“Benefactor, though my appearance is plain, I was born with a unique talent!” The distressed young girl slowly lifted her head. Her tresses slid down along a specific path from her neck, instantly transforming her from pure and flawless to shy and demure, adding a charming allure of youthful innocence.
Her ever-changing aura was like that of a supreme martial artist, effortlessly natural and exquisitely refined. Like mercury seeping everywhere, it attacked the weak spots of a man’s heart with irresistible force!
Before Qiao San could curiously inquire further, the girl cast a modest glance at him, then lowered her head shyly and whispered, “I can distinguish people by their scent. Everyone has a unique smell, and you, sir, are indeed my savior!”
“Hmm…” This time, it was Qiao San’s turn to nearly faint. His eyes became unfocused, his mind chaotic. A strange premonition urged him to flee, yet the girl’s pitiful and sorrowful expression weighed heavily on his steps.
Caught in an internal struggle, after much hesitation, the rogue suddenly pointed behind the girl and shouted, “Look out! Someone is chasing us!”
“Ahh!” Startled, the girl instinctively turned around, only to find nothing but empty space. When she turned back, the night before her was equally desolate and empty.
That scoundrel Qiao San had actually abandoned her using such a despicable method!
The wind turned oddly chilly. The tearful girl slowly rose to her feet, and in the instant she stood upright, the tears on her face had mysteriously vanished. “Ha, ha… That fellow is indeed a rogue. Thinking he can escape from my grasp, the Twelve Princess’s hands? Hmph! Not a chance!”
Twelve Princess, the fox clan’s princess, a fox spirit! Oh, now everything made sense! No wonder she could drive men mad so easily!
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“Shhh…” In desperation, Qiao San dashed across rooftops at top speed, fleeing back to the Qiao residence and tightly closing the gate behind him. Only then did he release a long sigh of relief. That was close—he had nearly given in to his compassion just now!
No, he absolutely couldn’t reveal his secret, or it would surely bring disaster upon his family, especially his sister-in-law!
“Ahh…”
Within his bedroom lingered Qiao San’s gloomy sighs. Indeed, there were no eternal secrets in this world.
How could he not understand the danger of his actions? Yet, just like the warmth from his brow, the cool current within his body always left him powerless to resist.
Oh well, one step at a time. After all, he had saved that girl—surely she wouldn’t repay kindness with betrayal! Better to just go to sleep!
Carefree and easygoing was simply the nature of a rogue. Qiao San shut his eyes tightly, forcing all chaotic thoughts from his mind. Before long, he actually fell asleep! Unfortunately… Ha, ha… Even in sleep, he could find no peace.
“Master, Shuling greets you! Are you willing to commit suicide now?” A multicolored glow entered Qiao San’s dream world, making the man who sought a moment’s quiet groan in despair.
“Ahh… Friend, go away. You’re not even pretty. Why do you keep barging into my dreams every day? Leave me be… I’m not ready to die yet, young master that I am!”
“Oh? So Master desires a beauty? That’s easy. Shuling can transform into one!”
The voice within the glow remained monotonous and devoid of emotion.
“Whoosh!” Before Qiao San’s eyes appeared a graceful and charming young girl, breathtakingly beautiful and peerless in elegance.
“Master, will this form allow you to focus on studying?”
“Ahh… Forget it. It’s not real anyway.”
At first, Qiao San’s eyes lit up with excitement, but Shuling’s tone was like cold water dousing his enthusiasm. Though the girl was beautiful, her vacant gaze lacked any trace of humanity. The rogue couldn’t help but voice his final hopeful request: “Shuling, can’t you act more like a real, living person? Heh, heh… If you did, I’d definitely study hard!”
“Master, Shuling’s current powers are too weak. Only after Master learns the Daoist immortal techniques can Shuling progress alongside you. Then, Shuling will become a vivid, enchanting beauty for your enjoyment—yours to ravish, ravage, cherish, tease…”
“Stop, stop…” Qiao San nearly fainted from Shuling’s “bluntness,” indignantly protesting, “Are you reciting lines? Am I really that bad?!”
“Master, Shuling speaks according to your innermost thoughts!” The strange spirit remained as calm and unaffected as ever.
“Thud!” In this dream world, Qiao San fell flat on the ground in frustration. The shame and anger of having his privacy invaded burned through his entire body. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t lay a hand on Shuling, who was merely a glowing orb.
“Master, if you wish to strike Shuling, you can cultivate the Ghost Sutra. Once you stab your heart with a blade, you will gain power and finally be able to hit Shuling!”
When it came to suggesting self-harm, Shuling remained as flat and emotionless as ever, truly a spirit incapable of lying.
“Fine! Looks like I really must learn this wretched Ghost Sutra to get rid of you! But you—forget it!” Qiao San’s love for life was indeed steadfast. Despite Shuling’s entire night of persuasion, he never agreed to its horrifying demand.
“Dong, dong… Brother San, Brother San, wake up!” In reality, Qing Niang’s persistent calls finally roused Qiao San from his dream entanglement with the spirit.
“Hmm… Morning already!” Still flailing in bed, Qiao San finally escaped the bizarre dream.
His drowsy eyes slowly opened. In the blink of an eye, the unwilling thinker had pushed the strange dream to the farthest corner of his mind.
“Sister-in-law, I’m coming out right away!” By the time Qiao San’s feet touched the ground, the dream had already vanished into thin air.
“Creak!”
The door opened slowly. As always, Qing Niang had brought warm water for her younger brother-in-law. But this time, instead of leaving immediately as she usually did, she stood silently, staring at him with an odd expression, as if seeing him for the first time.
“Sister-in-law, is there something wrong with me?!” Usually shameless, the young man now felt uneasy under his sister-in-law’s gaze, even forgetting his usual flirtatious thoughts.
“Brother San, do you think it’s fun being a so-called hero?” Her gentle voice struck Qiao San like thunder and lightning, leaving him frozen in shock!
What was going on? How could even his sister-in-law know about this? Could it be… that the truth was already common knowledge on the streets?!
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