His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

"There are eyes everywhere in the city. As soon as our carriage enters the city, it will be under their surveillance."

Feng Xingyu closed the window, turned to look at her, and said, "If you give up, I can stay here with you for a few days and then we can choose another base after we go back."

"give up?"

Mo Sangyu patted him on the chest, walked to the chaise lounge and sat down, pouring herself a cup of tea: "The word 'give up' doesn't exist in my world. If you're scared, leave now, I won't stop you."

"it is good."

Feng Xingyu nodded, and Mo Sangyu thought he was really going to leave, but then he heard him say, "Since you are so determined, there is no turning back from now on. Only success is allowed, failure is not an option."

"That's right."

Mo Sangyu poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him, saying, "You have to have confidence."

Actually, he lacked confidence in her.

Feng Xingyu took the teacup she offered: "Then tell me, what are your plans for the future?"

"I've investigated some of those eyes you mentioned. They are indeed very good at concealing themselves. Unfortunately for them, they ran into me."

"Um?"

"Those people are all between the seventh and eighth rank of martial arts cultivation. We haven't found anyone too strong yet. Next, let's figure out the city's defenses based on the map Mr. Gu gave us, and then... we'll make further plans."

Feng Xingyu was somewhat surprised: "Investigate? When did you investigate?"

He was completely unaware.

Mo Sangyu took a sip of tea, looking relaxed: "It was on the way here after we entered the city, as the carriage traveled through the streets and alleys."

Her spiritual sense was more useful than her eyes. Although she couldn't spread out over a large area to alert them, it wasn't difficult for her to scan along the way and lock onto a few auras.

"A seventh or eighth rank... that would make a decent general in the border army, but here they're only fit to be sentries. The depth of this city's history is far greater than we imagined."

"The map Jinzhi gave us only marks the things that are in the open. If we want to make a move here, we have to find the forces in the shadows. The law enforcers in the open are not a threat."

"Then, get a good rest tonight, and we'll start our operation tomorrow. Within seven days, we must ascertain the troop strength and defenses of the entire Youdu City."

"Um."

Feng Xingyu nodded.

We've finished discussing the important matters.

Just then, the waiter brought up the food.

Several exquisite dishes and a pot of warm wine were placed on the table.

The room was immediately filled with a fragrant aroma.

Four dishes and a soup, with both meat and vegetables, all delicious and visually appealing, far more refined than the meals at the prince's residence in the border city.

Mo Sangyu didn't stand on ceremony. She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite, her eyes lighting up slightly: "Hmm, this chef's skills are quite good."

Feng Xingyu sat down opposite her and ate with her.

He ate very politely, but his movements were not slow.

This is a habit formed over many years of guarding the frontier.

And today, I'm obviously hungry.

The two ate in silence, the only sound being the soft clinking of their bowls and chopsticks.

The atmosphere was a little subtle, not awkward, but it was the first time the two of them had sat at the same table to eat after knowing each other for so long.

After the meal, the waiter came in to clear away the dishes and brought in two large buckets of steaming hot bath water, along with clean towels and bath soap.

"Madam, the water is ready. Is there anything else you require?"

These services are included in the room rate; if you need anything else, you'll have to pay extra.

Mo Sangyu certainly doesn't need that.

"No need, you can go out."

The waiter withdrew and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.

Mo Sangyu went behind the screen to test the water temperature, and it was just right.

She turned her head to look at Feng Xingyu, who was sitting upright in the outer room, and said, "I want to take a bath."

"Um."

Feng Xingyu turned his back, thought for a moment, then stood up again: "I'll stand guard at the door, you can wash without worry."

Hearing him get up, Mo Sangyu couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.

She took off her clothes and stepped into the bathtub.

The warm water enveloped my entire body, dispelling the fatigue of days of travel.

She sighed contentedly and slowly began to wash.

The sound of rushing water filled the air, and the rising steam carried a faint floral fragrance.

Feng Xingyu stood at the entrance, his posture ramrod straight. His face beneath the mask was expressionless, but the lines of his neck seemed tauter than usual.

His gaze was unfocused, staring at the patterns on the door panel, trying to distract himself from the sounds behind him.

Not long after, the sound of water stopped.

A slight rustling sound of fabric could be heard.

"Alright, come in."

Mo Sangyu's voice rang out, carrying the relief of someone who had just taken a bath.

Upon hearing this, Feng Xingyu turned and walked back into the house.

Mo Sangyu changed into a clean, plain-colored undergarment, her long hair still wet and hanging down her back, as she wiped herself with a cloth.

In the candlelight, her cheeks were flushed slightly by the steam, and her eyes and brows were less sharp than usual, with a touch more gentle and languid.

"You should go wash up too, two buckets of water."

She pointed behind the screen: "Don't worry, I won't peek."

Feng Xingyu: "...No need."

"Whatever you say."

Mo Sangyu didn't insist. She dried her hair and went to the large bed in the inner room.

"I'm going to sleep. Do as you please, but it's agreed that you'll sleep on the outer couch and you're not allowed to come in without permission."

"Mm," Feng Xingyu replied.

Mo Sangyu lowered the bed curtains and lay down in the soft bedding.

I have to say, this room, which costs fifty taels a night, is perfect except for being expensive.

With Feng Xingyu by his side, Mo Sangyu could sleep soundly and quickly fell into a deep sleep after lying down.

In the outer room, Feng Xingyu lay down on the soft couch in her kimono, listening to the even and gentle breathing in the inner room, and gradually closed her eyes.

However, in the middle of the night, the two were awakened almost simultaneously by noises coming from the next room.

At first, it was just suppressed teasing and ambiguous whispers.

But gradually, it turned into the rhythmic creaking and shaking of the bed, mixed with the woman's seductive panting and the man's heavy growls, which sounded particularly clear and jarring in the quiet night.

The soundproofing of this restaurant is clearly not as good as it looks.

Mo Sangyu turned over restlessly in the bed curtains and covered her head with the blanket.

On the soft couch in the outer room, Feng Xingyu was completely stiff.

His hearing was extremely sharp; the sounds seemed to be playing right next to him, and he could clearly hear every detail.

He sat up abruptly, his breathing unsteady, and a flash of annoyance in his eyes.

In the darkness, the two were separated by a curtain, yet there was still a slight awkwardness between them.

The problem is that the commotion went on and on for almost an hour, and showed no signs of stopping.

Mo Sangyu could no longer bear it. She got up from the bed and walked to the door, about to open it, when Feng Xingyu grabbed her waist and pulled her back, directly into his arms.

She turned her head and her red lips touched his chin.

"you……"

"Shhh."

Feng Xingyu held her, his thin lips almost touching her ear, his voice extremely low and husky: "Don't move, there are people outside."

anyone?

She was so distracted by the noise from next door that she didn't notice anything unusual in the hallway outside.

Mo Sangyu was held in his arms, her nose filled with his fresh and pleasant scent.

"He's a ninth-rank expert, and his killing intent is intense."

Feng Xingyu's breath brushed against her ear, burning hot: "I guess it's probably going to the neighbor's."

As he spoke, his arms held Mo Sangyu tightly in his embrace like iron hoops, their bodies pressed close together, almost able to feel each other's rapid heartbeats.

Mo Sangyu looked up from his arms and silently said, "Let me go."

They're strangling me.

However, it's unclear whether he didn't see it or saw it but chose not to pay attention.

His body temperature was so high that it made her breathing uneven.

At that moment, all the sounds from next door vanished as if cut off by a sharp blade.

There were no screams, no fighting.

There were only extremely faint, muffled sounds of a sharp weapon slicing through the air and cutting into flesh, and two dull thuds as the person fell to the ground.

It was swift and decisive, as simple as crushing two ants.

So, this ninth-rank expert came specifically to catch adulterers in the middle of the night?

In the corridor, the chilling aura emanating from that person did not immediately dissipate. Instead, it lingered for an extremely brief moment at the door of their top-tier room, almost imperceptibly.

It's like an unconscious glance.

Mo Sangyu, nestled in Feng Xingyu's arms, didn't even flinch, her breath almost completely concealed.

Only after the person had gone far away and there was no further abnormality outside did Feng Xingyu slowly release Mo Sangyu.

"It's alright, it wasn't aimed at us."

"I know."

The atmosphere seemed even more awkward than before.

What Feng Xingyu just did was clearly...

Men are in their prime, it's normal for them to be like that.

However, it's best not to provoke him at this point, lest you get burned instead...

Mo Sangyu thought back to the last time she drank too much, and for some reason, her mouth was faster than her brain, and she blurted out the question.

"Feng Xingyu, did something actually happen between us last time...?"

I only realized what was happening when there were just two words left, and I stopped in time.

"What's wrong?"

In the darkness, Feng Xingyu suddenly became somewhat forceful. He took a step closer and lowered his voice, "Does Madam not want to admit it?"

"But I...have absolutely no recollection of it. I'm really at a disadvantage."

"That's easy."

Feng Xingyu took another half step forward, making the distance between them dangerous.

His burning heat enveloped Mo Sangyu once again. He looked down at her, his hoarse voice gently brushing against her eardrums: "Now, I can help you... recall it again."

Every word felt like it carried a spark, landing on her taut nerves.

That's not what I meant.

Mo Sangyu could feel the rise and fall of his chest and the burning gaze upon her.

She didn't back down; instead, she slightly raised her chin, meeting his gaze in the darkness.

"Feng Xingyu."

Her voice was soft, revealing no emotion: "I've always thought you were a gentleman. I may not be able to beat you now, but if you take advantage of me, I won't let you off the hook."

"A gentleman?"

Feng Xingyu suddenly chuckled softly: "Then it seems that Madam has a rather deep misunderstanding of me. I think I should explain it in time."

As he spoke, his fingers had already gently rested on her waist without her noticing, and the heat was clearly felt through her thin undergarment.

It didn't require much effort, yet it carried an undeniable presence.

Mo Sangyu's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained calm.

She even raised her hand and gently touched his chest with her fingers; through the fabric, she could still feel his accelerated heartbeat.

"Feng, Xiao Qi."

She mimicked his tone and said slowly, "Don't forget, you are my slave now. I command you to step back and go back to sleep."