3: Chapter 3: Reunion with the Beauty, and the Aphrodisiac Crisis Returns

Morning light filtered through the treetops, spilling onto the damp fallen leaves, causing a thin mist to rise.

Chen Xuan walked forward, stepping on dry branches that crunched underfoot. As he walked, he stretched, his joints letting out a soft crack.

"Hey, do you think there's a small river ahead?" he asked, turning his head to Leng Shuang. "I reek. If I don't wash up soon, even the mosquitoes won't want to come near me."

Leng Shuang ignored him. Her steps didn't pause, her gaze swept the surroundings, and her hand remained poised near her waist, as if ready to draw a non-existent sword at any moment.

"You know, you really do have the bearing of a master," Chen Xuan grinned. "You don't even get winded walking. Much better than when I used to run the three-kilometer fitness test."

Leng Shuang still didn't answer, though the tips of her ears twitched slightly.

As the two walked on, a commotion suddenly erupted ahead. Men's raucous laughter and a woman's angry shouts grew closer.

"Who's that? Practicing their vocal cords?" Chen Xuan frowned. "So early in the morning, disturbing people's peaceful dreams."

Leng Shuang's steps halted, her gaze sharpening.

"Should we take a detour?" Chen Xuan scratched his head. "I'm a low-key guy, don't want any trouble."

"There are people over there," Leng Shuang finally spoke, her voice cold as well water.

"I know there are people," Chen Xuan sighed. "But look at us right now. One in hemp clothes, the other's robes still creased. We don't exactly look like proper passersby. What if we get mistaken for accomplices? We couldn't wash that off even by jumping in a river."

Leng Shuang glanced back at him. "If you won't act, I'm leaving now."

"No, no, no!" Chen Xuan quickly waved his hands. "I was just testing to see if your conscience is still intact. As a proper gentleman, how could I stand by and watch someone in peril? That would violate my basic principles as a human!"

After saying this, he hunched over and crept forward, with Leng Shuang following closely behind.

Pushing aside a clump of bushes, a forest clearing suddenly opened before them.

Three masked men in black surrounded a woman in red. Her hair was disheveled, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright red. She gripped a broken tree branch tightly as a weapon.

"If any of you dare touch me, my father will skin you alive!"

She spoke through gritted teeth, her voice hoarse. "Believe me, I'll make sure your whole families end up dead!"

"Oho, quite the temper," one of the thugs sneered. "You'll be screaming louder than anyone in a moment."

"Exactly, it's rare for us brothers to get a taste. Young Miss, just stop struggling," another said, reaching for her wrist.

The woman suddenly swung the branch, hitting the man squarely in the face. He cried out and stumbled back two steps.

"Madwoman!" The third man grew angry, lunging forward to grab her arm.

At that moment, Chen Xuan shouted low, "Take the water route!"

Before the words faded, he burst from the bushes, a sweeping kick landing squarely on the lunging man's shin. The man howled in pain and fell to his knees with a thud.

The other two were startled. Before they could react, a flash of cold light shot from Leng Shuang's fingertip. A thin layer of ice instantly formed on the ground in a circle. One man's feet slipped, and he fell flat on his back.

Seizing the chance, Chen Xuan stepped forward. His left palm struck a chest, his right elbow jabbed a chin—the movements crisp and clean. The man didn't even grunt before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.

The last standing thug was terrified Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. He turned to flee.

Leng Shuang pointed a finger. A streak of cold energy shot past. The man's legs instantly stiffened, and he fell face-first to the ground like a frozen fish.

The clearing fell silent in an instant.

Chen Xuan clapped his hands and caught his breath. "Done. Ninth-grade Peak isn't just for show."

He turned to look at the woman in red, about to say,

"Young lady, you must have been frightened."

However, the other party's eyes were glazed over. A low moan escaped her throat, and she suddenly lunged at him.

"Huh? What are you doing?"

Chen Xuan instinctively stepped back, but the woman was extremely fast. In an instant, she wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging onto him.

Her breath was scorching hot, her cheeks crimson. She murmured, "Hot... so hot..."

"Calm down!" Chen Xuan pushed outward with his hands. "I don't know you! This is our first meeting!"

The woman didn't listen at all, biting down hard on his shoulder.

"Ow! That hurts!" Chen Xuan almost jumped. "Are you a dog? Let go! Let go!"

He struggled to break free, but someone under the influence of the drug had freakish strength. As they wrestled, their feet slipped, and they tumbled into a pile of grass, rolling seven or eight times before stopping.

Chen Xuan lay on his back. The woman lay sprawled on his chest, arms around his neck, her lips almost touching his chin.

"System brother, save me..." he wailed inwardly.

Ding!

The mechanical voice sounded right on schedule: [Bloodline-related behavior confirmed! Cultivation base raised to Eighth-grade Early Stage! Meridians expansion complete! Physique optimized!]

"Again?" Chen Xuan smiled bitterly. "You really are treating me like a stud horse."

He activated the Innate Qi Nurturing Art》, and a surge of True Qi within him jolted the woman away slightly.

The woman groaned softly, her body going somewhat limp, but she still refused to let go.

Leng Shuang walked over then, standing by the grass pile, watching the scene coldly.

"She's been drugged with an aphrodisiac," Leng Shuang said.

"I figured that out too," Chen Xuan said helplessly. "The problem is, why is it always me who runs into this kind of thing? Do I look like an antidote?"

"You have bad luck," Leng Shuang said flatly, though a flicker of something strange passed through her eyes.

"It's not bad luck, it's being a jinx," Chen Xuan sighed. "You saw that whole sequence just now, right? I was purely on the defensive, didn't take any advantage."

Leng Shuang didn't respond, just crouched down and felt the woman's pulse.

"The 《Profound Yin Cold Art》 can temporarily suppress the drug's effects, but it requires calm guidance and will take half an hour."

"Then hurry up," Chen Xuan sat up. "I don't want to get bitten a second time."

Leng Shuang shot him a glance. "You, move further away."

"Fine, fine," Chen Xuan scrambled to his feet and walked about ten paces away, sitting down with his back against a tree trunk. He moved his shoulder; the bitten spot was still oozing blood, his clothes torn.

"I say, young lady," he called towards the grass pile, "next time you're in heat, could you pick a target? I have principles; I don't take ready-made goods."

There was no response from the grass pile.

Leng Shuang sat cross-legged, her palms facing the woman's back. A thread of cold energy slowly flowed in.

The woman's body gradually relaxed, the flush on her face slowly fading.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the woman's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was Leng Shuang's stern face. She paused, then turned her head to see Chen Xuan leaning against a tree, munching on a wild fruit.

"I... how did I get here?" Her voice was weak.

"You were drugged. We saved you," Leng Shuang said, withdrawing her hand and standing up.

The woman abruptly sat up. Looking down at her disheveled clothes, her face instantly flushed crimson.

She pulled a silver hairpin from her hair, sprang to her feet, and charged straight at Chen Xuan.

"Pervert! I'll kill you!"

Chen Xuan nearly choked on the fruit pit, hastily jumping aside. "Wait! Get the facts straight first! You were the one who lunged at me! And you bit me! Look!"

He pushed up his sleeve, revealing two clear bite marks on his shoulder, still seeping blood.

The woman froze, her movements slowing.

"I... I lunged at you?" Her voice trembled.

"Exactly!" Chen Xuan pointed at the grass pile. "We rolled seven or eight times. I almost threw up. If you don't believe me, ask her."

The woman looked at Leng Shuang.

Leng Shuang nodded. "It's true."

"Moreover, if he truly had ill intentions, he wouldn't have actively pushed you away just now," Leng Shuang added.

The woman's hand holding the hairpin slowly lowered. Her face turned red as a boiled shrimp. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but finally only managed, "...I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Chen Xuan waved a hand. "Understanding is everything. Who hasn't lost control sometimes?"

He paused, then added, "But next time, I suggest bringing a maid. At least she could hold you back a bit."

The woman glared at him, but her Aura was noticeably weaker.

"My name is Zhao Hongling," she said softly. "Direct daughter of the Zhao family."

"Chen Xuan," he grinned. "No sect, no affiliation. Freelancer."

"I am Leng Shuang," Leng Shuang said indifferently, as if it were merely routine.

Zhao Hongling looked at the two of them, then down at herself. Suddenly realizing something, she tightly hugged her arms. "You... did you do anything to me?"

"What could I do?" Chen Xuan spread his hands. "I didn't even know your name."

"Exactly," Zhao Hongling bit her lip. "If I really did something... I..."

She couldn't continue, her eyes actually turning slightly red.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan Instead, I laughed.: "Don't overthink it. You bit me, so we're even. Besides, I'm a very magnanimous person. I don't hold grudges."

Zhao Hongling looked up at him, her expression complex.

Leng Shuang walked over then, standing beside Chen Xuan. "Dawn is approaching. We should go."

"Go where?" Zhao Hongling asked, puzzled.

"Out of the forest. If you have nowhere to go, you can travel with us for a while."

"Of course I have somewhere to go!" Zhao Hongling immediately straightened up. "I need to return to the city! My father must be going crazy with worry!"

"Then you lead the way," Chen Xuan patted the grass off his pants. "Perfect timing. I want to see the city too. I heard they serve meals there."

Zhao Hongling glared at him. "You think my home is a charity house?"

"I'm not expecting you to treat me," Chen Xuan chuckled. "I'm hoping your family's guards can give me a ride along the way, so I don't have to walk my legs off."

"Wishful thinking," Zhao Hongling spat, but didn't object.

The three stood still. Zhao Hongling checked the direction, then started walking. Leng Shuang followed closely. Chen Xuan brought up the rear, rubbing his shoulder as he walked.

"This System is really ruthless," he muttered quietly. "The rewards are nice, but it sure makes me suffer honestly too."

He looked up ahead. The outline of city walls was faintly visible at the forest's edge.

"But... Eighth-grade Early Stage. At least I have a bit of confidence now."

He touched the tip of his nose, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Next, it's time to change my way of living."