bookpub Chapter 99 Temptation
Chapter 99 Temptation
Chapter 99 Temptation
"A familiar, eerie wind blew through the streets and alleys of the small town."
The swirling black matter flew everywhere.
By this time, there were hardly any pedestrians left on the street.
The vendors also packed up and went home.
Luo Qingchen stood outside Baixianglou, looking at the familiar little building, and for a moment, she felt a sense of warmth and familiarity.
"Girls, hurry up and go out to greet the guests!"
Sister Sun's familiar voice came from the courtyard.
Luo Qingchen turned and left.
He had originally planned to come here and spend the night here.
But upon closer reflection, he realized that this place might not be as safe as he had imagined.
It might not even be as good as the brothels mentioned above.
Every girl in this building has a master, and they might all be stealing blood for their masters.
He didn't know if any of his masters wanted him dead.
That Sister Sun's connections must be quite complicated as well.
Besides, not only does it cost money to enter the building, but once you're in a girl's room, it's impossible to just sleep there.
In this situation, he dares not let his guard down.
Furthermore, he needs to find a place where he can safely brew medicinal baths, cultivate his skills, and make final preparations for his breakthrough.
Bai Xiang Lou is clearly not suitable.
He walked aimlessly through the dimly lit, cold streets.
There are quite a few empty houses here.
But the emptier the house, the more attention the patrol team will pay to it.
He couldn't possibly be secretly hiding inside brewing medicine and cultivating.
The sky grew darker and darker; night was about to fall.
His gaze fell upon the dark forest ahead, and he was contemplating whether to cross it and find a cave in the mine to spend the night when he suddenly saw a white figure emerge from the woods.
is her?
The senior sister Bai from Ziwei Pharmacy?
She was dressed in a plain white dress, with her long, black hair flowing freely, and carrying something in her arms as she emerged from the depths of the woods.
The forest was black, the soil was black, and even the air was black.
Therefore, her white outfit made her stand out so conspicuously, yet also seem out of place.
When she emerged from the woods and came to the road, Luo Qingchen could see clearly that she was holding a flower with soil still attached to it.
The stems and leaves of the flower were dyed black, and the petals of the flower were also dyed black.
But the center of the flower actually had some delicate pinkish-white parts.
She held the flower covered in mud and blackness, and walked quietly along the street alone.
The white dress was also covered in mud and black stains.
Luo Qingchen stared at her retreating figure for a moment, then took a step and followed.
Soon, they arrived at Ziwei Pharmacy.
By this time, night had completely fallen.
The entire town was pitch black.
Inside the shop, a faint light was lit.
A petite figure stood quietly in front of the table, diligently grinding medicine.
When that aloof figure walked in carrying the flower, that petite figure immediately went to greet her.
Luo Qingchen stood on the street outside the door, silently watching this scene. After standing there for a while, she prepared to leave.
"Owner!"
Just then, the petite figure suddenly rushed out of the shop and called out to him.
His young face, bearing the scars, was filled with a look of surprise.
Luo Qingchen stopped and looked at her, then paused and glanced into the house.
The white figure had already entered the counter and was bowing its head, carefully wiping the flower.
"Master, is there something you need?"
Ayao asked.
Without further hesitation, Luo Qingchen turned and walked towards the pharmacy.
He entered the room, went to the counter, bowed respectfully to the woman behind it, and said, "Senior Sister Bai, may I stay here for the night?"
When Ayao, who had followed him in, heard this, his eyes lit up and his face was filled with surprise.
Bai Tang, still diligently wiping the flower in front of the counter, said in a calm tone, "No."
Luo Qingchen took out five taels of silver from her pocket, thought for a moment, then took out a five-hundred-tael silver note and placed it on the counter. Looking at her, she said, "Actually, I want to stay here for a few more days, five days, or seven days, or maybe ten days."
Bai Tang raised her head and looked at him with a cool gaze.
Luo Qingchen added, "My cave dwelling has been destroyed, and I have nowhere to go for the time being. If Senior Sister Bai is willing to let me stay here for a few days, I can offer you some more silver."
There was a moment of silence in the room.
Bai Tang spoke up, "Why not go to someone else's place?"
Luo Qingchen looked at the banknotes on the counter, shook her head slightly, and said, "Even if you offered me the money, I wouldn't dare."
Bai Tang paused for a moment, then asked, "Then why do you dare to stay here with me?"
Luo Qingchen did not answer, but glanced at the flower in front of her.
The black petals, after she carefully wiped them, had turned white.
Finally, Ayao couldn't help but speak up: "Master, it's because Ayao is here. He is Ayao's master, so naturally he trusts Ayao."
Bai Tang seemed not to hear her words, her gaze still fixed on the silent boy outside the counter.
"I don't know either."
After a long silence, Luo Qingchen gave her answer.
He didn't say anything more, collected the loose silver and banknotes on the counter, turned around, and prepared to leave.
"Master!"
Ayao looked at the figure behind the counter, her scarred little face full of pleading.
"Let's stay for one night."
The snow-white figure behind the counter finally spoke coldly.
Ayao immediately cheered with joy and hurriedly ran over to grab Luo Qingchen, saying, "Master, Master has agreed!"
Bai Tang added, "However, there is no room for you, only a woodshed."
Luo Qingchen turned around, put the five taels of loose silver and five hundred taels of silver notes back on the counter, and said, "Thank you, Senior Sister, the woodshed is enough."
Ah Yao quickly whispered, "Master, you sleep in Ah Yao's room, Ah Yao will sleep in the woodshed!"
Bai Tang glanced at her, and she immediately stopped talking.
"Senior sister, may I boil water for a bath?"
Luo Qingchen suddenly asked again.
Bai Tang glanced at the package on his back and asked, "Is it for a bath, or a medicinal bath?"
Luo Qingchen paused for a moment, then said, "Medicinal bath."
Bai Tang glanced at him again, said nothing more, lowered her head, and continued to carefully wipe the flowers in front of her.
Does this count as tacit agreement?
Luo Qingchen cupped her hands and said, "Thank you, Senior Sister."
Ah Yao said excitedly, "Master, I'll take you to the kitchen!"
Luo Qingchen glanced at the figure behind the counter one last time, then followed her to the kitchen in the back.
As soon as he arrived in the backyard, a girl in a white dress came out of the adjacent room. She paused for a moment upon seeing him and asked, "Ayao, who is this?"
Ah Yao quickly smiled and said, "Senior Sister Chen, this is my master. Master said he can stay here tonight."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, the girl named Chen Ya looked puzzled. She glanced at the boy in front of her, smiled, and cupped her hands in greeting, saying, "Chen Ya greets Senior Brother."
Luo Qingchen said, "Junior Sister Chen, there's no need for such formalities."
Before joining the sect, this girl was not qualified to call sect disciples "senior brother".
"Master, the kitchen is over there."
Ayao pointed to the kitchen.
Luo Qingchen followed her toward the kitchen.
Chen Ya watched the two figures disappear into the distance, a question lingering in her mind: How could Master agree to let a strange man stay here overnight? Could it be that he has another identity? Or perhaps, what is his relationship with Master?
Could she be Master's lover?
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but go to the front counter and cautiously ask, "Master, Sister Yao's master is staying here overnight. Do you know him?"
Bai Tang was carefully wiping the branches and leaves of the flower when she heard this, and said indifferently, "I don't recognize it."
"That"
Upon hearing this, Chen Ya became even more puzzled. She was about to ask more questions, but fearing that talking too much would displease her master, she could only speculate on her own.
In the kitchen at the back.
Luo started a fire early in the morning to boil water and prepare medicine.
Ayao happily busied herself with tasks.
Luo Qingchen said, "You don't need to help here anymore, go to the front and do your work."
Ayao said, "There's nothing to do tonight, and Senior Sister Chen has already gone ahead. If Master needs anything, he'll have Senior Sister Chen come and call me."
Luo Qingchen glanced outside and asked, "Are there only three of you in this shop?"
Ah Yao helped add firewood, saying, "There used to be five people, but a while ago, one of our senior brothers had too much blood taken from him by his master and died. And another senior brother, because—"
She blushed slightly and whispered, "I was expelled by Master for peeping at Senior Sister Chen while she was taking a bath."
Luo Qingchen stirred the medicine in the pot, glanced at her, and asked, "Do they often bully you?"
Ayao lowered her head and said, "No—no. It was that chubby senior brother who liked to bully me, but he's dead now."
Luo Qingchen didn't say anything more.
Ayao added another piece of firewood, looked up at him with bright eyes, and said, "Fortunately, my master isn't as bad as his master, who takes his blood every day."
Luo Qingchen met her gaze for a moment, then continued stirring the medicinal broth in the pot, her expression remaining indifferent.
"Master, shall we take a medicinal bath in Ayao's room later? Ayao will keep watch at the door for you, okay?"
She said with a face full of anticipation.
Just then, footsteps suddenly came from outside.
Then, Chen Ya appeared at the door with a smile on her face and said, "A Yao, go sweep the floor in front. Master wiped that flower, and there was a lot of mud and black stuff on the ground."
Upon hearing this, A Yao quickly stood up and said, "Oh, oh."
With that, he immediately ran out.
Chen Ya stood at the door with a smile. Seeing her leave, she went into the kitchen, squatted down in front of the stove, and while helping to add firewood, looked up at the young and handsome face under the lamplight and softly asked, "By the way, Senior Brother, what's your name?"
Luo Qingchen put the last of the medicinal herbs into the pot, stirring as she said, "Luo Qingchen."
Chen Ya stared intently at him and asked, "Senior Brother Luo, what does it look like up there? Can you tell me? Isn't it much prettier than down there?"
Luo Qingchen glanced at her and said, "Actually, there's not much difference. If I had to point out a difference, it's that it's more dangerous up here."
Chen Ya frowned slightly, seemingly somewhat disbelieving: "Really?"
Luo Qingchen didn't say anything more.
Chen Ya silently added firewood, remained silent for a while, then looked at him and asked, "Senior Brother Luo, do you think I have a chance to go up?"
Luo Qingchen had already finished brewing the medicine. She went to get the bath tub and started filling it with the medicine. Hearing this, she paused for a moment and said, "There's an opportunity."
A smile immediately appeared on Chen Ya's face.
After Luo Qingchen finished packing the medicine, she asked, "Where is the woodshed?"
Chen Ya was taken aback: "The woodshed? Senior Brother Luo, are you going to the woodshed for a medicinal bath? It's very dirty there. Let's go to my room. My room is bigger and cleaner."
Luo Qingchen ignored her, picked up the bath tub, and walked out of the kitchen.
He glanced around and immediately found the location of the woodshed. He carried the bath tub over, pushed open the door, and saw some firewood neatly stacked inside.
The space is pretty good.
He carried the bathtub inside, closed the door, and prepared for the medicinal bath.
Unfortunately, the wooden door to the woodshed was not bolted.
However, the medicinal effects of the gilded blood are absorbed very quickly, so it shouldn't take long.
Without further delay, he grabbed a bundle of firewood, used it to block the door, then took off his clothes and entered the bathtub.
The scalding hot medicine immediately enveloped his body.
Just as he drew his dagger, preparing to pierce his fingertip and drip gilded blood, Chen Ya's voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Senior Brother Luo, you didn't bring a towel, did you? I brought mine; you can use it first."
As she spoke, she began to push the door open.
Luo Qingchen said, "No need."
However, she still pushed open the wooden door and stood at the door with a smile, saying, "Senior Brother Luo, don't be so polite, my towel is very clean."
As she spoke, she went inside and helped him close the wooden door.
Luo Qingchen narrowed her eyes as she looked at her.
Chen Ya walked to the bathtub, placed the pink towel in her hand on the tub, smiled at him, and then naturally untied the belt around her waist. With a gentle flick of her hands in front of her shoulders, her dress slipped down, revealing her girlish body wearing only a bodice.
"Senior Brother Luo, may I take a bath with you?"
With a smile on her face, she shifted her gaze from his face to the bucket, looking at the rich medicinal liquid inside.
She was also very frank.
"Senior Brother Luo, you should know that people like us rarely have the opportunity to take a medicinal bath."
As she spoke, she took off her bodice and underpants.
Then lift one leg, ready to enter the bathtub.
Luo Qingchen suddenly spoke up: "Are you sure you want to wash together? There's only medicine in the tub, no blood."
Chen Ya's movements suddenly stopped.
She raised one leg, her foot already touching the boiling hot medicine in the bucket, but suddenly stopped, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
"Senior Brother Luo, isn't there any blood?"
She asked.
Luo Qingchen: "No."
The room fell silent for a moment.
"Why not bleed them?"
Chen Ya asked.
Luo Qingchen said, "I can't afford it."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ya immediately laughed: "Doesn't Senior Brother Luo already have medicine people? Why do we need to buy more?"
Then he added, "Shall I go and call her in now?"
Luo Qingchen stared at her and said, "I just married her a few days ago. How about I use yours today?"
The smile on Chen Ya's face vanished instantly.
"We can shower together."
Luo Qingchen added.
"Whoosh—"
Chen Ya pulled her feet out of the water, bent down to pick up her clothes from the ground, quickly dressed, then opened the door and went out without saying another word.
Luo Qingchen stared at the doorway, her other fist slowly clenching.
"Owner!"
Just then, Ayao ran over and stood at the door, saying, "Are you already taking a medicinal bath? Why didn't you close the door?"
As he spoke, he hurriedly came in, closed the door, then turned around and pressed his back tightly against it.
Luo Qingchen looked at her.
She was looking at him too.
"Ayao, would you like to come for a medicinal bath together?"
Luo Qingchen suddenly asked, her five fingers gripping the dagger slightly, and two cold glints seemed to flash deep within the hole.
"ah?
Ayao was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. She blinked her dark eyes, stole a glance at his bare shoulders and chest, and blushed instantly on her scarred face. She lowered her head and said shyly, "I—my body—"
As she spoke, she unconsciously touched her leg.
There is a deep scar there.
Her face showed shyness, a mixture of flattery and joy, but even more so, a deep sense of inferiority.
She had scars on her face, neck, and legs.
Her body was so ugly.
Looking into her clear, innocent eyes, and at the shyness and trepidation on her tender face, Luo Qingchen slowly loosened his grip on the dagger, and the cold glint in his eyes gradually faded.
"Go out and stand guard outside the door."
He suddenly said.
"oh--"
Ayao looked up at him with some disappointment, then obediently opened the door, went out, and stood guard outside.
I waited for quite a while longer.
Luo Qingchen pierced her fingertip with a dagger and quickly squeezed out the gilded blood.
This time, he squeezed out twenty drops directly.
After all twenty drops of gilded blood dissolved in the medicinal liquid and reacted with the magic stone, he felt it wasn't enough and quickly squeezed out five more drops.
Soon, a surge of enormous energy erupted from the medicinal broth!
His whole body felt burning hot, and every pore seemed like a hungry baby bird, opening its mouth wide and eagerly swallowing the surging medicinal energy!
He could clearly feel streams of scorching air rushing into his body, flowing rapidly through his limbs and bones.
He couldn't help but shudder with pleasure.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside.
Then, the voice of the girl named Chen Ya rang out: "A Yao, what are you doing standing here? Master's skirt is dirty, didn't you see? Go wash your clothes."
Ayao stood at the door without moving and whispered, "Senior Sister Chen, I'll go take a shower later."
"No! We have to go now!"
Chen Ya spoke sternly, with a commanding tone.
Ayao seemed terrified of her, her face pale, but she remained standing at the door, saying, "I—I have to guard this place for my master, I can't go now."
Chen Ya sneered, "Your master is just taking a bath inside. What are you doing guarding this place? Are you afraid someone will peep at him?"
Ayao didn't say anything, and remained pressed tightly against the door.
"What, want to get beaten up again?"
Chen Ya threatened in a cold voice.
A Yao's face showed fear, but she still stood there stubbornly, even stretching out her arm to block the door.
Just then, Luo Qingchen's voice came from inside the house: "Ayao, go ahead, I'm already done washing."
"oh."
Ayao finally agreed, lowered her arm, glanced timidly at Senior Sister Chen, lowered her head, and went to the front.
"Squeak—"
Chen Ya pushed open the wooden door of the woodshed, her gaze falling on the figure in the bathtub. A simple, girlish smile appeared on her face: "Senior Brother Luo, I just went back and thought about it carefully. I think that Senior Brother Luo is so young and so handsome, he will definitely have a bright future. So, I am willing to give my blood to Senior Brother Luo."
"However, I already have a master, so the blood I'm giving to Senior Brother Luo can only be a different kind of blood."
A seductive look, unbecoming of a young girl, appeared on her face. She bit her lip, loosened the belt around her waist again, and took off her clothes.
"I only hope that if there's an opportunity in the future, Senior Brother Luo can take me up there. Or, if I can't go up there in the future, Senior Brother Luo can be my support and protect me."
Although each of the medicine people here has its own master, almost none of the masters care about their life or death, and some might even directly take their lives.
With the disciples above her as her backers, at least here, no one would dare to bully her.
Including the people from the town's garrison.
At this moment, Luo Qingchen had completely absorbed the medicinal energy from the medicine.
The strong medicinal broth in the bathtub had turned into a light color.
The magic stone at the bottom of the bucket had also shrunk considerably.
His burning body had begun to cool down gradually, and the surging blood in his body began to calm down.
However, when he saw the girl in front of him take off her clothes and reveal her delicate body, for some reason, the pictures and words in the Hehuan Peak martial arts manual suddenly appeared in his mind.
Suddenly, his body began to heat up again, his blood began to flow faster again, and his consciousness became even more excited.
A sudden chill ran through him.
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