The Continuation of the Han Chronicle

Li Bai sighed, picked up the wooden stick in his hand, and followed his three colleagues across the courtyard of the Xiangyang Great Prison and onto the street. After sitting in the prison all day, the sky outside was already approaching dusk. From a distance, they saw many commoners surrounding a prisoner cart slowly approaching. Li Bai craned his neck to look and his eyes lit up. It turned out that the person imprisoned in the cart was a young woman. To clarify, Li Bai wasn't that desperate. In his previous life, he was considered quite handsome, and coupled with his excellent writing skills, he was a romantic talent from his school days, never lacking female companionship. The reason his eyes lit up at the sight of a young woman now was that in the month he had been in this world, apart from a girl of fifteen or sixteen who visited her father in prison a few days ago, the women he had encountered were either crude peasant women or elderly matrons. After all, in this feudal society, young girls rarely appeared in public. As the prisoner cart drew nearer, the surrounding commoners gradually stopped. Li Bai looked closely and saw a girl in her early twenties inside the cart. Her hair was disheveled, and she was wearing a blood-stained coarse linen garment that hinted at her figure. Her hands were bound behind her back, and she wore a cangue around her neck. Her head was stuck in the opening of the prisoner cart, and due to the height restriction, she could only kneel inside the cart. Although this girl's appearance wasn't exceptionally beautiful, her features were regular and pleasing to the eye. Li Bai, witnessing this alluring scene, felt his breath catch, and a surge of heat coursed through his body. No wonder the prisoner carts were usually surrounded by curious children; today, there were many grown men following. As the prisoner cart entered the courtyard, the official escorting it announced, "This is the notorious female thief in Xiangyang City recently, 'City-Toppling Jade' Xiao Yu. She is a major criminal captured personally by Lord Yan. Even when locked up, do not untie the ropes on her hands. Be absolutely sure not to let her escape." The jailers beside him exchanged knowing smiles, and one even swallowed and said, "My lord, rest assured, we will guard her strictly, guard her strictly." The escorting official chuckled lewdly and cupped his hands in acknowledgment. Just as Li Bai was about to step forward and open the prisoner cart door, he was pushed aside by a jailer named Wan. The jailer Wan unlocked the cart, removed the cangue, and half-dragged, half-carried the female prisoner out. The female prisoner, Xiao Yu, was clearly in pain from recent torture and could barely stand. Jailer Wan seized the opportunity to embrace Xiao Yu from behind, his hands directly reaching her chest and squeezing twice. Judging by the size, she was indeed a "chest-evil" person. Another jailer, named Wang, laughed and said, "The adults from the Investigation Bureau haven't left yet. Look at you, don't be too eager and burn your mouth." The escorting official laughed heartily, "No rush, no rush. We from the Investigation Bureau already enjoyed her company all night yesterday. She was very delicious. You gentlemen are in for a treat." Xiao Yu's hands were bound, and her expression was weary, as if she lacked the strength to speak. It was unknown how much torture she had endured from her capture to her arrival at the great prison. Li Bai watched as Jailer Wan's hands continuously kneaded Xiao Yu's body. He even glanced back at Li Bai provocatively, but Li Bai remained silent. Three days prior, the fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl who had come to visit her father in prison was forcibly embraced by Jailer Wan as soon as she entered the courtyard, with ill intentions. Li Bai's upbringing in his previous life made it impossible for him to stand by and do nothing, so he rescued the girl from Jailer Wan's grasp. They had nearly come to blows over it, but were fortunately pulled apart by other jailers. As for fighting, Li Bai was not afraid at all. He possessed advanced combat skills from his previous life and was confident he could defeat Jailer Wan in under three moves. However, having just arrived, and having already rescued the girl, there was no need to stir up more trouble. But three days ago, he had acted righteously. Now, hearing the official's words, this woman was a notorious female thief, and it was not convenient for him to protect her any longer. Seeing Li Bai's silence, Jailer Wan smirked triumphantly, hoisted Xiao Yu onto his shoulder, and walked towards the prison cells. The other jailers followed eagerly, clearly impatient. Li Bai walked at the back, watching Xiao Yu slumped on Jailer Wan's shoulder. Her rounded buttocks were wrapped in the coarse linen gown, and her bare feet indicated she was not wearing anything below her waist. He couldn't help but swallow, marveling inwardly at the perks of being a jailer. It was a pity that his righteous act a few days ago had caused unpleasantness with Jailer Wan, and judging by his demeanor, he clearly didn't intend to include Li Bai. Besides, even if Jailer Wan hadn't blocked him, Li Bai didn't have the nerve to participate. Fortunately, the woman was also quite wary of Li Bai and chose a defensive stance. If she had attacked directly with her sword, Li Bai might have been killed before he could even react. Snapping back to attention, Li Bai made a decisive move. He first placed the oil lamp on the ground, then swept his leg towards the woman's lower body, avoiding the sharp edge of the short sword in her hand. The woman retreated two steps, dodging the attack. Li Bai followed up with a lunge, his arms wrapping around her legs, and then used his shoulder to forcefully shove her, flipping her onto the ground. The woman was clearly unaccustomed to such swift and decisive hand-to-hand combat techniques and was momentarily stunned by the fall. Li Bai snatched the short sword from her hand, tossed it aside, twisted one of her arms, and pinned her to the ground with a knee. He finally let out a sigh of relief and tore off the black cloth covering her face. He saw a woman with beautiful, delicate features, her face still holding a youthful innocence, appearing to be no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. While she was a bit prettier than the female thief bound in the prison cell, her body was slender and not yet fully developed, making her figure far inferior. The young girl, seeing Li Bai's eyes roaming over her, flushed with a mixture of shame and anger. She struggled a few times, but Li Bai held her firmly. She could only lower her voice and shout, "Let me go at once!" Li Bai hadn't fully recovered from the shock, his heart still pounding in his chest, unable to speak. But his hands were busy. He held the girl down with one hand, and with the other, he removed his belt. He twisted her arms and tightly bound her hands behind her back. Picking up the oil lamp nearby, he pushed the girl towards the rest room. The girl struggled with all her might, but her youthful strength was no match for him. Li Bai dragged her to the rest room as if he were carrying a chick. The prison had no shortage of ropes for binding. Li Bai returned to the rest room, casually picked up several ropes from a nearby shelf, first untied the belt binding the girl's hands, and replaced it with ropes, binding her hands tightly behind her. He then used several more ropes to secure her arms and legs. Despite her martial arts skills, the girl was completely unable to use them against the overwhelming difference in strength, offering no resistance and being easily and securely bound by Li Bai. Fearing she might attract more guards, she dared not cry out loudly, only managing to curse him in a low voice, mostly with insults like "villain" and "corrupt official," which failed to stir any emotion in Li Bai. Li Bai re-tied his belt and looked at the girl in black, her body crisscrossed with ropes, writhing Li Bai inwardly rejoiced, feigning a wobble as he stood up with Yang Guang. Yang Guang, swaying unsteadily, led Li Bai into the bedroom. He lifted a mural from the wall, revealing a wooden door. Turning to Li Bai, he chuckled, "How could you bring yourself to touch that ugly maid? Please, sir, come into this secret chamber with me. I have a generous gift for you." Li Bai's heart leaped with joy. He watched as Yang Guang pushed open the wooden door and followed him inside, his breath catching in his throat, the last vestiges of his drunkenness vanishing instantly. The room was low-ceilinged, with eight iron cages lined up against the wall. Each cage held a completely naked woman. Their hands were bound behind their backs with shackles, and collars were fastened around their necks, each bearing a numbered tag. Two wooden basins were placed in each cage, one for food, the other for water. The women varied in age, the youngest no older than a teenager, her body not yet fully developed, while the oldest, with wrinkles already forming at the corners of her eyes, was at least thirty. As Yang Guang entered, the women turned, their arms still bound behind them, and knelt on the floor, crawling towards Yang Guang with their buttocks undulating. They pressed themselves against the bars of their cages. "A beast!" Li Bai rubbed his eyes, cursing Yang Guang under his breath, yet his heart was filled with envy. When would he ever have such a secret chamber? Not too many, just three sex slaves would be enough! Yang Guang turned, seeing the envy on Li Bai's face, and couldn't help but smile proudly. "I admire your great talent, sir. Please, choose freely!" With that, fueled by the wine, he unceremoniously dropped his trousers, opened the door of one iron cage, and pulled out a woman in her twenties by the chain attached to her collar. The woman was quite pretty. Seeing that Yang Guang had chosen her, her eyes lit up with joy. Her hands still bound behind her, she crawled on her knees to Yang Guang and said in an extremely lewd voice, "Thank you, Master, for your favor!" Yang Guang roared with laughter, patted the woman's head, and thrust his crotch towards her face. The woman leaned down slightly, opened her mouth, and skillfully took him in, swallowing and working him with gusto. She closed her eyes, seemingly lost in ecstasy. Li Bai watched, his expression calm, but his mind was in turmoil. Reason finally prevailed. Before he could regret it, he quickly circled the room, looking at each woman's face. Fortunately, Yang Guang only had eight sex slaves. After his circuit, Li Bai immediately recognized a woman in her thirties whose eyes darted away, not yet completely resigned. She was pretty and bore a striking resemblance to Ye Xiao'e. He heard Yang Guang laugh from behind, "Sir has a keen eye. This one is a new slave I acquired recently. Her skills are still a bit raw, but she is indeed an excellent choice. You might want to try her." Li Bai looked down at the tent his lower body had become, wishing he could chop it off with a knife to resist such temptation. Yang Guang, impatient with his slave's slow ministrations, grabbed her long hair and yanked forcefully. Seeing Li Bai hesitate, he laughed and shoved the woman he had chosen aside. She cried out and fell to the ground, struggling to her knees and crawling back towards Yang Guang. Yang Guang approached, opened the cage Li Bai had selected, grabbed the chain, and pulled out the woman in her thirties. He raised his hand and slapped her. The woman, her hands still bound, knelt on the ground. A flicker of fear crossed her eyes as she bowed her head to take Yang Guang into her mouth. Fortunately, the previous slave had crawled after Yang Guang and, with a wiggle of her buttocks, pushed the woman aside, quickly taking Yang Guang back into her mouth and continuing her ministrations. Yang Guang smiled smugly, patted the slave's head as encouragement, and then pointed at Li Bai, saying to the woman, "Go and serve this lord!" The woman glanced at Li Bai, then lowered her head, slowly crawling towards him on her knees. Li Bai watched the naked, mature woman, her hands bound behind her, wriggle towards him on the ground. He could no longer restrain himself and said, "Wait!" Yang Guang, holding down the head of the slave at his crotch, turned and asked, "Does sir have any instructions?" Li Bai took a deep breath and said, "Your subordinate is too thin-skinned and ashamed to indulge in pleasure before Lord Yang. However, I am truly envious of your good fortune. Therefore, your subordinate dares to ask if he may borrow this woman to enjoy at home for one night and return her tomorrow. Would that be acceptable?" Yang Guang, believing they shared a mutual appreciation, laughed heartily. "What difficulty is there in that? Since sir has such refined taste, I shall prepare a carriage for you at once!" Yang Guang was indeed generous. He arranged for a carriage, led the woman in her thirties out of the secret chamber, covered her body with a sack, stuffed her into the carriage, and sent someone to drive Li Bai and her home. Li Bai lied, saying he wanted to unlock her handcuffs to change positions for fun, and obtained the key. He sat in the carriage, watching the woman kneel at his feet, her upper body covered by the sack, her naked lower body exposed, trembling slightly. He thought of how Yang Guang had cruelly abducted and tormented her, and his heart ached. However, with Yang Guang's men driving the carriage outside, he couldn't express his feelings. Before long, the carriage arrived at his doorstep. Li Bai thanked them, helped the woman into the courtyard, and then locked the gate. Only then did he remove the sack from the woman's body. The naked middle-aged woman immediately knelt on the ground and began to rub her face against his crotch through his trousers. Li Bai recoiled in shock, taking two steps back. "May I ask, are you Madam Ye?" The woman's expression became confused. She remained kneeling, staring blankly at Li Bai as if trying desperately to recall something. Li Bai's gaze swept over her body. Seeing the woman's still alluring face, his heart stirred. What if this woman was not Ye Xiao'e's mother? As they stood in this tense standoff, he suddenly heard Ye Xiao'e's tearful cry from behind, "Mother!" Sun Yao stepped back two paces and said, "Try again." Zhong Nan nodded and her thick fingers reached out again. Lin Fengyi's hands were tied behind her back, leaving her unable to block. Gritting her teeth, she channeled her qinggong, her feet pushing off the ground as she floated far back. Zhong Nan lunged and missed. Zhong Nan spun around and lunged at Lin Fengyi again. Lin Fengyi sidestepped and kicked out, striking Zhong Nan squarely on the backside, sending her stumbling a few steps and nearly falling. Lin Fengyi floated back a few steps, turned, and laughed, "Sun, if you'll forgive my bluntness, your disciple is truly dull-witted and unlikely to achieve much." Sun Yao stood with her hands behind her back, listening to this. She smiled faintly, unangered, and said, "Although Zhong Nan is not my disciple, I will not tolerate your insolence." She then took out another rope, flickered, and looped it around Lin Fengyi's legs from behind. With a strong pull, before Lin Fengyi could resist, her legs were tied together at the knees. Zhong Nan, having been hit and kicked by Lin Fengyi and verbally humiliated, was already enraged. Seeing Lin Fengyi's legs also bound, she saw an opportunity. In her shame and anger, she disregarded the acupoint striking techniques Sun Yao had taught her and lunged at Lin Fengyi with her strong body. Lin Fengyi bent her knees, about to spring up, but Sun Yao pressed down on her shoulder, preventing her from jumping. With her hands tied behind her and unable to kick, she was directly knocked to the ground by Zhong Nan. Zhong Nan straddled Lin Fengyi, pinning her down, and said triumphantly, "Let's see how proud you are now! Do you submit?" Lin Fengyi's face showed mockery as she laughed, "Good, good, good, I submit. Come closer, and I will concede." As Zhong Nan leaned down, Lin Fengyi spat, landing directly on Zhong Nan's face. Seeing Zhong Nan's expression change and her fist swing towards Lin Fengyi's face, Li Bai could no longer stand it. He shouted, "Stop! Two against one, what kind of skill is that?" Although he shouted to stop her, Zhong Nan's punch landed heavily on Lin Fengyi's cheek. While not highly skilled, she possessed considerable brute strength, and the pain made Lin Fengyi groan. Lin Fengyi, seeing the punch coming and being completely unable to dodge, felt a pang in her heart. She had been wandering the jianghu since childhood and was accustomed to hardship, so being punched didn't feel like much. However, hearing Li Bai stand up for her inexplicably brought tears to her eyes. Li Bai, having spoken, saw everyone looking at him. He glanced at Sun Yao, still not daring to act rashly, and stepped forward. "Miss Sun, Miss Lin is stubborn. This kind of sparring is ineffective. Although my martial arts are inferior, I am willing to spar with Miss Zhong. I ask that you give me some face and spare Miss Lin for now." Li Bai saw Lin Fengyi lying on the ground, her limbs bound, and the gratitude in her eyes as she looked at him. He smiled at her, thinking that this girl had secretly protected him and fought off several assassins, and now she was captured and humiliated, all because of him. He felt he owed her a great deal. With this thought, he rallied his spirits to spar with Zhong Nan. His mediocre skills were actually well-suited for feeding moves to Zhong Nan. Zhong Nan had only learned the superficial aspects of acupoint striking, her finger placement was inaccurate. Though the jabs on his body were painful, they were bearable. However, occasionally, she would hit an actual acupoint, leaving him half-paralyzed. Experiencing the acupoint striking technique firsthand and listening to Sun Yao's guidance, he confirmed that Sun Yao's ability to instantly kill ten guards was not sorcery, but rather her extremely accurate acupoint recognition and swift strikes, hitting vital points to instantly sever meridians and cause death. To prevent Lin Fengyi from being bullied, he endured the pain and sparred with Zhong Nan for a long time before the two finally stopped their teaching. Li Bai's body ached all over, and he limped away from the training area. He looked at Sun Yao's cold, beautiful face and disdainful expression, cursing inwardly, "Just wait until my sleeping powder takes effect, and I'll poke you to death." The group had traveled through the night and then endured the morning's ordeal, all feeling exhausted. They rested in a clearing in the woods, far from the official road, planning to set off again at night. Li Bai, Lin Fengyi, and Ye Xiao'e lay on one side, while Sun Yao and Zhong Nan slept not far away under the shade of a tree. Li Bai looked closely. Sun Yao had suppressed her killing intent, sleeping on her travel pack, her arms crossed, eyes closed, her expression peaceful. Her skin was as white as snow, her nose high, and her hair was a light yellow. While not as beautiful as Lin Fengyi, she was an exceptionally striking woman, somewhat resembling Eastern European Caucasians from his past life. Recalling her accent, which was indeed different from the others, a thought struck him: could this woman not be Han Chinese from the Central Plains? However, the memory of Sun Yao instantly killing ten guards the previous night was vivid. Lin Fengyi was still bound beside him, and even if she weren't, she was no match for Sun Yao. Moreover, Ye Xiao'e was in shackles, and Miao Wenwen was tied up in the carriage. Li Bai truly dared not entertain any thoughts of escape, no wonder Sun Yao could sleep so soundly. He could only sigh and lie down honestly on the ground. Turning his head, he saw Lin Fengyi lying beside him, her hands pressed beneath her, her legs tied together at the knees. She struggled a few times but couldn't break free. Her expression was aggrieved, tears welling in her beautiful eyes, but she bit her lower lip tightly, refusing to cry. Li Bai, accustomed to Lin Fengyi's graceful and composed demeanor, had never seen her so miserably bullied before. His heart stirred, and he reached out, taking the opportunity to put his arm around Lin Fengyi's shoulder, saying, "It's all my fault for my poor handling of affairs, causing Miss Lin to suffer." Lin Fengyi's heart skipped a beat as Li Bai's arm went around her shoulder. She wanted to push him away, but her hands were tied, and her face flushed. Seeing Lin Fengyi's shy expression, Li Bai's heart stirred again, and he leaned closer, about to kiss her. However, he saw Lin Fengyi turn her head to gaze at him and softly say, "If you truly care for me, you shouldn't speak such formal words to me. If you don't, please don't take liberties with me again." Li Bai was surprised that women in ancient times spoke so directly about love. He was stunned for a moment, but then, recalling this girl's affection for him, he was deeply moved. Lin Fengyi, with her martial arts, beauty, and intelligence, was more than enough for him. Although he had already been intimate with Miao Wenwen and Ye Xiao'e, he thought that in the past, travel was slow, and one might not know if they could love one person their whole life, but they could certainly take many concubines. He thought wickedly for a moment, then said seriously, "When will we meet again in longing? This moment, this night, is difficult to bear. My sincerity is witnessed by heaven and earth. Please rest assured, Miss Lin." He saw Gugu Xue standing in the courtyard, casting a cold sidelong glance at him, clearly unwilling to follow him into the dark room. Li Bai rejoiced inwardly. Under the dim moonlight inside, he took down the sword hanging on the wall, approached the iron cage where Changsun Yao was held, opened it, grabbed Changsun Yao by her long hair, and dragged her out. On his journey from Xiangyang to Chengdu, he had dragged Changsun Yao out of the carriage by her hair and forcibly raped her several times. Although he had rarely abused her in Chengdu, Changsun Yao had grown accustomed to such treatment. Woken from her sleep, her scalp tightened as she was dragged out of the cage. She assumed Li Bai was about to abuse her again. She was completely naked and her limbs were tightly bound. Knowing that resistance or crying for help would be useless and only invite Li Bai's ridicule, she gritted her teeth and remained silent, her eyes flashing with a wild, fierce glow in the darkness as she glared at Li Bai. Seeing Changsun Yao's expression, Li Bai felt a pang of guilt. He said in a low voice, "Miss Changsun, I beg your pardon." Then he drew his sword, holding Changsun Yao's hair in one hand and the blade across her neck in the other. He dragged her from the dark corner of the room to the doorway, where she met Gugu Xue's icy gaze. Gugu Xue, seeing Changsun Yao completely naked, her body tightly bound with hemp ropes, and dragged out by her hair, was so enraged that she trembled all over. With a furious roar, her twin daggers flashed, and she lunged forward. Li Bai saw her charge like a maddened tiger and quickly shouted, "Stop! If you take another step, I'll kill her with this sword!" Gugu Xue's expression sharpened, and she froze in place. Though trembling with rage and her eyes welling up with tears, she actually stopped and dared not move further. Seeing Gugu Xue, Changsun Yao struggled desperately. But no matter how skilled she was, she was still only human. The hemp ropes bound her hands tightly behind her back, then secured her arms to her sides. Her jade legs were tightly bound together at the knees and ankles, then folded and tied, her thighs and calves bound together, forming a bundle. Li Bai checked the ropes meticulously almost every day, so no matter how much she twisted and struggled, it was futile. Unable to break free, Changsun Yao looked at Gugu Xue in despair and said, "Hurry and leave! Hurry and leave!" Li Bai knew the situation was critical, involving the lives of his entire family. He dared not play around any longer. He kicked Changsun Yao, keeping his sword steady at her throat without the slightest relaxation. He shouted at Gugu Xue, "Since our Great Han has decided to go to war with you, Changsun Yao's life or death is of little consequence. From now on, you will do as I say. If you dare disobey, I'll kill this Changsun Yao first, and then I'll fight you, you little wench." Gugu Xue's beautiful eyes were fixed on the sword blade at Changsun Yao's throat, truly not daring to move. Li Bai felt smug. Seeing Changsun Yao still shouting incessantly, he tore off a piece of cloth, pinched her high nose, and stuffed the wad of cloth into her mouth. Changsun Yao's noisy protests turned into muffled whimpers, and she continued to writhe on the ground, her eyes filled with despair. Li Bai first forced Gugu Xue to put down her daggers. Just as he was about to issue his next command, Ye Xiao'e's door opened, followed by the sound of chains. A small head peeked out, looking around curiously. He couldn't help but rejoice and said, "Xiao'e, hurry to the eldest miss's room, release them first, and then go to the Jiang residence together to ask Miss Jiang for help." Ye Xiao'e had just woken from her sleep. Although she was confused, she had long since placed her complete trust in Li Bai. She nodded obediently and agilely slipped into Miao Wenwen's room. Not long after, the three of them emerged, supporting each other. Li Bai instructed Ye Xiao'e to leave the ropes for him, comforted them a few words, and watched the three girls leave, their eyes full of concern, looking back step by step. He let out a long sigh. Although Lin Fengyi was not by his side, lacking a strong ally, he no longer had to worry about these women, and thus had no further scruples. Gugu Xue's eyes were red as she repeatedly looked at the naked Changsun Yao, bound and lying on the ground. Recalling how she had seen Lord Li tormenting his female slaves earlier, she knew in her heart that Changsun Yao must have already been defiled by him. She trembled with rage, her eyes seeming to spew fire, but Li Bai's sword remained at Changsun Yao's throat, so she dared not move. After Li Bai waited for Ye Xiao'e, Miao Wenwen, and Jiang Shuyun to leave for a while, assuming Jiang Shuyun would understand his intentions and had taken them to the residence to settle them, he let out a unrestrained laugh. He straightened the sword in his hand and ordered Gugu Xue, "Take off all your clothes!" Gugu Xue's face instantly flushed with shame. She glared fiercely at Li Bai, her eyes filled with hatred even more intense than Changsun Yao's. She was plain-looking and small, far from the beauties surrounding Li Bai. Li Bai ordering her to undress was not out of lust for her, but rather because he knew this young girl possessed martial arts skills. If she were completely naked, she would undoubtedly feel ashamed, unable to fully utilize her martial arts. If a struggle ensued, he would have a greater chance of winning. Seeing the Xianbei girl's face flushed with shame and her delay in undressing, he pressed the sword further against Changsun Yao's neck. He kicked the bundle of hemp ropes that Ye Xiao'e had left at his feet towards Gugu Xue, and sneered, "Don't worry, with the beautiful Miss Changsun as my companion, I have no interest in you. Once you're naked, use these ropes to tie your own legs. You're not a fool, and you must know that since you've learned of our dynasty's military secrets, I cannot let you go. I'll spare your life for now, considering you're a young girl. I'll send you and Miss Changsun to the front lines, and when the war begins, I'll have my own plans." Jiang Shuyun stood with her hands behind her back, not flinching as she received the slap. A faint smile curved her lips. She then produced a bundle of rope from behind her back, holding it before her chest. "Please, Master, tie Shuyun up," she whispered. Li Bai watched as she knelt on the ground, her legs pressed together, her posture one of utmost reverence and humility. Her delicate face tilted upwards, filled with yearning. He couldn't help but swallow, taking the rope. He moved behind Jiang Shuyun and, as before, bound her upper body tightly. The hemp rope dug into her slender form, causing her to furrow her brow in pain. Yet, she bit her red lip, remaining kneeling upright, a look of profound enjoyment on her face. After tying Jiang Shuyun, Li Bai observed her expression. Recalling her haughty demeanor from earlier that day, though his anger had long since dissipated, he was determined to humiliate her further. He schemed silently, a lecherous grin spreading across his face. "The army's march has been exhausting. Would Miss Shuyun prepare some hot water for Master's foot bath?" Jiang Shuyun's face flickered with surprise. "If that is the case, Master will have to untie Shuyun," she replied softly. Li Bai shook his head, chuckling. "You asked me to tie you up yourself. You'll have to figure it out." Jiang Shuyun was taken aback again, unable to comprehend his words for a moment. She turned her gaze to Miao Wenwen, her eyes pleading for help. Miao Wenwen, witnessing the usually dignified Miss Jiang Shujie display such a debased state for the second time, was still astonished. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she stole glances, and upon meeting Jiang Shuyun's eyes, she became flustered, unable to meet her gaze. Seeing the two women's reactions, Li Bai suppressed a laugh and leaned close to Jiang Shuyun's ear. "As you are new to servitude and unfamiliar with the rules, I shall instruct you. Your Master requires a foot bath, and you are unable to prepare warm water. Why not use your tongue to lick my feet clean?" Though bound and kneeling at his feet, considering herself a slave, Jiang Shuyun's expression remained composed. Upon hearing his words, her face instantly flushed crimson. She glanced up at Li Bai, then lowered her head, whispering, "Yes, Master. Shuyun understands." Li Bai had already removed his shoes and socks upon entering the tent. He sat on the bed, stretching out his legs. "Then what are you waiting for?" Jiang Shuyun hesitated for a moment, then finally made up her mind. Still kneeling, she moved a few steps closer, her hands behind her back. She slowly lowered herself, extending her delicate tongue to lick between Li Bai's toes and across his soles. Li Bai watched Jiang Shuyun, who had stood so regally before the hundred thousand troops earlier that day, now kneeling bound behind her back, licking his feet. The frustrations of the entire day vanished instantly. Feeling the tickling sensation on his feet, his heart stirred, and lust surged through him. He reached out and slapped Miao Wenwen's buttocks. "Miss Miao, you promised that if I brought you along, you would spend your nights in my tent, and I could do as I pleased. Is that not so?" Miao Wenwen, seeing Jiang Shuyun's abject state, felt a tremor of fear. Being slapped by Li Bai only heightened her panic. She feared Li Bai would also demand she lick the other foot. Though unwilling, she dared not refuse and could only stammer, "Yes... yes, that is so." Li Bai chuckled, unfastened his trousers, and pointed to his erect member. "Miss Miao, you should first finish what you left undone the other day. Otherwise, if the strategist finds out, you might be accused of delaying military affairs and face military law." He deliberately spoke these words so that Jiang Shuyun, at his feet, could hear them. As expected, Jiang Shuyun's licking stopped. She had clearly understood he was mocking her. Far from being angered, she let out a soft laugh. After a pause, without looking up, she opened her cherry lips and took his toes into her mouth, sucking and licking with all her might. Miao Wenwen, relieved that Li Bai hadn't asked her to lick the other foot, still found the task daunting. She looked around helplessly, seeing Jiang Shuyun completely ignoring her and Li Bai with a wicked grin. She had no choice but to crawl off the bed and kneel beside Jiang Shuyun. Bringing her delicate lips to Li Bai's crotch, she slowly took his shaft into her mouth. Li Bai patted Miao Wenwen's head. "Miss Miao is much more obedient. I won't tie you up, but you must put your hands behind your back." Miao Wenwen, too ashamed to meet his gaze, shyly complied, placing her hands behind her back and began to suck and swallow with her inexperienced technique. Li Bai watched the two beautiful young women, of noble status, simultaneously serving him with their hands bound behind their backs. He couldn't help but let out a comfortable groan. This was the imagined life of a soldier; who would risk their life on the front lines otherwise? Li Bai, hearing this, finally relaxed. He knew this girl had been reluctant to come to his rescue in the first place. Changsun Yao had underestimated her, and if she hadn't been afraid of hurting him, that shot would likely have been fatal. Being captured was indeed his own burden. Noticing a hint of resentment in her words, he didn't mind and smiled, saying softly, "It is I who have burdened you, Miss Zhao. But I have a plan to escape. I hope you will lend me a hand, Miss Zhao, for the sake of Shuyun." Zhao Ying's face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, avoiding his gaze. Li Bai couldn't help but feel a pang of shame and changed the subject, whispering, "There's a brocade pouch in my robes with a few wax pills. I'd trouble you to take them out and feed them to me." Zhao Ying glared at Li Bai and said softly, "And I thought you had some brilliant plan. Look at me, tied up like this, how can I use my hands? If I could get what's in your robes, why wouldn't I fight that demoness directly?" Li Bai sighed, thinking, *This girl can't even beat Miss Lin after dismounting, and she's thinking of fighting Changsun Yao?* But he was too lazy to argue. He glanced at Changsun Yao, seeing her struggling to control the small boat in the swift current. She had no time to pay attention to him, making it a perfect opportunity to act. He quickly plastered on a smile and said, "Miss Zhao is right, which is why I must trouble you to use your mouth to retrieve the wax pills and then feed them to me." Zhao Ying's spirited, pretty face instantly turned crimson, and a flicker of something unusual appeared in her bright eyes, making her look even more like the eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl she was. Seeing the girl's angry blush and her scrutinizing gaze, Li Bai forced an innocent and sincere expression, meeting her shy eyes. Zhao Ying hesitated for a moment, then finally showed a hint of compromise. She looked up, leaned closer, and opened her mouth, biting into his robes. She struggled and twisted her body, pulling the fabric apart with all her might. He watched as she used her mouth to retrieve a brocade pouch from his chest. Carefully, she bit down on the silk ribbon tied to it and pulled, untying the pouch. Then, she bit down on a corner of the pouch, tilting her head to spill out a wax pill. Although Li Bai knew the situation was perilous, seeing this beautiful girl, bound like a sacrificial lamb, leaning against him, struggling to twist her body and using her red lips and pearly teeth to tear at his clothes, he couldn't help but feel a stir. She held the wax pill in her lips, struggling to get closer to him. Even with his vast experience, he had never engaged in such intimate actions with his sister's best friend. His old face flushed. Zhao Ying, though her face was burning red with shame, had her brows furrowed, and her eyes still held a look of disgust. It was clear she was extremely unwilling and felt no affection whatsoever. Li Bai snorted inwardly, *If you're unwilling, I'm even more unwilling.* He couldn't move an inch. Seeing Zhao Ying's red lips approaching his mouth, he opened wide. He felt her breath, fragrant as orchids, as Zhao Ying gently placed the wax pill into his mouth. Li Bai forced himself to swallow the pill and felt a surge of ecstasy. From now on, the arrogant and invincible Changsun Yao would be at his mercy. His heart pounded as he thought, trying to connect Changsun Yao's silver threads from behind, but it had no effect. Seeing Zhao Ying staring at him, grinding her teeth, he was taken aback and quickly asked in a low voice, "Which pill did you feed me, Miss? What were the words on the pouch?" Zhao Ying looked at herself suspiciously but then struggled to twist her head to see and softly replied, "The pouch is embroidered with the words 'Phoenix Captive'." Li Bai sighed and said, "Is there another wax pill in that pouch?" Seeing Zhao Ying lean down and touch the pouch with her lips, she nodded. Li Bai said helplessly, "I must trouble you again, Miss. There is another brocade pouch in my robes, embroidered with the words 'Immortal Tribulation'. Please feed me the remaining wax pill from that pouch. As for this 'Phoenix Captive' pill, I'll trouble you to keep it for me." The blush that had faded from Zhao Ying's face reappeared, but this time it was not from shyness but from a simmering anger. She lowered her voice and said, "Why didn't you say so earlier? You are deliberately toying with me, aren't you?" Li Bai dared not offend her and replied with a fawning smile, " I wouldn't dare. It's just that I didn't know which one to take. I hope Miss Zhao will understand." Zhao Ying glared at him hatefully but said no more. She bit down on the pouch embroidered with "Phoenix Captive" and once again struggled to get close to him. She retrieved another brocade pouch, spilled out the wax pill, held it in her lips, twisted her body, and leaned in, spitting the wax pill into Li Bai's mouth. Li Bai swallowed the pill and finally relaxed. He saw that Zhao Ying had been struggling for a long time, beads of sweat glistening on her nose. Her bright eyes reflected his image, and for once, there was no disgust. She asked softly, "How is it?" Just then, a whirlpool struck, and the boat lurched violently. Zhao Ying's hands and feet were tied behind her, making it impossible to maintain balance. With the jolt, her lips brushed against Li Bai's. They were so close, their breaths mingling. The suddenness of the event caught them both off guard. Seeing Zhao Ying's face flushed with embarrassment, desperately avoiding his gaze, Li Bai fought back a smile and was about to say something to ease the awkwardness when he heard a cold laugh. Changsun Yao, holding the oar in one hand and the anchor in the other, was watching their intimate moment with a cold gaze. The small boat was gradually approaching the northern bank of the Yellow River, and the embankment was faintly visible. Li Bai hastily dismounted, wolfed down a few bites of food, and fed Murong Chan some dry rations. After a brief rest, he urged his horse forward again. By the time dusk fell, they were nearing Handan. Li Bai was exhausted, both he and his horse, so he slowed his pace, looking for a place to rest for the night. Deep within Yan territory now, the garrisons in Jizhou were not as tight as those in Sizhou. He rode at a gallop along the official road, encountering no resistance and no sign of Yan reinforcements or supplies heading to the front lines. He recalled his failed attempt to infiltrate the Yan army a few days prior and felt a growing suspicion. He was accompanying Jiang Shuyun on a northern expedition with the Han army, and their supply lines stretched from Chengdu all the way to Luoyang, allowing for troop and supply replenishment. How could the Yan army at the front be so isolated? Could it be that Northern Yan possessed some advanced, era-defying technology used in their military? His curiosity piqued, he ventured a question, "Miss Murong, besides those four items, what else is behind that door?" Murong Chan huffed, "You are truly shameless. I've already answered three of your questions, why do you persist?" Li Bai felt a surge of impatience and anger, about to speak, when Murong Chan continued, "These bindings are too tight. Let me rest for a moment, and I'll answer one more question." Li Bai looked down and saw that Murong Chan's delicate hands were bound tightly at the wrists, her arms already red from the constriction, her fingertips tinged with purple. She clearly couldn't endure binding as well as Changsun Yao, so her words seemed genuine. However, this girl was truly formidable. After a moment's hesitation, Li Bai steeled himself and laboriously untied the hemp rope binding Murong Chan's wrists. He pulled up her hands, marked with rope burns, and saw no silver threads emerging from her wrists. He couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance. It seemed this girl hadn't swallowed the wax pill after all, and Miss Lin's good intentions had been in vain. As they spoke, they found a dilapidated post station in the wilderness, with several large trees nearby, perfect for resting their horses and themselves. Li Bai rode up to the post station, dismounted with Murong Chan, tied the three horses to a tree, and led Murong Chan, still wearing the collar around her neck, into the station. Inside, several chairs and wooden couches lay covered in dust. Li Bai tidied up briefly, making it barely habitable for the night. He stretched out on a long bench, his bones creaking. The day's bumpy ride had been agonizing. He wondered if he could get a car to drive once they reached Beiping. With that thought, he turned and saw Murong Chan standing rigidly to one side. Though the ropes binding her wrists were loosened, her arms were still tied to her sides. The hemp rope wrapped around her breasts, securing them to her body, emphasizing her slender waist and firm bosom, making her already perfect figure even more alluring. The iron chain around her neck hung between her breasts, and her legs were slightly apart, her lower body still somewhat disheveled. He had been exhausted from a day of riding, and she, bound so tightly and chafing against the saddle naked, must have suffered even more. Indeed, though her exquisite face tried to appear composed, it couldn't hide her pallor and fatigue. Li Bai gazed at the beautiful girl's appearance. Despite her exhaustion, his heart couldn't help but flutter. He smiled and reached out, grabbing the iron chain and pulling her towards him. Murong Chan obediently knelt beside him. Li Bai cupped her chin and said with a smile, "I've loosened your bindings. Will you answer another question for me now?" Murong Chan shot him a glare and turned her head slightly, saying, "This doesn't count as loosening the bindings. My arms still ache terribly." Li Bai hesitated for a moment, still unwilling to completely release her. Then, her expression shifted, revealing a seductive charm. She said softly, "But Father finally took pity on his daughter and freed her hands. Daughter should thank Father." As soon as she finished speaking, she lowered her head slightly, took his thumb into her mouth, and began to suckle slowly. Her eyes instantly filled with a watery sheen, and she looked at him with a pleading gaze, her pure and delicate demeanor mixed with a captivating allure. Li Bai's lust surged, and he couldn't help but swallow hard. Murong Chan raised her eyebrows and smiled, spitting out his finger. She slowly stood up and straddled him, placing one jade leg on each side. Li Bai felt a jolt as her moist core rubbed against his crotch through his pants. Then, the beautiful girl leaned into his embrace, her eyes hazy. A few strands of her hair brushed his face, and her lips met his. Li Bai felt as if he were floating on clouds. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. If his desire to return to his own world wasn't so strong, who could resist such a honey trap? But why pass up such an opportunity? Though Li Bai's mind was clear, he unceremoniously reciprocated the beautiful girl's kiss. One arm wrapped around her slender waist, his hand caressing her firm, smooth buttocks, while the other massaged her full breasts. He was consumed by desire and was about to unbuckle his belt when his hand brushed against a very soft, thin, and cold silken thread on her scarred waist, extending from the back of her neck all the way between her legs. The sensation was incredibly familiar, identical to the silver threads that appeared on Lin Fengyi and Changsun Yao after they swallowed the蠱虫. She paused, then continued, "This object was crafted using the poisonous蛊 (gu) techniques of the Wuxi barbarians. When I stole it, there was a note detailing its usage. Seeing how wicked it was, I intended to destroy it, but felt it a pity. So I burned the note. Now, only I in this world know what it is. Today, as husband and wife, I will share this method with you, my lord. With this, we will have a way to control that Changsun Yao. It's a shame I had to leave in such a hurry. By the time I returned to Xiangyang, Changsun Yao had already fled, so I couldn't use it then." Li Bai, intrigued by her mysterious words, eagerly took her hand and said, "Good sister, tell me quickly." Lin Fengyi took a deep breath and said, "These two wax pills each contain a poisonous gu. Originally, they were identical, but due to the different constitutions of men and women, when taken separately, the man can control the gu within the woman through his own gu. The poisonous insect will then expel threads from the woman's body, which the man can use to control her limbs according to his will. The note said these silken threads are transparent and light, almost imperceptible, and if not activated, one can barely sense them. They are impervious to blades and fire. Once activated by the man, no one but him can undo it." Seeing Li Bai staring blankly, Lin Fengyi chuckled lightly and flicked his forehead, saying, "There are three sets of these treasures, enough to subdue three women. I suppose that's far from enough." Li Bai snapped back to attention, a wicked smile on his face, "Is there truly such a divine artifact? I don't believe it." Lin Fengyi glared at him, then suddenly smiled tenderly and nestled beside him, "My lord, by passing this object and its method to you, I am entrusting my life and fortune to you. I know you've always liked to tease me. If you don't believe me, I don't mind trying it with you. However, once these wax pills are swallowed, there is no antidote. From now on, if you wish to tease me, you won't need to beg for my favor." Li Bai's heart stirred, feeling the depth of her affection. He reached out to take the two wax pills, intending to put them away. "This is a divine artifact for fighting enemies. It would be excellent against Changsun Yao. But we are husband and wife. Even if I couldn't defeat you, I wouldn't need to use this to force or bully you. Why would I use it on you?" Lin Fengyi playfully dodged his hand, picked up a wax pill, and swallowed it. "I do this willingly, with no regrets. Besides, if you don't practice with it beforehand, even if you have the chance to use it on Changsun Yao later, if you can't master it, your life might still be in danger." As she spoke, she offered the remaining wax pill to Li Bai, smiling, "If you don't take it quickly, my lord, and this wax pill falls into someone else's hands, I will be controlled by them for the rest of my life." Li Bai, finding her reasoning sound, hesitated no longer and swallowed the wax pill. Looking at the radiant, peerless heroine before him, he was moved by her devotion and pulled her into his embrace. Lin Fengyi then raised her arms, pulling up her sleeves to reveal a pair of smooth, white wrists. "My lord, look. The gu worm has already expelled the silver threads." Li Bai looked closely and saw a faint, ethereal glow on her slender wrists. He could vaguely discern a very fine silver thread on each wrist, clinging to her fair skin without digging into it. If not observed carefully, it was almost imperceptible. Curiosity piqued, Li Bai asked, "Good sister, are there only these two silver threads? How am I supposed to control them?" Lin Fengyi's pretty face flushed, and she glared at him, "This butterfly cocoon is the simplest of the three sets of gu. It only produces these silver threads on the wrists and ankles, forming rings. The note said that as soon as you have a thought, these silver rings will move according to your will. Is this not enough to tease me? What more do you want?" Li Bai looked at the pair of silk rings on her wrists and silently thought, "Let's make these silver rings connect behind her back." As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Lin Fengyi's face turned red, and she gritted her teeth, "Are you having some wicked thoughts?" She struggled desperately, but her arms seemed to disobey her, as if invisible hands were grabbing her wrists and pulling them towards her back. The wrists then met behind her waist, the silver rings fused, and she could no longer break free. Li Bai was overjoyed. He threw his arms around Lin Fengyi's slender waist and pressed her onto the embroidered couch behind them. Lin Fengyi struggled with all her might, but her wrists remained stuck together. Seeing her legs kicking wildly, Li Bai silently willed, and her feet also came together. He removed Lin Fengyi's shoes and socks, cupped her pair of jade feet in his hands, and indeed, saw two extremely soft and fine ring-shaped silver threads on her slender ankles, also stuck together according to his thoughts. Li Bai grinned as he watched the white-clad heroine writhing and rolling on the bed. He then willed again, and her bound hands were slowly pulled downwards, while her bound feet were also drawn towards her waist. The four rings connected, binding her into a contorted posture with her hands behind her back and her legs drawn up. Lin Fengyi could no longer struggle and let out a bitter laugh, collapsing onto the couch. "Alas, alas. I brought this upon myself. This maiden will never escape the clutches of you lecherous thief again." Li Bai leaned over, pinning Lin Fengyi beneath him, and kissed her pretty profile. He chuckled, "Good sister, even without these silver threads, you wouldn't escape my grasp. Since you call me a lecherous thief, I shall show you what that means." He reached out and unfastened the white-clad maiden's sash, stripping off her clothes. He began to caress her firm, pink nipples and the fragrant bud between her legs. Lin Fengyi's body tensed, and she gasped uncontrollably, trembling as she cried, "My... my lord, I know my sin. Please... please spare me..." Seeing the sly glint in her eyes, Li Bai remained wary. "Very well, I shall spare you again." He shifted his thoughts slightly, and the four connected rings immediately loosened. Lin Fengyi's hands and feet regained their freedom, and she flipped over, ready to counterattack. As she launched a palm strike, her hands were pulled behind her again, and her legs were arched back, binding her wrists to her ankles. Lin Fengyi had harbored some doubts, but after experiencing it firsthand, she realized how potent this poisonous gu technique was. She cast a despairing glance at Li Bai and said with a smile, "For the sake of our past affections, please be merciful, my lord." Li Bai chuckled, flipped over, and lay on top of Lin Fengyi. He parted her legs, which were bound to her arms, and slowly inserted himself between her legs into her already moist and stimulated bud. A low moan escaped the young lady beneath him, and she too became immersed in the joyous pleasure of their marital union. Li Bai circled behind Changsun Yao. In the light from the outside, he saw her wrists, bound behind her back, each encircled by a thin, silken, transparent silver ring that held them firmly together. Following her slender, well-proportioned waist downwards, he saw her feet were also bound together. The silver threads had already cut through the inner lining of her shoes and socks, adhering them tightly, demonstrating the potent effect of these蛊 (gu worms). Li Bai, with a smile, removed Changsun Yao's shoes and socks, revealing her fair feet. He then moved to face Changsun Yao and reached out to unfasten the buttons of her soft robe. He saw Changsun Yao still glaring at him hatefully, but a flicker of shame and indignation flashed in her eyes. Li Bai chuckled and said, "Miss, there's no need to misunderstand. I'm unfastening your clothes only to see where these silver threads from the poison蛊 are growing, so I can understand how to control the蛊 worms and make it easier for you to serve me in the future." As he spoke, his movements were swift. He stripped off Changsun Yao's robe and inner shirt, then pulled her trousers up to her ankles, revealing her familiar naked body once more. He saw Changsun Yao's snow-white skin was still perfectly proportioned, with faint, neat abdominal muscles visible on her lower belly. However, deep rope marks were imprinted on her knees and shoulder blades, along with wounds that had not yet fully healed, testifying to the hardships she had endured over the months since he captured her. Just then, footsteps sounded from behind. Li Bai turned his head and saw Zhao Ying approaching the door, carrying a wooden stick upside down. Seeing the Xianbei woman on the ground, naked, she couldn't help but blush deeply. She quickly turned her face away and, with her back to Li Bai, reprimanded him in a low voice, "You... what are you doing?" Li Bai's old face flushed, and he feigned a serious tone, "Miss Zhao, you misunderstand. I am examining the effectiveness of that wax pellet. Don't you want to know how I subdued this Xianbei demoness?" Zhao Ying's curiosity was indeed piqued. She turned her head, her pretty face still flushed, and endured her shyness as she looked at Changsun Yao. "I was about to ask you, what kind of sorcery is this?" Li Bai smiled and led Zhao Ying around behind Changsun Yao, pointing to the silver threads on her wrists and explaining the principle to Zhao Ying. He then said, "I only know these silver threads are wrapped around her wrists and ankles. I was looking to see if there were any more on her body, and I have no other intentions. Miss, perhaps you could help me look as well." He knew that Zhao Ying was inexperienced and only vaguely understood how to release her primal essence. Of all the women he knew, she was the easiest to deceive. As expected, Zhao Ying no longer suspected anything, nodded, and also bent down to examine Changsun Yao's body closely. Li Bai chuckled inwardly, watching the increasing look of humiliation on Changsun Yao's face. Being stripped and bound like this, with others looking over her body so brazenly, no matter how high her martial arts skills, she was still a young woman. The shame was truly unbearable, and he saw her eyes gradually reddening. Then, Zhao Ying said, "There are silver threads here! And here too!" Li Bai followed her指引 (zhǐyǐn - guidance) and saw that there was a silver thread wrapped around each of Changsun Yao's arms at the elbows and legs at the knees. Combined with the two threads on her teeth, it was indeed more intricate than the set of butterfly cocoons. Li Bai secretly rejoiced. With these silver threads on her elbows and knees, he could naturally bind Changsun Yao into more poses, and the thought excited him. However, with Zhao Ying standing beside him, it was inconvenient to proceed further. He forced himself to endure, scratched his head, and said, "Miss Zhao, you haven't told me yet, how was your reconnaissance outside?" Zhao Ying was still curiously observing Changsun Yao. Hearing his words, she snapped back to attention, her face flushed, avoiding Li Bai's gaze. She sighed and said, "This place is about half a day's journey from the northern bank of the Yellow River. The Yan army has set up guards along the bank. If I had a long spear and warhorses, breaking through the enemy formation wouldn't be difficult. But not to mention there are no boats on the riverbank, even if I could find one, it would be extremely difficult to row across the river in broad daylight." Li Bai's heart sank upon hearing this. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Miss Zhao, your bravery is beyond doubt, and I naturally know this. But Shu Yun repeatedly warned me that a general must never act rashly. For now, we need to find another plan." Zhao Ying weighed the wooden stick in her hand, glanced sideways at him, her eyes filled with scrutiny. "I've heard my aunt say this too, that one must not act rashly, but only to avoid needlessly sacrificing soldiers' lives. Now that I have no army under my command, how can I be called a general? Besides, what plan does the strategist have?" Li Bai saw the hint of disdain in Zhao Ying's tone, and a surge of ambition rose within him. He said sternly, "Miss Zhao, with your martial arts skills, if you were to throw your life away so carelessly, wouldn't it tarnish the noble reputation of the Zhao family for generations? I do have a plan. Since the southern route is blocked, why not head north directly to the northern Yan capital, Beiping? Then, we can seize an opportunity to assassinate the Xianbei emperor. If successful, we will naturally achieve great merit. If not, even if we lose our lives, we will be remembered for eternity. I wonder if Miss Zhao dares to go with me?" After a fierce battle, Li Bai's fatigue from a day of travel vanished. He held the beautiful, sweat-drenched girl in his arms, the moans and lewd whispers still echoing in his ears. Having lived two lives and known countless women, he had to admit that in the art of lovemaking, this girl was unmatched. Not to mention her peerless beauty and captivating figure; calling her a seductive vixen was no exaggeration. He recalled the night they first met, when she feigned a delicate, pitiable posture, begging for his affection. It had been an experience unlike any other. Though the pleasure now was intense, the thought of her unfathomable secrets made it ultimately less perfect than that first encounter. Li Bai sighed heavily, a sense of loss washing over him. He felt Murong Chan stir in his embrace, and heard her soft voice say, "I told you the night wouldn't last long, but you insisted on forcing me. Now you regret it, but it's too late." This woman was not only stunningly beautiful but also incredibly sharp-witted. With just a sigh from him, she could instantly discern his thoughts. Holding the soft jade in his arms, Li Bai felt no warmth from her resentful words, but rather a chill that permeated his entire body, adding another layer of caution. He saw Murong Chan lift her head from his chest, pleading, "Daddy, these ropes are hurting my arms. For all the service I gave you just now, can you please untie me for a moment to rest?" Li Bai looked at her feigned pitiable expression and recalled his entanglement with Murong Chan throughout the day. He guessed that she wouldn't try to kill him before they reached Beiping. He could play along, pretending to be captivated by her beauty and fully enjoying their intimacy, while remaining vigilant against her enchantments. Moreover, the silver threads had already manifested on her, and untying her would be a good opportunity to test his control over them. With this thought, Li Bai chuckled, cupped the girl's chin, and said, "Good daughter, Daddy will untie you, but you can't shoot Daddy anymore, okay!" Murong Chan shyly lowered her eyes and smiled, "Daddy is joking. If you're not at ease, you can tie me up again after I've rested. I feel more secure when Daddy ties me up." Li Bai steeled himself, reached out, and untied the ropes binding Murong Chan's arms, helping her sit up. Murong Chan hugged her arms, rubbing the red, swollen rope marks on her delicate limbs. She cast a lingering glance at him before lowering her head. Seeing that Murong Chan had no intention of escaping or harming him, Li Bai stretched, put on his clothes, and fetched a bucket of water from the abandoned well of the post station. He placed it beside Murong Chan and said with a smile, "The wind and sand in Hebei are quite strong. Why don't you use this water to wash yourself?" Murong Chan let out a soft laugh, glancing at him. "You do know how to care for people. No wonder all the martial heroines and noble ladies of the empire are infatuated with you. Even someone like Changsun Yao couldn't bring herself to kill you." Hearing her know so much about him, Li Bai's heart chilled again, and he froze. Murong Chan had already reached into the bucket, scooping up clear water to wash herself. Her slender hands cupped the water, caressing her bare, scarred body, washing away the dust and grime. She even began to clean her nether regions, which had been ravaged for days. To bathe like this in front of a man would have shamed any woman from his own household, yet she remained as calm and composed as ever, even humming a tune. As he listened, her song grew increasingly mournful. Though there was no zither to accompany her, her voice was still melodious and moving. Under the moonlight, Murong Chan's eyes glistened with tears, and her singing became choked with sobs. The lyrics felt familiar, but he couldn't recall the song. Li Bai knew this woman was full of tricks. Seeing her sorrow deepen and tears stream from her beautiful eyes, he couldn't help but soften. He quickly interrupted, "What song are you singing?" Murong Chan seemed to awaken from a dream, stopping her song. She glanced at him and continued to wash herself with the water, saying softly, "Since you are the foremost scholar of Southern Han, how could you not have heard of 'Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute'? I sing this song, and my own fate moves me, causing you to laugh." Li Bai snorted. "You are a barbarian. What does Cai Wenji's return to Han have to do with your fate?" Murong Chan exclaimed, wiping her tears and smiling, "I told you I was a woman from Jiangnan, but you refused to believe me and insisted on calling me Miss Murong. What could I do?" Seeing Li Bai frown, Murong Chan continued, "Alright, alright, I am a barbarian. But I was also among the Han army some time ago and only recently returned to Hebei. Cai Wenji's return to Han, and Xiao Chan's return to Yan, have some similarities." Li Bai spat, "When did you go to the Han army?" Murong Chan smiled triumphantly, lowering her voice and speaking softly, "A few days ago, I disguised myself as a distressed singer and pretended to be rescued by your Southern Han generals twice. One of them had a face like a ripe date, and they called him General Wei. He was quite upright, but with a little effort, I made him my constant companion day and night, repaying his kindness in saving me. I even cried and begged him to conquer Yan soon to avenge me, promising myself to him. The other was a descendant of the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei, with a majestic bearing but extremely lustful. Before I could even seduce him, he impatiently took me. I cried and begged him to retreat and negotiate peace, so that I could be with him day and night. These two were good friends, and then, guess what happened?" Fear began to stir in Li Bai's heart. Murong Chan continued with a laugh, "You must know that they later conspired to kill the commander of Southern Han and then divided their forces to confront each other. My Yan army was on the verge of victory, but unexpectedly, you descended like a divine soldier, not only quelling the rebellion but also deploying a clever strategy that nearly routed my Yan cavalry. My Yan army retreated all the way to Hebei before barely halting the decline. I discussed with Changsun Yao and my master, and we decided that you were the mastermind behind all the schemes. We only needed to eliminate you. Who knew that Changsun Yao refused to kill you and instead went to great lengths to capture you, only to be outmaneuvered by you? I was thus forced to act. I really want to see what kind of man it is that even Sister Changsun couldn't bear to kill?" Li Bai turned and took Xiao Chan's hands, pulling her back to face him. He smiled, "My injuries are no longer serious, Miss Xiao Chan, you needn't be like this." He looked down and saw Xiao Chan's tattered clothes, her snow-white skin clearly visible through the torn fabric. Her breasts were full and round, her waist slender. Kneeling on the ground, her ragged trousers could no longer conceal her shapely, long jade legs, and the lush grass between them was faintly visible. Li Bai's gaze fell on Xiao Chan's arms, like lotus roots, where several scars were shocking to behold – some from whips, others from burns that had scabbed over. Li Bai felt a pang of pity, sighed softly, and said, "Miss Xiao Chan has suffered greatly. My injuries are nothing compared to yours." Xiao Chan looked up, stealing a glance at Li Bai. Her eyes reddened again, and she said, "This is my own bitter fate. If not for the General's rescue, I don't know how much more torment I would have endured. I owe the General a great debt, and I shall repay it." Li Bai's heart stirred. He intended to offer a few polite words, but his mind was filled with images of Xiao Chan being violated by those two Xianbei men, attacked from both front and back. Looking down at this delicate, pitiful, peerless beauty, his desire to conquer her became uncontrollable, yet he was reluctant to use force. For a moment, he was at a loss. While he hesitated, Xiao Chan slowly withdrew her hands from his grasp. She picked up the iron chain from the ground, held it before her with her hands bound together by the wooden yoke, and then raised her head. Her beautiful eyes were filled with pleading, her red lips parted slightly, and she trembled, "I have nothing else to offer. I beg the General to grant me permission, to allow this humble body to serve the General, to repay a fraction of your great kindness." As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Chan gently extended her lotus-like arms and brought the iron chain before her. Li Bai was stunned, staring blankly at the peerless maiden's face. He wasn't sure if it was real or an illusion, and he didn't know whether to reach out and take the chain. Xiao Chan's eyes reddened, filling with tears again. She choked out softly, "I have been insulted many times and am no longer pure. Does the General perhaps find me dirty?" Li Bai finally came back to his senses. Wasn't this girl guilt-tripping him? But since such a beautiful thing was being offered, there was no need to pretend to be a gentleman anymore. He had been injured, and he deserved some reward. With this thought, Li Bai accepted the iron chain with a clear conscience. He pulled forward, drawing Xiao Chan to bend down, almost falling at his feet. He then reached out with his other hand and stroked Xiao Chan's head, smiling, "What are you saying, Miss? Your beauty is like a celestial being descended to earth. I simply couldn't believe I would be so fortunate." Xiao Chan's face flushed slightly. Tears welled in her eyes, but she still lowered her gaze and smiled sweetly. It was the first time Li Bai had seen her smile since he had known her. This smile was like peaches in the rain, complementing her pitiable appearance and delicate figure. It was truly a beauty that could topple cities, and it left Li Bai utterly captivated, lost in a daze. Xiao Chan raised her hands, still bound by the wooden yoke, above her head, took his hand, and brought it to her. She then gently parted her fingers and, with slightly parted lips, took his index finger into her cherry mouth. She began to suck forcefully, moving her head back and forth, her nimble tongue teasing his fingertip. Li Bai swallowed. Xiao Chan released his finger and slowly reached for his waistband, undoing his belt. With her warm, smooth hands, she simultaneously cupped his erect member and began to stroke it skillfully, up and down. She knelt before him, her mouth still holding his finger, looking up at him shyly, her eyes shimmering like water. This pure and sorrowful maiden, in an instant, exuded a captivating charm, as if she could steal one's soul. Even Li Bai, who had seen much, was so aroused by this ultimate beauty that his mind buzzed, all reason cast aside, igniting his most primal lust. Li Bai grabbed the iron chain and pulled hard. Xiao Chan's hands were still on his lower body, and she was still sucking his finger. The collar around her neck was yanked violently, and her body involuntarily tilted forward again, falling between his legs. She let out a soft gasp and, following the momentum, withdrew her finger from her mouth. Li Bai lifted the peerless maiden's delicate chin. She looked at him pleadingly, but there was a hint of resentment in her eyes. Her delicate appearance, unlike other women, did not evoke pity, but rather an urge to ravage her fiercely. Li Bai could no longer restrain himself. He grabbed her long hair and forcefully pushed her down between his legs.