The shadow and the toxin, both of the same attribute, fused perfectly under Ling Xiao’s flawless control of energy. To his astonishment, the Shadow Cone underwent a brand-new transformation.
“Poison Shadow Cone. That shall be your name from now on. This is truly an even greater unexpected reward. Who would have thought saving a life could bring such benefits?”
Ling Xiao gazed at the far more powerful technique in his hand, smiled faintly, and naturally felt in high spirits.
He was just about to consolidate his current cultivation gains when a rustling sound suddenly came from the roof.
“Since you’re here, come in. It wouldn’t be good if you broke the tiles.”
Ling Xiao looked up towards the roof and spoke calmly.
At the same time, he waved his hand, and the door swung open.
“Hee hee, Young Hero Ling is indeed impressive. You noticed me even like this.”
Before the person arrived, a silvery, bell-like laugh reached him first.
A moment later, a woman stepped through the doorway. Her slightly wild attire, combined with a pair of eyes brimming with spirited energy, made it clear at a glance that she was no ordinary person.
“May I ask the beautiful lady’s name, and why she has come looking for me after dark?”
Ling Xiao genuinely did not recognise the visitor.
“Hua Lüyin.”
The newcomer looked at Ling Xiao with a broad smile. Although she was wrapped up quite modestly, her lower half wore tight leather trousers, and her upper garments perfectly outlined her enchanting, seductive figure.
This woman clearly knew exactly how to display her wild beauty.
“A tempting little wildcat!”
That was Ling Xiao’s evaluation of the woman before him.
Although Hua Lüyin’s beauty fell short of Yue Nü, and even of Leng Mei, she possessed a unique flavour all her own.
Women like her could easily ignite a powerful desire for conquest in a man.
Ling Xiao did not know Hua Lüyin, had no idea what she did, and was even less clear why she had come looking for him so late at night.
Yet he sensed no hostility from her.
Otherwise, he would not have minded testing his newly strengthened Poison Shadow Cone on her.
“Hua Lüyin? Never heard the name.”
Ling Xiao shook his head.
“That’s fine. First time strangers, second time friends. I am the second-in-command of the Twin Flowers Pirate Crew. May I sit and talk?”
Hua Lüyin asked with a smile.
“Please, take a seat.”
Ling Xiao gestured invitingly.
Hua Lüyin casually found a spot to sit, then stared at Ling Xiao’s broad, masculine chest and let out a dazed, appreciative giggle.
“Commander Hua, you still haven’t told me why you’ve come.”
Ling Xiao flicked his wrist, instantly donning an outer robe that covered his powerful muscles, then asked in an even tone.
He knew that women who lived as pirates were formidable. Unlike conventional ladies, they really would snatch any man they fancied and take him aboard for their pleasure, just as male pirates did with women.
“You make it sound so formal. Can’t we just get close even if there’s no business?”
Hua Lüyin rolled her eyes at him, yet the gesture carried a thousand charms and ten thousand graces. Anyone would find it hard to believe she wasn’t deliberately trying to seduce him.
“Get close?”
Ling Xiao smiled. “Commander Hua, you mustn’t speak so carelessly. My woman lives right next door. If she hears you talking like that, I fear she won’t let you off lightly.”
The words sounded simple, but they carried a clear undertone of warning.
Hua Lüyin had witnessed Leng Mei’s strength. Even a Cave-Heaven realm warrior like Man Tian had been effortlessly defeated by her.
H
Hua Lüyin could not compare to Man Tian, so she naturally stood no chance against Leng Mei.
“Young Hero Ling, really! As if I were going to eat you alive. I did come to get close this time, but not in the way you think.”
Hua Lüyin suddenly stood up and threw him a flirtatious wink.
In that instant, Ling Xiao felt something invade his spirit sea. Then, to his shock, the Hua Lüyin standing before him began performing an utterly shameful, bewitching dance.
Every movement seemed designed to hook his very soul, drawing him in until he could not free himself.
The entire room filled with an amorous atmosphere. Everything appeared to turn peach-pink.
Ling Xiao felt a fire igniting inside him, his lower abdomen swelling painfully.
At that moment, he was seized by an impulse to stride over, pin Hua Lüyin to the floor, and ravish her for three hundred rounds.
In the haze, he could hear his own ragged breathing and felt beads of sweat forming on his skin.
Then Hua Lüyin drew near with that supremely seductive dance, gently blew into his ear, and let out an enchanting, demonic moan.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye.
Ling Xiao’s Tai Chi Eyes snapped open. An overwhelming surge of soul force burst forth, flooding the room like the underworld’s Styx.
Every trace of the amorous illusion instantly vanished.
Only Hua Lüyin remained seated there, frozen in a strange pose, eyes unfocused, cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, moaning softly in a shameful, involuntary manner.
Backlash!
Ling Xiao smiled.
He understood in an instant what had just happened.
This Hua Lüyin had somehow learned a powerful charm technique, similar to the one Ling Yu of the Ling family had once cultivated, only far stronger.
She had tried to use it to strip him of his self-control and trap him in an illusion.
She had not expected Ling Xiao’s soul force to be so formidable. Not only did it shatter the charm, it caused the technique to rebound, leaving Hua Lüyin ensnared by her own spell.
With that thought, Ling Xiao stepped outside, fetched a bucket of ice-cold water, and poured it straight over her head.
The freezing shock instantly snapped Hua Lüyin back to her senses. Her pretty face turned as red as a ripe apple.
“Commander Hua actually tried to use charm arts on me. Have we some grudge I’m unaware of?”
Ling Xiao asked with a smile.
Though the sight of a drenched Hua Lüyin was undeniably tempting, the moment he recalled Yue Nü’s icy gaze, he immediately calmed down.
“Why would Young Hero Ling say that? Don’t you understand? I simply like you.”
Hua Lüyin declared boldly and directly.
“You like me, so you use this kind of method against me?”
Ling Xiao’s face grew cold.
“That’s just how we children of the open sea are. To claim a man or a woman, there’s no time for sweet talk and romance. No one knows if they’ll still be alive tomorrow. The ocean is full of dangers, ten times more terrifying than the land.”
Having had her charm broken, Hua Lüyin decided to throw caution to the wind and speak plainly.
“But the thing I, Ling Xiao, hate most is being forced. Did you know that?”
Truthfully, Ling Xiao had felt a flash of anger earlier, but after hearing her explanation, the anger faded, replaced only by a sense of absurdity.
“If I didn’t use force, you probably wouldn’t spare me a second glance.”
Hua Lüyin sighed.
This woman really was honest, and bold enough to try forcing herself on a man.
