Just as the second watch drum had finished beating, the woman on the bed suddenly stirred, beginning to tremble slightly. Chu Li sat at the bedside when he suddenly noticed Qing Xia’s flushed cheeks and rapid breathing. Thinking the wine was finally taking effect, he hurried to the writing desk to pour a cup of tea and supported Qing Xia’s head, intending to give it to her.
Who would have known that as soon as he lifted Qing Xia’s body, a clear, cold fragrance suddenly rushed into his nostrils. Chu Li frowned, then saw Qing Xia’s hands immediately wrap around his neck, her two petal-soft lips covering his mouth—warm, moist, breathing like orchids, with soft whispers by his ear, plaintive and sorrowful. Chu Li was greatly startled and quickly broke free, looking down to see Qing Xia with her clothes half-undone, her bosom white as snow, her long hair scattered. He could vaguely see her rounded snowy peaks rising and falling rapidly, her peach-colored nipples trembling slightly—soft jade and warm fragrance, boundless spring beauty. She was looking at him with misty eyes, her gaze like water, hazy and indistinct.
Chu Li’s brows knitted tightly, his heartbeat accelerated, yet he secretly felt something was amiss. Just as he was about to examine what was wrong, he suddenly saw Qing Xia spread her arms and embrace him tightly, moaning softly with slightly furrowed brows, appearing to be in great pain.
“Qing Xia,” Chu Li’s forehead beaded with sweat, his whole body’s blood boiling, enduring with great difficulty. He reached out to push against Qing Xia’s shoulders, his voice hoarse as he said gravely: “What’s wrong with you?”
In the rush, Qing Xia suddenly half-rose to her knees. Chu Li’s fingers accidentally brushed across Qing Xia’s nipple, and she immediately blushed deeply, her lips parting slightly to emit a lingering, low moan. Amid her gasping breaths, her eyes became misty, rippling rapidly like spring water. Her slender waist arched as she embraced Chu Li’s waist with one arm, using her other hand to tear open his robe. Her flower-like cherry lips pressed against Chu Li’s chest, her delicate fingers exploring and tracing across his robust chest muscles, causing his skin to shiver.
With a thud, Chu Li was pulled down onto the bed by Qing Xia, heavily pressing down on her soft, delicate body. Fragrance assailed his face as her moist cherry lips had already pressed against his mouth, breathing like orchids, her sweet tongue turning and twisting. That hot, soft fragrant tongue was like a flame instantly igniting his desire, spreading like a raging fire throughout his body. Along with that surging passion, he tightly embraced Qing Xia and kissed her back fiercely.
The woman beneath him hummed softly, her long, snow-white jade legs lazily wrapping around Chu Li’s waist and abdomen like an octopus, coiling around him tightly.
The world spun, nectar secretly passed between them. Qing Xia’s hands urgently reached into Chu Li’s clothing, lingering and wandering over his robust, handsome body. The wonderful sensation made her unable to help but moan aloud, lightly scratching his back like a small snake, rubbing gently. Her full, snow-white breasts trembled under the pressure of his chest, her smooth skin burning hot all over—even her snow-white thighs were tinged with a layer of flush. Qing Xia’s eyes were intoxicated, her brows slightly furrowed as she gently bit his lips, her petite, exquisite body trembling lightly under his caresses.
The volcano within Chu Li finally erupted, his throat suddenly emitting a wild gasp, his mind buzzing, desire burning his body like boiling lava erupting. He stretched out his long arms and held her tightly, kissing down toward her snow-white neck.
Qing Xia whimpered softly, like a weary bird returning to its nest, her entire body pressed against his. Her snow-white fingers intertwined in his thick black hair as her body sank down, her tender tongue tip gently licking across Chu Li’s chest, wandering all the way across his chest. Fierce fire immediately leaped up in Chu Li’s lower abdomen, but in that flash of lightning, a thought suddenly struck his mind—with Qing Xia’s personality, how could she act this way toward him? Even if she were acting wildly due to drink, she shouldn’t be this thorough. Could she have been poisoned?
Thinking this, he immediately broke out in cold sweat. Just as he pushed her away to examine the situation, he suddenly heard Qing Xia emit a crying-like moan and rise up to entangle with him.
“Qing Xia,” Chu Li’s voice was hoarse. With tremendous willpower, he raised his head, cupped her face, and said gravely: “Do you know who I am?”
“Mm…” Qing Xia answered vaguely, her fragrant lips secretly approaching, immediately blocking the rest of Chu Li’s words. Her tongue tip swept across Chu Li’s lips and teeth, making him itch unbearably. Hearing Qing Xia’s low murmurs made Chu Li’s mind even more intoxicated. With great difficulty breaking free, Chu Li’s eyes were dark and deep, his voice hoarse as he said: “Qing Xia, I am Chu Li.”
Qing Xia’s eyes were misty and hazy, as if blaming him for not yet joining with her in pleasure, looking at him with grievance, her eyes almost ready to drip water. At this point, Chu Li could be certain that she must have been drugged at the banquet with an aphrodisiac. A fierce rage suddenly rose within him. He thought to himself how fortunate it was that she had returned to her room in time and encountered him—what would have happened if someone else had taken advantage of her?
Seeing Qing Xia half-naked and alluringly seductive, Chu Li felt his patience had reached its limit. But if she submitted to him unknowingly, how would she view him when she awoke tomorrow? Thinking of this, he suddenly gritted his teeth, picked up the large quilt from the bed, and wrapped Qing Xia layer by layer, holding her in his arms.
Qing Xia, tightly wrapped by him, struggled constantly, her face flushed with rising color, clearly in great pain.
Chu Li opened the door, carrying Qing Xia as he rushed eastward.
A verdant pool was hidden among grass more than half a person’s height. Chu Li slowly unfolded the cotton quilt to see Qing Xia in white clothes pure as snow, her skin like congealed cream. On her clear, otherworldly face, her eyes were like brilliant stars, her brows like willow silk gathering smoke, quietly watching him. The night wind was ice-cold, seemingly awakening her consciousness. Qing Xia’s brows furrowed tightly, her cheeks flushed red, gently biting the corner of her mouth, appearing to lack even the strength to reach out and dress herself properly.
Chu Li slowly lifted her up, looking into her clear black and white eyes, saying gravely: “Don’t be afraid, it’s all right.” With that, he immersed her entire body in the pool water.
The night was clear and cold, and the pool water also emanated a chill. Qing Xia couldn’t help but shiver all over, but as soon as Chu Li released his grip, she immediately became weak all over and sank into the water, disappearing from sight.
Chu Li was terrified and jumped into the pool with a splash, frantically searching around before half-lifting Qing Xia from the bottom of the pool.
The pool was only waist-deep, but Qing Xia couldn’t even sit up at this moment. Chu Li had no choice but to hold her, standing in the pool, quietly letting the ice-cold water wash away the aphrodisiac from her body.
Qing Xia was wearing sleep clothes—thin silk gauze that, when soaked with water, clung tightly to her body, half-concealing and half-revealing, showing her curves completely.
Qing Xia was weak all over, hardly having the strength to speak, but her consciousness became clear. The night wind blew gently, the grasses swayed, insects chirped and birds called, the cold moon was like frost. In the verdant pool, Qing Xia leaned against Chu Li’s chest, her two tender hands gripping his shoulders tightly, feeling his strong arms embracing her waist and back. Her breathing was shallow as the night wind blew across their long hair, the half-wet strands floating and scattering, tangled together like thousands of butterfly wings.
Not knowing how much time had passed, when even her body seemed numb, Qing Xia could finally speak in a hoarse voice: “Chu Li, I’m better now.”
Chu Li was startled, nodded, and carried her to the shore, still placing her in the cotton quilt.
“I can walk back by myself.” Seeing Chu Li still wanting to wrap her up in the quilt, she quickly spoke to stop him.
Chu Li said nothing, only swept his gaze up and down over Qing Xia’s nearly naked wet clothes. The answer was self-evident. Qing Xia’s cheeks immediately turned bright red as she allowed Chu Li to wrap her up layer by layer and carry her in his arms, walking toward Fengming Palace.
Penglai Valley was isolated from the world, with a serene environment full of exotic flowers and strange stones everywhere. At night, the cool breeze brought faint fragrances of flowers and grass. Flower trees swayed all around, truly like a fairyland.
Qing Xia was held in Chu Li’s arms, slightly raising her eyebrows to look up at Chu Li’s angular face from below. Thinking of their previous awkwardness, her face couldn’t help but flush completely.
Just as they were about to return to the bedroom, they suddenly heard panicked shouts rising from the inner valley. In an instant, gong sounds echoed through the sky, countless birds shrieked and flew high, their wings beating as they scattered feathers across the sky. Qing Xia was startled and quickly tugged at Chu Li’s clothing, saying: “Something seems to have happened.”
Chu Li frowned and set Qing Xia down. The journey had been neither far nor near, but it had allowed Qing Xia’s clothes to dry halfway. Though wearing only the cotton robe was somewhat improper, it was no longer as revealing as before.
“Let’s go see.”
Qing Xia nodded. Suddenly seeing a Penglai man running from the distance, Qing Xia flashed up from behind and knocked him unconscious with a hand chop, efficiently stripping off his robe and handing it to Chu Li, saying: “Quickly put this on.”
Using the same method on another unlucky fellow, the two changed their clothes and followed the chaotic crowd, running forward. They saw raging firelight coming from the direction of Tianji Pavilion, with voices boiling all around, noisy and clamorous. Qing Xia and Chu Li exchanged glances and hid among the crowd.
Countless people gathered at the entrance of Tianji Pavilion, looking up to see fierce firelight streaming from inside. The Penglai citizens carried water and basins, continuously splashing water toward the burning building. Master Mu and others organized the strong young men of Penglai, desperately ramming against the main door, with banging sounds continuous.
“What are you standing there for? Put out the fire!” A young Penglai disciple, seeing Qing Xia and Chu Li dressed in Penglai clothing, mistook them for Penglai people in the dim night.
Qing Xia and Chu Li nodded and also found buckets, following the others to fetch water and fight the fire.
At this moment, a tremendous crash was suddenly heard. Under the pervasive smoke and fire, the heavy iron door suddenly collapsed with a thunderous sound. The rolling thick smoke made everyone cough loudly. Master Mu waved his sleeves and then called for everyone to enter and rescue people.
Qing Xia and Chu Li followed behind the crowd, flashing into the Penglai holy ground—Tianji Pavilion.
Rolling thick smoke was everywhere. Qing Xia frowned tightly, looking around with focused eyes to see chaos everywhere—bookshelves and cabinets had all fallen to the ground, with traces of fighting scattered all over. Qing Xia’s frown grew tighter and tighter. Chu Li also sensed that things were unusual and instinctively reached out to grasp Qing Xia’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.