Chapter 155 - 154: Don’t Die On Us

Chapter 155: Chapter 154: Don’t Die On Us

That afternoon, when Xia Wuyang summoned Hanik’s Heart and Su Ling’Er to his bed for the third time, a group of beauties could no longer bear it.

"Your Highness, your royal health is paramount! We implore you to take care of yourself." Dozens of peerless beauties, led by Hanik’s Heart and Su Ling’Er, knelt in unison before Xia Wuyang, pleading with him to look after his health.

Su Ling’Er’s lovely brows knitted together as she added, "Your Highness, you fainted just a few days ago. The Imperial Physician said you must rest. To... to be with us so frequently... I fear it will be detrimental to your royal health."

One by one, the beauties knelt and remonstrated with him. Those at the front were the more favored ones, the same women who were often summoned to the Sleeping Palace.

Worry was etched on every face. Their concern seemed so genuine and heartfelt it would have moved any onlooker.

But despite the beauties’ earnest concern, Xia Wuyang continued his act. His face darkened with displeasure. "What? Do you think I’m not up to the task?"

With that, he slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping over the assembled beauties. "In my day, I was the number one prodigy of the Great Xia, peerless among the Princes and Princesses. Even if my cultivation has been crippled, it is not your place to question me. Favoring you a few more times is of no consequence."

Hanik’s Heart looked up, her bright eyes shimmering with tears. "Your Highness, we are only thinking of you. If anything were to happen to you again, not even ten thousand deaths could absolve us of the blame. We beg you, Your Highness, take care of your health."

"If Your Highness truly cherishes us, you should preserve your royal health," Su Ling’Er also urged in a soft voice. "There is plenty of time. Why be in such a rush? We can always do... other things."

Seeing Xia Wuyang hesitate, the beauties pressed forward, using every wile at their disposal.

"If Your Highness agrees, how about we perform a new dance for you later?" Hanik’s Heart said, her voice soft and sweet as she gently tugged on Xia Wuyang’s sleeve.

Su Ling’Er added in the sweet, gentle dialect of Jiangnan, "I am willing to play the zither for Your Highness, to help soothe your body and quiet your mind."

The other beauties also displayed their talents. Some offered fragrant tea, others massaged his shoulders and pounded his legs, while some softly hummed melodies from Jiangnan or presented him with imported delicacies. For a time, the hall was filled with the scent of perfume and the gentle touch of beautiful women, their lovely voices like the chirping of songbirds. It was a lively scene indeed.

Faced with this gentle onslaught from the beauties, Xia Wuyang pretended to be unable to resist and reluctantly gave in. "Fine, fine! Since you all insist... from now on, I shall only summon you..."

He sighed, hesitated, and then said with feigned helplessness, "Twice a day, then. We can add a third session every few days."

Seeing Xia Wuyang’s unwilling expression, the beauties knew this was the most they could get out of him, and their faces lit up with joy.

Hanik’s Heart immediately rose, a dazzling smile on her face. "I shall perform my dance for Your Highness now."

As the distinctive music of Qiuci began to play, several Qiuci Beauties, led by Hanik’s Heart, began to dance gracefully in the hall.

Their figures were graceful, their steps light. The silver bells at their waists chimed with every movement, creating a pleasing and delightful spectacle.

On the surface, Xia Wuyang seemed sullen for having been forced to reduce his pleasurable activities, but inwardly, he was ecstatic.

’This performance killed two birds with one stone. It maintained my image as a degenerate elder Crown Prince while also winning me more time for Cultivation, all without arousing suspicion from the outside world.’

’This little act also made the surrounding Palace Attendants, each with their own hidden agendas, lower their guard.’

Hanik’s Heart, Su Ling’Er, and the others were also greatly relieved. At the pace Xia Wuyang was going, he wouldn’t have lasted many more days, and there was a high probability he would have died right on top of one of them.

Now that he was resting a bit, he shouldn’t die so quickly, and hopefully, it wouldn’t be on one of them when he finally went.

When the dance ended, Hanik’s Heart, glistening with sweat, came to Xia Wuyang’s side to offer him fine wine, only to be pulled into his embrace.

"Excellent, excellent! I just love watching Hani dance. You will dance for me every day from now on."

As he spoke, he looked as if he was about to lose control and drag her off to bed right then and there.

Thankfully, the other beauties managed to talk him down, and he agreed to rest for a while before considering summoning Hanik’s Heart.

Su Ling’Er quickly presented some imported fruit to distract him, drawing his gaze toward her own moist, cherry-pink lips.

Using his Soul Capturing Technique, Xia Wuyang perceived what the beauties were thinking at that moment.

’That was close. The elder Crown Prince almost lost himself in his desires again. Judging by his condition, a few more rounds today and he would have been done for.’

’We finally talked that old lecher down. Poor Hani and Ling’Er. Such peerless beauties, being wasted on an old degenerate like him.’

’It seems the Crown Prince isn’t completely immune to persuasion. If we find the right method, we can make him listen. It’s better for us, and better for him. He might even live a few more days this way.’

’No wonder the other concubines don’t want to come to Wenhua Hall. We’re doing this for his own good, and we still have to try so hard to persuade him. Ugh, our lives are so pathetic.’

’I wish he’d just drop dead in the Practice Room. Then we wouldn’t have to be so scared all the time, worrying that he’ll die on top of one of us. Go to the Practice Room already, old man!’

...

Many of the Palace Attendants now wished he would stay in the Practice Room around the clock, especially the ones he summoned most often.

That way, if an "accident" occurred, it would happen in the Practice Room, and they wouldn’t be implicated.

And this was exactly what Xia Wuyang wanted. He gladly went with the flow and, with a warm send-off from the beauties, headed to the Practice Room to "recuperate."

The moment he bolted the Practice Room door from the inside, Xia Wuyang’s decrepit demeanor vanished, replaced by an aura of vigorous power. He threw himself into his Cultivation, not daring to waste a single second.

After this incident, he only needed to spend a small amount of time each day placating the beauties. The rest of his time could be devoted to his Cultivation and improvement.

His Companion Talent, Deep Roots and Strong Trunk, gave him a Cultivation Foundation far superior to that of an ordinary person. However, this also meant he required much more time to cultivate and solidify his Foundation. Now that he had this rare, uninterrupted peace, he naturally poured all of it into his training.

In the days that followed, Xia Wuyang struck a delicate balance.

During the day, he only needed to spend about an hour frolicking with the beauties to maintain his degenerate image, during which time he would also eat his meals and consume the Dragon and Tiger Elixir.

The rest of the time, he was completely engrossed in his Cultivation, enhancing his realm and overall strength. He would even consume a Middle Level Miracle Treasure every now and then to speed up his progress.

Whenever he reached a critical juncture in his Cultivation, he would pretend his body was failing him. On those days, he could skip his "performance" entirely and focus all his energy on his training in the Practice Room without anyone finding it strange.

This arrangement allowed him to maintain his disguise without hindering his Cultivation—the perfect solution.

No one could have possibly known that Xia Wuyang, who seemed to be merely recuperating, was in fact progressing by leaps and bounds. His Cultivation Realm was advancing at a ferocious pace, far exceeding anyone’s wildest imagination.