SES Chapter 69 Part 1

Chapter 69 

Yan Hongsha was half-asleep, drifting in and out of slumber, vaguely sensing the bedside lamp flickering on and off.

She forced her eyes open and saw Mu Dai leaning up slightly, staring at something, her hand hovering over the light switch.

Yawning, Yan Hongsha asked, “What are you looking at?”

Mu Dai turned off the light and lay back down. “Nothing,” she replied.

Yan Hongsha mumbled something under her breath, rolled over, and before long, her breathing returned to a soft, steady rhythm.

Mu Dai kept her eyes open. Once again, uncertain, she reached out to touch the spot.

This time, there was nothing unusual.

But when she touched it earlier…

She tried to recall the shape she had felt with her fingers.

It seemed like… a tiny human figure.

The next day, the weather was dreary. A drizzle misted the air like cow hair—fine enough that an umbrella was optional.

Yan Hongsha and Mu Dai agreed: since they had already decided to go treasure hunting, they might as well leave as soon as possible. If they timed it right, they could be back in time for the Phoenix Pavilion’s grand opening.

After making the decision, they called Grandpa Yan.

“You girls should come back today,” he said. “You should make it here by nightfall. I’ll get everything ready so we can leave first thing in the morning.”

They had thought they could stay home a couple more days, but as soon as the call ended, everything suddenly felt rushed.

Yan Hongsha scrambled to pack her things on the bed while Mu Dai went downstairs to give Cao Yanhua his updated martial arts training schedule: in addition to daily weighted runs, he was to start stretching exercises for flexibility and perform 1,000 front kicks and 1,000 hand chops every morning and evening.

She demonstrated the moves for him: “Point your toes and tense the top of your foot. A proper kick uses the instep, not the toes. Toes are too fragile—they’ll break with one good strike. And for the hand chop, it’s the outer edge of your palm—the thickest part. You strike like this…”

She delivered a quick chop to the side of Cao Yanhua’s neck. He nearly lost his soul from the blow.

Yan Hongsha came down with their travel bags just in time to see the pained expression on Cao Yanhua’s face and couldn’t help but laugh.

Yi Wansan stood nearby, glancing over with a sideways look.

Yan Hongsha said, “Yi Wansan, why don’t you train with Fatty Cao? Even if you don’t become a master, it’ll still help you in a fight or at least keep you in shape.”

Yi Wansan shot her a look and scoffed, “Not interested.”

That attitude made Yan Hongsha bristle.

She snapped, “Fine! But don’t expect me to save you if you ever end up in danger!”

Yi Wansan twitched his face into the most disdainful, contemptuous look and responded with a dry “Ha.”

After breakfast, Mu Dai went to say goodbye to Luo Ren.

On the way, she ran into Uncle Zheng walking with Pingting. Normally, Yi Wansan accompanied Pingting in the mornings, but lately Uncle Zheng had been too busy with Phoenix Pavilion preparations, so he dropped her off at the bar instead.

When Mu Dai asked about Luo Ren, Uncle Zheng said, “Still asleep,” and handed her the key.

Luo Ren’s room wasn’t locked—just a twist of the handle and it opened.

Mu Dai stepped in quietly.

The room still carried the warmth and scent of night. It had an indescribable mix of intimacy, masculinity, and mystery.

She held her breath as she approached.

Very few people could sense her presence—her light-foot technique was excellent—but she suspected Luo Ren would be one of the rare few who could.

And yet, he didn’t stir. He was still fast asleep, one arm under his head, face turned sideways, shadows cast across his eye sockets. The blanket was carelessly draped, the room dim, and the collar of his pajamas slightly open, faintly revealing his neck.

There was something undeniably…

Yes, sexy. Masculine and sexy.

Mu Dai stepped closer, knelt at the edge of the bed, and blew softly into his ear.

Luo Ren shifted slightly, as if sensing something. A moment later, he turned his head and opened his eyes halfway, still drowsy.

Mu Dai said, “Luo Xiaodao, do you even deserve to call yourself a martial artist? Someone walked into your room and to your bed, and you didn’t notice. If I had a knife and slashed your throat, you wouldn’t even be alive to wake up.”

Luo Ren looked at her for a moment, then changed positions and rubbed the back of his neck. “I was having a sweet dream.”

Mu Dai stood. “What kind of dream?”

“You.”

Suddenly, he reached out and pulled her down by the waist. Before she could react, she fell into his arms. Still lying down, he yanked the blanket up and wrapped it around both of them, half-smothering her in a warm embrace.

“Mm, much better. Too lazy to get up and hug you properly—takes effort.”

Mu Dai laughed. Lazy didn’t even begin to cover it.

She tried to push up with her arms, but he held her tighter and said, “Stay.”

“I’m crushing you.”

“You’re not heavy.”

Then he asked, “Is it raining outside?”

He was warm, but her body was still cool from coming in from the damp air. Her damp hair brushed against his face, carrying the scent of rain.

Mu Dai nodded, resting her chin on his shoulder.

“Relax, girlfriend,” he said. “You’re stiff as a bow. What, trying to shoot a condor?”

Mu Dai laughed at the joke and finally let herself relax.

He had the firm strength of a man; she was soft. As she relaxed, she could feel his breathing—somehow, they seemed to fall into sync.

She asked, “You didn’t know I came in?”

“I had a vague sense someone was here, but I didn’t think much of it. Uncle Zheng comes in and out of my room all the time. I can’t be jumping up every time.”

“What if I were a bad guy?”

“If you were, you’d be lying on the floor right now.”

She didn’t believe it.

Luo Ren smiled. “Really. Danger isn’t about how loud the footsteps are—it’s the intention. Killing intent has a temperature, you know?”

Killing intent has a temperature.

Luo Ren’s mind drifted.

His thoughts flew far away, back to that mansion on Old Island. The room was so quiet that even a pin drop would make no sound—thick carpets muffled everything.

He had been hiding behind a golden Buddha statue when he saw Aoki peek around a corner and signal him.

The signal meant it was clear.

He stood, gun in hand, and was just about to move when he suddenly felt a chill.

That kind of chill that cools the air around you.

And then came the voice he would never forget.

“We meet again, Luo.”

“Luo Ren?”

Mu Dai waved a hand in front of his eyes.

He smiled, caught her hand, and kissed it.

“I’m leaving soon,” she said.

“Soon?”

She quickly clarified, “The earlier we leave, the earlier we get back. Hongsha and I should reach Kunming tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll head out with Grandpa Yan. If all goes well, we’ll be back in about a week.”