The Martial God who started at Mantuo Manor

Page 12

“Sister, your 'peony' is truly… truly 'graceful and luxurious'…” Li Qingluo’s voice carried a hint of teasing breath as her fingertips lightly circled the soft edge. “So big and round, and so perky… the feel of it, tsk tsk, I really don’t know how Master Guo usually enjoys such ‘favors’. I’m afraid he must be ‘exhausted’ every night to ‘cultivate’ this ‘fertile’ field of yours thoroughly, right?”

Her fingertips even boldly pinched the soft edge, feeling its amazing elasticity and the warmth of her delicate skin through the fabric. Her tone became increasingly bold and explicit: "Unlike my 'wasteland,' which hasn't been 'cultivated' for a long time, it's almost overgrown with weeds and has become 'barren'... Tell me, if my 'wasteland' could be nourished by some of the 'rain and dew' from your 'fertile field,' wouldn't it... be able to regain its vitality and bloom some different flowers?"

The woman in the pale yellow dress was so aroused by her bold words and even more outrageous actions that her body went limp, her breathing became rapid, and her chest heaved even more violently, almost bursting the already taut dress.

The woman in the pale yellow dress felt weak all over from Li Qingluo's bold words and even more outrageous actions. Her breathing became rapid, and her chest heaved even more violently, almost bursting the already taut dress.

Her blush deepened, her beautiful eyes glistened with tears, a hint of embarrassment mixed with an indescribable sense of loss...

Although Li Qingluo had also drunk quite a bit of wine and was feeling a little dizzy, she was, after all, a woman who had been through a lot in her life and was very perceptive.

She keenly caught the fleeting loneliness and sadness in the depths of the eyes of the woman in the pale yellow dress.

It wasn't entirely a hazy state caused by alcohol; it was more like a deep-seated, unknown resentment and melancholy, like a thin mist that briefly obscured the light in her eyes.

A slight tremor ran through Li Qingluo's heart. Her intuition told her that things were probably not as she had jokingly said earlier.

This radiant woman, who seems to be pampered by her husband, may not have a life as idyllic and carefree as it appears on the surface.

That's right... Li Qingluo quickly figured out the key to it.

Her good friend's husband, the renowned and righteous Guo Jing, is now a pillar of the Central Plains martial arts world.

I heard that he accepted the imperial court's offer of amnesty and guarded Xiangyang City day and night to resist foreign invasion, bearing the heavy responsibility of the safety of thousands of people and the fate of the nation on his shoulders.

Such a great hero is naturally extremely busy, working day and night. How could he possibly have time to care about romance or intimate moments?

Once she understood this, Li Qingluo's teasing thought immediately faded away.

It turned out that her beautiful and intelligent best friend was also suffering from the same illness.

We are all just unfortunate women, suffering through the long, lonely nights in our secluded chambers.

Suddenly, a strange sense of closeness and pity welled up in her heart, making her unable to bear using those indiscriminate jokes to reopen the wounds in the other person's heart.

She gently straightened up from that warm and soft embrace, her movements carrying a touch of post-drinking languor and deliberate solemnity.

She tidied her slightly messy hair at her temples, and speaking to the woman in the pale yellow dress, her voice regained some of its usual elegance and composure as she slowly said, "Sister, could you stay here and keep an eye on things for me?"

I accidentally got some wine stains on my clothes just now, and they're really sticky. I'll go to the back room to change and freshen up to get rid of the smell of alcohol, so as not to be impolite.

"I'll be back in a little while to continue drinking with my sister." Her words were reasonable, giving herself a reason to leave temporarily while also saving face for her sister and preventing her from being embarrassed by her earlier lapse in composure.

Upon hearing Li Qingluo's words, the girl in the pale yellow dress quickly concealed the look of disappointment in her eyes, which was replaced by a knowing and playful smile.

She extended her delicate finger and gently stroked the tip of Li Qingluo's pert nose, her voice low and teasing with a hint of ambiguity: "Hehe, are you really just going to change and wash up? Or... taking advantage of the beautiful moonlight and the pleasant wine, secretly going to find a kindred spirit to 'relieve' the 'sorrow' and 'anger' you've accumulated these past few days?"

Her gaze lingered meaningfully on Li Qingluo's shapely figure, especially on her chest and slender waist, as if she could see through her clothes and understand her inner desires.

"After all!"

He leaned even closer, his warm breath almost brushing against Li Qingluo's earlobe, his voice as soft as a feather caressing her heart, "Sister, you are at such a beautiful age, and it is also the time when you are 'like a wolf and a tiger,' yet you spend every night alone in your empty room, without even a person who cares about your well-being. Aren't you wasting this wonderful spring?"

If you have a close friend who can help you relax and rejuvenate, and who can provide you with genuine care and support, I'd be so happy for you!

Li Qingluo blushed again at her straightforward yet slightly mischievous teasing, but she wasn't annoyed.

She knew that this sister had always been so genuine and unrestrained in her jokes, but it was precisely this unguarded intimacy that made their relationship so close.

Li Qingluo feigned annoyance and rolled her eyes at him, then gently patted the back of his hand with her jade-like hand, saying sweetly, "Oh dear, you're talking nonsense again! My Mantuo Manor has strict rules, where would I find any 'lover'? Even if he had the desire, he wouldn't have the guts!"

Besides, sister, do you think everyone is as 'lucky' as you?

After a pause, Li Qingluo's tone carried a faint sigh, but some images seemed to flash through her mind. She paused for a moment, then smiled self-deprecatingly: "I'm just going to change into some fresher clothes so that my smell of alcohol won't bother our distinguished guests."

Sister, please stop teasing me about being all alone. Just wait here for me for a moment.

After saying that, Li Qingluo didn't wait for her to speak again. She winked at her, slowly stood up, and gracefully walked out of the noisy banquet hall under the watchful eyes of the guests.

She gently pulled open the heavy, carved wooden door, the hinges creaking softly. A chilly night breeze immediately rushed in, a stark contrast to the warm, fragrant aroma of wine and meat inside.

Li Qingluo couldn't help but shiver slightly, as if the chilly night wind had dispelled some of the effects of the alcohol.

She gently closed the door behind her, shutting out the noise and extravagance inside. Standing on the porch outside, she took a deep breath. The stars and moon were sparse in the night sky, and the flowers and trees in the courtyard appeared indistinct in the darkness.

At this moment, the ambiguous and teasing words of her good friend still seemed to echo in her ears—"Go secretly find a confidant 'lover' to properly 'relieve' the 'sorrow' and 'anger' you've accumulated these past few days, little sister?" A bitter and helpless smile appeared on Li Qingluo's lips. A lover?

Within her Mantuo Manor, apart from those obsequious servants, there were only treacherous wanderers from the martial world. Where could she find a "lover" to whom she could give her heart?

As for "relieving worries" and "cooling down," these two words were like two tiny flames that gently touched the depths of her heart, instantly igniting the long-suppressed tinder.

Li Qingluo felt a strange electric current surge from her tailbone, quickly spreading to her limbs and bones, causing her to involuntarily straighten her legs. Her long, shapely legs, beneath her silk dress, had muscles slightly tense, as if resisting something, or perhaps anticipating something.

An indescribable emptiness and heat, like vines, quietly grew, spread, and climbed from the deepest recesses of her body, entwining her internal organs and causing her lower abdomen to involuntarily tighten slightly.

The cool night breeze, instead of calming her down, seemed to add fuel to the fire within her, making every pore of her skin yearn for a completely different kind of comfort, one that was burning hot. "My love..." she parted her red lips slightly, silently savoring the word, but her tongue seemed to taste a hint of bitterness.

Over the years, as the mistress of Mantuo Manor, she has been outwardly incredibly glamorous, issuing orders and wielding the power of life and death.

Of the hundreds of people in the village, who would dare to disobey her wishes?

In the martial arts world, who wouldn't show a degree of awe when the name "Lady Wang of Mantuo Manor" is mentioned?

But who knows what kind of loneliness and desolation lies behind this glory?

Her husband died young, and she, a widow, supported this huge family business. The hardships and pressures she faced were beyond what outsiders could understand.

In the stillness of the night, the loneliness that washed over her like water gnawed at her soul like a leech. There were moments, after a boisterous banquet or during a sleepless night, when she would gaze at her still-beautiful face in the bronze mirror and sigh to herself.

At this blossoming age, with this mature and voluptuous body, she should be enjoying the pleasures of life, but instead, she is like a forgotten orchid in a corner, spreading its fragrance alone in the dark night, withering away unappreciated.

But... the body's desires are so honest.

Her best friend's joking words just now acted like a key, unlocking a long-sealed gate within her.

The primal desires that had been building up for years surged forth like a burst dam, assaulting her reason. She could clearly feel that the secret place between her legs was uncontrollably stirring slightly, a tingling, itchy sensation rising from the depths of her core, making her want to caress it, to explore it... Somehow, her chaotic thoughts, like a wild horse, unexpectedly brought back those memories of that night.

She didn't understand why she was recalling that unbearable experience again. She should feel disgusted and nauseous, but at this moment, the memories, mixed with pain and extreme emotions, were like poison, making her heart race and her breathing become heavy.

Li Qingluo's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the depths of the courtyard, where the outline of a hot spring pavilion could be vaguely seen, appearing eerily alluring in the hazy moonlight. That place was her forbidden zone, a testament to her shame.

However, at this moment, she seemed to be drawn by some invisible force, or perhaps it was a burning desire deep within her that was driving her steps. As if possessed, she slowly walked, step by step, towards the hot spring pavilion. (Mei, Mei, didn't think about it...)

Chapter 8: Hesitation and Choice!

"Can this kind of wine really be considered a top-quality wine?"

Although Wang Meng had never tasted any fine wine, he was certain that the wine in the jar beside him was not good wine.

Fortunately, the wine was not intended to entertain him.

So he carried the wine jug and headed towards the kitchen.

Wang Meng had already made three or four trips back and forth, and the wine jars that were originally neatly stacked in the warehouse were now much sparser.

His gaze swept across the area, and seeing that only two or three of the marked jars remained standing there forlornly, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. This mission was about to be completed.

At this moment, the sounds of clinking glasses and toasts at the banquet, though not ceasing, gradually subsided, presumably because the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves and the event was nearing its end.

Now that the calls to urge the drinking were no longer so urgent, he naturally no longer needed to rush between the kitchen and the banquet hall as frantically as before. Mei, oh Mei, I, Lin Yongkong, Mei, I didn't think about it...

So Wang Meng steadily carried the last two or three jars of fine wine on his shoulder and strolled leisurely toward the kitchen.

I've said that before.

The steaming, serene hot spring pavilion and the smoky kitchen are not far apart in a straight line, but they are not built next to each other; they are separated by a winding corridor and a flower garden.

Since that day, in that pavilion...

As the saying goes, if you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear.

Therefore, Wang Meng has been deliberately avoiding the area near the hot spring pavilion for some time now.

Li Qingluo suffered such a great loss and lost so much face that she must be filled with shame and indignation, wishing she could tear him to pieces.

Although she doesn't seem to be making a big fuss about finding the perpetrators right now.

But it's hard to guarantee that she won't secretly memorize his appearance and set a trap at the scene of the incident, waiting to ambush him.

Although Wang Meng was impulsive, he was not a fool without any cunning.

Knowing full well that there are tigers in the mountains, yet still venturing into the tiger's den, that is the behavior of heroes and valiant men.

Wang Meng naturally preferred to avoid trouble.

But on his way back to the kitchen, Wang Meng suddenly heard the melodious piano music again.

The weight of the wine jar on his shoulder seemed to increase suddenly at that moment, causing Wang Meng to involuntarily pause in his steps.

The sound of the zither, like invisible threads, drifted from the depths of the night, first faint and then clearly audible, each strand precisely penetrating his eardrum.

It's that song!

Wang Meng's pupils contracted slightly, and almost instinctively, his gaze turned toward the hot spring pavilion.

The night was deep, and the moonlight, like water, gently and softly spilled over every corner of the courtyard.

However, even the cold moonlight could not penetrate the layers of flowerbeds, the lush groves, and the meticulously arranged rockery landscape.

All he could see was that behind that blurry shadow, the pavilion's iconic upturned eaves, like the horns of a monster, outlined a vague silhouette in the night sky, and the faint reflection on the spire flickered like a distant will-o'-the-wisp.

what happened?

The music... the melody... is exactly the same as that day!

Exactly!

An indescribable chill, like an icy snake, shot up from the soles of his feet and instantly spread throughout his limbs and bones.

Before I knew it, a fine layer of cold sweat had seeped onto my forehead.

This...this is a coincidence?

Or...? Various thoughts flashed through Wang Meng's mind like a revolving lantern.

Could it be... like Jiang Taigong fishing, where those who are willing will take the bait?

Li Qingluo deliberately played the zither here to lure him out so that she could catch him red-handed.

That makes sense, after all, the woman suffered such a great loss, how could she let it go?

But... why didn't she just send people to search for him directly, instead of using this... this slightly roundabout, even somewhat... ambiguous method?

Or... an even more absurd thought, yet one that made him slightly parched, uncontrollably surfaced in Wang Meng's mind.

Could it be... could it be that my last... that brutal humiliation, by some strange twist of fate, turned on some weird switch in Li Qingluo's body?