The next morning, the third young master finally opened his eyes, sending the entire household into a frenzy. Housekeeper Bo, ever the dutiful servant, immediately sent a few errand boys to a local shrine to burn incense and offer donations as thanks.
City Supervisor Li Xiping somehow caught wind of the news and, not missing an opportunity to curry favor, brought his personal doctor to assess Xu Zhenyan. Finding the youth in stable condition, he soon excused himself, blaming his busy schedule. However, he promised to send his fastest bird to central province with a missive for Xu Tianwang.
Currently, the boy in question reclined against his pillows, surrounded by a small crowd of individuals. Despite his frail and tired appearance, he spoke animatedly with them.
"But young master, how did you end up in such a state…?"
Housekeeper Bo's tone was filled with concern, also reflected on his round face. Someone not in the know might assume it wasn't his employer laying there, but his very own son.
"It's probably as you suspect. When I saw storm clouds gathering, I headed for high ground, wanting to find a cave or grotto to spend the night. However, on my way there, something inconceivable happened…"
Xu Zhenyan spoke in a quiet, raspy voice, the listeners having to strain their ears to hear. Yet, before he could finish, a violent coughing fit suddenly beset him.
When Lee Shin saw this happening, he shot a glance toward housekeeper Bo. The man, savvy as he was, quickly caught on to the bodyguard's meaning. With a wave of his sleeve, he dismissed the gathered servants.
"The third young master needs his rest. Don't make things inconvenient for him."
Lowering their heads, the maids left reluctantly. Xu Zhenyan never visited the Eastern Province villa, so they were rather curious about him and his story, but there was no recourse.
Yet, when Feng Xian'er turned and followed the others, housekeeper Bo put a hand on her shoulder.
"This is my daughter, young master Xu. While you were unconscious, she was the one caring for you."
Smiling ingratiatingly, he bowed toward the boy. Though he didn't say much, both Lee Shin and Xu Zhenyan understood his motives—it was an attempt to prop up Feng Xian'er.
The bodyguard frowned, finding the behaviour inappropriate given circumstances, but the Xu clan's young master raised a hand placatingly.
"It's all right, she can stay."
He didn't look at the girl, but his tone was kind.
Houskeeper Bo showed a pleased expression.
"Thank you, young master. It's her good fortune to remain by your side."
He glanced at his daughter, who stood there demurely, not saying much.
Inwardly, the father was a bit dissatisfied. Now was the time for Feng Xian'er to be sensible and show her good side, not stand around like a statue.
Yet, before he could prod her, Xu Zhenyan suddenly cleared his throat.
"…as I was saying, on my way up the mountain, something strange happened."
When he started speaking, the three visitors' attention immediately returned to him. Lee Shin showed a look of concern, which Xu Zhenyan picked up on. However, he doubted it was for his health. Instead, he suspected the man was worried over him letting something slip.
Of course, there was no way he'd tell the truth, not even to Lee Shin or his father.
"Thinking back, I can hardly believe it myself. I heard stories of people being struck by lightning, but even when the clouds roiled above my head, I wasn't too worried. After all, there was no way it would really happen, right…?"
Xu Zhenyan trailed off, apparently caught in remembrance. A shadow of terror was cast over his features, as if vividly recalling how a bolt of white lightning came down on top of his head.
The listeners' felt their hair standing on end. Could the third young master be telling the truth? It was too inconceivable…!
"Young master, you mean…?"
Lee Shin posed the question hesitantly, gears turning in his head. The strange backlash he experienced when rescuing Xu Zhenyan suddenly appeared at the forefront of his mind. Could a heavenly tribulation have been responsible for his wild soul force? He struggled to believe it—those were simply a myth!
Xu Zhenyan revealed a rueful smile.
"What you're thinking is correct, though I dread to say it. While I have my fair share of sin, I never thought the heavens would punish me directly…"
He opened and closed his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something else, but decided against it.
Lee Shin immediately shook his head.
"Don't be ridiculous, young master. The Xu clan has long dealt with judicial matters, so the villains that wander this earth, I know better than most. Day and night, they consider only evil things, yet receive no heavenly judgement."
His decisive tone immediately helped dispel any growing doubts Feng Xian'er and housekeeper Bo may have had. The rotund man, never one to miss an opportunity, chipped in as well.
"Besides, if the heavens wanted your life young master, how could you have survived? Also, under our care, your condition will only continue to improve!"
He straightened himself and squared his shoulders, looking very dependable at that moment.
Xu Zhenyan couldn't help chuckling dryly.
"Thank you both, I appreciate the sentiment. In any case, the thing most occupying my thoughts right now isn't heaven's will, but whether I'll soon get something to eat."
His words were scarcely cold when a rumbling noise sounded from the direction of his abdomen. Glancing embarrassedly at his three visitors, the boy laid his hands on his stomach.
Housekeeper Bo was the first to respond, turning on his heel before heading toward the door.
"Those maids, only knowing how to gossip! If your rice porridge isn't finished yet young master, I really won't let them off…!"
Speaking angrily over his shoulder, the man stomped down the hallway, his feet thumping against the wooden floorboards.
When he was gone, the room turned silent. Xu Zhenyan didn't mind it, simply laying there with his eyes half-closed.
Off to the side, Lee Shin stared at him, wearing an inscrutable expression. To the boy, it was clear he had some doubts about the story, but that was neither here nor there.
After a while, the bodyguard spoke up, having decided to excuse himself.
"I won't disturb you any longer, young master. Please take good care of him miss, and don't hesitate to call for me if there's anything."
The latter sentence was addressed to Feng Xian'er, standing nearby with folded hands. When the girl nodded her agreement, Lee Shin turned and left as well.
Then, it was just the two of them.
"Sit over there, otherwise you'll get tired from standing."
Looking the young maid up and down, Xu Zhenyan directed her to a nearby chair. With everything going on, he hadn't really paid attention to her until now.
'She's not bad.'
Feng Xian'er wasn't your typical jade beauty, but she was still attractive. He would describe her as the 'girl-next-door' type, having pretty features without pimples or blemishes and a good figure.
"You were taking care of me, I hear."
When she'd seated herself, Xu Zhenyan casually asked the question, making conversation.
Feng Xian'er nodded.
"Yes, young master."
Not meeting his eyes, the girl gave a quiet reply.
Xu Zhenyan hummed. It was a bit interesting—she was understandably shy, but mixed with another type of discomfort. However, he didn't give it much consideration. Right now, there was something else he found far more interesting.
'…I managed to attain the [Immortal Transformation Technique]!'
Despite its name, the technique was more a body overhaul than anything else. It was essentially a complete opening of the meridians, allowing the user to freely absorb spiritual energy from the natural environment.
In any other setting, this might be taken for granted, but in the world of 'Immortal Devil Transformation', its significance couldn't be overstated.
Most people would never even be able to sense spiritual energy, never mind cultivate their own. Those that could weren't able to extend their senses beyond their bodies—even at the highest level, cultivators only had their own reserves to work with.
The only way for them to grow their soul force was through tonics and medicine, as well as bitter training. Fundamentally, spiritual energy was a kind of life force. Like the physical body, it responded to strain through growth.
Consequently, native cultivators depended heavily on the innate quality of their soul force, as well as receptiveness to tonics and natural growth potential.
However, through the [Immortal Transformation Technique], Xu Zhenyan essentially escaped the system. Not only could he massively boost his cultivation speed by absorbing environmental ki, he could manipulate that ki as well.
It was almost like having an infinite fuel tank—the only limit being his own body. However, like what happened during his 'tribulation', the amount of natural ki he could handle was limited. If he tried to hold or circulate too much through his meridians, he would seriously injure or even outright kill himself.
For that reason, the main perk of the [Immortal Transformation Technique] wasn't chain-casting tier-nine spells like a mage with infinite mana, but instead to boost his cultivation speed. Of course, that was already a tremendous advantage, something every martial artist would kill for.
On top of that, he gained something like a sixth-sense. It would be almost impossible for someone to sneak up or hide from him.
Even now, with his eyes closed, he could 'see' the room's insides. It was difficult to describe, but somewhat similar to echolocation, or at least how he imagined it. However, the impression created by his mind was fairly low-resolution, not suited for sensitive work.
The biggest testament to the [Immortal Devil Transformation]'s formidableness was the fact that his cultivation advanced by two major realms. While asleep.
Exercising a considerable amount of willpower, he managed to fight off a giddy smile.
'Things are going to get interesting, from now on.'
Although Xu Zhenyan was eager to start cultivating, he thought it best to assess his condition. Directing his ki-sense toward his dantian, he discovered his foundation was clearly unstable.
'Right now, I need to consolidate my gains.'
Cultivating too fast had its downsides. If he had to explain it, it was almost like building a tower—being the fastest meant getting to the top sooner, but would result in a lower-quality structure.
Thinking of how much his progress would slow, some of the wind went out of Xu Zhenyan's sails. Yet, knowing he was ahead of his peers was some consolation.
Returning to the present, he glanced at Feng Xian'er, standing nearby. She'd helped him eat, but after dealing with the dishes, she simply stood off to the side.
"What part of the manor is this?"
Given he'd never been to the Eastern Forest villa and had departed right after arriving, the compound's layout was a mystery to him.
Feng Xian'er replied, not meeting his eyes.
"This is the autumn courtyard, young master. It is to the north."
Her tone was respectful.
Xu Zhenyan looked at her thoughtfully.
"I see. Your father is very considerate…"
If this place was anything like the Central Province villa, the northern courtyard would be the most secluded. They'd likely considered his illness when making the decision, but Xu Zhenyan was simply glad for a suitable place to cultivate.
Feng Xian'er nodded, but didn't reply.
Again, Xu Zhenyan felt something was a bit off. There was that shyness again, but with something else mixed in.
"Tell me, are you dissatisfied with your duties? If that's the case, I'll have your father reassign you. I appreciate your care until now, so I'll ensure you're properly compensated."
When she heard his words, Feng Xian'er looked up involuntarily.
"No, that's not it, young master…"
Her tone was uncomfortable.
Xu Zhenyan raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? In that case, could you draw me a bath? To think I haven't washed in months, how shameful."
He punctuated his statement with an embarrased smile.
The sudden change in topic left Feng Xian'er dazed, but when she saw Xu Zhenyan's expression, she felt extreme shyness. Images of his naked body suddenly sprung to the forefront of her mind.
Pretending to ignore the blush creeping down her neck, he stroked his chin, appearing confused.
"But, it's strange. I don't feel dirty at all. Why is that…?"
He sent a questioning glance Feng Xian'er's way, seemingly wondering if she had an answer.
Staring at her feet, the girl opened her mouth, but no words came out. While the young master was unconscious, she didn't have much of an issue with her duties. However, now that she had to face him head-on, it was extremely embarrassing!
"…well, soaking in some hot water would be nice."
When she continued to stand there dumbly, Xu Zhenyan decided to drop a hint. It seemed to work, because the girl snapped out of her trance and bowed apologetically.
"I'll do it right away, young master. The furnace should be working still, so it won't take too long."
Glancing furtively at Xu Zhenyan and seeing him nod in acceptance, she didn't waste time, hurriedly making her way out of the room. Feng Xian'er felt that, if she stayed longer, she'd really turn into a boiled prawn.
The boy watched her leave, a mischievous smirk on his face. If he couldn't cultivate yet, then he would find other ways to amuse himself.
Feng Xian'er headed to the kitchen, wanting to find a few scullery maids and errand boys to help her carry water. However, when she got there, she saw someone she didn't expect.
"Mother…?"
Standing in the entrance, she stared curiously at a beautiful woman of thirty-something years. She was chatting happily with the servants, not having noticed her daughter's arrival.
Hearing the question, Feng Lingxi, Xian'er's mother and housekeeper Bo's wife, turned and looked at her.
"Ah, there you are. I was just looking for you!"
Smiling, she patted one of the maids on the shoulder and excused herself.
Xian'er watched as her mother walked over in her direction, her posture straight and proud. Given her position, she commanded respect among the servants and was something of a second-in-command.
"Are you busy?"
Arriving next to Xian'er, she extended a hand, brushing a few stray hairs out of her daughter's face.
The girl accepted the ministrations with a look of impatience.
"The third young master wants a bath, so I came to get some help."
Naturally, Feng Lingxi knew about Xu Zhenyan's recovery, as well as her daughter's duties. In fact, along with her husband, she pressured Xian'er into accepting it.
"Are you wearing the lavender oil I gave you?"
Suddenly, she leaned forward, smelling Xian'er's neck.
"Stop it! You already know I like Yuanba. Why do you keep doing this?"
Her tone a mix of displeasure and frustration, the girl put a hand on her mother's shoulder. She wasn't stupid—what her parents' intentions were, she long-since figured out.
Smiling thinly, Feng Lingxi grabbed her daughter's wrist before repeating her previous action. When she confirmed Xian'er wore the perfume, she withdrew, satisfied.
"Since the third young master is awake, you should dress prettier. Yuechan already picked out something for you—try it on when you can."
Her anger growing at being ignored, the girl abruptly stormed past her mother and into the kitchen. She felt that, if things continued, she might physically lash out.
"Jing, Hua and Fang—the third young master wants a bath. Help me carry water!"
Staring intensely at two of the scullery maids and one errand boy, Xian'er doled out orders.
Busy with their own duties, the three individuals were dissatisfied, but didn't show it on their faces. If they were tasked with carrying water, there would be no help. However, Xian'er was housekeeper Bo's daughter and the third young master's personal servant, so they had no choice.
Off to the side, Feng Lingxi watched as her daughter rolled up her sleeves and got to work. Just a few months ago, the girl was still a complete stranger to physical labor. However, after caring for young master Xu, that changed.
She blamed it on her husband—being a girl and their youngest, he spoiled Xian'er too much.
"I can't work with you looking over my shoulder, Mom. Go bother Dad instead!"
Noticing that Feng Lingxi hadn't left, the girl snapped at her. Her impolite, bordering on unfilial, words caused the servants to shrink inwards, but the mother didn't even frown.
"You're right, maybe I should go speak to your father. I was just thinking that, since you don't do chores for the house anymore, there's no reason for an allowance."
Smiling dangerously, Lingxi turned and exited the kitchen.
Xian'er watched her leave with her mouth open. Suddenly, she regretted her rash words. However, her pride prevented her from apologizing.
'I'm not wrong. She knows I have a boyfriend, but keeps doing that kind of stuff. It's really improper…!'
Grumpily, Xian'er returned to the task at hand. Even though she tried to convince herself, a complicated feeling remained.
The autumn courtyard's seclusion made the process more difficult than usual. The four needed multiple trips to fill Xu Zhenyan's tub and when they finished, Xian'er's back and arms ached terribly.
"Thanks for your efforts, everyone."
Noting their exhaustion, young master Xu put his hands together apologetically. Over the years, he built up somewhat of a reputation in the capital, but rumors hadn't traveled this far.
The servants received his thanks with starry eyes. Though they labored under the noble Xu family, they'd precious little opportunity to interact with their betters. As such, Xu Zhenyan easily cemented himself in their minds as a polite and refined young master.
"No, we live to serve, young lord…!"
Waving their hands embarrassedly, the three tried dissuading him. The maids were particularly touched. As girls from working-class families, Xu Zhenyan's pale and tender appearance was both novel and attractive.
Like fans meeting a celebrity, they were reluctant to part and return to their duties. Only when young master Xu dropped a hint about looking forward to his bath did they leave reluctantly.
'To think a few casual words could have such an effect…'
Xu Zhenyan marveled at their fawning, realizing the effects of status. However, he didn't let it go to his head—ultimately, such privileges didn't come from status itself, but from the wealth and power supporting it.
"Please stay, Ms. Xian'er. I feel a little weak still, so I'll be relying on you."
When he saw the girl retreating along with the rest, he stopped her.
Feng Xian'er turned to look at him, her expression hesitant. The reason for that, only she knew.
"…yes, young master."
Standing to the side, she made way so the others could pass. However, when Xu Zhenyan spoke, the other two maids perked up. Given he was about to take a bath and him addressing Xian'er, it wasn't hard to figure out what she was about to do.
In an act of uncharacteristic bravery, the older of the two maids stopped in her tracks before bowing toward Xu Zhenyan.
"If you'll tolerate me young master, Hua'er would also serve you."
Surprised, Xu Zhenyan looked her up and down. Sufficed to say, the reality of his position was still sinking in.
'Are all the maids this pretty?'
Staring at Hua'er, he couldn't help having such thoughts. However, he quickly realized the truth. In this time period, having a good appearance was essentially a requirement for a maid serving a wealthy family.
Though, it could be argued that was always the case, even on modern earth. One didn't need to look further than air-hostesses and baristas—the most successful ones, at least.
Before he could reply, the younger maid, not one to be left behind, stepped forward, bowing as well.
"Me too, young master…!"
There was a hint of pleading in her tone, something that completely threw Xu Zhenyan for a loop. Yet, he didn't need to consider his answer for long. When presented with such an interesting opportunity, did he have any reason to refuse?
"In that case, I'll be relying on you all. But, if you have something else to do Xian'er, don't let me keep you."
Shooting a glance toward the girl, he noted her increasing displeasure. It was a little amusing. At first, she didn't seem happy about her situation, but now that someone else volunteered to do it, her attitude changed.
Clenching her fists, she visibly steeled herself.
"Of course not, young master. What could be more important than attending to your needs?"
Xu Zhenyan smiled.
Xu Zhenyan made his way over to the attached bathroom, using a wooden crutch.
To his surprise, Hua'er immediately moved to support him. Though she was the most senior of the three, she couldn't be older than sixteen.
"Let me help you, young master."
Smiling kindly, she put one hand on Xu Zhenyan's shoulder and the other on his arm.
Such forwardness could be considered overstepping, but he didn't rebuke her.
"Thank you."
With Hua'er's help, they made it to the bathroom without issues. Truthfully, Xu Zhenyan didn't need it, nor the crutch, but it would be strange if he recovered too quickly.
The other girls followed, the errand boy having taken his leave in the meantime. Though he was jealous, having long since admired those pretty older sisters, there was nothing to be done. There was no way he could compare with young master Xu in wealth or appearance.
"Are you sure you want to help, Xian'er? I was just thinking, Yuanba might be unhappy…"
When the door closed behind them, the older maid posed the question, glancing over her shoulder. Though her tone was concerned, mischief glinted in her eyes.
Her comment was a bit presumptuous, possibly even troublesome, but Xu Zhenyan was unbothered. Instead, he was curious, given he was unaware of the matter regarding Xian'er's boyfriend.
'This 'Hua'er' is a bit clever.'
Being a trained maid, there was no way she didn't know the rules of serving nobles--among these, 'speak only when spoken to' was tantamount. Yet, it was likely a calculated risk on her part, hoping his interest was greater than displeasure.
Xian'er's expression immediately turned gloomy.
"It's my duty, Hua'er. He would understand."
Hua'er raised a hand to her mouth before glancing sideways, appearing troubled.
"I'm not so sure, boys can be very jealous…"
Her act brought a smile to Xu Zhenyan's face. It was clear she was attempting to usurp Xian'er's position. Yet, he wasn't displeased--as far as scheming went, this much was rather harmless. Besides, Xian'er did appear to have a conflict of interest.
"Are you very knowledgeable about boys, Ms. Hua?"
This time, it was Xu Zhenyan doing the asking. His tone was placid, but if the maid answered carelessly, her chances of advancement would be ruined.
"Of course not, young master. It's just that these kind of country fellows are a bit predictable."
However, she answered easily, not caught off guard in the least. It was good too, at least eight points out of ten, by Xu Zhenyan's standards.
He huffed amusedly before glancing at Xian'er.
"Still, I didn't think Ms. Xian was in a relationship. In that case, I can imagine her troubles."
Giving the girl an understanding smile, he set his wooden crutch down before starting to fiddle with his robe.
Hua'er clapped her hands, appearing extremely impressed.
"Wow, young master Xu is so considerate. But, there's no need to undress your noble self--let me do it."
Without waiting for an answer, she reached for the sash around his waist. However, Xu Zhenyan gripped her wrist before shaking his head.
"I can do this much myself."
His voice was firm.
The reason for his refusal was, quite simply, embarrassment. Being alone in a bathroom with three pretty girls was a bit simulating for him. Given his body was thirteen, there was already a… well, response. He anticipated it of course, but at least wanted to get in the bath for a bit of concealment.
Hua'er's pretty features assembled an apologetic expression.
"Forgive me young master, I simply feel that, with your illness, it's better to let me do it."
The enthusiasm in her tone was obvious. It was to the extent that the other girls, along with Xu Zhenyan, felt their faces heating up.
"Are you experienced when it comes to this kind of thing, Ms. Hua?"
He couldn't help asking such a question. This kind of laissez-faire attitude was too unusual. Xian'er and Jing, the youngest of the three, had more reasonable reactions--that is to say, extreme embarrassment.
Still tugging at his robes, Hua'er answered honestly.
"I have two little brothers young master, so there's nothing I haven't seen."
Her answer calmed Xu Zhenyan somewhat. Especially for him, a person of noble disposition, he could pick and choose as he wanted—there was no reason to settle for girls with colorful pasts. Xian'er was a bit of an exception because her reactions showed just how inexperienced she really was.
"…well, alright then."
Releasing her wrist, he let the maid undress him. Hua'er didn't waste time either, directly undoing his sash before taking off his robe and laying it across the sectioned wooden screen.
"Wow, your skin is so smooth, young master!"
From behind him, Hua'er 'ooh'd' and 'aah'd', not being subtle in the least. Jing seemed interested too, the youngest maid closing the distance to inspect his torso.
Xu Zhenyan didn't feel too flattered. His skin was indeed flawless, most likely the doings of the [Immortal Transformation Technique], but that was the only good thing that could be said. Being bedridden for six months, he was thin as a rake, bordering on anorexic.
"Thank you."
Standing there in his underwear, he felt rather self-conscious, but didn't let it show in his posture or on his face. However, there was a pinkish tint to his cheeks that couldn't be hidden.
"Let me remove your… underwear, young master."
When it came to this issue, Hua'er's speech wasn't as fluid as before. At last, she seemed to develop some discomfort.
Xu Zhenyan nodded, forcibly keeping his hands at his sides. The urge to shield himself from their gazes was rather strong.
Holding her breath, Hua'er hooked a finger around his waistband before slowly pulling it down. However, when she was halfway done, the cloth caught on something.
Until now, Xu Zhenyan's excitement remained hidden, having surreptitiously adjusted himself earlier. Yet, when Hua'er tugged suddenly, assuming some knot or string to be responsible, Xu Zhenyan junior was revealed in all his glory.
The room instantly turned quiet, the three maid's eyes latching firmly onto his manhood, standing tall and proud. Jing, being the youngest and most timid, immediately covered her eyes. However, if one looked closely, a gap could be seen between her fingers.
"Huh…?"
Stunned, Hua'er stared at the vascular, throbbing thing. Her little brothers' didn't look like this at all!
"Young master, why is it so big and swollen?"
With pink cheeks and a hoarse voice, she voiced her confusion.
Xu Zhenyan cleared his throat awkwardly. Truthfully, it wasn't that big--being generous, he'd call it above average. Though, it was possible his stick-figure frame made it look bigger in context.
"Well, it gets like that sometimes."
He really didn't know how else to explain it. There was simply no way he'd admit to finding the situation arousing.
To his surprise, Hua'er suddenly extended a hand before poking his little brother with her index finger.
"It so hot! Is it because of your illness young master? Does it hurt? And…"
After her risqué behavior, the maid fired off a barrage of questions.
Xu Zhenyan found it somewhat inconceivable that a sixteen-year-old-girl wouldn't know what was happening, but then he considered the time period.
'Any normal parent would be uncomfortable having that type of conversation, leaving older siblings or cousins to do the explaining.'
The 'him' from this world essentially got the 'birds and the bees' talk from his older brother, back when they were still on speaking terms. Of course, it was less for the purpose of education and more to show off his womanizing.
"No, it doesn't hurt. This much is normal for a man. Anyway, I'm getting in the bath."
After quickly addressing Hua'er's queries, he put his hands on the tub's rim and went in. Lowering himself without much trouble, he immediately felt heat seeping into his limbs. The water was hot, but not scalding and scented pleasantly.
For a moment, the eldest maid simply stood there, her lips parted slightly. Apparently, she wasn't willing to drop the issue so easily.
"But…"
However, before she could continue, Xian'er stepped forward with a brush in her hand.
"Stop talking nonsense, Hua'er. Don't you see the young master is waiting for us to wash him?"
Her tone was authoritative, but her posture and expression made it clear she wasn't as confident as presented.
Shutting her mouth, Hua'er grabbed a bar of soap from a nearby rack. Yet, the haze in her eyes made it clear she was still thinking about other things.
While they readied to wash him, Xu Zhenyan sunk even lower until the water touched his chin. The experience was simply wonderful beyond words.
'This is the life…'
There wasn't a man in the world who wouldn't enjoy being served by three young, pretty girls and if they claimed so, it was nothing but a lie.
Though, Jing was somewhat of an exception, being a little too young for his tastes. If it wasn't for her face and style of dress, she'd be indistinguishable from a boy.
'Flat… well, everything really isn't for me. I need curves to be happy.'
Thinking such thoughts, he stared at Xian'er as she leaned over the tub to wash his chest and arms. Her collar was a little loose, allowing him to see a hint of something interesting.
Smirking, he closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of soft bristles against his skin.
"Do you take baths with than Yuanba guy, Ms. Xian?"
His tone was a mix of coyness and teasing.
The girl immediately shook her head. The movement was so vigorous that Xu Zhenyan felt her hair brushing against the back of his neck.
"Of course not, young master! We aren't even married!"
Her adamant refusal caused him to snicker.
"Good. You aren't allowed to, either."
Wondering what that poor bastard's face would look like if he was here, Xu Zhenyan smiled evilly. He suddenly wanted to find out.