Chapter 23: Thanks to the Old Man in Red (3)

Changge Yue felt a sudden chill run down her spine. Her lips twitched slightly before she managed to force a stiff smile. "What a coincidence."

She could have bitten her own tongue off in regret. Her first thought was whether she had forgotten to check the almanac before leaving the house today. Her second was: what could this pervert possibly want with the Pearl King?

The man in red looked on with eyes that seemed devoid of all emotion, cold and indifferent. After a long silence, he curled his thin lips into a cruel sneer. "It seems Wenfang is incompetent."

Observing the faint, wispy black mist clinging to the man's frame, Changge Yue narrowed her eyes, her fingers quietly closing around a silver needle. Beneath his sword-like brows, the man’s eyes remained hollow, yet his inherent bloodlust was enough to strike terror into anyone. "Foolish woman!"

Changge Yue let out a cold scoff. The man before her was formidable, certainly beyond her current ability to contend with, but... A sharp glint flashed in her eyes as her lips curved upward. "You stinking man, did your mother never teach you to be polite to a lady?" As she spoke, she suddenly raised her hand. Just as the man braced himself for a hidden weapon, she reached up and tore the veil from her face.

She was terrified by her own reflection every time she looked in the mirror. This red-clad pervert might be a monster, but given his status, he surely had never laid eyes on a woman this hideous. If she couldn't defeat him, she would at least try to scare him to death!

The man’s gaze met her clear, watery eyes for a fleeting second before dropping to her grotesque, scarred face. His expression truly flickered for the briefest moment.

Changge Yue sneered and tossed a small packet toward him with a flick of her wrist. The coldness on the man’s face deepened, yet he did not dodge. "Attempting to harm this Prince with poison? Foolish woman... you..." He instinctively clapped a hand over his eyes.

Changge Yue’s lips quirked. "Who said I threw poison at you? How does it feel to have lime powder soaked in chili water in your eyes?" The black mist surrounding this pervert was laced with lethal toxins, so she knew he wouldn't fear mere poison—and she had banked on exactly that. Why would she be stupid enough to try poisoning someone who thrived on it?

A fierce glint crossed her eyes. This pervert had sought her life time and again, and had even shamelessly plotted to have her defiled before killing her. It was time to collect some interest.

Changge Yue lunged forward, glancing at the Green Water Cold Pond nearby. She aimed a kick, intending to send the pervert plunging into the water like a dumpling, but he caught her ankle with a backhand grip.

She froze. His senses were terrifyingly sharp. "Let go of me!"

The man let out a muffled grunt. "If I apply just a little more force, you'll be bedridden for the rest of your life."

"Pah!" She still had deep grudges to settle; she didn't need this pervert worrying about her next life. Gritting her teeth, she threw her entire body weight into a sudden charge, slamming straight into his chest.

The man was caught off guard. His long sword was at his hip; a simple strike could have cleaved her in two. Yet, the sudden sensation of her warmth pressing against his chest through his robes stirred something within him, and his body went rigid.

Changge Yue wondered silently why his body felt so abnormal—could it be that he preferred men? She let out a soft grunt, knowing that opportunities like this were fleeting. With a surge of strength, she shoved him with all her might toward the Green Water Cold Pond.

A flash of irritation crossed the man’s face. He reached out to grab her, and with a resounding splash, they both tumbled into the water.