at him. “I had the pleasure of exchanging a few moves with Flower Guardian that day, and I was deeply impressed by your magnificent techniques. The circulation of your inner force is flawless as well. If I had to name your only weakness, it would be that your weapon is not up to the task, limiting your abilities.”
Flower Guardian immediately became displeased. This woman certainly knew how to talk. Hadn’t she been the one to break through his technique with a single move back then? He had spent a long time doubting himself after returning.
It was only when their cult leader came back with an explanation that he had been reassured. Sect Leader Pei’s method of channeling energy and her techniques could not be judged by ordinary standards. Even if someone else possessed her level of power and learned her techniques, they could never achieve the same level of mastery.
Otherwise, if one of the four great Guardians could have his ultimate technique broken so easily by anyone, he might as well give up on living.
Though he grumbled inwardly, Flower Guardian still opened the large wooden box. The sight of its contents dazzled him.
He lifted them with extreme care. Inside were hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of concealed weapons shaped like peach-blossom petals.
Unlike the ones he usually used, these were made of a harder, denser metal, making them easier to control. Their edges were sharper as well. He tested their feel, then sent several petals flying. They moved as naturally as his own limbs, completely at his command.
Judging from the quality of the metal alone, they would also be easier to maintain and far less prone to damage.
No martial artist could resist the allure of an unparalleled weapon, least of all Flower Guardian, who used such an unusual type of weapon.
These petals were made with a material and craftsmanship he had never seen or even heard of before. To him, their rarity was no less than that of a famous sword to a swordsman.
At that moment, he did not even want to eat breakfast. He yearned to carry the box outside and test their power immediately.
Still, he remembered that he could not be discourteous. His expression had already changed from its earlier coldness, and he smiled at Pei Liang with barely concealed excitement.
“Th-thank you, Sect Leader Pei. I won’t stand on ceremony.”
Meng Liuli and the Elder Guardian both snorted when they saw this. They laughed at how shallow Flower Guardian was, while also resenting him for lacking backbone—he had been bought off by such a small favor.
But before either of them could say anything, another box appeared in front of Meng Liuli.
It was another large wooden box, though this one appeared to be divided into several tiers.
Meng Liuli lazily opened it and saw several layers lined with black silk. Set neatly into each layer were several exquisitely crafted silver tubes encased in leather, each a small cylinder about the size of a finger.
She picked one up and discovered that one end of the tube could be pulled open. Once opened, it released a delicate fragrance of cosmetics, with a particularly elegant scent.
Looking inside, she found red lip color. When she accidentally twisted the tube, the lip color slowly rose from it.
It was a shade of red Meng Liuli had never seen before. Ordinary lip color came in only a few shades, and she was a devoted enthusiast in this field—there was no way she could have missed a color like this.
Meng Liuli instantly fell in love with it. Her heart began pounding.
Could it be that the entire box was filled with—
She quickly opened several more. Sure enough, every single one was a different color. Meng Liuli was overjoyed and looked at Pei Liang in delighted surprise.
Pei Liang smiled. “When I saw Guardian Meng remove her veil at the Jiang residence that day, I thought your lips were perfect—full and beautifully shaped. Lip color must have been invented specifically to adorn them.”
“As it happens, this is one of the new products the Pei family will be launching next season. I hope you won’t find it too humble, Guardian Meng.”
How could she possibly dislike it? Even a modern girl accustomed to an overwhelming variety of cosmetics might not be able to resist a collection of 108 lipsticks, let alone someone from ancient times, where such colors were rare.
For a makeup enthusiast like Meng Liuli, this gift had landed directly in the softest place in her heart.
For a moment, Meng Liuli even thought that it was no wonder the Cult Leader had fallen into Sect Leader Pei’s hands. If Pei Liang genuinely wanted to please someone, how could she possibly fail?
Then Pei Liang continued, “If Guardian Meng likes them, my Slaying Moon Sect has also developed foundation, eye shadow, eyebrow pencils, and more in various colors. I’ll have the maids send a set of each to your room later.”
Meng Liuli had never heard of such things, but their names alone were enough to suggest what they were used for.
She quickly nodded. “Then this girl thanks you, Sect Leader Pei.”
Elder Guardian and Protector Jing: “…”
What a disgrace!
Unable to hold back, Elder Guardian said, “Aren’t these all just the same color?”
The moment he finished speaking, Meng Liuli shot him a murderous look, as if to say: You fool, don’t sully my treasures with your ignorance.
Elder Guardian was furious enough to vomit blood.
Just then, breakfast was served. Everyone else received ordinary meals, but something was clearly different about Elder Guardian’s.
His table was covered with soft, fluffy pastries topped with a layer of white, milky cream. His drink was light brown and gave off waves of creamy fragrance.
The smell alone made Elder Guardian’s appetite surge. He took a bite, and the soft, satisfying sweetness instantly shattered the stern expression he had been struggling to maintain.
After taking a sip of the drink, he discovered a fragrant, sweet milkiness blended with the aroma of tea—and chewy little balls at the bottom.
Elder Guardian had a sweet tooth. Situ Zhuo had told her that long ago.
Once he started eating, Elder Guardian simply could not stop. He had originally intended to maintain his dignity and glower coldly at Pei Liang, but his expression refused to obey him.
Protector Jing: “…”
They were always lecturing him by virtue of their age, yet when it mattered, not one of them had any backbone.
Protector Jing gave a cold snort. Then a bundle appeared in front of him.
He hesitated, but opened it anyway—
He would not have them thinking he was afraid of this woman’s bribery tactics.
Inside was a set of plain, unremarkable black clothing. Protector Jing immediately relaxed.
If that was all—
Before he had time to celebrate, Pei Liang picked up one of the garments.
When unfolded, it turned out to be a pair of trousers. But they looked rather small, clearly not his usual size.
Pei Liang tugged at them, and everyone saw the garment’s remarkable elasticity and ability to contract.
Protector Jing was startled. He hurriedly felt the fabric. Its surface was exceptionally smooth. As someone who practiced earth-burrowing techniques, he immediately understood its advantages.
Like the watch Pei Liang had given the Cult Leader, this was not only useful to the country and its people—it was an item of extraordinary convenience for him personally.
Protector Jing did want to return it, loudly refuse her, and demonstrate his integrity.
But the gift was simply too perfectly suited to him.
And so, all four Guardians fell one after another.
They became increasingly curious about the Pei family’s products. Before long, they even began thinking that staying here with their Cult Leader for a few more days and enjoying Pei Liang’s hospitality might not be such a bad thing after all.
Once they had accepted her gifts, the four Guardians were fed a steady barrage of sweet temptations over the next few days. Their eyes were dazzled by the endless stream of new treats, leaving them no time to consider whether their Cult Leader had gotten the short end of the bargain.
Strangely enough, they even began to feel that their Cult Leader had sold himself for a very good price.
Thus, as invitations from the Pei family were sent out, the various sects reacted and began making their way to Slaying Moon Manor. By the time they arrived seven days later, Pei Liang and the four Guardians had been getting along quite happily.
Xia Yunsha, however, had not enjoyed the past few days at all. Although Pei Liang provided her with delicious food and excellent care, the thought that these were her final meals before execution terrified her half to death.
There had been secret attempts to rescue her during that time, but the Pei residence proved even harder to infiltrate than the Sacred Flame Sect.
Three years ago, after removing the spies planted within their ranks, the Pei family had completely reorganized the layout of the estate. As a result, the Wangqiu Sect no longer had the slightest familiarity with the terrain of Slaying Moon Manor.
Without inside assistance, they had lost several top-tier experts and still failed to reach Xia Yunsha.
The Wangqiu Sect had no choice but to abandon the idea of rescuing her in advance and place all their hopes on the Pei family father and son’s death anniversary seven days later.
Pei Liang rose early that day and discussed matters with Han Weiliu.
Under the circumstances, if they did not want to expose their identities, Han Weiliu and Situ Zhuo had to appear to exist simultaneously.
The entire martial world had already crossed paths with Situ Zhuo at the Jiang residence and feared him deeply. No one would be foolish enough to provoke him of their own accord.
Han Weiliu, on the other hand, was different. He had been missing for three years, and quite a few of the four major sects and eight great schools had maintained friendly relations with his elders. Naturally, they would question him in detail.
Therefore, the day’s focus would be on Han Weiliu’s identity.
The solution was simple. Everyone in the martial world knew that Situ Zhuo and the four Guardians were at the Pei residence.
All they had to do was disguise Protector Jing—the person whose build most closely resembled Situ Zhuo—as Situ Zhuo, while Situ Zhuo temporarily disguised himself as Protector Jing.
After appearing before everyone, Situ Zhuo would use Protector Jing’s practice of earth-burrowing techniques as an excuse to remain constantly underground and keep watch. He would then switch identities and appear as Han Weiliu.
That way, both men would have appeared before everyone “at the same time,” and no one would suspect a thing.
Situ Zhuo had informed Protector Jing of the plan the day before and told him to come to Pei Liang’s room early that morning so he could disguise him.
Protector Jing had not arrived yet, but Situ Zhuo had already transformed himself into Protector Jing’s appearance.
Disguising himself was easy for him. With a burst of inner power, he could do it in an instant.
Pei Liang was inwardly thrilled. Her plan to keep one person and thereby own the entire world had only just begun. For now, she could start by getting Situ Zhuo to disguise himself in front of her more often.
Even so, despite wearing the same face, Situ Zhuo still gave off a different impression from the real Protector Jing.
To prevent anyone from seeing through him too easily, Pei Liang instructed him from the side, “No, make yourself less noticeable. Even less noticeable. And your expression needs to be colder.”
“Try silently repeating, ‘What’s it got to do with me? What’s it got to do with you?’ A little better, isn’t it?”
Situ Zhuo was no fool. His disguise skills had long since reached perfection. They were not merely a matter of external technique. A true master of disguise could imitate another person so convincingly that the performance sank deep into the very essence of their character.
Hearing Pei Liang, an outsider, presume to instruct an expert, Situ Zhuo found it amusing. He raised an eyebrow at her. “Hmph! Do you really think I understand Protector Jing less than you do?”
“Being useless in bed and always crying and begging for mercy would be one thing, but to have no idea of your own abilities in other matters too…”
Primary personality: “…”
He had never seen anyone be so stubbornly in denial that he actually convinced himself.
After the better part of half a month, plus these past seven days—nearly a month in total—it seemed the fool had finally realized that he was no match for Pei Liang. He had already begun convincing himself from the outside in, forcibly taking Pei Liang’s words out of context and twisting their meaning just to preserve the dignity of a sect leader.
It was truly enough to make anyone who heard it weep.
Pei Liang knew nothing about the existence of the two personalities. Seeing him start showing off again, she immediately lost the desire to let him remain a decent person.
There was still plenty of time before the first guests arrived. Pei Liang thought that she had yet to pin him against the dressing table, and decided to give it a try.
Just as she was about to make her move, Situ Zhuo’s brows drew together. Then he suddenly stood up.
“Someone’s here!”
With that, he flew out through the wide-open window and headed straight in one direction.
Pei Liang had sensed it too, but she had reacted a moment later. The depth and purity of his internal energy were still beyond what she could currently match.
She did not pursue him. She had expected experts from every faction to gather today.
Although the Wangqiu Sect had made considerable efforts over the past few days—and lost quite a few of its experts in the process—they would never miss today’s event, no matter what.
Pei Liang had already prepared a grand gift for them, and Situ Zhuo knew that as well.
But whoever had managed to make him so wary that he gave chase was probably no ordinary intruder.
To avoid falling for a diversion, Pei Liang did not follow. Whatever happened, someone had to remain behind to guard the mountain.
It was roughly the time it takes to burn two sticks of incense before Pei Liang finally saw “Situ Zhuo” return.
He was still wearing the appearance of Protector Jing. He had probably taken into consideration the fact that he might be exposed in front of others while pursuing the intruder, and was now completely immersed in the role.
No one could possibly detect the bearing of the Demon Sect Leader from him.
Pei Liang hurried over and pulled him inside, ignoring the sudden astonishment on his face, followed by the tips of his ears turning red.
She shut the door and asked, “How did it go?”
Before coming here, Protector Jing had also been given a task. At Pei Liang’s request, he was supposed to make arrangements underground at several locations.
Assuming that was what she was asking about, he replied, “Don’t worry. Everything is foolproof.”
A relaxed smile appeared on Pei Liang’s face. “Good. Having you here really puts my mind at ease.”
Her pretty boy was sometimes terribly vain. He needed lavish verbal praise, along with a timely display of “surrender”—even if it was only verbal—to keep him pleased for half a day.
Pei Liang adored this habit of putting on a brave front while being so easily satisfied. Having long since figured out exactly how to handle him, how could she not be skilled at it?
Sure enough, a trace of embarrassment flashed across “Situ Zhuo’s” face. His expression grew even more solemn, but it was obvious that he was pleased.
Oh? Had he become more composed after going out for a while?
Fortunately, Pei Liang had already grown accustomed to Han Weiliu’s split-personality-like changes in temperament, so this sudden shift did not strike her as particularly extreme.
She trusted Situ Zhuo’s martial prowess. Since he said everything was foolproof, Pei Liang dared to put her mind completely at ease.
And so, the thought that had been interrupted earlier began stirring again.
She was still holding his hand with one hand. With the other, she placed her palm against his waist and gave a light push, pressing him back against the dressing table.
The dressing table was spacious. Even with “Situ Zhuo’s” build, he did not look cramped against it.
But the other man’s expression immediately changed. He stared at Pei Liang in disbelief, his face flushed with both shame and anger.
Glaring at her, he said, “What are you—mm…”
He did not even manage to finish the sentence before he felt a hand slip inside his clothes.
The instant she touched him, Pei Liang sensed something subtly different. The contours of his muscles and the feel of his skin were not the same as usual.
Most notably, his skin was cooler. Han Weiliu was the type whose body grew hot with desire the moment Pei Liang touched him, but the person before her was distinctly colder.
Pei Liang clicked her tongue in admiration. “Not just your face—even the tiniest details of your body can be reproduced so accurately? That’s incredible.”
As she spoke, she leaned down, bringing her lips close to his ear. Her warm breath brushed against his face as she murmured, “You’re very attractive when you’re passionate and eager, but this cool, restrained, ascetic look is irresistible in its own way.”
“Situ Zhuo” had just begun to struggle when the breath against his face and the overwhelming force of her presence pressed down on him from every direction. His body stiffened, and even his breathing fell into disarray. For a moment, he did not know how to react.
That hand was already roaming over his skin without restraint. Protector Jing’s cultivation method had made his skin unusually sensitive, allowing him to sense the complicated layers of soil and stone underground even when he could not see.
He had always taken pride in that sensitivity. At this moment, however, he loathed every inch of his overly responsive skin. Pei Liang only had to toy with him lightly, yet his entire body would tense, his condition would betray him, and his breathing would grow ragged. Even when he tried to gather his qi and resist, the moment he finally assembled it, it would scatter beneath her touch.
Protector Jing had never encountered anything like this. After only a short while, he realized that he could not resist her, and panic began to set in.
His mind knew that this was utterly absurd, but his body had betrayed his will.
Unable to bear it, Protector Jing stretched out his neck and tilted his head back. Then he suddenly caught sight of his reflection in the glazed mirror that had been knocked over nearby.
Who was that?
Who was this pathetic man with a flushed face, biting his lower lip, looking so utterly helpless?
Protector Jing felt so wronged that he nearly cried. Crystal-clear tears slipped from the corners of his eyes.
Looking at Pei Liang, he spoke through a sob. His voice had lost its usual timbre, and his tone held an unmistakable plea.
“Don’t… don’t do this.”
“Please.”
Pei Liang thought that he really was a treasure. Even now, he could still give her such a thrilling reaction.
Could it be that once he became fully immersed in the role, even his performance in bed took on a completely different flavor?
Pei Liang wanted to abandon all restraint even more. With the beauty before her looking at her with clear tears glistening in the corners of his eyes, his expression shy and overwhelmed as he begged her—who could possibly resist that?
Just as the innocent little Protector was about to suffer a terrible fate, the door opened again.
Pei Liang looked up and saw another Protector Jing enter. The moment he took in the scene before him, his face turned black, and he exploded in fury.
“You two—”
His voice rang out like thunder. Protector Jing hurriedly stood up and shoved Pei Liang away, then straightened his disheveled clothes.
He glared at Pei Liang, then looked guiltily at the sect leader. Without saying another word, he fled with a look of utter shame.
Pei Liang was completely dumbfounded. Judging from the situation, the one who had just entered was clearly the real Situ Zhuo.
Which meant the person she had just pinned down was—
Situ Zhuo walked in. His disguise had already reverted to his own appearance, and he looked at Pei Liang as though she were a dead woman.
He closed the door, then gave a cold laugh. “Come on. Tell me exactly what you were doing just now.”
Meanwhile, while Pei Liang was trapped in deep trouble, Protector Jing was having no easier time of it.
The moment he ran outside, he ran straight into the other three Guardians.
It should be said that after Situ Zhuo returned from pursuing the thieves, he ran into the three guardians in the courtyard.
The three guardians told him that Protector Jing had already gone ahead and was waiting for the Sect Leader to disguise him.
Thus, with Situ Zhuo in the lead and the other three following a step behind, they entered Pei Liang’s room.
And that was when they witnessed the scene just described.
Fortunately, the three of them were quick-witted. The moment they saw what was happening, they immediately backed away several steps.
When Protector Jing came rushing out, he collided head-on with all three of them.
The three men looked at him with expressions that were impossible to describe.
Elder Guardian was exasperated. “What did I tell you? Didn’t I tell you not to approach that woman alone?”
“Did you refuse to listen? Did you think that, with your peerless martial arts, that woman wouldn’t be able to do anything to you? Look what she did to the Sect Leader! And you still had the nerve to doubt me?”
“And what happened in the end? If we hadn’t arrived so quickly, your innocence would have been ruined today.”
Flower Guardian found that statement rather disagreeable. Though his techniques were beautiful and romantic, and he fought with flower petals, deep down he was much more of a traditional man.
So he retorted, “That’s not quite how you should put it. He’s a man. How could you say his innocence was ruined?”
“Just look at Sect Leader Pei’s fiancé, Jiang Xun. He’s practically slept with every woman in the martial world, and the women he’s seduced are as numerous as carp crossing a river.”
“If you ask me, Protector Jing should take this opportunity to gain some experience. That way, he won’t spend every day looking so shy, bashful, and utterly inexperienced. He’s making the entire Holy Sect look bad.”
Everyone thought it over.
That was right. They were the Devil Sect, after all—the Devil Sect that had always been free-spirited, romantic, and utterly unrestrained.
Elder Guardian ground his teeth. “It’s all that vixen’s fault for leading this old man astray. She was clearly the one who was shamelessly eager. Why should we be the ones reflecting on our behavior?”
As he spoke, he glared at Protector Jing again. “And it’s your fault too. You’re a grown man—why did you have to put on that shy, maidenly expression? The moment I saw you, I thought you were the one being taken advantage of.”
“Even if that vixen was bullying you, you should have fought back openly and honorably. It’s not as though the Holy Sect has never had bold young women intercept you before. Why were you so composed in the past, yet acted like this today? You’ve disgraced us.”
Meng Liuli drawled lazily, “Instead of arguing here, perhaps you should think about how to explain this to the Sect Leader later.”
Elder Guardian held his neck stiffly. “What is there to explain? That woman was clearly the one teasing Little Jing. If the Sect Leader sees her true colors and abandons her, that would be the best possible outcome.”
Protector Jing listened to them all talking over one another and wished he could dig a hole and disappear into the ground. But if he did that now, they would probably mock him for the rest of his life, so he forced himself to stand firm.
His hand, however, unconsciously tightened around the loosened collar of his robe, making him look even more guilty and pitiful.
Meng Liuli teased him, “Protector Jing, do you know what you looked like just now?”
“W-what?”
“Like a maid who sneaked into her master’s son-in-law’s bed.”
Protector Jing froze.
Then he could no longer hold himself together and practically burrowed straight into the ground.
