31

This pavilion was located in a corner of the city lord's mansion, rarely visited, and no one dared to approach.

Qing Chen used his internal energy to pry open the window frame, then gently pushed open the pavilion window and flipped inside.

The moonlight slanted across Qing Chen's face, revealing beads of sweat on his forehead that dripped down his chin.

His lightness skill was already so great that he could walk on snow without leaving a trace, so he made no sound.

He slipped into the pavilion and, seeing no armored soldiers surrounding him, breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Suddenly, his ears twitched!

Inside the pavilion, besides his breathing, there were other sounds: first a splash of water, then a woman's soft moan?

His first-level Qi Refining senses picked up the details clearly.

"Huh, someone's here?"

Qing Chen's heart leaped into his throat. His right hand reached for the knife at his waist; the search was still ongoing outside, and making too much noise would only attract attention.

He crouched low, moving along the wall.

Turning past a yellowed wooden table, a sudden brightness appeared ahead.

It was candlelight from the inner room, seeping through a crack in the door.

The fragrance was stronger, a warm scent of lavender mingled with the steam from the hot water, a stark contrast to the chill outside.

Qingchen held his breath and slowly pushed open the door a crack.

The sight inside made him clench his fists. Against the wall stood a wooden tub, steam rising from it. A woman was submerged inside, only her shoulders and above visible.

Her hair, black as ink, was disheveled in the water. Strands of wet hair clung to her neck, glistening with water droplets in the candlelight.

She was splashing water with her hand; her wrist was so thin it seemed it could snap at any moment. Her fingertips traced a line across her collarbone, then slowly slid down and disappeared into the water.

Qingchen's Adam's apple bobbed, and a soft "gulp" sounded.

He wasn't unfamiliar with women, but this was the first time he'd encountered such a scene.

He quickly regained his composure and was about to back away when he suddenly remembered the medicinal powder on his clothes.

When he threw it at the old man, a considerable amount of powder had settled on his black robes. Although his spiritual energy protected him and he wasn't affected, the smell lingered.

Sure enough, the woman in the wooden tub suddenly paused, her brow furrowing slightly, her hand pressed to her chest, and her breathing became heavier.

Qingchen saw her cheeks slowly flush, as if painted with rouge, even the tips of her ears turning pink.

She gave a soft hum, her voice carrying a softness she herself didn't realize: "Why... is it so hot..."

In recent years, although Li Muyun had shown her concern and care, he had become increasingly indifferent to her in matters of the bedroom.

Therefore, since their marriage, Li Muyun had shown her little affection.

Especially since Qingchen met Li Muyun, he often sent her "delicacies" for her enjoyment.

Therefore, Li Muyun remained as cold as ever towards her, almost never touching her.

"Hmm..."

Qingchen's heart skipped a beat.

He knew the potency of this powder; twenty times the strength of an aphrodisiac, even a small amount would be too much for an ordinary person.

This woman looked delicate; she probably wouldn't last long.

The sound of water in the inner room stopped again. The woman leaned against the wooden tub, her eyes half-closed, as if enduring something.

After a moment, she sighed softly, her voice full of helplessness.

Qingchen saw all of this, and it made his mouth dry.

Just then, his stomach suddenly growled.

He hadn't eaten since evening, and the exchange of blows with the old man had exhausted him.

The sound was particularly loud in the quiet attic. The woman in the inner room jolted awake, her voice instantly tense:

"Who!"

Qing Chen knew he was in trouble. He darted through the crack in the door like an arrow;

He covered the woman's mouth with his left hand and pressed his right hand against her shoulder, pushing her towards the wooden tub.

Afraid that her struggles would splash water and alert the surrounding guards, Qing Chen wouldn't be able to escape even if he had wings.

The woman's body was very soft, as if boneless. She swayed slightly when he pressed her, her fingertips instinctively gripping his wrist.

Qing Chen could feel the heat of her palm, frighteningly hot.

He could also smell the fragrance of her hair, mixed with the scent of medicinal powder, filling his nostrils.

The woman's eyes widened in terror, but after staring at him for a while, the terror faded, replaced by something else.

She stared at the black mask on Qingchen's face, then swept her gaze over his tall, straight shoulders, her breathing becoming heavier.

Zhao Ningyi felt the intense masculine aura emanating from Qingchen, like a wave of heat washing over her.

At this moment, she felt utterly empty inside.

This aura was completely different from the superficiality emanating from Li Muyun.

Zhao Ningyi was involuntarily captivated by this masculine energy; the terror and unease in her heart quietly dissipated in that instant.

She looked up. Although Qingchen was wearing a mask,

his face, refined by the trials of cultivation, possessed an even more ethereal quality.

Even with the mask, one could still discern his handsome, chivalrous nature.

Qingchen's hand stiffened slightly. The woman didn't struggle; instead, she leaned closer, her chest pressed against the back of his hand, her softness making his heart flutter.

Just as he was about to speak, the woman gently scratched his wrist with her fingertips, her soft voice leaking from between his fingers:

"Who...are you?"

Qingchen, slightly embarrassed, stammered, "This...this sister, actually, I am a kind person."

Zhao Ningyi, upon hearing this, said calmly, "I believe you."

Qingchen felt a little embarrassed and continued, "To be honest, sister, I actually... got lost."

Zhao Ningyi chuckled lightly, her tone teasing, "Getting lost all the way to the prefectural city, and even to my place? You must be the first person in Jincheng to do that in all these years."

Qingchen sighed helplessly and gave a wry smile, "There are many pursuers outside these days, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you tonight, sister."

Zhao Ningyi's heart stirred; for some reason, she felt a strange trust in the young man before her, so she said:

“I can let you go, but you must tell me who you are. I am Zhao Ningyi, the city lord's daughter. I have the ability to help you, and I also have the ability to deal with you.”

Qingchen looked troubled, frowning. “If I tell you, and you then capture me, what should I do?”

Zhao Ningyi looked directly into Qingchen's eyes. “You can either kill me, force me, or tell me.

If you don't tell me, without my help, I guarantee you will never escape from here.”

Qingchen was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

He took a deep breath and finally made up his mind. "My name is Ximen Qing, and I live near Tianjin. I entered this place by mistake because I was being chased by my enemies.

Now that I am being pursued again, I have no choice but to resort to this desperate measure, which is why I have offended y