He subconsciously looked away, but Chengâer rushed to hug him. He turned his head without moving. This was as far as Chengâer dared anyways. She just held him tightlyâŠthat was all.
Time trickled by and Ning Cheng didnât budge. Just like that, an hour passed until Chengâer was cold enough to shiver. But Ning Cheng still didnât move, push her aside, or hug her back. Chengâer thought he wanted her to release him herself and leave. At last her thick-skinned self felt some shame.
Both her eyes and face turned red.
She finally realized she had no charm whatsoever. Even at this point, this fellow could simply remain calm. Did he really not like her at all?
Did he only stay behind because he was forced?
Was it all her own wishful thinking?
She slowly releases him and backed away from Ning Chengâs warmth. Head lowered, she carefully straightened out her clothes and re-tied the butterfly bow.
âSorry, Iâve disturbed you.â She didnât dare look at his face but silently walked towards the door. Her petite back was disappointed as if the whole world wanted to spurn and drive her away. But she had just taken a step out when Ning Cheng caught him, drew an arm around her waist, and picked her up princess style.
Chengâer was lost and only saw his cold, unsmiling face. He carried her into the inner rooms and tossed her roughly on the bed before climbing on top to trap her below him.
Looking at his gloomy face, Chengâerâs heart could only pound in her chest. She subconsciously clutched at it as if afraid itâd burst out of her body. But her hand had hardly touched herself when Ning Cheng tore it off and undid the bow in front of her dress.\nâAhâŠAh-ChengâŠâ Chengâer grew timid. Her first thought was that although they had both torn off clothes, why was it so different when he was tearing hers? She felt every part of her body trembling.
Seeing him looking at her robes, she couldnât help holding her breath, feeling her heart beat so fast it might as well stop.
âAh-Cheng, youâŠyouâŠâ she felt she had to say something or ask something, but didnât know what.
Ning Cheng spoke instead. âShangguan Chengâer, youâve already disturbed me!â
Determination shone in his eyes before he buried his head to wantonly indulgeâeven cruelly indulge, as if in revenge or punishment. Chengâerâs body was stiff at first, but soon she began to shriekâin disbelief and shock. Ning Cheng was only kissing her, but she couldnât take it anymore. Heaven knows how moved she felt, because she wouldnât stop screaming. Ning Cheng had to use a hand to muffle her mouth. By the time she was fully undressed, she began to shake so much that Ning Cheng had to stop and look at her. Seeing his suspicious look, she quickly turned away, afraid to meet his gaze as her face reddened to the point of scorching.
âŠ
Ning Cheng simply rode her like a cheetah over its prey, observing and watching. He realized that his prey was simply someone with a strong exterior who was actually a coward inside!
He couldnât help asking, âShangguan Chengâer, where did you get the guts to provoke me?â
Chengâer looked away as her eyes spun She only spared him one glance mixed with embarrassment, anger, unresignedness, and worry, even a bit of provocation.
She was simply a minx sent to torment others.
Ning Cheng couldnât help laughing. This time, he didnât just bury his head in her, but his bodyâŠ
Perhaps domination was a form of acceptance and acknowledgment?\nWhen Chengâer once again shrieked, Ning Cheng had probably found his answer.
âNing Cheng, you bastard!â
âYou son of a b**ch, let goââ
Chengâer was in so much pain she nearly passed out, but Ning Cheng just murmured by her ear, âShangguan Chengâer, it wonât be easy being mine, Ning Chengâs, woman. You sought it out yourself, donât regret it.â His voice was cold and his movements harsh. Strangely enough, Chengâer didnât feel more pain from his aggression, but gradual pleasure and satisfaction.
When she expelled that breath, a charming smile blossomed in its place as he took his pleasure in waves. She said, âAh-Cheng, now youâre finally my man!â
Once everything was done, Chengâer still didnât release him or let him go. She sprawled over his body and tangled all together. Ning Cheng lay on his back, hands behind his head as he spaced out at the ceiling with unknown thoughts.
âAh-Cheng, Iâm so shameless, but why did you act shameless with me?â Chengâer asked lazily.
Ning Cheng didnât answer.
She cupped his face. âAre you listening?â
âNo one would take you for a mute if you didnât talk,â Ning Cheng said icily.
âWill it kill your to be gentler to me?â Chengâer retorted.
âYes,â Ning Cheng was certain.
Chengâer was so mad she buried her head to bite his chest. Ning Cheng wanted to push her away, but she immediately struggled and started rubbing randomly against his body. He didnât notice he was losing more and more patience with this woman.
âTry and move again!â he warned.
Chengâer didnât move, but Ning Cheng did. He flipped over to press her against the bed, amusing her so much she laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck for a proactive kiss. She said, âAh-Cheng, itâs fine if youâre not gentle.â\nNing Cheng wasnât tender, but Chengâer didnât mind. She let loose to scream and even curse and bite him. The two of them couldnât even talk properly on the bed with sweet words. But wasnât that enough as long as they were together?
After that night, everything went on as usual.
Ning Cheng still busied himself with his wines and didnât bother Chengâer, who stayed by his side and silently considered opening up a wineshop. At night, she insisted on sleeping in his arms. At first, Ning Cheng threw her off the bed three times, but relented after that. She was a restless sleeper who loved to touch here and rub there, as if she couldnât doze without harassing him first. Sometimes Ning Cheng couldnât stand it and did her directly. Other times he ignored her, but woke up in the middle of the night to pull her into his arms and couldnât resist topping her with his body, singlehandedly stabbing her awake.
The two of them lived their days arguing and fussing, loving and caring for each other in the compound.
By the time the Shangguan Clan Head emerged from closed door cultivation, Chengâer was already three months pregnant. When she pulled Ning Cheng over to meet her father, she introduced him as, âThis is my husband, we were married a few years ago.â Only then did Ning Cheng understand her meaning of âshameless.â
He didnât speak, but held her tight. His left hand wasnât very strong, but it was enough to hold a womanâs hand.
There were many rumors surrounding the pair at Liubei Trade Consortium. The Shangguan Family Head did an investigation along with Chengâerâs uncles, but none of them could get any clear answers. Seeing his daughterâs stomach begin to show, the man had no choice but to recognize both his daughter and son-in-law.\nWhen news of Shangguanâs new daughter and son-in-law reached Han Xiangâs ears, she was so angrily she almost killed off her subordinates. In terms of clan power, the Shangguan Clan and Wolf Sect were equals, so she didnât dare make a move against the couple. When it came to personal strength, she was inferior to Shangguan Ze or the rest of the clan elders. She could only endure.
âMaster, how about letting the sect leader take care of it once heâs back to vent for us?â Batu suggested in a low voice.
It was better not to mention that. Now that he did, Han Xiang only felt aggrieved. Fatherâs martial arts skills were above the Shangguan Clan Head, so if he was willing he could perfectly well vent for her stake. But her fatherâs temper was so coldly indifferent it was as if he didnât have emotions at all. She knew him best of all. If father found out, he would only listen to the circumstances and do nothing to help or care about her.
A few years ago, father would come back to the Wolf Sect, but he spent most of his recent time at Cloud Realm Continent. She only knew he needed to close door cultivation, but not where. She was most worried over whether he was actually cultivating or teaching Han Yunxi martial arts instead! After all, it was nearly time for the 10-Year Agreement.
Han Yunxi was fatherâs biological daughter. She refused to believe that he wasnât biased. The 10-Year Agreement was enough for Han Xiang to forget about her grudge with Liubei Trade Consortium. She told Batu, âLet them go for now. Later on weâll take care of Shangguan Ze with them!â
âYes yes! Master will never spare them.â Batuâs eyes shone with obscenity. He had been longing for Chengâer this whole time!\nâIâll leave the sect matters to you, Iâm going to the west,â Han Xiang declared. She had thought it over and decided to go find exterior help. She didnât want to lose, nor could she afford a loss. Father recognizing his biological daughter was the same as abandoning herself She had to find someone to rely on who could not only guarantee her victory, but hold off her father.
âMaster is going to..the He Clan (è”«ćź¶)?â Batu asked carefully.
Han Xiang immediately shot him a glare and Batu muffled his mouth, head bowed as he didnât dare to speak.
âOnly you know this. If it spreadsâŠâ Han Xiang didnât finish before Batu fell to his knees.
âDonât worry Master, this subordinate definitely wonât leak the news. Even if this subordinate had 100 times more guts, I wouldnât dare!â
Han Xiang only felt better after giving him a vicious kick. She tossed her sleeves and stalked off, heading north that very day.
The largest clan in the west of Mysterious Continent was the He Clan, whose leaderâs strength was on par with her own father. The He Clan Head had only lost one move to the Wolf Sect leader during the last ranking matches while rumors said he didnât perform his best that day because of illness. Since neither patriarch had fought again since then, their actual strengths relative to each other were still unknown.
Over the past few years, Han Xiang had gradually controlled most of the power in Wolf Sect. The He Clan Head had secretly sent people over two times to intentionally draw her to their side. He wanted to use her to convince his father to team up and take over the Ice Sea. This was something sheâd never told her father and hid to herself instead.\nThere was no benefits to be gained from the Ice Sea; those who wanted to conquer it simply had plans to seek Cloud Realm Continent byond it. Because of that, Han Xiang was even less inclined to tell her father or any other members of the sect.
After all, the female master of Cloud Realm Continent was the elder sister vying for sect leader position with her in the future!
Han Xiang left for three whole months before returning to the Wolf Sect. Even Batu had no idea what sheâd done. She didnât find trouble for Ning Cheng and Chengâer anymore, but went straight into closed door cultivation.
The second year, Chengâer birthed Ning Cheng a big fat son with promising martial arts talent. The Shangguan Clan Head deeply liked the child, as did the uncle Shangguan Ze. Both father and uncle vied for the change to name him, but Chengâer refused and insisted that Ning Cheng choose as the father. Ning Cheng ended up naming him Yuan (èż).[1] While Chengâer asked what it represented, Ning Cheng refused to aswer. He also maintained close relations with Xiongfei and had him personally deliver an anonymous letter to Jin Zi about the manâs origins without revealing his own movements.
Under the patronage of the Shangguan Clan, he and Chengâer started with a winery and together created the âMysterious Trade Consortium.â[2] Truthfully speaking, the two might not get along in other matters but were very compatible in business. Gradually, their business grew bigger and biggerâŠ
1. Literally âfar,â âfar away,â or âdistant.â