Chapter 175: A Strange Sound

"Old Hai, come greet your guest!"
A loud, powerful voice echoed from outside the council hall, instantly silencing everyone within. All eyes turned to Hai Bodong, seated at the head of the table, their gazes filled with curiosity and mischief. Who dared address Hai Bodong in such a way? Did they have a death wish?

The corner of Hai Bodong’s mouth twitched. Only one person would dare make a spectacle of him, and with such a youthful voice—it could only be that fellow. He grumbled to himself, "Calling me 'Old Hai' is one thing, but 'greet your guest'? Isn’t that a brothel madam’s line? Are they suggesting I’m... Damned brat!"

Hearing the familiar voice, Yafei’s lips curled into a sweet smile. That rascal.

"Old Hai, are you deaf? Come out and greet your guest!"

The voice rang out again, and black lines all but appeared on Hai Bodong’s forehead. With a sweep of his sleeve and a grim face, he muttered, "Let's go, time to greet our guest."

If he didn't go out now, who knew what that little scoundrel would say next? If Xiao Xie kept calling him that, how could he save face?

"Hmph, you brat! Must you always shout? Can’t you show an old man some respect?" Hai Bodong led the Mittel family entourage to the estate’s gate, just in time to see Xiao Xie drawing breath to bellow again. He hurriedly snorted, cutting off Xiao Xie’s shout.

Xiao Xie shrugged, feigning helplessness. "What can I do? They wouldn’t let me in."

"Hmm?" Hai Bodong shot a cold glance at the guard. So it was this man’s fault that he’d been humiliated.

The guard nearly buckled under Hai Bodong’s glare, his knees weak as he looked at Xiao Xie with tears he dared not shed. He’d only been dutiful—did Xiao Xie have to throw him to the wolves?

"Alright, Old Hai, enough teasing. I came bearing gifts!" Xiao Xie handed over a jade bottle.

"What’s this?" Hai Bodong opened the bottle to find a single pill inside, but he couldn’t identify it.

"This is the Imperial Extreme Pill," Xiao Xie replied nonchalantly. He’d given out quite a few of these lately, all concocted from ingredients he’d found in Han Feng’s storage ring.

"The Imperial Extreme Pill!" Hai Bodong exclaimed in surprise. As a Dou King himself, he knew well of the Imperial Extreme Pill—a sixth-tier pill, and only an alchemist at the peak of the sixth tier could hope to refine it. He’d heard of it, but never seen one before.

"Thoughtful of you," Hai Bodong said, trying to sound indifferent, though his wrinkled face was breaking into a grin. He quickly stashed the pill in his storage ring. The Imperial Extreme Pill might raise a Dou King’s strength by one or even two stars. He’d have to prepare well, aiming for a two-star breakthrough.

Hai Bodong had already reached six-star Dou King. One more star, and with the pill’s effect, he might leap straight to nine stars. If fortune favored him, he could break through to Dou Ancestor within his lifetime—and with that, his lifespan would also increase. The more he thought about it, the brighter his smile became.

Xiao Xie shook his head, ignoring the now slightly dazed Hai Bodong, and, paying no mind to the Mittel family, led Yafei and Qinglin to Yafei’s own courtyard.

"I can’t believe he’s back."

"Who is he? He speaks to Old Hai that way and gets away with it?"

"You don’t know him? Are you even from the Jia Ma Empire? That’s Xiao Xie, the legendary figure of the empire!"

"That’s Xiao Xie! The youngest Pill King in the history of the Jia Ma Empire, and Yafei’s man!"

As Xiao Xie and his companions walked away, the Mittel family burst into heated discussion. Those who knew Xiao Xie quickly recounted his legendary exploits, their pride unmistakable—as if they themselves were close friends with him.

"Yafei, did you miss your husband?" Xiao Xie pulled Yafei into his arms, teasing.

"Stop it, Qinglin’s watching!" Yafei protested softly, giving him a playful punch.

"Young master, Qinglin is tired—I'll go sleep first." Hearing Yafei’s words, Qinglin yawned and slipped into the adjacent room.

"Now that we’re alone, tell me—did you miss me?" Xiao Xie grinned.

A muffled gasp escaped Yafei as mischievous hands slipped under her clothes, teasing her sensitive spots. She couldn’t help but moan softly, wrapping her arms around Xiao Xie’s neck, her beautiful eyes growing hazy as she panted, "Mmm… yes, I missed you."

Xiao Xie laughed and, withdrawing his restless hands, swept Yafei into his arms and carried her to the bed.

For her, I would waste away, growing thin for love, my robes ever looser, never regretting it.

…

After three hours of passionate battle, Xiao Xie handed Yafei a drink to soothe her parched throat—her cries had been so uninhibited that her voice was now hoarse.

"Are you alright, Yafei?" He gently smoothed her disheveled hair, teasing.

She snorted, casting him a reproachful glance. "You’re terrible, always teasing me."

"Alright, don’t be angry. Your husband brought you a gift." Xiao Xie placed a storage ring in Yafei’s hand.

Yafei gazed at the deep blue ring, instantly taken with it. Sensing its energy, she realized it was a high-grade storage ring and grew even more delighted. "Does this ring have a name?"

"It’s called the Abyssal Sea Ring," Xiao Xie replied with a smile. This had once been Han Feng’s, but after emptying it, Xiao Xie had filled it anew with martial skills, techniques, and pills he’d prepared for Yafei.

Cradled in Xiao Xie’s arms, Yafei looked at the ring, murmuring, "Abyssal Sea Ring…"

"Yafei, the pills, martial skills, and techniques inside will be enough for you to cultivate to Dou King. Do you like your gift?" Xiao Xie lightly tapped her nose, smiling.

"Thank you, husband. Here’s your reward." Yafei smiled sweetly and kissed him on the cheek.

Xiao Xie then produced a bone-white bead. "Yafei, this Bone Pearl can summon a Bone Knight as strong as a seven-star Dou King. When I’m not here, let it protect you."

"Thank you, husband!" Yafei took the Bone Pearl, and following Xiao Xie’s instructions, dripped a drop of her blood onto it to form a contract. She gazed happily at the pearl. Until now, she’d relied on Hai Bodong’s support to control the Mittel family. But he wasn’t her servant—he couldn’t always be there. True strength was her own. The martial skills and pills Xiao Xie gave her had already delighted her.

But true improvement takes time. Now, with the Bone Pearl, she effectively had a seven-star Dou King bodyguard. She no longer needed to borrow Hai Bodong’s reputation; she could rule the Mittel family on her own, without opposition. For a strong woman like Yafei, what could be more satisfying?

"Yafei, you seem to like your gift. Don’t you owe your husband another reward?" Xiao Xie teased, gently tapping her nose.

Yafei flashed a sultry smile, straddled him, and entwined her arms around his neck, her breath fragrant against his lips. "Enough talk—love me!"

In the next room, Qinglin poked her little head out from under the covers, her cheeks flushed. The strange sounds—part pain, part joy—that had come from Yafei’s room had lasted three hours, leaving her hot, restless, and unable to sleep.

Just as she caught her breath and calmed herself, the noises began again. Qinglin covered her ears and retreated under her blanket. Tonight, she was fated to have no rest.

…

The next morning, Qinglin yawned as she stepped out of her room, shooting a resentful glance at Yafei’s door. Those strange sounds had continued all night, leaving her tossing and turning, utterly unable to sleep.