Chapter 207 - 178: Plenty of Strength and Methods

’Should I get him a swimsuit... Ah! How could I forget something so important? What a wasted opportunity...’

Before Su Mo could finish her thought, a flash of light seemed to streak past. By the time she came to her senses, she was already in the hot spring.

She instinctively clung to the person in front of her.

Cang Lan supported her firmly.

Su Mo’s gaze fell, crashing into his. His eyes were like an erupting volcano. His Adam’s apple bobbed, raw emotion churning in their depths, as he spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "Together."

...

He pressed Su Mo against the edge of the pool, kissing her senseless.

In the water, she moved with him, rising and falling to his rhythm, her own heartbeat deafeningly loud.

Perhaps it was the new surroundings that made her nervous, but he was exceptionally passionate.

His fervor was so intense she could barely handle it.

Amidst his relentless advances, she began to plead softly for him to stop.

She heard Cang Lan’s broken words, punctuated by ragged, suppressed breaths. "My wife always says she’s tired," he complained, "but I’m not making you do any of the work..."

"..."

’He’s completely twisting the truth!’ Su Mo thought, utterly exhausted.

’Does he think this is a one-person job?!’

But Cang Lan gave her no chance to escape. It was a rare day when the others weren’t around, and he was determined to have his fill, no matter what.

’His wife has no idea how much he adores her!’

And so, today, he would make her understand the true depth of his feelings.

Su Mo tried coaxing him a few more times, her voice soft, but it was to no avail.

As her consciousness drifted in a hazy daze, she vaguely heard his low, hoarse murmur. "My wife... I want you to have all of me..."

Later, Su Mo had no idea how long he’d kept her, only that by the time they finished, their clothes on the bank had completely dried.

She didn’t have the strength to walk, so he carried her all the way back. She fell asleep in his arms, nestled against his chest in a daze.

After putting Su Mo to bed in her room, Cang Lan went downstairs, only to be met by the resentful stares of Ye Yuan and Yue Ying.

’That stupid leopard’s moves are getting more and more impressive,’ they thought. ’Leaving in the morning and not coming back until dusk?!’

’Look how he’s worn out our wife...’

Yue Ying mentally calculated the days. ’Two more days until it’s my turn?’

’This wait is unbearable!’

Mo Xiao walked over to Cang Lan. "Go eat," he said. "I’ll go up and check on her in a bit."

Cang Lan nodded and turned to leave.

Just as Ye Yuan was about to follow, a voice sounded from the courtyard.

It was Ah Nuan and her Beast Husband.

Ah Nuan looked at Mo Xiao and said, "I’m looking for Su Mo."

"Our wife is tired and has already gone to rest. You can tell me whatever it is."

Ah Nuan was surprised for a moment, then smiled. "That works. I just came to settle the shop’s recent earnings with her."

Mo Xiao invited them to sit, and Fei Yan quickly brought out tea from the kitchen.

Ah Nuan was an extremely meticulous person. Her summaries, from the daily totals to the monthly accounts, were written with perfect clarity, making them easy to understand at a glance.

As was customary, today was also the day to pay her wages.

Mo Xiao paid her the agreed-upon amount, plus a bonus.

"Our wife wasn’t in North Wing for a while, and you took care of everything at the shop, big and small. This is just a small token of our appreciation. Please, you must accept it."

Ah Nuan smiled, nodded, and accepted it.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Mo Xiao, she and her Beast Husband took their leave.

In the courtyard, Ye Yuan frowned. "There was something different about her aura."

Yue Ying raised an eyebrow. "She’s pregnant."

Ye Yuan was taken aback. No wonder Ah Nuan’s Beast Husband had been even more careful and attentive than usual.

’If it were our wife...’

’Never mind. Our wife doesn’t want cubs, and we always take the medicine. She won’t get pregnant.’

’Speaking of which, the medicine we take is the one Xuan Qing prepared.’

It was strange. They had been so eager for the Third Young Master to leave, but now that he was suddenly gone, they actually felt a little lost without him.

And so the days passed, one after another.

Life seemed to have become calm and peaceful, so quiet it was as if none of the recent turmoil had ever occurred.

The Tiger Clan sent gifts every few days. Sometimes it was novel trinkets that a young woman might like, but most often it was rare medicinal herbs.

The person delivering them was sometimes Bai Chi, other times Tian Huan.

Today, it was Bai Chi who came.

He stood in the courtyard for a long time without seeing Su Mo. Finally, he couldn’t help but ask, "Excuse me, is Miss Su not here today?"

Mo Xiao replied in a placid tone, "She and Fei Yan went to see his mother today. If you have a message, I can pass it along."

Bai Chi gave an awkward smile. "It’s nothing important. I just haven’t seen her in a long time and wanted to say hello."

Mo Xiao chuckled but didn’t call him out on it.

’If I recall correctly,’ he thought, ’Bai Chi was just here six days ago, and General Tian Huan was here three days ago.’

’They visit every two or three days, and he calls that a long time?’

’He’s probably just worried he won’t have anything to report when he gets back.’

Mo Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly. "If General Bai Chi has no urgent business, you’re welcome to stay for dinner. My wife will certainly be back this evening."

"Oh! In that case, thank you for your hospitality!"

Meanwhile, Su Mo and Fei Yan were on the outskirts of the small mountain where Fu Ying lived.

They had cooked a meal together and were now sitting in the outdoor pavilion, eating and chatting.

After sending Fei Yan away on an errand, Fu Ying asked, "Still no leads on how to break the pact?"

Su Mo shook her head. "I’m just taking it one step at a time."

Fu Ying nodded with a small smile. "It’s been unnaturally quiet on Jiang Wu’s end. It feels like we’re living on borrowed time."

"She was seriously injured last time, so she must be recuperating. But it won’t be long now. A person like her can’t wait for long. After the huge loss she suffered at my hands, I’m sure she dreams of nothing but getting revenge."

As she spoke, Su Mo glanced down at the Totem on her wrist.

The medicinal herbs from the Tiger Clan, combined with Fu Ying’s methods, had proven quite useful. Their power had increased significantly.

Fu Ying reached out and took her hand. "No matter what happens, I’ll be with you."

Su Mo smiled and patted the back of her hand.

DING! Little Nine popped up in her mind. "And me!"

That evening, as Fei Yan and Su Mo descended the mountain, the setting sun burned brilliantly across the horizon. Their two shadows sometimes overlapped, sometimes separated.

They hadn’t gone far before they saw a figure standing in the distance—someone not quite familiar, but not a complete stranger either.