Volume One: A Carefree Journey Beneath Leaves Hard to Tell Apart, Chapter Ninety-Four: Hazy Rain and Crabapple Blossoms

Yan Ning was about to use the Cold Edge to chip a hole in the stone wall when he heard Gu Qinghan say, “Ning’er, I don’t have the strength in my hands. I can’t tie it... I can’t tie it...” Her voice was soft and feeble, faintly tender.

Yan Ning put away the Cold Edge and said softly, “I’ll help you.” Guided by instinct, he moved closer to Gu Qinghan. By then his eyes had begun to adjust slightly to the darkness inside the storeroom. Though everything was still blurred, he could make out the outline of Gu Qinghan’s figure. Seeing that she had already sat up, he reached out to take what was in her hands, then went behind her and helped cover her mouth and nose.

The two were extremely close. Though he had covered his own mouth and nose, Yan Ning still felt a fragrance like begonia blossoms drifting at the tip of his nose. More than that, Gu Qinghan’s own body scent was also spreading at this moment. The two scents mingled and seeped into Yan Ning’s nostrils, so pleasant that he almost wanted to breathe them in deeply.

Yet he knew full well that this begonia fragrance had appeared for no reason at all, and it must never be inhaled.

He helped Gu Qinghan cover her mouth and nose properly, and was just about to move toward the wall when he suddenly saw her body topple backward. Yan Ning caught her by reflex. The touch was tender and warm beyond words, and the fragrance from Gu Qinghan’s body grew even richer. Alarmed, he asked, “Third Aunt, what’s wrong?”

Held in Yan Ning’s arms, Gu Qinghan felt a strange sensation ripple through her entire body. Her face grew hot; she wanted to sit up, but her limbs had gone limp and she only wished to lie down. In a feeble voice she said, “Ning’er, you... you let me lie down. I’m a little tired. You... you let go of me first!”

Her voice was soft and sweet, almost carrying a trace of languid charm.

At that moment Yan Ning also felt his blood suddenly surge. With such gentle fragrance in his arms, his heart wavered, but he steadied himself in an instant, lowered Gu Qinghan gently, and drew back a little. “Third Aunt, wait a moment. We... we’ll be out soon.” He could vaguely see Gu Qinghan’s alluring, plump body lying on the ground. Taking up the Cold Edge again, he groped his way back toward the rear wall.

When he reached the wall, Yan Ning felt a wave of heat rise through his whole body. In desperation, he removed the outer garment, but it had no effect at all. The blood and vitality within him still seemed to be burning. Startled, he wondered whether the force stored in his dantian had somehow gone out of control.

Duan Canghai had warned him never again to absorb another person’s inner strength, and he naturally remembered it well. After that he had never had the chance to do so again, yet now his blood roiled strangely.

“Ning’er, what... what are you doing?” Gu Qinghan lay upon the ground, her slender body slightly twisting. Her voice was soft and syrupy. “I think... I think I’m sick. My whole body is burning...!”

Yan Ning was stunned, then suddenly thought of something.

He had assumed the heat in his body might be caused by the power in his dantian, but Gu Qinghan did not practice martial arts. If she, too, was now burning with fever, then the problem clearly was not the inner force. It was far more likely to be that inexplicable begonia scent.

When the enemy had kidnapped Gu Qinghan, they had already used a soporific incense. They were clearly experts in such methods, so this begonia fragrance must have been their doing.

“Ning’er, the floor is cold. You... you come help me.” Gu Qinghan’s voice grew increasingly soft and intoxicating. Yan Ning listened, and it sounded indescribably lovely and pleasing to the ear. By then a rush of heat had risen swiftly within his dantian, and in an instant his blood surged, desire flooding him like tidewater, impossible to restrain. Frightened, he thought: Could this begonia fragrance be an aphrodisiac incense?

Gu Qinghan murmured weakly, “Come over here quickly. You... you’re not listening to me anymore?”

Yan Ning knew that if he had fallen victim to an aphrodisiac incense, Gu Qinghan could not possibly escape it either. His own desire was surging like a tide; Gu Qinghan’s restraint might not be stronger than his. If they drew too close, one misstep would be disastrous. He did not worry about any accusation of impropriety between them. After all, he was pretending to be a young noble of the brocade-clad guard, and in truth had no real connection to Gu Qinghan. But if he were to do anything too far out of line at a time like this, he would be terribly failing her.

Moreover, since the enemy had released an aphrodisiac incense, their purpose must of course be to force the two of them to couple in the storeroom. Though he did not know why they would go to such lengths, he understood clearly that no matter what, he could not let them succeed.

“Ah...!” Suddenly Gu Qinghan gave a soft, breathy cry, as if she had struck something. Yan Ning asked anxiously, “Third Aunt, what... what happened to you?”

“Ning’er, my leg...!” Gu Qinghan said in a weak voice. “Come quickly. I... I’m going to die...!” From her tone, she seemed to be in utter distress.

Yan Ning drew a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Groping his way toward her, he asked, “Did you hit something?”

As he neared her side, he suddenly felt a tight grip on his hand. Gu Qinghan’s warm, smooth hand had already seized his wrist. Yan Ning’s whole body shuddered. Gu Qinghan said, “First... first help me up. I have no strength left. I can’t get up...!”

Now that he was close, he could clearly feel that Gu Qinghan’s breathing was much quicker than before.

Yan Ning was already burning with heat. He was just about to speak when Gu Qinghan pouted coquettishly. “Were you not listening to me just now? You... you’ve gotten bolder...” She lifted her hand and actually struck his face. Yet she was weak and aching all over, so the slap had no force at all, like a mere caress. Then her arm hooked around Yan Ning’s shoulder, and she said lazily, “You... you help me up.”

With soft jade in his arms, Yan Ning felt Gu Qinghan’s breath fine and rapid, her fragrance flooding his nose. His mind grew hot. “I... I’ll help you up...” He felt Gu Qinghan’s breath right before him. In the dimness, he could faintly see that her face was but two fingers’ breadth away, her scent like orchids. As if possessed, he leaned toward her.

Gu Qinghan hooked her arms around his neck, and even her delicate head leaned toward him. Her voice was like a dream: “Hold me. Only then... only then will it feel comfortable...”

Her soft, languid voice slipped into Yan Ning’s ears. He felt as though it were heavenly music. Though the darkness made her face indistinct, in his mind Gu Qinghan’s beautiful and seductive features had already emerged. Listening to her breathing, he would ordinarily have felt nothing, but now it seemed unbearably alluring. He drew closer, the fragrance becoming ever clearer, until he could almost feel the warmth and sweetness of her red lips. He leaned in to kiss her, and by then he had all but forgotten that both of them were still covering their faces with their garments.

“Ning’er, help me... tear it open for me... it’s so stuffy...” Gu Qinghan mumbled indistinctly. “I... I can’t breathe...!”

At those words, Yan Ning’s body jerked. Though his own body still burned with discomfort, he suddenly woke a little and immediately pushed Gu Qinghan away, retreating several steps until his back pressed against the wall.

His mind was in chaos, but amid the confusion he still retained a shred of clarity.

Gu Qinghan’s voice was faint and her manner seductive. Yan Ning knew that in ordinary circumstances, with her reserved and prudent character, she would never react like this. She had clearly been bewitched by that scent and had already lost herself.

“Why... why did you push me away?” Gu Qinghan still spoke as if in a dream. “Come over here quickly...!”

Yan Ning raised a hand and rubbed his face. His entire body was drenched in sweat. He thought bitterly that the enemy was indeed despicable, to use such a method. And the power of this aphrodisiac incense was truly formidable; even Gu Qinghan had lost her bearings in such a short time. He said in a low voice, “Third Aunt, think carefully. How many people are there in our marquis manor? How much monthly allowance does each person get every month?”

He only hoped she would think of something else and divert the desire surging in her at this moment.

He also did his best not to listen to Gu Qinghan’s enticing breath, instead thinking about why the other side would resort to such vile means. Clearly, they intended to use the aphrodisiac incense to make him and Gu Qinghan consummate themselves here in the storeroom. But why would they do this?

“Qi Ning, you are the young noble of the brocade-clad guard. If you want women, there are plenty you can have. But a woman like this is not one you can simply take because you wish it.” From outside the door came that low voice again. “We are giving you an opportunity. If you fail to grasp it well, you may never have such a chance again.”

Yan Ning was furious. He rose and strode to the door, shouting harshly, “Despicable scoundrels! Why are you doing this?”

“The Third Lady of the Qi household is stunning beyond measure. Look at that figure—full where it should be full, slender where it should be slender. A beauty found once in ten thousand miles,” the low voice said. “Such a treasure. If you miss the chance to enjoy her, you’ll have lived this life in vain. Young master, it’s better to do it sooner than later. The two of you, alone together in one room, with the effect of Misty Rain Begonia as well—you absolutely won’t be able to withstand it.”

“Misty Rain Begonia?” Yan Ning sneered. “You think a mere soporific incense like this can make me yield?”

“Perhaps we can’t make you yield, but can’t the Third Lady?” the voice replied. “Not to mention you’re a hot-blooded man—even a castrated eunuch, once he inhales Misty Rain Begonia, won’t be able to endure it. Rest assured, there’s no one else here. By all means enjoy your union inside. We’ll guard the door for you outside. You haven’t yet tasted the Third Lady’s flavor; once you do, you’ll surely thank us. By then, if we tell you to come out, I’m afraid you may not even want to.”

Cold Edge in hand, Yan Ning wished he could burst out the door at once.

“This is only the beginning. The longer it goes on, the stronger the drug’s effect becomes,” the voice said leisurely. “The young master may still be able to hold out for now, but in just a little while, even the gods and immortals in heaven will find it hard to control themselves. By then you’ll be like beasts, your reason gone, not even knowing what you are doing. As long as there is no coupling, the drug’s effects cannot be dispelled.” He gave a laugh. “I think the two of you should hurry and make use of the present moment. At least you’ll still be able to feel pleasure. Once you no longer even know what you’re doing, it will be hard to savor the Third Lady’s charms.”

Just as the man finished speaking, several barking dogs sounded from outside. Yan Ning frowned, thinking that these people had even brought hunting hounds.

“It’s so hot...!” Gu Qinghan’s soft, pained voice came from over there. “I want water...!” Yan Ning turned to look. He could vaguely see that Gu Qinghan had already found her way to the wall and sat up. Her hands seemed to be tearing at her own clothes. Alarmed, he knew the poison in her body had already gone deep.

Though Yan Ning still retained a thread of clarity, he now felt as if he were trapped inside a furnace. Heat roiled in his lower abdomen, and all he could think was that if he truly touched Gu Qinghan in this state, she would surely die afterward. He struggled with all his might to suppress his desires.

He dared not approach Gu Qinghan. Staggering, he ran to the rear wall, gripped the Cold Edge, and began gouging at the stone, all while taking great care not to let the sound carry outside.

The end.

Later tonight there will be another update. Please keep the votes and support coming!