"Brother Chen, my concern clouded my judgment. You’re much more level-headed." Shen Qingyao was full of admiration.

This was indeed the case. The shock she had just experienced had left her in a state of panic; she couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

Of course, it wasn’t that she lacked intelligence, but rather that her experience in the Jianghu was still shallow and she hadn’t been through enough.

But Chen Cheng was different. He had knocked around the City Guard Department for nearly two years, dealing with people from all walks of life. He was surrounded by constant crises where his life was often on the line, which had naturally made him more seasoned.

Only a Jianghu novice like her would do something as unprecedented as taking Chen Cheng to a brothel!

An unmarried maiden taking a man to a brothel—if word of this got out, it would probably send the entire Linji City into shock.

Shen Qingyao belatedly realized this problem. With an earnest gaze, she said, "Brother Chen, you must not speak of today’s events to anyone. When you report to our superiors, just write that you entered this place alone and I was providing support from the outside."

"Alright," Chen Cheng replied with a slight nod.

In truth, Chen Cheng hadn’t expected Le Wuji’s Civil Music to be performed in a place like this. He feared that from now on, Shen Qingyao would be clinging to him.

The bond between men is forged through shared hardship—carrying guns together, fighting in wars together, being classmates together... The feelings only grow deeper.

But there’s no such thing as a purely platonic friendship between a man and a woman. After visiting a brothel together, if they don’t end up as a couple, they might very well become mortal enemies.

’Since we’ve had this experience that transcends friendship, I can only accept Shen Qingyao. Of course, that’s assuming she wants to marry. After all, I promised Shen Qingshuang I’d take a concubine from the Shen Family. I have to keep my word.’

’Shen Qingyao has many flaws and isn’t as perfect for me as Mu Xiaowan, but she’s acceptable enough as a concubine. It’s not too bad a deal.’

With their minds on different things, the two sat on the soft couch, staring at each other. After an unknown amount of time, Shen Qingyao asked: 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Brother Chen, what are you looking at me for?"

Chen Cheng retorted irritably, "Aren’t you looking at me too? I figured you had something to say, so I was all ears."

"Oh, I have nothing to say," Shen Qingyao murmured. She had a thousand things she wanted to say, but for a moment, she didn’t know where to begin.

Suddenly, out of the blue, Shen Qingyao asked, "By the way, have you slept with Xiaowan?"

Chen Cheng shot her a look. "We’re husband and wife. Of course we sleep together. Do you think we sleep in separate beds?"

"Right." Shen Qingyao picked up the wine cup on the table before her, wanting to drink to hide her embarrassment, but then she thought better of it and put it down.

This was an investigation, after all. She couldn’t just drink carelessly, especially not some unknown wine. Though she had little experience in the Jianghu, she at least understood such basic principles.

In reality, what she wanted to ask wasn’t whether Chen Cheng and Mu Xiaowan slept together, but whether they had consummated their marriage.

To be honest, a large part of why she paid attention to Chen Cheng was because of Mu Xiaowan.

In her eyes, Mu Xiaowan had exceptional talent for the Martial Dao, possessed an unearthly, world-toppling beauty, and was exceedingly intelligent and understanding. Even though she came from a Humble Family, she was in no way inferior to her, the eldest young lady of the Shen Family.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her heaven’s favored daughter. A person like that should naturally be married to a peerless genius as brilliant and dazzling as the sun, moon, and stars.

For a long time, Shen Qingyao had felt that Chen Cheng wasn’t worthy of Mu Xiaowan.

But as she spent more time with Chen Cheng, she suddenly realized that the perpetually unassuming Chen Cheng might not be some mediocre, unremarkable talent.

She even had a faint feeling that this Chen Cheng was profound and inscrutable—truly the most stunning young man she had ever met.

But how could that be possible? Chen Cheng was clearly from a Humble Family. And while his Martial Arts Power was decent, he was only at Small Success in the Muscle Strengthening Realm. He shouldn’t be giving her this kind of feeling.

Besides Mu Xiaowan, Shen Qingyao’s focus on Chen Cheng also stemmed from Shen Qingshuang. From what she knew of Shen Qingshuang, she was as proud as a swan, looking down on all the men in the world and never giving them a second glance.

The only exception was Chen Cheng. She had even given her most beloved villa on Bailu Avenue to him.

Putting aside the factors of Mu Xiaowan and Shen Qingshuang, Shen Qingyao tried to look into her own heart and was surprised to discover a certain fact.

Now, whenever she wasn’t Cultivating the Martial Dao, she would find herself unconsciously thinking of Chen Cheng. Joining the Demon Suppression Department and bringing Chen Cheng along on investigation missions seemed normal on the surface, but only she knew that it was all because she wanted to spend more time with him.

"Brother Chen, I heard from Master Gongsun that she told Xiaowan she could only consider matters between a man and a woman after she reached the Bone Forging Realm for her Cultivation.

"Since you sleep together, does that mean you’ve already..."

Shen Qingyao was ultimately very curious. As for why, perhaps only she herself knew. Or perhaps, she couldn’t even explain it to herself.

Thus, the moment the words left her mouth, Shen Qingyao secretly regretted them. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to take them back by saying something like "I was just kidding."

"So indecisive!"

A realization then hit Chen Cheng. ’Musician Le Wuji’s Sound Law Technique is truly profound! And there seems to be something special about the scent of cosmetics in this place!’

Chen Cheng’s expression suddenly darkened. The Qi Blood Power around him surged by ten percent, and his eyes became crystal clear, flashing with a cold light.

The music bewitches the heart; the fragrant incense muddles the mind.

Although Shen Qingyao was still conscious, her mind had actually been affected, causing her to specifically focus her thoughts on matters between men and women.

Chen Cheng’s sharp remark undoubtedly woke her up as well.

A powerful aura erupted from her body. Shen Qingyao also quickly became exceptionally clear-headed and calm, then glanced at the red-robed woman sitting on the stage, leisurely playing her instrument.