Chapter 58: The Naive Young Girl

Ling Qiu was silent for a moment, then sealed the talisman. He placed two packs of cigarettes on the windowsill and said to Sister Gardenia, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch. You’ve given me such a generous gift—so, what is it you want from me?”

“Smart,” she replied with a slight smile. “What I want is simple.”

She paused, then looked Ling Qiu up and down, her face flushed with a captivating red. “I want... your body.”

Ling Qiu: What?!

She laughed again. “Don’t worry. I’m not planning to devour you—I just want to sleep with you!”

Ling Qiu was utterly stunned by her words.

This surreal turn of events was something he never imagined before coming here.

Just moments ago, he still regarded her as an enemy, and now—this woman claimed she wanted to sleep with him!

“Rest assured,” she continued, “I’m not the kind of woman who settles for anything. In my life, I’ve never met a man I truly wanted. You... are the first.”

“I refuse,” Ling Qiu said firmly.

His reason for refusal was simple.

Do I have no dignity? You say you want to sleep with me and I simply comply? What does that make me?

Admittedly, from a man’s perspective, he didn’t think himself a paragon of virtue. Sister Gardenia was the embodiment of temptation, and a night with her would no doubt be exhilarating.

But if anything were to happen, it should be him taking the initiative—not her.

That’s just his temperament.

Sister Gardenia smiled gently. “I’ve done my homework. The heiress of the Deng family has already chosen you to be her fiancé. That’s a golden opportunity, and I won’t interfere. Besides, that Deng heiress is a remarkable woman—missing out would be a shame. So, I only propose we connect physically, not in life. Being your lover is enough for me.”

She paused, then added, “Oh, and to clarify—this isn’t some platonic affair. I mean a partner who can truly spar with you in bed.”

This enchantress!

Even Ling Qiu couldn’t help but react physically at this point.

Whenever she spoke, her voice was laced with seductive charm, her words drifting with an intoxicating fragrance, mesmerizing and bewitching.

And her words—so daring!

Seeing Ling Qiu silent, she continued, “If you don’t like the bed, the sofa will do, the restroom, the balcony... If you prefer outdoors, I’ll join you—parks, subways, pools, classrooms, or I can pull some strings and we can even try a prison... Oh?!”

As she spoke, her sultry gaze flickered downward.

Ling Qiu’s tent was already rising.

Sister Gardenia’s face burned red as she covered her mouth, excited. “So you like prisons? Very well, I’ll make some calls and arrange everything…”

“Stop!”

Finally, Ling Qiu could take no more.

He raised a hand.

In that moment, he completely lost his composure.

All remnants of hostility, any imposing aura or faint murderous intent—vanished.

This woman—

She was, without a doubt, a thorough enchantress.

Sister Gardenia chuckled, and gently caressed Ling Qiu’s cheek.

Cold!

The instant her delicate hand touched his face, he felt a distinct chill.

She leaned close to his ear, her breath soft and fragrant. “And, as you saw, I’m a seasoned yoga expert... Whatever position you desire, I can do... Even those you can’t imagine... I can do those too…”

“That’s enough,” Ling Qiu said, stepping back to escape her clutches.

Honestly—

He never imagined a woman could fluster him just with her words.

Tsk… Perhaps his body was simply too young.

Ling Qiu stared at Sister Gardenia. After a long pause, he drew a deep breath.

“If I’m not mistaken, your true purpose for this proposal is…”

Before he finished, she smiled sweetly. “You guessed right—it’s dual cultivation.”

As expected!

In that moment, Ling Qiu finally understood her intent.

And realized, without doubt, this woman was versed in cultivation.

As for whether she was a ghost cultivator—

From all indications, she most likely was.

After a brief contemplation, Ling Qiu saw this as a great opportunity.

His primary goal, aside from seeking the power of the Ten Lords of Hell, was to quickly advance his cultivation.

And the method of dual cultivation with an opposite sex partner was indeed a shortcut.

Under normal circumstances, Ling Qiu would have welcomed this. For him, it was all gain, no loss—though many encountered backlash from their dual cultivation partners.

But Ling Qiu was confident. If there was any backlash, he’d be the one to overpower this woman.

Yet—

Her aggressive stance, leading the conversation and making him feel manipulated, irritated him.

After all, he was once a king of the underworld, with pride to spare.

“We’ll talk about this later,” Ling Qiu said, drawing a deep breath and casting Sister Gardenia a meaningful look. “At least for now, I have no interest in you.”

“Alright, then,” she said, a hint of disappointment in her voice, sighing softly. “No matter. I’ll wait for you.”

Ling Qiu said no more.

A woman who wished to cultivate with him, to mutually enhance their power—even if she had an ulterior motive—her origins didn’t matter now.

So, she was no longer his enemy.

With clarity, Ling Qiu turned and strode for the door without a word of farewell.

“Wait,” Sister Gardenia called after him, then walked up and hugged him from behind.

Ling Qiu felt his back pressed by two soft, supple forms—utterly real, thanks to the vacuum-tight yoga outfit.

“Take your time. No rush, I’ll wait for you,” she whispered in his ear, then let go.

Ling Qiu left without looking back.

However—

As he pondered on his way down and out of the Sky Garden—

He suddenly found two packs of cigarettes in his pocket.

He stopped, pulled them out, and after a moment’s silence, glanced back at the flashing neon sign of “Sky Garden,” an involuntary sly smile appearing on his face.

“Perhaps… just as Dizang said, this is my chance encounter after all…”