That night—
Ye Ziling, dressed in a white gown, her long hair casually tied back, with a single flower hairpin holding up a small bun, her simple attire making her appear even more stunning.
She leaped onto the rooftop of the inn, leaning against it casually, a hint of melancholy flashing in her eyes.
She had inquired and found out that Ling Xi had entered this inn.
Choosing to stay in an inn instead of her own residence, was he implying he earned too much money?
Ye Ziling leaned over, gently lifting a roof tile, and cautiously peered down.
"Guest, please feel free to command me," the waiter's respectful voice echoed from the center of the inn. Ye Ziling's expression sharpened, and she indeed saw Ling Xi below.
"Prepare water for a bath," he said with a smile, elegantly taking out several silver ingots and idly playing with them in his hand before transferring them to the waiter.
The waiter responded and soon prepared warm water and two sets of brand-new change of clothes.
"Guest, it is done as you instructed. I shall take my leave now. Just call if you require anything else."
After speaking, he turned and retreated, gently helping to close the door.
Ye Ziling knitted her brows, lost in thought.
A bath? Was he preparing to sleep?
Her brows were now deeply furrowed, completely unable to fathom what Ling Xi intended to do.
Bathe in secret behind her back?
What was the difference between bathing at home and bathing elsewhere?
No, she had to investigate further.
After an unknown amount of time, she looked down and realized her ears had turned red. She hastily averted her gaze.
Ling Xi efficiently untied his belt, shed his robe, and sat in the wooden tub, lying back with his eyes closed, enjoying himself.
His abdomen was well-defined, his shoulders broad, his waist narrow. His slightly disheveled hair occasionally dripped water onto his long neck, tracing down to his collarbone, and disappearing below his chest.
The room was filled with mist, and his relaxed, enchanting face flickered in and out of sight through the haze, carrying a certain inexplicable allure.
Strange, she had seen parts of his body before, why was she hiding?
But was she… peeking?
Hmph, it's my own man, it doesn't count as peeking!
This fellow, why did she feel like he was deliberately exposing himself for her to see?
No, Ling Xi wouldn't be able to find her traces. She must be being overly suspicious.
Soon, the eyes within the mist suddenly closed, his lips parted slightly, and he softly said, "Come down."
There was no response from within the room; it was silent.
Ling Xi's eyelids twitched, and he slowly opened a sliver, looking at the person above.
Although Ye Ziling had managed to hide in time, she had clearly heard his call.
Come down?
Undoubtedly, he was calling her.
Seeing that she had been discovered, Ye Ziling had no choice but to show her hand. She leaped from the rooftop and slowly approached the screen, quietly gazing at the naked figure.
"Master Ling, you have quite the leisure to bathe here. It seems my hospitality has been inadequate, causing you discomfort," Ye Ziling said to the screen, her voice crisp and melodious, laced with heavy sarcasm.
Ling Xi leisurely wiped away the water droplets with a silk handkerchief, and upon hearing this, the corner of his lips curved into an arc.
"Miss Ye has never personally served me a bath, so naturally, my hospitality is lacking," he said indifferently, his tone even, betraying no emotion.
"Ling Xi, have you no shame?" Ye Ziling, too lazy to parry with him, stated it directly.
"No," he replied indifferently, still meticulously wiping his body.
Unexpectedly, after a moment, an inexplicable force pulled at her, causing Ye Ziling to stumble.
The next moment, she fell entirely into the bath.
The water rippled, splashing outwards. She fell into the water without warning, her plain clothes immediately soaked.
As the fabric was sheer, it became transparent upon contact with water, revealing glimpses of her figure.
The water was still warm, neither hot nor cold, just right.
"You… you really are something," Ye Ziling looked up at him from the water, her gaze somewhat cold.
"Don't move," Ling Xi warned in a deep voice, a hint of suppressed desire in his tone.
In a flash, a strange gust of wind blew, extinguishing the candles in the room, plunging it into darkness.
Ye Ziling smelled a strong demonic scent.
Feeling someone approaching, her heart pounded with fear, and she wanted to leap out of the tub.
However, the next second, her waist tightened, a strong arm wrapped around it, and lips pressed against her ear, her breath hot, "Wait a moment."
Ye Ziling didn't want to wait. How long would she have to soak like this?
She was just a demon, what was there to fear?
The surrounding darkness surged, she composed herself for a moment, gathered her immortal power, and seizing the opportunity, struck out with a palm. The thing crawling outside the screen rolled several times before finally escaping out the window.
Seeing the demon beast they had lured about to escape, Ling Xi's eyes deepened. His body remained still, leaning against the edge of the tub, and a talisman flew from his hand towards the window.
The window instantly shattered, and the demon beast, struck by the talisman, twisted its body in pain.
"I told you to wait, you almost let the demon escape," Ling Xi murmured, drawing her waist closer, his body pressing against hers.
Only then did Ye Ziling realize that she had almost alerted the enemy.
"Then, shall I apologize?" her tone softened, her face sincere.
"How will you apologize?" he asked in a hoarse voice, a smile in his eyes.
"Wait—" Ye Ziling found her body suddenly cold, not noticing that the water had cooled.
The two then emerged from the tub, wrapped themselves in clothes, and walked towards the bed.
Ling Xi dried her hair while casually asking, "Why did you follow me? Catching demons is my job; you should have stayed at the medical hall."
"I wanted to see your letter with no words."
As Ye Ziling finished speaking, Ling Xi's hand abruptly paused, then he continued to dry her hair.
"You want to see this?" Ling Xi asked, pulling out the letter. The indecent images that met her eyes made her gaze burn.
It… it was truly an erotic painting.
"Why… why do you carry this with you?" Her eyes darted around nervously, her vision feeling scorched.
Ling Xi put away the painting, seeing the flush on her face, and seized the opportunity to say, "Is this the first day you've known me?"
He wasn't a proper person anyway, so what was wrong with looking at a few improper pictures?
Ye Ziling suddenly remembered the album of erotic pictures she had found on Ling Xi in the seventh chapter, and her cheeks turned even redder.
Just as she was feeling embarrassed, the person behind her unexpectedly leaned close to her cheek and teased, "Want to try tonight?"
"..."
Did he think last night's exertions weren't enough?
"Do you have any medicine on you?" Ye Ziling sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in her voice.
"Medicine?" Ling Xi's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Aphrodisiac?"
"To calm the nerves," Ye Ziling shot him an exasperated glare and urged, "Quickly."