Chapter 193: Chapter 137: Pervert

Countless gazes from the surrounding crowd turned toward them.

When Si Ye saw Sang Luo sitting perfectly still, he thought she hadn’t heard and reminded her, “Luoluo, my uncle is calling for you.”

Feeling like she was on pins and needles, Sang Luo had no choice but to raise her head.

Gasps and cries of admiration rose from all around.

“The Young Master is truly blessed to have such a peerlessly beautiful partner.”

“I wonder which family this noble female is from. How have I never seen her before?”

When Fei Yuan saw Sang Luo’s face clearly, his pupils trembled slightly. His deep, sharp black eyes locked onto her, a faint crimson glint flashing within them. After a moment, he sat up a little straighter, the corners of his lips curling into an inscrutable smile.

“This noble female… you look somewhat familiar to me.”

“Luoluo is a merchant from the North Continent. She has been in the East Continent for less than a month, so Your Majesty has likely never met her.” This was the identity and origin story Sang Luo had previously given Si Ye.

Si Ye had investigated her privately as well. She truly had no prior history in the East Continent, so she could only be a female from another continent. Furthermore, the North Continent had many precious resources that the East Continent needed, and trade between the two was common, so her story was perfectly plausible.

Si Ye bowed to Fei Yuan and said, “I must ask Your Majesty to help look after Luoluo for the next few days. I will be sure to thank you generously in the future.”

“Since my dear nephew has asked, I’ll accept this favor.” Though Fei Yuan’s words were for Si Ye, his gaze flicked toward Sang Luo, tinged with a hint of mockery.

Fei Yuan’s strange and inscrutable smile sent a chill down Sang Luo’s spine.

After returning to her seat, Sang Luo gently tugged on Si Ye’s sleeve and whispered, “Ah Ye, your uncle… he doesn’t seem like a very good person. Just looking at him gives me the creeps!”

Si Ye wanted to take care of her personally, but he had no choice. “My mother sent a message yesterday. After suffering repeated defeats, the Southern Border forces in the Western Region have openly colluded with the Demon Clan and are counterattacking the Northern Border. The two sides are locked in a heated battle, as incompatible as fire and water. Demon Beasts are stronger than Beastmen of the same rank, so I fear my mother’s side won’t be able to hold out for much longer. My Phoenix True Fire is extremely effective at destroying Demon Beasts, so I must go to the Northern Border to provide support.”

Si Ye was quite confident in his own strength. His long, dry hand completely enveloped her delicate, slender one as he whispered, “I’ll be back in five days at most. I won’t keep you waiting long.”

He noticed Sang Luo’s discomfort and, after a moment’s thought, asked, “You don’t like my uncle?”

In the bustling, noisy banquet, their conversation was lost in the crowd, but from a distance, Fei Yuan seemed to glance their way, as if by chance.

Sang Luo lowered her head and admitted timidly, “I’m a little scared.”

’It’s not a matter of liking him or not; my life is in danger! He wanted to kill me back then!’

“I only asked my uncle to ensure your safety. I was worried that agents of the Demon Clan or Si Yang might sneak in, and he could step in to deal with them. But I doubt their influence extends into the Central region, so you probably won’t even have to speak with him. Don’t worry about it.”

Sang Luo nodded. ’They’re a real uncle and nephew, connected by blood, after all,’ she thought. ’I’m Si Ye’s partner, and I might even be carrying an heir of their Phoenix Clan’s bloodline in my womb. No matter how much of a grudge Fei Yuan holds against me, he wouldn’t go so far as to kill me.’

’As long as my life isn’t in danger, I have nothing to worry about.’

The Spiritual Wine and delicacies at the banquet were excellent, and Sang Luo ate and drank her fill.

It was the middle of the night by the time they returned to the Marquis Mansion.

Si Ye gave her some more food and waited until she was asleep before quietly leaving under the cover of darkness.

「Seven days passed.」

Si Ye still hadn’t returned.

The Soul Mark was fine, and given his strength, Sang Luo wasn’t too worried. The Beast Crystals he had left for her before he departed were enough to last for half a month.

The mansion was staffed by elderly Beast Servants who took meticulous care of her. Sang Luo spent her days in leisure, doing little more than eating and sleeping.

Until one day, Sang Luo woke up to find that the room’s furnishings had changed.

She was lying on a magnificent sandalwood bed. Beneath her were snow-white silk sheets and quilts, and layers of red curtains hung down, half-concealing her surroundings. Outside the latticed window, a breeze rustled the silk, creating a scene of enchanting beauty.

Through the thin red gauze, she could vaguely make out that she was in a palace. The beams were made of cloud-patterned sandalwood, the walls were lit by jade lamps, and the floor was paved with white stone. Even the most casual decorative piece on the table was exquisitely carved, creating an atmosphere of opulence, extravagance, and prestige.

’This… this isn’t the Marquis Mansion, is it?’

Sang Luo thought she was dreaming. She tried to pull her arm and discovered that both her hands were tied to the headboard with red silk ribbons. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

’What kind of pervert tied me up?!’

“Little thing, you certainly made me search high and low for you.” The voice was low, rich, and pleasant, like the decadent strains of a zither.

Before the bed, a tall, shadowy figure appeared. A long, pale hand parted the red silk curtains.

Fei Yuan smiled down at Sang Luo, the curve of his lips cold and thin.

After that night, he had turned the entire Central region upside down searching for a trace of her, only to find she had become his little nephew’s partner and was delivered right to his doorstep. It was true what they said—enemies were bound to meet.

“What do you want? To get revenge on me? Or… to kill me to vent your anger?” Sang Luo bit her lip, staring intently into his eyes as her breathing grew heavy.

As expected of the Beast Emperor who commanded the Central Plain, Fei Yuan’s wickedly handsome face was utter perfection, without a single flaw. Due to being poisoned for many years, his complexion was paler and gaunter than a normal person’s, and his thin lips were as red as blood. His long, narrow black eyes were devilishly beautiful; up close, they were even more bewitching and seductive, capable of ensnaring all living things and seemingly able to suck out a person’s very soul.

A devastatingly beautiful demon.

Fei Yuan sat on the edge of the bed. A large hand pinched her fair, tender cheek, forcing her to face him.

His gaze roamed over her, and he said with great interest, “Kill you? No, I couldn’t bear to.”

“Besides, my little nephew is quite fond of you. If you were to die in my territory, I’m afraid he’d come after me with his life on the line.”

“…” ’If he’s not here to settle scores, then this—’ Sang Luo wiggled her bound hands. The ribbons were some kind of refined Magic Artifact; she couldn’t break free at all. Her face flushed red. “What exactly are you trying to do?”

“I promised to take care of you, so naturally, tying you to my side is safer,” Fei Yuan said with shameless justification. “Of course, this is also a small punishment. Who gave you the nerve to trespass in the inner court of my traveling palace that night? And how did you come and go without a sound? Why were my wards completely useless against you?”

“Let me see just what secrets you’re hiding.”

Fei Yuan gathered a ball of red light at his fingertip and infused it into her body. A moment later, a look of astonishment flashed across his face. “So that’s how it is…”

A gloomy look flickered in the depths of his eyes. “Little thing, you don’t look very old, but you certainly have quite a few Soul Marks on you. All from exceptionally talented King Beasts, one Beast Emperor, and even the South Sea Merfolk… It seems I’ve underestimated you.”

’He can even see that?!’

Soul Marks were something that only the partners themselves could see, unless a much more powerful expert was looking.

’Is Fei Yuan’s power even greater than Ah Ze’s?’

Sang Luo’s mouth moved faster than her brain. “Are you mated?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to slap herself.

’No matter how desperate I am, I can’t be *this* desperate! Fei Yuan is Si Ye’s uncle! I’m not into anything as kinky as a combo deal with an uncle and his nephew!’

“Um, I was just asking casually. I didn’t mean anything by it,” she said with an awkward laugh.

Fei Yuan’s gaze was exceptionally profound as he looked at her. “Why don’t you give it a try and find out?”

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