Chapter 17: Sounds Nice

Chase in the Moonlight

Under moonlight, two figures darted like lightning through the night.

The white-skirted figure was Feng Xizhi.

Chasing relentlessly behind was Gu Chi.

He had to catch her now and give her a beating.

Feng Xizhi practiced Fire Phoenix Sect’s Phoenix Flight technique.

Her body flickered like a ghost.

Gu Chi hadn’t trained in movement arts, but his spiritual energy surpassed late Core Formation.

In fifteen breaths, he grabbed her nape.

Knowing resistance was futile, she stopped struggling.

Before she could speak, he tucked her under his arm like a drum at his waist.

His other hand struck, soft and springy to the touch.

Her scream pierced the air.

“I’ll call for help!”

“Call everyone in this realm—it won’t save you.”

“Try it?”

He looked down.

“It was just a joke…”

“Why so petty?”

Her eyes welled with tears.

She could cry in three seconds—a talent.

But Gu Chi was immune, feeling no pity.

He struck again.

She yelped, breathing heavily.

Her hips tensed, her glare defiant.

“Hmph, hit a nerve, got mad?”

Another strike answered.

“You… only bully me now.”

“At Fire Phoenix Sect, would you dare?”

A sharper yelp—she was nearly out of her mind.

Her eyes rolled white.

After a moment, she muttered.

“What, ugly face under that mask?”

“No woman talks to you, so you punish me to take advantage?”

He stayed silent, striking like a drum.

She kept babbling.

By the fifteenth strike, her bravado vanished.

“Stop… it hurts…”

“Good brother, I was wrong…”

“Stop… brother, father, master…”

“Woof, woof, I know my mistake…”

He released her.

She crumpled to the ground, limbs splayed.

He expected rage or tears.

But under moonlight, her eyes half-closed, sweat on her brow, tear-streaked cheeks.

Her lips curved, expression lazy, sated.

Relishing punishment was rare.

Gu Chi thought she lived freely.

Seeing her, anger flared.

If not for the Snow Velvet Lampwick Flower lulling his Demon Dragon Gu, he’d be writhing in heart-pain.

He didn’t know why he was angry.

Perhaps jealousy—Feng Xizhi, Fire Phoenix’s holy daughter, had everything others dreamed of, yet wasn’t satisfied.

“Stones.”

He looked down.

“Let me… catch my breath…”

She panted, eyes drunken, like she’d overindulged.

He gave her half an incense stick’s time.

She didn’t rise.

He raised his leg, murmuring.

“Can I kick you to that tree on the hill?”

He seemed eager.

She scrambled up, cheeks puffed, handing him a five-hundred spirit stone note.

“Here.”

He took it, unbothered it was only the agreed amount.

Turning to leave, she grabbed his sleeve.

“I know a cave in this realm with a maturing Black Pool Ghost Lotus.”

“A mid-Core Formation python guards it.”

“Go with me?”

“Tell me the location.”

“Hmph, you’d go alone.”

“Don’t ditch me.”

“If we’re seen together, it’ll harm you.”

“Fang Xiyu might suspect.”

He said coolly.

“Take off the mask.”

“I can’t trust you.”

He was frank.

The mask’s secrecy mattered little now.

Initially, he and Pei Ningxue wore masks as partners—red and green—robbing as bandits.

With Red Mask gone, Green Mask’s purpose faded.

“Here’s my leverage.”

She handed him a recording stone.

He paused, infusing spiritual energy.

The stone projected an image.

A naked woman in a warmly lit room.

It was Feng Xizhi.

Ropes bound her, leaving red marks.

She tugged them, rubbing tender spots, eyes hazy, uninhibited.

The sight stunned him.

Looking at her, she turned away.

Despite her efforts, her earlobes reddened, legs pressed tight.

Her white dress seemed demure.

Who’d guess she’d done this at night, recording it?

“If this stone’s seen, I’d hang myself.”

She met his gaze.

“You have shame?”

“You made me shameless before you.”

“With others, they don’t deserve my smile.”

“So, being shameless with me excites you?”

He glanced at her.

“If you think that insults me, say more.”

Her voice trembled, shame flooding her, turning to tingling pleasure.

He pocketed the stone, extending his hand.

“Two thousand stones—for the risk.”

“For one face? Too pricey.”

She puffed her cheeks.

“I’ve got one thousand now, owe you one.”

She handed him a thousand-stone note.

His hand rested on the mask.

After a pause, he asked.

“One face matters that much?”

“Of course.”

She tilted her chin.

“For a year, I’ve imagined your face at night.”

“If you’re handsome, my resentment lessens.”

“If you’re ugly, it grows, but excites me more…”

“Being defiled by a wretch like you makes me feel baser.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

He removed the mask.

She stared.

Curiosity filled her eyes, then astonishment.

Seconds later, she laughed.

Her gaze flickered shyly, cheeks faintly red.

Her eyes sparkled, tugging his sleeve like a lovestruck girl.

Her voice sweet, quivering.

“You… how’re you so handsome?”

“So good-looking… with that scary mask…”

He ignored her praise.

He’d willingly scar his face to seem unapproachable.

But Pei Ningxue loved it, often pinning him to a chair to shave and groom him.

“Your name?”

“Even if it’s fake, you need to ask?”

“I need something to call you.”

“Not just ‘Green Mask.’”

“Gu Chi. Gu as in gaze, Chi as in late.”

“Sounds twisted.”

Her eyes fixed on his face, lips smiling uncontrollably.

She tried tiptoeing, arms raised, to pinch his cheek.

He swatted her hand.

“Smile for me.”

She looked expectant, undeterred by rejection.

He gazed coldly, unresponsive.

“Even unsmiling, so handsome…”

She wiped her mouth.

“Forget Green Mask.”

“Be my lover.”

“Join Fire Phoenix Sect—I’ll get you an inner disciple spot.”

“At night, we’ll meet under the moon in your courtyard…”

“Wild, reckless, till we forget the world.”

“Are you always like this, or just with me?”

“I maintain a holy daughter’s dignity daily.”

“With you, I can’t hold back.”

“Only for you—don’t shame me for it.”

“I act this way because I love you.”

“Loving you makes me base.”

“You love the base version of yourself with me.”

“Didn’t you say insults excite you?”

“But you’re so handsome…”

“Even your scorn sounds sweet, not shameful…”

She grabbed his hand, skipping.

“Come, I’ll lead you to the Black Pool Ghost Lotus.”

“The map’s in my head.”

He followed quietly.

Moonlight bathed them.

After a while, she whispered softly.

“Gu Chi…”

“What?”

“Nothing, just… your name sounds nice.”

She giggled, eyes shining like a girl in love.

His gaze stayed icy.

If he let her soft, adorable act lower his guard, he’d suffer later.