Chu Li’s large hands moved upward, sliding over the beautiful lines of her back, pressing her entire body tightly against himself. Feeling her stiffness, the image of that handsome and refined man suddenly flashed through Chu Li’s mind. Royal fury swept through his heart like an overwhelming tide, making him demand even more fiercely from her, exploring all her beauty. With a sweep of his palm, he reached toward the soft warmth at her chest.

The firmness at her chest was instantly grasped. Qing Xia nearly hummed softly like a cat. But just then, Qin Zhiyan’s figure suddenly appeared before her eyes. Under the hibiscus canopy, Qin Zhiyan’s tide-like tenderness almost tore her chest apart in that instant. How could she do this? While she was here losing herself in passion, where was that pale man who had repeatedly risked his life for her, enduring the pain of longing and worry for her? Her scattered consciousness instantly returned. Qing Xia pressed down on Chu Li’s large hand and struggled to break free from his restraint.

However, Qing Xia’s struggling only further ignited Chu Li’s fury. Pain that could sweep across heaven and earth rushed into his heart. The chest was cramped with little space, and Qing Xia’s martial skills couldn’t be displayed at all – how could she break free from Chu Li’s strength? The friction of their bodies further ignited the man’s desire. The restless heat pressed firmly against Qing Xia’s lower abdomen, exploding in Qing Xia’s mind like thunder.

Her small mouth immediately opened in shock, and Chu Li’s tongue took advantage to slide in, drawing Qing Xia’s sweetness like a snake, greedy as a traveler walking in the desert.

Qing Xia, do you know how long I’ve waited for this kiss? In two years of time, in every nightmare of missing you, I tried to imagine the fulfillment of having you in my arms. But how cruel you are – even in dreams, you never showed me tenderness. Has your heart finally belonged to someone else? Have I finally lost you through my blind arrogance? Or have you never belonged to me from the very beginning, and I have never entered your heart?

The intense long kiss carried earth-shattering temperature, as scorching as lava from a volcanic eruption. Qing Xia was completely lost in a dark nightmare. Qin Zhiyan’s face gazed at her tenderly, without a trace of blame or anger, just so gentle, warm, smiling faintly as he looked at her, yet instantly shooting into her heart like countless sharp arrows.

Admit it – you’re just a fickle woman!

Otherwise, why did you indulge in Qin Zhiyan’s warmth while your heart hadn’t forgotten Chu Li, shamelessly enjoying his gentleness, his indulgence, his complete compliance and careful protection? Why, when he risked life and death for you, nearly lost his life, and worried frantically about you, did you selfishly stay with Chu Li, repeatedly protecting him, involuntarily caring for him, following him unto death?

Since you’ve already made a choice, why can’t you decisively shatter all his fantasies? Instead, you remain entangled, pulling back and forth, unwilling to cut through this relationship with swift resolve.

Admit it – you’re such a selfish woman, comfortably enjoying the care of two men, the tenderness of two men, the devoted hearts of two men. Thinking that like an ostrich, you can hide your head and avoid facing everything outside, pretending nothing has happened, foolishly toying with others’ sincerity, others’ feelings, others’ wholehearted devotion. Your foolishness and selfishness will ultimately destroy all three people, including yourself, falling together into the endless abyss, never to recover!

A tear suddenly slid from Qing Xia’s eyes, dropping onto Chu Li’s face. The cold liquid instantly shocked Chu Li back to complete awareness. He slowly released Qing Xia, slightly propped up her body, and seeing her disheveled clothes and tear-stained face, felt as if a solid piece of ice had pierced his heart.

He arranged her clothing, and his palm, slightly roughened from years of martial practice, wiped across her tear-streaked cheek, finally sighing silently.

Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door, and a somewhat low but slightly familiar voice rang out: “Su Ning, I’m back.”

“Ah!” Miss Tan, who was sitting in her chair, suddenly jumped up, spun around left and right, nervously tugging at her clothes, and quickly called out: “Wait a moment, let me change clothes.” As she spoke, she ran toward Qing Xia and Chu Li’s direction!

Both were simultaneously shocked. The previous awkward intimacy instantly vanished in the face of mortal danger. No way – this wealthy young lady, excited upon hearing her beloved’s voice, wanted to refresh her appearance, and now she was coming to this very chest to get her beautiful clothes?

In just a brief instant, with almost no time to react, the chest lid was opened with a whoosh. Blinding light immediately fell on the two people awkwardly stacked together. The beautiful young lady of Penglai Immortal Valley in pure white opened her mouth slightly, staring dumbfounded in disbelief at the two red-faced people in her wardrobe, as if she was about to scream.

“Shh!”

Footsteps outside had already sounded. With enemies outnumbering them, awkward positioning, and limited time, taking hostages was no longer the perfect choice. In desperation, Qing Xia could only raise her finger and plead with the woman with a hushing gesture.

“Su Ning? What are you doing?”

The main door creaked open. The woman in plain clothes blocked the two people, nervously turning around quickly, stammering: “I… I… I wanted to change clothes.”

“No need to change,” the man smiled warmly and said gently: “I like whatever you wear.”

From his position, he couldn’t see the two people in the chest. But through Miss Tan’s flowing white clothes, Qing Xia and Chu Li immediately widened their eyes. The man opposite wore flowing white robes, had clear features and sword-like eyebrows extending to his temples, with a trace of unruly and transcendent aura. His appearance was surprisingly seven or eight parts similar to Chu Li’s.

Shock arrived instantly. The chest closed with a bang, and the Tan family young lady laughed unnaturally: “Then I won’t change.”

The white-robed man smiled and stepped forward two paces, taking the white-clothed woman’s hand and walking forward.

Qing Xia and Chu Li suppressed the shock in their hearts, looked at each other, and enormous doubt immediately arose in their hearts.

That white-robed man was remarkably the blue-robed man that Qing Xia had encountered in the plum grove of Chu Palace – Chu Li’s blood brother, the Nan Chu Prince of Huainan who had been rescued from the heavenly prison by Qi people – Chu Zheng!

“Su Ning, what did you do at home today?” Chu Zheng smiled lightly, his voice gentle yet carrying a trace of clear brightness, his bearing magnanimous and handsome, with a particular charm of elegant romance.

“Nothing much,” Miss Tan’s voice was somewhat nervous. She hurriedly poured a cup of tea and handed it to Chu Zheng, took a fan and walked to his side, gently fanning him, saying softly: “The wooden oil horse you asked me to research still has no leads. Clear Uncle and I searched through the Master’s remaining texts in the construction workshop, but always feel something is missing.”

“Don’t be anxious.” Chu Zheng laughed softly, lowered his head to sip tea, and said in a light voice: “Master was greatly talented. It’s natural that we common people cannot comprehend everything in a short time. As long as we pool our wisdom and work hard, I believe there will be results.”

Miss Tan’s voice faltered. She thought for a moment, walked in front of Chu Zheng, half-knelt beside him, her long black hair hanging to the ground. A pair of large dark eyes looked at the handsome man with watery gazes as she said seriously: “Zheng, I know you want to enter the construction workshop, but Master left instructions that year – only direct descendants of the valley can enter the construction workshop. Our ancestors received Master’s great kindness, and for thousands of years we’ve never broken the rules. If you really want to enter, it’s not without a way, as long as… as long as…”

At this point, she couldn’t continue, slightly lowering her head, even her cheeks flushing red with shyness.

Chu Zheng smiled faintly, extended his slender fingers to gently lift Tan Su Ning’s chin, and said tenderly like flowing water: “Su Ning, without you, even if you gave me the entire world I wouldn’t be happy. Do you think I like you because I want to enter the construction workshop?”

“Zheng, I…”

Miss Tan was shocked upon hearing this and quickly shook her head to explain. Chu Zheng gently extended his finger to block Tan Su Ning’s mouth, saying softly: “I’ve always refused to marry you, not because I don’t like you. You’re so wonderful, pure as jade and ice. With you, I can no longer look at any other vulgar women in the world. It’s just that I need a status worthy of matching you. I want to give you all the good things in the world. I want to bring you openly to pay respects to my ancestors, telling them how fortunate I am to have such a celestial fairy by my side. I want you to become the most noble and happiest woman in this world. So, Su Ning, you must wait patiently for me, alright?”

These words were spoken so tenderly and passionately that any woman would be moved upon hearing them. Sure enough, Miss Tan smiled at the corners of her mouth, half-raising her head, looking at him with eyes full of happiness, saying softly: “Zheng, actually I don’t need any status or power. As long as you’re by my side, I’m very satisfied.”

“Silly girl!” Chu Zheng laughed and touched Tan Su Ning’s nose tip, saying indulgently: “You’re my treasure, the heart I want to cherish for life. How could I wrong you?”

Miss Tan slightly lowered her head, pursing her lips in a gentle smile, looking tender and sweet. Suddenly her gaze swept to the chest nearby and Lin Mubo bound up in the corner, suddenly realizing that their intimate words had been overheard by others, her cheeks rising with rosy clouds. She said softly: “Zheng, are you hungry? Let’s go to the dining hall to eat.”

“I’m not hungry,” Chu Zheng smiled mysteriously and said in a deep voice: “Heaven has a path but he doesn’t take it; hell has no gate but he breaks in. I’ve waited too long for this day. Since Heaven has freely given me such a good opportunity, how can I not make good use of it? Su Ning, my plan is about to succeed. I’ve already activated all the mechanisms in the valley, and the Secluded Path has been closed. This time, even if he grows wings, he cannot fly away.”