TTCOTE Chapter 12

The people around were completely still as if even their breath had suddenly disappeared. Just a moment ago, Jing Hengbo was celebrating, thinking this guy was as motionless as a mountain. Perhaps his reactions were slow, but that remained to be seen. Suddenly, she felt the air around her choking, as if smoke had appeared. Glancing around, she noticed the wallpaper on the walls was peeling off, falling as if an invisible person was vigorously tearing at the walls. A grayish-blue dust filled the air, revealing the red bricks beneath.

 

Oh my, is he angrily tearing off the wallpaper?

This is way more impressive than going crazy and scratching the walls!

 

Jing Hengbo suddenly felt an itch all over her body.

 

She wanted to run, but she couldn’t. The air around her was suffocating, filled with invisible pressure. Above her head, it felt like a towering mountain, making it impossible for her to lift her head. She could only crouch there, staring at the finger being licked. The fingerprints remained unmoved, and the icy-colored nails looked crystal clear and round, yet somewhat stiff.

 

Was he shocked because of being teased and was now looking for something to wipe his hands with? Or was he brewing emotions, preparing to use that finger to deal with her?

 

Jing Hengbo bet on Ergou’s virginity; it was the latter.

 

Because he was covered in disdain, it was highly likely that he found even wiping his hands with her clothes beneath his status. Although his fingers hadn’t moved, a murderous intent suddenly surged through the room.

 

Jing Hengbo’s heart trembled.

 

The peeling of the wallpaper echoed!

 

The cracking of the floor sounded!

 

The vase suddenly shattered into pieces!

 

He had made up his mind! He lifted his hand!

 

The fingers, as cold as jade, slowly rose…

“Master, I was wrong…” Jing Hengbo sobbed, quickly pressing her face against his fingers, “Quick! Use my face to wipe it off!”

 

His fingers suddenly stiffened!

 

Don’t miss this opportunity!

 

Jing Hengbo immediately lowered her head and forcefully bumped forward!

 

“Bang.” The mirror flipped, and she crashed into a dark room, hitting her forehead hard. The pain made her gasp and almost cry out.

 

But now wasn’t the time to cry in pain. Jing Hengbo, still holding her head, struggled to get up while spitting out saliva.

 

Ugh, if it weren’t for distracting his attention to escape, she wouldn’t have licked! That guy looked clean, who knows if he washed his hands after the bathroom?

 

Jing Hengbo climbed to her feet, grateful that her plan was well-executed, allowing her to run fast. She thought, licking a bit lifts the spirits!

 

There seemed to be a lingering sensation on her face from the moment she pressed it against his fingers—slightly cool and jade-like. Her face stung a bit, ah, she went too hard when she shamelessly pressed against him.

 

No problem, revenge is a dish best served cold. Today, she used her face to wipe his fingers; next time, he can use his chest to wipe her toes.

Let’s see how it goes!

 

Struggling to get up, she didn’t hesitate and spun around.

 

“Go!”

 

“Swoosh!”

 

In an instant, the bustling Feng Laiqi brothel lobby fell silent.

 

The madam froze, the waiter spilled the teapot, and the customers who were being teased by the women twisted their mouths. The giggling girls suddenly turned into a collective “Huh?”

 

Everyone stared at the center of the hall.

 

By the Eight Immortals table in the middle, two people had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. One was dressed in white, sitting upright, and the other was nestled in the arms of the person in white, with the face buried, making it impossible to see. However, judging from the vivid and fiery clothing, it seemed…

 

The problem was, that there was no one at the Eight Immortals table just now. How did these two people appear?

 

…

 

Jing Hengbo felt like she was sitting on someone’s lap, and she couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

 

Bingo! Success!

 

When she entered the secret door, she had planned it out. The next step couldn’t be an instant move outside the building; otherwise, that elusive guy might catch her red-handed. So, she directly moved into the lobby downstairs, into the arms of some wealthy old man, burying her face. She didn’t believe that the guy who looked so noble, cold, and seemingly obsessive-compulsive would willingly lower himself to appear in the hall and inspect people one by one!

 

Even if he did that, this was DaYan, not some Dahuang. She appeared in front of the public, and there were undoubtedly officials and nobles who had come for entertainment. Would these people allow an unknown person to be taken away so easily?

 

Whichever way she looked at it, she stood undefeated. Haha!

As her heart settled, she naturally became aware of the embrace she was in. There was a faint fragrance at her nose, neither floral nor herbal, not the currently popular strong incense. It made her feel cold yet peaceful, like walking on a high mountain snow line, suddenly seeing a crystal-clear snow lotus in the vast whiteness.

 

But from a distance, admiration only, not to be desecrated…

 

It was a rare fragrance, truly intoxicating. Jing Hengbo took a deep breath, fingers pressing against the other person’s chest. She felt a soft firmness, with inherent elasticity, creating a unique sensation.

 

Jing Hengbo’s eyebrows danced with excitement. Based on her rich experience gleaned from various online forums and high-quality images, she could determine that the embrace she had moved into this time was definitely a top-notch beauty!

 

It seemed that good fortune could indeed arise from misfortune.

 

Inhaling deeply, she raised both hands and slowly embraced the neck of the other person. Jing Hengbo slowly raised her head, preparing to give the most dazzling appearance with the most graceful smile.

 

Blinded by beauty, she didn’t notice the eerie silence all around and the stiffness in this embrace.

 

Her gaze slowly moved upward.

 

Snow-white and exquisite outer garment.

 

When observed casually, every seam of the outer garment was adorned with almost invisible gold threads.

 

A tightly bound collar in the same color.

 

On the collar, there were large dragon-eye-sized… pearls in a pale golden color!

“Ah!” Jing Hengbo’s scream almost shattered the roof as she leaped up in an instant.

 

Entering a trap willingly, she realized the danger too late.

 

The person in white flicked his hand, catching Jing Hengbo by the collar and pulling her to the side, then pushing a silver note onto the table.

 

“Redemption.”

 

His voice was cold, like the collision of jade beads, sending shivers down the spine of everyone in the building.

 

The madam walked over in a daze, glancing at the large sum on the silver note, showing a hint of hesitation. She then looked at the person in white.

 

The face hidden beneath the white clothing showed no change. One finger pointed vaguely at Jing Hengbo’s shoulder. She blushed, her eyes widened like beads, looking like she had something to say but couldn’t. Any discerning person could tell she was being restrained.

 

With her eyes, Jing Hengbo tried to convey to the madam: Don’t agree! I’m the top performer in your place, a money-making tree! If you agree, there won’t be any show left for Feng Laiqi

 

The madam hesitated, raising an eyebrow suspiciously and saying, “It would be a joyous occasion if the gentleman wants to redeem Miss Hengbo. I would be pleased to witness it. However, redemption has to be consensual. Otherwise, if any untoward incident occurs after she leaves, it might be seen as a wrongdoing on the part of Feng Laiqi. Judging by Miss Hengbo’s current expression and attitude, it seems she is not very willing, isn’t it so?”

The person in white remained silent, extending his hand to summon a tall and thin man from the crowd, who seemed to appear out of nowhere. The man confidently stepped forward. The madam retreated warily, but the man performed a magic trick, producing a teapot and a teacup. He respectfully poured a cup of tea for the person in white.

 

The jade cup was intricately carved with two coiling dragons. Illuminated by the dim and enchanting light, the thin and translucent tea leaves stood upright, delicate, and verdant, with silver tips at the ends—top-grade silver needles. From the madam’s perspective, in the faint mist, it seemed like two small dragons were gracefully swimming in the azure water. Within the small space of the jade cup, there seemed to be a myriad of scenes.

 

Those who knew their stuff began to gasp—such a teacup, whether in terms of material or craftsmanship, could be considered a rare and precious item. Even if it were presented as a tribute, it would be appropriate. Who was this person?

 

In the next moment, the gasping individuals collectively exclaimed, “Ah.”

 

After finishing the tea, the person in white-handed the cup to his attendant, who took it and casually threw it away.

 

With a loud crash, what shattered wasn’t just an invaluable treasure, but also the hearts of many who had yearned and hoped. The entire hall echoed with sounds of regret. Everyone looked pale, stunned into silence, not daring to utter even the word “extravagant.”

 

Recklessness, when taken to a certain extent, exuded an imposing aura.

 

The experienced madam, though heartbroken, couldn’t afford to be distressed. Her eyes were fixated on the shattered cup; it had just collided with a pillar, breaking into pieces.

Shattered into pieces…

 

The madam shivered, realizing that no matter how forcefully she smashed a cup, she couldn’t turn it into powder like this delicate cup. She was even more certain that if the person smashing the cup wanted to use something to smash her head, it would definitely be even more fragmented than the cup’s powder.

 

“…Would you like to leave now? Does the old woman need to help you pack Miss Hengbo’s belongings?” The madam suddenly bowed deeply, and a smile blossomed on her old face.

 

The whole hall buzzed with confusion, not understanding why the madam’s tone had suddenly changed. Jing Hengbo, however, understood clearly. She wished she could crumple the silver note and shove it into that guy’s mouth.

 

The person in white nodded, as if finally satisfied with the madam’s cooperation. With a casual flick of his finger, he released the restriction on Jing Hengbo’s legs and stood up.

 

Jing Hengbo wanted to pretend not to move, but the person in white effortlessly gestured three fingers at her.

 

Alright, the third time.

 

His fingers were slender and straight, quite beautiful. This time, Jing Hengbo truly wanted to bite them off fiercely.

 

Seeing her unwillingness, he said to the madam, “No need, let’s go.”

 

The onlookers expressed regret. Everyone knew there was something fishy about this “redemption,” but they had no choice since the other party was extremely oppressive. It was a pity to see such a talented performer flowing into the hands of a tyrant.

 

Jing Hengbo’s eyes darted around, hoping for a hero to descend from the sky to rescue her from this cage. However, despite her seductive glances and alluring gestures, none of those men who once called her their sweetheart and vowed to sacrifice themselves for her were willing to meet her eyes. Their gazes floated everywhere but towards her, evading her completely.

 

As for the sisters inside the building, most of them hadn’t figured out what was going on. They gathered at the staircase, feeling a mix of joy, bitterness, and envy as they bid her farewell.

A woman turning over a new leaf is a joyful event, and especially when the person coming to redeem her has concealed his appearance, the experienced girls could easily see that this gentleman was no ordinary man.

 

Hengbo is really lucky…

 

Seeing the expressions of the onlookers, Jing Hengbo also felt despair.

 

In times of danger, most people choose to protect themselves wisely. She, Jing Hengbo, hasn’t truly caused the world to be infatuated with her to the point where people would sacrifice everything for her. 

 

This fair-skinned guy, who barely spoke, did things with a hidden strength and restrained malice. Pouring tea and smashing the cup wasn’t for displaying wealth but for establishing authority. Someone who could casually destroy priceless treasures, both in wealth and power, was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

 

This guy was silencing everyone without saying a word.

 

This guy might be the true ruler of the wilderness. Compared to him, that black beauty could be considered gentle, charitable, and amiable…

 

Jing Hengbo rolled her eyes, deciding not to take risks. A wise man knows when to yield. If this guy was truly in control, who could compete with him? Compared to him, that black beauty was like a gentle and kind person…

 

Jing Hengbo turned around.

 

“Wait!”