Chapter 31: Fists Clenched

“You and my master… are you hiding something from me?”

Entering the secret room, there was another short corridor serving as a buffer. A few steps ahead was another door—that seemed to be the real secret chamber.

Zhu Yuexi followed behind, squinting slightly as she looked at Xu Sheng with suspicion.

Xu Sheng turned his head, his expression equally puzzled.

Had Zhu Yuexi become perceptive?

Or was it that Mo Ruxue’s behavior had been far too obvious?

Xu Sheng glanced at Zhu Yuexi again, then shook his head, dismissing the first possibility.

It seemed to be the latter.

Right. Although Mo Ruxue had extensive life experience, she truly hadn’t experienced matters of the heart. It was normal for her to be somewhat obvious in certain areas.

Right now, outside, she might even be getting subtly needled by Li Qingqing.

Although Zhu Yuexi also hadn’t experienced it… she was from a different era, after all. At the very least, she knew more.

Staring at Xu Sheng’s expression, Zhu Yuexi tried to find a crack, but she actually read a trace of disdain in his face.

What did that mean?

Realizing the meaning behind Xu Sheng’s expression, Zhu Yuexi instantly felt a surge of anger.

But at that moment, Xu Sheng had already pushed open the door at the end of the corridor.

Just from the outside, this corridor had the style of a dungeon or prison. Zhu Yuexi initially thought it was just that the corridor of the secret room hadn’t been maintained by anyone Xu Sheng assigned.

But when she saw the true interior clearly, she realized it was deliberately designed.

What kind of secret room was this…

A small bed with white sheets… some unknown iron bars… and some facilities Zhu Yuexi couldn’t understand.

Wasn’t this just a dungeon, or rather, a prison?

The anger Zhu Yuexi felt just moments ago vanished, replaced by a kind of fear. She subconsciously took two steps back.

But Xu Sheng had already grabbed her wrist.

“Where does the Immortal Maiden Zhu think she’s running off to? The treatment is starting.”

At the same time, he inwardly criticized Zhu Yuexi for not recognizing quality.

In his previous life in the modern era, hotels with this kind of decor weren’t cheap. And now you’re looking down on it?

Zhu Yuexi shook her head.

“I don’t need any treatment. I’m not sick at all.”

“Then you can go ahead and tell your master right now. You can also tell her exactly what I’ve been using to threaten you, and how I treated you last night.”

Hearing these words, Zhu Yuexi felt a block in her heart, and a flame of anger rose within her again. She glared at Xu Sheng fiercely.

Even Xu Sheng was a bit stunned.

Facing Zhu Yuexi’s gaze, he didn’t hesitate to raise his hand.

Smack!

Zhu Yuexi touched her face in disbelief.

For a cultivator, this wasn’t painful, but it was a genuine humiliation.

“You… you actually dared to hit me.”

There was no helping it. Zhu Yuexi was the type who wouldn’t remember kindness or punishment. For this kind of situation, directly hitting her was more effective.

And why do you look so resentful after I hit you? Remember, I hit your master yesterday too.

He somewhat headache-rubbingly pressed his forehead.

“I hit you to make you sober up, not to make you act even crazier. When you’re like this, I just find you noisy.”

As he spoke, a trace of disgust actually surfaced in Xu Sheng’s eyes.

Zhu Yuexi was stunned. The agitation she felt just moments ago suddenly quieted. She looked at Xu Sheng, somewhat shocked.

Xu Sheng’s expression contained a sliver of genuine feeling, but more of it was acting.

Sure enough, when dealing with a woman like Zhu Yuexi, you couldn’t keep giving her a good face for long.

He sighed, then his expression turned calm.

“Alright, come in first.”

…

Zhu Yuexi sat on the edge of the bed, her head lowered as if she didn’t dare look directly at Xu Sheng.

This time it wasn’t shyness, but because of the look Xu Sheng had given her earlier.

Xu Sheng actually looked at me with that kind of expression?

He hates me.

Yes, that’s right… after all, I hate him too…

No, wait, that’s not right either. I can hate him, but what right does he have to hate me?

Everything he’s done to me makes me wish I could tear him to pieces, and he actually dares to look at me with that kind of expression.

Thinking this, the blockage in Zhu Yuexi’s heart grew heavier. She felt an oppressive, stifling anger in her chest that was hard to dispel.

At that moment, Xu Sheng had somehow procured a basin of water. He placed the basin by the bedside and squatted down beside Zhu Yuexi.

His expression looked as if nothing had just happened.

Zhu Yuexi was about to question Xu Sheng, but then thought he would probably take the chance to mock her several times, so she swallowed her words.

If Xu Sheng knew what Zhu Yuexi was thinking, he’d probably consider this her smartest moment yet.

“What is this for?”

Zhu Yuexi composed herself and asked.

Xu Sheng was somewhat surprised that Zhu Yuexi was speaking properly.

It seemed not giving her a good face was the right approach.

But after hitting her with a stick, you have to give a date. Even if the effect on Zhu Yuexi was minimal, it still had to be done.

“Soaking your feet.”

Xu Sheng said with a calm face.

“Soaking my feet?” Zhu Yuexi looked at Xu Sheng with disbelief.

You lied to my master, specifically brought me to this secret room, just to have me soak my feet?

Probably connecting it to something, Zhu Yuexi’s expression turned into one of deep meaning.

Xu Sheng curled his lip.

“The seal I placed on you, even a Ninth Realm cultivator who saw it would think it’s an ancient, strange poison. Although I can undo the seal, that doesn’t mean your body won’t suffer damage during the sealing period. This basin of water can alleviate it. Understand now?”

“…Tch.” Zhu Yuexi’s expression became very bored.

“If you’re going to stop speaking properly again, I don’t mind giving you another slap to cool you down.”

After throwing out that sentence, Xu Sheng stood up again, crossing his arms as he waited beside Zhu Yuexi.

Hearing this, Zhu Yuexi subconsciously wanted to roll her eyes, but the sensation of being slapped earlier flooded back into her mind. It wasn’t painful, but it was indeed humiliating.

So, rolling her eyes inwardly, Zhu Yuexi bent down to take off her shoes and socks.

She then looked at Xu Sheng somewhat warily.

Xu Sheng was puzzled.

“You… turn around.”

Xu Sheng laughed in exasperation.

“What part of you haven’t I seen? Do I need to avoid you for washing your feet?”

Zhu Yuexi subconsciously wanted to lose her temper, but looking at Xu Sheng’s face—which had turned expressionless again after his laugh—she finally shrank her head.

As if thinking of something, a hint of a mischievous smile appeared on Zhu Yuexi’s face.

“Since Valley Lord Xu wants to watch, then I’ll let you watch.”

Saying this, Zhu Yuexi took off the shoes and socks from both feet. Her small feet, white with a hint of pink, lifted up, the soles facing Xu Sheng as if deliberately on display.

Although it was intentional, Zhu Yuexi couldn’t help but feel some shame.

But as long as she hid the shame well…

Sure enough, seeing this, Xu Sheng’s expression became somewhat strange, and his eyes dodged for an instant.

“Oh my, oh my, oh my!” Zhu Yuexi exclaimed as if she’d discovered a new continent, pointing at Xu Sheng.

“If you really disliked it, or really didn’t care, why did your eyes dodge? Hahahaha…”

“…”

Clenched.

His fists were clenched.

…