Chapter 42: Fang Xu Likes Jade Feet?

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Fang Xu Likes Jade Feet?

In the darkness, the figure in the bamboo hat made several leaps into a dense forest. Staring at the hemp-clad figure standing a short distance away with her back to him, he asked in a deep voice, "Why drag so many innocent common people down to their graves with you?"

The hemp-clad figure slowly turned around and removed the bronze mask from her face, revealing a rather alluring and beautiful countenance.

She scoffed at the man. "You’ve changed. Since when did you become so soft-hearted?"

The man in the bamboo hat remained silent.

Swaying her hips, the woman slowly walked up to him and reached out, intending to lift his hat.

SMACK!

He swatted her hand away. "How did the task go?"

The woman covered her mouth and chuckled. "You seem to have forgotten our respective identities. My involvement this time was merely to help you, not to fulfill a mission.

"The Wu family is harder to deal with than you imagined. My people only managed to kill Wu Ningxue and severely injure that old geezer of the Wu family.

"However, this should meet your requirements. They no longer have the ability to interfere with your plans."

The man in the bamboo hat cupped his hands slightly. "I owe you a favor for this.

"In the future, try not to involve ordinary people when you strike. Your enemy is the Great Yu imperial family."

At his words, the woman’s expression turned icy. "Our enemy? Is the Great Yu imperial family not your enemy as well!?

"Don’t forget whose hands Master Taibu died by!

"What, just because you lost the Divine Prayer Art, have you also lost the spine of a man of the plains!?"

Reprimanded, the man in the bamboo hat did not retort. He remained silent for a long time before speaking in a drawn-out tone. "The Dusk Cloud Kingdom has already been annihilated. Over the years, you’ve sent our people to their deaths at any cost—what results have you seen?"

"It’s still better than you, hiding like a coward!" The woman glared angrily at him. "Don’t you forget how Master Taibu died a tragic death under that scoundrel Zhao Wuji’s spear while escorting you and the Saintess out of the Dusk Cloud Kingdom!

"What, after staying in Fenglin Town for a few years, do you really think you’re a citizen of the Yu Kingdom?

"You are a man of the plains! You are a noble—"

"Enough!" he shouted, cutting her off. His tone softened slightly. "There’s one more thing I need your help with."

The woman stayed silent.

"Lend me something," he said deeply.

Hearing this, she smiled playfully. "What is it?"

"The item you obtained from those ruins."

"What!?" The woman instantly bristled, unable to hold back her mockery. "Do you even know what you’re asking for?

"I lost dozens of elite fighters for that item! Who do you think you—"

SMACK!

Before she could finish, a pitch-black wooden tablet struck her against the chest.

Catching it, the woman inspected it for a moment, then hastily dropped to one knee in a panic.

"This is the Saintess’s will. Hand it over," he said.

"This..." The woman was clearly unwilling, but after a glance at the wooden tablet in her hand, she reluctantly pulled a bundle from beneath her loose robes and tossed it to him.

"Alright, I’m leaving.

"Tell your subordinates to stay away from Fenglin Town for a while. The Yun family and the imperial family have their eyes on this place.

"Also, don’t return to those ruins anytime soon. Once the imperial family’s people arrive, they will likely discover its location quickly. I don’t want to see any more of our people die in vain."

With those words, the man in the bamboo hat leaped into the air and swiftly vanished into the darkness.

Dawn broke with the rising sun.

When Fang Xu woke up, he found that Chu Muyun had already wheeled herself out into the courtyard, staring blankly at the warm morning sun.

Hearing his movements, she slowly turned her head, a faint smile finally gracing her face. "Fang Xu."

Fang Xu walked over to her. "How did you manage to get into the wheelchair by yourself?" he asked gently.

At the mention of this, Chu Muyun’s smile deepened. "When I woke up in the early hours of the morning, I realized my body had more strength than before.

"Fang Xu, I can move my toes."

As she spoke, she slowly leaned forward and removed her shoes and socks, revealing a delicate foot.

Perhaps due to years of blocked meridians and poor blood circulation, her petite foot was as white as mutton-fat jade, so pale it was almost blinding.

Under Chu Muyun’s strenuous effort, her delicate toes actually twitched slightly.

At the same time, a trace of pain flickered across her beautiful face. Evidently, even the simple act of wiggling her toes was excruciating.

"As long as it’s effective, then yesterday’s torture wasn’t in vain.

"Since your feet haven’t moved in a long time, the blood flow is poor. Frequent massages will help with your recovery." Fang Xu slowly crouched down, took her delicate foot in his hands, and began to gently massage it.

In his past life, when he first joined the army, his legs and feet would often ache from high-intensity training. He had learned these massage techniques from the military doctors. Practicing them during his downtime helped relieve fatigue and promote blood circulation.

"Fang Xu..."

Feeling the tingling sensation spreading from her foot, Chu Muyun called out to him somewhat bashfully, "I didn’t wash my feet yesterday."

Fang Xu smiled faintly. "It’s fine. Whenever I have time, I’ll give you a massage to help you get out of this wheelchair as soon as possible."

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded, gazing down at the crouching Fang Xu with eyes full of tenderness.

Bathed in the glow of the morning sun, it was a picture of perfect harmony.

"Pah!

"Fang Xu, you big creep, what are you doing!?"

Just as Fang Xu was earnestly massaging her small foot, a sharp reprimand suddenly rang out from behind him!

Immediately after, a foot kicked him squarely in the back, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Looking down at him, Lu Qingluo’s face was full of disgust.

She had long heard that the playboy young masters of noble families had certain peculiar fetishes and loved to fondle women’s feet. Just hearing about it was sickening enough, but she never expected to witness such a scene with her own eyes today!

"Qingluo..." Fang Xu clambered up from the ground, looking at her in speechless disbelief.

Lu Qingluo ignored him completely. She squatted in front of Chu Muyun, helped her put her shoes and socks back on, and then grabbed the handles of the wheelchair. "Mu Yun, I’m taking you to Zhiyuan Hall. Don’t ever see this guy again!

"I told you yesterday, this guy is nothing but bad news. I really don’t know what my father saw in him to actually take him in as an apprentice!"

"Qingluo..." Sitting in the wheelchair, Chu Muyun quickly defended him. "You misunderstand. Fang Xu was giving me a massage."

Hearing this, Lu Qingluo replied in a seasoned, authoritative tone. "You’re still young, Mu Yun. You must never let yourself be tricked by this kind of person.

"He’s just using the massage as an excuse to take advantage of you!"

Standing off to the side, Fang Xu watched her, shaking his head speechlessly. "You seem to know a lot about this.

"What, speaking from personal experience?"

"You!" Lu Qingluo shot him a venomous glare before continuing to push Chu Muyun forward.

"Qingluo..." Chu Muyun grew anxious. She struggled to get out of the wheelchair, only to tumble straight onto the ground.

Seeing this, Fang Xu and Lu Qingluo both reached out simultaneously to help her up.

"Mu Yun, why must you do this?" Lu Qingluo sighed helplessly, realizing that Chu Muyun would rather fall than let herself be taken away.

Seated back in her wheelchair, Chu Muyun offered a faint smile. "You’ve definitely misunderstood Fang Xu. He really isn’t a bad person. I trust him."

"Ugh! What a silly girl!" Lu Qingluo was thoroughly exasperated by Chu Muyun’s stubbornness.

After a brief standoff, Chu Muyun tried to break the awkward tension. "Qingluo, did you rush over this early to find Fang Xu?"

Lu Qingluo curled her lip and shot Fang Xu a cold glance. "My father wants to see you."

Fang Xu paused for a moment before replying, "Alright, but let me make some breakfast for Mu Yun first."

"Just go. I’ll make the food," Lu Qingluo said disdainfully. She seemed unwilling to let him spend even a single second longer with Chu Muyun.

Fang Xu didn’t insist. He smiled and cupped his hands toward her. "Thank you, Qingluo."

Lu Qingluo waved him off in disgust, rolling up her sleeves as she dove straight into the kitchen.