Half an hour later.
Yun Mengli's breathing gradually evened out as she drifted off to sleep.
Yet Tang Dou could not sleep at all!
He opened his eyes and quietly looked at Yun Mengli.
In the moonlight, her hair was slightly disheveled, and her cheeks were flushed, making her look all the more enchanting and stunning.
The night grew deeper, and all was dead silent.
Finally, he mustered up his courage and gently slid his hand inside Yun Mengli's collar.
A faint rustling sound echoed through the room.
It was the friction of clothing, followed immediately by rapid breathing and soft murmurs.
...
In the blink of an eye, the night was over.
Tang Dou opened his eyes, and his old face instantly flushed red.
Yun Mengli was snuggled up right beside him in an extremely intimate posture, a meaningful smile hanging at the corners of her lips.
He was startled!
He quickly closed his eyes again, pretending to still be fast asleep.
Yun Mengli was amused to the point of exasperation.
She gently pushed Tang Dou's shoulder and teased with a seductive smile, "Hmph! Little rascal, still playing dead, are you? I saw the whole thing."
"You were fierce as a wolf last night, and now you're playing the innocent little white rabbit for me!"
Hearing this, Tang Dou opened his eyes and said with a trembling voice, "Senior Sister, I was afraid you'd be angry, so last night I didn't get your permission before..."
Yun Mengli gently stroked his cheek. "Alright, you little jerk, we were bound to end up together sooner or later anyway, it doesn't matter!"
Tang Dou pulled her into his arms and said affectionately, "Senior Sister, I will definitely not let you down."
"Hate you, still calling me Senior Sister? From now on, it's just the two of us, you can just call me Mengli."
"Mm!"
Tang Dou smiled and nodded, gently playing with her hair.
Yun Mengli half-closed her eyes, seeming to still linger on the border between dream and reality, languid and charming.
The sunlight outside the window grew brighter as they prepared to get up.
Suddenly, Yun Mengli clutched the blanket tightly around herself, a look of sheer bewilderment on her face.
"Um..."
"Little jerk, where did you throw my little panties last night? How come I can't find them?"
Tang Dou gave a wicked smile and started searching the room.
Before long—
He picked up the clothing discarded in a corner and handed it to Yun Mengli.
"Hehe!"
"Senior Sister, you like little raccoons!"
Yun Mengli took the clothing, her cheeks burning red as she glared at Tang Dou with her lovely eyes.
"Hmph! Is there a problem?"
She turned away in feigned anger and began straightening her clothes and hair.
Tang Dou stood to the side, silently watching Yun Mengli's back.
Suddenly—
He spoke up.
"Mengli, I think I'll stay here and cultivate with you today."
Yun Mengli was slightly taken aback, then nodded and chuckled playfully.
"Alright, but..."
"You have to help me tidy up the room first."
And so, the two of them set to work.
Tang Dou chatted idly with Yun Mengli while cleaning the room.
"Mengli, look, your forehead is all sweaty. Come on, stop for a moment and take a break, I'll handle these chores!"
"Oh my! These are just trivial little matters, why would I ever need you to do them?"
"Mengli, you look so pretty when you smile!"
"Hmph! You little jerk, since you like looking so much, then you can look your fill!"
"Hehe! Of course I like it! I could look at you for a lifetime!"
Time slipped quietly away amidst laughter and chatter, and in the blink of an eye, late night arrived.
The two of them sat nestled together on the bed.
Suddenly, Yun Mengli frowned and chided playfully, "Little jerk, what are you doing?"
"......???"
"It's so late! Hurry up and cultivate, you big dummy, do I have to remind you?!"
Tang Dou didn't catch on for a second and stammered, "C-Cultivate...?"
"Cultivate? Mengli, why do we need to cultivate at night?"
Yun Mengli was so exasperated she wanted to kick him right off the bed.
"Are you an idiot?"
"Cultivate with me, of course! You don't even know that?"
Tang Dou scratched his head in a panic.
"Uh..."
"Mengli, I... I'm just slow!"
Yun Mengli rolled her eyes at him and had no choice but to whisper a few words into his ear.
"......"
Tang Dou was enlightened in an instant.
Then, Yun Mengli's lips curved upward as she raised her delicate hand and knocked Tang Dou flat onto the bed with a single sweep.
"Little jerk, today I'll let you see what I'm made of!"
"Hehe, Mengli, bring it on!"
"Hmph, taste my... scissor legs!"
"Hiss... Mengli, go easy, you're squeezing too tight, my neck is going to snap!"
Yun Mengli ignored his pleas and stepped up her offensive.
"Haha! Now taste my..."
"Thousand-jin descent!"
Tang Dou stiffened his neck and gritted his teeth to endure.
"......"
The night passed in the blink of an eye.
The next day, Yun Mengli headed out early.
Tang Dou went to Tianshu Hall, where he patiently browsed through the mission scrolls on the jade desk in the center of the grand hall.
"Rescue Villagers Mission."
"Villagers have recently been disappearing at night in nearby Wanggu Village."
"Mission: Go and investigate the situation."
After accepting the mission, Tang Dou headed straight for Wanggu Village.
In the village—
Several villagers were sitting around the big tree at the village entrance, chatting idly.
Tang Dou walked closer.
An old man was saying in a mysterious tone, "Sigh, have you all heard? Something strange has been happening in the village lately."
Tang Dou curiously chimed in, "Oh? What kind of strange thing?"
The old man turned to look at Tang Dou.
There was a hint of guardedness in his eyes. After pondering for two seconds, he slowly spoke.
"Lately..."
"Every night, a mysterious woman wanders around the village."
"Ever since she appeared, villagers have frequently been disappearing at night."
Another middle-aged woman added, "Yeah, whenever those villagers come back, they've all become completely dazed and foolish. It's so pitiful!"
Tang Dou continued to ask, "Then have any of you seen where she comes from or where she goes?"
The villagers all shook their heads.
Tang Dou's heart was filled with doubts.
After thanking the villagers, he turned and left.
Nighttime—
Wanggu Village was shrouded in a layer of moonlight, looking peaceful and serene.
Tang Dou concealed himself within a thicket of bushes.
Sheltered by the cover of night, he carefully observed the movements in the village.
Time slowly passed...
The lights in the village gradually went out, leaving only a scattering of dark silhouettes.
Suddenly—
A ghostly figure caught Tang Dou's eye.
It was a woman.
She wore tight-fitting night attire, with a black veil covering her face, leaving only a pair of cold, piercing eyes exposed.
Her figure was graceful, and her movements were light and silent.
She was like a gust of night wind sweeping past!!
Tang Dou stared intently at the woman.
He watched as her figure shifted slightly, lightly bypassing several houses.
She approached a room deep within the village.
The woman arrived at the door, stopped in her tracks, and listened intently for a moment.
Confirming there was no movement inside, she slowly raised her right hand and gently rested it on the door latch.
*Click.*
The latch was quietly pushed open.
The woman lifted her delicate foot and slipped silently into the house.
Seeing this, Tang Dou tip-toed over to the room's window and peered inside.
The room was dim—
Only a faint sliver of moonlight spilled through the window onto the floor.
A middle-aged man lay on the bed, his breathing steady and deep.
The woman walked lightly to the bedside, her gaze fixed on the man's face.
She slowly raised her right hand.
Her fingertips flickered with a faint red glow as she gently touched the man's forehead.
Instantly—
The man's breathing grew rapid.
Fine beads of sweat began to seep out on his forehead, and his body tossed and turned restlessly in his sleep!
Seeing this, the woman slowly removed her veil, revealing a breathtakingly pure and refined visage.
She raised her slender, delicate hand and slowly shed her night attire.
Her movements were light and elegant.
As her clothes slipped away, her exquisite figure was revealed in hazy outline...