Chapter Seventy-Five: A Kiss

Shi Yan’s gaze burned with intensity as he stared, unblinking, at the enigmatic woman of unparalleled grace. She walked lightly across the lake’s surface, approaching the shore with every step. Suddenly, a trickle of crimson blood seeped from the corner of her lips. Her enchanting, delicate body trembled violently, and a hint of resignation flickered in her clear, lake-like eyes.

Under Shi Yan’s watchful gaze, the woman’s complexion turned increasingly pale, her eyes growing dazed. Just as she was about to reach the shore, her body shuddered once more and she collapsed into unconsciousness.

She must have been grievously wounded by Bei Ming Shang!

Shi Yan’s thoughts raced—he instantly realized that this mysterious woman had suffered serious injuries. A sudden flash of insight crossed his mind, and without further hesitation, he dashed forward, leaping into the lake and scooping the sinking woman into his arms.

Her voluptuous form pressed against him, sending a shiver of pleasure through his core. Steeling himself, Shi Yan hurriedly carried her ashore.

He placed a finger beneath her nose—her breathing was steady and even, suggesting she was in no immediate danger. What’s more, he sensed a strange force within her, slowly stirring, as if nourishing her body from within.

Suddenly, a wave of bloodthirsty, frenzied desire surged from deep within Shi Yan. His expression changed—he was keenly aware that the negative energy in his acupoints was about to erupt. He had absorbed too much negative force today, and at this critical moment of purification, the acupoints would inevitably flood him with escalating dark emotions.

Holding this enchanting woman, Shi Yan’s expression flickered ominously. After a long pause, he made a decision.

He tore a strip of cloth from his sleeve, covering the woman’s peerless, captivating face. Then, cradling her in his arms, he rushed toward the nearest brothel.

This mysterious woman possessed frightening power at the Heavenly Rank. In this battle, she had been severely wounded by Bei Ming Shang—once she recovered, she would become the Bei Ming family’s most terrible foe!

Within the Commerce Alliance, the Bei Ming family’s influence was unrivaled; for now, no other family could suppress them.

Yet this woman’s origins were shrouded in mystery, her cultivation profound. As long as she remained alive, Bei Ming Shang would never know peace.

Shi Yan was determined to keep her alive!

Tonight, Heavenfall City would descend into chaos, and Bei Ming Shang would surely send his experts to hunt for this mysterious woman. Shi Yan’s only chance was to keep her safe until she awoke.

The negative aura within him was growing ever heavier. Embracing such a bewitching beauty, Shi Yan could barely contain his own surging desires.

Yet he knew he must not lay a hand on her—if she woke, the Shi family might be the first to face utter destruction!

...

A quarter of an hour later.

Still clutching the veiled woman, Shi Yan barreled into Misty Rain Pavilion in the city’s southern district. Upon entering, he shouted, “Madam, hurry and bring me two lively girls! Quickly!”

With a flourish, he poured a handful of violet crystal coins from his pouch, scattering them across the counter on the first floor.

“Coming!” A gorgeously dressed, heavily made-up woman in her thirties leaned over the railing above, a professional smile on her lips.

Her eyes flickered with delight at the sight of the crystal coins, and she called out, “Sir, please proceed to the third floor—I will arrange everything at once.”

Shi Yan nodded, cradling the mysterious woman as he followed the madam upstairs.

“Yanyun, Rou’er, get yourselves over here! Come to Room Three and attend to this gentleman!” The madam’s voice rang out as she ushered Shi Yan into a private suite.

“Yes, madam, we’re coming!” two sweet voices replied from a suite at the landing.

Soon, two lively young women, gazes brimming with spring, entered Shi Yan’s room.

“Sir, you’ve brought your own lady? What, do you think our Misty Rain girls can’t satisfy you?” The madam’s clever eyes flickered over the veiled woman, and she laughed. “It’s rare for a customer to bring his own girl to a brothel.”

Shi Yan replied coolly, “Ahem, I’m rather vigorous, and my tastes are… unusual. Bringing my own just adds to the fun.”

The madam’s laughter deepened, her gaze lingering knowingly on the mysterious woman. She naturally assumed Shi Yan had abducted her, intending to take her maidenhood here, but fearing she might not withstand it, had summoned two brothel girls as backup to ensure his complete satisfaction.

She’d seen such things before and didn’t find it strange. “Yanyun, Rou’er, take good care of the gentleman—show him your best skills and make sure he leaves fully pleased.”

“Don’t worry, madam. This is our livelihood—we know how to please,” Yanyun purred, her eyes dancing as she licked her lips. “Sir, I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

“Leave us!” Shi Yan’s impulses were becoming impossible to restrain. He took a deep breath and commanded the madam curtly.

“Very well, sir. If you need anything else, just call,” she replied with a knowing smile, stepping outside and thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

Shi Yan finally laid the mysterious woman on the soft carpet.

He placed a hand on her back, sensing that the strange force within her now enveloped her entire body, the flow of her vital energy accelerating rapidly.

After a moment’s thought, Shi Yan realized she must have swallowed a precious elixir, one that continued to heal her wounds even in unconsciousness, allowing her essence to circulate and hasten her recovery.

“You two, come here.” The strange negative aura seeping from his acupoints could be held back no longer. Shi Yan seized the two brothel girls, pulling them onto the crimson cotton bedding.

...

A long, long while later.

Shi Yan awoke slowly, his eyes clear, feeling the strange energy flowing from his acupoints throughout his body. Part of it spread through his flesh, veins, and bones; part converged at his center of energy.

As the strange force flooded his core, his essence grew incomparably thick and strong. Guided by his will, his essence surged like a tide within him.

He held his breath, entering a state of perfect clarity, his mind empty of all distraction, letting his essence course freely.

...

Who knows how much time passed before Shi Yan jolted awake, his senses newly attuned.

With eyes closed, he could now clearly perceive the primordial energy of heaven and earth, present everywhere, interwoven with the very air—a force he’d never sensed before.

In this moment, he could perceive even the subtlest details.

His essence, too, had become extraordinarily agile. At a thought, a wisp of essence leapt from his left middle finger, shifting in response to his will—first a blade of grass, then a spirit snake, then a flying insect…

Perceiving the world’s energy, refining essence into myriad forms—this was the Human Rank!

A strange smile played at Shi Yan’s lips. Elated, he finally rose from the bed.

Glancing back, he saw the sheets in utter disarray, two alabaster bodies sprawled across the bed, their faces still flushed with satisfaction as they slept soundly.

The two women, not being martial artists, seemed unable to withstand his peculiar energy. This time, when his essence erupted, none of that strange force was passed to them—Shi Yan had absorbed it all.

For a moment, Shi Yan stared, but with no lingering attachment, he turned away and walked slowly to the mysterious woman’s side.

Moonlight poured in through the window—it was deep into the night.

Shi Yan placed a hand on the woman’s back, immediately sensing that her strength was recovering at a truly astonishing rate.

At this pace, she would awaken by dawn.

Tonight, Bei Ming Shang would surely search for her everywhere, never guessing she was hidden in a brothel.

By morning, her wounds would be eighty percent healed. After that, there would be no place in Heavenfall City she could not go.

I wonder how Han Feng is faring?

Shi Yan suddenly thought of Han Feng. If Han Feng managed to break through the Blood Hand’s blockade at Poison Dragon Gorge, he would surely search for Shi Yan. If he failed to find him, he’d likely assume Shi Yan had been killed by Li Han and Mo Qi.

After all, Han Feng was unaware of Shi Yan’s true power, while Li Han was a martial artist of the Human Rank!

Now that Shi Jian regarded him as the Shi family’s greatest treasure, if he believed Shi Yan had met with disaster, who knew what rash actions he might take?

After some thought, Shi Yan decided to leave at once and return to the Shi residence as quickly as possible.

His hand, still resting on the woman’s back, moved slowly until it found the cloth covering her face.

He lifted a corner, gazing at her now-rosy lips. With a small smile, he leaned in and kissed her without ceremony.

A breath of intoxicating sweetness escaped from her lips.

With just a taste, Shi Yan felt his spirit refresh, the sensation lingering, nearly overwhelming his self-control with newfound desire.

Reluctantly, he withdrew, gazing at her for a long moment and murmuring, “I saved your life. Consider this kiss my reward.”

With that, Shi Yan pushed open the half-shuttered window and leapt outside.

His figure flickered through the night, vanishing into the moonlight in the blink of an eye.

...

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