Chapter 35: A Tussle with Yu'er on the Dressing Couch! (2-in-1 Chapter)

Chen Mo looked at the girl sitting in his lap.

Brows like distant mountains tinged with dark green, eyes like autumn waters rippling, beneath a delicate upturned nose, a pair of lips red and moist, as if about to drip.

In looks alone, she was a notch above those dancing girls — the sort of beauty that strikes one with a single glance.

What was more special was the refined, bookish air of a well-bred lady about her, yet her dress was far too revealing — through the sheer gauze skirt, one could see a pale-pink bodice and the faint, suggestive shadow of her cleavage.

Imposing yet approachable, unfathomably deep.

"There were no chairs on this side, so I sat on your lap… Am I a bit heavy, my lord?" Miss Yu'er asked softly.

Chen Mo nodded, then shook his head.

Compared to that dancing girl who had bragged about her chest earlier, she was indeed a bit heavier, but the weight was just right.

"You know me?"

Chen Mo asked.

Miss Yu'er pressed her lips into a smile. "The name of the Company Commander — who in Ducheng today does not know it? Tonight was not supposed to be my turn to receive guests, but hearing that Commander Chen had come, I simply could not contain my admiration and longed to see the Commander's bearing for myself…"

Gazing at that porcelain-fair face, Yu'er's ears grew hot.

Though she had long seen Chen Mo's portrait, she had not expected the man himself to be so handsome — like fine jade, without the slightest flaw.

Beneath his clothes, his muscles were taut and powerful, and the intense masculine air made her heart race, her whole body going soft.

Those scholars from the Academy of Letters were always sending her trite little poems, hoping to win her favor — little knowing that deep inside this noble lady's heart, what she craved was a powerful man who could conquer her…

All the more so one who had slain evil fiends!

"Although it was that lord's arrangement, looking at it now, it seems I'm the one who got the better deal."

Miss Yu'er filled the wine cup on the table to the brim, lifted it with both hands and offered it to Chen Mo, her voice like the music of forest winds and mountain springs:

"My lord, drink this cup, then come inside with me to rest."

Faced with the beauty's eager invitation, Chen Mo could find no reason to refuse.

"Hunger at last finds its fill — tonight was truly worth the trip."

Chen Mo took the cup and drained it in one go.

Then, amid a burst of coquettish cries, he scooped Miss Yu'er up around the waist and strode into the inner chamber.

"Chen…"

Li Yuan's lips moved, as if wanting to call him back.

But even after the two figures had vanished, she could not get the words out.

……

The wine room fell into a brief silence.

The guests exchanged glances, some unable to believe it.

Yu'er was not only exceptional in looks and well-versed in music — her background was also special: she was the daughter of the former Minister of War.

She was a candidate who might well replace Gu Manzhi and become the courtesan queen!

Before she had even been "combed" — that is, taken as a first patron — she had actively invited a guest to be the one behind her curtain… Wasn't that far too beneath her station?

"Just now I heard her call that man Commander Chen — could it be…"

The man in the white robe suddenly realized something, his eyes somewhat incredulous.

"She's the top girl of the Elegant Pavilion! Last time I spent thirty taels and only got to hear two songs."

"And the boss didn't spend a single coin, yet walked off with the beauty."

Qin Shou shook his head with a sigh. "And here I thought myself a master of the brothel arts — before the boss, I'm nothing but a green recruit."

Still, they hadn't come for nothing — each had a singing girl or dancer in his lap, a far higher class than usual.

"Everyone, drink and play to your heart's content — tonight's tab is on Commander Chen!" Qin Shou announced loudly.

If not for Chen Mo, they wouldn't have gotten this "recuperation allowance" to begin with, so saying he was footing the bill wasn't far off.

"Long live the Commander!"

"He's a Hundred-Man Commander now!"

"Next time the Bureau has a mission, you must take me along."

The men, beauties in their arms, raised their cups and drank heartily.

The other guests, hearing this, also caught on and understood Chen Mo's identity.

"No wonder Miss Yu'er was so forward."

"Commander Chen's star is on the rise lately — this isn't lowering herself at all, it's a perfect chance to make a name!"

"My friend, didn't you claim to know the Tianlin Guard well? How could you not even recognize Commander Chen?"

Faced with the others' teasing, the man in the white robe flushed crimson, so embarrassed he wished he could burrow under the table.

How could he have known his bragging had landed him right in front of the man himself?

"Gentlemen, please, stop making fun of me — tonight's wine is on me. Drink!"

"Ha — drink!"

The atmosphere livened up again.

Yet among the feasters, there was one who did not fit in.

Li Yuan sat in silence, downing cup after cup of strong wine.

Expressionless, eyes hollow — no telling what she was thinking.

……

Elsewhere, Chen Mo, Yu'er cradled in one arm, pushed open the door and walked into the bedchamber.

He was met at once by the faint scent of burning incense. The room was lavishly decorated, the furniture all carved from rosewood, and the most eye-catching piece was the great canopied bed inlaid with mother-of-pearl and painted in lacquer.

It was truly spacious — wide enough to sleep four across, and even with all eighteen martial skills there'd be room to perform them.

Chen Mo placed Yu'er on the bed and was about to lean in.

A pair of soft hands pressed against his chest.

"Master, first bathe."

Yu'er Miss said softly.

Chen Mo did not refuse.

The spring night is long; no need to rush, and washing up is healthier anyway.

"Master, follow me."

A beautiful maid led him toward the bathing chamber.

Yu'er Miss rose and sat before the mirror, combing her silk-like long hair with a jujube wood comb.

"The Young Master ordered me to get close to Chen Mo; I never expected the opportunity to come so soon."

"Now the Xu family is gone, and I've been branded as lowborn—I'll eventually be toyed with by those fat, bloated pigs. Better to give myself to him, at least he's pleasing to the eye…"

"Gu Manzhi made him obsessed once—I can bind his heart too!"

When the Young Master selected her, he modeled her after Gu Manzhi.

Whether in appearance, figure, knowledge, or qin skill, Yu'er believed she was no less than anyone else—and besides, she was the daughter of a former Minister; many imperial court officials had this taste…

"With the Chen family's status, she is also a refuge for me."

Thinking of the capricious and erratic Young Master, Yu'er's face paled slightly.

If not for the need to attract Chen Mo, she would have been turned into a plaything long ago.

She had seen with her own eyes what became of those women…

Don't hang yourself on one tree!

At this moment, her desire to control Chen Mo reached its peak!

Yet she did not notice a wisp of black smoke slithering in through the door crack, winding like a black serpent up her body, then suddenly diving into her ear!

Yu'er's body stiffened, her eyes rolled back, and the comb fell from her hand.

Her entire frame trembled violently, her expression twisted in struggle, as if fighting something unseen.

Half a stick of incense later.

Her expression returned to normal; she bent down, picked up the comb, and stared blankly into the mirror as she combed her hair.

…

The bathing chamber.

The hot water was ready; the maid helped Chen Mo undress, revealing a well-proportioned, muscular physique.

His muscle lines flowed smoothly, brimming with explosive power, radiating strong yang energy.

The young maid's face flushed red; her eyes darted nervously, longing to look but too shy to dare.

Chen Mo found it amusing.

"So nervous? Is this your first time?"

The maid whispered, "I just arrived—I've never served a guest in the bath before."

"No matter. I'll bathe myself."

Chen Mo stepped into the tub, submerging his entire body.

The water temperature was perfect; floating herbs purified and perfumed the water. He leaned against the tub's edge, muscles relaxing, mind and spirit easing.

Yet the maid did not leave. After hesitating, she extended her small hand to wash him.

Her movements were restrained, clearly still shy.

Chen Mo half-closed his eyes and said, "You don't have to force yourself. Don't worry—I won't tell your mistress."

The maid shook her head stubbornly. "It is my duty."

Seeing this, Chen Mo said no more.

Silence settled for a moment.

Gazing at his handsome profile, the maid ventured softly, "Master, may I ask you a question?"

"Hmm."

"Do you… love Yu'er Miss?"

"Hm?"

Chen Mo was puzzled—was this maid trying to get him to buy Yu'er's freedom?

Locking up a public carriage isn't moral.

And courtesans from the Imperial Music Bureau are expensive; a top-tier girl like Yu'er is a golden goose—no one would pay less than a few thousand taels to free her.

That much silver could buy you to kidney failure… a losing deal; only a fool would do it.

"You know better than I do what this place is—don't talk about feelings; it costs money."

Chen Mo said frankly.

The young maid blinked, pressing further: "Then have you never truly loved anyone?"

Since he had time to kill, Chen Mo leaned back in the tub, eyes closed, speaking as if chatting idly: "Of course I have—who hasn't been a lickspittle once?"

"What's a lickspittle?" the maid asked, confused.

"I heard she loved playing the qin, so I risked my life hunting a Spirit-Horn Deer just to use its tendons for her strings."

"I heard she craved lychees from Lingnan, so I spent a fortune shipping them from Songzhou so she could eat them first."

"To pluck the Silver Lotus of Tianshan to improve her constitution, I climbed to the peak of Tianqu Mountain in the dead of winter—then a snowstorm sealed the summit. I was trapped for a full day and night, nearly dying on the mountain."

"I even stole five thousand taels from home at risk of having my legs broken, hoping to buy her freedom…"

Here, Chen Mo paused, "That's a lickspittle. But lickspittles rarely end well."

All he said were personal experiences from the former body's memories.

Some things could easily have been delegated, but to prove his "sincerity," he did them all himself… yet he never told Gu Manzhi outright, fearing she'd worry—meaningless except for moving himself.

But that's all in the past now.

For Chen Mo today, they're merely idle chatter.

The young maid lowered her head and remained silent for a long while, her voice trembling slightly.

"And then…?"

"Then I learned a truth."

"Heartfelt effort doesn't guarantee a response, but forceful action always echoes back."

Chen Mo rose from the bathtub, circulated his true qi to evaporate the moisture, wrapped himself in a bathrobe, and walked toward the bedroom.

The young maid stared at his back, her eyes clouded with mist, indistinct.

…

He entered the inner chamber.

All lights were dim, leaving only a single candle flame, tiny as a bean.

In the dim yellow light, a human shape could be seen bulging beneath the quilt.

Chen Mo pulled back the brocade quilt and slipped in, pressing against the plump, snow-white body—its weight beyond the grasp of one hand—making him sigh at how his eyes were perfect rulers.

E entered the soul.

"Miss Yu, why aren't you speaking… are you shy?"

"Hiss, why is your body so cold?"

Just as he found it strange, Yu Er spoke softly: "Master, I'm curious—did you really kill Qin Wuxiang?"

Chen Mo frowned. "Why ask this now?"

Yu Er didn't answer. She faced away, her voice flat and hollow: "After you killed Qin Wuxiang, did you take anything?"

Chen Mo sensed something wrong and moved to act—only to realize his body had already been tightly bound by black mist!

Yu Er's long hair lifted; though she faced away, beneath the thick, jet-black locks lay another face.

Its features blurred, skin ashen, eyes without whites locked onto him.

Emitting a familiar scent of decay—

A ghost cultivator?

Chen Mo instantly understood and asked: "You came for the Soul-Calling Banner?"

The faceless one sneered, voice shrill and piercing: "So it's with you! Hand it over, and I'll spare your life!"

Since that traitor Qin Wuxiang stole his treasure, he'd searched for years, finally tracing a clue—only to be beaten to it!

Damn it!

Chen Mo shook his head: "It's stolen property. I can't keep it. I already turned it in."

The faceless one asked: "To whom?"

Chen Mo said: "The Noble Consort. If you want it, I can take you to the palace to meet her."

"…."

Upon hearing "Noble Consort," the faceless one's heart tightened.

He quickly recovered and sneered: "Don't try to scare me with the Noble Consort. Do you think I'd believe your lies? You're just a sixth-rank martialist—do you think you merit an audience with Lady Yu?"

"Hey, you can doubt my strength, but not my standing in her heart."

"My clothes are in the next room. Go check what's inside."

Chen Mo said, displeased.

The faceless one hesitated, then sent a tendril of black mist into the next room, dragging back Chen Mo's clothes.

The black mist, like tentacles, probed inside and pulled out a golden token.

"Not that one. Look again," Chen Mo said.

The tentacles searched further, finding a purple token hidden in the lining of the clothing.

The faceless one's breath halted for a moment!

Though he'd never seen this token before, he recognized its emblem!

On the ruins of every sect that dared defy the Noble Consort's authority—and vanished overnight—there was always the image of a soaring phoenix!

The world says: When the Purple Phoenix appears, blood follows!

Chen Mo wouldn't dare forge a token… Lady Yu truly so Highly Valued him?

The faceless one hesitated.

He had no courage to confront the Noble Consort, yet he couldn't bear to let Chen Mo go.

At that moment, the faceless one suddenly sensed something—before he could react, a fist wrapped in dense life essence smashed into his face!

Boom!

The black mist instantly shattered!

The blurred face was violently stamped with a Fist Seal!

"How could you break free of my soul mist… wait, you're a sixth-rank—how do you possess such pure life essence?" the faceless one cried out.

"Praise the Noble Consort."

Chen Mo sneered, his palm swirling with blazing flame and emerald light, slashing down like thunder!

Black mist coalesced into tentacles, wildly blocking Chen Mo's attacks.

Yet the emerald essence strongly suppressed the black mist—upon contact, it dispersed it, quickly consuming most of the mist!

Chen Mo's palm wind howled, pinning it down utterly.

The faceless man seemed overwhelmed, but a terrifying ghost had already appeared silently behind Chen Mo.

"You're not nearly ready to fight me!"

"A warrior without a Martial Soul cannot resist a spiritual assault!"

"Since we can't recover the Soul-Calling Banner, I'll forge you into a lost soul—eternally damned!"

The faceless man sneered inwardly as the ghost howled and lunged forward!

Yet Chen Mo, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, extended his left hand—black ancient script appeared on his palm, and a tremendous suction force surged forth, swallowing the wraith whole!

Divine Skill: Soul Seizure!

"No honor, and still try to ambush me?" Chen Mo's eyes held mockery.

【Ghost's Bane】 can sense demonic ghost energy—ghosts cannot hide before him!

"Is that… a Spirit Seal?!"

"How can a mere warrior control a ghost cultivator's Spirit Seal?!"

"No—this man is strange. Retreat!"

The faceless man's body suddenly exploded into black mist, howling toward the window.

Just as he was about to slip through the lattice, a soft chant arose:

"Dong Hui Jiao Che, Wu Qi Teng Teng…"

Countless glowing blue characters surged forth, binding the black mist like chains, trapping it in place.

Chen Mo turned to see the young maid standing not far off, her hands forming a spell gesture, her third eye glowing like jade.

Their eyes met.

【Gu Manzhi's favor increased.】

【Current progress: 46/100 (Regretting We Didn't Meet Sooner).】

Chen Mo: "???"