What he was thinking seemed unimportant to Qiao Qie’er. After leaving Mati Island, she was almost a person devoid of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, mostly wearing an indifferent expression on her face.
Yu Qing did not know if it was because her grandfather’s death had brought her a huge blow.
In this matter, Yu Qing’s inner feelings were actually quite unbearable. He knew that because of his own implication, he had caused the death of Wen Xin’s grandfather, and now Qiao Qie’er’s grandfather.
The bath water arrived. Two attendants each carried two large buckets of hot and cold water, and another attendant carried a scrubbed wooden tub.
After putting things down, one attendant told them to adjust the hot and cold water themselves.
After the attendants withdrew, Qiao Qie’er closed the door securely, locked the bolt, and then went to the wooden tub to scoop and pour water, testing the temperature herself.
Once the water temperature was adjusted, she walked to the wall on the side and pulled up the cloth curtain.
A rope was strung in the guest room, precisely used to hang the cloth curtain to block people’s line of sight, for the convenience of modesty while bathing.
After the curtain was pulled open, Qiao Qie’er’s figure appeared behind it. Illuminated by the lamplight over there, her silhouette was clear, showing her every move behind the curtain in the form of a shadow.
No way? Yu Qing muttered in his heart, actually harboring some kind of expectation. He stole glances at the movements of the figure behind the curtain, yet did not dare to look directly.
Soon, the movements of the figure on the curtain made him slowly stop stealing glances and instead stare dumbfounded.
The figure on the curtain untied her long hair and was undressing.
The shadow on the curtain took off her clothes piece by piece. Only when nothing but the shadow of a graceful body remained did she step onto a wooden stool and sit in the tub.
“Gulp…”
Feeling parched, Yu Qing swallowed heavily. The sound of his gulp was so loud that it startled him. Subconsciously covering his mouth, he quickly turned his head away, pretending to be a gentleman.
His heart, however, could not calm down for a long time. He thought this woman was just joking, never expecting she would actually strip naked and bathe right in front of him. Although separated by a cloth curtain, it still exceeded his imagination.
Although he had climbed onto roofs and lifted tiles to watch widows bathe before, he was egged on to do it back then. He was just a child then and felt nothing. This time was different. He was now a vigorous young man, truly feeling the surging blood in his body making it impossible to calm his mind.
He quickly sat cross-legged on the couch, looked at the obvious reaction in his crotch, and hurriedly pulled the hem of his long shirt down to cover his knees. Then he closed his eyes and concentrated, forcing himself into a state of circulating energy to regulate his breath.
The figure sitting in the tub obviously tilted her head to look this way, perhaps having heard the sound of swallowing, before continuing to wash and bathe on her own.
Yu Qing, trying hard to close his eyes and concentrate, gradually developed fine beads of sweat on his forehead. His hands resting on his knees gripped them tightly.
The splashing sounds of bathing and washing were like demonic sounds pouring into his ears at this moment. As soon as he heard the sound, his mind would automatically imagine the movements and posture of the figure on the curtain. He suddenly opened his eyes wide, trying hard to level his breath. Just now, he had truly almost disrupted the internal energy circulating in his meridians, nearly suffering a deviation.
This mind-disturbing noise was too powerful. Yu Qing did not dare to forcefully resist it anymore.
However, once he opened his eyes, his young heart became restless again. He could not help but secretly tilt his head to look at the figure on the curtain, staring at her every move, occasionally swallowing saliva. At this moment, it could truly be said that various thoughts were tumbling in his mind.
He had the urge to run over and take a look. The reason was that she had seen him, so if he looked back, they would be even.
He wanted to leave, yet wanted to peep. Desire pulled at him, making his whole being suffer.
Realizing his inner demons were about to lose control, he finally did not dare to dawdle any longer and made up his mind to leave.
However, just then, the figure sitting in the tub stood up with a splash.
Yu Qing turned his head to look. The side profile of the person behind the curtain was just displayed. The curvy and undulating figure instantly made him forget about leaving, staring blankly at the graceful movements of that figure.
Not long after, Qiao Qie’er, with her long hair draped over her shoulders, wrapped in a cloak, came out. It was a cloak bought previously at Youjiao Bu.
Yu Qing acted as if he had done nothing, seen nothing, and heard nothing. He sat cross-legged in meditation on the couch with a calm demeanor, looking like an honest man.
Qiao Qie’er slowly walked to him, stood right in front of him, and looked at him quietly. An incomparably complex expression emerged on her face, as if she was also in some kind of torment.
Yu Qing heard and felt that she was right in front of him. His nostrils fluttered slightly, and he smelled her too.
After pretending for a while, he finally opened his eyes. Meeting Qiao Qie’er’s gaze, he asked, “Why are you standing so close? Are you not afraid my subconscious reaction might hurt you?”
Qiao Qie’er answered irrelevantly, “Will you really help me take revenge?”
Yu Qing nodded. “Rest assured, I will do my best to fulfill what I promised.”
Qiao Qie’er said, “You also said before that you would not abandon me and run away.”
Bringing up that topic hit a sore spot. Speaking of this, Yu Qing felt a bit embarrassed. He felt like he heard the sound of his own face being slapped again, so he explained, “Well, I had no bad intentions. Everyone has their own privacy. If you follow along for some things, it is indeed quite inconvenient. Did you not see the letter I left? I said I would go back to find you, so it does not count as abandoning you. Well, do you understand what I mean?”
Qiao Qie’er answered irrelevantly again, “Will you really help me take revenge for my grandfather?”
Yu Qing sighed, “I swear, I promise, is that okay? Uh…” His eyes suddenly went blank.
He saw Qiao Qie’er’s cloak slowly loosen. Her hands wrapped inside slowly parted the loosened cloak, revealing the scene inside.
Inside the cloak was a completely naked body, graceful and fair, gradually fully revealed.
“I have seen you, and I am letting you see me. We are even.”
After the slightly trembling voice stopped, the cloak fell to the ground with a swoosh, landing at Qiao Qie’er’s heels. A person stood there completely naked.
What did it mean to be even? They say even a hero cannot pass the beauty test, let alone Yu Qing, who was no hero. Having never been with a woman, facing this scene for the first time, how could he withstand the temptation?
His eyes wide open, his breathing became more and more rapid. Then he suddenly stood up, then grabbed Qiao Qie’er in his arms, and then pulled her down to tumble and roll on the couch.
The “Big Head” being pressed could not take it anymore. It crawled out of his ponytail, flew up, and landed on the roof beam. Tilting its head, it looked at the scene below in confusion.
Once they experienced the clouds and rain, both knew they were novices in this matter…
It was daylight, already mid-morning.
Not seeing Yu Qing show up, Nanzhu and Mu Aotie left their room together, came to Yu Qing’s door, banged on it, and shouted, “Fifteenth, come out. It is time to depart.”
Yu Qing’s shout came from inside, “We are resting today and departing tomorrow.”
Nanzhu immediately asked, “What do you mean?”
Yu Qing said, “Let me figure it out clearly before saying more. Resting today.”
What the hell? Nanzhu really wanted to open the door and go straight in, but he restrained himself considering there might be a woman inside and it could be inconvenient.
After the two turned and left, Nanzhu could not help but mutter, “A man and a woman hiding in a room with the door locked is a bit abnormal. They have not actually tasted meat, have they?”
Mu Aotie looked back, shook his head, and said, “Hard to say.”
Resting it is. The two felt there must be a reason and felt the fifteenth would definitely come and give them an explanation.
As a result, they waited until noon, and the fifteenth still did not appear.
Waiting more, after the afternoon passed, the fifteenth still did not show up.
Waiting until it got dark, the two brothers could not hold back. They finally went out again and came to Yu Qing’s door to knock.
“Fifteenth, you have not died in there, have you?”
Nanzhu knocked on the door and shouted.
Yu Qing’s voice came out, “You fat bastard, what are you yelling about? You have cheap bones. Having a rest makes your skin itch instead, right? I will say it again. We are resting today and departing tomorrow!”
“Fine. If nothing is wrong, he must be alive and well. Let us go.”
Hearing the tone of voice inside and that he could still curse, Nanzhu knew they were safe and sound. He turned around, pulled Mu Aotie, and walked away.
Mu Aotie said, “The two have stayed in the room for almost a day and a night without coming out.”
Nanzhu said, “Need I say more? Forgot what I said earlier? A single man and a single woman in the same room will inevitably cause trouble sooner or later. Just as expected, they have definitely tasted meat. That beast, the fifteenth. He has known her for less than ten days. Is this not too fast?”
Mu Aotie said, “Beast!”
The two left the house, walked down the steps, stood in the yard of the inn looking up at the stars, still sighing, while also whispering and worrying about something…
Early the next morning, Nanzhu and Mu Aotie came to someone’s door again. Just as Nanzhu was about to raise his hand to knock, the door opened on its own with a creak.
Yu Qing, with a cheeky smile on his face, swaggered out. He pushed the two blocking the door away with both hands and said, “You lot are quite early.”
Nanzhu scolded, “The sun is already roasting our arses, and you call this early?”
Yu Qing walked straight through the two of them and dropped a sentence, “Let us eat something first and see what is available to eat here.”
Just as Nanzhu was about to say something, he was stunned again. He saw Qiao Qie’er, freshly washed and dressed, take off her veil. With a beautiful face full of radiance, upon seeing the two, a sudden blush rose on her face and spread to the roots of her ears. She shyly bowed to them and greeted them politely, “Seventh Brother, Ninth Brother.”
“Uh? Um… oh, oh, good, hello.”
Nanzhu was rendered at a loss by her movement and form of address. For a moment, he was made to look somewhat submissive and obedient. He quickly cleared the way, not even knowing how to address her.
“Good.” Mu Aotie replied simply and also stepped aside.
Qiao Qie’er then lowered her head and left in great embarrassment, taking quick little steps to catch up with Yu Qing.
Looking at Yu Qing, the way he walked was simply a swagger that acknowledged no one, as if he wanted to announce to the whole world that he was a proper man!
When the beauty reached his side, he casually reached out to hold her hand.
Qiao Qie’er was not used to such public displays and quickly pulled her hand back. Who would have thought that Grandmaster Yu was extraordinarily domineering? He actually reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her close to his side.
Qiao Qie’er was already very embarrassed. Embracing and hugging in public was something she would not even dare to think about. Biting her lip in shame, she wished she could find a hole in the ground to drill into. She quickly pushed him away and pinched Yu Qing’s arm hard, telling him to behave in public.
The two senior brothers watching in a daze were completely speechless. Nanzhu slapped his hand over his eyes, unable to bear looking. “It burns my eyes.”
He turned back and asked, “Ninth, look. Did I not say it right? She called us ‘brother’. In the blink of an eye, she has become our sister-in-law. This cheap sister-in-law came fast, did she not?”
Mu Aotie said in a deep voice, “It brings disgrace to our sect’s reputation!”
“Forget about the disgrace to the sect’s reputation. Our own arses are not clean either, so there is no way we can criticize him over this.”