Xue Yi, You Dare

Xiao Qingruo smiled and said, "These three medicinal materials are all fierce drugs. Originally, when taking them, one should add 'Ice Beard Grass' to relieve the intense potency. I didn't mention it and you didn't know to neutralize the medicine either, so now you can only endure this potency yourself. Don't worry, it won't kill you. Just endure the pain for a while and once the effects wear off you'll be fine."

"You! Ah... So hot!"

Xue Yi only felt as if he were in a blazing furnace at this moment, with a burst of sharp pain in his five viscera and six bowels.

This pesky girl was really going too far!

As expected, the more beautiful a woman is, the more she deceives people. He would never believe her nonsense again next time!

Seeing his pained expression, Xiao Qingruo was smug and said, "How is it, angry?"

"You brat, you're asking for a beating!"

Xue Yi was furious with shame and decided that as soon as the medicine wore off, he would immediately pull off her skirt, bend her over a table, and viciously spank her one hundred times!

No! Two hundred times!

"Tsk tsk, screaming so loudly is useless. You might as well focus on circulating your inner energy to absorb the medicine. Be a good doggie, don't get angry. Remember this little lesson and listen obediently in the future. Your mistress won't shortchange you," Xiao Qingruo said provocatively beside him.

Xue Yi was so angry his teeth itched, but right now he couldn't be bothered with her.

The searing pain inside his body prevented him from moving recklessly. He could only first circulate his inner energy to absorb the medicine.

The potency of the millennial Vermillion Fruit was simply too strong. If he didn't quickly absorb it, the accumulating fiery qi would incinerate his five viscera and six bowels, possibly endangering his life!

But danger also carried opportunity!

If he could completely absorb this power, the benefits would also be enormous!

As the Imperial Five Spirit Formula circulated, the Vermilion Bird illusion glowed most brightly, helping him swiftly neutralize the fiery heat within his body.

As his inner cultivation method circulated, the medicine power quickly turned into streams of heat that flowed into his four limbs and hundreds of bones, nourishing his fleshly body and generating even more vital energy.

Under the impetus of his cultivation method, the vital energy was then gradually refined, transforming into even more powerful inner qi that circulated through his meridians.

Xue Yi was drenched in sweat, his skin flushed red. Within a three-foot radius it was as if a blazing furnace was burning, even warping the carpet on the ground slightly.

Xiao Qingruo appeared to be reading her book, but her attention never left him.

"The fiery potency of the Vermillion Fruit is too strong. This guy shouldn't be overwhelmed by it..."

"He better not die, it's not easy to find such a bold servant..."

She frowned slightly, somewhat worried.

However, after a long time, Xue Yi did not spit blood and collapse. On the contrary, his aura grew increasingly powerful, his inner qi directly emanating from his body to form a vermilion-colored energy field on the surface, looking extremely formidable.

"This is... he broke through to the ninth layer of inner qi?" Sensing his change, Xiao Qingruo finally felt relieved.

Xue Yi's condition began to improve, the fiery heat sinking down as his expression relaxed a lot.

After about half an hour, the sweat had completely evaporated and his complexion returned to normal.

"Phew... As expected of a spiritual medicine, it's really amazing!"

With a breath out, Xue Yi stopped cultivating and perceived his current state. His inner qi had expanded by nearly double, his strength surging!

Although being burned was a bit painful, it was worth it!

However...

Seeing Xiao Qingruo still flipping through her book nonchalantly, the anger from being toyed with by her rose again.

"You little brat, I'll show you my might!"

Xue Yi rolled up his sleeves and walked over to Xiao Qingruo, grabbing her delicate arm and lifting up her petite body, pressing her upper body onto the table and raising her butt into the air.

"Xue Yi, you dare!"

With her face pressed against the table, unable to move, Xiao Qingruo spoke in a low voice admonishing him. But she didn't dare yell too loudly, afraid the maids would hear.

"Let's see if I dare or not!" Xue Yi raised his right hand with a smack, a vengeful pleasure and hint of evil flashing across his face.

"You bastard..."

Xiao Qingruo uttered a humiliated yet helpless voice.

Her expression seemed flustered and angry, but beneath this fluster and anger, she secretly hid a trace of smugness.

Having continuously tapped into the Long Life Realm's aura three times today, her own consumption was also quite substantial, so she had deliberately provoked him this way. Xue Yi had fallen right into her trap, becoming her tool...

In the mutually anticipatory moods of both people, Xue Yi's big hand was about to fall upon Xiao Qingruo's body again.

However...

Just then, a sudden shout came from outside.

"Xue Yi! Get your ass out here!"

The voice was coarse and uncouth, carrying unbridled ferocity, echoing throughout the entirety of Lan Garden.

"Hm?"

Hearing this voice, both their eyebrows wrinkled.

Xue Yi's actions froze as he recognized the voice's owner, somewhat annoyed, "This punk's come back, ruining my fun..."

"Uh... Who is it?" Xiao Qingruo asked, still lying prone on the table, her expression slightly awkward.

Xue Yi explained, "He's a first-class guard from the Guards Department, called Lei Pang. We used to get along well before. After he suddenly broke through and got promoted last year, he was transferred to the Eastern Wilderness."

"You used to get along well but he's yelling at you to get out?" Xiao Qingruo said skeptically.

Xue Yi helplessly said, "Yeah, that's just how he is. Let me go see what he wants, my lady stay put at home, this subordinate will be back later to 'serve' you."

Then he grinned and forcefully pinched her a couple times before getting up to leave.

"You bastard, just die outside!" Hearing the sudden forcefulness, Xiao Qingruo uttered a voice of disgust.

However, after Xue Yi left, her expression became somewhat meaningful.

...

Outside.

As soon as Xue Yi came out, the maids revealed nervous expressions.

"Big brother Xue Yi, there's a nasty bully outside, he looks so fierce, don't go out, my lady will protect you." Maid Zi Die said worriedly.

Xue Yi guffawed loudly: "I'm my lady's personal guard. My duty is to protect my lady, how could it be the other way around with her protecting me?"

"Uh, but..."

Zi Die wanted to say "You're not as powerful as my lady" but those words hurt his pride too much.

"Don't worry, he's my friend."

Xue Yi had a relaxed look as he walked to the entrance of Lan Garden.

Although Lei Pang was a brute, he also understood etiquette and only yelled outside Lan Garden, not daring to barge in.

Arriving at the entrance, before Xue Yi could even greet him, he heard a gust of wind as a huge fist swung at him.

"Damn!"

Cave Heaven Realm power was no joke. He was startled and quickly dodged, retaliating with a kick.

"Not bad, so quickly at the ninth layer of inner qi?" A surprised voice rang out.

The two didn't continue fighting. Looking closely, they saw a sturdy man nearly two meters tall wearing high-ranking guard attire, his face full of surprise.

"It's decent. My lady bestowed a spiritual medicine and I just broke through a few minutes ago," Xue Yi said with a smile.

"Damn, that pisses me off! Why does she favor you and not notice my awesomeness, letting you snatch the opportunity!"

Lei Pang was very unhappy and heavily punched him.

Xue Yi grinned and said, "Can't be helped, who told me to be so handsome and suave? With your crude looks, you brutes definitely can't represent my lady's image."

Lei Pang glared angrily at him.

"How come you're back from the Eastern Wilderness? Got dismissed for poor performance?" Xue Yi asked him.

"As if that's possible, I've been doing great! This time I obtained important intelligence and rushed back to report to the manor lord." Lei Pang said.

Xue Yi: "I see, no wonder. How long are you staying this time? Let's grab some drinks if you're free."

Lei Pang: "No can do, got to leave real soon. Next time. But...speaking of which, this intelligence might be connected to you. If you went to the Eastern Wilderness, we could drink there. The liquor there is pretty good!"

"What does it have to do with me? I'll definitely be by my lady's side every day with no chance of traveling far," Xue Yi said, puzzled.