Chapter 105: The Bathing Maiden Comes for a Night Visit

Xu Ping’an sat silently in the chair, speechless.

Behind him was a large wooden tub steaming hot, still emitting wisps of vapor.

In front of him stood the Shunnan King’s Heir, Li Yuer, dressed in men’s clothing, her face faintly flushed, eyes darting nervously.

“I’m telling you, Miss Li, even though I know this is your home, can you at least treat a plain little doctor like me like a person? Knock on the door first, say something—can you do that?”

“Um……”

Li Yuer lowered her head, her neck tucked in like a quail’s, her pretty face slightly red.

They’d known each other for over a month now, yet this was the first time she’d seen Xu Ping’an’s strong back.

At least until now, Li Yuer had always thought Xu Ping’an was a weak scholar with no strength at all.

She never imagined that beneath that loose white robe was such a well-built body.

For a moment, she just couldn’t shake the image from her mind.

“Alright, alright… speak already. If you came in such a hurry, you must have something on your mind.”

What else could he do in this situation?

He couldn’t exactly kick her out.

Better to get to the point, help Li Yuer figure out the problem, and then quickly take a bath.

The journey had been exhausting. Traveling in this era was far worse than in his previous life.

Most of the roads were just dirt paths, and after a few sunny days, the horse-drawn carriage kicked up clouds of dust.

Besides, one couldn’t expect to bathe every day while on the road.

When ancient people hosted guests, the first thing was always to let the guest wash up in the guest room, followed by a welcoming feast to wash away the dust.

In short, it was about cleansing the travel grime and then having a good meal to make up for the hardships of the journey.

Even though he had sat inside the carriage, barely showing his head, the swirling dust had infiltrated every corner, leaving a fine layer of sand everywhere inside the cabin.

In these last few days, the hurried pace left him almost no time to wash.

After so long, his body was nearly covered in black dirt.

The moment he entered the house, he asked for nothing else but a hot bath to cleanse the dust off.

Who would have thought that Li Yuer would suddenly barge in without knocking, not treating him like an outsider at all.

Seeing is seeing.

Did she even ask if he wanted her to look? Obviously, she was just coveting his body!

Xu Ping’an could even feel the aggressive gaze of the young lady.

He shivered all over and instinctively squeezed his legs together.

It was hard to imagine—if this girl were a man, wouldn’t he already have a harem by now?

Lost in thought, Xu Ping’an was suddenly snapped back.

What was wrong with this girl?

Why wasn’t she responding?

“Shunnan King’s Heir… Heir? Ahem~ Yuer!”

“Ah?! Ah! S-sir, Yuer was rude! You… you go ahead and wash first, after you’re done we can talk.”

Good heavens, the intentions behind those words were as clear as day to the man sitting opposite her.

You’re shamelessly taking everything for yourself!

You get undressed while I just sit and watch?

Xu Ping’an’s mouth twitched.

“Well… when you bathe, would you like some snacks or a bit of wine? Isn’t there an old saying that beauty is a feast for the eyes?”

Li Yuer, seemingly stunned by what had just happened, was snapped out of it by Xu Ping’an’s teasing tone.

Her eyes nearly squeezed out tears as she stared fixedly at the collar of his robe, as if she couldn’t wait even a second to strip him naked.

“That’s actually a delightful thought~”

The next second, Li Yuer froze.

Her face flushed from pink to red, then to black, then turned white.

Then… her entire body heated up with embarrassment.

“F-fir… sir, p-please… enjoy your bath first!”

Seemingly realizing the wolfish words that had just slipped out of her cherry lips, she was too embarrassed to explain anything and just gave a few hurried replies before turning and running out.

With a loud “bang,” the door shut firmly.

Watching the trembling wooden door, Xu Ping’an sighed.

“What a mess~”

Rubbing the tightness between his furrowed brows, he sighed helplessly and walked to the door, casually locking it.

He didn’t want a repeat of that little show.

This time, it had almost flustered Li Yuer; next time, she might just have a group of people hold him down and do something worse.

Stripping off his clothes, Xu Ping’an stepped into the wooden tub.

The servants sure knew how to make it comfortable—the tub was filled with hot water and colorful flower petals.

The faint floral scent wafted around the tub, helping him relax considerably.

“Ah… comfortable~”

Feeling the warm water flowing over his shoulders, the fatigue of the journey seemed to dissolve.

Gazing up at the unfamiliar ceiling beams, his thoughts involuntarily drifted to the beams of his own home.

And to the woman who should be by his side.

“Qingxuan… When we meet again, how will you treat me?”

If she said nothing and just drew her sword to strike, then there would be no further dealings between them.

He could compensate her and walk away.

What could he possibly give?

Right now, the only thing Xu Ping’an thought he could offer Pei Qingxuan was the Nine-turn Golden Pill.

Other treasures, like the Zhoutian Divine Needles or the Chaotic Lotus Seed, wouldn’t help her—not until she reached the level capable of using such treasures.

Even if she received them, they’d be useless.

Better the Nine-turn Golden Pill, which might directly help her ascend the path to the Dao, to Feathered Immortal Ascension.

As for offering his own life—well, he wasn’t planning to die anytime soon.

He casually opened the medicine box beside him and took out a compass.

At this moment, the needle pointed resolutely north.

Looking toward the destination, it was exactly the Flowing Cloud Sect nestled in the Thousand Island Mountain Range of Yuan Prefecture.

The very sect he had once wished to apprentice under, only to have that hope crushed by the saying, “Rotten wood cannot be carved.”

“Who would have thought, just picking up a random girl, only to find out she’s the Flowing Cloud Sect Master’s daughter, and then I couldn’t resist acting like a beast… yet somehow I felt deeply satisfied. I really am wicked to a certain extent.”

Leaning his back against the wooden tub, Xu Ping’an soaked calmly.

Just as sleepiness was starting to take hold, a voice came from outside the door.

“Sir, have you finished washing up?”

Li Yuer? She hadn’t left?

“Wait a moment.”

Judging by her determination, she wouldn’t give up until she got in.

He quickly dried the water off, changed into the cloth clothes the servants had brought earlier, finished dressing, and wrapped his wet hair in a towel before going to the door.

The moment he opened it and saw Li Yuer’s slightly disappointed eyes, he couldn’t help but give her a sharp glare.

This girl—ever since returning home, she seemed to have completely let go of her restraint. How come no one had known she was this forward before?

“Sir, is now… convenient?”

If he said no, would the Li family’s young lady really not come in?

“It’s convenient. Come in and speak.”

Xu Ping’an knew the doorway wasn’t a place for conversation, so he invited her inside.

Once Li Yuer entered the room, her eyes immediately fell on the wooden tub behind the screen.

Xu Ping’an sat at the table, letting his long hair down and drying it with the towel.

“What’s the matter? You’re so eager to see me.”

Finally snapping to business, Li Yuer picked up the conversation.

“Sir, I beg you……”

“Saving the Emperor, right?”