Chapter 12

------------------------------------

"What's happening…?"

When the bathroom turned silent, Jing became fearful. Since Xian'er's hand covered her eyes, she didn't know the reason for the other maids' screams.

"Uhm, big sister Hua got her clothes wet."

Thinking quickly, Xian'er came up with an excuse.

"Can you get her a change of clothes, Jing'er?"

Not giving the youngest maid a chance to refuse, Xian'er averted her eyes from the com-coated Hua'er before turning Jing around and shoving her toward the door.

"Oh, okay…"

Though her tone was doubtful, the girl let herself be guided out of the bathroom.

When they were outside, the hand covering her eyes withdrew. Jing tried peeking over her shoulder, but Xian'er moved sideways, obstructing the view.

"She'll be embarrassed if you look, so please hurry with her clothes."

The statement didn't make much sense to Jing, but what could she do? She had no choice but to obey her senior.

------------------------------------

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Hua'er tried fruitlessly to wipe away the viscous, cloudy liquid covering her.

"Young master, this is…?"

Feeling lightheaded, the eldest maid brought a hand to her face, staring at her sticky fingers. She didn't have a clue what it was.

Sighing helplessly, Xu Zhenyan stared at her with half-lidded eyes. If her reactions weren't so honest, he'd think it was an act.

"If you keep serving me, I'm sure you'll find out what it does soon enough…"

The moment he said such an ambiguous line, he heard a sharp gasp from behind.

Looking over his shoulder, Xu Zhenyan saw Xian'er standing there, her hands covering her mouth.

"Or maybe you should ask Xian'er, since she seems to know…"

He smirked evilly at the maid in the doorway.

Xian'er stared wide-eyed at Xu Zhenyan, as if she couldn't believe what he just said.

In response to her look, the Xu clan's young master raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, didn't you know, Ms. Xian? A maid should serve her master as a wife would her husband. Of course, that includes raising children…"

The maid's vulnerable expression provoked a certain sadism in him, so he couldn't help dropping such a line.

Xian'er took a step back, bumping against the wall. She stared at Xu Zhenyan like looking at a beast.

"That can't be…"

Her tone forlorn, she mumbled the words from behind her hands.

Xu Zhenyan continued smiling, not saying anything else. Naturally, it was just something he said off-handedly. He wasn't actually serious.

'Though, with how often nobles have illegitimate children with servants, it's not too far from the truth.'

Sitting on the edge of the bath, Hua'er's eyes were wide. However, her reaction wasn't like Xian'er's.

For a few moments, different emotions flashed behind her eyes, but then she exhaled slowly.

"I understand, young master."

Though her attitude was serious, the impression was spoiled somewhat, given her state.

The Xu clan's young master was caught off-guard. He didn't expect his nonsense to have such an effect.

After a moment's silence, he cleared his throat.

"Well, how about you get cleaned up first? I wasn't very dirty anyway, so it should be fine to use this water."

After speaking, he looked toward Xian'er, slowly lifting himself out of the bath.

"A towel and a robe, please."

However, the maid didn't move, standing there like a statue.

Her inaction drew a chuckle out of Xu Zhenyan.

"Perhaps having children is a little much for you, but a few threads of linen and cotton shouldn't be, right?"

Apparently, it was indeed not too much, because the girl blinked dazedly before obeying.

However, when she arrived at his side, she raised the towel toward him before hesitating.

"Is something the matter, Ms. Xian? Perhaps you'd rather I do it myself?"

His tone even, he reached for the towel in her hands.

Yet, Xian'er shook her head stiffly, not letting him have it.

"No, I'll do it, young master."

She spoke conflictedly, thinking of the six months spent tending to young master Xu. Because of that, she unconsciously developed some feelings for him. However, it wasn't love, but more like a maternal instinct.

Stepping forward, she started carefully drying his body. From his hair to his face, neck and chest, and further down…

Xian'er didn't understand why, but as her hands and eyes travelled over Xu Zhenyan's pale, spotless skin, warmth gathered in her body. She could feel it, like a spark lit somewhere between her chest and abdomen.

Suddenly, when she half-bowed to dry his… lower self, she felt young master Xu brush her hair aside before whispering in her ear.

"Even if you didn't want to be my maid anymore, I'm afraid you wouldn't have a choice. Since the moment you first saw me naked, it was already too late."

His breath tickled her ear, sending a thrill down her spine. At the same time, she felt something poking against her chest. Her eyes immediately latched onto Xu Zhenyan's manhood, standing tall and proud again after its short break.

Xian'er's breath audibly caught in her throat, drawing a chuckle from Xu Zhenyan.

"You know, I was thinking about having a rest, but..."

Briefly looking away from Xian'er, he glanced at Hua'er, who watched the two of them from the edge of the bathtub.

"Go ahead and take a bath, Ms. Hua. The water isn't getting any warmer."

When she hear his words, the girl blinked once, her unfocused eyes regaining some clarity.

"But, young master…"

Her tone complicated, she started protesting, but Xu Zhenyan didn't let her finish.

"That's not a request Ms. Hua, but an order. Strip."

Despite Hua'er's enthusiastic attention not more than three minutes ago, he was already raring to go.

"Okay…"

In a voice like a mosquito, she turned her back toward the two of them before fiddling with her robe.

Xu Zhenyan stared hungrily at her, like a leopard about to pounce. Though Hua'er dressed modestly, her mouth-watering figure couldn't be hidden.

She was fair-skinned and tall, with a respectable chest—DD's, if he wasn't mistaken. On top of that, the sash around her middle highlighted her small waist and long legs.

She was pretty too, with light-brown hair and eyes—almost golden. Surprisingly enough, it was a color that, although rare, occurred naturally among the locals.

When she finished undoing her clothes, Hua'er hesitated for a moment. Then, taking a breath to steady herself, she lowered her robe, exposing her lined, slender back.

"Isn't, she beautiful, Xian'er?"

Swallowing thickly, Xu Zhenyan's true thoughts slipped from between his lips.

Xian'er, though feeling that things were getting out of hand, couldn't help nodding. Hua'er was indeed very beautiful.

The eldest maid, wanting to hide her reaction to the compliment, turned her face away. However, she wasn't able to hide the blush spreading to the tips of her ears.

Xu Zhenyan pressed his hand against her back, shoving her toward the tub.

"You should help her wash. It won't be easy, getting my stuff out of her hair."

Her brain short-circuiting, Xian'er let herself be manhandled. By the time she realized what happened, her face was so hot it felt like she caught on fire.

"Since I'm such a benevolent master, I'll let you keep that boyfriend of yours, Ms. Xian. However, if I hear about you two doing anything ambiguous, I won't be happy."

When she heard his words, spoken in a tone of warning, she was already standing next to the tub, a brush shoved into her hand.

"Unfortunately, I realized I have something to do. However, don't think you're getting off easy. Since winter is on its way, I need someone to warm my bed—two someones, to be exact."

Before they could react, Xu Zhenyan threw on his robe and rushed out of the bathroom.

The two maids simply sat there, too stunned to react.

After a long moment's silence, Hua'er turned to Xian'er, appearing troubled.

"I'm supposed to look after my little brothers tonight, but since it's for the young master, my parents should understand…"

Despite her words, she didn't sound too sure of herself.

Xian'er however, had the opposite concern. She was sure that, if her parents found out about young master Xu's request, she'd never be able to escape.

------------------------------------

Xu Zhenyan wandered in the manor gardens, breathing deeply, soaking in the scents of nature.

'Well, that was unpleasant.'

His hand unconsciously went to his chest, recalling the painful soul force backlash from earlier. It was something he already noticed, but due to his fast promotion to Soul Expert, his cultivation was extremely unstable.

The source of his energy, namely the chaotic natural spiritual ki, only added to the problem. Given the connection between one's soul force and their mental state, it wasn't strange that he received some backlash.

Feeling somewhat bitter, Xu Zhenyan found a reclusive spot under a willow tree and sat down. Being blue-balled by his own cultivation was a little suffocating, but it was his fault for being so impatient.

'Though, I'm not usually this thirsty—it must be 'Xu Zhenyan's' impulsiveness. I'll have to get a grip, or the future consequences might be unpleasant.'

Breathing deeply, he started circulating his Soul Force, starting the arduous process of hammering out imperfections.

------------------------------------

Advance chapter available for $1.

https://www.pa tre on.com/user?u=59309466