Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
âRight, thatâs what Iâll do!â
Once he got that out of the way, the awkwardness he felt before vanished. As long as Lan Fozi did not know that it was he who put her clothes back on, everything would be fine. As for her impersonating a man, he would just act as if he had no knowledge of it.
Electric light hovered around them and shined brightly on their surroundings. âThis should be enough to conceal us. We should be safe from any sort of monitoring.â
âItâs done,â said the Damask Tulip.
Tang Wulinâs reaction was quick as he swiftly moved toward Lan Fozi. He carried her delicate frame with one hand and reached for the breast binder with the other. He started trying to put it on her.
At that moment, he suddenly felt something wrong with the atmosphere. Because he had been keeping his eyes closed all this while and was relying on his spiritual power to feel his surroundings, his senses were sharpened. He suddenly felt a strong gust wind...
Smack!
A slap landed savagely on Tang Wulinâs cheek, and his body swerved from the impact. The person in his arm was also weak after being poisoned, so she lost her balance and fell onto the ground with him. By a peculiar stroke of luck, Tang Wulin landed on top of her naked body.
Tang Wulin instinctively opened his eyes. What he saw were two azure eyes that were practically shooting flames. They were ablaze with an undying fury, as if they wanted to burn him to ashes.
Tang Wulinâs cheek stung from the pain. This was the first time in his entire life that he was slapped across the face!
Lan Foziâs face was still that of a manâs. However, Tang Wulin could clearly feel that his body was pressing on a delicate and tender frame. The part which was supposed to be bound by the breast binder felt especially compressed.
âDonât get the wrong idea! Iâm trying to get rid of the poison for you!â Tang Wulin grabbed Lan Foziâs hands as she tried to launch another volley of attacks and pressed them onto the ground. However, this just made their bodies touch even more intimately.
âYou bastard! Let go of me!â Lan Fozi seemed to have been driven mad with anger. An intense feeling of shame washed over her, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
âDonât hit me! I was really trying to help you. Donât you remember that you were poisoned? If it werenât for me, you might not have woken up at all. How can you repay my kindness with such ingratitude?â Fortunately, Tang Wulinâs mind worked quickly. He immediately made it clear that he was not at fault.
Lan Fozi paused. The memories of her previous encounter slowly came back to her.
She remembered that after she had run into the Nightmare Piranha Flower, she escaped its clutches after much difficulty, but the poison worked its way deeper and deeper into her system. While she ran aimlessly, she had aroused many soul beasts and they attacked her collectively. She fought them as she retreated, but the poison in her body was slowly taking effect. Even though she had tried her best to suppress it, she had little success. When it seemed in all likelihood that she was going to perish at the hands of the soul beasts, she had unleashed a burst of energy.
Her body was still in a weakened state. This was especially true of her sea of spirit which felt as if it had dried up. These were signs of extreme exhaustion. Had that not been the case, the slap she gave Tang Wulin would have been far more damaging. However, she could also feel that the feeling of grogginess and also the strange euphoric sensation she had after she was poisoned were gone. It seemed like the toxin in her was actually treated.
âDo you understand now? The poison you were afflicted with is called the nightmare poison. It can enter your body through your skin. Thatâs why I had to remove your clothes. I wasnât trying to take advantage of you. I didnât even know that you were a woman to begin with. Do you think I shouldâve let you be affected by the poison and look on as youâre killed by it? Calm down. Iâll let go once youâve calmed down enough. Donât strike me again! I donât hit women, but if youâre repaying my kindness with ingratitude, I wonât respond politely.â
Tang Wulin spoke with an extremely earnest expression. He had the appearance of a completely righteous man.
Lan Foziâs chest rose and fell. She bit her lower lip with her teeth. After a long while, she growled, âWhatâre you waiting for? Get up!â
At that, Tang Wulin quickly let go of her hands and sprang to his feet. He then turned around.
He pointed at the glow of the lightning around them. âWeâre probably being monitored by the Spirit Pagoda while in the Ten Thousand Beast Platform. Thatâs why I used my martial soul to cover us. So no need to worry. Nobody can see us. I also kept my eyes closed the entire time. I didnât see anything. You probably should put on your clothes now.â
Lan Fozi remained silent. Tang Wulin only heard some shuffling sounds behind him.
Fortunately, there was no longer any need for him to help her with the breast binder, but the situation had become even more awkward. Although he did it to rescue her, when she found out that he was the one who removed her clothes, Tang Wulin felt so ashamed that he wanted to hide himself.
âDamask, whereâs that fellow Damask?â
Mentally, Tang Wulin posed an angry question, âDamask, why didnât you tell me that sheâd wake up so soon?â
The Damask Tulip said with an innocent tone, âI didnât know that sheâd wake up that quickly! Also, you didnât ask, Boss.â
âStop calling me boss!â Tang Wulin was quite exasperated. The situation was slightly out of his control.
After a long while, the sounds shuffling at his back subsided. Tang Wulin had been keeping a keen eye on the movements behind him with his spiritual power. He was afraid that Lan Fozi might suddenly launch an attack on him from behind. If she did attack him, could he run away and leave her here? However, she seemed to be quite weak at the moment. It would take all she had to unleash ten or twenty percent of her strength. She was not a threat to him for the time being.
âOh well, since I intended to save her, I have a clear conscience! All that a man requires is to be guiltless after examining himself.â
Saving another person was a good deed, but he had received a smack on the face. He felt wronged, and his face was still burning with pain. Tang Wulin could not help but think how even Gu Yuena had never hit him before. He sighed.
âIâm done,â came Lan Foziâs slightly frosty voice from behind him.
At that, Tang Wulin turned around.
She had already returned to her initial handsome young man look. She did not seem any different from before, and there was no longer anything feminine about her. In terms of putting on a disguise and concealing herself, she was not inferior to Tang Wulin whatsoever.
The look she was giving Tang Wulin was slightly complicated. Her breathing was also slightly rushed.
âIâm warning you. Youâre not allowed to tell anyone about what youâve found out. You also canât stop me from participating in the Joust For A Spouse Festival. Otherwise, Iâll kill you!â
Tang Wulin rolled his eyes. âIf Iâd known that youâd be such an ingrate after all that, I wouldnât have rescued you just now. Donât worry. I donât have the time to report you or anything. Youâre a girl. Do you think Gu Yuena will really fancy you? From now on, you look after your own concerns and Iâll attend to my affairs. Letâs just act as if weâve never met.â
As he said this, he flailed his arm and retracted the lightning in the air. He turned around and left.
âHey!â came a slightly anxious call from Lan Fozi behind him.
âWhat?â Tang Wulin turned to look at her.
Lan Foziâs expression was slightly awkward, âIâm weak for the moment. Can you stay by my side and protect me for a while? Can you leave after Iâm recovered?â
Tang Wulin rolled his eyes, âThis is the eighth test. If your life is in danger, youâll be transported out of here.â
âBut I wasnât transported out before this!â Lan Fozi had a gloomy expression.
Tang Wulin was slightly stunned, âCould it be that being poisoned doesnât count?ââSheâs right. Lan Foziâs life was indeed threatened just now. Why wasnât she transported out?â
Lan Fozi wore a cold expression as she said, âItâs alright if youâre unwilling. You may leave.â
Tang Wulin said, âIs this how you ask another person for a favor? Very well, goodbye.â After he had said this, he made to leave.
âHey, are you really leaving?â Lan Fozi walked over impatiently, her steps slightly weak. She staggered and fell toward Tang Wulin. Tang Wulin sidestepped with lightning speed and avoided her. When he saw that she was almost on the ground, he held her body with the tips of his toes and got her back on her feet again.
âAre you a gentleman or not?â Lan Foziâs breathing was hurried, her face pale.
Tang Wulin replied, âWhat gave you the idea that Iâm a gentleman? Also, even if I was so chivalrous, I wouldnât bother with someone whoâs repaying my kindness with ingratitude.â As he said this, he pointed at his own face. That slap he took was not soft. Had he been an ordinary person, there would have been a red handprint on his cheek already.
Lan Fozi blushed slightly. âWhy are you so caught up with past wrongs? How was I supposed to know that you were doing the right thing in that situation?â
Tang Wulin replied, âI donât need you to affirm my kindness. Forget it, Iâll just pretend I owe you this. Hurry up, Iâll protect you for now. When youâve recovered, weâll act like weâve never met before.â As he said this, he walked over to a relatively flat piece of land and sat cross-legged. He closed his eyes and said no more.
Although he was not in the wrong, he had still touched and glimpsed some parts that he should not have. He would treat this guard duty as recompense.
When Lan Fozi saw Tang Wulinâs disdainful expression, she would have loved to go up to him and give him a good beating. However, she also knew that, given the state of her body, this was just more foolishness which would put her in another awkward situation.
She gritted her teeth and sat down where she stood. She closed her eyes, focused her spirits to gaze within herself, and started cultivating.