Volume One: A Femme Fatale, Chapter 42: Teasing

"Yu-mei... why don't you sleep a little longer?"

Jiang Hao stood there for a long time, shyly avoiding Qin Yu-mei's tender, water-like gaze before stammering out the question.

"Husband, I am not a pig; how could I be so lazy?"

Upon hearing Jiang Hao use her pet name, ripples stirred in Qin Yu-mei's heart, and she couldn't help but reveal a charming, coquettish expression.

"Damn it! They say since ancient times that heroes have a hard time resisting the charms of a beauty; I finally understand the true meaning of that now." For some reason, Jiang Hao found himself unable to look Qin Yu-mei in the eye.

Seeing this, Qin Yu-mei covered her crimson lips with her hand and chuckled softly. "I never would have guessed that the man who was so fierce and tiger-like last night, showing no mercy, would be so shy today?"

"Husband, if you keep avoiding me like this, I’m going to have a hard time getting used to it!"

It had to be said that as the master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in Yongan City, Qin Yu-mei was quite adept at reading people, and her words perfectly held Jiang Hao’s heart in her grasp. Knowing full well that she was teasing him, Jiang Hao had no way to retort and could only let her tease him openly.

"I didn't expect this fellow to be so adorable." Watching the shy Jiang Hao, Qin Yu-mei secretly planned to continue the teasing.

"Ahem!" Qin Yu-mei cleared her throat intentionally, then said with a charming expression, "Husband, aren't you going to help me put on my clothes?"

"Who was it last night that so rudely stripped off my clothes?"

This sentence from Qin Yu-mei was like a bolt of lightning, instantly turning Jiang Hao’s face deep red. Just as she was about to continue teasing him, Jiang Hao, summoning courage from nowhere, gritted his teeth and suddenly raised his head, staring straight at her beautiful and alluring figure, which left her momentarily stunned.

"Husband, what are you doing?" Qin Yu-mei asked, feeling instinctively nervous.

Jiang Hao said firmly, "Yu-mei, if you keep bullying me like this, watch out, or I might not be able to help myself and will pounce back onto your bed!"

Sure enough, hearing his words, Qin Yu-mei couldn't help but tremble. She grabbed the quilt and wrapped it tightly around herself. Recalling the tempestuous events of last night, her delicate body still ached slightly; she could not possibly endure Jiang Hao’s "bullying" again.

The next moment, her cheeks flushed, and she said shyly, "Jiang Hao! You scoundrel! You're a hooligan!"

"You only know how to bully me! Wuu-wuu!" As she spoke, she buried her head in the quilt, pretending to cry with snot and tears.

Seeing this, Jiang Hao panicked. He quickly stepped forward, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently patted her shoulder to comfort her. "Yu-mei, I didn't mean to bully you."

"You have to consider me too! No matter what, I am a hot-blooded man; how could I withstand such teasing from you?"

"And let's not even talk about me—with the way you were teasing me just now, tell me, what man in this world could handle that?"

Suddenly, Qin Yu-mei slowly raised her head, her eyes gazing affectionately at Jiang Hao. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, she leaned forward and lightly brushed her red lips against his forehead.

"Husband, it’s just that I only want to tease you," she said, feeling bashful as she lowered her head again, her face already stained with a deep crimson.

"Who could stand this?" Jiang Hao felt a surge of warmth within him, and he seemed to be losing control.

Just as he was about to make a further move, the cold voice of Feng Ling'er suddenly rang in his ears, making him shiver.

"Boy! Isn't this going a bit too far?"

"In broad daylight, you want to do such indecent things!"

"So, you really didn't take your master's words to heart at all, did you?"

Jiang Hao quickly explained, "Master, you've misunderstood! Your disciple doesn't have any such thoughts!"

"Besides, I am just trying to strengthen my bond with Yu-mei so I can ask her for the pill that can restore your primordial spirit later!"

"Hmph! You had better not be lying to me, or watch out for your lower half!" Feng Ling'er coldly dropped this warning before falling silent again.

Remembering the miserable state of Murong Hai last night, Jiang Hao shuddered and quickly agreed, "Master, I swear on my character, I am not lying!"

Feng Ling'er did not respond, clearly dismissing Jiang Hao.

"Master, what happened? Why did she suddenly become so cold?" Jiang Hao was puzzled.

Under the pressure of his master's threat, he immediately turned the topic back to Qin Yu-mei.

"Alright, Yu-mei! You should get dressed. You’ve been missing all night; Sister Xiaotao must be terribly worried."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu-mei gradually set aside her flirtatious posture and looked at Jiang Hao with genuine gratitude. "Jiang Hao, thank you. If it weren't for you last night, I would have fallen victim to that beast, Murong Hai."

"..." Jiang Hao felt awkward and comforted her, "Yu-mei, why dwell on that? Everything is in the past now, so don't give it any more thought."

"Mm." Qin Yu-mei nodded gently, then took a long pink dress from her storage ring.

Seeing this, Jiang Hao shyly turned his head away, not daring to look.

"This blockhead, it's not like he hasn't seen it before, yet he still pretends to be a gentleman," Qin Yu-mei thought, covering her mouth to hide a giggle.

She dressed gracefully in the pink gown; the skirt was as soft as clouds, swaying with the wind like a blooming flower. Against the color of the dress, her skin appeared even more crystal-clear and fresh, like morning dew. The flowing lines of the dress outlined her graceful figure, as if whispering of elegance and agility.

"You can turn around now; I'm dressed." She turned slightly, her skirt dancing like a fairy descending to earth, intoxicating and mesmerizing.

When Jiang Hao turned and saw the celestial beauty before him, he couldn't help but swallow hard and praise her involuntarily, "Yu-mei, you are truly beautiful."

"What a loser!" Feng Ling'er secretly scoffed in her mind.

"Heehee, as long as you like it." At that moment, Qin Yu-mei’s face was filled with a flower-like smile, as joyous as a young maiden.

"By the way, Yu-mei, does the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion have any pills that can restore a primordial spirit?" Jiang Hao suddenly asked seriously.

"Restore a primordial spirit?" Qin Yu-mei frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then shook her head. "I have never heard of such a pill in the Southern Xia Kingdom."

"Even the Changchun Valley, one of the six great cultivation sects of the Southern Xia Kingdom, known for their alchemy and medical skills, has never possessed such a pill to restore the primordial spirit," she added solemnly.

"Changchun Valley? A sect that specializes in alchemy?" Jiang Hao sighed softly, suddenly remembering the three young cultivators he had encountered in the Misty Forest.

Because of the struggle over the Heavenly Spirit Fruit, they had clashed, and no doubt those people were still holding a grudge.

"What's wrong, Jiang Hao?" Seeing his distracted expression, Qin Yu-mei reminded him softly.

"Oh, it's nothing, just suddenly remembered some people," Jiang Hao replied.

"By the way, why do you need such a pill?" she asked curiously.

Jiang Hao replied sincerely, "Yu-mei, I won't hide it from you. Actually, I am looking for this pill for my master."

"My master accidentally damaged her primordial spirit during cultivation. My journey this time, besides improving my own cultivation, is primarily to find a way to restore her spirit." His eyes shone with sincerity.

"So that's how it is!" Qin Yu-mei thought to herself, *I heard my father mention that only those who reach the Spirit God realm can develop a primordial spirit. Could it be that Jiang Hao’s master has already reached that level?*

*No wonder he was able to subdue Murong Hai in one move last night; his master must have taught him some profound and unfathomable techniques!* With this realization, everything from the previous night suddenly made perfect sense.

"Yu-mei, what's wrong?" Jiang Hao asked with concern.

"Oh, it's nothing," she replied, coming back to her senses.

Qin Yu-mei was sensible enough to know that since Jiang Hao hadn't brought up the events of yesterday, she wouldn't press him either.

She continued, "Although I haven't heard of such a pill, it doesn't mean my father doesn't know. As the master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, he is very knowledgeable and might be able to provide some leads."

"The master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion?" Jiang Hao asked, feigning ignorance.

Qin Yu-mei chuckled. "Jiang Hao, now that things have reached this point, I don't intend to hide it from you. In truth, Yongan City is just one branch of our Pavilion. I came here to escape those noble sons who were pursuing me."

"But who would have thought that even after hiding so far away, a wastrel like Murong Hai would still find me?" She looked helpless, as if still haunted by the previous night.

Just as Jiang Hao was about to comfort her, Qin Yu-mei’s expression brightened. "But now it’s different! I, Qin Yu-mei, have already found the one!"

"I can return to Longxia City and to my father’s side with my head held high, because you are my best destination!" Her smile was exceptionally radiant.

"Mm, Yu-mei," Jiang Hao replied softly, a look of deep affection in his eyes.

"Jiang Hao, let's head back to the Pavilion now, bring Xiaotao, and then set off for Longxia City! Once we're there, we can ask my father about the pill for your master in person." She held his hand, her face full of tenderness.

"Yes, thank you, Yu-mei," Jiang Hao nodded heavily.

"Husband, if you keep being so polite to me, be careful or I might just turn cold on you," she teased, pouting playfully.

"Alright, alright, I won't be so formal with you anymore." Jiang Hao, stunned by her coquettish charm, patted his chest and promised solemnly.

"Heehee!" Seeing this, Qin Yu-mei finally leaned into his arm like a bird, her face glowing with deep, affectionate joy.

Regardless, there was finally a glimmer of hope in finding a way to restore his master’s primordial spirit. He knew well that helping her regain her strength was, in effect, a way to increase his own power.

"It seems that, as the boy said, this woman’s identity is quite extraordinary."

"The brat finally did something useful." A gleam of light flashed in Feng Ling'er's eyes.